Night Shift

by Stephen King | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by phantomreader42 on 6/26/2003
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by phantomreader42 on Thursday, June 26, 2003
Pre-numbered label used for registration.

Journal Entry 2 by phantomreader42 on Thursday, July 17, 2003
A collection of stories. Includes an introduction by John D. MacDonald. MacDonald describes the collection as follows
There are a lot of slitherings in here, and there is a maddened pressing machine that haunts me, as it will you, and there are enough persuasively evil children to fill Disney World on any Sunday in February, but the main thing is story.
King's Foreword is about fear and the horror writer's craft, depicting himself as a man showing the reader a body under a sheet. Your own body. You are afraid of that body under the sheet, but also curious. The most memorable quote from the Foreword is
The thing under my bed waiting to grab my ankle isn't real. I know that, and I also know that if I'm careful to keep my foot under the covers, it will never be able to grab my ankle.

Contents:
Jerusalem's Lot
Graveyard Shift
Night Surf
I Am the Doorway
The Mangler
The Boogeyman
Gray Matter
Battleground
Trucks
Sometimes they come back
Strawberry Spring
The Ledge
The Lawnmower Man
Quitters, Inc.
I Know What You Need
Children of the Corn
The Last Rung on the Ladder
The Man Who Loved Flowers
One for the Road
The Woman in the Room


The story that most sticks with me is Quitters, Inc. There is nothing otherworldly in it, just human evil. Ask yourself the question: Do you want to quit smoking? How badly?
Battleground is actually rather funny.
John D. MacDonald says "One of the most resonant and affecting stories in this book is The Last Rung on the Ladder. A gem. Nary a rustle nor breath of other worlds in it.
I recently rented the movie Children of the Corn, and I'm sure I saw a copy of this book in one scene, with the cover I have, with a picture of a human hand covered with eyes and wrapped in bandages (which comes from I Am the Doorway).
Stephen King is one of my favorite authors, but I'm not sure I'd want to spend any time alone with him in the dark. This book is quite frightening, but worth reading.

Books by Stephen King:
The Gunslinger
Wizard And Glass
Needful Things
Carrie
The Plant
The Long Walk (as Richard Bachman)
Gerald's Game
Dreamcatcher
Night Shift
Pet Sematary
Magicats! edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois
Introduction to The Far Side Gallery 2 by Gary Larson

Authors recommended by Stephen King:
Robert A. Heinlein
John D. MacDonald
Dave Barry
Mercedes Lackey

Journal Entry 3 by phantomreader42 on Wednesday, July 23, 2003
I bought this book at a used bookstore called Paperbacks III in Gulf Shores, Alabama, using credit from the following books:
The Genesis Machine by James P. Hogan
Sixth Column by Robert A. Heinlein
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Journal Entry 4 by phantomreader42 on Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Offered up on the Horror 2: International BookRelay, after accepting The Dark Half offered by moonglow18.

This book has been claimed by lavatea, who offered Taltos.

Journal Entry 5 by lavatea from Tyler, Texas USA on Thursday, October 23, 2003
Came in the mail today! I'm very excited. My friend and I are reading all of King's books in publication order, so when we get to this one, I've got it already. :) Thanks!

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