4.19

3

Jun 05, 2017

Everything’s Eventual offers a mixed bag of short stories, fourteen tales that range from the horrifying to the mundane, each of which includes commentary from the author.

“Autopsy Room Four” explores the frightful prospect of premature burial. Comedic and tense, this is arguably the best story in the entire collection.

In “The Man in the Black Suit,” an old man recalls a chance encounter from his childhood that’s haunted him all his life. King plays to his strengths in this one, dabbling in the Everything’s Eventual offers a mixed bag of short stories, fourteen tales that range from the horrifying to the mundane, each of which includes commentary from the author.

“Autopsy Room Four” explores the frightful prospect of premature burial. Comedic and tense, this is arguably the best story in the entire collection.

In “The Man in the Black Suit,” an old man recalls a chance encounter from his childhood that’s haunted him all his life. King plays to his strengths in this one, dabbling in the realm of shadowy figures and terrifying monsters.

“All That You Love Will Be Carried Away” is an inconclusive tale of a man with a penchant for collecting rest-area bathroom graffiti who suffers from a waning interest in being alive. King explains that he was encouraged by Bill Buford of The New Yorker to keep the ending ambiguous, and both Buford and King believe that decision strengthened the story. Whether or not that’s true is subjective.

Bullets fly in “The Death of Jack Hamilton,” a story of Depression-era outlaws going head to head with the cops that will likely appeal to fans of car chases, westerns, or John Dillinger.

“In the Deathroom” sees an American newspaper reporter interrogated in South America. The reporter must find a way to turn the tides if he wants to get out of the room alive. Labeled by King as “Kafka-esque,” this story investigates an unorthodox “what if” scenario to satisfying effect.

The Little Sisters of Eluria is a fantasy novella about Roland Deschain of Gilead (from the Dark Tower series) in which Deschain crosses paths with some cunning women who are more than the doting caretakers they appear to be at first glance. King rightly states that “you don’t need to have read the Dark Tower novels” to enjoy this novella.

The book’s namesake, “Everything’s Eventual,” reveals why nineteen-year-old Dink Earnshaw grinds paper in the garbage disposal and drops change down the storm-drain every week. Based on an image that randomly popped into King’s head, this story demonstrates his ability to take an idea and use it to craft an intriguing story that gives meaning to an imaginary character’s odd behavior.

“L.T.’s Theory of Pets” introduces a disgruntled couple who gift each other a pet that bonds with the person who bought them, rather than the person they were gifted to. Intended to soften their discord, the gifted pets instead exacerbate their owners’ troubled relationship. King toys with his readers’ emotions in this one, tugging on heartstrings before throwing in a shocking twist.

King once again romps through the realm of horror in “The Road Virus Heads North,” a gruesome tale about an unwitting man who acquires an eerie painting that seems to continually change in subtle yet grim ways.

Amidst an argument over divorce papers, lunch takes an unexpected, violent turn in “Lunch at Gotham Café.” Though this reads like classic King, the plot twist feels clunky and forced.

King conveys his idea of Hell in “That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French” – an intentionally repetitive story of déjà vu.

“1408” takes a stab at being a supernatural tale of a haunted hotel room and succeeds marvelously. Coming in at a close second for best story in the collection, this shudder-inducing tale of a room on the thirteenth floor (whose room number totals thirteen) starts strong and continues to get better and better.

Riding the Bullet is a novella that was first published as an e-book in 2000 to great acclaim, but King questions if the novella did well because of its content or because of the “novelty of the electronic package.” It’s reminiscent of an R.L. Stine book (i.e. creepy in a kitschy way), but underneath the surface it’s about the author grappling with the harsh reality that death eventually finds our loved ones.

In “Luckey Quarter,” a hotel cleaning woman finds a lone quarter in her tip jar along with a note that reads, “This is a luckey quarter! It’s true! Luckey you!” If her premonition about the coin is correct, she may indeed by a fortunate woman.

Given its absence of a running theme and the way the book deviates from a particular genre, Everything’s Eventual is a meandering collection of stories. Some satiate while others feel out of place, making for a relatively engaging but ultimately inconsequential read. ...more

5

Apr 12, 2018

"I want to make you laugh or cry when you read a story... or do both at the same time. I want your heart, in other words. If you want to learn something, go to school."

14 dark tales from the Master of Horror. From a serious case of deja-vu 16,000 feet in the air to a moving picture that becomes deadly, King delivers stories brimming with imagination and terror.

Overall, this collection was a winner for me! However, it does not surpass Night Shift - that one is pretty hard to beat, in my opinion. "I want to make you laugh or cry when you read a story... or do both at the same time. I want your heart, in other words. If you want to learn something, go to school."

14 dark tales from the Master of Horror. From a serious case of deja-vu 16,000 feet in the air to a moving picture that becomes deadly, King delivers stories brimming with imagination and terror.

Overall, this collection was a winner for me! However, it does not surpass Night Shift - that one is pretty hard to beat, in my opinion. I thought it would be easiest if I just gave a quick overview for my thoughts on each story as there was only 14 in this collection. Nearly all of the stories got 4 or 5 stars from me - only two failed to meet the mark!

Autopsy Room 4 - really great story that made me feel quite claustrophobic and panicked. Loved the ending in particular!! Trust King to come up with that (excuse the pun)! 4.5 stars

The Man in the Black Suit - a lot of people had said how scary this one was, but unfortunately I did not find it scary at all *sad face*, however I still enjoyed the story and execution! A memorable King short. 4 stars

All That You Love Will Be Carried Away - a surprisingly emotional one that made me feel my feelings... one of those stories that really makes you think and will stay with you long after you put down the book. 4.5 stars

The Death of Jack Hamilton - when I started this one I really didn't think I'd like it, but ended up enjoying it a lot more than I anticipated. A nice surprise! 4 stars

In the Death Room - probably my least favourite in the collection, just fell a little flat for me. No doubt I'll forget about this one pretty quickly! 3.5 stars

The Little Sisters of Eluria - well... I was always going to love this one (I can be honest when it comes to me being a bit biased...). It was AMAZING to be back with Roland in Mid-World, the little references to characters like Cort and Susan had me fangirling, as did all the usual Mid-World dialogue. The story was very compelling as a standalone and I was left wanting more! 5 stars

