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Stephen King
Scribner
2010/ ISBN 9781418009601
Horror
Reviewed
by Cyndi Wright
The king is back.
For fans of Stephen King’s flat-out, no apologies asked for
horror thrillers, Full Dark, No Stars will certainly sate.
These four (lengthy) short stories will take readers on a thrilling,
moaning, groaning and retching ride complete with rats, rape, murder
and betrayal only found and made possible by the monsters that reside
in humans and their minds.
And no one brings those monsters to life better than master storyteller
King, who can make his readers’ hair follicles rebel in one
second and elicit a chuckle at the sheer absurdity of it all in
the next.
“1922” is the story of a wretched family whose matriarch
and patriarch cannot see past their own pride, greed and folly to
care for the one thing that really is valuable – their son.
Complete with murder most foul, rats, the dead coming back to life,
animal abuse and descriptions that you want to quit reading but
can’t, “1922” is a grand tale of retribution.
Retribution is also the moral in “Big Driver,” where
a likable, mild-mannered mystery writer is the victim of a maniacal
murdering rapist. Her own self-deprecating thoughts before, during
and after the rape and beating lend a humorous slant to the horrible
story. She survives the attack and uses her skills as a mystery
writer to exact revenge on this monster. Readers will be shouting
encouragement as she proceeds, even as they quake at some of her
methods.
In “A Perfect Marriage” readers will find vintage Stephen
King – where what appears to be a perfect life on the surface
turns into a nightmare of dark, chilling secrets unearthed. How
will Darcy, a mild-mannered June Cleaver of a wife, handle finding
out that her husband is a serial murderer of women – and what
happens when he finds out she knows? It’s a nail biter.
“Fair Extension” is a parody on the old “sell
your soul to the devil” tale with a twist. This devil doesn’t
want sick and dying Dave Streeter’s soul – he wants
cash. And for that cash, Streeter will get back his health. As part
of the bargain, an envious Streeter, whose life has been not so
great, watches with glee as his successful high school friend suffers
one horrific downturn after another. It’s dark comedy at its
best.
Reviewer's
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