Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by anosine
Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales by Stephen King
4.0
Autopsy Room Four - 1/5
Easily the worst of the whole collection. I understand it was written sometime around the turn of the century but the "I'm-unconscious-but-still-awake" idea has been too overdone to excuse it regardless. It also didn't add any unique aspect to it and that might be why I just wasn't bothered by what was going on with the main character and I don't care for the ending very much, it's very cheesy and mildly predictable from King.
The Man in the Black Suit - 4/5
A large step up, this one is simple in the right way. It can be argued that "the dark man" himself, if you know who that is, makes an appearance and he always adds something special to a story. Any semblance of the "stranger danger" theme in a story is pretty creepy no matter what.
All That You Love Will Be Carried Away - 4.5/5
This one doesn't involve any gimmicks or fantastical elements, but is scary in its honesty and how realistic and mundane it is. A favourite. I didn't like the bathroom stop phrases that were the hobby, but a hobby is a hobby and that aspect adds to the overall feel of the story.
The Death of Jack Hamilton - 3/5
A fun story, and one that becomes more interesting with King's foot note at the end about how it came to be. Not really a scary story, but dark in its' execution, when a character is given an opportunity to enjoy something one more time before it all ends. The story adds humanity to people known to have criminal minds.
In the Deathroom - 3.5/5
This story is kind of ridiculous, especially with it's generic-crime-movie ending, but it was such a fun read that its flaws are easy to overlook.
The Little Sisters of Eluria - 5/5
I may admit some bias towards this story due to it focusing so much on Roland Deschain, but it really is a great story and I love when there's overlap with King's other works (even outside Dark Tower) because it makes the story feel so much more alive and important in the world its set in. I love the concept of the Little Sisters.
Everything's Eventual - 5/5
Probably my favourite in the collection, either it or 1408. The concept of a character who can sort of "click and kill" at will has always been fascinating and the mystery behind the Trans corporation and Mr. Sharpton makes it more menacing. Though a better name than "tranny" could have been used as the term for the people involved with them..
L.T.'s Theory of Pets - 2.5/5
Not a horrible story, not really that special either. It tries to teach a lesson about the pet-owner dynamic and the effects and signs that arise from it, ultimately affecting relationships in a family entirely. King appends a short axe-wielding murderer section poorly, but it does make it more interesting and the story might be a good exaggerated telling of how pets can really change life as we know it. It just doesn't feel like it should be in this collection.
The Road Virus Heads North - 4/5
A really creepy story involving moving paintings that follow you in real life. Imagining yourself in that position can be terrifying.
Lunch at the Gotham Cafe - 4/5
I really like this one because it's so funny in how petty the main characters are in the most dire of situations. And that's real life unfortunately. The maitre-d' is one scary guy.
That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French - 4.5/5
I like weird time-lapse-esque stories. This is a great one.
1408 - 5/5
Easily a favourite, arguably the best. The actual happenings in the room were a little bit of a letdown, and I'm sure the story would have benefited from less details during that part, but the set-up was so eerie and well done it has to be overlooked.
Riding the Bullet - 4/5
This story has a sweet message about mothers, but a sick way of getting it across, involving a driving dead man.
Luckey Quarter - 2/5
Weirdly enough, also a sweet story involving a mother. This one is a lot more transparent and not quite dark, as the situation is more mild in the way it comes to be. Enjoyable enough for its hopeful sense, but is pretty forgettable and doesn't belong in this collection.
The top stories are easily The Little Sisters of Eluria, 1408, and Everything's Eventual. I think this is a strong collection of stories, where a couple weren't really necessary, but many of them I would love to read again. One of my favourite things King does is add that horror and fantastical element to an otherwise very dry and unremarkable chain of events, and he does it relatively well.
Overall - 3.7/5
Easily the worst of the whole collection. I understand it was written sometime around the turn of the century but the "I'm-unconscious-but-still-awake" idea has been too overdone to excuse it regardless. It also didn't add any unique aspect to it and that might be why I just wasn't bothered by what was going on with the main character and I don't care for the ending very much, it's very cheesy and mildly predictable from King.
The Man in the Black Suit - 4/5
A large step up, this one is simple in the right way. It can be argued that "the dark man" himself, if you know who that is, makes an appearance and he always adds something special to a story. Any semblance of the "stranger danger" theme in a story is pretty creepy no matter what.
All That You Love Will Be Carried Away - 4.5/5
This one doesn't involve any gimmicks or fantastical elements, but is scary in its honesty and how realistic and mundane it is. A favourite. I didn't like the bathroom stop phrases that were the hobby, but a hobby is a hobby and that aspect adds to the overall feel of the story.
The Death of Jack Hamilton - 3/5
A fun story, and one that becomes more interesting with King's foot note at the end about how it came to be. Not really a scary story, but dark in its' execution, when a character is given an opportunity to enjoy something one more time before it all ends. The story adds humanity to people known to have criminal minds.
In the Deathroom - 3.5/5
This story is kind of ridiculous, especially with it's generic-crime-movie ending, but it was such a fun read that its flaws are easy to overlook.
The Little Sisters of Eluria - 5/5
I may admit some bias towards this story due to it focusing so much on Roland Deschain, but it really is a great story and I love when there's overlap with King's other works (even outside Dark Tower) because it makes the story feel so much more alive and important in the world its set in. I love the concept of the Little Sisters.
Everything's Eventual - 5/5
Probably my favourite in the collection, either it or 1408. The concept of a character who can sort of "click and kill" at will has always been fascinating and the mystery behind the Trans corporation and Mr. Sharpton makes it more menacing. Though a better name than "tranny" could have been used as the term for the people involved with them..
L.T.'s Theory of Pets - 2.5/5
Not a horrible story, not really that special either. It tries to teach a lesson about the pet-owner dynamic and the effects and signs that arise from it, ultimately affecting relationships in a family entirely. King appends a short axe-wielding murderer section poorly, but it does make it more interesting and the story might be a good exaggerated telling of how pets can really change life as we know it. It just doesn't feel like it should be in this collection.
The Road Virus Heads North - 4/5
A really creepy story involving moving paintings that follow you in real life. Imagining yourself in that position can be terrifying.
Lunch at the Gotham Cafe - 4/5
I really like this one because it's so funny in how petty the main characters are in the most dire of situations. And that's real life unfortunately. The maitre-d' is one scary guy.
That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French - 4.5/5
I like weird time-lapse-esque stories. This is a great one.
1408 - 5/5
Easily a favourite, arguably the best. The actual happenings in the room were a little bit of a letdown, and I'm sure the story would have benefited from less details during that part, but the set-up was so eerie and well done it has to be overlooked.
Riding the Bullet - 4/5
This story has a sweet message about mothers, but a sick way of getting it across, involving a driving dead man.
Luckey Quarter - 2/5
Weirdly enough, also a sweet story involving a mother. This one is a lot more transparent and not quite dark, as the situation is more mild in the way it comes to be. Enjoyable enough for its hopeful sense, but is pretty forgettable and doesn't belong in this collection.
The top stories are easily The Little Sisters of Eluria, 1408, and Everything's Eventual. I think this is a strong collection of stories, where a couple weren't really necessary, but many of them I would love to read again. One of my favourite things King does is add that horror and fantastical element to an otherwise very dry and unremarkable chain of events, and he does it relatively well.
Overall - 3.7/5