Everything's Eventual - again, a heavily linked Dark Tower story with the inclusion of Dinky Earnshaw, and again, really really enjoyable. 5 stars

LT's Theory of Pets - this was one of my favourites in the collection! I don't really laugh out loud that often when I read, but King has a way of tickling my funny bone and this one had me chuckling along. Then towards the end he starts toying with my emotions out of nowhere!! 5 stars

The Road Virus Heads North - quite a creepy and unsettling story. Would put me off buying anything from a yard sale. Loved it!! 5 stars

Lunch at the Gotham Cafe - this one was pretty crazy and made me feel pretty nervous. Sometimes if I imagine these things happening in real life it just sets me on edge. Situations like this are my worst nightmare - to be trapped somewhere with a complete psycho! *shivers* 4 stars

That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French - King is right, hell is some form of repetition. This story was terrifying in its own way! 4 stars

1408 - one of my most anticipated stories in this collection as the movie is quite popular (I haven't watched it yet, but now I can!). To be honest, I felt a little disappointed by it? It started out quite well and the premise was intriguing, but really didn't go down the route I expected and just wasn't scary like I hoped it would be. Still a good story, but I just wanted more. 4 stars

Riding the Bullet - another one of my favourites in the collection. It was surprisingly emotional for me - I don't know, it was just pushing a lot of my triggers. I guess King's introduction about how it was related to his mother's death just made me view it in a different way. Loved this one! 5 stars

Luckey Quarter - again, not the best story, pretty forgettable, but it wasn't terrible either! 3.5 stars

So that's my King for the month! I might actually end up reading two King's in May, since we have the release of The Outsider to look forward to at the end of the month. How exciting! Overall, I'd give Everything's Eventual 4.5 stars out of 5. A really solid collection, I was impressed! ...more

4

Dec 28, 2018

This is a reread for me, I first read this collection sometime back in the mid-2000’s. I just read “Elevation” by SK, and it left me a little unsatisfied and wanting more of King’s magic. I wasn’t ready to take on a full novel, so I grabbed this thinking I would just read a short story or two. Well, the next thing you know, I’ve finished the whole thing. “Everything’s Eventual” is a collection of 14 stories, or as the title states, 14 dark tales that I believe King wrote mostly in the 1990’s. I This is a reread for me, I first read this collection sometime back in the mid-2000’s. I just read “Elevation” by SK, and it left me a little unsatisfied and wanting more of King’s magic. I wasn’t ready to take on a full novel, so I grabbed this thinking I would just read a short story or two. Well, the next thing you know, I’ve finished the whole thing. “Everything’s Eventual” is a collection of 14 stories, or as the title states, 14 dark tales that I believe King wrote mostly in the 1990’s. I always enjoy King’s explanatory notes included with his short stories that often reveal his inspiration or parts of his process.

This collection certainly filled the void that reading Elevation left. I think what really struck me about this group of stories is the honesty that King reveals. The stories hit on marriage, mother & son relationships, divorce, and other such relationships that King has clearly torn pieces from his past and laid bare for us to examine. Of course, they are all encapsulated in supernatural or horror stories. In two of the stories, “1408” and “The Road Virus Heads North”, King uses main characters that are writers, which is not unusual for him. But, continuing the theme of honesty, I feel like he opens the kimono here concerning his insecurities as a writer. In both stories the writers are horror authors and King uses phrases like “bottom feeders” or “projectile vomiting” to describe their genre and style. I think King did experience some self-doubt back in the ‘90s and it bleeds through here in his stories.

I really enjoyed the title story, “Everything’s Eventual”. The main character, Dinky, reminds me a bit of Arnie from “Christine”, but the storyline harkens to “Hearts in Atlantis” and the Dark Tower series. I love the way King sets up some very unusual plot points and then slowly reveals the fantastic, weird backstory, like a strip tease.

You also get a Roland of Gilead (Dark Tower) story, that’s not crucial for the Dark Tower storyline, but is essential if you’re a big fan of the series. The winner of the O. Henry short story competition, “The Man in the Black Suit” is included and is an excellent creepy fireside story. And “Riding the Bullet” was an early ebook that sold a half million and helped establish that format.

All-in-all, a very strong assemblage of shadowy tales, some clever, some brilliantly horrific, but all engaging and authentically told. ...more

3

Feb 07, 2008

The wife had me watch 1408 a while back. I remembered it was in this collection but the only stories I even vaguely remember are the titular one and Little Sisters of Eluria. I figured 2017 was as good a time as any for a reread.

Even though I've been a Constant Reader for twenty years now, I always forget just how good Stephen King is at what he does until I start reading. The man knows his way around a story, though he gets a little wordy at times.

Like all short story collections, the stories The wife had me watch 1408 a while back. I remembered it was in this collection but the only stories I even vaguely remember are the titular one and Little Sisters of Eluria. I figured 2017 was as good a time as any for a reread.

Even though I've been a Constant Reader for twenty years now, I always forget just how good Stephen King is at what he does until I start reading. The man knows his way around a story, though he gets a little wordy at times.

Like all short story collections, the stories vary in quality. I was surprised at how much I'd forgotten since I originally read this in 2002. Little Sisters of Eluria was better than I remembered, though Roland's story is missing something without the rest of the ka-tet. Everything's Eventual was great but since I came to it with more experienced eyes, it somewhat reminded me of Time Out of Joint. Autopsy Room was another great one. I liked The Road Virus Heads North but I feel like I read something similar a long time ago.

Some of the stories seemed a little out of place. I wasn't enamored with LT's Theory of Pets, The Death Room, or The Death of Jack Hamilton. As for 1408, the story that prompted me to pick the book back up... I actually preferred the movie. It was an okay story about a hotel room haunted by something but the movie really fleshed things out. Also, the Mike Enslin in the book is couple notches higher on the douche scale than the one John Cusack plays in the movie.

As with all short story collections, this one is a little hard to rate. Do Everything's Eventual, Little Sisters of Eluria, and Autopsy Room overcome the drag factor of the stories I didn't care that much for? At the end of the day, I'm slapping the traditional safety rating on this one. Three out of five stars. ...more

5

Dec 30, 2015

"Yet for me, there are few pleasures so excellent as sitting in my favorite chair on a cold night with a hot cup of tea, listening to the wind outside and reading a good story which I can complete in a single sitting."
Stephen King, from his introduction



I genuinely looked forward to reading one of these tales each day, and that's the highest praise I can give a collection of short stories.

