Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.01k reviews for:
Night Shift: Excursions into Horror by the Author of Carrie and The Shining
Stephen King
3.91 AVERAGE
2.01k reviews for:
Night Shift: Excursions into Horror by the Author of Carrie and The Shining
Stephen King
3.91 AVERAGE
This was the first Stephen King book I ever read. I was probably ten or eleven years old. I found it on the shelf in our house, and was intrigued/repulsed by its cover: a bandaged hand covered in eyes. I wondered if I would get in trouble for reading it, so I only read it in my bedroom.
I'd always assumed it was my dad's, and I didn't find out until years later that it was my mom's!
Upon re-reading, my favorite stories are still my favorites, and the ones that were boring to me then are still now. (I'd wondered at the time if it was just because I was a kid and didn't have the attention span for them, but no, reading them carefully, they're just not as good as the others.)
I also only noticed as an adult the HP Lovecraft references in "Jerusalem's Lot" and "I Know What You Need". Jerusalem's Lot reads kind of like a Lovecraft homage: it's a bit outside of Stephen King's usual style.
My Favorites:
The Mangler
I Know What You Need
Sometimes They Come Back
The Boogeyman
Trucks
The Ledge
Children of the Corn
Quitters, Inc
Good:
I am the Doorway
The Lawnmower Man
One for the Road
Battleground
Night Surf (briefly on my favorites list as a kid b/c I went from not understanding what this one was about to "getting it", and that advancement was exciting)
Graveyard Shift
Strawberry Spring
Not worth it:
Jerusalem's Lot
Gray Matter
The Last Rung on the Ladder
The Man who Loved Flowers
The Woman in the Room
I'd always assumed it was my dad's, and I didn't find out until years later that it was my mom's!
Upon re-reading, my favorite stories are still my favorites, and the ones that were boring to me then are still now. (I'd wondered at the time if it was just because I was a kid and didn't have the attention span for them, but no, reading them carefully, they're just not as good as the others.)
I also only noticed as an adult the HP Lovecraft references in "Jerusalem's Lot" and "I Know What You Need". Jerusalem's Lot reads kind of like a Lovecraft homage: it's a bit outside of Stephen King's usual style.
My Favorites:
The Mangler
I Know What You Need
Sometimes They Come Back
The Boogeyman
Trucks
The Ledge
Children of the Corn
Quitters, Inc
Good:
I am the Doorway
The Lawnmower Man
One for the Road
Battleground
Night Surf (briefly on my favorites list as a kid b/c I went from not understanding what this one was about to "getting it", and that advancement was exciting)
Graveyard Shift
Strawberry Spring
Not worth it:
Jerusalem's Lot
Gray Matter
The Last Rung on the Ladder
The Man who Loved Flowers
The Woman in the Room
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I much prefer a curated/themed short story collection to a random assortment. This was a random assortment. The standouts for me were: "Sometimes They Come Back", "Strawberry Spring", "Quitter's Inc.", and "I Know What You Need".
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Took me long enough to get through this one. But my brain was not in a great place when I started, and I had to wait to read this bunch of freaky-deaky stories until my brain felt better. Which it did over the weekend, and I zoomed through this. Stephen King's imagination is a wild place, especially Stephen King of fifty years ago (some of these stories were published in the 60's, even though the book was published in 1978).
Some of the stories didn't quite land, and some of them were clearly the work of a new writer, but many of them were bangers. One of them ("The Lawnmower Man") was so weird I gave it five stars out of reflex and am still wondering how more people are not constantly talking about how fucking bizarre it is, even decades later.
I don't normally like short fiction very much because I like spending long periods of time with characters, and getting really into detail about their lives and the worlds they live in, and most really good emotional payoff only comes when you spend time with a book, but King is really good at not just epic length books, and normal length novels and novellas, but short stories as well. King is a capital-'S' Storyteller, with an instinct for knowing what kinds of stories deserve what kind of treatment. Even in the stories that didn't work for me, there wasn't a dull moment in this collection where I wasn't wondering, What happens next?
Other favorites in the collection: "The Boogeyman" (Is the Boogeyman a feminist?), "The Ledge" (a masterclass in suspense writing), "Quitters, Inc" (a foolproof way to quite smoking), and "The Man Who Loved Flowers" (a clever little story about murder and love). The only one I disliked was the last story in the book, and that's only because I can't read stories about people dying of cancer, and wish I would have skipped it.
[3.571 stars, averaging all my ratings, but rounding up because it was a good reading experience overall]
Some of the stories didn't quite land, and some of them were clearly the work of a new writer, but many of them were bangers. One of them ("The Lawnmower Man") was so weird I gave it five stars out of reflex and am still wondering how more people are not constantly talking about how fucking bizarre it is, even decades later.
