My #stephenking #readathon with @ame9022 and @wendysallison has come to his first short story collection, NIGHT SHIFT. Most of these stories were published before he became "Stephen King", and there are several themes/plot points that he would carry over on to his later published novels.

"Jerusalem's Lot": A prequel of sorts to 'SALEM'S LOT, ( )

Just a gentle reminder that while he has written some great novels, King's strong point is his short stories. ( )

Reading through this it's amazing to note how far the stories are from their later movie adaptations. Lawnmower Man in particular is something else entirely. And Jerusalem's Lot is a pitch perfect Lovecraftian horror. King makes great fun out of the simplest of premises, like in The Ledge. You also get a sense of his recurring pet themes in The Mangler (technology run amok/possessed by evil). Very diverse collection, most of it is good. ( )

This is Stephen King's first short story collection published. It contains 20 stories. I had two that I did not like at all and five that I loved.

Jerusalem's Lot: 3.5 stars, kind of a prequel to 'Salem's Lot, written in letters, slow but creepy

Graveyard Shift: 1 stars, set in a factory, mutated rats are bloodthirsty, really did not enjoy this one at all

Night Surf: 4 stars, set up for The Stand

I Am the Doorway: 5 stars, a man is being controlled by some kind of creature and now has eyes on his hands

The Mangler: 4.5 stars, haunted machine in a factory

The Boogeyman: 4 stars, a man tells his therapist how his kids died

Gray Matter: 3 stars, an alcoholic becomes less human

Battleground: 2.5 stars, an assassin is attacked by toy soldiers

Trucks: 3 stars, trucks come to life to kill people, follows a few people hiding in a diner

Sometimes They Come Back: 5 stars, a teacher has experiences with ghosts from his past

Strawberry Spring: 5 stars, girls are being killed on campus

The Ledge: 3.5 stars, a man is challenged to walk around the ledge of a very tall skyscraper

The Lawnmower Man: 2 stars, a man hires a lawn service, one of the weirdest things I have read in my life

Quitters, Inc.: 4 stars, a man learns of a company that will allow him to quit smoking

I Know What You Need: 5 stars, a girl gets close to a guy with a strange past

Children of the Corn: 4 stars, evil kids in the middle of Nebraska need to appease the corn with sacrifices

The Last Rung of the Ladder: 4 stars, a man receives a letter from his sister and it prompts a memory from their childhood

The Man Who Loved Flowers: 5 stars, everyone assumes that the man walking down the street is in love

One for the Road: 4 stars, a short sequel to 'Salem's Lot

A Woman in the Room: 1 star, deals with a son trying to help his sick mother ( )

This is Stephen King's first short story collection published. It contains 20 stories. I had two that I did not like at all and five that I loved.

Jerusalem's Lot: 3.5 stars, kind of a prequel to 'Salem's Lot, written in letters, slow but creepy

Graveyard Shift: 1 stars, set in a factory, mutated rats are bloodthirsty, really did not enjoy this one at all

Night Surf: 4 stars, set up for The Stand

I Am the Doorway: 5 stars, a man is being controlled by some kind of creature and now has eyes on his hands

The Mangler: 4.5 stars, haunted machine in a factory

The Boogeyman: 4 stars, a man tells his therapist how his kids died

Gray Matter: 3 stars, an alcoholic becomes less human

Battleground: 2.5 stars, an assassin is attacked by toy soldiers

Trucks: 3 stars, trucks come to life to kill people, follows a few people hiding in a diner

Sometimes They Come Back: 5 stars, a teacher has experiences with ghosts from his past

Strawberry Spring: 5 stars, girls are being killed on campus

The Ledge: 3.5 stars, a man is challenged to walk around the ledge of a very tall skyscraper

The Lawnmower Man: 2 stars, a man hires a lawn service, one of the weirdest things I have read in my life

Quitters, Inc.: 4 stars, a man learns of a company that will allow him to quit smoking

I Know What You Need: 5 stars, a girl gets close to a guy with a strange past

Children of the Corn: 4 stars, evil kids in the middle of Nebraska need to appease the corn with sacrifices

The Last Rung of the Ladder: 4 stars, a man receives a letter from his sister and it prompts a memory from their childhood

The Man Who Loved Flowers: 5 stars, everyone assumes that the man walking down the street is in love

One for the Road: 4 stars, a short sequel to 'Salem's Lot

A Woman in the Room: 1 star, deals with a son trying to help his sick mother ( )