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On Slide Inn Road
The Oct/Nov issue of Esquire Magazine features a new short story by Stephen King titled, “On Slide Inn Road”.
It was supposed to be a family road trip to visit an aging relative. Then the car got stuck in a muddy rut and, well – these things never turn out well, do they?
The legendary architect of your worst nightmares delivers another shocking short story you won’t soon forget.
It was supposed to be a family road trip to visit an aging relative. Then the car got stuck in a muddy rut and, well – these things never turn out well, do they?
The legendary architect of your worst nightmares delivers another shocking short story you won’t soon forget.
Unknown Binding
First published October 1, 2020
4 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,296 books891k followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 29, 2020
The monsters in this new Stephen King story are the human kind and to me that is the ultimate horror.
The idea of being over-powered and vulnerable to someone who means to hurt me is just.... 🤮
That, mixed with a bit of social commentary made this an awesome short story.
*𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩'𝘴 (𝘖𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳/𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳) 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦
The idea of being over-powered and vulnerable to someone who means to hurt me is just.... 🤮
That, mixed with a bit of social commentary made this an awesome short story.
*𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩'𝘴 (𝘖𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳/𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳) 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦
October 27, 2020
Eschew the shortcut. The time you save may be forfeit.
This was a short story in the Oct/Nov issue of Esquire magazine. At the end of his story, Stephen King noted Thinking of Flannery O'Connor. Wasn't expecting that, but it's good to give respect where respect is due.
This was a short story in the Oct/Nov issue of Esquire magazine. At the end of his story, Stephen King noted Thinking of Flannery O'Connor. Wasn't expecting that, but it's good to give respect where respect is due.
November 2, 2020
When someone takes a shortcut in a Stephen King tale, you know it's never gonna end well... A great little story, Granpop stole the show for me.
January 28, 2021
WTF?! Where is the end?
October 24, 2020
King doing storytelling at its best. I loved the characters and the way the story turns from ' yeah, I see where this is going' to 'oh hell, this isn't going to end well'. For me, he didn't quite stick the ending, but its still a fun ride down Slide Inn Road.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2020
This has beautiful tones of Flannery O’Connor’s ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find’. So imagine my happiness at reaching the end and finding that the King was thinking of that exact writer while this was written. I love Stephen King short stories!!
December 21, 2020
Is there a better short story writer out there than Stephen King? He truly is a master wordsmith. You have to be if you want to excel at both writing quick tales and lengthy novels. He truly is the master.
With “On Slide Inn Road”, King gifts us with a twisted tale of a family road trip gone bad, very bad. For some reason, I couldn’t help but think of King’s excellent novella “The Body” as I read this new short. Sometimes you can’t help what pops in your mind when you’re reading a great story.
“On Slide Inn Road” has snappy and funny dialogue, a fast building intrigue, and an impeccable multi-generational dynamic that quickly draws in the reader. Good intentions vs bad ones, young ways vs old school. King entertains us in this rotten 2020 with the gift he still keeps on giving us... a perfect escape!
With “On Slide Inn Road”, King gifts us with a twisted tale of a family road trip gone bad, very bad. For some reason, I couldn’t help but think of King’s excellent novella “The Body” as I read this new short. Sometimes you can’t help what pops in your mind when you’re reading a great story.
“On Slide Inn Road” has snappy and funny dialogue, a fast building intrigue, and an impeccable multi-generational dynamic that quickly draws in the reader. Good intentions vs bad ones, young ways vs old school. King entertains us in this rotten 2020 with the gift he still keeps on giving us... a perfect escape!
December 2, 2020
“Those, of course, being the same old days when a self-respecting woman wouldn’t go shopping without first cinching on a girdle and hooking up her stockings to a garter belt, the days when gay people went in fear of their lives and there was a penny candy called nigger babies available at every five-and-dime. Nothing like the old days, yessir!”
I think these kind of thoughts every time people talk about the good old days! Maybe not the exact same things as King has written herein, but similar things. As Billy Joel sang, “The good old days weren’t always good...”
This is a good, tight short story! Love the Grandpop! And writing like this: "... in the ribs with 33 ounces of solid Kentucky ash." That's why he's the King!
I think these kind of thoughts every time people talk about the good old days! Maybe not the exact same things as King has written herein, but similar things. As Billy Joel sang, “The good old days weren’t always good...”
This is a good, tight short story! Love the Grandpop! And writing like this: "... in the ribs with 33 ounces of solid Kentucky ash." That's why he's the King!
May 30, 2024
I absolutely bloody loved this story.
I have read a few Stephen Kings but not as many as some (I intend to read many more!!!)
This was scary and put me in mind of a river wild or to be fair, many others where you feel vulnerable as a weak child like in a dream.
Grandad or grandpa (whoever) was the non PC, toxic male (in some ways but not all) who saved the day. And what a legend!
I just love Kings non bullshit, keep it interesting, clever writing. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - please keep going Mr King we love you!!!
I have read a few Stephen Kings but not as many as some (I intend to read many more!!!)
This was scary and put me in mind of a river wild or to be fair, many others where you feel vulnerable as a weak child like in a dream.
Grandad or grandpa (whoever) was the non PC, toxic male (in some ways but not all) who saved the day. And what a legend!
I just love Kings non bullshit, keep it interesting, clever writing. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - please keep going Mr King we love you!!!
