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The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

Stories
HorrorSuspense
Pages
512
Published
2016
Language
English

Synopsis

Stephen King, a titan of modern horror, returns with a collection of potent short stories that explore the darker corners of human experience. These tales, some new and some revisited, are introduced by the author himself, offering a glimpse into their creation. Prepare for stories that grapple with guilt, the afterlife, and the consequences of choices, featuring characters who confront supernatural powers and the specter of their past.

Prose complexity
3/10

Vibe

DarkTenseThought-ProvokingReflective
Multiple POVsSurvivalMorally GreySacrificeMystery Box

Genres

Horror Suspense Literary Fiction Short Stories 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

  • What is The Bazaar of Bad Dreams?

    Published in 2015, it is a collection of twenty short stories and poems, most previously published in magazines ranging from The New Yorker to Esquire to Playboy. Each story is prefaced by a brief introduction from King about how it came to be written. The collection spans horror, science fiction, crime, and literary fiction.

  • Which stories in The Bazaar of Bad Dreams are most acclaimed?

    'Ur' (about a Kindle that receives transmissions from alternate universes), 'Mile 81' (a supernatural car stalking travelers at an abandoned rest stop), 'Bad Little Kid' (a tale of lifelong persecution by a malevolent child), and 'Obits' (a writer discovers his obituaries kill their subjects) are frequently cited as highlights by readers and critics.

  • Does King's introductory note for each story add value?

    Yes—the introductions are considered an unusual and welcome feature of the collection. King discusses the real-life trigger for each story, the publication history, and in some cases what he was attempting technically. They function as a window into his process and make the collection feel more like a conversation than a typical anthology.

  • How does The Bazaar of Bad Dreams compare to King's earlier collections like Night Shift?

    Night Shift and Skeleton Crew skew toward pure horror with tightly plotted shock endings; The Bazaar of Bad Dreams is tonally more varied—several stories are closer to literary fiction or quiet character studies. It reflects King's range as a writer in his late career, with more ambiguity and less reliance on the conventional horror finale.

  • Does this collection include original commentary from the author?

    Yes, the author provides a personal introduction for every story in the collection, offering specific insights into the inspiration, origins, and creative process behind each individual piece.

  • Are these stories entirely new or have they been published before?

    The collection is a mix of both brand-new stories and previously published works that were gathered into a single volume for the first time.

  • Did any of the stories in this book win an award?

    The short story titled Obits won the 2016 Edgar Award for Best Short Story.

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