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Sometimes They Come Back
"Sometimes They Come Back" is set in Stratford High School in Stratford, Connecticut.
35 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1974
14 people are currently reading
2400 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,614 books886k followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
April 3, 2020
Phenomenal story here! Jim Norman is haunted by nightmares since his brother Wayne was knifed by a gang of three youth. Now 16 years later, three hoods he identifies at first glance as the same that killed his brother are back. In his class. What do they want? How can Jim get rid of those haunts from the past? Incredibly compelling and very creepy tale. The story reads live a movie, is straight forward and to the point. No other author can do a story like that. Absolutely recommended, a highlight!
July 10, 2019
Jim Norman is starting his new teaching job at a high school where he finds himself confronted by ghosts from his past. This spooky little story had a unique premise and some great storytelling. It's a quick and easy read that completely held my interest waiting to see what was going to happen next. A really good one.
June 11, 2024
Jim is a young man who has recently experienced a nervous breakdown. The old trauma does not want to set him free and weighs heavily on his heart. Jim cannot share this burden even with his wife. He tries to lead a normal life. At first sight, he seems quite successful in this. The main character is about to start a new job at a new school as a teacher. One of Jim's classes consists of difficult teenagers. He has to cope with their pranks and escapades.
At the heart of Jim's fragile mental health is a very traumatic episode from his childhood. His elder brother was killed by a group of teenagers.
Now, after many years, the unrepented killers seem to return. One by one, they join the class where Jim teaches. How is it possible? How come they have not grown up?
Jim would have liked to know.
But his immediate goal is to prevent them from doing more harm. The teenagers do not hide their intention to finish off what has been left unfinished since that damned day in the past.
Their presence in the town is to cause much trouble. Jim knows that he has to do something and that time works against him. Every day brings those young criminals closer to their goal.
Running out of other choices, Jim decides to give himself up to summoning demons in the hope that one evil power overcomes another. Survival itself is the prize of this risky venture.
There is that sense of impending doom throughout the whole narrative. The reader knows almost from the very beginning that something evil is going to happen. Something bad is coming from all directions. Can the main character invent a way to stop the evil forces? To what extent can we rely on his account of the events?
The paranormal in this short story can be regarded as a metaphor for psychological traumas. This is how deep traumas, such as domestic violence or harassment, often work. One is tormented but they cannot share their troubles even with their family members and close friends. The problematic past follows them even on the brightest days. It can be extremely difficult to speak up, verbalize traumatic experiences and reflect upon past events. Just mentioning them can cause devastation. One is afraid of being misunderstood. One does not want to upset their loved ones. As a result, one feels increasingly isolated and alone with the fears and challenges they have to deal with, as Jim does.
One little issue that I had with this gripping story was the ending. It left me slightly dissatisfied as if the author chose that ending due to the lack of better alternatives. But I admit that it has its own logic. It is unlikely that you can get rid of your problem by resorting to some other destructive behavior.
At the heart of Jim's fragile mental health is a very traumatic episode from his childhood. His elder brother was killed by a group of teenagers.
Now, after many years, the unrepented killers seem to return. One by one, they join the class where Jim teaches. How is it possible? How come they have not grown up?
Jim would have liked to know.
But his immediate goal is to prevent them from doing more harm. The teenagers do not hide their intention to finish off what has been left unfinished since that damned day in the past.
Their presence in the town is to cause much trouble. Jim knows that he has to do something and that time works against him. Every day brings those young criminals closer to their goal.
Running out of other choices, Jim decides to give himself up to summoning demons in the hope that one evil power overcomes another. Survival itself is the prize of this risky venture.
There is that sense of impending doom throughout the whole narrative. The reader knows almost from the very beginning that something evil is going to happen. Something bad is coming from all directions. Can the main character invent a way to stop the evil forces? To what extent can we rely on his account of the events?
The paranormal in this short story can be regarded as a metaphor for psychological traumas. This is how deep traumas, such as domestic violence or harassment, often work. One is tormented but they cannot share their troubles even with their family members and close friends. The problematic past follows them even on the brightest days. It can be extremely difficult to speak up, verbalize traumatic experiences and reflect upon past events. Just mentioning them can cause devastation. One is afraid of being misunderstood. One does not want to upset their loved ones. As a result, one feels increasingly isolated and alone with the fears and challenges they have to deal with, as Jim does.
