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馗賱丕賲 丿丕賲爻 賱丕 賳噩賵賲
賵丨丿賴 爻鬲賷賮賳 賰賷賳睾 賷毓乇賮 賰賷賮 賷禺胤賵 賮賷 丕賱馗賱丕賲 亘毓夭賲 賵鬲氐賲賷賲 賵賰賷賮 賷丨賵賱賾 禺胤賵丕鬲賴 廿賱賶 賲賵囟賵毓 賱賱鬲賱賯賷貙 賵廿賱賶 廿賳噩丕夭 乇賵丕卅賷 賷賰卮賮 丕賱噩丕賳亘 丕賱禺賮賷 賱賱賳賮爻 丕賱亘卮乇賷丞 亘丨賷孬 賷氐亘丨 丕賰鬲爻丕丨 賰賱 丕賱賲賳丕胤賯 丕賱賲馗賱賲丞貙 賵鬲賱賲爻 鬲賵鬲乇丕鬲賴丕貙 禺丕乇噩 廿賰乇丕賴丕鬲 賯賵丕賳賷賳 丕賱禺賷乇 賵丕賱卮乇 賲亘乇乇丕賸 乇賵丕卅賷丕賸 賵乇賴丕賳丕賸 廿賳爻丕賳賷丕賸 賱丕 賲丨賷丿 毓賳賴 毓賳丿 賲賳 賷賰鬲亘. 賮賰賷賮 廿匕丕 賰丕賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賴賵 爻鬲賷賮賳 賰賷賳睾 丕賱匕賷 賰鬲亘 乇賵丕賷鬲賴 丕賱兀賵賱賶貙 丕賱賲爻賷乇丞 丕賱胤賵賷賱丞貙 賮賷 爻賳賾 丕賱孬丕賲賳丞 毓卮乇丞 賵賱賲 賷賴丿兀 丨鬲賶 丨賯賯鬲 噩賲賷毓 乇賵丕賷丕鬲賴 賲乇鬲亘丞 丕賱兀賰孬乇 賲亘賷毓丕賸 毓賱賶 賯丕卅賲丞 賳賷賵賷賵乇賰 鬲丕賷賲夭.
賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 兀乇亘毓 賯氐氐 賯氐賷乇丞 賲噩賲毓丞 賮賷 芦馗賱丕賲 丿丕賲爻貙 賱丕 賳噩賵賲禄 鬲鬲賲賷夭 亘賯丿乇鬲賴丕毓賱賶 鬲賲孬賷賱 丕賱禺賮賷 賲賳 丕賱胤亘丕卅毓 賵丕賱爻賱賵賰賷丕鬲 亘賷賳 丕賱亘卮乇 賵丕爻鬲孬賲丕乇賴 賱賱爻賷胤乇丞 毓賱賶 丕賱賲賳丕賮毓. 賱賯丿 亘匕賱 爻鬲賷賮賳 賰賷賳睾 賯氐丕乇賶 噩賴丿賴 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐氐 賱賰賷 賷丿賵賽賾賳 賲丕 賯丿 賷賮毓賱賴 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐貙 賵賰賷賮 賯丿 賷鬲氐乇賾賮賵賳貙 賮賷 亘毓囟 丕賱馗乇賵賮 丕賱賲乇賷毓丞. 丕爻鬲賵丨賶 丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶 芦1922禄 賲賳 賯氐丞 丨賯賷賯賷丞 賮賷 賰鬲丕亘 賷丿毓賶 "乇丨賱丞 賲賵鬲 賵賷爻賰賳爻賳" (1973) 賲賳 鬲兀賱賷賮 賲丕賷賰賱 賱賷夭賷 賵賷鬲囟賲賳 氐賵乇丕賸 賮賵鬲賵睾乇丕賮賷丞賸 丕賱鬲購賯胤鬲 賮賷 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 亘賱丕賰 乇賷賮乇 賮賵賱夭貙 賵賷爻賰賳爻賳. 兀購毓噩亘 爻鬲賷賮賳 賰賷賳睾 亘丕賱毓夭賱丞 丕賱乇賷賮賷丞 賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱氐賵乇 丕賱賮賵鬲賵睾乇丕賮賷丞貙 賵賲馗丕賴乇 丕賱賯爻賵丞 賵丕賱丨乇賲丕賳 丕賱賲乇爻賵賲丞 毓賱賶 賵噩賵賴 丕賱毓丿賷丿 賲賳 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐. 賮兀乇丕丿 丕賱鬲毓亘賷乇 毓賳 匕賱賰 丕賱卮毓賵乇 賮賷 賯氐鬲賴. 亘胤賱 丕賱賯氐丞 賵賽賷賱賮賿乇賻丿 賱賷賱丕賳丿 噩丕賷賲爻貙 賷毓鬲乇賮 賲賳 鬲賱賯丕亍 賳賮爻賴貙 亘兀賳賴 賯鬲賱 夭賵噩鬲賴貙 兀乇賱賷鬲 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳丕 噩丕賷賲爻貙 賵兀禺賮賶 噩孬鬲賴丕 亘乇賲賷賴丕 賮賷 亘卅乇 賯丿賷賲. 亘毓丿 兀賳 禺丿毓 丕亘賳賴 賱賷賮毓賱 匕賱賰. 賵丕賱爻亘亘 禺賱丕賮 毓賱賶 兀乇囟 賵乇孬鬲賴丕 毓賳 兀亘賷賴丕.. 亘賷賳賲丕 丕爻鬲賵丨賶 賯氐丞 芦丕賱爻丕卅賯 丕賱賰亘賷乇禄 毓賳丿賲丕 賰丕賳 賲爻丕賮乇丕賸 毓賱賶 丕賱胤乇賷賯 84 亘賷賳 丕賱賵賱丕賷丕鬲 賵鬲賵賯賮 賮賷 丕爻鬲乇丕丨丞賺 賱廿丨囟丕乇 賵噩亘丞. 禺乇噩 賲賳 丕賱丕爻鬲乇丕丨丞貙 賱賷乇賶 丕賲乇兀丞賸 賯丿 孬購賯亘鬲 毓噩賱丞 爻賷丕乇鬲賴丕 賵鬲鬲賰賱賲 亘噩丿賾賷丞 賲毓 爻丕卅賯 卮丕丨賳丞 賲乇賰賵賳丞 賮賷 丕賱賲賵賯賮 丕賱賲噩丕賵乇 賱爻賷丕乇鬲賴丕 賱賲爻丕毓丿鬲賴丕. 亘胤賱丞 丕賱賯氐丞 "鬲爻賳" 賰丕鬲亘丞 賲乇賲賵賯丞 鬲賱賯鬲 丿毓賵丞 賲賳 丿丕乇 賳卮乇 鬲賳丕爻亘 賲鬲胤賱亘丕鬲賴丕 鬲賲丕賲丕賸. 鬲爻賱賰 "鬲爻賳" 匕賱賰 丕賱胤乇賷賯 丕賱賲賱毓賵賳 84 賮鬲鬲賵賯賮 爻賷丕乇鬲賴丕 賵鬲胤賱亘 賲賳 卮丕亘 囟禺賲 賲爻丕毓丿鬲賴丕 賮賷賳賯囟 毓賱賷賴 賲丨賵賱丕賸 賰賱賾 卮賷亍 廿賱賶 馗賱丕賲. 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 賱賳 鬲囟胤乇 "鬲爻賳" 廿賱賶 兀賳 鬲乇賵賷賴丕 賱兀丨丿 兀亘丿丕賸 賵賱賰賳 賷購賲賰賳 兀賳 鬲賰鬲亘賴丕 亘毓丿賲丕 鬲丨匕賮 賲賳賴丕 賲丕 賷噩亘 丨匕賮賴. 兀賲丕 賯氐丞 芦鬲胤賵賷賱 賲毓賯賵賱禄 賮丕爻鬲賵丨丕賴丕 丕賱賲丐賱賮 賲賳 賲鬲噩乇賴 丕賱賲賮囟賱 "乇噩賱 賰購乇丕鬲 丕賱睾賵賱賮" 賮賷 亘賱丿鬲賴 亘丕賳睾賵乇貙 丨賷孬 賷毓賷卮貙 賵賷乇賶 賰賱賾 賷賵賲 乇噩賱 賰購乇丕鬲 丕賱睾賵賱賮 賷匕賴亘 廿賱賶 賲賱毓亘 丕賱睾賵賱賮 丕賱亘賱丿賷 賮賷 亘丕賳睾賵乇 毓賳丿賲丕 賷鬲丨爻賻賾賳 丕賱胤賯爻貙 賱賷噩賲毓 賲卅丕鬲 賰購乇丕鬲 丕賱睾賵賱賮 丕賱鬲賷 鬲乇賰賴丕 丕賱賱丕毓亘賵賳 禺賱賮賴賲 鬲丨鬲 丕賱孬賱噩. 賷賯賵賱 爻鬲賷賮賳 賰賷賳睾 "毓賳丿賲丕 乇兀賷鬲賴 賮賷 兀丨丿 丕賱兀賷丕賲貙 禺胤乇鬲 毓賱賶 亘丕賱賷 賮賰乇丞 芦鬲胤賵賷賱 賲毓賯賵賱禄. 亘丕賱胤亘毓 兀賳賳賷 噩毓賱鬲購 兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱賯氐丞 鬲丿賵乇 賮賷 丿賽賷乇賷貙 賵賴賷 亘賱丿丞 丕賱賲賴乇賽賾噩 丕賱賲鬲賵賮賶 賵睾賷乇 丕賱賲乇孬賷 亘賷賳賷賵丕乇貙 賱兀賳 丿賽賷乇賷 賴賷 賮賯胤 亘丕賳睾賵乇 賲鬲賳賰賾乇丞 亘丕爻賲 賲禺鬲賱賮". 亘胤賱 丕賱賯氐丞 賴賳丕 "爻鬲乇賷乇" 丕賱匕賷 毓丕卮 丨賷丕丞 賯丕爻賷丞 賵賱賰賳賴 丕爻鬲胤丕毓 鬲兀爻賷爻 卮乇賰丞 賳賮丕賷丕鬲 爻賲賾丕賴丕 丿賽賷乇賷 賱廿夭丕賱丞 丕賱賲禺賱賮丕鬲 賵廿毓丕丿丞 鬲氐賳賷毓賴丕. 賰賲丕 丕爻鬲胤丕毓 兀賳 賷賳噩丨 賮賷 鬲兀爻賷爻 毓丕卅賱丞 兀氐亘丨 兀賮乇丕丿賴丕 賲賳 兀賯胤丕亘 丕賱兀毓賱丕賲. 賵亘毓丿 鬲噩乇亘丞 丨賷丕丞 胤賵賷賱丞 兀氐亘丨 毓賱賶 賯賳丕毓丞 兀賳 "丕賱丨賷丕丞 毓丕丿賱丞" 賵兀賳 "賱賱兀卮賷丕亍 胤乇賷賯鬲賴丕 丕賱禺丕氐丞 賮賷 鬲丨賯賷賯 丕賱鬲賵丕夭賳 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞". 賵鬲兀鬲賷 丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 芦夭賵丕噩 噩賷丿禄 亘毓丿 賯乇丕亍丞 丕賱賲丐賱賮 賲賯丕賱 毓賳 丿賷賳賷爻 乇丕賷丿乇貙 丕賱賯丕鬲賱 丕賱賲毓乇賵賮 亘賱賯亘 (鬲賯賷賷丿貙 鬲毓匕賷亘貙 賯鬲賱) 丕賱匕賷 賯鬲賱 毓卮乇丞 兀卮禺丕氐 鈥� 兀睾賱亘賴賲 賳爻丕亍貙 賱賰賳 丕孬賳賷賳 賲賳 囟丨丕賷丕賴 賰丕賳丕 賵賱丿賻賷賳 鈥� 毓賱賶 丕賲鬲丿丕丿 爻鬲 毓卮乇丞 爻賳丞 鬲賯乇賷亘丕賸. 賵賰丕賳 丕賱賯丕鬲賱 賷乇爻賱 賮賷 丨丕賱丕鬲 毓丿賷丿丞 賯賽胤毓丕賸 賲賳 賴賵賷丕鬲 囟丨丕賷丕賴 廿賱賶 丕賱卮乇胤丞. 亘賯賷鬲 亘賵賱丕 乇丕賷丿乇 賲鬲夭賵噩丞 賲賳 匕賱賰 丕賱賵丨卮 賱兀乇亘毓 賵孬賱丕孬賷賳 爻賳丞貙 賵乇賮囟 丕賱賰孬賷乇賵賳 賮賷 賲賳胤賯丞 賵賷鬲卮賷鬲丕貙 丨賷孬 賯鬲賱 乇丕賷丿乇 囟丨丕賷丕賴貙 鬲氐丿賷賯 兀賳賴 賷賲賰賳賴丕 丕賱毓賷卮 賲毓賴 賵毓丿賲 賲毓乇賮丞 賲丕 賰丕賳 賷賮毓賱賴. 丨賷孬 鬲丿賵乇 兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱賯氐丞 丨賵賱 丕賰鬲卮丕賮 丕賲乇兀丞 賲鬲夭賵噩丞 賲賰丕賳 丕禺鬲亘丕亍 夭賵噩賴丕 丕賱爻乇賷 賮賷 丕賱賲乇丌亘. 賵鬲亘丿兀 亘丕賱丕卮鬲亘丕賴 賮賷 賰賵賳賴 賯丕鬲賱丕賸. 賰鬲亘 爻鬲賷賮賳 賰賷賳睾 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 賱賷爻鬲賰卮賮 賲丕匕丕 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 賷丨氐賱 賮賷 賴賰匕丕 賯囟賷丞 廿匕丕 丕賰鬲卮賮鬲 丕賱夭賵噩丞 賮噩兀丞 賴賵丕賷丞 夭賵噩賴丕 丕賱賲乇賷毓丞. 賵賱賷賯賵賱 兀賷囟丕賸 "賮賰乇丞 兀賳賴 賲賳 丕賱賲爻鬲丨賷賱 賲毓乇賮丞 兀賷 卮禺氐 亘丕賱賰丕賲賱貙 丨鬲賶 兀賰孬乇 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 丕賱匕賷賳 賳丨亘賴賲".
賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 兀乇亘毓 賯氐氐 賯氐賷乇丞 賲噩賲毓丞 賮賷 芦馗賱丕賲 丿丕賲爻貙 賱丕 賳噩賵賲禄 鬲鬲賲賷夭 亘賯丿乇鬲賴丕毓賱賶 鬲賲孬賷賱 丕賱禺賮賷 賲賳 丕賱胤亘丕卅毓 賵丕賱爻賱賵賰賷丕鬲 亘賷賳 丕賱亘卮乇 賵丕爻鬲孬賲丕乇賴 賱賱爻賷胤乇丞 毓賱賶 丕賱賲賳丕賮毓. 賱賯丿 亘匕賱 爻鬲賷賮賳 賰賷賳睾 賯氐丕乇賶 噩賴丿賴 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐氐 賱賰賷 賷丿賵賽賾賳 賲丕 賯丿 賷賮毓賱賴 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐貙 賵賰賷賮 賯丿 賷鬲氐乇賾賮賵賳貙 賮賷 亘毓囟 丕賱馗乇賵賮 丕賱賲乇賷毓丞. 丕爻鬲賵丨賶 丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶 芦1922禄 賲賳 賯氐丞 丨賯賷賯賷丞 賮賷 賰鬲丕亘 賷丿毓賶 "乇丨賱丞 賲賵鬲 賵賷爻賰賳爻賳" (1973) 賲賳 鬲兀賱賷賮 賲丕賷賰賱 賱賷夭賷 賵賷鬲囟賲賳 氐賵乇丕賸 賮賵鬲賵睾乇丕賮賷丞賸 丕賱鬲購賯胤鬲 賮賷 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 亘賱丕賰 乇賷賮乇 賮賵賱夭貙 賵賷爻賰賳爻賳. 兀購毓噩亘 爻鬲賷賮賳 賰賷賳睾 亘丕賱毓夭賱丞 丕賱乇賷賮賷丞 賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱氐賵乇 丕賱賮賵鬲賵睾乇丕賮賷丞貙 賵賲馗丕賴乇 丕賱賯爻賵丞 賵丕賱丨乇賲丕賳 丕賱賲乇爻賵賲丞 毓賱賶 賵噩賵賴 丕賱毓丿賷丿 賲賳 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐. 賮兀乇丕丿 丕賱鬲毓亘賷乇 毓賳 匕賱賰 丕賱卮毓賵乇 賮賷 賯氐鬲賴. 亘胤賱 丕賱賯氐丞 賵賽賷賱賮賿乇賻丿 賱賷賱丕賳丿 噩丕賷賲爻貙 賷毓鬲乇賮 賲賳 鬲賱賯丕亍 賳賮爻賴貙 亘兀賳賴 賯鬲賱 夭賵噩鬲賴貙 兀乇賱賷鬲 賰乇賷爻鬲賷賳丕 噩丕賷賲爻貙 賵兀禺賮賶 噩孬鬲賴丕 亘乇賲賷賴丕 賮賷 亘卅乇 賯丿賷賲. 亘毓丿 兀賳 禺丿毓 丕亘賳賴 賱賷賮毓賱 匕賱賰. 賵丕賱爻亘亘 禺賱丕賮 毓賱賶 兀乇囟 賵乇孬鬲賴丕 毓賳 兀亘賷賴丕.. 亘賷賳賲丕 丕爻鬲賵丨賶 賯氐丞 芦丕賱爻丕卅賯 丕賱賰亘賷乇禄 毓賳丿賲丕 賰丕賳 賲爻丕賮乇丕賸 毓賱賶 丕賱胤乇賷賯 84 亘賷賳 丕賱賵賱丕賷丕鬲 賵鬲賵賯賮 賮賷 丕爻鬲乇丕丨丞賺 賱廿丨囟丕乇 賵噩亘丞. 禺乇噩 賲賳 丕賱丕爻鬲乇丕丨丞貙 賱賷乇賶 丕賲乇兀丞賸 賯丿 孬購賯亘鬲 毓噩賱丞 爻賷丕乇鬲賴丕 賵鬲鬲賰賱賲 亘噩丿賾賷丞 賲毓 爻丕卅賯 卮丕丨賳丞 賲乇賰賵賳丞 賮賷 丕賱賲賵賯賮 丕賱賲噩丕賵乇 賱爻賷丕乇鬲賴丕 賱賲爻丕毓丿鬲賴丕. 亘胤賱丞 丕賱賯氐丞 "鬲爻賳" 賰丕鬲亘丞 賲乇賲賵賯丞 鬲賱賯鬲 丿毓賵丞 賲賳 丿丕乇 賳卮乇 鬲賳丕爻亘 賲鬲胤賱亘丕鬲賴丕 鬲賲丕賲丕賸. 鬲爻賱賰 "鬲爻賳" 匕賱賰 丕賱胤乇賷賯 丕賱賲賱毓賵賳 84 賮鬲鬲賵賯賮 爻賷丕乇鬲賴丕 賵鬲胤賱亘 賲賳 卮丕亘 囟禺賲 賲爻丕毓丿鬲賴丕 賮賷賳賯囟 毓賱賷賴 賲丨賵賱丕賸 賰賱賾 卮賷亍 廿賱賶 馗賱丕賲. 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 賱賳 鬲囟胤乇 "鬲爻賳" 廿賱賶 兀賳 鬲乇賵賷賴丕 賱兀丨丿 兀亘丿丕賸 賵賱賰賳 賷購賲賰賳 兀賳 鬲賰鬲亘賴丕 亘毓丿賲丕 鬲丨匕賮 賲賳賴丕 賲丕 賷噩亘 丨匕賮賴. 兀賲丕 賯氐丞 芦鬲胤賵賷賱 賲毓賯賵賱禄 賮丕爻鬲賵丨丕賴丕 丕賱賲丐賱賮 賲賳 賲鬲噩乇賴 丕賱賲賮囟賱 "乇噩賱 賰購乇丕鬲 丕賱睾賵賱賮" 賮賷 亘賱丿鬲賴 亘丕賳睾賵乇貙 丨賷孬 賷毓賷卮貙 賵賷乇賶 賰賱賾 賷賵賲 乇噩賱 賰購乇丕鬲 丕賱睾賵賱賮 賷匕賴亘 廿賱賶 賲賱毓亘 丕賱睾賵賱賮 丕賱亘賱丿賷 賮賷 亘丕賳睾賵乇 毓賳丿賲丕 賷鬲丨爻賻賾賳 丕賱胤賯爻貙 賱賷噩賲毓 賲卅丕鬲 賰購乇丕鬲 丕賱睾賵賱賮 丕賱鬲賷 鬲乇賰賴丕 丕賱賱丕毓亘賵賳 禺賱賮賴賲 鬲丨鬲 丕賱孬賱噩. 賷賯賵賱 爻鬲賷賮賳 賰賷賳睾 "毓賳丿賲丕 乇兀賷鬲賴 賮賷 兀丨丿 丕賱兀賷丕賲貙 禺胤乇鬲 毓賱賶 亘丕賱賷 賮賰乇丞 芦鬲胤賵賷賱 賲毓賯賵賱禄. 亘丕賱胤亘毓 兀賳賳賷 噩毓賱鬲購 兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱賯氐丞 鬲丿賵乇 賮賷 丿賽賷乇賷貙 賵賴賷 亘賱丿丞 丕賱賲賴乇賽賾噩 丕賱賲鬲賵賮賶 賵睾賷乇 丕賱賲乇孬賷 亘賷賳賷賵丕乇貙 賱兀賳 丿賽賷乇賷 賴賷 賮賯胤 亘丕賳睾賵乇 賲鬲賳賰賾乇丞 亘丕爻賲 賲禺鬲賱賮". 亘胤賱 丕賱賯氐丞 賴賳丕 "爻鬲乇賷乇" 丕賱匕賷 毓丕卮 丨賷丕丞 賯丕爻賷丞 賵賱賰賳賴 丕爻鬲胤丕毓 鬲兀爻賷爻 卮乇賰丞 賳賮丕賷丕鬲 爻賲賾丕賴丕 丿賽賷乇賷 賱廿夭丕賱丞 丕賱賲禺賱賮丕鬲 賵廿毓丕丿丞 鬲氐賳賷毓賴丕. 賰賲丕 丕爻鬲胤丕毓 兀賳 賷賳噩丨 賮賷 鬲兀爻賷爻 毓丕卅賱丞 兀氐亘丨 兀賮乇丕丿賴丕 賲賳 兀賯胤丕亘 丕賱兀毓賱丕賲. 賵亘毓丿 鬲噩乇亘丞 丨賷丕丞 胤賵賷賱丞 兀氐亘丨 毓賱賶 賯賳丕毓丞 兀賳 "丕賱丨賷丕丞 毓丕丿賱丞" 賵兀賳 "賱賱兀卮賷丕亍 胤乇賷賯鬲賴丕 丕賱禺丕氐丞 賮賷 鬲丨賯賷賯 丕賱鬲賵丕夭賳 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞". 賵鬲兀鬲賷 丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 芦夭賵丕噩 噩賷丿禄 亘毓丿 賯乇丕亍丞 丕賱賲丐賱賮 賲賯丕賱 毓賳 丿賷賳賷爻 乇丕賷丿乇貙 丕賱賯丕鬲賱 丕賱賲毓乇賵賮 亘賱賯亘 (鬲賯賷賷丿貙 鬲毓匕賷亘貙 賯鬲賱) 丕賱匕賷 賯鬲賱 毓卮乇丞 兀卮禺丕氐 鈥� 兀睾賱亘賴賲 賳爻丕亍貙 賱賰賳 丕孬賳賷賳 賲賳 囟丨丕賷丕賴 賰丕賳丕 賵賱丿賻賷賳 鈥� 毓賱賶 丕賲鬲丿丕丿 爻鬲 毓卮乇丞 爻賳丞 鬲賯乇賷亘丕賸. 賵賰丕賳 丕賱賯丕鬲賱 賷乇爻賱 賮賷 丨丕賱丕鬲 毓丿賷丿丞 賯賽胤毓丕賸 賲賳 賴賵賷丕鬲 囟丨丕賷丕賴 廿賱賶 丕賱卮乇胤丞. 亘賯賷鬲 亘賵賱丕 乇丕賷丿乇 賲鬲夭賵噩丞 賲賳 匕賱賰 丕賱賵丨卮 賱兀乇亘毓 賵孬賱丕孬賷賳 爻賳丞貙 賵乇賮囟 丕賱賰孬賷乇賵賳 賮賷 賲賳胤賯丞 賵賷鬲卮賷鬲丕貙 丨賷孬 賯鬲賱 乇丕賷丿乇 囟丨丕賷丕賴貙 鬲氐丿賷賯 兀賳賴 賷賲賰賳賴丕 丕賱毓賷卮 賲毓賴 賵毓丿賲 賲毓乇賮丞 賲丕 賰丕賳 賷賮毓賱賴. 丨賷孬 鬲丿賵乇 兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱賯氐丞 丨賵賱 丕賰鬲卮丕賮 丕賲乇兀丞 賲鬲夭賵噩丞 賲賰丕賳 丕禺鬲亘丕亍 夭賵噩賴丕 丕賱爻乇賷 賮賷 丕賱賲乇丌亘. 賵鬲亘丿兀 亘丕賱丕卮鬲亘丕賴 賮賷 賰賵賳賴 賯丕鬲賱丕賸. 賰鬲亘 爻鬲賷賮賳 賰賷賳睾 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 賱賷爻鬲賰卮賮 賲丕匕丕 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 賷丨氐賱 賮賷 賴賰匕丕 賯囟賷丞 廿匕丕 丕賰鬲卮賮鬲 丕賱夭賵噩丞 賮噩兀丞 賴賵丕賷丞 夭賵噩賴丕 丕賱賲乇賷毓丞. 賵賱賷賯賵賱 兀賷囟丕賸 "賮賰乇丞 兀賳賴 賲賳 丕賱賲爻鬲丨賷賱 賲毓乇賮丞 兀賷 卮禺氐 亘丕賱賰丕賲賱貙 丨鬲賶 兀賰孬乇 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 丕賱匕賷賳 賳丨亘賴賲".
527 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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About the author
Stephen King
2,581听books871k听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 8,107 reviews
January 30, 2023
Originally published in the Guardian:
Novellas are an odd form of writing, and there is no love for them in publishing. They are the wrong size. You need about four of them to make a standard-sized book.
It has been almost 30 years since Stephen King's first set of four novellas, Different Seasons, four stories written in the golden dawn of his career. They were mostly fantasy-free, and three of them were filmed (as Stand By Me, The Shawshank Redemption and Apt Pupil). They were sharp, smart, dark stories of a perfect length to film 鈥� longer than the short stories King had written for men's magazines early in his career, shorter than the blockbuster novels he had started to carve out, following the success of Carrie (which was itself a novella, padded out to novel-length with commentary on the events of the book).
It has been 20 years since Four Past Midnight, from King's hazy afternoon period. Another four stories, less remarkable (one film, Secret Window, one TV special, The Langoliers).
Now, in the evening of his immense career, we get Full Dark, No Stars, a final set of four novellas. (At least, it is easy to presume that this is the final set. It is also perfectly conceivable that King, 63, who talks about retiring and laying down his pen, but for whom ceasing to write seems unthinkable, will bring out another set 20 years from now.)
King in novella form tends to avoid or to downplay the supernatural. "1922", the opening story, is simply as good as anything he has done. Inspired, King says in his afterword, by Michael Lesy's collection of clippings and photographs Wisconsin Death Trip (1973) (a book that I sometimes imagine must have inspired as many books as it has sold), it is a first-person narrative: Wilfred Leland James, a small farmer in Nebraska, murders his wife, having first talked his 14-year-old son into helping him. "I cozened him into it, playing upon his fears and beating down his quite normal objections over a period of two months," James tells us. "This is a thing I regret even more bitterly than the crime, for reasons this document will show." And show us he does. The murder of his wife and disposal of her body in a well is only the beginning: the consequences, for James, for his son and for their neighbours, are far-reaching, monstrous and inevitable. It's compulsive reading, sometimes scary, revolting, ultimately heartbreaking and King tells it in a precise manner that's far from his usual voice. There is a hint of the supernatural in it, although the borderline between a haunting and madness here is a hairline fracture, and one that King exploits elegantly all the way to the end.
"Big Driver", the second novella, is told in King's usual voice: it's easy, comfortable reading, deceptively so. Like many of his stories, it features a writer, in this case Tess, author of a series of uninspired mysteries, who has just driven to give a talk to a small-town book club. On her way home she's sent on a short cut, and is brutally raped and almost murdered by the eponymous "big driver". An efficient revenge fantasy, this was the only one of the stories in which the beats were predictable, and, for me, it was the least satisfying. I took the most pleasure in the snapshot of contemporary America in the background of the story.
"Fair Extension" begins as pastiche, gentle, amiable and insinuating. It appears to be a John Collier story, a classical "deal with the devil" tale. Dave Streeter is dying of a cancer that is rapid and incurable. A mysterious Mr Elvid offers him a life extension: he'll get at least 15 years of healthy life. But there is a catch (there is always a catch): if good things are happening to Streeter, bad things must happen to someone he hates, in this case his best friend.
While it begins as a pastiche, it does something else as it goes. The story gains its power from its betrayal of deal-with-the-devil tropes: there is no twist ending, no clever way out. It becomes an act of extended sadism in which the reader is initially complicit and then increasingly horrified. The anagrammatic Mr Elvid tells us that he "wouldn't know a soul if it bit me on the buttocks", but we are watching Streeter's soul being taken, a little at a time, until there's nothing left.
The final novella, "A Good Marriage", is a simple idea, perfectly told. Darcy Anderson has been married to her husband Bob, an accountant and coin collector, for almost 30 years. "It was a good marriage, one of the fifty percent or so that kept working over the long haul. She believed that in the same unquestioning way that she believed that gravity would hold her to the earth when she walked down the sidewalk. Until that night in the garage." Bob is off on a business trip. In the garage that night, Darcy finds a box containing evidence that tells her that Bob might be a serial killer. But Bob is coming home.
These are stories of retribution and complicity: of crimes that seem inevitable, of ways that we justify the world to ourselves and ourselves to the world. Powerful, and each in its own way profoundly nasty.
In his afterword, King states that he wanted the stories to linger in the imagination. And they do. They linger, and perhaps sometimes they even fester. But they are never less than satisfying and are fine stories to take with us into the night.
Novellas are an odd form of writing, and there is no love for them in publishing. They are the wrong size. You need about four of them to make a standard-sized book.
It has been almost 30 years since Stephen King's first set of four novellas, Different Seasons, four stories written in the golden dawn of his career. They were mostly fantasy-free, and three of them were filmed (as Stand By Me, The Shawshank Redemption and Apt Pupil). They were sharp, smart, dark stories of a perfect length to film 鈥� longer than the short stories King had written for men's magazines early in his career, shorter than the blockbuster novels he had started to carve out, following the success of Carrie (which was itself a novella, padded out to novel-length with commentary on the events of the book).
It has been 20 years since Four Past Midnight, from King's hazy afternoon period. Another four stories, less remarkable (one film, Secret Window, one TV special, The Langoliers).
Now, in the evening of his immense career, we get Full Dark, No Stars, a final set of four novellas. (At least, it is easy to presume that this is the final set. It is also perfectly conceivable that King, 63, who talks about retiring and laying down his pen, but for whom ceasing to write seems unthinkable, will bring out another set 20 years from now.)
King in novella form tends to avoid or to downplay the supernatural. "1922", the opening story, is simply as good as anything he has done. Inspired, King says in his afterword, by Michael Lesy's collection of clippings and photographs Wisconsin Death Trip (1973) (a book that I sometimes imagine must have inspired as many books as it has sold), it is a first-person narrative: Wilfred Leland James, a small farmer in Nebraska, murders his wife, having first talked his 14-year-old son into helping him. "I cozened him into it, playing upon his fears and beating down his quite normal objections over a period of two months," James tells us. "This is a thing I regret even more bitterly than the crime, for reasons this document will show." And show us he does. The murder of his wife and disposal of her body in a well is only the beginning: the consequences, for James, for his son and for their neighbours, are far-reaching, monstrous and inevitable. It's compulsive reading, sometimes scary, revolting, ultimately heartbreaking and King tells it in a precise manner that's far from his usual voice. There is a hint of the supernatural in it, although the borderline between a haunting and madness here is a hairline fracture, and one that King exploits elegantly all the way to the end.
"Big Driver", the second novella, is told in King's usual voice: it's easy, comfortable reading, deceptively so. Like many of his stories, it features a writer, in this case Tess, author of a series of uninspired mysteries, who has just driven to give a talk to a small-town book club. On her way home she's sent on a short cut, and is brutally raped and almost murdered by the eponymous "big driver". An efficient revenge fantasy, this was the only one of the stories in which the beats were predictable, and, for me, it was the least satisfying. I took the most pleasure in the snapshot of contemporary America in the background of the story.