4

Aug 06, 2018

The title of this story collection is deceiving, Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales. Except I don't think all 14 tales were dark, in fact I think this collection had more "happy" endings then most Stephen King stories. As with all story collections there are winners and not winners with one loser(I'm looking at you The Little Sisters Of Eluria).

My favorites: 1)1408- is my undisputed favorite story in this collection. It lives up to all the hype its received.
2) The Autopsy Room- explores one The title of this story collection is deceiving, Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales. Except I don't think all 14 tales were dark, in fact I think this collection had more "happy" endings then most Stephen King stories. As with all story collections there are winners and not winners with one loser(I'm looking at you The Little Sisters Of Eluria).

My favorites: 1)1408- is my undisputed favorite story in this collection. It lives up to all the hype its received.
2) The Autopsy Room- explores one of my biggest fears. The fear of being pronounced dead prematurely.
3) That Feeling You Can Only Say What It Is In French- I truly believe that may be what hell is.
4) The Road Virus Heads North- sent chills down my spine.

Now the (Not) Favorites:1) The Man In Black- was exactly what you would think it would be. *Spoiler Alert* He's the Devil.(Yawn)
2) In The Deathroom-Yawn
3) L.T.'s Theory Of Pets- I reread it and I still missed the point
4) Lunch at the Gotham Cafe- Meh!

The Worst- The Little Sisters of Eluria- it made me never want to read The Dark Tower series and it was long for no reason and pointless.

The rest of the stories were great and probably some of them deserved to be on my favorites list. Overall I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it to Stephen King lovers and newbies alike.

Around The Year In 52 Books: An award winning short story or short story collection
Hooked On Books Read-A-Thon ...more

3

Apr 26, 2013

As with all of Stephen King’s collections, I’m giving each story a one-sentence review. Before we begin, I would like to say a few things that have little to do with this book’s contents. If you do not care for personal stories in reviews, you should take this chance to move along, or you may scroll past the next few paragraphs. But I hope you’ll join me. Maybe my story will help someone who doesn’t know they need help.

While listening to this one (I chose the audiobook for this reread), I tried As with all of Stephen King’s collections, I’m giving each story a one-sentence review. Before we begin, I would like to say a few things that have little to do with this book’s contents. If you do not care for personal stories in reviews, you should take this chance to move along, or you may scroll past the next few paragraphs. But I hope you’ll join me. Maybe my story will help someone who doesn’t know they need help.

While listening to this one (I chose the audiobook for this reread), I tried to remember what was going on in my life when this book came out. The year was 2002, the month was March, and six months prior, I had met the woman who would become my wife. I was working as a CNA for a local hospital and had been clean for about five months. My drug of choice was heroin. My wife is the reason I decided on recovery. Not because it was love at first site, or any of that nonsense, but because I finally found something I cared more for than the drugs. To this day, she doesn’t knows how bad I was. She might have an idea that I was on something, but I don’t think she knew the extent of my addiction.

Any junkie will tell you, “Once a junkie, always a junkie.” As far as I see it, there are three stages of being a Junkie: Active junkie, relapsed junkie, and recovering junkie. There is no former junkie. If you’ve ever enjoyed hard drugs, you will always have a taste for it. The fits and seizures and sweats and vomiting everything you eat lasts about two weeks. If you’re lucky, you can sleep through the first few days. If you’re unlucky, like I was, you ride that motherfucker until sparks spit from the undercarriage. It’s a perpetual feeling of being dragged through a field of insulation. You can’t scratch deep enough and motor control is a concept lost on you. All this to kick something that makes you feel like you’re soaking in a warm cloud of perpetual orgasm whenever you take it. Is it any wonder junkies relapse? What most junkies don’t tell you is how badly you need a smoke, a shot, a snort, a drink, or whatever, for as long as one year later. That need eventually turns into a lesser want after the first year and you just have to ignore it if you’re going to make it. But that first year, man… It is fucking awful. Everything seems like it would be so much better if you relapsed, if you just gave in and took that smoke, that shot, that snort, that drink… But it won’t be. Sure, that first hour is gonna be magic, kid, but everything after is gonna feel like prematurely ejaculating inside the girl of your dreams, or having the man of your dreams squirt off after two pumps. You’ll want to go again. But you shouldn’t. Because getting better starts with changing your attitude and finding something greater than the addiction.

But anyway. My recovery was why I hated this book when it first came out. I was in a bad place with a great person. And what I once considered one of King’s worst books turned out to be not so bad after all. I really enjoyed myself this time around. However, I still believe this is his weakest collection. Even if there are two amazing stories herein, the rest are just so-so. Here’s why:

“Autopsy Room Four” – There’s a fine line between tribute and thievery, and King walks it in this homage to an old Twilight Zone episode. ***

“The Man in the Black Hat” – King won an O. Henry award for this short, but other than the description of the titular devil, it falls a little flat for me. ***

“All That You Love Will Be Carried Away” - This literary tale is, I think, what sets King apart from every other writer in the business - he can play at any genre and succeed because he’s a jack of all trade of the wordsmith variety. ****

“The Death of Jack Hamilton” – Loved the disgusting bits, but this one goes on way too long. **

“In The Deathroom” – I feel the same way about this one as I did with the last one. **

“The Little Sister of Eluria” – Whether it be a day trip or a long vacation, Mid-World is one of my favorite destinations. ****

“Everything’s Eventual” – A little tale of psychic persuasion with ambiguous morals. ***

“L.T.’s Theory of Pets” – Just fucking funny. *****

“The Road Virus Heads North” Can’t be bothered to give a fuck for this one, but the television adaptation wasn’t bad. *

“Lunch at the Gotham Café” – So much gory fun. ****

“That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French” – Repetitive to the point of inducing sleep, and unfortunately, that’s the point. **

“1408” – Probably one of the coolest ideas King’s approached. ****

“Riding the Bullet” – A fun little ride, but not much else. ***

“Lucky Quarter” – Sad. ***

In summation: Everything’s Eventual is King’s most inconsistent collection. You can almost hear King singing, “Somma dis shit, somma dat shit, a whole lotta uddah shit,” over and over as he threw these stories together. For my money, I would have loved to have seen him hold onto these and pair them with the tales in Just After Sunset and given us another massive collection like Nightmares & Dreamscapes. Oh well. You know what they say. “Want in one hand and shit in the other.”