November 26, 2025
This is King at his best. Maybe not the best of his stories, but the writing is tight and crisp. Very entertaining with rich characters, well certainly, at the very least, one very rich character. And it certainly illustrates the usefulness of having a Louisville Slugger handy.
This story is included in the anthology You Like It Darker.
This story is included in the anthology You Like It Darker.
October 31, 2020
Free at Esquire Oct/Nov issue
While this wasn't scary, it kept me on the edge of my seat.
The family dynamics were realistic and well depicted.
I may have missed some of the baseball references since I don't follow the sport.
Would recommend to those looking for a quick, thrilling read.
While this wasn't scary, it kept me on the edge of my seat.
The family dynamics were realistic and well depicted.
I may have missed some of the baseball references since I don't follow the sport.
Would recommend to those looking for a quick, thrilling read.
March 27, 2021
This one feels like the preview chapter of an engaging novel.
A family on a road trip, going to visit a dying relative get stuck while they were trying out a shortcut. They end up almost robbed and murdered by two people.
They survived because the grandpa in the family had the presence of mind to quickly distract and attack the goons.
and that's it. That's the story.
A family on a road trip, going to visit a dying relative get stuck while they were trying out a shortcut. They end up almost robbed and murdered by two people.
They survived because the grandpa in the family had the presence of mind to quickly distract and attack the goons.
and that's it. That's the story.
December 10, 2020
Me ha gustado. Se nota que es de King, pues tiene muchos ingredientes que ya han aparecido en varios se sus relatos: viaje en coche, algún problema familiar, una atajo que no se debía haber tomado... Y todo se tuerce. Se lee rápido (aunque no domines mucho el inglés se puede leer) y entretiene.
July 14, 2021
Un relato corto bastante fluido aunque su comienzo es algo lento con el pasar de la historia se vuelve bastante más fluida.
Cabe destacar que este relato nos demuestra que no se necesita de un monstruo para poder influir terror solo con que el villanos sean los humano da bastante cosa
Cabe destacar que este relato nos demuestra que no se necesita de un monstruo para poder influir terror solo con que el villanos sean los humano da bastante cosa
June 30, 2024
I am glad Uncle Stevie acknowledged what classic short story inspired this short story, but it is hard to hide the fact that that short story, "A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flannery O' Connor, is way better and darker than "On Slide Inn Road".
October 31, 2020
This was a good read that had its shock value and delivered well. It's not too long and not too short, and a modern bite of King.
November 1, 2020
It was disappointing. I think we all knew where it was going and it predictably did.
January 4, 2021
Classic King short. Tight narrative. Slow reveal. The horror is human. Unexpected twist.
June 16, 2024
Grandpop!
September 15, 2024
This feels like aging King wanting to have a Charles Bronson-type revenge fantasy. It’s fine, but feels slight.
December 17, 2024
Bad ass
January 25, 2025
7/10
Good!
Good!
April 3, 2025
Very similar to Batman And Robin Have An Altercation
June 2, 2025
Solid story… mean as heck but not bloody or scary enough for me
August 28, 2025
7.75 out of 10 - One hell of a great twist in terms of character work. Really solid story overall, with phenomenal narration by Will Paton
December 31, 2025
badass grandma, fun story
June 21, 2024
I certainly don't mind a few loose strings but this one definitely left me longing for a lot more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars for being to much of a tease.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars for being to much of a tease.
July 3, 2025
3.75✨
“But understand the difference between hope and fantasy.”
This is a 20 page short story in one of Stephen kings collection of short stories called ‘you like it darker’
I really enjoyed this story. It shines light on how some people are not as they seem, ex: someone could look really nice but have bad intentions/ an overall bad person. Or someone could look like a bad person and be one of the nicest people ever.
This story shows that some of the most unexpected people turn out to be the heros.
Corinne comes to the realization that even though she gets annoyed by her husband she also gets annoyed with herself, and finds that she isn’t much better than him. (I beg to differ on that…😬😒)
I’m sorry I despise the dad (Frankie).
“But understand the difference between hope and fantasy.”
This is a 20 page short story in one of Stephen kings collection of short stories called ‘you like it darker’
I really enjoyed this story. It shines light on how some people are not as they seem, ex: someone could look really nice but have bad intentions/ an overall bad person. Or someone could look like a bad person and be one of the nicest people ever.
This story shows that some of the most unexpected people turn out to be the heros.
Corinne comes to the realization that even though she gets annoyed by her husband she also gets annoyed with herself, and finds that she isn’t much better than him. (I beg to differ on that…😬😒)
I’m sorry I despise the dad (Frankie).
January 13, 2025
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
http://thebookcornerchronicles.com/20...
This short story is a part of the “You like it darker” book which is a collection of short stories.
This short story is very boring and uninteresting.
The plot in none existing in this short story. Because it feels like Stephen King had written this short story without any plan for the short story.
The writing style in this short story doesn’t even feel like something written by Stephen King.
http://thebookcornerchronicles.com/20...
This short story is a part of the “You like it darker” book which is a collection of short stories.
This short story is very boring and uninteresting.
The plot in none existing in this short story. Because it feels like Stephen King had written this short story without any plan for the short story.
The writing style in this short story doesn’t even feel like something written by Stephen King.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews