Rating: 
Summary: Just not all there
Review: There are plenty of titles here to keep people reading. At least 10 of the stories in this book were 'adapted' for the big or small screen. Most of the films were bad (some were appalling) but the titles will catch people's eye and hook them. Most of the stories are rather short, and that works to their benefit. Many of the tales collected here are missing...something. A motivation, an explanation of SOME type, a likeabe character. Children of the Corn comes off as the scariest, in my opinion. Just plain creepy. Meanwhile, Gray Matter was just plan...weird. Not scary, just bizarre. Over time, an old man turns into a giants, disgusting and slimy gray blob. It may have something to do with all the beer her drinks, but... Sometimes They Come Back is unsatisfying in its ghost story setup, but The BlackBoard Jungle-type setting and character development work well. Trucks is, of course, the source for one of the worst Stephen King films of all time, and also one that he directed: Maximum Overdrive. This is a very short story, and it has a simple point, if you can call it that. The machines are striking back. That's it. Very bad film. But because people love us, they made ANOTHER version of it, using the story's title. Battleground is something out of a bad comic book. Toy soldiers attack a man. Not a bad treatment, but a little bit more here would have been better. Graveyard Shift is creepy and atmospheric for most of the way, but the characters are way too weak. Another inspiration for another bad film. The Lawnmower Man. Nothing at all to do with the film. This story is just plain bizarre. Not scary, not creepy. Just freakin' weird. King must have been on something when he penned a few of these. All in all, a lot of this stuff resembles a Twilight Zone-eque world. Think Tales From the Darkside but maybe a little better. And sometimes worse. Best apart about this book is the variety and amount of stories. King is a great storyteller, say what you will about his writing style. He hooks readers and in this book he keeps the tales short and often sharp. I'm nowhere near a King afficionado, but I would say this is probably a pretty good start if only to appreciate his maturity and superior handling in the novels he wrote right after these stories.
Rating: 
Summary: SK in a Zone
Review: Mr. King aced this one. It has been many years since I read this book. Carried it with me when I travelled Spain many years ago. The stories that stay with me are "Sometimes They Come Back", "One for the Road" and "Stawberry Spring". I read the whole book in less that a week. I slowed my usual pace because I realized the strength of these stories and I wanted to savor them. Now, I am introducing my son to SK. He liked "Tom Gordon" and is currently starting "Carrie". I will see if he is up for Night Shift after that.
Rating: 
Summary: You'll love this book!
Review: I though the book was very good,expecially the story "quiters inc.". The plot kept me coming back for more. The charecters in it were very interesting as they unfolded slowly though the story.
Rating:
Summary: I love this anthology
Review: I read this volume when it first came out and still re-read it whenever possible. "The Last Rung on the Ladder" is one of my favorites...I always get a tear in my eye, and it also made me realize what a fine writer Mr. King truly is - the story doesn't have a breath of supernatural horror in it, but rather the horror we carry within ourselves as burdens. I also enjoyed "Jerusalem's Lot," and the other stories. Give it a try...you won't regret it!
Rating:
Summary: Classic King
Review: "Night Shift" is a collection of King's short stories from the 70's, when he was at his prime. Almost every story creates an ambience of suspense, surprise and terror. Personal favourites are the stories "Children of the Corn" (this short story is better than all the movies 'based' on it combined), and the little-known "Quitter's, Inc.", a story about a man who would do anything to quit smoking, and the doctor ready to help. It sounds sappy, but trust me, it turns into a brilliant page turner.
"Night Shift" is a brilliant anthology of Stephen King's short stories when he was in his prime, and is a must buy for any King fan, or general horror/suspense lover.
Rating:
Summary: INCREDIBLE
Review: If you've never read any Stephen King, this is a perfect introduction. And if you're already a King fan who hasn't read this, I feel sorry for you. Every single one of these stories is incredible. A lot of them were even made into movies "Graveyard Shift" "Children of the Corn" "Trucks", and the good thing is the stories are WAY better than the movies.
This is a perfect introduction to King because each story illustrates a certain aspect of his writing. Some stories like The Woman In The Room,The Man Who Loved Flowers, and The Last Rung on The Ladder don't have any supernatural themes, but I do think The Woman In The Room could have been left out (One For the Road is a much better ending) while others are pure horror with giant rats, killer laundry machines, and gooey monsters. The first story (Jerusalem's Lot) is a bit reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft and The Lair of the White Worm. And for those of you who've seen Cat's Eye will recognize the stories Quitters, Inc. and The Ledge.
The book is a classic that can be read over and over until you can tell someone the stories by memory. Also, a few are connected to some of his novels: One for the Road takes place in Salem's Lot and I'm pretty sure Night Surf takes place during The Stand. Next to The Shining and Christine, this is one of King's best.
Rating:
Summary: stories of horror
Review: Stephen King is indeed the master of horror. This book was descriptive and very interesting. Kings Idea of how to get under your skin and terrorize you ins breathtaking. Night Shift, was a book of many short stories that King has written over the years. I liked it very much and found it to be easy and fun reading
Rating:
Summary: The place to start with King
Review: You know that friend of yours that notices you reading a Stephen King tome and says, "Ugh, you like that guy?" You know, the friend who hasn't ever actually read any Stephen King books and thinks his work is simply grist for very, very bad films? Well, slide them a copy of this and they'll be a fan for life. This collection of his short stories is the first and best one he's ever done in tone, consistency and ideas. It's no mistake that out of the 20 stories collected here, no less than 12 of them have been made into cinematic adventures (though most of them have been bad films, they were originally great stories, trust me). All of the shorts that he's known for and that made him a household name come out of this collection as well: "The Lawnmower Man" (forget the movie...this is REAL horror), "Trucks" (which was made into 2 bad movies, but don't hold that against the book), "Quitters, Inc.", "The Mangler", "The Ledge"...this is all very concrete stuff that even a non-horror fan will take to because it's simply grand story-telling.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good
Review: Stephen King called, The Stand, "a dark chest of wonders", but that is a label that could also have been slapped on this book. It has all sorts of creepy stories, many of which seem to capitalize on the Lovecraft theme of people being nothing but yammering blobs of protien in a chaotic environment full of hidden creatures and things that are not at all concerned with civilization's politics, popular opinon, or good morales. If you enjoyed the X-Files, Tales from the Crypt, or other such series, not mention King's other works, such as Cujo, Salem's Lot, Pet Semetary, It, The Dark Half, and Needful Things, then you probably will love Night Shift.
Rating:
Summary: A great collection of stories.
Review: This was the first Stephen King short story collection that I ever read, and I enjoyed it greatly. My favorite stories include Jerusalem's Lot, I Am the Doorway, The Boogeyman, Battleground, Sometimes They Come Back, Strawberry Spring, and Quitters Inc. Some stories in here are just horrible, though These horrible stories include The Man Who Loved Flowers, The Last Rung on the Ladder, and The Woman in the Room. Two stories, Jerusalem's Lot and One for the Road are related to one of King's best books, Salem's Lot. I feel that Jerualem's Lot is the better of the two because One for the Road can get a little boring. Several movies have been made out of the stories in this collection. I would recommend Night Shift if you enjoy horror because there is plenty of it in this book.
|