I don't normally like short fiction very much because I like spending long periods of time with characters, and getting really into detail about their lives and the worlds they live in, and most really good emotional payoff only comes when you spend time with a book, but King is really good at not just epic length books, and normal length novels and novellas, but short stories as well. King is a capital-'S' Storyteller, with an instinct for knowing what kinds of stories deserve what kind of treatment. Even in the stories that didn't work for me, there wasn't a dull moment in this collection where I wasn't wondering, What happens next?
Other favorites in the collection: "The Boogeyman" (Is the Boogeyman a feminist?), "The Ledge" (a masterclass in suspense writing), "Quitters, Inc" (a foolproof way to quite smoking), and "The Man Who Loved Flowers" (a clever little story about murder and love). The only one I disliked was the last story in the book, and that's only because I can't read stories about people dying of cancer, and wish I would have skipped it.
[3.571 stars, averaging all my ratings, but rounding up because it was a good reading experience overall]
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Nobody writes a short story like King! Some of these came back to me as I listened to them — Quitters Inc., The Bogeyman, The Ledge — in a great, spooky way. The Mangler freaked me out, just as it did decades ago. The only one I didn’t enjoy on any level was The Lawnmower Man, which repulsed me beyond my comfort level for some reason. Overall, though, Night Shift is well worth a revisit.
Worst part of this was the combo of narrator John Glover — over-dramatizing to the extreme — and the annoyingly loud and dramatic music. Although the book was published in the mid-‘70s, the audiobook was recorded in the mid-‘90s, so maybe that was the standard then. Very distracting, though. SK does NOT need drama added to his words!
Worst part of this was the combo of narrator John Glover — over-dramatizing to the extreme — and the annoyingly loud and dramatic music. Although the book was published in the mid-‘70s, the audiobook was recorded in the mid-‘90s, so maybe that was the standard then. Very distracting, though. SK does NOT need drama added to his words!
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
1. Graveyard Shift
A story about rats reaching near-giant sizes, descriptions way too explicit, and not recommended for people with a phobia or fear of rodents.
A story about rats reaching near-giant sizes, descriptions way too explicit, and not recommended for people with a phobia or fear of rodents.
2. Night Surf
A flu, the A6, that left the world empty, desolate—basically the COVID Stephen King invented. This story didn’t entertain me much, it’s got a post-apocalyptic nostalgia, and somehow reminds you of the pandemic days when getting COVID could be bad luck.
A flu, the A6, that left the world empty, desolate—basically the COVID Stephen King invented. This story didn’t entertain me much, it’s got a post-apocalyptic nostalgia, and somehow reminds you of the pandemic days when getting COVID could be bad luck.
3. I Am the Doorway
Fuck, so much despair. An astronaut goes to Venus on a Buzz Lightyear-type space mission, only to return to Earth infected with things growing inside his body, forming eyes in his flesh, with a horrifying vision of our world. There’s never a happy ending in these kinds of stories.
Fuck, so much despair. An astronaut goes to Venus on a Buzz Lightyear-type space mission, only to return to Earth infected with things growing inside his body, forming eyes in his flesh, with a horrifying vision of our world. There’s never a happy ending in these kinds of stories.
4. The Mangler
I liked the start, didn’t like the end. Stephen King goes from writing about haunted hotels, undead kids, rabid dogs, to a laundry press that, due to accidentally crushing pills with belladonna, is possessed by a high-class demon, killing people and causing super cruel accidents left and right. I really loved the visceral description.
I liked the start, didn’t like the end. Stephen King goes from writing about haunted hotels, undead kids, rabid dogs, to a laundry press that, due to accidentally crushing pills with belladonna, is possessed by a high-class demon, killing people and causing super cruel accidents left and right. I really loved the visceral description.
5. The Boogeyman
Fuck, this one did scare me. The Boogeyman kills three kids one after another, the descriptions are pretty good, the guilt is well done, and it feels like watching Funny Games—reading out of morbid curiosity to know how it killed each one and what the story’s ending is. P.S. There’s never a happy ending. 5 STARS.
Fuck, this one did scare me. The Boogeyman kills three kids one after another, the descriptions are pretty good, the guilt is well done, and it feels like watching Funny Games—reading out of morbid curiosity to know how it killed each one and what the story’s ending is. P.S. There’s never a happy ending. 5 STARS.
6. Gray Matter
More aliens, this time a gelatinous mass from drinking expired, infected beer with who-knows-what. 2 stars.
More aliens, this time a gelatinous mass from drinking expired, infected beer with who-knows-what. 2 stars.
7. Battleground
Like Toy Story, with toy soldiers killing a professional assassin. Super meh, I want terror. How would Yor Briar have acted?
Like Toy Story, with toy soldiers killing a professional assassin. Super meh, I want terror. How would Yor Briar have acted?
