The plan is to reread all of Stephen King’s works in the order that they were published. Richard Chizmar of Cemetery Dance had the vision. I’m doing it because I am a writer and I want to improve my fiction. And I love Stephen King’s stories. I think there is something to be learned through this process.

You can also go back to the beginning and read Before Carrie or any of my other posts up through this one and beyond by checking out this link to the Master List of all my #StephenKingRevisited posts.

Stephen King’s four novella collections may be where he shines. His best writing is summed up in that format in the past and the reader gets four stories with some substance to them. I bought Full Dark, No Stars as soon as it came out in hardback.

“1922” is the lead off and a standout story in the collection. It was literary and full of horror at the same time. It was the sort of story that stuck in my mind and apparently did the same for a number of other readers as well. It would be the signature piece if “A Good Marriage” didn’t close off the book with a bang.

“Big Driver” demonstrated King’s ability to lay horror bare with all the raw ends exposed in a way a lot of authors don’t dare and those who do seldom accomplish as well.

“Fair Extension” demonstrates a different sort of horror and maybe the oddest tale of a deal with the Devil I ever recall reading.

Needless to say, I’m excited to revisit these gruesomely well-written novellas.

My next post in this series will be After Full Dark No Stars which will be linked on the Master List of all my Stephen King Revisited posts.

Jay Wilburn

Jay Wilburn has a Masters Degree in Education that goes mostly unused since he quit teaching to write about zombies. Jay writes horror because he tends to find the light by facing down the darkness. His is doing well following a life saving kidney transplant. Jay is the author of Maidens of Zombie Kingdom a young adult fantasy trilogy, Lake Scatter Wood Tales adventure books for elementary and middle school readers, Vampire Christ a trilogy of political and religious satire, and The Dead Song Legend. He cowrote The Enemy Held Near, Yard Full of Bones, and The Hidden Truth with Armand Rosamilia. You can also find Jay's work in Best Horror of the Year volume 5. He is a staff writer with Dark Moon Digest, LitReactor, and the Still Water Bay series with Crystal Lake Publishing.

Jay's Patreon Page | Purchase Signed Books