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McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales

Pages
488
Published
2002
Language
English

Synopsis

This collection gathers a remarkable array of short stories from some of today's most celebrated authors. Featuring tales of adventure, mystery, and the unexpected, it offers a diverse reading experience. Discover thrilling narratives that span genres and imaginations, all within one impressive volume.

Characters

TedfordProtagonist
SquonkProtagonist
Carlos WebsterProtagonist
All characters in McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales

Frequently asked questions

  • What is McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales?

    Published in 2003, it is Issue 10 of McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, guest-edited by Michael Chabon as a deliberate manifesto against plotless literary fiction. The anthology collects genre stories from literary authors—horror, mystery, adventure, and thriller—with the explicit argument that plot and story are literary values, not concessions to the market.

  • Why was Michael Chabon's editorial stance significant?

    Chabon argued in the introduction that American literary culture had developed a snobbery against 'plotted' fiction that impoverished serious writing. By assembling literary writers—including King—writing unapologetically genre work, he made a case that the distinction between 'literary' and 'genre' was false and damaging. King's presence validated the crossover argument.

  • What kind of story does King contribute?

    King's contribution is a compact, tightly plotted horror-adjacent story consistent with his short fiction mode—immediate in its setup, with a single effective escalation. The anthology context places it alongside stories by Michael Moorcock, Elmore Leonard, Dave Eggers, and others working in different genre registers.