"Fair Extension" begins as pastiche, gentle, amiable and insinuating. It appears to be a John Collier story, a classical "deal with the devil" tale. Dave Streeter is dying of a cancer that is rapid and incurable. A mysterious Mr Elvid offers him a life extension: he'll get at least 15 years of healthy life. But there is a catch (there is always a catch): if good things are happening to Streeter, bad things must happen to someone he hates, in this case his best friend.
While it begins as a pastiche, it does something else as it goes. The story gains its power from its betrayal of deal-with-the-devil tropes: there is no twist ending, no clever way out. It becomes an act of extended sadism in which the reader is initially complicit and then increasingly horrified. The anagrammatic Mr Elvid tells us that he "wouldn't know a soul if it bit me on the buttocks", but we are watching Streeter's soul being taken, a little at a time, until there's nothing left.
The final novella, "A Good Marriage", is a simple idea, perfectly told. Darcy Anderson has been married to her husband Bob, an accountant and coin collector, for almost 30 years. "It was a good marriage, one of the fifty percent or so that kept working over the long haul. She believed that in the same unquestioning way that she believed that gravity would hold her to the earth when she walked down the sidewalk. Until that night in the garage." Bob is off on a business trip. In the garage that night, Darcy finds a box containing evidence that tells her that Bob might be a serial killer. But Bob is coming home.
These are stories of retribution and complicity: of crimes that seem inevitable, of ways that we justify the world to ourselves and ourselves to the world. Powerful, and each in its own way profoundly nasty.
In his afterword, King states that he wanted the stories to linger in the imagination. And they do. They linger, and perhaps sometimes they even fester. But they are never less than satisfying and are fine stories to take with us into the night.
January 11, 2025
Full Dark, No Stars is a dark, harrowing Horror collection that includes four devastatingly vivid stories.
For many years, King's Different Seasons claimed the title as my #1 favorite, short-story collection. Well, you heard it hear first, folks:
times, they are a changing!
That honor now goes to this delightfully dark collection that tells the tales of ordinary people placed into extraordinary, and gut-churning, circumstances.
The novellas within Full Dark, No Stars each examine the deepest, darkest corners of the human condition.
My ratings for each of the stories are as follows:
1922: 5-stars
Big Driver: 5-stars
Fair Extension: 5-stars
A Good Marriage: 4.5-stars
I was pulled deep into every story, until the entire atmosphere engulfed me.
The characters, as always with King, were so believably written. Their thoughts were relatable and although grim, peppered with classic King humor.
I cannot believe that I waited this long to read this collection. It's certain to be the first reading of many.
I love to reread King books, as I always notice new things with rereads. Overall, I felt this was absolutely superb!
If you can do gruesome and chilling, this is for you. Pick it up and be ready to be petrified by the worst monsters of all: mankind.
For many years, King's Different Seasons claimed the title as my #1 favorite, short-story collection. Well, you heard it hear first, folks:
times, they are a changing!
That honor now goes to this delightfully dark collection that tells the tales of ordinary people placed into extraordinary, and gut-churning, circumstances.
The novellas within Full Dark, No Stars each examine the deepest, darkest corners of the human condition.
My ratings for each of the stories are as follows:
1922: 5-stars
Big Driver: 5-stars
Fair Extension: 5-stars
A Good Marriage: 4.5-stars
I was pulled deep into every story, until the entire atmosphere engulfed me.
The characters, as always with King, were so believably written. Their thoughts were relatable and although grim, peppered with classic King humor.
I cannot believe that I waited this long to read this collection. It's certain to be the first reading of many.
I love to reread King books, as I always notice new things with rereads. Overall, I felt this was absolutely superb!
If you can do gruesome and chilling, this is for you. Pick it up and be ready to be petrified by the worst monsters of all: mankind.
October 18, 2022
乇噩賱丕 賰賳鬲 丕賲 丕賲乇丕丞..賰賴賱丕 賰賳鬲 丕賲 氐亘賷丕..馗丕賱賲丕 賰賳鬲 丕賲 賲馗賱賵賲丕..孬乇賷丕 賰賳鬲 丕賲 賮賯賷乇..卮賯賷丕 賰賳鬲 丕賲 爻毓賷丿
賮賷 賱丨馗丞 賲丕..賮賷 賷賵賲.賲丕 爻鬲噩丿 賳賮爻賰..鬲禺胤胤..鬲賯乇乇..賵鬲賯鬲賱!賳毓賲 鬲賯鬲賱..賴賰匕丕 賵 亘亘爻丕胤丞
..賯丿 鬲胤賵賱 禺胤鬲賰 丕賵 鬲賯氐乇..賵 賱賰賳賰 鬲毓賱賲 丕賳賰 爻鬲賮毓賱賴丕..胤丕賱賲丕 夭丕乇賰 卮賷胤丕賳 丕賱賯鬲賱 賵 賵爻賵爻 賱賰 ..賲乇丞
丕賯賳毓賳賷 賰賷賳噩 亘毓亘賯乇賷丞 賱丕 鬲氐丿賯..毓亘乇 兀夭賲賳丞 賲鬲毓丿丿丞..兀賲丕賰賳 賲鬲賳丕賯囟丞 ..賵毓亘乇 賳賲丕匕噩 亘卮乇賷丞 賲賳鬲賯丕丞 亘亘乇丕毓丞..丕賳 丕賱賯鬲賱 賴賵 丕賱睾乇賷夭丞 丕賱賲禺賮賷丞 賱丿賷賳丕 噩賲賷毓丕..
丕賳鬲 賯丿 賱丕 鬲噩丿 兀爻亘丕亘丕" 賰丕賮賷丞 賱賯鬲賱 兀丨丿賴賲..*亘毓丿*丕
丕賳丕 賯丿 賷賰賵賳 賱丿賷 毓卮乇丕鬲 丕賱兀爻亘丕亘..賵賱賰賳賴丕 鬲賱賰 丕賱賱丨馗丞 *丕賱囟賱賲丞 丕賱賰丨賱*鬲鬲賲賱賰 賲賳賰 賵鬲睾賷乇賰..賱賱兀亘丿..
丕乇亘毓 乇賵丕賷丕鬲 賯氐賷乇丞 馃晸..
亘賱睾丞 爻賴賱丞 賵丕爻賱賵亘 丕爻乇 ..鬲爻鬲丨賯 賰賱 賱丨馗丞 賲賳 賵賯鬲賰..
毓賳 兀卮禺丕氐 "毓丕丿賷賵賳" 賵噩丿賵丕 兀賳賮爻賴賲 賮賷 馗乇賵賮 睾賷乇 毓丕丿賷丞貨 賯丕丿鬲賴賲 :賱賱賯鬲賱 丕賱賵丕毓賷 賲毓 爻亘賯 丕賱丕氐乇丕乇
丕賯賱賴賲 鬲賮囟賷賱丕 毓賳丿賷 賴賷: 鬲賲丿賷丿 毓丕丿賱
/review/show...
孬賱丕孬丞 賲賳賴賲 鬲賲 鬲賳賮賷匕賴賲 賮賷 丕賮賱丕賲 丨賯賯鬲 賳噩丕丨丕 ..賵 賴賷 丕賮賱丕賲
1922
A good marriage
/review/show...
A big driver
賵 丕禺賷乇丕 鬲賲鬲 鬲乇噩賲鬲賴丕
賱賰賳賶 賲賲賳 賷賮囟賱賵賳 賰賷賳噩 亘賱睾鬲賴 丕賱丕賳噩賱賷夭賷丞 賱丕賳 丕賱丕賮賱丕賲 賵 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞..鬲賮賯丿賴 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 乇賵丨賴
anyone can kill ...the King proved it..and convinced me..not once or twice..but 4 times..he did not loose his edge not by age or illness > he is and still and.. will be the:King
賮賷 賱丨馗丞 賲丕..賮賷 賷賵賲.賲丕 爻鬲噩丿 賳賮爻賰..鬲禺胤胤..鬲賯乇乇..賵鬲賯鬲賱!賳毓賲 鬲賯鬲賱..賴賰匕丕 賵 亘亘爻丕胤丞
..賯丿 鬲胤賵賱 禺胤鬲賰 丕賵 鬲賯氐乇..賵 賱賰賳賰 鬲毓賱賲 丕賳賰 爻鬲賮毓賱賴丕..胤丕賱賲丕 夭丕乇賰 卮賷胤丕賳 丕賱賯鬲賱 賵 賵爻賵爻 賱賰 ..賲乇丞
丕賯賳毓賳賷 賰賷賳噩 亘毓亘賯乇賷丞 賱丕 鬲氐丿賯..毓亘乇 兀夭賲賳丞 賲鬲毓丿丿丞..兀賲丕賰賳 賲鬲賳丕賯囟丞 ..賵毓亘乇 賳賲丕匕噩 亘卮乇賷丞 賲賳鬲賯丕丞 亘亘乇丕毓丞..丕賳 丕賱賯鬲賱 賴賵 丕賱睾乇賷夭丞 丕賱賲禺賮賷丞 賱丿賷賳丕 噩賲賷毓丕..
丕賳鬲 賯丿 賱丕 鬲噩丿 兀爻亘丕亘丕" 賰丕賮賷丞 賱賯鬲賱 兀丨丿賴賲..*亘毓丿*丕
丕賳丕 賯丿 賷賰賵賳 賱丿賷 毓卮乇丕鬲 丕賱兀爻亘丕亘..賵賱賰賳賴丕 鬲賱賰 丕賱賱丨馗丞 *丕賱囟賱賲丞 丕賱賰丨賱*鬲鬲賲賱賰 賲賳賰 賵鬲睾賷乇賰..賱賱兀亘丿..
丕乇亘毓 乇賵丕賷丕鬲 賯氐賷乇丞 馃晸..
亘賱睾丞 爻賴賱丞 賵丕爻賱賵亘 丕爻乇 ..鬲爻鬲丨賯 賰賱 賱丨馗丞 賲賳 賵賯鬲賰..
毓賳 兀卮禺丕氐 "毓丕丿賷賵賳" 賵噩丿賵丕 兀賳賮爻賴賲 賮賷 馗乇賵賮 睾賷乇 毓丕丿賷丞貨 賯丕丿鬲賴賲 :賱賱賯鬲賱 丕賱賵丕毓賷 賲毓 爻亘賯 丕賱丕氐乇丕乇
丕賯賱賴賲 鬲賮囟賷賱丕 毓賳丿賷 賴賷: 鬲賲丿賷丿 毓丕丿賱
/review/show...
孬賱丕孬丞 賲賳賴賲 鬲賲 鬲賳賮賷匕賴賲 賮賷 丕賮賱丕賲 丨賯賯鬲 賳噩丕丨丕 ..賵 賴賷 丕賮賱丕賲
1922
A good marriage
/review/show...
A big driver
賵 丕禺賷乇丕 鬲賲鬲 鬲乇噩賲鬲賴丕
賱賰賳賶 賲賲賳 賷賮囟賱賵賳 賰賷賳噩 亘賱睾鬲賴 丕賱丕賳噩賱賷夭賷丞 賱丕賳 丕賱丕賮賱丕賲 賵 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞..鬲賮賯丿賴 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 乇賵丨賴
anyone can kill ...the King proved it..and convinced me..not once or twice..but 4 times..he did not loose his edge not by age or illness > he is and still and.. will be the:King
September 9, 2019
"Life is fair. We all get the same nine-month shake in the box, and then the dice roll. Some people get a run of sevens. Some people, unfortunately, get snake-eyes. It's just how the world is."
Full Dark, No Stars is a collection of 4 novellas in which King explores the "dark side" to people, and how exactly would you react if placed in certain situations? For example, what would you do if you found out that your husband of over 20 years has been hiding a dark secret? How would you react if a a psychopath raped you and left you for dead? If given the opportunity to pass your hardships onto someone else... would you?
One of my favourite aspects, and one of the most horrifying things, about this collection is that some of these scenarios could actually happen. You could very easily find yourself in a situation where you don't know your spouse as well as you thought you did. And there is definitely the potential to encounter brutal rapists/murderers whilst driving down quiet backroads. Although there is a slight supernatural element to 1922, there is still the very real possibility of making one single bad decision that will continue to impact and haunt you for years. Even the story Fair Extension makes you question how far you are willing to go to save your own ass at the detriment of someone else.
1922 was a great opener for the collection, it was scary, hard-hitting, and sucks you into the story very quickly. One of the best short stories (or novellas, whatever) that I've ever read from King. It was brilliant! Next up was Big Driver, which was hard to read at times; it was brutal, visceral and terrifying, especially reading this as a woman. I can't deny that I have recently felt uneasy driving down the backroads around my house...maybe stick to main busy roads in future! Fair Extension was awesome, I loved how King juxtaposed the fate of the two families. I'd read an entire book based on that story and idea. Lastly, A Good Marriage. This was one I felt slightly less excited about reading about as I had already watched the adaptation last year and just thought it was okay. But I REALLY enjoyed this one - Darcy is a badass. I can't even begin to imagine what I would do in that scenario.
It's very easy to see where the title for this collection comes from - these are dark, heavy stories, with pretty much no light or positive outcomes. I thoroughly enjoyed each story and would probably give each individual novella five stars, which is very rare when it comes to collections of short stories or novellas. I can honestly say I was sad to come to the end of this collection and I think I now have a new book to recommend to people who are looking to venture into the world of King. Highly recommend this one!!
King, I missed you.
Full Dark, No Stars is a collection of 4 novellas in which King explores the "dark side" to people, and how exactly would you react if placed in certain situations? For example, what would you do if you found out that your husband of over 20 years has been hiding a dark secret? How would you react if a a psychopath raped you and left you for dead? If given the opportunity to pass your hardships onto someone else... would you?
One of my favourite aspects, and one of the most horrifying things, about this collection is that some of these scenarios could actually happen. You could very easily find yourself in a situation where you don't know your spouse as well as you thought you did. And there is definitely the potential to encounter brutal rapists/murderers whilst driving down quiet backroads. Although there is a slight supernatural element to 1922, there is still the very real possibility of making one single bad decision that will continue to impact and haunt you for years. Even the story Fair Extension makes you question how far you are willing to go to save your own ass at the detriment of someone else.
1922 was a great opener for the collection, it was scary, hard-hitting, and sucks you into the story very quickly. One of the best short stories (or novellas, whatever) that I've ever read from King. It was brilliant! Next up was Big Driver, which was hard to read at times; it was brutal, visceral and terrifying, especially reading this as a woman. I can't deny that I have recently felt uneasy driving down the backroads around my house...maybe stick to main busy roads in future! Fair Extension was awesome, I loved how King juxtaposed the fate of the two families. I'd read an entire book based on that story and idea. Lastly, A Good Marriage. This was one I felt slightly less excited about reading about as I had already watched the adaptation last year and just thought it was okay. But I REALLY enjoyed this one - Darcy is a badass. I can't even begin to imagine what I would do in that scenario.
It's very easy to see where the title for this collection comes from - these are dark, heavy stories, with pretty much no light or positive outcomes. I thoroughly enjoyed each story and would probably give each individual novella five stars, which is very rare when it comes to collections of short stories or novellas. I can honestly say I was sad to come to the end of this collection and I think I now have a new book to recommend to people who are looking to venture into the world of King. Highly recommend this one!!
King, I missed you.
December 12, 2010
There鈥檚 a fair amount of criticism out there about Stephen King. A lot of it is valid, but there are certain times that he鈥檚 the perfect author to be reading. Like last night when a winter storm blew through. Freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and high winds made it look like an Artic wasteland outside. As I lay reading under my warm blankets, I paused for a moment and listened to the wind making the house creak and the sleet hitting the windows, and thought, 鈥淭his is just about the perfect setting to be reading a Stephen King book.鈥� The fact that it was a very damn good Stephen King book was an excellent bonus.
As if to give us a break after recent high page count books like Under the Dome and Duma Key, King delivers four short-n-sweet novellas focusing on the nastier sides of people with just a hint of the supernatural. These are four tales about the lives we build that we tell ourselves our safe, sane and secure, but there鈥檚 always darkness lurking at the edges. King points out that sometimes we鈥檙e the ones who invite that darkness in.
In 1922, a Depression-era farmer in the Midwest just wants to work with his son and read books in the evening, but his wife wants to sell some land her father left her to a hog factory and use the money to move to the city. When the two can鈥檛 reach an agreement, the farmer decides to murder her and hide the body in an old well. Even worse, he manipulates his son into helping. What results is a chilling story of the unintended consequences that one crime and the ensuing guilt can cause.
Big Driver features Tess, an author who writes cozy mysteries about a group of elderly amateur female detectives that are popular with grandma-types. Taking a short cut home from a speaking/signing engagement, a flat tire leads to Tess being raped and left for dead. After escaping, Tess realizes that since she鈥檚 a quasi-celebrity going to the police would result in a media firestorm that would taint the rest of her life so she decides to seek her own revenge.
