Favorite King Short Story?

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Christine62

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
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Oklahoma City
I've made at least three failed attempts writing three different novels. So I decided to go back to short stories and essays. Trying to get back in the groove, so I've been reading Mr. King's short stories.

Do I have a favorite? That's like asking me which one of my kids I love best. I will reply to this question like I used to answer my kids, "I love you both for different reasons--you're like apples and oranges."

A good test for a short story is if your mind drifts back to the neural pathway that was burned in your brain when you read it, hours later, days later, maybe even years later.

I remember skipping over Stationary Bike five years ago when I came upon it. I think I had some idea that the bike would morph into a monster and eat him. Yes, I just listened to it in my daily commute to pick up my grandson from PreK. I come about 20 minutes early and just shut off the car and listen to "my stories"--

Not to give anything away but ZAM! POW! AND OF COURSE OMG!! I will never think of stationary bikes or lipids the same way again--who can after that? I don't want to say clever but maybe super duper clever!

Sorry for all the gushing. I really meant to start a thread so everyone can say which of Mr. King's short stories just blew them away....so which ones?
 

king family fan

Prolific member
Jul 19, 2010
33,133
117,741
south
I've made at least three failed attempts writing three different novels. So I decided to go back to short stories and essays. Trying to get back in the groove, so I've been reading Mr. King's short stories.

Do I have a favorite? That's like asking me which one of my kids I love best. I will reply to this question like I used to answer my kids, "I love you both for different reasons--you're like apples and oranges."

A good test for a short story is if your mind drifts back to the neural pathway that was burned in your brain when you read it, hours later, days later, maybe even years later.

I remember skipping over Stationary Bike five years ago when I came upon it. I think I had some idea that the bike would morph into a monster and eat him. Yes, I just listened to it in my daily commute to pick up my grandson from PreK. I come about 20 minutes early and just shut off the car and listen to "my stories"--

Not to give anything away but ZAM! POW! AND OF COURSE OMG!! I will never think of stationary bikes or lipids the same way again--who can after that? I don't want to say clever but maybe super duper clever!

Sorry for all the gushing. I really meant to start a thread so everyone can say which of Mr. King's short stories just blew them away....so which ones?

Funny you should mention Stationary bike as i just drew it out of the library today. I have listened to it before though.
 

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
11,749
34,805
all of them.

As I was reading your opener I thought...ummm yes Chattery Teeth...Uncle Otto's Truck...The Sun Dog...Grey Matter...Battleground...and then they all started falling like dominoes one after another...scrolled down, read other posts...yes yes. yes.
 

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
9,660
74,320
54
Heart of the South
all of them.

As I was reading your opener I thought...ummm yes Chattery Teeth...Uncle Otto's Truck...The Sun Dog...Grey Matter...Battleground...and then they all started falling like dominoes one after another...scrolled down, read other posts...yes yes. yes.
Yes, this.

For some reason, I have a particular fondness for Ballad of the Flexible Bullet. But there's so many I love. Just today I read Suffer the Little Children again.
 

VultureLvr45

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2012
2,650
13,707
Maryland
all of them.

As I was reading your opener I thought...ummm yes Chattery Teeth...Uncle Otto's Truck...The Sun Dog...Grey Matter...Battleground...and then they all started falling like dominoes one after another...scrolled down, read other posts...yes yes. yes.

I hear you Walt... Like A few more than others ( A Good Marriage, N, Cat from Hell, Autopsy Room 4, Man in the Black Suit), But every One is a gift. Thank You Uncle Steve.
 

ghost19

"Have I run too far to get home?"
Sep 25, 2011
8,926
56,578
51
Arkansas
Cain Rose Up. I read this one when reading thru Skeleton Crew for the first time eons ago 1986-ish?, Then fast forward to sometime in the early 90's during my college daze. I remember reading this story one late night, then lighting up a Marlboro after finishing the story and thinking to myself, GOD D@MN! That story was good. And it still is. Very powerful writing for a such a short story. Another tip of the bottle to you Mr. King at this late hour sir. Happy Sunday SKMB members.
 

The Nameless

M-O-O-N - That spells Nameless
Jul 10, 2011
2,080
8,261
42
The Darkside of the Moon (England really)
I just can't get into the short stories. Novella's yes, but as far as shorts go, for some reason I'm just not gripped, of the few I've managed, crouch end is probably my favourite, but that was just ok at best. If you class it as a short story, blockade billy is probably my favourite.

As for novellas, the langoliers hands down by a trillion miles.
 

fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
15,859
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120 miles S of the Pancake/Waffle line
I just can't get into the short stories. Novella's yes, but as far as shorts go, for some reason I'm just not gripped, of the few I've managed, crouch end is probably my favourite, but that was just ok at best. If you class it as a short story, blockade billy is probably my favourite.

As for novellas, the langoliers hands down by a trillion miles.

I love short stories because they can be so different than a novel. The author can get away with things in a short story that the author can't do (or doesn't want to do after taking the reader on a 500 page ride) in a novel like having a bleak ending or leaving the ending up to the reader's imagination.
 
Mar 12, 2010
6,538
29,004
Texas
I love short stories because they can be so different than a novel. The author can get away with things in a short story that the author can't do (or doesn't want to do after taking the reader on a 500 page ride) in a novel like having a bleak ending or leaving the ending up to the reader's imagination.
That's very true :) I think short stories do tend to stir the reader's imagination more so than novels can.

Langoliers is a great example. I had trouble visualizing those toothy mutant Pac-men but I love alternate reality stories.
 

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
9,660
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Heart of the South
Short stories happen to be my favorite thing to read. I try to get America's Best.., The O'Henrys, Best Southern Shorts, and other collections every year. While I love a nice long 1200 page SK epic, I am equally thrilled with 30 pages or so that wraps up nicely and I can read in one sitting. A friend of mine found me an old, old copy of Guy de Maupassant short stories - what a treasure!