Stephen King Fans discussion

Is it me or has that 1st short story collection been forgotten?

Oh yeah, Night Shift rules; these are the stories he wrote when he was young, full of fire and desperation. King is writing for sheer survival, still in the clutches of poverty, and it shows, don't you think? We're talking classic horror here, not just classic King:

Children of the Corn, The Boogeyman, Strawberry Spring, Quitter's Inc., Graveyard Shift, Gray Matter just to highlight my absolute favourites.

This is one of my all time favorite King books if not my most favorite! I read it in one day!

By the way.. I also have listed the movie threads under this topic that have to do with Night Shift. So you can discuss them here!

It seems that practically every story in this book was made into a movie!

The written versions of this book are So Much Better than the movie version. But if you were unfortunate to see one or more, it does sort of cloud what you're reading.. But my Favorite so far has to be 'The Man Who Loved Flowers' I happily didn't see that 1 coming :)

Always wrote: "The written versions of this book are So Much Better than the movie version. But if you were unfortunate to see one or more, it does sort of cloud what you're reading.. But my Favorite so far has t..."

I agree I did not see the end to that story at all.
Getting hit from left field was a shock. LOL

About to start, can't wait

I'll start tonight! I look forward to it, this has some of my favorite of his short stories.

I've read "Sometimes They Come Back" and I'm really sorry I saw the TV-version 1st.
It made for a really Great ghost story I thought. And I'm not a Big fan of ghost stories :)

Going to start sometime today.

I've read the intro and the forward, I may get into the stories tomorrow.

Did AnyOne Read 'Sometimes They Come Back' & think it was a Pretty Good Ghost Story?????

I pulled out my copy of the book and looked at the table of contents. I realized that I couldn't remember what most of the stories were about so I think I should probably reread this collection again!

I always did like "Children of the Corn" though. I think it's my favorite of all King's short stories that I have read.

My favorite stories out of this collection in order are:

Children of the Corn
Sometimes they Come back
Quitter's Inc
Battleground
Lawnmower man
Jerusalem's Lot

These stories were the ones that creeped me out the most and I really enjoyed.

The stories I seemed to like least were
Night surf and The woman in the room.

These seemed too depressing for me.

The rest were ok but didn't stick with me like the ones I mentioned above that I really liked.

Children of the corn I think because I go to Nebraska about twice a year to visit my mom and I can relate to the deserted roads and corn fields and they were kindof in the same area. Some of the places mentioned like Lincoln and Grand Island I've been there for real.

Sometimes they come back was so much better than what I remember the movie being that it impressed me.

Quitter's Inc kind of reminded me of a movie that had 3 stories in it I think Cat's Eye or something and one of the stories sounded like this one but I really liked it.

I thought battleground was great. For some reason I really liked it. Maybe it was a commentary on how the little people are treated vs the important ones. LOL

Lawnmower man was just so weird I couldn't help but remember it.

And Jerusalem's lot I really liked the style he used to tell the story.

All in all I really enjoyed reading this collection. I think it is a keeper.

Mary - Cat's Eye was indeed what you saw. "Quitters, Inc." was adapted for that movie. So was "The Ledge", from this collection.

Chris wrote: "Mary - Cat's Eye was indeed what you saw. "Quitters, Inc." was adapted for that movie. So was "The Ledge", from this collection."

Now that you mention it I had the feeling the ledge was familiar too and now I know why. Thanks.

I enjoyed every single page of this collection. I liked certain stories better than others but reading through this book in order was so gratifying. I couldn't wait to find out how the next story would end. Whether I was terrified while reading The Mangler or amused during Battleground, Night Shift was the treat I looked forward to after a hard day's work.

I LOVED this one, this is still my favorite King book overall. He was definitely firing on all cylinders then, like everyone else was saying, he was young and hungry. Some were better than others but I don't think there was a bad story in the book.

Only one story I didn't like - (view spoiler)[ Graveyard Shift is just a gross-out story about big rats (hide spoiler)] but the rest ran the gamut from scary to touchingly sad to darkly funny. King was really showing his range at a young age.

Re-reading this one right now after having read it many years ago. I'm absolutely savoring these stories. You can really see King's influences in them. Jerusalem's Lot is pure Lovecraft. I Am The Doorway is Ray Bradbury meets the Twilight Zone, and The Boogeyman is like something out of an EC Comic's Tales From The Crypt.