Dave Streeter is a man with terminal cancer who gets a mysterious offer for fifteen more healthy years of life in Fair Extension, but he has to nominate someone to get a heaping dose of bad luck in his place. Since he鈥檚 got a lot of resentment and grudges against his best friend Tom and his perfect life, Streeter decides that his old buddy deserves some misfortune.
The question in A Good Marriage is how well do you know your spouse? Darcy and Bob have been together 25 years and if things are a bit dull and ordinary at this point, they鈥檝e built a good life and are generally content. When Bob鈥檚 away on business, Darcy goes looking for batteries in the garage and discovers a horrifying secret that her husband has been keeping.
This is some of the best stuff that King has done in years. By focusing on human nature rather than supernatural monsters, he was able to create some very relatable yet scary stories. We know that we won鈥檛 really be trapped in old hotels filled with ghosts or live in a town overrun by vampires or chased by demon cars that drive themselves. But getting a flat tire on a lonely road? Finding a dark secret about a spouse? Being jealous of a friend doing better than yourself? Watching your life unravel because of a bad decision you鈥檝e tried to hide? Those are things that we really fear, and King uses them all skillfully to deliver some of his creepiest stories yet.
As if to give us a break after recent high page count books like Under the Dome and Duma Key, King delivers four short-n-sweet novellas focusing on the nastier sides of people with just a hint of the supernatural. These are four tales about the lives we build that we tell ourselves our safe, sane and secure, but there鈥檚 always darkness lurking at the edges. King points out that sometimes we鈥檙e the ones who invite that darkness in.
In 1922, a Depression-era farmer in the Midwest just wants to work with his son and read books in the evening, but his wife wants to sell some land her father left her to a hog factory and use the money to move to the city. When the two can鈥檛 reach an agreement, the farmer decides to murder her and hide the body in an old well. Even worse, he manipulates his son into helping. What results is a chilling story of the unintended consequences that one crime and the ensuing guilt can cause.
Big Driver features Tess, an author who writes cozy mysteries about a group of elderly amateur female detectives that are popular with grandma-types. Taking a short cut home from a speaking/signing engagement, a flat tire leads to Tess being raped and left for dead. After escaping, Tess realizes that since she鈥檚 a quasi-celebrity going to the police would result in a media firestorm that would taint the rest of her life so she decides to seek her own revenge.
Dave Streeter is a man with terminal cancer who gets a mysterious offer for fifteen more healthy years of life in Fair Extension, but he has to nominate someone to get a heaping dose of bad luck in his place. Since he鈥檚 got a lot of resentment and grudges against his best friend Tom and his perfect life, Streeter decides that his old buddy deserves some misfortune.
The question in A Good Marriage is how well do you know your spouse? Darcy and Bob have been together 25 years and if things are a bit dull and ordinary at this point, they鈥檝e built a good life and are generally content. When Bob鈥檚 away on business, Darcy goes looking for batteries in the garage and discovers a horrifying secret that her husband has been keeping.
This is some of the best stuff that King has done in years. By focusing on human nature rather than supernatural monsters, he was able to create some very relatable yet scary stories. We know that we won鈥檛 really be trapped in old hotels filled with ghosts or live in a town overrun by vampires or chased by demon cars that drive themselves. But getting a flat tire on a lonely road? Finding a dark secret about a spouse? Being jealous of a friend doing better than yourself? Watching your life unravel because of a bad decision you鈥檝e tried to hide? Those are things that we really fear, and King uses them all skillfully to deliver some of his creepiest stories yet.
April 3, 2021
Four dark novellas, with probably being the best and the darkest. This collection also contains, , and , as well as the short . Retribution, revenge, and never really knowing someone are the main themes, tapping into the core fear of most humans in that we don't really get to know anyone - we just get to know and see what people are prepared to share / show? 8 out of 12.
March 23, 2017
4.5 Stars.
Very Dark and "Wonderfully Gruesome" collection.
Was happy to have found this gem when cleaning and reorganizing one of my too-many to-read bookshelves here at home, and even though I find I've already read each and every one...SHEESH...I actually didn't remember the ending on a couple of them so all is well, and having a real KING book is hardly a hardship after all.
1922 - 5 Stars
A marital disagreement to sell or not to sell...the farm, that is...turns deadly, but RATS!...Talk about having a bad year...you'll find one of the worst you can imagine here. Repulsively Good!
BIG DRIVER - 4 Stars
Stranded on a deserted back road with a blown tire in the middle of the night is creepy in itself, but even scarier (for a female) when GIANT size help arrives. In the end, though, he is NOT the only danger.
FAIR EXTENSION - 4 Stars
We're back in Derry (oh no!) to consider a devilish proposition, and enjoy a wickedly horrid story.
A GOOD MARRIAGE - 5 Stars
Shocking, suspenseful and a deadly good short story depicting a BIG marital secret of the deadly kind. (Enjoyed the movie too!)
UNDER THE WEATHER - 4 Stars
Bad dreams and bad smells turn into a heartbreaker of a story as the neighbor smells a rat!
FULL DARK NO STARS is a page-turning anthology with an Afterword filled with interesting personal tidbits about KING and how he came to write each story. Re-enjoyed it!
May 18, 2015
1922: A man coerces his son into helping him murder his wife. Can they keep their sanity in the aftermath?
1922 is a latter day retelling of A Telltale Heart, only with rats and a Bonnie and Clyde side-story. It's also damn good and a prime example of what Stephen King can do when he has a limited number of pages to work with instead of the entire paper output of a redwood forest.
Big Driver: After taking a shortcut down an unfamiliar road, a writer is raped and left in a culvert to die but her attacker made a mistake. He let her live...
Wow, this was a powerful, dark, unsettling tale of rape and revenge. Did I mention it was uncomfortable? A woman getting raped is much more horrifying than a nightmare clown lurking in the sewers. I kept having revenge fantasies of my own on behalf of the women in my life while reading this.
Fair Extension: When a mysterious stranger offers Harry Streeter 15-20 more years of life, he jumps at the chance. But with deals of this kind, there's always a catch...
This one kind of reminds me of The Monkey's Paw. For all the good luck the Streeter family has, shit rains down upon the man Streeter hates the most.
A Good Marriage: Darcy Anderson thought she had a good marriage until she found something her husband hid in their garage...
The point this story drives home is how little anyone really knows anyone else. Chilling and very effective.
Full Dark, No Stars isn't my favorite King book but it's chock full of Kingliness and is an excellent example of what sai King can do when he isn't allowed to write phonebook sized tomes. Four out of five stars.
1922 is a latter day retelling of A Telltale Heart, only with rats and a Bonnie and Clyde side-story. It's also damn good and a prime example of what Stephen King can do when he has a limited number of pages to work with instead of the entire paper output of a redwood forest.
Big Driver: After taking a shortcut down an unfamiliar road, a writer is raped and left in a culvert to die but her attacker made a mistake. He let her live...
Wow, this was a powerful, dark, unsettling tale of rape and revenge. Did I mention it was uncomfortable? A woman getting raped is much more horrifying than a nightmare clown lurking in the sewers. I kept having revenge fantasies of my own on behalf of the women in my life while reading this.
Fair Extension: When a mysterious stranger offers Harry Streeter 15-20 more years of life, he jumps at the chance. But with deals of this kind, there's always a catch...
This one kind of reminds me of The Monkey's Paw. For all the good luck the Streeter family has, shit rains down upon the man Streeter hates the most.
A Good Marriage: Darcy Anderson thought she had a good marriage until she found something her husband hid in their garage...
The point this story drives home is how little anyone really knows anyone else. Chilling and very effective.
Full Dark, No Stars isn't my favorite King book but it's chock full of Kingliness and is an excellent example of what sai King can do when he isn't allowed to write phonebook sized tomes. Four out of five stars.
January 26, 2018
Full Dark, Four Stars.
In Full Dark, No Stars, we get four dark tales filled with murder, revenge, terror, and death. That, my friend, is regular Monday morning at Stephen King's head anyway!
Novella #1 1922
To be honest, I picked up Full Dark, No Stars after watching the trailer for 1922 movie adaptation, and I am happy to say that the novella delivers. The story is set in Nebraska and the year is (that's right, you guessed it) 1922. We are introduced to Wilfred James, a farmer who loves his way of living, and his wife, Arlette, who despise their way of living, and their teenage son, Henry. The story takes a dark turn when Arlette decides to sell the land she inherited from her father and move to the city, a decision James can't even consider. You see, he is kind of person who loves the land he lives in, and he wants to start farming in Arlette's land too.
I think you can see where this is going.
What you will not see if you don't read this book is how good the narration is. The story is narrated by James, and King did an excellent job fleshing out the characters and the incidents. I loved the period drama King brought to the story. The locations, the mentality of people, the creeping horror, and bloody good storytelling makes this the best story in this collection for me.
Novella #2 Big Driver
In king's Short story collection book called Everything's Eventual, there was story named In the Deathroom. In author's note, King hinted that In the Deathroom is basically a wish fulfillment where the protagonist pulls through even though the cards were stacked against him.
Big Driver felt like In the Death room, but of course, Big Driver is longer and digs deep into its characters. Yet, I felt like the story was a bit unreal at times. The story is hard to read because it involves , and towards the end, it felt a little bit too neat.
Well, this is not by any means a bad story, nevertheless, Big Driver is my least favorite story in this collection.
Novella #3 Fair Extension
The dude under that yellow umbrella sells extensions. Dave Streeter is dying because of cancer. And I can smell a trade coming up. But What will be the price?
This is a very short novella. Incidentally, it is the most fucked up novella too, especially the second half! All I can say is read and find out!
Novella #4 Good Marriage
You know what? I am not getting married, period. This right here is some scary shit. Once again, we find that true horror comes from humans, and not ghosts.
It all starts when Darcy stumbles upon a box in the garage. Oh, Wait. Darcy is happily married to Bob for 27 years. They really love each other. But do they really know each other?
Ok. back to the box!
I shouldn't tell you, but it's not a head. But it's pretty terrible.
I really enjoyed the story. The characters and the inner monologues of Darcy were really well written. The antagonist of this story is a fine example of King's ability to create screwed up characters!
Parting thoughts:
Full Dark, No Stars is a solid collection of four stories which delves deep into the darkness of human mind and how seamlessly ordinary people will react in extraordinary situations. Take heed, be prepared, and when stars around you go out and darkness engulf the flawless landscape around you, you'll finally understand what sort of person you are.
In Full Dark, No Stars, we get four dark tales filled with murder, revenge, terror, and death. That, my friend, is regular Monday morning at Stephen King's head anyway!
Novella #1 1922
To be honest, I picked up Full Dark, No Stars after watching the trailer for 1922 movie adaptation, and I am happy to say that the novella delivers. The story is set in Nebraska and the year is (that's right, you guessed it) 1922. We are introduced to Wilfred James, a farmer who loves his way of living, and his wife, Arlette, who despise their way of living, and their teenage son, Henry. The story takes a dark turn when Arlette decides to sell the land she inherited from her father and move to the city, a decision James can't even consider. You see, he is kind of person who loves the land he lives in, and he wants to start farming in Arlette's land too.
I think you can see where this is going.
What you will not see if you don't read this book is how good the narration is. The story is narrated by James, and King did an excellent job fleshing out the characters and the incidents. I loved the period drama King brought to the story. The locations, the mentality of people, the creeping horror, and bloody good storytelling makes this the best story in this collection for me.
Novella #2 Big Driver
In king's Short story collection book called Everything's Eventual, there was story named In the Deathroom. In author's note, King hinted that In the Deathroom is basically a wish fulfillment where the protagonist pulls through even though the cards were stacked against him.
Big Driver felt like In the Death room, but of course, Big Driver is longer and digs deep into its characters. Yet, I felt like the story was a bit unreal at times. The story is hard to read because it involves , and towards the end, it felt a little bit too neat.
Well, this is not by any means a bad story, nevertheless, Big Driver is my least favorite story in this collection.
Novella #3 Fair Extension
鉂滶veryone wants an extension, Mr. Streeter. If you were a young woman with a love of shopping, I鈥檇 offer you a credit extension. If you were a man with a small penis鈥攇enetics can be so cruel鈥擨鈥檇 offer you a dick extension.Short men frequently want a height extension. If you did want more hair, Mr. Streeter, I鈥檇 be happy to sell you a hair extension.鉂�
The dude under that yellow umbrella sells extensions. Dave Streeter is dying because of cancer. And I can smell a trade coming up. But What will be the price?
This is a very short novella. Incidentally, it is the most fucked up novella too, especially the second half! All I can say is read and find out!
Novella #4 Good Marriage
You know what? I am not getting married, period. This right here is some scary shit. Once again, we find that true horror comes from humans, and not ghosts.
It all starts when Darcy stumbles upon a box in the garage. Oh, Wait. Darcy is happily married to Bob for 27 years. They really love each other. But do they really know each other?
Ok. back to the box!
I shouldn't tell you, but it's not a head. But it's pretty terrible.
I really enjoyed the story. The characters and the inner monologues of Darcy were really well written. The antagonist of this story is a fine example of King's ability to create screwed up characters!
Parting thoughts:
Full Dark, No Stars is a solid collection of four stories which delves deep into the darkness of human mind and how seamlessly ordinary people will react in extraordinary situations. Take heed, be prepared, and when stars around you go out and darkness engulf the flawless landscape around you, you'll finally understand what sort of person you are.
May 25, 2023
胤丕賱賲丕 鬲爻丕亍賱鬲 賱賲丕匕丕 賷賱賯賷 爻鬲賷賮賳 賰賷賳噩 亘丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賮賷 賵噩賵賴賳丕 亘賱丕 鬲夭賷賷賳 賵 賱丕 賲賵賳鬲丕噩 賵 賱丕 鬲賲賴賷丿責 賱賲丕匕丕 賷氐乇 毓賱賶 兀賳 賷氐丿賲賳丕 賮賷 丕賳爻丕賳賷鬲賳丕 賮賷氐賵乇 賱賳丕 賲丨丕爻亘 賮賷 賵賵賱 爻鬲乇賷鬲 賯丕鬲賱丕 賲鬲爻賱爻賱丕 賵 賯丕鬲賱丕 賲兀噩賵乇丕 兀亘丕 賲孬丕賱賷丕責 賴賱 賷氐乇 毓賱賶 賯賱亘 丕賱丨賯丕卅賯 丕賱鬲賷 鬲毓賵丿賳丕 兀賳 賳乇丕賴丕 賮賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丕鬲 賵 丕賱兀賮賱丕賲 兀賵 兀賳 賴匕丕 賴賵 賮毓賱丕 毓丕賱賲賳丕 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷責 賵 賴丕 賴賵 賷噩賷亘 亘賳賮爻賴:
兀乇亘毓丞 賯氐氐 鬲賰丕丿 賷賰賵賳 丕賱睾乇囟 賲賳賴丕 兀賱丕 鬲賳丕賲 丕賱賲乇兀丞 丕賱鬲賷 爻鬲賯乇兀賴丕 賱賲丿丞 胤賵賷賱丞 賯丿 鬲丿賵賲 毓丿丞 兀賷丕賲 兀賵 兀爻丕亘賷毓 亘毓丿 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 賲氐丨賵亘丞 亘丕賱賰賵丕亘賷爻 丨鬲賶 賮賷 賷賯馗鬲賴丕. 賱賳 賷毓丿賲 丕賱乇噩賱 兀賷囟丕 兀賳 賷賳鬲丕亘賴 丕賱賯賱賯 亘毓丿 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 賵 廿賳 亘氐賵乇丞 兀賯賱 賮賯丿 賰丕賳 丿丕卅賲丕 賴賳丕 賴賵 丕賱亘丕丿卅 亘丕賱毓丿丕賵丞 賵 賱賳 賷鬲毓丕胤賮 兀亘丿丕 賲毓 賳賮爻賴 兀賵 賷賱鬲賲爻 賱賴丕 丕賱乇丨賲丞
丕賱賰鬲賾丕亘 丕賱匕賷賳 賷賰匕亘賵賳 毓賳 賯氐丿. 丕賱匕賷賳 賷爻鬲亘丿賱賵賳 胤乇賷賯丞 鬲氐乇賮 丕賱賳丕爻 丕賱賮毓賱賷丞 亘爻賱賵賰 亘卮乇賷 賱丕 賷氐丿賯. 賮賱賷爻 賱丿賷 賱賴賲 廿賱丕 丕賱丕夭丿乇丕亍. 丕賱賰鬲丕亘丞 丕賱爻賷卅丞 賴賷 賱賷爻鬲 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 賲噩乇丿 鬲乇賰賷亘 賳丨賵賷 鬲丕賮賴 賵 賲乇丕賯亘丞 賲毓賷賵亘丞. 丕賱賰鬲丕亘丞 丕賱爻賷卅丞 鬲賳卮兀 毓丕丿丞 賲賳 乇賮囟 毓賳賷丿 賱鬲兀賱賷賮 賯氐氐 毓賲丕 賷賮毓賱賴 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 賮賷 丕賱賵丕賯毓 鈥� 賱賲賵丕噩賴丞 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞. 丿毓賳丕 賳賯賵賱 亘兀賳 丕賱賯鬲賱丞 兀丨賷丕賳丕 賷爻丕毓丿賵賳 丕賱爻賷丿丕鬲 丕賱毓噩丕卅夭 毓賱賶 毓亘賵乇 丕賱卮丕乇毓.