One little issue that I had with this gripping story was the ending. It left me slightly dissatisfied as if the author chose that ending due to the lack of better alternatives. But I admit that it has its own logic. It is unlikely that you can get rid of your problem by resorting to some other destructive behavior.
Jim remembered the warning in Raising Demons—the danger involved. You could perhaps summon them, perhaps cause them to do your work. You could even get rid of them.
But sometimes they come back.
November 21, 2020
"Algo sucedió en la oscura aula. No habría sido posible definir lo que había ocurrido, pero la atmósfera se tornó más pesada. En ella flotaba una densidad que parecía llenar de acero gris la garganta y el estómago. El profundo silencio se dilató, se preñó con algo invisible.
Hizo lo que estipulaban los antiguos ritos(...)
. Quizás uno podía conseguir que se materializaran, que hicieran el trabajo que se les encomendaba. Incluso era posible librarse de ellos.
Pero a veces volvían"
4.5*
Jim Norman sufre constantes pesadillas relacionadas con eL asesinato de su hermano 16 años antes, a manos e unos decadentes delincuentes juveniles, quienes lo apuñalaron en presencia del mismo Jim.
Actualmente Norman es profesor, y una de sus clases, la de la séptima hora, es "viviendo con la literatura" En la que dicta clases para veintisiete "alumnos difíciles".
Las clases se desarrollan con normalidad, dentro de lo tolerable, mas aya de alguna rispidez con algún que otro alumno y ciertos conflictos. Hasta el momento que comienzan a ausentarse de las clases algunos alumnos, y en su lugar asisten quienes Jim considera que son los mismísimos asesinos de su hermano. Para los cuales el tiempo parece no haber pasado, y quienes pretenden atormentar al profesor.
Un relato que sorprende a cada peldaño, con varios recursos y sutilidades, y que posee un muy buen desenlace .
Hizo lo que estipulaban los antiguos ritos(...)
. Quizás uno podía conseguir que se materializaran, que hicieran el trabajo que se les encomendaba. Incluso era posible librarse de ellos.
Pero a veces volvían"
4.5*
Jim Norman sufre constantes pesadillas relacionadas con eL asesinato de su hermano 16 años antes, a manos e unos decadentes delincuentes juveniles, quienes lo apuñalaron en presencia del mismo Jim.
Actualmente Norman es profesor, y una de sus clases, la de la séptima hora, es "viviendo con la literatura" En la que dicta clases para veintisiete "alumnos difíciles".
Las clases se desarrollan con normalidad, dentro de lo tolerable, mas aya de alguna rispidez con algún que otro alumno y ciertos conflictos. Hasta el momento que comienzan a ausentarse de las clases algunos alumnos, y en su lugar asisten quienes Jim considera que son los mismísimos asesinos de su hermano. Para los cuales el tiempo parece no haber pasado, y quienes pretenden atormentar al profesor.
Un relato que sorprende a cada peldaño, con varios recursos y sutilidades, y que posee un muy buen desenlace .
September 2, 2022
Story 3 stars**
Audio 4.25**
Narrator John Glover
Audio 4.25**
Narrator John Glover
May 7, 2024
My first time reading any of Stephen King's
A short novel and I really enjoyed it although I felt lost at some points but still enjoyed it
I really need to know if there is something wrong with me because I just didn't get that scared .. Maybe worried or something but diffidently not scared at all.
By the end of this story it felt like Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman's Practical Magic
The description of all the characters in this story was so good that it made me able to imagine every single one of them.
The thing that made me a little bit scared was that while reading and focusing that lights in my room became unstable all of a sudden :D
I always love reading the English novels or story with voice and not so loud but the only part that I really couldn't read out loud was the part when Norman was trying to summon Wayne his brother. It felt like all the souls and the ghosts in the world will appear at that moment.
The only thing I wished was different is the ending .. It was so quickly that it felt like King was trying to get rid of those dead guys before they get him.
But all in all I loved it and had fun reading it.
I really can't wait to read more of Stephen King's but with more hope that It will be more scary to me next time.
