I’m among the million or so readers who look forward to the next Stephen King book, but I’m among the probable considerably fewer who look forward more to his short-story collection than his full novels. SKELETON CREW, NIGHT SHIFT — these were my favorites among his entire body of work growing up. Thus, JUST AFTER SUNSET is reason to celebrate.
One less than 2002′s EVERYTHING’S EVENTUAL, King’s last anthology, this one tells 13 dark tales, most of which have been published before, but all of which you’re unlikely to have encountered, unless you’re one of those super-obsessive, kind of fans — you know, Annie Wilkes.
Speaking of obsessive, “N.” is arguably the story garnering the most attention because it’s previously unpublished and currently being serialized in online webisodes (or on an accompanying DVD, if you buy the collector’s edition of SUNSET). It’s about a psychiatrist who becomes increasingly embroiled in one of his patient’s fixations, involving the mysterious Ackerman’s Field. “N.” is interesting, of course, but makes one too many nods to horror fiction of the past, because the outcome is obvious from the start.
No such predictability plagues “Mute,” however, in which a traveling book salesman tells a hitchhiker he’s picked up about the indiscretions of his wife, despite the passenger’s being a deaf mute. I was equally enthralled by the story he tells as much as what role the hitchhiker possibly could play. In a good way, I wondered, “Where is this going?” I didn’t know, but loved reaching the final destination. Thanks for the ride, Steve!
A different kind of horror is served up in “A Very Tight Place,” where a disagreement between two well-to-do neighbors boils over into a most unusual predicament. One accused the other of being “a gay witch” and traps him in a Port-O-Potty, which then is overturned. Brace yourself for what is quite possibly the single sickest story King has ever penned.
The most old-school entry is “The Cat from Hell,” left over from the author’s early, per-word career writing for men’s magazines. For those who’ve seen it adapted in the underrated TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE MOVIE, the concept of hitman vs. kitty remains intact, even if the, um, execution is somewhat altered.
I continue to be really impressed with “The Gingerbread Girl,” a family drama that turns on a dime into a sicko thriller before you have a chance to realize it, much like its intrepid heroine who literally runs away to escape her life, only to put it into immediate danger.
A quartet of dream and afterlife explorations left me underwhelmed (even King notes that the first one “probably isn’t the best story in the book”), but his post-9/11 piece “Things They Left Behind” is haunting and moving, and a more mature King than to most are accustomed. Get used to it, though, and give him credit. The man is a great writer, and his talent has long transcended any labels affixed to him.
Other tales flirt with miracle workers and rest-stop rumbles, and all in all comprise a worthy collection. King always elevates one’s appreciation of his work with notes that discuss the stories’ genesis, and such are presented here at the end, so as not to spoil your enjoyment. And there’s ample opportunity for that. —Rod Lott
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF STEPHEN KING:
• CELL by Stephen King
• THE COLORADO KID by Stephen King
• CREEPSHOWS: THE ILLUSTRATED STEPHEN KING MOVIE GUIDE by Stephen Jones
• CUJO by Stephen King
• DUMA KEY by Stephen King
• THE SECRETARY OF DREAMS: VOLUME ONE by Stephen King
• STEPHEN KING: THE NON-FICTION by Rocky Wood and Justin Brooks
Related posts:
- BOOK WHORE >> 1.24.06
- Wasteland: Stories of the Apocalypse
- BOOK WHORE >> 2.7.06
- Different Kinds of Dead and Other Tales
- Stephen King returns to ‘SALEM’S LOT with super-sized edition
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I always used to like King’s short stories more than his novels. Night Shift was one of the first real books I ever read, which hooked me on King and to a lesser extent horror for decades to come. I think each of his short story collections have gotten a little bit worse, just like each of his novels, but I’m sure I’ll be reading this within a few months.
That’s the spirit!
Keep it up and I’ll write something bad about you in the Christmas thread.