Final Judgment: Some of everything is eventually put on display. ...more

5

Sep 04, 2016

Including the eerie story 1408, this anthology of short thriller stories is one of King's best. It took me a while to appreciate 1408 (I believe I gave it 2 stars on a separate review), but each of these stories has their charms and each one has a deep message behind the horror.

4

Oct 19, 2017

Is this collection scares, nostalgia, and downright straight-up story telling underappreciated among King’s other works? Lesser known maybe? Well, I’m here to give this one a big, sloppy ghost hug of appreciation (technically, I don’t think that’s even possible, but I’m going with it).

This would be my second read through of Everything’s Eventual - sort of. I used to hunt and peck through Stephen King short story collections. Read some of the stories. Skip some. No real rhyme or reason to it, Is this collection scares, nostalgia, and downright straight-up story telling underappreciated among King’s other works? Lesser known maybe? Well, I’m here to give this one a big, sloppy ghost hug of appreciation (technically, I don’t think that’s even possible, but I’m going with it).

This would be my second read through of Everything’s Eventual - sort of. I used to hunt and peck through Stephen King short story collections. Read some of the stories. Skip some. No real rhyme or reason to it, unless someone had suggested a favorite. That’s what I did the first time around. Now I’m being thorough, and that is a good thing, especially considering the quality here. I liked so many of them. Have you read them? Well, following is a little something about each story that I hope will entice you, or perhaps refresh your memory. Get ready for hugs:


Autopsy Room Four - Here’s a nightmare I most certainly blocked from memory the first time around. You know the scenario: state of catatonia, everyone thinks you’re dead. So off to autopsy we go – with eyes open. And here’s another thing I never thought about before: Post-mortem shears. Maybe I’ll just block it out until the next go around.
The Man in the Black Suit - From romp (in the previous story) to introspection as Gary tells us about a day that has remained with him forever. A single day 81 years in the past could be called scary as hell. The horror at the center of this one balanced by the tender memories of a young boy make this story more than worthy of the O. Henry Award received.
All that You Love Will Be Carried Away - Beautiful title for a short story. The subject here is actually serious. Very much so. You don’t realize that, until the matter comes up. Kind of hit me like a right cross.
The Death of Jack Hamilton - I know John Dillinger of course, but figured Jack Hamilton and narrator, Homer, to be characters of fiction. There I was wrong. King says in the afterward that his dying is also a fact. Everything around it is made up. Good without excitement. No need for it.
In the Death Room - The ending is the best part of this interrogation, because as said in the afterward, it is happier than the typical.
The Little Sisters of Eluria - A Dark Tower story, any fan will enjoy because it can be read as a stand-alone, or at any point in your personal Dark Tower quest. It feels almost as if our hero Roland and Mid-World have crossed paths with Night Shift here. There was a bonus for me in reading this after just completing Black House because at one point the two books are linked - by the tiniest of threads. Good thing for Jack Sawyer that the Little Sisters have moved on, but in this one Roland has his work cut out for him.
Everything’s Eventual - The namesake to this collection is one of the best. I had no idea of its direction because no point is given until necessary. Then, it’s a kind of a doosy. I don’t know how the whole idea came from picturing a man pouring change into a sewer, but that makes it even cooler.
L.T.’s Theory of Pets - SK considers this his favorite of the bunch, but I don’t think the ending fits with the whole. The fun of story, the often true quirkiness of pets and their owners suddenly goes dark. I just don’t know why.
The Road Virus Heads North - In Rose Madder, a painting also transforms on its own. That would be the only likeness to Road Virus where the pace is much quicker and more sinister to the eye that beholds it. Rose Madder meets Christine? Not really, but that’s what I thought of.
Lunch at the Gotham Cafe - I thought this would be about divorce, then I thought it was about quitting smoking (ala Quitters, Inc.). Turns out it’s attempted murder. The characters and story are great – provided you subtract the maître d’.
That Feeling, You Can Only Say What it is in French - “Déjà vu” is what that title is saying. Carol has that feeling again and again during the drive to her and Bill’s second honeymoon, certain she knows what’s coming around the next bend. None come true – until they begin to – along with flashbacks of a past regret.
1408 - Half the story has passed before you enter room 1408 with Mike. That time is spent not in building the tension, but a belief that something actually does reside in that haunted room. So when the reader finally gets there, he’s all in. It’s a different take on a ghost tale because there is no ghost to see. But something is there. Oh yeah.
Riding the Bullet - “Things have to be just right for you to see a ghost.” Tonight they were for Alan. Hitchhiking his way down state to see his mother in the hospital. Full moon. Dark roads. Just trying to get there. What makes this more than a ghost story is the nostalgia and real meaning behind it - which is about losing someone you love, and what you’d do for them in that moment. Would you ride the bullet?
Luckey Quarter - I would have liked this to end with Riding the Bullet, but in a way this smallest story of the bunch left me with a good feeling.
...more

5

Aug 05, 2008

I'm always amazed at how varied his subjects can be. He is certainly not "just" a horror writer.

05/2015

Introduction 5 stars. I love King and when he is brutally honest (when is he not?) I love him all the more.

Autopsy Room 4 4 stars I've actually seen the AHP episode that inspired this and Cotton was amazing. I love that only King could mention Michael Bolton and then bring up the fact that Percy is probably rolling in his grave at Bolton's rendition of "When a Man Loves a Woman". This story is I'm always amazed at how varied his subjects can be. He is certainly not "just" a horror writer.

05/2015

Introduction 5 stars. I love King and when he is brutally honest (when is he not?) I love him all the more.

Autopsy Room 4 4 stars I've actually seen the AHP episode that inspired this and Cotton was amazing. I love that only King could mention Michael Bolton and then bring up the fact that Percy is probably rolling in his grave at Bolton's rendition of "When a Man Loves a Woman". This story is scary because...well, who knows?! It could be us, any day, any way.