A short novel and I really enjoyed it although I felt lost at some points but still enjoyed it
I really need to know if there is something wrong with me because I just didn't get that scared .. Maybe worried or something but diffidently not scared at all.
By the end of this story it felt like Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman's Practical Magic
The description of all the characters in this story was so good that it made me able to imagine every single one of them.
The thing that made me a little bit scared was that while reading and focusing that lights in my room became unstable all of a sudden :D
I always love reading the English novels or story with voice and not so loud but the only part that I really couldn't read out loud was the part when Norman was trying to summon Wayne his brother. It felt like all the souls and the ghosts in the world will appear at that moment.
The only thing I wished was different is the ending .. It was so quickly that it felt like King was trying to get rid of those dead guys before they get him.
But all in all I loved it and had fun reading it.
I really can't wait to read more of Stephen King's but with more hope that It will be more scary to me next time.
March 25, 2017
This story makes me think of the classroom my tenth grade parenting class was held in. The room was tucked away at the end of the oldest hallway in my high school. Built in the 1940s or 1950s, that hallway was cramped and out of date and falling apart. Thanks to the continual cuts in Alabama's education fund, etc., the hallway (which was sandwiched between two newer additions) had never really been updated, and certainly had a mid-century vibe. The room my parenting class was held in was very spacious and . . . well, hella dated. One walked in the door off the hallway and came to a smaller hallway. Turning right led to a small mock family room, which was almost never used (and decked out in '80s pastels). Turning left led to the main classroom, which was used for all home economic courses. There were stoves and fridges, and long rows of sewing machines. The teacher, an old grump on the verge of retirement (and she probably counted down the days, that hateful bag), even used a typewriter to make up our tests. Talk about quant!
Anywho, this story reminds me of that classroom: the room in which the heating ducts rumbled in the wintertime and the windows would leak during big rain events. I was there late one evening for some reason or another, with friends (we were there for something related to Spanish club, I remember, and we were wandering the halls). We went into the home ec. room and quickly left. It was just so creepy! I can't really describe it. The final scene of this story reminds me of that night.
I've always liked this story. I think of it as the spring pad for ideas King would use again later, specifically evil and/or bullies from childhood showing up again — against all odds and sanity — in adulthood. See It, The Library Policeman, et cetera. For that reason alone, I think this story is very cool. Published in the mid-70s, this tale is . . . well, kind of dated. But I like it. As I've mentioned in several reviews, I am lover of all things '70s, and that includes dated stories of that era. They have such charm.
I don't know if I would say this story is scary . . . but it is certainly creepy. I feel the ending is a little lackluster (hence my docking a star), but the rest is pretty much stellar.
King Connections
None
Favorite Quote
"That Night he had the dream again.
The dream was always cruelly slow. There was time to see and feel everything. And there was the added horror of reliving events there were moving toward a known conclusion, as helpless as a man strapped into a car going over a cliff."
Up Next
"Strawberry Spring"
Anywho, this story reminds me of that classroom: the room in which the heating ducts rumbled in the wintertime and the windows would leak during big rain events. I was there late one evening for some reason or another, with friends (we were there for something related to Spanish club, I remember, and we were wandering the halls). We went into the home ec. room and quickly left. It was just so creepy! I can't really describe it. The final scene of this story reminds me of that night.
I've always liked this story. I think of it as the spring pad for ideas King would use again later, specifically evil and/or bullies from childhood showing up again — against all odds and sanity — in adulthood. See It, The Library Policeman, et cetera. For that reason alone, I think this story is very cool. Published in the mid-70s, this tale is . . . well, kind of dated. But I like it. As I've mentioned in several reviews, I am lover of all things '70s, and that includes dated stories of that era. They have such charm.
I don't know if I would say this story is scary . . . but it is certainly creepy. I feel the ending is a little lackluster (hence my docking a star), but the rest is pretty much stellar.
King Connections
None
Favorite Quote
"That Night he had the dream again.
The dream was always cruelly slow. There was time to see and feel everything. And there was the added horror of reliving events there were moving toward a known conclusion, as helpless as a man strapped into a car going over a cliff."
Up Next
"Strawberry Spring"
February 1, 2024
'Sometimes They Come Back' by Stephen King.