賱賯丿 亘匕賱鬲 賯氐丕乇賶 噩賴丿賷 賮賷 (馗賱丕賲 丿丕賲爻. 賱丕 賳噩賵賲) 賱兀丿賵賳 賲丕 賯丿 賷賮毓賱賴 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐. 賵 賰賷賮 賯丿 賷鬲氐乇賮賵賳. 賮賷 亘毓囟 丕賱馗乇賵賮 丕賱賲乇賷毓丞. 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐氐 賱丕 賷禺賱賵賳 賲賳 兀賲賱. 賱賰賳賴賲 賷丿乇賰賵賳 兀賳 兀毓夭 兀賲丕賱賳丕 賵 兀毓夭 兀賲丕賳賷賳丕 賱兀禺賵鬲賳丕 賮賷 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳賷丞 賵 丕賱賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱匕賷 賳毓賷卮 賮賷賴 賯丿 鬲賰賵賳 毓賯賷賲丞 兀丨賷丕賳丕. 賮賷 兀睾賱亘 丕賱兀丨賷丕賳. 丨鬲賶. 賱賰賳賳賷 兀毓鬲賯丿 兀賳賴 賷賯丕賱 兀賷囟丕. 廿賳 丕賱賳亘丕賱丞 鬲賰賲賳 亘丕賱賰丕賲賱 賱賷爻 賮賷 丕賱賳噩丕丨 亘賱 賮賷 賲丨丕賵賱丞 賮毓賱 丕賱氐賵丕亘. 賵 兀賳賳丕 毓賳丿賲丕 賳賮卮賱 賮賷 賮毓賱 匕賱賰. 兀賵 賳賳氐乇賮 亘賰丕賲賱 廿乇丕丿鬲賳丕 毓賳 賲賵丕噩賴丞 丕賱鬲丨丿賷丕鬲. 賳賰賵賳 賯丿 兀賱賯賷賳丕 兀賳賮爻賳丕 賮賷 丕賱噩丨賷賲.
賮賷 丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱兀賵賱賷 1922 丕賱夭賵噩丞 丕賱鬲賷 賵乇孬鬲 賲卅丞 賮丿丕賳 賵 鬲乇睾亘 賮賷 丕賱丕賳鬲賯丕賱 賲毓 兀爻乇鬲賴丕 廿賱賶 丨賷丕丞 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 賮賷鬲丌賲乇 丕賱夭賵噩 賵 丕賱丕亘賳 毓賱賶 賯鬲賱賴丕 賵 丕賱丕丨鬲賮丕馗 亘丨賷丕鬲賴賲 賵 賮丿丕丿賷賳賴丕 賮鬲兀亘賷 乇賵丨賴丕 廿賱丕 賲胤丕乇丿鬲賴賲 賱賱賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱賰卅賷亘丞 賵 丕賱賲鬲賵賯毓丞.
賵 丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 丕賱爻丕卅賯 丕賱賰亘賷乇 丕賱鬲賷 鬲鬲毓乇囟 賮賷賴丕 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕賱賲卮賴賵乇丞 賱賱丕睾鬲氐丕亘 賵 賲丨丕賵賱丞 丕賱賯鬲賱 賵 鬲噩丿 賳賮爻賴丕 賲噩亘乇丞 毓賱賶 丕賱氐賲鬲.
賵 丕賱孬丕賱孬丞 鬲胤賵賷賱 賲毓賯賵賱 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕 鬲亘丿賵 兀賳 囟丨賷鬲賴丕 爻賷丿丞 賵 賱賰賳 兀賵賱 丕賱囟丨丕賷丕 賮毓賱丕 賰丕賳鬲 丕賱夭賵噩丞 丕賱鬲賷 兀氐賷亘鬲 亘丕賱爻乇胤丕賳 亘丿賱丕 賲賳 亘胤賱 丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱匕賷 乇賲賶 亘賱丕亍賴 毓賱賶 睾賷乇賴.
兀賲丕 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 夭賵丕噩 噩賷丿 賮毓賳 丕賱夭賵噩丞 丕賱鬲賷 丕賰鬲卮賮鬲 兀賳賴丕 賲禺賷乇丞 亘賷賳 兀賳 鬲毓賷卮 賲毓 丕賱夭賵噩 丕賱爻賮丕丨 賵 賰兀賳賴丕 賱丕 鬲毓賱賲 賴賵賷鬲賴 賵 噩乇丕卅賲賴 兀賵 鬲賰賵賳 賴賷 丕賱囟丨賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 毓卮乇丞 賱賴.
賱丕 兀馗賳 兀賳 兀賷 丕賲乇兀丞 賯丕丿乇丞 毓賱賶 賯乇丕亍丞 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丿賵賳 兀賳 鬲鬲乇賰 賮賷 賳賮爻賷鬲賴丕 兀孬乇丕 賲賳 乇毓亘 兀賵 賰丌亘丞 賵 賷丕 丨亘匕丕 賱賵 卮丕賴丿鬲 丕賱兀賮賱丕賲 丕賱孬賱丕孬丞 丕賱賲兀禺賵匕丞 毓賳 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐氐. 賵 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賮廿賳 兀賷 卮賷亍 賯丿 賷丨丿孬 賱賰賽 毓夭賷夭鬲賷 丨賵丕亍 賮兀賳丕 睾賷乇 賲爻卅賵賱 毓賳賴 亘毓丿 賰賱 賴匕賴 丕賱鬲丨匕賷乇丕鬲.
February 17, 2023
This collection of dark, short novellas will haunt me in the best way possible. 4.2 鉀�
November 29, 2017
I finished!
Full Dark, No Stars. I always liked that title. It鈥檚 a subtle warning for what lies ahead within these four novellas, but I didn鈥檛 realize how accurate it was, until I read them all. Let me add a warning you before you decide to read them: Not for the faint of heart.
Big Driver
Tess is a mystery writer, and like writers do, she attends a few speaking engagements throughout the year. Get close to her fans, talk about her latest book, and sign some autographs. She only has a couple of rules, and one is 鈥渒eep it close to home鈥� - within a day鈥檚 driving distance. So when a lady calls about a last minute fill-in, just 60 miles down the road in Chicopee, she says yes. 鈥淓asy-as-can-beezy鈥�. (I don鈥檛 know about you, but that saying gets stuck on the middle of my tongue).
And everything is easy-as鈥� well you know, until Tess takes a short-cut home, one offered up by that nice librarian in Chicopee, and a nice day turns into the most frightening of days for a woman stranded. Like 1922, this novella gets scary in a hurry, not in the 鈥渢ypical鈥� horror sense, but in an all too real way. The worst part of this story was the ugliness of man. The best part was the misdirection. I thought it would go one way. It went another. And for the most part, I cheered those choices. For added dialogue in a mainly singular character novel, Tess talks to (and hears from) her cat, and also her TomTom - strangely good.
Fair Extension
鈥淪old his soul to the devil鈥�, or so the old saying goes. Just a fair extension of time for a man dying. Except there is always a price to pay, but the twist is that another will foot this bill. To me, this was the darkest of these four stories. Reads like a parody, which it has to be because 鈥� wow - the satire of mean spiritedness is steeped in exaggeration. That was tough for me to overcome.
A Good Marriage
Of course when you see the title, A Good Marriage, you know that it will be anything but. And, you鈥檇 be right. I really wish I hadn鈥檛 known the synopsis before reading this time around. I read this one upon its initial release, and even though most of that memory has faded with time, I did not forget the biggest piece of the puzzle. I鈥檇 like to go back to experience the moment Darcy discovers her husband secret, hidden beneath the garage workbench. It鈥檚 a crazy secret. So go into this one blind, if you can. The ending is really good. I guess within these stories there shines a little light after all. Like King says in the afterword, 鈥渢he people in these stories are not without hope.鈥�
1922 鈥� (review first posted on 11/19/17)
If you happen to come across a well in a Stephen King novel, you can bet dollars to donuts that something鈥檚 going in it. Notice I didn鈥檛 get specific as to what that thing is, but I am sure there are some immediate and close guesses for those who know King. What鈥檚 different about this one? She鈥檚 a shocker in the get-go.
Here鈥檚 a conversation I had with my mom the other night. She knows how much I like Stephen King:
鈥淥h gosh, I watched that movie 1922 on Netflix last night!鈥�, she says. (Note: By her tone, I knew a rave review was not forthcoming.)
鈥淯h-oh鈥�, I said. 鈥淏loody?鈥� (me knowing full well that it probably was that **snicker-snicker**, but at this point I had not read the novella, or watched the movie).
鈥渔-惭-骋!鈥�, mom said. (you鈥檇 really have to see her face for full dramatic effect 鈥� much disgust) 鈥淚 about turned it off a few times! But, I ended up watching all of it.鈥�
What did I hear in all of that? She watched all of it. Hee-hee.
So of course I picked up the novella the next day and began my reading. OMG indeed Ma. She was right. The beginning of this story is one bitter pill to swallow. It is raw, and it is ugly. If the movie is anything like the book, then egad. I鈥檓 going to say that it鈥檚 not for everyone. That鈥檚 too bad too, because if you can get past that beginning, this one settles down (excepting them darned rats) into a surprisingly melancholy story of a man looking back in regret. He may not regret the act, but certainly does regret the aftermath, a whirlwind that will destroy more than one future.
Full Dark, No Stars. I always liked that title. It鈥檚 a subtle warning for what lies ahead within these four novellas, but I didn鈥檛 realize how accurate it was, until I read them all. Let me add a warning you before you decide to read them: Not for the faint of heart.
Big Driver
Tess is a mystery writer, and like writers do, she attends a few speaking engagements throughout the year. Get close to her fans, talk about her latest book, and sign some autographs. She only has a couple of rules, and one is 鈥渒eep it close to home鈥� - within a day鈥檚 driving distance. So when a lady calls about a last minute fill-in, just 60 miles down the road in Chicopee, she says yes. 鈥淓asy-as-can-beezy鈥�. (I don鈥檛 know about you, but that saying gets stuck on the middle of my tongue).
And everything is easy-as鈥� well you know, until Tess takes a short-cut home, one offered up by that nice librarian in Chicopee, and a nice day turns into the most frightening of days for a woman stranded. Like 1922, this novella gets scary in a hurry, not in the 鈥渢ypical鈥� horror sense, but in an all too real way. The worst part of this story was the ugliness of man. The best part was the misdirection. I thought it would go one way. It went another. And for the most part, I cheered those choices. For added dialogue in a mainly singular character novel, Tess talks to (and hears from) her cat, and also her TomTom - strangely good.
Fair Extension
鈥淪old his soul to the devil鈥�, or so the old saying goes. Just a fair extension of time for a man dying. Except there is always a price to pay, but the twist is that another will foot this bill. To me, this was the darkest of these four stories. Reads like a parody, which it has to be because 鈥� wow - the satire of mean spiritedness is steeped in exaggeration. That was tough for me to overcome.
A Good Marriage
Of course when you see the title, A Good Marriage, you know that it will be anything but. And, you鈥檇 be right. I really wish I hadn鈥檛 known the synopsis before reading this time around. I read this one upon its initial release, and even though most of that memory has faded with time, I did not forget the biggest piece of the puzzle. I鈥檇 like to go back to experience the moment Darcy discovers her husband secret, hidden beneath the garage workbench. It鈥檚 a crazy secret. So go into this one blind, if you can. The ending is really good. I guess within these stories there shines a little light after all. Like King says in the afterword, 鈥渢he people in these stories are not without hope.鈥�
1922 鈥� (review first posted on 11/19/17)
If you happen to come across a well in a Stephen King novel, you can bet dollars to donuts that something鈥檚 going in it. Notice I didn鈥檛 get specific as to what that thing is, but I am sure there are some immediate and close guesses for those who know King. What鈥檚 different about this one? She鈥檚 a shocker in the get-go.
Here鈥檚 a conversation I had with my mom the other night. She knows how much I like Stephen King:
鈥淥h gosh, I watched that movie 1922 on Netflix last night!鈥�, she says. (Note: By her tone, I knew a rave review was not forthcoming.)
鈥淯h-oh鈥�, I said. 鈥淏loody?鈥� (me knowing full well that it probably was that **snicker-snicker**, but at this point I had not read the novella, or watched the movie).
鈥渔-惭-骋!鈥�, mom said. (you鈥檇 really have to see her face for full dramatic effect 鈥� much disgust) 鈥淚 about turned it off a few times! But, I ended up watching all of it.鈥�
What did I hear in all of that? She watched all of it. Hee-hee.
So of course I picked up the novella the next day and began my reading. OMG indeed Ma. She was right. The beginning of this story is one bitter pill to swallow. It is raw, and it is ugly. If the movie is anything like the book, then egad. I鈥檓 going to say that it鈥檚 not for everyone. That鈥檚 too bad too, because if you can get past that beginning, this one settles down (excepting them darned rats) into a surprisingly melancholy story of a man looking back in regret. He may not regret the act, but certainly does regret the aftermath, a whirlwind that will destroy more than one future.
鈥滵o you like how things turned out, Wilf? Was it worth it?鈥�
July 18, 2018
4.5 Stars
I've somehow stumbled into a Stephen King binge. Its been a long time since I've read Mr. King but I now appear to be back in.
Full Dark, No Stars is a collection of short stories each one in my opinion darker than the last. In my humble opinion no author does the short story collection better than Stephen King and this collection is just further proof of that.
Without spoiling anything I will now give a mini review of each story.
1922 -- 3 Stars
1922 is the first story in this collection and the only one to give me an actual nightmare. I will give you a warning if you like me HATE HATE HATE rats maybe skip 1922 I felt sick after reading it. In 1922 we meet a man who suffers some major consequences after the untimely death of his wife.
Big Driver --3.5 Stars
Big Driver is story #2 all I'll say about this one is a certain evil truck driver fucked with the wrong woman.
Fair Extension--4.5 Stars
Fair Extension is a strange little story that in some ways reminded me of Thinner. In Fair Extension we meet a man battling terminal cancer who gets quite the deal from a roadside businessman.
A Good Marriage--5 Stars
A Good Marriage was my absolute favorite story of the bunch. In A Good Marriage a wife learns that the old adage "If you go looking for trouble, you'll find it" is very true.
Full Dark, No Stars was very dark and at times I felt very unsettled reading it but if you like Stephen King and aren't afraid of letting a little darkness in I suggest you consider picking this one up.
I've somehow stumbled into a Stephen King binge. Its been a long time since I've read Mr. King but I now appear to be back in.
Full Dark, No Stars is a collection of short stories each one in my opinion darker than the last. In my humble opinion no author does the short story collection better than Stephen King and this collection is just further proof of that.
Without spoiling anything I will now give a mini review of each story.
1922 -- 3 Stars
1922 is the first story in this collection and the only one to give me an actual nightmare. I will give you a warning if you like me HATE HATE HATE rats maybe skip 1922 I felt sick after reading it. In 1922 we meet a man who suffers some major consequences after the untimely death of his wife.
Big Driver --3.5 Stars
Big Driver is story #2 all I'll say about this one is a certain evil truck driver fucked with the wrong woman.
Fair Extension--4.5 Stars
Fair Extension is a strange little story that in some ways reminded me of Thinner. In Fair Extension we meet a man battling terminal cancer who gets quite the deal from a roadside businessman.
A Good Marriage--5 Stars
A Good Marriage was my absolute favorite story of the bunch. In A Good Marriage a wife learns that the old adage "If you go looking for trouble, you'll find it" is very true.
Full Dark, No Stars was very dark and at times I felt very unsettled reading it but if you like Stephen King and aren't afraid of letting a little darkness in I suggest you consider picking this one up.
July 19, 2020
I may have stepped too far into the King waters this time, I should probably stick closer to shore. And I really should have taken the title at face value.
This collection was intense and disturbing exploring the darkest underbelly of human behavior. I鈥檇 also like to add that they鈥檙e not easy to forget, they have inhabited a part of my brain and I鈥檇 really like them to leave. Please.