The Man in Black 5 stars I can't say what it is about this story that I love. I guess that's why it won awards. Who but King can say "he skun his knee" and we not only accept it, but realize how true that is? People spoke that way. He uses words to paint a world and mood and he is a master.

All the You Love will be Carried Away 5 stars I know King likes to drive so I can only imagine he has actually seen all the graffiti described in the pages of this little tale. I really feel for Alfie by the end, but I think he is just the excuse King needs to get these little (weird) gems on the page.

The Death of Jack Hamilton 4 stars Dillinger has always been a fascinating guy. He had charisma and that will get you so much farther in life than almost any other trait. Many say charisma was Kennedy's ace in the hole. This read to me like King testing the waters for the eventual 11/22/63. Rabbits was an endearing character and King's ability to create numerous characters we can connect to in such a limited number of pages is one of the things I love about him.

In the Deathroom 4 stars This is such a novel way to end this sort of story. It reads like a scene from Scarface and yet...he gets away. There's no way to be sure it's Fletcher buying smokes at the end, but I choose to believe it is him.

The Little Sisters of Eluria 5 stars Like many of King's fans I love Roland and his world. This story was lovely. The phrases King uses when he is in Dark Tower mode have a certain magic to them. Like he is a different writer when he is telling DT tales. Two quotes from this that I highlighted are "Good liars were common. Honesty, on the other hand, was dear." and as Roland ran his hands through Jenna's hair he thinks "it felt like rain, rain with weight." Both beautiful, beautiful examples of the language the Dark Tower tales insist upon. It gives me a little thrill to read the different accents/versions of the High Speech as well. "Sai" and "thee". They make you feel a part of that world, not just an observer.

Everything's Eventual 5 stars More if I could! I am so glad this is the title tale of the collection. This story has always reminded me a bit of The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet. Dinky's shapes are a bit like "fornits". I am always thrilled when an author can just pull stuff out of their ass and make me not only accept, but genuinely believe in it! King does that here. I truly believe (as I read) that people can do what Dinky does, that other people can "see" the Dinkys of the world and that there could be an organization (Shop, anyone?) that would finance and set it all up. Even setting Dinky up in this mild, almost cashless existence makes sense. I want another story about a Tranny from a privileged life to see how they would deal with that.

L.T.'s Theory of Pets 3 stars While I find King's musings about marriage and how it works incredibly true in this story it always leaves me unsatisfied. There is no real ending. Usually I can accept that, but for some reason I just can't in this case. Why do we need to know about L.T. breaking down, but have no clue what happens to Lulu? Why do we need to know Holly took a shine to him but not if it will lead anywhere? It does contain a great quote, though: “It might be that the biggest division in the world isn't men and women but folks who like cats and folks who like dogs"

The Road Virus Heads North 3 stars I think it's fascinating that King really owns this picture, but that doesn't make the story any better for me. I think it's a bit silly.

Lunch at the Gotham Cafe 4 stars I don't think the story rates the stars, but the way in which it is told does. None of what happens makes any sense and we are given no reasons which I am ok with. I do really want to know what made Diane so unhappy though. That's one question I really, really want an answer to.

That Feeling, The One You Can Only Say What it is in French 2 stars King says in his note that he believes Hell may be repetition. I could not agree more. I really dislike stories that show the same scene over and over like this one. It's just so frustrating to read or watch on film. It feels like a colossal waste of time.

1408 5 stars This a great story and has a The Yellow Wallpaper feel to it. I like that King makes it very clear this is not a haunted hotel room, because haunting is done by something that was once alive, but is instead just...wrong. I also applaud his choice to allow Mike to live through the ordeal. To have him die would have felt almost cliche. I have yet to see the movie because I am afraid it won't be a fair adaptation, but I did imagine Cusak as Mike as I read this time. Perfect casting.

Riding the Bullet 5 stars I've always felt this one and The Woman in the Room were about King's mother's death and he confirms that in his author's note. I love when a story is told in such a way that you can believe in the supernatural parts or not - as you choose. King gives us that choice with this little tale.

Luckey Quarter 5 stars King writes in the voice of women so well, and the voice of single mothers best of all. This poor woman is doing all she can and getting jack crap for it. Such is life and this story rings so incredibly true because of it. I like to think it ends just the way her fantasy ended and King lets me think that because he doesn't say. How sweet... ...more

3

Aug 25, 2015

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times... and I'll say it again. Steve King is a fantastic storyteller, and very few of his stories have actually bored me. It is the same with this collection.

That said, very few of the stories here are actually frightening. Some give a mild sense of unease, that's all. However, almost all of them are readable and most are highly enjoyable.

My personal favourites were That Feeling, The One You Can Only Say What it is in French, In the Deathroom and If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times... and I'll say it again. Steve King is a fantastic storyteller, and very few of his stories have actually bored me. It is the same with this collection.

That said, very few of the stories here are actually frightening. Some give a mild sense of unease, that's all. However, almost all of them are readable and most are highly enjoyable.

My personal favourites were That Feeling, The One You Can Only Say What it is in French, In the Deathroom and Riding the Bullet - these were the ones which made me uneasy. The title story is fantastically original and a thumping good read. The Little Sisters of Eluria is a worthy addition to The Dark Tower canon.

I was disappointed by 1408, as I have seen the movie based on it and it was way more frightening than the story. The Man in Black and Lunch at the Gotham Cafe also didn't work for me.

Overall, an enjoyable collection. ...more

3

Feb 28, 2016

There’s no doubt that Stephen King is great at writing short stories. Not all of the ones that were in this book were appealing to me, but several were. A couple of them were creepy in my opinion, so it may not be a wise idea to read them at night. My favorite ones were: Autopsy Room Four, The Man in the Black Suit, Everything’s Eventual, L.T’s Theory of Pets, and The Road Virus Heads North. I only disliked a few, but not because they were bad, they just did not catch my attention. One of the There’s no doubt that Stephen King is great at writing short stories. Not all of the ones that were in this book were appealing to me, but several were. A couple of them were creepy in my opinion, so it may not be a wise idea to read them at night. My favorite ones were: Autopsy Room Four, The Man in the Black Suit, Everything’s Eventual, L.T’s Theory of Pets, and The Road Virus Heads North. I only disliked a few, but not because they were bad, they just did not catch my attention. One of the things I enjoyed was how King added notes before and after for some of the stories. For some reason that had an impact on my reading experience since it made those specific ones seem more personal. I thought the short story “1408” was average. I had watched the movie several years ago without knowing who the author was. I seemed to have enjoyed the movie more since it seemed to have gone in much more detail, so i was more engaged with the main character. There are great stories presented in this novel, and I can assure you that you will like AT LEAST one…. unless if you are a picky or difficult person to entertain. This book does not lack variety. There is a story out there for everyone!
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5

Sep 14, 2016

Let me be clear, Mr. King. You earned this one fair and square. You had to win a skeptic over and you did.