Rating: 4.75/5.
Review:
HOLY
FREAKING
SHIT!!!!
Creepy factor to the max.
Phenomenal.
Rarely do horror stories frighten me, but this story almost succeeded in achieving the impossible.
The story had me hooked right from the beginning. I could empathize with Jim Norman, who was struggling with nightmares induced as a result of childhood trauma. When his childhood tormentors returned as his pupils, I shared the same disbelief as Jim: How could these bullies remain as children almost sixteen years after the unfortunate incident? The air of growing unease, apprehension, suspicion, and horror was palpable throughout the entire story as further events unfolded. I think it speaks volumes of Stephen King's writing prowess that he was able to elicit such reactions from a reader like me.
I won't speak more about this short story since I don't wish to spoil it for the rest of you (and even to my future self, who might have forgotten this wonderful piece of short story and accidentally stumbled upon this old review). All I could say is that give this phenomenal creepy tale a chance, and I'm confident you might end up liking it as much as I did.
'Are you all right?'
'Sure. I yelled, didn't I?'
'Boy, did you. Nightmare?'
'Yes.'
'Something from when those boys broke that fellow's guitar?'
'No,' he said. 'Much older than that. Sometimes it comes back, that's all. No sweat.'
Rating: 4.75/5.
Review:
HOLY
FREAKING
SHIT!!!!
Creepy factor to the max.
Phenomenal.
Rarely do horror stories frighten me, but this story almost succeeded in achieving the impossible.
The story had me hooked right from the beginning. I could empathize with Jim Norman, who was struggling with nightmares induced as a result of childhood trauma. When his childhood tormentors returned as his pupils, I shared the same disbelief as Jim: How could these bullies remain as children almost sixteen years after the unfortunate incident? The air of growing unease, apprehension, suspicion, and horror was palpable throughout the entire story as further events unfolded. I think it speaks volumes of Stephen King's writing prowess that he was able to elicit such reactions from a reader like me.
I won't speak more about this short story since I don't wish to spoil it for the rest of you (and even to my future self, who might have forgotten this wonderful piece of short story and accidentally stumbled upon this old review). All I could say is that give this phenomenal creepy tale a chance, and I'm confident you might end up liking it as much as I did.
November 13, 2023
Jim's brother Wayne was stabbed to death by a gang of high school thugs when they were kids. Nearly twenty years have passed. Now those thugs are back in town to finish the job, but they all look exactly the same as the night they killed Jim's brother. Jim's already declining mental health is put to the ultimate test.
A perfectly creepy story that plays out pretty well. The only reason I didn't rate it higher is because I thought it jumped around a little too fast with little breathing room in between all the crazy stuff going on. I think this one would've actually been great as a full novel or at least a novella.
I like the theme of the story. If you try to fight your demons by drowning them with an even bigger demon, it's only a matter of time before an even bigger demon than that comes back to bite you right on the ass sooner or later. Tread carefully.
One of the best stories from Night Shift.
A perfectly creepy story that plays out pretty well. The only reason I didn't rate it higher is because I thought it jumped around a little too fast with little breathing room in between all the crazy stuff going on. I think this one would've actually been great as a full novel or at least a novella.
I like the theme of the story. If you try to fight your demons by drowning them with an even bigger demon, it's only a matter of time before an even bigger demon than that comes back to bite you right on the ass sooner or later. Tread carefully.
One of the best stories from Night Shift.
July 21, 2024
Overall a really good story.
Fine character development and exposition, King was a master in that department since the very beginning of his career. Unsettling atmosphere throughout the whole story adds to the quality.
I wonder how much of the general feeling was influenced by King’s own teaching experience at the time…
Ending does feel a bit rushed and formulaic, but it doesn’t cause much harm. One could say that the premise and King’s intention deserved a novella length piece of writing…
Fine character development and exposition, King was a master in that department since the very beginning of his career. Unsettling atmosphere throughout the whole story adds to the quality.
I wonder how much of the general feeling was influenced by King’s own teaching experience at the time…
Ending does feel a bit rushed and formulaic, but it doesn’t cause much harm. One could say that the premise and King’s intention deserved a novella length piece of writing…
November 22, 2022
Съвсем не лош сборник с разкази, от които обаче само два-три се откроиха като наистина страшно добри.