Big Driver - Brutal and unsettling. A violent rape and its aftermath. A cozy writer finds her inner warrior. There were moments when I was reading this novella when I forgot to breathe.
Fair Extension - Deal with the devil story that explores that most dark of emotions, envy. There鈥檚 a reason it鈥檚 one of the seven deadly sins. Sans violence, gore or things that go bump in the night, this one was the nastiest for me and I wanted to scrub my soul with bleach.
A Good Marriage - Unnerving and the best of the four. I previously read this as a standalone, not knowing that it was part of this collection. Mr. King asks the question, is it possible to really know someone?
1922 - A horror show and too much for this squeamish gal. True King fans (which I鈥檒l never be due to being a wuss) think this is the best of the lot. If I鈥檇 finished reading it, I would likely not get any more sleep and I need my beauty rest.
So why am I still rating this with four stars? Horrifying as the stories may be, dang if he didn鈥檛 pull me under and make me consider what horrible people might do. Now, anyone know of a good lobotomist?
This collection was intense and disturbing exploring the darkest underbelly of human behavior. I鈥檇 also like to add that they鈥檙e not easy to forget, they have inhabited a part of my brain and I鈥檇 really like them to leave. Please.
Big Driver - Brutal and unsettling. A violent rape and its aftermath. A cozy writer finds her inner warrior. There were moments when I was reading this novella when I forgot to breathe.
Fair Extension - Deal with the devil story that explores that most dark of emotions, envy. There鈥檚 a reason it鈥檚 one of the seven deadly sins. Sans violence, gore or things that go bump in the night, this one was the nastiest for me and I wanted to scrub my soul with bleach.
A Good Marriage - Unnerving and the best of the four. I previously read this as a standalone, not knowing that it was part of this collection. Mr. King asks the question, is it possible to really know someone?
1922 - A horror show and too much for this squeamish gal. True King fans (which I鈥檒l never be due to being a wuss) think this is the best of the lot. If I鈥檇 finished reading it, I would likely not get any more sleep and I need my beauty rest.
So why am I still rating this with four stars? Horrifying as the stories may be, dang if he didn鈥檛 pull me under and make me consider what horrible people might do. Now, anyone know of a good lobotomist?
November 4, 2018
Oh man, each story makes you forget about the other, they're all equally fascinating and terrifying ... From the farmer who convinced his son to kill his inconsiderate drunk ass mother, to the lawyer who made a deal with a devil out of spite and jealousy, to the brave author who went through hell and back and avenged herself in a rather bad-ass fashion , and finally to the housewife who made a shocking ,albeit a late discovery about her husband and responded Properly... King never disappoint !
June 16, 2012
Best of 2010
Hold up wait a minute King of fiction releases novellas, stop all reading! Bump up to the front of your to-read list! Essential reading right now! Beauty of Kindle is that i could start reading instantly on release date.
King sums these stories in his afterward he says
1922
King's first novella is a treat of a story, a family who live on a farm with their fates in Kings hand to twist. A story of the darkness of the soul, the evil of what we do and the consequences of our actions. To what extent would you go to preserve the way things exist instead of moving to the big city?
The novella starts with this statment.
Big Driver
This story has themes of redemption and atonement. A mystery writer finds herself caught up in her own real life investigation. This story touches you with warmth and compassion for victims of rape and how hard it is for victim to report the crime, the idea of people finding out you have been raped is frightening as the crime. It makes you think about taking the wrong turn being in wrong place at the wrong time.
Fair Extension
This is the shorter of the four stories its about a twist of fates fortunate become unfortunate and vice versa.
A Good Marriage
This was a gripping story, it made you think, do you really know what your partners up to? If you found out how would you deal with it? The kids, the press, lives could be destroyed.
Stephen King and his British Fantasy Award for Best Collection.
Hold up wait a minute King of fiction releases novellas, stop all reading! Bump up to the front of your to-read list! Essential reading right now! Beauty of Kindle is that i could start reading instantly on release date.
King sums these stories in his afterward he says
" I have tried my best in Full Dark, No Stars to record what people might do, and how they might behave, under certain dire circumstances. The people in these stories are not without hope, but they acknowledge that even our fondest hopes (and our fondest wishes for our fellowmen and the society in which we live) may sometimes be vain. Often, even. But I think they also say that nobility most fully resides not in success but in trying to do the right thing . . "
1922
King's first novella is a treat of a story, a family who live on a farm with their fates in Kings hand to twist. A story of the darkness of the soul, the evil of what we do and the consequences of our actions. To what extent would you go to preserve the way things exist instead of moving to the big city?
The novella starts with this statment.
"My name is Wilfred Leland James, and this is my confession. In June of 1922 I murdered my wife, Arlette Christina Winters James, and hid her body by tipping it down an old well."also some more good excerpts..
"Here is something I learned in 1922: there are always worse things waiting. You think you have seen the most terrible thing, the one that coalesces all your nightmares into a freakish horror that actually exists, and the only consolation is that there can be nothing worse. Even if there is, your mind will snap at the sight of it, and you will know no more. But there is worse, your mind does not snap, and somehow you carry on. You might understand that all the joy has gone... "
" The Conniving Man out-connived: how do you like that?"
Big Driver
This story has themes of redemption and atonement. A mystery writer finds herself caught up in her own real life investigation. This story touches you with warmth and compassion for victims of rape and how hard it is for victim to report the crime, the idea of people finding out you have been raped is frightening as the crime. It makes you think about taking the wrong turn being in wrong place at the wrong time.
The National Crime Victimization Survey says, because I googled it. Sixty percent of rapes go unreported, according to them. Three in every five. I think that might be low, but who can say for sure?"
" . . . what she says once in every book: murderers always overlook the obvious."
Fair Extension
This is the shorter of the four stories its about a twist of fates fortunate become unfortunate and vice versa.
I was thinking about the Goodhughs. I鈥檝e never known a family to have such a run of bad luck. Bad luck?鈥� She laughed. 鈥楤lack luck is more like it.鈥� 鈥�
鈥� 鈥楲ife is fair. We all get the same nine-month shake in the box, and then the dice roll. Some people get a run of sevens. Some people, unfortunately, get snake-eyes. It鈥檚 just how the world is.鈥�
A Good Marriage
This was a gripping story, it made you think, do you really know what your partners up to? If you found out how would you deal with it? The kids, the press, lives could be destroyed.
He loved nothing, least of all her. Every kindness, caress, boyish grin, and thoughtful gesture 鈥� all were nothing but camouflage. He was a shell. There was nothing inside but howling emptiness. 鈥�
"She dreamed of going into the dining room and finding a woman bound with chains to the long Ethan Allen table there. The woman was naked except for a black leather hood that covered the top half of her face. I don鈥檛 know that woman, that woman is a stranger to me, she thought in her dream, and then from beneath the hood Petra said: 鈥楳ama, is that you?"
"It鈥檚 a mistake, it has to be, we鈥檝e been married over half our lives, I鈥檇 know, I would know. Opening the box. Thinking, Does anybody really know 鈥�
"A marriage was like a house under constant construction, each year seeing the completion of new rooms. A first-year marriage was a cottage; one that had gone on for twenty-seven years was a huge and rambling mansion. There were bound to be crannies and storage spaces, most of them dusty and abandoned, some containing a few unpleasant relics you would just as soon you hadn鈥檛 found. But that was no biggie. You either threw those relics out or took them to Goodwill. 鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 what drug addicts say. 鈥業鈥檒l never take any of that stuff again. I鈥檝e quit before and this time I鈥檒l quit for good. I mean it.鈥� But they don鈥檛 mean it, even when they think they do they don鈥檛, and neither does he. 鈥�
"The refrigerator whirred, the water dripped in the sink, and the raw seconds passed. This was the Darker Life, where every truth was written backward."
Stephen King and his British Fantasy Award for Best Collection.
January 5, 2020
Loved the first horrible story - "1922" - and the suggestion that greed and cruelty always come back to haunt you. Literally. The rest were just okay, though I did enjoy the overarching theme of exploring the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of everyone.
April 29, 2021
Stephen King is a maestro with stories. These 4 novela's published in 2010, as well as over 200 others testify to that. 8 of 10 stars
April 13, 2023
This was a fantastic collection of short stories by Stephen King!
It鈥檚 a dark, twisted and fascinating look into the evil that lurks in humans and the survival instincts that people will do for greed, revenge, bitterness or morality.
1922 - 5 stars
Big Driver - 5 stars
Fair Extension - 4 stars
A Good Marriage - 5 stars
I will remember each short story because they have a lasting effect on the reader. After finishing this, my favorites are A Good Marriage and Big Driver.
This was a bit surprising since the short story I鈥檓 the most familiar with is 1922 since it was made into a movie. Stephen King is in his prime with this collection.
Do not go into Full Dark, No Stars without expecting some traumatic content.
When you look at the title of this book, it鈥檚 a night sky without an ounce of light and all you鈥檙e seeing is a void of darkness.
I鈥檓 glad that I did a group read with some friends on this one since it鈥檚 been sitting on my bookshelf for far too long!
It鈥檚 a dark, twisted and fascinating look into the evil that lurks in humans and the survival instincts that people will do for greed, revenge, bitterness or morality.
1922 - 5 stars
Big Driver - 5 stars
Fair Extension - 4 stars
A Good Marriage - 5 stars
I will remember each short story because they have a lasting effect on the reader. After finishing this, my favorites are A Good Marriage and Big Driver.
This was a bit surprising since the short story I鈥檓 the most familiar with is 1922 since it was made into a movie. Stephen King is in his prime with this collection.
Do not go into Full Dark, No Stars without expecting some traumatic content.
When you look at the title of this book, it鈥檚 a night sky without an ounce of light and all you鈥檙e seeing is a void of darkness.
I鈥檓 glad that I did a group read with some friends on this one since it鈥檚 been sitting on my bookshelf for far too long!
November 26, 2023
I read this book by listening to the novel on unabridged audio while driving for my job across a lot of full dark highways, no stars. The book was very good I recall, but the STORY that was tattooed on my brain was BIG DRIVER. I am certain we have watched the Lifetime Movie Adaptation at least 4 times. I bought it of course.
April 20, 2023
Full Dark, No Stars is an amazing collection of four deliciously dark and deadly novellas.
"When it came to the dark fuckery of the human heart, there seemed to be no limit."
This collection as a whole seemed much darker and more grounded within our own reality than many of Stephen King's previous story collections, with each focusing on the darker side of the human condition. I guess the title tells you all that you need to know!
'For the next ten minutes we talked theology in the green corn while early summer clouds - the best clouds, the ones that float like schooners - sailed slowly above us, trailing their shadows like wakes.'
Below are short reviews of each of the four stories.
1922 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙
A deeply harrowing and heavy psychological horror told in the form of a confessional letter.
'I believe that there is another man inside of every man, a stranger a Conniving Man.'
This is Stephen King doing what he does best, delving deep into the human psyche. It is one of those tales that will haunt me for some time. A tale of love, loss, the slow erroding of sanity, murder and most disgustingly for me, lots of rats.
But the dead can call across time; I know that now, and from personal experience'
Classic Stephen King!
Big Driver 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙猸�
A stone-cold masterpiece of revenge fiction.
'Easy-as-can-beezy'
Initially, this was one of those stories I found hard to stomach due to its content but as things went on I fell in love. As with the first story, this one will stick with me for more time. It is both disgusting and beautiful at the same time and again similar to 1922 in that it delves deep into the inner workings of the human mind in a simply terrifying yet believable situation.
Of all things I loved within this story, it was the pop culture references of 80's horror (Freddie Kruger and Jason Vorhees especially) and also Tessa's 'conversations' with Tom and Fritzy the cat that really stole my heart.
'She wished the wind wasn't blowing so hard, but wish in one hand and shit in the other, see which one fills up first.'
I'm repeating myself again, an absolute Classic!
Fair Extension 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙猸�
An understated slice of dark and disturbed writing. Possibly the most messed up story in this collection.
'Everyone wants an extension Mr Streeter. If you were a young woman with a love of shopping, I'd offer you a credit extension. If you were a man with a small penis - genetics can be so cruel - I'd offer you a dick extension.'
This is the shortest story in this collection and the hardest-hitting of the bunch. What would you do to extend your life? This is one fucked up, disturbing tale, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I don't want to write any more about this, just for you to experience it yourself!
'Elvid's smile widened, and Streeter saw a wonderful, terrible thing; the man's teeth weren't just too big or too many. they were sharp.'
More top-class storytelling.
A Good Marriage 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙猸�
A great short and original thriller.
'Secret life. What a poisoned bonbon that phrase was.'
Who would have thought that a tale about a couple's marriage could be so captivating?
We never truly know everything about anyone, even ourselves for that matter.
I've seen many a review of this story, stating it's the weakest of the bunch but I'd disagree. In my opinion, this is yet another slice of gloriously dark fiction from the master.
'For the first time in years, Darcy Madsen Anderson slipped from her chair onto her knees and began to pray. It did no good. The house was empty except for her.'
Yet again, first-class writing from Mr King.
This is top-notch horror fiction, which I would recommend without a second thought. This gets all the stars from me!
"When it came to the dark fuckery of the human heart, there seemed to be no limit."
This collection as a whole seemed much darker and more grounded within our own reality than many of Stephen King's previous story collections, with each focusing on the darker side of the human condition. I guess the title tells you all that you need to know!
'For the next ten minutes we talked theology in the green corn while early summer clouds - the best clouds, the ones that float like schooners - sailed slowly above us, trailing their shadows like wakes.'
Below are short reviews of each of the four stories.
1922 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙
A deeply harrowing and heavy psychological horror told in the form of a confessional letter.
'I believe that there is another man inside of every man, a stranger a Conniving Man.'
This is Stephen King doing what he does best, delving deep into the human psyche. It is one of those tales that will haunt me for some time. A tale of love, loss, the slow erroding of sanity, murder and most disgustingly for me, lots of rats.
But the dead can call across time; I know that now, and from personal experience'
Classic Stephen King!
Big Driver 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙猸�
A stone-cold masterpiece of revenge fiction.
'Easy-as-can-beezy'
Initially, this was one of those stories I found hard to stomach due to its content but as things went on I fell in love. As with the first story, this one will stick with me for more time. It is both disgusting and beautiful at the same time and again similar to 1922 in that it delves deep into the inner workings of the human mind in a simply terrifying yet believable situation.
Of all things I loved within this story, it was the pop culture references of 80's horror (Freddie Kruger and Jason Vorhees especially) and also Tessa's 'conversations' with Tom and Fritzy the cat that really stole my heart.
'She wished the wind wasn't blowing so hard, but wish in one hand and shit in the other, see which one fills up first.'
I'm repeating myself again, an absolute Classic!
Fair Extension 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙猸�
An understated slice of dark and disturbed writing. Possibly the most messed up story in this collection.
'Everyone wants an extension Mr Streeter. If you were a young woman with a love of shopping, I'd offer you a credit extension. If you were a man with a small penis - genetics can be so cruel - I'd offer you a dick extension.'
This is the shortest story in this collection and the hardest-hitting of the bunch. What would you do to extend your life? This is one fucked up, disturbing tale, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I don't want to write any more about this, just for you to experience it yourself!
'Elvid's smile widened, and Streeter saw a wonderful, terrible thing; the man's teeth weren't just too big or too many. they were sharp.'
More top-class storytelling.
A Good Marriage 猸愨瓙猸愨瓙猸�
A great short and original thriller.
'Secret life. What a poisoned bonbon that phrase was.'
Who would have thought that a tale about a couple's marriage could be so captivating?
We never truly know everything about anyone, even ourselves for that matter.
I've seen many a review of this story, stating it's the weakest of the bunch but I'd disagree. In my opinion, this is yet another slice of gloriously dark fiction from the master.
'For the first time in years, Darcy Madsen Anderson slipped from her chair onto her knees and began to pray. It did no good. The house was empty except for her.'
Yet again, first-class writing from Mr King.
This is top-notch horror fiction, which I would recommend without a second thought. This gets all the stars from me!
June 6, 2011
Ok, I am going to review each story, as well, individually as they deserver.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
1. 1922 - This story is actually a confession of a man who has just murdered his wife. He has even dragged his innocent 14 year old son into this as well, which is very heartbreaking. I feel this story makes you realize that our actions have consequences that we will somehow at some point feel. Is it karma? What goes around, comes around? Ghosts? Insanity? This man, after committing this heinous crime feels the repercussions in everything breaking down around him. Is he losing his mind? Is he being haunted by his wife? This story in many ways reminds me of King's short story Morality (included w/ Blockade Billy), where one action of a woman completely alter the rest of her life. (5 stars)
2. Big Driver - Now this story was very unlike what I know of Uncle Stevie! That being said, I loved it! This is the story of Tessa, a well-known mystery writer who is on her way from a speaking engagement when she is viciously attacked, raped and left for dead. That's horrible enough, right? But this story follows her in how she handles this life-changing situation. This story is incredibly moving and she is an amazingly strong, resilient woman....much to her own surprise. I could not put this story down at all! (5 stars)
3. Fair Extension - This book left me a bit torn. Dave Streeter is your average family man with a wife and kids. Dave, however, is dying of cancer and is slowly watching his body deteriorate and his life crumble around him. He comes upon an odd, pudgy little man named George Elvid sitting on the side of the road looking like someone peddling his wares.....however there were no wares. He sells extensions......even a hair extension if that's what Dave wants. But what does Dave want? And what is the cost?
