Night Shift (2)

by Stephen King

I always get through Stephen King's books very, very quickly because I can hardly make myself stop reading, so here is the continued review of the stories in Night Shift.

Trucks

The Deus Ex Machina is a recurring theme in Stephen King's (and indeed, many horror writers') stories. Here they take the shape of trucks and utility vehicles. It is quite a terrifying idea until everyone involved realizes that they run on gas and diesel and need humans to fill them up. Then it becomes an interesting possibility for a much bigger story. So much could be spun from this!
7/10

Sometimes They Come Back
The dead return! Here a trio of high school students torments a teacher until he rids himself of them through black magic. The boys are the ones that a long time ago killed the teacher's brother, when he himself was a little boy scared out of his wits.
7/10

Strawberry Spring
I love this story. I remember this being my favorite of the collection when I first read it. The reality of who goes around killing young people is devastating for the narrator of the story. So, so glad this held up that many years after first reading it.
9/10

The Ledge
This one was an obviously choice to be made into a film. And it was as one of the episodes in Cat's Eye.
8/10

The Lawnmower Man
Incredibly gross.
7/10

Quitters, Inc.
Smoking is bad for you. Stephen King would revisit the smokers again much later in the short story The Ten O'Clock People. Here, the subject was approached much more effectively, I feel.
8/10

I Know What You Need
A creepy stalker long before creepy stalkers were an everyday occurrence. Includes VooDoo, a seldom used theme in King's writing.
7/10

Children of the Corn
Another favorite, somewhat watered down by the subsequent film series. How could this have possibly spawned, what, four (?) films. That said, it could probably do with a remake, but could there ever be a creepier Isaac than in the first film?
8/10

The Last Rung on the Ladder
This is not quite a horror story. It is simply very sad.
7/10

The Man Who Loved Flowers
Not my favorite. Yes, blood is spilled but the lead up is more of a character study that seems to be going nowhere for the longest time. I guess they can't all be great, right?
5/10

One for the Road
In this we visit Jerusalem's Lot once again. As ever, there are a brave few men that try to do right by the desperate stranger from New Jersey, against their better judgment. Bonus: creepy kid.
7/10

The Woman in the Room
So sad. Possibly autobiographical?
7/10