February 27, 2024
ليست أفضل كتاباته .ربما هاته بداياته
كما أن العالم الٱخر حين يداهمك خطر ..لن يطلب منك الهروب لتنقذ نفسك
خصوصا لو كنت من إستدعاهم
"العالم الٱخر " الذي يتم استدعاءه بالدم وقص الأصابع كقربان له ليس ثرثارا كما صوره ستيفن كينغ
كما أن العالم الٱخر حين يداهمك خطر ..لن يطلب منك الهروب لتنقذ نفسك
خصوصا لو كنت من إستدعاهم
"العالم الٱخر " الذي يتم استدعاءه بالدم وقص الأصابع كقربان له ليس ثرثارا كما صوره ستيفن كينغ
October 5, 2020
HELLO SPOOKTOBER!!
fulfilling my shortie Spooktober challenge to read one spooky short story a day.
Day one: The Magic Shop by H.G. Wells
Day two: Everything's Fine by Matthew Pridham
Day three: It Came From Hell and Smashed the Angels by Gregor Xane
4.5 stars
When I was in elementary school, this short story was the basis for a really bad made for TV movie that I watched all the time when I was younger. And it also provided me with my first ever Stephen King experience. I think I watched it for the first time in fourth grade before the name Stephen King even registered with me. And when I got older and I realized how great Uncle Stevie was, the collection this story is in, Night Shift, became one of the first King books I ever bought with my own money, probably sometime in like seventh grade or so and the second King book I'd ever read. The movie, even as terrible as I now know it to be, enthralled me so much as a child, I know I picked up the collection just to read this story on many occasions, and I've probably read it a dozen times at least. This is my first reading of it in probably 15 years (how can I really be that old?) and I have to say, it still didn't disappoint. Still one of my favorite King stories.
Jim Norman is a newly hired English teacher that has overcome a lot of trauma in his past to get to where he is today. His older brother Wayne was murdered by hot rod driving, leather jacket wearing, good for nothing street thugs when they were both children, and Jim witnessed it. He has had nightmares ever since and has not talked about it with anyone, including his wife Sally. When kids in his remedial seventh period English class begin dying unexpectedly, and then being replaced with these same thugs, the same age as he remembers them, Jim knows that he must now take matters into his own hands before they can finish what they started sixteen years ago. The problem is, he can't say anything to anyone without sounding nuts.
King writes tension very well and this story is dripping with it. The reader really does get a sense of danger from these characters and it is delightfully creeptastic. It is about repayment of debts and overcoming trauma. You can tell it is an earlier King work because the writing does lack a little polish and flair, but the story is classic King. I deducted half a star for the ending which I thought was just the least bit underwhelming, but overall, a great Spooktober read.
Booksource: Night Shift by Stephen King, own.
fulfilling my shortie Spooktober challenge to read one spooky short story a day.
Day one: The Magic Shop by H.G. Wells
Day two: Everything's Fine by Matthew Pridham
Day three: It Came From Hell and Smashed the Angels by Gregor Xane
4.5 stars
When I was in elementary school, this short story was the basis for a really bad made for TV movie that I watched all the time when I was younger. And it also provided me with my first ever Stephen King experience. I think I watched it for the first time in fourth grade before the name Stephen King even registered with me. And when I got older and I realized how great Uncle Stevie was, the collection this story is in, Night Shift, became one of the first King books I ever bought with my own money, probably sometime in like seventh grade or so and the second King book I'd ever read. The movie, even as terrible as I now know it to be, enthralled me so much as a child, I know I picked up the collection just to read this story on many occasions, and I've probably read it a dozen times at least. This is my first reading of it in probably 15 years (how can I really be that old?) and I have to say, it still didn't disappoint. Still one of my favorite King stories.
Jim Norman is a newly hired English teacher that has overcome a lot of trauma in his past to get to where he is today. His older brother Wayne was murdered by hot rod driving, leather jacket wearing, good for nothing street thugs when they were both children, and Jim witnessed it. He has had nightmares ever since and has not talked about it with anyone, including his wife Sally. When kids in his remedial seventh period English class begin dying unexpectedly, and then being replaced with these same thugs, the same age as he remembers them, Jim knows that he must now take matters into his own hands before they can finish what they started sixteen years ago. The problem is, he can't say anything to anyone without sounding nuts.
