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Skeleton Crew

Skeleton Crew

HorrorLiterary Fiction
Pages
784
Published
1992
Language
English

Synopsis

Stephen King delivers a chilling collection of short stories that explore the darkest corners of human fear and imagination. From a town besieged by an otherworldly fog to unsettling encounters with the supernatural, these tales will keep you on the edge of your seat. Experience the Master of Horror's signature blend of everyday dread and cosmic terror.

Prose complexity
3/10

Books inside

1 book
Book cover of The Jaunt
The Jaunt

Vibe

DarkTenseAtmosphericGritty
SurvivalMystery Box

Genres

Horror Literary Fiction Dark Fantasy Fantasy Thriller Short Stories Body Horror Gothic Psychological Thriller

About the author

S
Stephen King

Stephen King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author whose work has defined popular horror fiction for more than half a century. Born in Portland, Maine, he grew up in poverty after his father abandoned the family, and credits his mother's resilience and a voracious reading habit as the foundations of his imagination. He began selling short stories to men's magazines while working as a high school English teacher, and published his first novel, Carrie, in 1974—his wife Tabitha retrieved...

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Skeleton Crew contain any stories that connect to Stephen King's other works?

    Yes, "The Mist" features characters and events that are referenced in other King novels, and "Nona" has thematic ties to his earlier vampire stories. The collection also includes "The Jaunt," which explores concepts of space and time travel that appear in different forms across his bibliography.

  • Are there any notable adaptations of stories from Skeleton Crew?

    Yes, "The Mist" was adapted into a feature film and later a television series. "The Raft" was also adapted as a segment in the film Creepshow 2.

  • What is Skeleton Crew and when was it published?

    Skeleton Crew is King's second major short story collection, published in 1985. It contains 22 stories and novellas, including 'The Mist,' 'The Raft,' 'The Jaunt,' 'Survivor Type,' 'Mrs. Todd's Shortcut,' and 'Word Processor of the Gods.'

  • What makes Skeleton Crew stand out among Stephen King's short story collections?

    This collection is notable for its range, including some of King's most experimental and unsettling short fiction, such as the poem "Paranoid: A Chant" and the novella "The Mist." It also features a higher concentration of cosmic horror elements compared to some of his other collections.

  • What are the standout stories in Skeleton Crew?

    'The Mist' is the longest and best-known piece, a novella about a supernatural fog that descends on a Maine town. 'The Raft' follows four college students trapped on a lake raft by a carnivorous oil-slick creature. 'The Jaunt' is a science fiction horror story about teleportation, widely regarded as one of King's most effective short works for its final image.

  • What is 'Survivor Type' about and why is it memorable?

    'Survivor Type' is told as the journal of a surgeon stranded alone on a Pacific island with a supply of heroin and surgical tools. As his food runs out, he begins amputating and eating his own body parts to survive. It is one of King's most extreme and widely anthologized stories—a pure body horror escalation with an unforgettable ending.

  • What is the premise of 'The Jaunt'?

    'The Jaunt' posits that teleportation—called 'the Jaunt'—works perfectly for unconscious subjects but drives conscious travelers insane in an instant. A father tells his children the history of the Jaunt before their family transit; the final sentence reveals what his son saw after holding his breath to stay awake through the process.

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