I've always thought of you as the Nicholas Cage of writing. Try enough random stuff regularly without hesitation and at least some of your stuff will be pretty good. But try enough random stuff and you're sure to come up with some very bad writing as well.

There is also another dark secret -- some of this variability occurs in the same book. They might start off well enough, get really Let me be clear, Mr. King. You earned this one fair and square. You had to win a skeptic over and you did.

I've always thought of you as the Nicholas Cage of writing. Try enough random stuff regularly without hesitation and at least some of your stuff will be pretty good. But try enough random stuff and you're sure to come up with some very bad writing as well.

There is also another dark secret -- some of this variability occurs in the same book. They might start off well enough, get really good, then fall apart, then try to pick up the pieces, and then fall apart again.

Much of what you write sometimes seems like a first draft.

But for all my hesitancy to ever pick up a book by you again, I did. And it's clear --you're a great short story writer. You know how to craft compelling characters, dramatic tension, details that really sell the story and make you want to read them again.

Not everything you wrote in this book was great. I gave up at least two short stories before finishign them. You have also cemented for me the metaphor that you're the Nick Cage of writing. But you're Nick Cageishness works wonders in the short story medium. You just go for it! Without reservation or apology. And when your short stories fall apart, I can forgive you, because I know you're just a writer working at his craft -- just going for it whenever you can.

My experience reading this book was so good that I'm contemplating writing Nicholas Cage a letter asking him to stop acting in feature length movies and to just do two-hour features with eight to ten mini-movies. Thus, whenever he does a little mini-movie where he yells, "Aw the bees!" and flashes me strange demented grins for another ten minutes, I can forgive him and wonder, Aw yes, but what's next?

And so, I leave this review wondering, Aw what will Stephen King do next?

When I do pick up another book by you, I think it'll be a short story collection. Why not? It's like "Riding the Bullet" of fiction. Nick Cage knows what I'm talking about, "Aw the bees!"


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2

Jul 19, 2017

A bit random. My first King. I'll still read more though. Review to follow.

3

Nov 28, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. SK can't help being SK. That includes profanity and poor taste. Often, it seems like it's trying fine cuisine at Denney's. Every once in a while, you'll find something that tastes excellent. Mostly it'll be when you are famished.

Month after month and year after year, he churns it out, and he has for decades and decades now. I read this collection of horror stories after the members of my reading group--mostly women--caved in to the only other male in the group besides me. Many of the women had SK can't help being SK. That includes profanity and poor taste. Often, it seems like it's trying fine cuisine at Denney's. Every once in a while, you'll find something that tastes excellent. Mostly it'll be when you are famished.

Month after month and year after year, he churns it out, and he has for decades and decades now. I read this collection of horror stories after the members of my reading group--mostly women--caved in to the only other male in the group besides me. Many of the women had never read King, and said it was time to give him a try. Many swore him off after reading the collection, claiming there is just too much good to read without having to touch his stuff.

I beg to differ. SK is probably the greatest commercial writer of my generation. He speaks to the masses, to our crassnesses and to the mysterious in us as human beings, wich we love to morph into ever-increaing weirdness.

Hence, SK, for example, conceives a snake-bitten cadaver "resurrected" during an autopsy when, well, when a doctor, a woman, about to slice into him, discovers---no, I'll yet you read about its swelling fervor. Or what about the guy who has spent a career as a traveling salesman who has collected the detritus scrawled on the walls of toilet walls and stalls across the countryside in a note book, planning to publish who now wants to shoot---what, you thought I'd tell you?

No, no . . . I recommend that you read it yourself, and see what you think. Why has this American icon found so much success writing about the dark and fearful in American history and culture.

If you don't appreciate horror, read his On Writing and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. ...more

4

Apr 24, 2010

I kept picking this up & reading a tale or two at a time. Each time I did this, I was struck by the way in which King brings a certain quality to his writing that just plain makes him better than most. He brings a certain assumption of the intelligence of his readers and gives us credit for being able to pick up the dark humor, the allusions, and the ironies he weaves. He has a unique ability to construct setting and characters so quickly and seamlessly that we have an instant picture in I kept picking this up & reading a tale or two at a time. Each time I did this, I was struck by the way in which King brings a certain quality to his writing that just plain makes him better than most. He brings a certain assumption of the intelligence of his readers and gives us credit for being able to pick up the dark humor, the allusions, and the ironies he weaves. He has a unique ability to construct setting and characters so quickly and seamlessly that we have an instant picture in our mind and an opinion beginning to form. All within the limits of a short story with nothing sacrificed.
Whether or not one likes his subject matter, King is a master wordsmith with the wonderful quality of not taking himself too seriously. He takes his writing seriously, but there is no pretension in his work. ...more

4

Jul 18, 2015

"Any fool who can pucker is apt to whistle past the graveyard."

There were times when this book felt more like a trip through the Twilight Zone with Rod Sterling than the usual horror I expect from King (although there was still plenty of that as well).
Stephen has really showed his mastery of the short story in this collection. They say fiction is stranger than truth and there are times when King (and I see the little smirk on his face) seems to imply that what he is giving us is just a make "Any fool who can pucker is apt to whistle past the graveyard."