King writes tension very well and this story is dripping with it. The reader really does get a sense of danger from these characters and it is delightfully creeptastic. It is about repayment of debts and overcoming trauma. You can tell it is an earlier King work because the writing does lack a little polish and flair, but the story is classic King. I deducted half a star for the ending which I thought was just the least bit underwhelming, but overall, a great Spooktober read.
Booksource: Night Shift by Stephen King, own.
July 23, 2018
A very good book, incredibly tense. I think the ending was lacking in something. I found the story of coming face to face with your brothers killers at school rather interesting and a very good story line and plot. However, by the end it didn't seem like what it was meant to be. Hence, I docked a star from the story. Deeply intriguing and exceptionally well written.
October 21, 2020
Звучи напълно откачено, но винаги ми е някак щастливо да се върна към книгите на Стивън Кинг. И поради ред причини, коя от коя по-лоши имах време да чета този сборник само в късните часове. Какво по-добро от това Стиви да вдъхне живот в един тъмен запустял апартамент. Той внася звуците, които ни се е сторило, че сме чули, седейки сами в тишината. Той изгражда силуетите, които ни се струва, че седят в сянката и ни наблюдават с кръвожадните си очи, очаквайки ни да припарим до този ъгъл само за да впият острите си зъби в нещо... човешко. Кинг съдава показва чудовищата живеещи под леглото, в дрешниците, на тавана, както и тези в нас.
Винаги когато ме попитат защо чета Стивън Кинг ще казвам "Защото няма нищо по-скучно от една осветена стая"
Дрерусълъмс Лот - 4/5
По едно за из път - 4/5
Понякога те се завръщат - 5/5
Пресата - 2/5
Децата на царевицата - 5/5
Камионите - 3/5
Нощен пробой -3/5
Последното стъпало 5/5 - не хорър разказ, който лично за мен е вторият най-добър от сборника
Сиво вещество - 2/5
Вампирът - 4/5
Знам какво искаш - 4/5 - щеше да да е 5 звезди, но финалът беше разочароващ
Човекът с косачката - 4/5
Жената в стаята - 2/5
Ягодова пролет - 5/5 - най-добрият разказ от сборника, според мен.
Винаги когато ме попитат защо чета Стивън Кинг ще казвам "Защото няма нищо по-скучно от една осветена стая"
Дрерусълъмс Лот - 4/5
По едно за из път - 4/5
Понякога те се завръщат - 5/5
Пресата - 2/5
Децата на царевицата - 5/5
Камионите - 3/5
Нощен пробой -3/5
Последното стъпало 5/5 - не хорър разказ, който лично за мен е вторият най-добър от сборника
Сиво вещество - 2/5
Вампирът - 4/5
Знам какво искаш - 4/5 - щеше да да е 5 звезди, но финалът беше разочароващ
Човекът с косачката - 4/5
Жената в стаята - 2/5
Ягодова пролет - 5/5 - най-добрият разказ от сборника, според мен.
February 9, 2017
A scary little story. I remember watching the movie (or a few of them) as a child. I like the story, very creepy, I just kept saying to my self, "well that's just not fair." As if things in a scary story would ever be fair.
September 3, 2016
I feel this should have been a full length novel. It was a good idea, but the author needed more time for character development, and I really didn't like the ending at all.
November 3, 2018
Not very special, one of his first novellas.
March 28, 2022
Приличен хорър сборник, но не ме впечатли особено... Мисля, че за пръв път давам само 3 ⭐ на чичо Стиви. Възприемам ранните му разкази като един вид тренировка за по-късните му майсторски такива. От тук много ми хареса единствено „Ягодова пролет“, който е кратък, но съдържа много интересна загадъчна атмосфера...
April 16, 2024
Damn.. this was good.
July 22, 2025
geen carrièreswitch naar leraar voor mij
October 10, 2023
Ive noticed I don’t really enjoy super short king stories, mainly the middle and long length one.