This was very well done, who would expect anything less from Uncle Stevie? lol. But I felt left wanting like the story wasn't finished. Or was it? Maybe the rest is for us to think about......was this right or wrong? Maybe too much information wouldn't let us work this one out in our head more. It definitely leaves me w/ alot of questions. (4 stars)
4. A Good Marriage - This story was about a woman named Darcy Anderson, who has a pretty charmed life....the good husband and 2 beautiful children. Her husband by all appearances is a mild-mannered accountant, and even volunteers for the boy scouts. They have been married fo 27 years and she thought she knew him pretty well, until she uncovered a secret hiding place of his in the garage. He has a secret that will change everything!
This story follows Darcy's discovery and how she handles the nightmare that her life becomes. I really liked this story and respected Darcy very much. (5 stars)
**UPDATE**
Ok, now with the release of the paperback book, also came the addition of an previously unpublished short story called Under The Weather. All I can say is OMG! I had no idea where this story was going and then all of a sudden I was like "You're $#!@$#! kidding me!" Yup, it's that kind of punchline! This one is possibly one of the best stories in the book. Now I don't want to say too much about this little treasure, but it's the story of a man, who is under a lot of stress due to work, recurring nightmares that he can't explain and a sick wife. Read this short little gem....you'll be glad you did.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
1. 1922 - This story is actually a confession of a man who has just murdered his wife. He has even dragged his innocent 14 year old son into this as well, which is very heartbreaking. I feel this story makes you realize that our actions have consequences that we will somehow at some point feel. Is it karma? What goes around, comes around? Ghosts? Insanity? This man, after committing this heinous crime feels the repercussions in everything breaking down around him. Is he losing his mind? Is he being haunted by his wife? This story in many ways reminds me of King's short story Morality (included w/ Blockade Billy), where one action of a woman completely alter the rest of her life. (5 stars)
2. Big Driver - Now this story was very unlike what I know of Uncle Stevie! That being said, I loved it! This is the story of Tessa, a well-known mystery writer who is on her way from a speaking engagement when she is viciously attacked, raped and left for dead. That's horrible enough, right? But this story follows her in how she handles this life-changing situation. This story is incredibly moving and she is an amazingly strong, resilient woman....much to her own surprise. I could not put this story down at all! (5 stars)
3. Fair Extension - This book left me a bit torn. Dave Streeter is your average family man with a wife and kids. Dave, however, is dying of cancer and is slowly watching his body deteriorate and his life crumble around him. He comes upon an odd, pudgy little man named George Elvid sitting on the side of the road looking like someone peddling his wares.....however there were no wares. He sells extensions......even a hair extension if that's what Dave wants. But what does Dave want? And what is the cost?
This was very well done, who would expect anything less from Uncle Stevie? lol. But I felt left wanting like the story wasn't finished. Or was it? Maybe the rest is for us to think about......was this right or wrong? Maybe too much information wouldn't let us work this one out in our head more. It definitely leaves me w/ alot of questions. (4 stars)
4. A Good Marriage - This story was about a woman named Darcy Anderson, who has a pretty charmed life....the good husband and 2 beautiful children. Her husband by all appearances is a mild-mannered accountant, and even volunteers for the boy scouts. They have been married fo 27 years and she thought she knew him pretty well, until she uncovered a secret hiding place of his in the garage. He has a secret that will change everything!
This story follows Darcy's discovery and how she handles the nightmare that her life becomes. I really liked this story and respected Darcy very much. (5 stars)
**UPDATE**
Ok, now with the release of the paperback book, also came the addition of an previously unpublished short story called Under The Weather. All I can say is OMG! I had no idea where this story was going and then all of a sudden I was like "You're $#!@$#! kidding me!" Yup, it's that kind of punchline! This one is possibly one of the best stories in the book. Now I don't want to say too much about this little treasure, but it's the story of a man, who is under a lot of stress due to work, recurring nightmares that he can't explain and a sick wife. Read this short little gem....you'll be glad you did.
April 22, 2020
This is such a brilliant collection of novellas! It鈥檚 my second time around reading it and I enjoyed it even more this time around. The stories in this collection are just so dark and gripping, it鈥檚 definitely not a lighthearted read. It explores heavy topics and doesn鈥檛 hold back and that鈥檚 exactly what I love about King, he isn鈥檛 afraid to explore difficult topics! My favourite out of the collection is most definitely Big Driver, it just punched me right in the gut and made me feel such a range of emotions. But that isn鈥檛 to say I didn鈥檛 absolutely love the other stories as well. Each story truly left its mark on me in different ways, this really is a phenomenal collection of novellas!
September 30, 2024
So dark, I liked them but for personal reasons they were very emotional.
November 2, 2021
鈥淚s there hell, or do we make our own on earth?鈥�
鈥淚n the end we are all caught in devices of our own making. I believe that. In the end we are all caught.鈥�
鈥淚f you鈥檙e going into a very dark place, then you should take a bright light, and shine it on everything. If you don鈥檛 want to see, why in God鈥檚 name would you dare the dark at all?鈥�
What makes you decide to read a horror novel by Stephen King? Maybe you wish to be gripped and entertained? Or you want something easy to read which will be a page-turner; perhaps you want to see just how far he will go to shock and revolt you this time? Or it could be that you鈥檝e never read anything by him before, and you鈥檙e curious. Four different stories might a good 鈥渢aster鈥�, you think.
Any or all of these may be a reason to read this book, as Full Dark No Stars is not a novel, but a set of 4 novellas. Each of them was published for the first time in this 2010 collection. So if you do not enjoy one, there are three more to try. They are:
1922
Big Driver
Fair Extension
A Good Marriage
(Each of these titles links to my review of the novella.)
An 鈥淎蹿迟别谤飞辞谤诲鈥� completes the book. This is a good idea, and much better than a 鈥淔oreword鈥�, which can tend to be full of spoilers. In his afterword, Stephen King gives us some insight into the stories, saying that he wanted the stories to linger in the imagination. He warns that these 4 novellas are some of the nastiest he has ever written:
鈥淭he stories in this book are harsh. You may have found them hard to read in places. If so, be assured that I found them equally hard to write in places.鈥�
This, then, is Stephen King examining humanity鈥檚 darker side, where he explores the darkest recesses of the human soul. It is indeed 鈥渇ully dark鈥� inside these stories. There are no glints of stars 鈥� though strangely stars are pictured on the cover. It is a pretty scene as small stars are just beginning to emerge through wispy clouds. A low perspective shows a silhouetted field of wheat, against a pale blue sky as dusk falls. It is very much at odds with the stories!
In each of Stephen King鈥檚 novellas here, he shows us someone who is pushed to the limit, and how they then wreak their revenge. Three are narrated by the one who seeks retribution, and each time we have their thoughts. The fourth is a letter by the viewpoint character. Each one is about an ordinary person who has inadvertently become embroiled in a situation they cannot cope with. As we read on, we see just how they deal with the person they feel is responsible for perpetrating their interminable, painful existence. These three stories are rooted in realism, but gruesome or sordid to a degree. A fourth has a supernatural element; the well-wrung trope of selling your soul to the Devil. Nevertheless I enjoyed this story the most.
This is one of my quibbles with Stephen King. Nothing he writes seems original. In fact sometimes he seems to deliberately fall into the most obvious 鈥渘ext step鈥�, or choose a boring stereotype. He says:
鈥淏ad writing is more than a matter of shit syntax and faulty observation; bad writing usually arises from a stubborn refusal to tell stories about what people actually do鈥攖o face the fact, let us say, that murderers sometimes help old ladies cross the street.鈥�
Clearly then, the author believes he is rooting his stories in the here and now, with ordinary people living ordinary lives. But this is humdrum and familiar ground; we have been here before all too often. The simple language he uses, with a lot of colloquial conversation, does not help relieve our boredom, although it does make us turn the pages quickly. The swearing is tiresome and constant. An example?
鈥淲hen it came to the dark fuckery of the human heart, there seemed to be no limit.鈥�
The crudeness of his characters feels assumed, as if the author is aiming for a shocked reaction, and wishes to fascinate readers who wonder what he can possibly write next which could be worse. His prurient themes frequently feel voyeuristic, and his coarse descriptions match this. Presumably Stephen King aims to excite his readers, and he once said that if he cannot horrify us, he will settle for revolting us, or 鈥済rossing us out鈥�, but he consistently goes for the lowest common denominator.
Here we have four tales of retribution, two carried out by men and two by women. Another gripe I have with this writer nudges me. Why does a male character written by Stephen King always have to be, as they say, a man鈥檚 man? Swearing tough guys for the most part, at least inwardly.
When they are female, they are just as one-dimensional. It has been said that 鈥淪tephen King understands the female psyche.鈥� What on earth does this mean? Clearly then, I do not 鈥渦nderstand the female psyche鈥�鈥攂ut I can recognise a Stephen King heroine at twenty paces. Feisty, outwardly amenable, but with inner hidden depths. You do not cross her, or you will live (or more probably not live) to regret it.
Stephen King here is attempting to explore the relationships between typical men and women. But his creations are merely types: cardboard cutouts placed so as to service the action, as the author pulls their strings. It is supremely manipulative writing. We have strong macho men, where it鈥檚 all really an act, and they might crumble at any time. Or there are those who relentlessly follow their image through, whatever hell they make for themselves by doing so. Poor men; they are victims of their genes. The women however, are deceptively dogged and courageous, and administer justice, (thus making all his female readers happy). Oh and they mostly curse and swear, whatever their gender. I refuse to believe that this is the American 鈥渆veryman/woman鈥�.
It is all so black and white. Stephen King鈥檚 early works were full of these stereotypes. More recently, since his daughter Naomi鈥檚 gay marriage around the turn of the century, Stephen King has attempted a little gender diversity, though little ethnic diversity. One example is his 鈥淢r. Mercedes鈥� detective trilogy (2014-2016). Otherwise gay characters are thin on the ground, (and gender-fluid ones seem entirely absent). There is Father Callahan in 鈥淪alem鈥檚 Lot鈥�, and Danya in 鈥淭he Stand鈥�, plus a few cringe-inducing cameos. There is rarely much variation in his applied stereotypical gender behaviour, and he easily falls back into his comfort straight 鈥渕ale/female鈥� divide. All these four stories confirm this world view. Take a couple of paragraphs, and it is easy to identify this writing as Stephen King.
This is the third set of 4 novellas Stephen King has written in his career to date. First there was 鈥淒ifferent Seasons鈥� back in 1982, when three of the four were subsequently filmed: 鈥淪tand By Me鈥�, 鈥淭he Shawshank Redemption鈥� and 鈥淎pt Pupil鈥�. 鈥淔our Past Midnight鈥� was his middle collection of four novellas. Only one of these was filmed: 鈥淪ecret Window鈥�, plus there was one TV special of 鈥淭he Langoliers鈥�. Of this third set, all four have been dramatised, either as a film or for TV. They seem to be adapted for this medium quite effectively.
Contrary to most of his novels, or short stories, in all these 12 novellas, the supernatural element is either down-played or nonexistent. Only one of this present collection is dark fantasy, although there are hints of insanity鈥攐r perhaps an other-worldly element鈥攏ear the end of the first tale. All four novellas in Full Dark, No Stars have the idea of retribution at their core, as has been mentioned. They also all explore the boundaries which exist between different worlds, (real or imagined), demonstrating how transgressing those boundaries can result in an horrific experience. But this idea only works by cheating.
Stephen King tells us over and over again that he writes about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. People who have got themselves slowly and surely into an horrific mess, and cannot cope with the fallout. This is all very well, but people are different! There are endless variations in individuals鈥� behaviour; not just one type for each of two distinct genders.
This is partly why his stories are so popular, I believe. They work by following the rules; a sort of painting by numbers. We do not have to think how Joe or Jill will behave in a certain situation. We know, because we know them inside out, from all the other Joes and Jills he has written. This is pulp, but repulsively effective pulp. And it is an easy read, with oversimplified characters for whom the tension slowly builds鈥攚hich is what people want to read.
鈥淭he Guardian鈥� newspaper calls Stephen King 鈥渢he greatest popular novelist of our day鈥�. So periodically I read another book by this author. But I can鈥檛 honestly say I recommend this one. It stays overall at 3 stars, which is my default rating. The first and third are the best stories, in my opinion. 鈥�1922鈥�, mostly a letter which the narrator, Wilfred, writes from a hotel room in Omaha in 1930, is the most original. But it is overlong, and self-indulgently gruesome; a tale of murder and possibly madness. 鈥淔air Extension鈥� is insidiously nasty, and also quite funny. This one lifts the collection by its wicked black humour, but only to this middle rating.
So Stephen King leads us back to the cover:
鈥淎ll right I think we鈥檝e been down here in the dark long enough. There鈥檚 a whole other world upstairs. Take my hand, Constant Reader, and I鈥檒l be happy to lead you back into the sunshine. I鈥檓 happy to go there because I believe most people are essentially good. I know that I am. It鈥檚 you I鈥檓 not entirely sure of.鈥�
鈥淚n the end we are all caught in devices of our own making. I believe that. In the end we are all caught.鈥�
鈥淚f you鈥檙e going into a very dark place, then you should take a bright light, and shine it on everything. If you don鈥檛 want to see, why in God鈥檚 name would you dare the dark at all?鈥�
What makes you decide to read a horror novel by Stephen King? Maybe you wish to be gripped and entertained? Or you want something easy to read which will be a page-turner; perhaps you want to see just how far he will go to shock and revolt you this time? Or it could be that you鈥檝e never read anything by him before, and you鈥檙e curious. Four different stories might a good 鈥渢aster鈥�, you think.
Any or all of these may be a reason to read this book, as Full Dark No Stars is not a novel, but a set of 4 novellas. Each of them was published for the first time in this 2010 collection. So if you do not enjoy one, there are three more to try. They are:
1922
Big Driver
Fair Extension
A Good Marriage
(Each of these titles links to my review of the novella.)
An 鈥淎蹿迟别谤飞辞谤诲鈥� completes the book. This is a good idea, and much better than a 鈥淔oreword鈥�, which can tend to be full of spoilers. In his afterword, Stephen King gives us some insight into the stories, saying that he wanted the stories to linger in the imagination. He warns that these 4 novellas are some of the nastiest he has ever written:
鈥淭he stories in this book are harsh. You may have found them hard to read in places. If so, be assured that I found them equally hard to write in places.鈥�
This, then, is Stephen King examining humanity鈥檚 darker side, where he explores the darkest recesses of the human soul. It is indeed 鈥渇ully dark鈥� inside these stories. There are no glints of stars 鈥� though strangely stars are pictured on the cover. It is a pretty scene as small stars are just beginning to emerge through wispy clouds. A low perspective shows a silhouetted field of wheat, against a pale blue sky as dusk falls. It is very much at odds with the stories!
In each of Stephen King鈥檚 novellas here, he shows us someone who is pushed to the limit, and how they then wreak their revenge. Three are narrated by the one who seeks retribution, and each time we have their thoughts. The fourth is a letter by the viewpoint character. Each one is about an ordinary person who has inadvertently become embroiled in a situation they cannot cope with. As we read on, we see just how they deal with the person they feel is responsible for perpetrating their interminable, painful existence. These three stories are rooted in realism, but gruesome or sordid to a degree. A fourth has a supernatural element; the well-wrung trope of selling your soul to the Devil. Nevertheless I enjoyed this story the most.
This is one of my quibbles with Stephen King. Nothing he writes seems original. In fact sometimes he seems to deliberately fall into the most obvious 鈥渘ext step鈥�, or choose a boring stereotype. He says:
鈥淏ad writing is more than a matter of shit syntax and faulty observation; bad writing usually arises from a stubborn refusal to tell stories about what people actually do鈥攖o face the fact, let us say, that murderers sometimes help old ladies cross the street.鈥�
Clearly then, the author believes he is rooting his stories in the here and now, with ordinary people living ordinary lives. But this is humdrum and familiar ground; we have been here before all too often. The simple language he uses, with a lot of colloquial conversation, does not help relieve our boredom, although it does make us turn the pages quickly. The swearing is tiresome and constant. An example?