There were times when this book felt more like a trip through the Twilight Zone with Rod Sterling than the usual horror I expect from King (although there was still plenty of that as well).
Stephen has really showed his mastery of the short story in this collection. They say fiction is stranger than truth and there are times when King (and I see the little smirk on his face) seems to imply that what he is giving us is just a make believe story but with that magical touch he has he is letting us know that this shit is as real as the nose on our faces...or the giant bunny sitting next to me. Hey, he's real to me!
This man has a grand imagination and is a master story teller. Yes, everything is eventual! ...more

4

Apr 16, 2015

A strong collections of stories. I liked it better than both Bazaar and Sunset. King has such a firm grasp on the Voice and Tone of his characters. My favorites were those stories told in the first person: "The Man in the Black Suit", "Everything's Eventual", "Lunch at the Gotham Café", and "Riding the Bullet". I was surprised by "The Little Sisters of Eluria" which has a sort of sword and sorcery feel to it that I really liked.

5

May 21, 2013

*This review was originally published on my blog (http://jonathanjanz.com) and focuses on the story "The Road Virus Heads North" (though I've read the whole collection and certainly believe it's worthy of five stars). Here's the link: http://jonathanjanz.com/2011/10/08/th...

Stephen King's Everything's Eventual is loaded with great stories. In addition to the one I'm about to discuss, the collection contains "1408," "Lunch at the Gotham Cafe," and a cool entry into the Dark Tower canon called *This review was originally published on my blog (http://jonathanjanz.com) and focuses on the story "The Road Virus Heads North" (though I've read the whole collection and certainly believe it's worthy of five stars). Here's the link: http://jonathanjanz.com/2011/10/08/th... ‎

Stephen King's Everything's Eventual is loaded with great stories. In addition to the one I'm about to discuss, the collection contains "1408," "Lunch at the Gotham Cafe," and a cool entry into the Dark Tower canon called "The Little Sisters of Eluria."

So in a collection packed with great stories, why'd I choose to blog about "Virus"?

Let me try to explain...

First of all, like Stephen King---and I'll shamelessly seize any opportunity to be like my favorite writer ever---I love stories about pictures. Specifically, I love stories about pictures that change. King has worked in this shadowy corner before, notably in "The Sun Dog," and it's a territory into which other great authors (T.E.D. Klein's unforgettable novella "Petey" comes to mind) have ventured as well. So is this tale King's most original?

I don't give a crap. Sure, sometimes it's dazzling to find an author blazing a completely new trail, but for me it's just as exciting to see a master take a tattered old idea and breathe new life into it.

Like "The Road Virus Heads North."

It's about a horror author who finds a rather...arresting painting at a garage sale. The painting has a macabre backstory that I don't want to ruin here, but as we'd expect from a horror author (a bizarre species prone to excessive curiosity), he purchases the piece and continues, well, north.

The name Richard Kinnell reminds me of both Richard Bachman (King's pseudonym) and Dr. Richard Kimble of The Fugitive fame; whether or not either of these connections are intentional, they both add texture to the character for me. I don't want to give away what happens in this story, but if you've been reading, you'll already know that the painting changes. How it changes and where it changes and how Richard reacts to these changes and what these changes mean for Richard and those with whom he comes into contact...all of these are what make the tale so elegant and ghastly.

As has been pointed out by people far smarter than I, horror is the only genre named after an emotion (although I felt a bit "men's adventury" today when I attempted to parallel park in a space two inches longer than my car). That's because horror can affect the reader in a very unique way. And man, did this tale affect me. I felt dread when the first layers of the mystery peeled away to reveal just how sinister the painting might be. I felt terror when Richard Kinnell realized that the picture could defy physics and reason. And I felt horror during those last few pages when...

Read the story. It's a darn good one. ...more

3

Jun 09, 2017

Some good, some mediocre. This isn't my favourite collection of short stories from Stephen King (I've enjoyed Bazaar of Bad Dreams the most so far, which probably doesn't make me in the majority).

What I disliked about the some of these stories is that King uses the word "short" almost as a joke in this collection. Some of these are 40 or 50 pages, and are pretty well novellas. Even King says short stories are meant to be read in one sitting, but some of them took two or three for me - probably Some good, some mediocre. This isn't my favourite collection of short stories from Stephen King (I've enjoyed Bazaar of Bad Dreams the most so far, which probably doesn't make me in the majority).

What I disliked about the some of these stories is that King uses the word "short" almost as a joke in this collection. Some of these are 40 or 50 pages, and are pretty well novellas. Even King says short stories are meant to be read in one sitting, but some of them took two or three for me - probably I'm just a slow reader. I do, however, feel that a short story is becoming too long when it exceeds the 30 page mark.

That said, there were a few notable stories in here that I really enjoyed:
- Autopsy Room Four
- All That You Love Will Be Carried Away
- L.T.'s Theory of Pets
- Lunch at the Gotham Café
- Riding the Bullet
- Lucky Quarter

Give the way the novel is marketed (the cover, namely, and the "14 Dark Tales" message on the cover) I figured these would be more scary. But there were only one or two that I found might be considered a "Dark Tale." Most, though, were just regular old stories, which didn't make them bad stories, but sort of left me disappointed in the end. I wanted more punch from them, more of a slap in the face, eye-opening conclusion to each.

Mostly, my own expectations probably ruined the overall experience, given that I was expecting more horror and terror. And I should know better, by now, that King tend to write longer stories (short stories included) than your average author might.

On to the next King! ...more

5

Jul 29, 2008

Yet another example of why I love Stephen King. Every story in this book was great. King's ability to write like he's speaking only to YOU is one of my favorite things about him. You get the feeling that he's telling you a secret, letting you in on some amazing observation of life, without him needing to spell every D-E-T-A-I-L out in big bold block letters. But that's not to say that this isn't detailed - his work always is. It's just not condescendingly detailed. You may think that he is Yet another example of why I love Stephen King. Every story in this book was great. King's ability to write like he's speaking only to YOU is one of my favorite things about him. You get the feeling that he's telling you a secret, letting you in on some amazing observation of life, without him needing to spell every D-E-T-A-I-L out in big bold block letters. But that's not to say that this isn't detailed - his work always is. It's just not condescendingly detailed. You may think that he is verbose, and in some cases I'd agree, but he never condescends to his readers, and trusts that we are smart enough to see what he's aiming at without having to hold our hands.