September 7, 2013
This was a short story taken from (my all time favorite by King) NIGHT SHIFT. The story wasn't complex, but it was interesting and kept me turning those pages. In retrospect though, I never could really relate to the main character-Jim Norman. It's like, there was nothing about him that I could actually hold onto to bring me closer to him or see things through his eyes. Actually, I didn't really like Jim Norman at all, and found myself cheering for the villains in this. I got behind the high school bully, plus some other kids- all of whom were sideline characters. I did love Norman's dead brother, Wayne, though, and he was hardly even in this story save for a few scenes leading up to his death, and one major scene where he came back (or DID he? Ha ha).
Anyway, this is a short, enjoyable little horror story I'm sure you will love. Enjoy.
Anyway, this is a short, enjoyable little horror story I'm sure you will love. Enjoy.
March 16, 2024
Damn... During the first 3 quarters of this story I thought I was going to give this a 5/5 and then King just totally whiffed on that ending for me at least.
**Spoilers**I get that he was subtly setting it up with him reading Raising Demons but I felt as though that whole summoning the demon thing just slapped me right in the face like a strong winter's breeze. It went from being such a creepy and fun ghost story to campy over the top B-rated horror movie.
The first 3 quarters or more of the story though were absolutely dynamite it's just the ending was too jarring for me and really left a bad taste in my mouth. I had to dock it 2 stars for the ending alone.
**Spoilers**I get that he was subtly setting it up with him reading Raising Demons but I felt as though that whole summoning the demon thing just slapped me right in the face like a strong winter's breeze. It went from being such a creepy and fun ghost story to campy over the top B-rated horror movie.
The first 3 quarters or more of the story though were absolutely dynamite it's just the ending was too jarring for me and really left a bad taste in my mouth. I had to dock it 2 stars for the ending alone.
March 25, 2021
This one is okay, but not a favorite. In the beginning, there is mystery about the event that has plagued Jim with nightmares: the murder of his brother. And the middle of the story is even more compelling with the arrival of some questionable new students. It's the end of the story that fell flat for me and this has everything to do with how Jim handles the combination of his past trauma with these new students. It's a nice enough story, but not one of my favorites from this collection.
Included in the Night Shift collection.
Included in the Night Shift collection.
December 27, 2014
Warning: When you read this, don't turn off you lights. This one sure is creepy! Plus, it's kind of realistic. I know there's already a movie for this, but even without that... my imagination got the best of me. >.<
June 2, 2015
Pretty much
Blackboard Jungle
with Stephen King twists. I loved it.
September 15, 2017
Playlist
Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
November 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this short story! It was a solid spooky storyline. Plus the twist at the end is magic.
September 24, 2024
So, so good.
I remember watching the movie adaptation of this over 30 years ago. It was an entertaining movie, but this short story is way better.
King is an undeniably gifted writer, one of THE most gifted. There is a very real and cinematic quality to it and he consistently says enough in a 10-30 page short story to adapt it into a 2-hour movie. The quality AND quantity of his writing is astounding. And - as most know by now...although it took far too long for people to see through the unwarranted "horror writer" stigma - he doesn't just excel at horror writing.
I’m about halfway through Night Shift and already about half of the short stories I’ve read were made into films. There are lots of incredibly talented authors, but there is only one Stephen King, and we’re fortunate that he’s been around so long and that he continues to produce some 50 years after he started his career.
They say that "Only the Good die young", but fortunately for us not ALL of the good do.
I remember watching the movie adaptation of this over 30 years ago. It was an entertaining movie, but this short story is way better.
King is an undeniably gifted writer, one of THE most gifted. There is a very real and cinematic quality to it and he consistently says enough in a 10-30 page short story to adapt it into a 2-hour movie. The quality AND quantity of his writing is astounding. And - as most know by now...although it took far too long for people to see through the unwarranted "horror writer" stigma - he doesn't just excel at horror writing.
I’m about halfway through Night Shift and already about half of the short stories I’ve read were made into films. There are lots of incredibly talented authors, but there is only one Stephen King, and we’re fortunate that he’s been around so long and that he continues to produce some 50 years after he started his career.
They say that "Only the Good die young", but fortunately for us not ALL of the good do.
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