8. Trucks
If I were a conspiracy nut, I’d say this is the future awaiting us, but nah. Trucks, vans, gaining consciousness and killing the human race, leaving a few to use as gas station slaves. Didn’t convince me.
If I were a conspiracy nut, I’d say this is the future awaiting us, but nah. Trucks, vans, gaining consciousness and killing the human race, leaving a few to use as gas station slaves. Didn’t convince me.
9. Sometimes They Come Back
Sometimes Stephen King writes really good stories, and I think this is one of them. I like witchcraft, occultism, rituals. Here, Jim is forced to summon a demon to get rid of three bullies who killed his brother 17 years ago, all of them long dead.
Sometimes Stephen King writes really good stories, and I think this is one of them. I like witchcraft, occultism, rituals. Here, Jim is forced to summon a demon to get rid of three bullies who killed his brother 17 years ago, all of them long dead.
10. Strawberry Spring
Nope, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but the short story, boring version—a guy with possible split personality who kills people and doesn’t remember a thing about it. 1 star.
Nope, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but the short story, boring version—a guy with possible split personality who kills people and doesn’t remember a thing about it. 1 star.
11. The Ledge
Excellent, loved it. A tennis player falls for a mobster’s wife, and the mobster forces him to walk around an entire building on the outer ledge. P.S. The mobster dies, and I love it ‘cause I’m sick of mobsters always winning.
Excellent, loved it. A tennis player falls for a mobster’s wife, and the mobster forces him to walk around an entire building on the outer ledge. P.S. The mobster dies, and I love it ‘cause I’m sick of mobsters always winning.
12. The Lawnmower Man
A lawnmower cult that somehow worships Greek mythology? I don’t know, Rick. Is this considered body horror?
A lawnmower cult that somehow worships Greek mythology? I don’t know, Rick. Is this considered body horror?
13. Quitters, Inc.
Really good story. Like a sadistic Alcoholics Anonymous, but with punishments for your loved ones instead of you. I’m not a smoker and I felt Morrison’s withdrawal. Horrible but excellent story. Personal growth?
Really good story. Like a sadistic Alcoholics Anonymous, but with punishments for your loved ones instead of you. I’m not a smoker and I felt Morrison’s withdrawal. Horrible but excellent story. Personal growth?
14. I Know What You Need
Uh-huh, okay, a guy with psychic or seer powers like Danny from The Shining woos his childhood crush by knowing exactly what she wants and needs at every moment without her saying it. I liked the ending, it gave me witchcraft, Necronomicon, voodoo, and a good protagonist.
Uh-huh, okay, a guy with psychic or seer powers like Danny from The Shining woos his childhood crush by knowing exactly what she wants and needs at every moment without her saying it. I liked the ending, it gave me witchcraft, Necronomicon, voodoo, and a good protagonist.
15. Children of the Corn
Didn’t get the ending. Didn’t like it much. If Burt wasn’t such a dumbass, none of this would’ve happened. Nobody walks into a cornfield like it’s nothing. If you hit someone on a deserted road, just keep driving. Ethics? Nah.
Didn’t get the ending. Didn’t like it much. If Burt wasn’t such a dumbass, none of this would’ve happened. Nobody walks into a cornfield like it’s nothing. If you hit someone on a deserted road, just keep driving. Ethics? Nah.
16. The Last Rung on the Ladder
Fuck, this isn’t horror, it’s more a sad story, really well written. Anyone with siblings might feel it right in the heart, I liked it a lot.
Fuck, this isn’t horror, it’s more a sad story, really well written. Anyone with siblings might feel it right in the heart, I liked it a lot.
17. The Man Who Loved Flowers
Joe Goldberg, Stephen King version. Pretty whatever, a guy transformed who kills women because one day he got traumatized by some Norma, who, even though she’s dead, he’s still in love with.
Joe Goldberg, Stephen King version. Pretty whatever, a guy transformed who kills women because one day he got traumatized by some Norma, who, even though she’s dead, he’s still in love with.
18. One for the Road
I’d already read it in my Salem’s Lot edition, good sequel, good story.
I’d already read it in my Salem’s Lot edition, good sequel, good story.
19. The Woman in the Room
I hope the lady really did die. I don’t think this is horror, but another sad story. A son gives pills to his hospitalized mother, who’s practically had a lobotomy, she’s over eighty, can’t move her legs, has cancer, weighs less than forty kilos, and wants to stop feeling her suffering. Would I do it? If my mom asked me, yes.
I hope the lady really did die. I don’t think this is horror, but another sad story. A son gives pills to his hospitalized mother, who’s practically had a lobotomy, she’s over eighty, can’t move her legs, has cancer, weighs less than forty kilos, and wants to stop feeling her suffering. Would I do it? If my mom asked me, yes.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No