鈥淲hen it came to the dark fuckery of the human heart, there seemed to be no limit.鈥�
The crudeness of his characters feels assumed, as if the author is aiming for a shocked reaction, and wishes to fascinate readers who wonder what he can possibly write next which could be worse. His prurient themes frequently feel voyeuristic, and his coarse descriptions match this. Presumably Stephen King aims to excite his readers, and he once said that if he cannot horrify us, he will settle for revolting us, or 鈥済rossing us out鈥�, but he consistently goes for the lowest common denominator.
Here we have four tales of retribution, two carried out by men and two by women. Another gripe I have with this writer nudges me. Why does a male character written by Stephen King always have to be, as they say, a man鈥檚 man? Swearing tough guys for the most part, at least inwardly.
When they are female, they are just as one-dimensional. It has been said that 鈥淪tephen King understands the female psyche.鈥� What on earth does this mean? Clearly then, I do not 鈥渦nderstand the female psyche鈥�鈥攂ut I can recognise a Stephen King heroine at twenty paces. Feisty, outwardly amenable, but with inner hidden depths. You do not cross her, or you will live (or more probably not live) to regret it.
Stephen King here is attempting to explore the relationships between typical men and women. But his creations are merely types: cardboard cutouts placed so as to service the action, as the author pulls their strings. It is supremely manipulative writing. We have strong macho men, where it鈥檚 all really an act, and they might crumble at any time. Or there are those who relentlessly follow their image through, whatever hell they make for themselves by doing so. Poor men; they are victims of their genes. The women however, are deceptively dogged and courageous, and administer justice, (thus making all his female readers happy). Oh and they mostly curse and swear, whatever their gender. I refuse to believe that this is the American 鈥渆veryman/woman鈥�.
It is all so black and white. Stephen King鈥檚 early works were full of these stereotypes. More recently, since his daughter Naomi鈥檚 gay marriage around the turn of the century, Stephen King has attempted a little gender diversity, though little ethnic diversity. One example is his 鈥淢r. Mercedes鈥� detective trilogy (2014-2016). Otherwise gay characters are thin on the ground, (and gender-fluid ones seem entirely absent). There is Father Callahan in 鈥淪alem鈥檚 Lot鈥�, and Danya in 鈥淭he Stand鈥�, plus a few cringe-inducing cameos. There is rarely much variation in his applied stereotypical gender behaviour, and he easily falls back into his comfort straight 鈥渕ale/female鈥� divide. All these four stories confirm this world view. Take a couple of paragraphs, and it is easy to identify this writing as Stephen King.
This is the third set of 4 novellas Stephen King has written in his career to date. First there was 鈥淒ifferent Seasons鈥� back in 1982, when three of the four were subsequently filmed: 鈥淪tand By Me鈥�, 鈥淭he Shawshank Redemption鈥� and 鈥淎pt Pupil鈥�. 鈥淔our Past Midnight鈥� was his middle collection of four novellas. Only one of these was filmed: 鈥淪ecret Window鈥�, plus there was one TV special of 鈥淭he Langoliers鈥�. Of this third set, all four have been dramatised, either as a film or for TV. They seem to be adapted for this medium quite effectively.
Contrary to most of his novels, or short stories, in all these 12 novellas, the supernatural element is either down-played or nonexistent. Only one of this present collection is dark fantasy, although there are hints of insanity鈥攐r perhaps an other-worldly element鈥攏ear the end of the first tale. All four novellas in Full Dark, No Stars have the idea of retribution at their core, as has been mentioned. They also all explore the boundaries which exist between different worlds, (real or imagined), demonstrating how transgressing those boundaries can result in an horrific experience. But this idea only works by cheating.
Stephen King tells us over and over again that he writes about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. People who have got themselves slowly and surely into an horrific mess, and cannot cope with the fallout. This is all very well, but people are different! There are endless variations in individuals鈥� behaviour; not just one type for each of two distinct genders.
This is partly why his stories are so popular, I believe. They work by following the rules; a sort of painting by numbers. We do not have to think how Joe or Jill will behave in a certain situation. We know, because we know them inside out, from all the other Joes and Jills he has written. This is pulp, but repulsively effective pulp. And it is an easy read, with oversimplified characters for whom the tension slowly builds鈥攚hich is what people want to read.
鈥淭he Guardian鈥� newspaper calls Stephen King 鈥渢he greatest popular novelist of our day鈥�. So periodically I read another book by this author. But I can鈥檛 honestly say I recommend this one. It stays overall at 3 stars, which is my default rating. The first and third are the best stories, in my opinion. 鈥�1922鈥�, mostly a letter which the narrator, Wilfred, writes from a hotel room in Omaha in 1930, is the most original. But it is overlong, and self-indulgently gruesome; a tale of murder and possibly madness. 鈥淔air Extension鈥� is insidiously nasty, and also quite funny. This one lifts the collection by its wicked black humour, but only to this middle rating.
So Stephen King leads us back to the cover:
鈥淎ll right I think we鈥檝e been down here in the dark long enough. There鈥檚 a whole other world upstairs. Take my hand, Constant Reader, and I鈥檒l be happy to lead you back into the sunshine. I鈥檓 happy to go there because I believe most people are essentially good. I know that I am. It鈥檚 you I鈥檓 not entirely sure of.鈥�
October 3, 2012
Thanks to 欧宝娱乐, I have been introduced to a lot of fine authors I
would not otherwise have heard of. Some have become new favorites.
But no matter how enjoyable these authors' works are, none of them can
compare to the security and enjoyment of going back to Stephen King.
I often complain of being a relatively slow reader. But this is never the case with King. He has the wonderful gift of emotionally involving you into a story, coming to know and understand his characters, and when this happens, the mechanics of reading disappear. It becomes an immersion.
In King's afterword (and I love that he does these), he explains exactly why his storytelling resonates with me perfectly:
"for those who substitute unbelievable behavior for the way people really act, I have nothing but contempt. Bad writing is more than a matter of shit syntax and faulty observation; bad writing usually arises from a stubborn refusal to tell stories about what people actually do."
He may sound snarky out of context, but he's right. Personally, there
is no way I can thoroughly enjoy a story if the characters' actions make no sense.
I have tried to explain this in a couple of reviews I have written for two novels by a very popular horror writer here. I'm not going to mention his name, but the reason I don't care for his stories is because I feel that his main characters are idiots. Despite his talent for laying out a story, it was ruined for me because I didn't buy in to what the characters did, or their motivations.
King gets it. (Okay, except for Under the Dome. I couldn't buy into where human nature went in that one, sorry Steve, we're off the common plane there, old friend.)
With this collection, King returns to his excellent novella formula. Full Dark, No Stars is also a return to humankind's darkness, and also in his afterword, he explains that rather than have extraordinary characters in ordinary situations, he chooses to put ordinary people in extraordinary situations and see what happens. This is a recipe that yields stories that share the addictive quality of, "I can't wait to see how this ends!"
So get comfy, sit back and enjoy four tales of harshness...
1922: This was a good story set in 1922, where a farmer comes to a final solution regarding his wife's insistence on selling their land off.
After about 100 pages, I was beginning to feel that there were parts
that dragged a bit, but King wrapped this one up with a high one, left
center field, out of the park, off a windshield and into the river.
I was left thinking about this one for a while.
Big Driver: Oooh, this was a dark one. I think my posture is still suffering from my slack-jawed slouch as King pulled me through the story of a writer of cozy mysteries, and her trip back from a speaking engagement.
After showing us his softer side over the past few years, our Stephen shows he still has dark things in the tank. I had a hard time putting this one down.
Fair Extension: The shortest story in the book. This one reminded me a little of The Monkey's Paw, in that you may get what you desire, but in the grand balance of things, something must be taken to be given. Again, a tough one to put down.
A Good Marriage: After 27 years of marriage, a woman discovers that her
loving husband has a secret hobby. It's not good news. I was again hauled through this story mercilessly.
Afterword: Probably the most terrifying part of this novel for me was learning that King still goes for his 4-5 mile walks along a road (he was hit by a van in 1999, for those of you who don't know), and that his favorite snack is a candybar and a soda.
Firstly, if you ever read this, Steve, please stay off the roads. And knock off the white sugar (aka white death). I want you to stay healthy and keep writing for many more years. Walk in the woods, and eat plenty of Omega-3s, antioxidants and get your fibre. Peace.
would not otherwise have heard of. Some have become new favorites.
But no matter how enjoyable these authors' works are, none of them can
compare to the security and enjoyment of going back to Stephen King.
I often complain of being a relatively slow reader. But this is never the case with King. He has the wonderful gift of emotionally involving you into a story, coming to know and understand his characters, and when this happens, the mechanics of reading disappear. It becomes an immersion.
In King's afterword (and I love that he does these), he explains exactly why his storytelling resonates with me perfectly:
"for those who substitute unbelievable behavior for the way people really act, I have nothing but contempt. Bad writing is more than a matter of shit syntax and faulty observation; bad writing usually arises from a stubborn refusal to tell stories about what people actually do."
He may sound snarky out of context, but he's right. Personally, there
is no way I can thoroughly enjoy a story if the characters' actions make no sense.
I have tried to explain this in a couple of reviews I have written for two novels by a very popular horror writer here. I'm not going to mention his name, but the reason I don't care for his stories is because I feel that his main characters are idiots. Despite his talent for laying out a story, it was ruined for me because I didn't buy in to what the characters did, or their motivations.
King gets it. (Okay, except for Under the Dome. I couldn't buy into where human nature went in that one, sorry Steve, we're off the common plane there, old friend.)
With this collection, King returns to his excellent novella formula. Full Dark, No Stars is also a return to humankind's darkness, and also in his afterword, he explains that rather than have extraordinary characters in ordinary situations, he chooses to put ordinary people in extraordinary situations and see what happens. This is a recipe that yields stories that share the addictive quality of, "I can't wait to see how this ends!"
So get comfy, sit back and enjoy four tales of harshness...
1922: This was a good story set in 1922, where a farmer comes to a final solution regarding his wife's insistence on selling their land off.
After about 100 pages, I was beginning to feel that there were parts
that dragged a bit, but King wrapped this one up with a high one, left
center field, out of the park, off a windshield and into the river.
I was left thinking about this one for a while.
Big Driver: Oooh, this was a dark one. I think my posture is still suffering from my slack-jawed slouch as King pulled me through the story of a writer of cozy mysteries, and her trip back from a speaking engagement.
After showing us his softer side over the past few years, our Stephen shows he still has dark things in the tank. I had a hard time putting this one down.
Fair Extension: The shortest story in the book. This one reminded me a little of The Monkey's Paw, in that you may get what you desire, but in the grand balance of things, something must be taken to be given. Again, a tough one to put down.
A Good Marriage: After 27 years of marriage, a woman discovers that her
loving husband has a secret hobby. It's not good news. I was again hauled through this story mercilessly.
Afterword: Probably the most terrifying part of this novel for me was learning that King still goes for his 4-5 mile walks along a road (he was hit by a van in 1999, for those of you who don't know), and that his favorite snack is a candybar and a soda.
Firstly, if you ever read this, Steve, please stay off the roads. And knock off the white sugar (aka white death). I want you to stay healthy and keep writing for many more years. Walk in the woods, and eat plenty of Omega-3s, antioxidants and get your fibre. Peace.
June 10, 2024
1922 - 5 Stars.
A real dark story full of the dangers of human nature 鈥� greed, guilt, murder and karma! But ew rats, I didn鈥檛 realise I had read this one before until I was quite a few pages in but when I realised I didn鈥檛 care. This is such a great short story and for a little read it has a great impact. I absolutely love this just long enough perfection.
Big Driver - 5 Stars
This is why the Full Dark, No Stars is one of the BEST collection of short stories so many of these deserve 5 stars and this is no exception. Revenge is the key in this brilliant little story and I LOVE it is this a horror I don鈥檛 know maybe a thriller for me. This story is brutal in parts (but nothing compared to most King books) and that makes the revenge a whole lot sweeter! This book isn鈥檛 the most inventive but somehow the way King delivers this makes it a 5 star read and a story you can鈥檛 put down.
Fair Extension 鈥� 5 Stars!
Wow鈥� I love this story this is how I feel the devil really is I mean perfect! Would you make a deal with the devil? This is a story about the unfairness of life and how the world turns its back on some and sheds light on others. This book was fun short and again perfect 鈥� I have decided Kings short stories are just insanely good! DERRY AGAIN! I mean never go to Derry honestly. This one leaves you thinking really thinking would you pass all you 鈥榖ad luck鈥� to another? Someone you hate?
A Good Marriage - 4 Stars
I think this one wasn鈥檛 a 5 star for me because I didn鈥檛 relate to the characters as much only being 24 and not married! Plus this was a little all over the place to start with and took a while to narrow into what actually was being said/written. The character development is brilliant in such a short book I must say though! More of a suspenseful, psychological thriller rather than a horror and it was written to really make you understand a killers mind.
Under the Weather 鈥� 3 Stars
Full Dark, No Stars would鈥檝e got 5 stars for me if it hadn鈥檛 been for this one story. I found this one too predictable and a little flat if I鈥檓 honest I mean it was a good story but I expect more from SK. This one was heavy-handed but it was ok however there are so many better short stories by King this one just doesn鈥檛 make the cut for me.
A real dark story full of the dangers of human nature 鈥� greed, guilt, murder and karma! But ew rats, I didn鈥檛 realise I had read this one before until I was quite a few pages in but when I realised I didn鈥檛 care. This is such a great short story and for a little read it has a great impact. I absolutely love this just long enough perfection.
Big Driver - 5 Stars
This is why the Full Dark, No Stars is one of the BEST collection of short stories so many of these deserve 5 stars and this is no exception. Revenge is the key in this brilliant little story and I LOVE it is this a horror I don鈥檛 know maybe a thriller for me. This story is brutal in parts (but nothing compared to most King books) and that makes the revenge a whole lot sweeter! This book isn鈥檛 the most inventive but somehow the way King delivers this makes it a 5 star read and a story you can鈥檛 put down.
Fair Extension 鈥� 5 Stars!
Wow鈥� I love this story this is how I feel the devil really is I mean perfect! Would you make a deal with the devil? This is a story about the unfairness of life and how the world turns its back on some and sheds light on others. This book was fun short and again perfect 鈥� I have decided Kings short stories are just insanely good! DERRY AGAIN! I mean never go to Derry honestly. This one leaves you thinking really thinking would you pass all you 鈥榖ad luck鈥� to another? Someone you hate?
A Good Marriage - 4 Stars
I think this one wasn鈥檛 a 5 star for me because I didn鈥檛 relate to the characters as much only being 24 and not married! Plus this was a little all over the place to start with and took a while to narrow into what actually was being said/written. The character development is brilliant in such a short book I must say though! More of a suspenseful, psychological thriller rather than a horror and it was written to really make you understand a killers mind.
Under the Weather 鈥� 3 Stars
Full Dark, No Stars would鈥檝e got 5 stars for me if it hadn鈥檛 been for this one story. I found this one too predictable and a little flat if I鈥檓 honest I mean it was a good story but I expect more from SK. This one was heavy-handed but it was ok however there are so many better short stories by King this one just doesn鈥檛 make the cut for me.
October 13, 2020
Me encant贸. Si hay que reconocer algo es que a Stephen King le va muy bien con las novelas cortas: justas, precisas y tan 谩giles que es casi imposible que en alg煤n momento pierdas el inter茅s, o por el contrario, que no alcances a engancharte a la historia.
La l铆nea argumental de al menos tres de los cuatro relatos, se basa en el 鈥測 si no hubiera鈥︹€� de los personajes principales, dejando plasmado c贸mo a trav茅s de peque帽as decisiones y circunstancias se puede llegar a situaciones y experiencias aterradoras, transformando, a su vez, toda la estructura de valores y convicciones de una persona supuestamente normal. Es en ese momento, al perder ese pilar de creencias e internarse en el lado m谩s sombr铆o de la personalidad, es que es muy f谩cil ver todo oscuro, sin estrellas鈥�
La l铆nea argumental de al menos tres de los cuatro relatos, se basa en el 鈥測 si no hubiera鈥︹€� de los personajes principales, dejando plasmado c贸mo a trav茅s de peque帽as decisiones y circunstancias se puede llegar a situaciones y experiencias aterradoras, transformando, a su vez, toda la estructura de valores y convicciones de una persona supuestamente normal. Es en ese momento, al perder ese pilar de creencias e internarse en el lado m谩s sombr铆o de la personalidad, es que es muy f谩cil ver todo oscuro, sin estrellas鈥�
April 29, 2023
Excellent King.
1922 was a five star story
1922 was a five star story
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