Vampire pissing blood into the urinal was priceless !. Long live the king !!

Just picked it up last night.

Need MORE STUFF LIKE Just.after the sumset !!!!!

It was so so so goood..... <3
and there then chose Stephen King THE KING OF ECCENTRICITY....

Mehwish wrote: "Need MORE STUFF LIKE Just.after the sumset !!!!!

It was so so so goood..... <3
and there then chose Stephen King THE KING OF ECCENTRICITY...."

Loved "N." in Just After Sunset! I know I read more, but just can't remember without seeing it again.

Just finished Book 5 of the Stephen King Challenge - Night Shift. No doubt about it folks. It's the finest short story collection of horror out there. Period. if you're interested, my review breaks down each individual story.

https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com

Not forgotten by me. It stands as my favorite of his short story collections. The stories range from disturbed to downright scary...and even a few really touching ones that punch you in the heart. Definitely a great read for anyone.

I'm hoping to start this tonight, I'm quite excited.

ooo...this is one of the creepiest and most disturbing stories...I've read it twice...enjoy.

What do we think of Jerusalem's Lot?

I was a bit distracted when I read it the other night, so I wasn't too sure of what was going on. Hence why I only gave it three stars. Now I keep thinking about the story; so I should probably give it another go?

Reenie wrote: "What do we think of Jerusalem's Lot?

I was a bit distracted when I read it the other night, so I wasn't too sure of what was going on. Hence why I only gave it three stars. Now I keep thinking ab..."

I think Jerusalem's Lot works better if you read it right before starting Salem's Lot. With it's Lovecraft-ian style of storytelling, I think it really has a nice creep factor.

This is my favorite book of his that are short stories.

Jayps wrote: "I've got say that the last four stories herein are my favorites, because they have that kind of bittersweet effect to me; they are slow-building but sure to creep you out and at the same time break..."

I'm about halfway through the Boogeyman, and I'm quite enjoying it. I think the best in the collection, so far...

I really like subtle links to previous stories as you read through the collection. The most recent was a reference to quitting smoking, just a short while after Quitters Inc. with King, I doubt that these little details are just coincidence (there's a reason to read them in this order)

Boogeyman is great because you are left on your own to decide just what the hell was really happening. It could be either way.

I remember these like yesterday. They're creepy, sheesh. I Am the Doorway?! ( night shift), The short story about a spaceship crashing on a planet that is all shore and no ocean, the Jaunt! Strawberry Spring... Wow

I remember these like yesterday. They're creepy, sheesh. I Am the Doorway?! ( night shift), The short story about a spaceship crashing on a planet that is all shore and no ocean, the Jaunt! Strawberry Spring... Wow

I have a special place in my heart for this book. Still my favorite of his collected stories even including the most recent one. I read it as a child, and still pick it up from time to time. "Sometimes They Come Back."

this is the book that earned my respect for mr. king

I just finished this - so good!

Speaking of, has anyone seen this? http://www.darkregions.com/books/all/...

I could go broke on Dark Regions Press!

Kandice that is beautiful. Have you ordered from them before?

Tara wrote: "Kandice that is beautiful. Have you ordered from them before?"

Lots of times. They have the most wonderful and personal customer service.

This was his first collection and it definitely had a 70's vibe to it. My favorite was graveyard shift, while my least favorite was Night Surf. Jerusalem Lot was good as well, but the best written in my opinion was sometimes they come back.

Just started reading this one tonight. I just love these Stephen King short stories!

By far the best collection of short stories I've ever read. The Man Who Loved Flowers always stuck with me. It's not my favourite but there's just something about it.

So many wonderful short stories. Just loving this book!

It has been years and years since I read the Night Shift I guess I am going to have to go back and refresh my memory

reading it now... Loving the stories. I'm about halfway thru.

I feel like King really shines in writing short stories. I really enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. I might be one of the few people that wasn't that impressed with Children of the Corn. I still get the gross out vibe when thinking about Graveyard Shift. I never liked rats anyway. I loved Jeruselam's Lot, so surreal. Battleground was so entertaining. I think it might be my favorite of the stories. Simply because it is so different and so much more "lighthearted" (I'm not sure that's the word I am looking for) then most of King's books.