Who Would Like This Book:
Night Shift is a treasure trove for horror fans and anyone who loves stories with bite-sized bursts of fright. Stephen King masterfully turns everyday things - like trucks, laundry machines, and even lawn care - into nightmares you never see coming. This collection is perfect for readers who want a mix of classic chills, creepy atmosphere, and a dash of dark humor. It’s especially fun for longtime King followers, since so many of the stories connect to his larger universe (including Salem’s Lot and The Stand) or later spawned iconic movies like Children of the Corn. If you’re into suspense, psychological horror, or just want to dip into King’s work without committing to a long novel, you’ll have a blast with these tales.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you prefer your horror more subtle or literary, or want stories with deep emotional arcs, some of these pulpy, early-career shockers might feel a bit over-the-top or dated. Not every story is a home run - a few endings are abrupt or a little cheesy, and a couple of tales lean hard into gory B-movie territory. Those who aren’t into supernatural elements (possessed machines, killer children, etc.) may find themselves rolling their eyes at some of the wilder plots. Also, if you’re sensitive to older language and references, this ‘70s collection definitely shows its age here and there.
About:
'Night Shift' by Stephen King is a collection of early short stories that showcase King's skill as a storyteller. Readers are taken on a journey through a variety of tales ranging from paranormal encounters to psychological thrillers, all written in King's signature style. The book includes stories that have been adapted into popular movies and TV series, demonstrating the lasting impact of King's work. The narratives cover a range of themes, from horror to human nature, providing a diverse reading experience for fans of the genre.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of violence, death, mental illness, addiction, and grief, as well as disturbing imagery that may not be suitable for all readers.
From The Publisher:
A collection of tales to invade and paralyse the mind as the safe light of day is infiltrated by the shadows of the night.
As you read, the clutching fingers of terror brush lightly across the nape of the neck, reach round from behind to clutch and lock themselves, white-knuckled, around the throat.
This is the horror of ordinary people and everyday objects that become strangely altered; a world where nothing is ever quite what it seems, where the familiar and the friendly lure and deceive. A world where madness and blind panic become the only reality.
Ratings (131)
Incredible (18) | |
Loved It (61) | |
Liked It (37) | |
It Was OK (13) | |
Did Not Like (1) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (225):
Read It (138) | |
Currently Reading (3) | |
Want To Read (58) | |
Did Not Finish (3) | |
Not Interested (23) |
2 comment(s)
This collection of short stories by Sai King constitutes my third encounter with his work in this format. Given my familiarity with his writing style in short narratives and the fact that this is his inaugural-published compilation, my expectations were tinged with apprehension. To some extent, my worries were justified, yet I also discovered my assumptions were not entirely accurate.
Basically, King was experimenting with various horror concepts during this time to see which ones would be successful. Examples of this include The Mangler, Trucks, The Lawnmower Man, and partially Battleground, which all had outlandish concepts. However, I personally couldn't fully immerse myself in them, even though I did entertain the notion.
Contrarily, I must concede my error. King possesses a remarkable gift for enthralling, bone-chilling, and emotionally charged stories that few writers are able to match. Across multiple genres (although they all contain elements of horror) he displays his exceptional storytelling capabilities. When a narrative spans only 20 pages, lacking a definitive ending, character development, or comprehensive answers, and yet manages to evoke genuine concern within you, it is undeniably a work of extraordinary significance.
Standout stories were: Night Surf, The Boogeyman, Sometimes They Come Back, Children Of The Corn, The Man Who Loved Flowers, The Woman In The Room.
Jerusalem's Lot - 3.5 ⭐️
Graveyard Shift - 4⭐️
Night Surf - 4⭐️
I am the Doorway - 3.25⭐️
The Mangler - 1,5⭐️
The Boogeyman - 5⭐️
Grey Matter - 2.5⭐️
Battleground - 3.5⭐️
Trucks - 2.5⭐️
Sometimes They Come Back - 4.5⭐️
Strawberry Spring - 3⭐️
The Ledge - 4.5⭐️
The Lawnmower Man - 2.5⭐️
Quitters, Inc - 4⭐️
I Know What You Need - 3.75⭐️
Children of the Corn - 5⭐️
The Last Rung on the Ladder - 3.25⭐️
The Man Who Loved Flowers - 4.25⭐️
One For the Road - 4⭐️
The Woman in the Room - 5⭐️
This is a collection of twenty short stories written by Stephen King in the seventies. Out of the twenty stories, there were three which I particularly enjoyed due to the probability of the situations occurring.
My first favorite story was “Night Surf” which tells the story of a group of people surviving after the world has been wiped out by A6. I won’t ruin the story for you but I’ll just say make sure you get a flu shot.
My second favorite story was “Trucks” which is a story of people trapped inside a restaurant and being held hostage by sentient trucks.
My third favorite story was “Quitters Inc.” which presents a creative yet painful and effective way to stop smoking and lose weight.
The three stories I mentioned above were, to me, the best of the bunch and I felt most of the other stories tended to focus more on scaring the reader with tales of possessed inanimate objects, monsters, and exploring the darkness of the human soul. Overall, this was a great collection of horror short stories.
What can you read after
Night Shift?
About the Author:
Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. Among his most recent are Full Dark, No Stars; Under the Dome; Just After Sunset; Duma Key; Lisey's Story; Cell; and the concluding novels in the Dark Tower saga: Wolves of the Calla, Song of Susannah, and The Dark Tower. His acclaimed nonfiction book On Writing is also a bestseller. In 2003, he was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and in 2007 he received the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. He lives in Maine with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
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