Some of these stories are more straightforward than others, but some are brilliantly subtle. It's hard for me to decide which one is my favorite, but after giving it some thought, I think that I'd have to say it's "That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is In French". This story is short, only 24 pages, but I was impressed by just how much was conveyed in such a small amount of words. So much history, so much regret and satisfaction and fear and anger, so much expectation and irritation. You could almost feel what it was like for this couple to have been married for 25 years... and then on top of that, there's Carol's deja vu, and the fear associated with that, which is a different type of fear entirely. I loved the way that with each run-through we learn more about what's causing the deja vu, and I thought it was brilliant. I've had deja vu before, I think everyone has, and while Carol recognized it and was able to live within it and even almost predict the things that would come next, my experience has been that it's a fleeting moment of disorienting recognition that I only realize I've felt after it's already gone. I can only hope that I never have the experience it the way that Carol did.

I loved the two stories that were tied to the Dark Tower series, "The Little Sisters of Eluria" and "Everything's Eventual". Both of these stories tie wonderfully into the Dark Tower universe and provide more background and depth and life to the story as a whole. Of the two, I actually preferred the more subtle "Everything's Eventual", but I loved both. I just loved the way that we never really know what's going on with Dinky, what he's gotten himself into, but we know it's bad, and that where it leads, eventually, is worse, for him and for us. Little Sisters is great though, and seeing Roland again was a little bit like meeting up with an old friend that you haven't seen in many years. This story provides a bit of background into both Roland and his world, and when taken in context with The Gunslinger, proves that Roland is nothing if not unpredictable.

Also very high on my list is "All That You Love Will Be Carried Away", which is a brilliant story about the little things that get us through, that fascinate us and make us want to keep going more than the big things.

I very much enjoyed "LT's Theory Of Pets". One should not look at a living creature as a gift to be given, because they cannot be owned. They have thoughts and feelings and desires and needs just like the rest of us, they just can't communicate them as we can. But this is also a story of the breakdown of a marriage and how quickly things can go badly when a single (OK, two) peas are placed under the mattress. What we do in love and the desire to please can have quite unexpected consequences.

I liked each of the stories in this book, but I have to say that these were my favorites. I would definitely recommend this to someone looking for some great stories, King fan or not. :) ...more

4

Mar 26, 2017

I loved all of the stories in this collection. I thought my favourite was going to be 1408, but it wasn't, it was The Road Virus Heads North. 1408 is nothing like the movie, which I am super grateful for as the movie would then be boring.

4

May 30, 2017

Well, the author does not need much of an introduction. He has a gift for generating a sense of deep unease, and for awakening in the reader's mind some hidden, almost ancestral fears deeply embedded into his/her consciousness. His exploration of the darker side of human nature, and his atmospheric tales that well transcend the limitations of the "horror" genre, are reminiscent of the work of one of my favourite authors, Edgar Allan Poe.
This is a collection of short stories, some of them (such Well, the author does not need much of an introduction. He has a gift for generating a sense of deep unease, and for awakening in the reader's mind some hidden, almost ancestral fears deeply embedded into his/her consciousness. His exploration of the darker side of human nature, and his atmospheric tales that well transcend the limitations of the "horror" genre, are reminiscent of the work of one of my favourite authors, Edgar Allan Poe.
This is a collection of short stories, some of them (such as "Autopsy Room Four", "The Man in the Black Suit", "All that you love will be carried away, and "1408") are pure brilliance, the Stephen King we are used to.
Being a collection of several stories, not all of them are equally brilliant, of course, and a few are quite forgettable, to be honest, but overall this is quite an enjoyable reading experience. 4 stars.

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5

Sep 26, 2010

I haven't read much King, this is actually only the second book I've read by him (the first being Gunslinger). I've always wanted to get into him though, and I think this was the perfect book to start with. Fourteen short stories, a King smorgasbord, so to speak. Some I loved, some I just liked, some just weren't my thing - but overall it was a great collection. Every one was well written, and even if a story wasn't my favorite, I still found myself enjoying it. Highly recommended, and I'll I haven't read much King, this is actually only the second book I've read by him (the first being Gunslinger). I've always wanted to get into him though, and I think this was the perfect book to start with. Fourteen short stories, a King smorgasbord, so to speak. Some I loved, some I just liked, some just weren't my thing - but overall it was a great collection. Every one was well written, and even if a story wasn't my favorite, I still found myself enjoying it. Highly recommended, and I'll definitely be reading more King soon. ...more

4

Jun 15, 2015

There are no bad stories in this collection. Love it.

“Autopsy Room Four” – Super creepy and I love the ending. Four stars.

“The Man in the Black Suit” – Somewhat less definitive than I would have liked, but the descriptions are amazing. Three stars.

“All That You Love Will Be Carried Away” - The lady or the tiger? Four stars.

“The Death of Jack Hamilton” – This was so sad, and also disgusting. King can definitely make you feel all the feels, even in only one short story. Four stars.

“In The There are no bad stories in this collection. Love it.

“Autopsy Room Four” – Super creepy and I love the ending. Four stars.

“The Man in the Black Suit” – Somewhat less definitive than I would have liked, but the descriptions are amazing. Three stars.

“All That You Love Will Be Carried Away” - The lady or the tiger? Four stars.

“The Death of Jack Hamilton” – This was so sad, and also disgusting. King can definitely make you feel all the feels, even in only one short story. Four stars.

“In The Deathroom” – I think this was extremely well-characterized for such a short story. I liked the ending a lot, too. Four stars.

“The Little Sisters of Eluria” – I don't really understand the relationship between the Little Sisters and the doctor bugs. And Jenna's motivations mystify me. Still decent. Three stars.

“Everything’s Eventual” – I love this story and (view spoiler)[I was so glad to catch up with Dinky Earnshaw in the Dark Tower series. (hide spoiler)] Four stars.

“L.T.’s Theory of Pets” – Hilarious and poignant and oh-so-accurate. Five stars.

“The Road Virus Heads North” - Creeeeepy. Four stars.

“Lunch at the Gotham Café” – This one kind of bored me. Two stars.

“That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French” – This one kinda went over my head, I think. Two stars.

“1408” – Absolutely terrifying and fascinating. I may have to watch the movie now. Five stars.

“Riding the Bullet” – Soooo....was anything actually changed by George or....? Three stars.

“Lucky Quarter” – I so want to know what happened next. Three stars.

Not the best short story collection King has ever done (still Night Shift), but there are some gems here you definitely should not miss, whether you're a diehard Constant Reader or not. ...more