I’ve read most of Stephen King and he’s given me some pretty horrible moments: The monster in It (let’s not even GO THERE, people). Certain parts of The Stand – the whole Lincoln Tunnel section is one of the most vivid pieces of post-apocalypse writing I’ve ever read – and it took on even more reality for me after September 11 … because you couldn’t stop your brain from imagining such things. It was terrifying (not to mention a masterpiece, as far as I’m concerned – talk about needing to be counted as a great book PERIOD, not a great “horror” book!) … and then there’s all the others … scary (some more than others) – his imagination which knows no bounds, blah blah blah.
But – to date – (and like I’ve said, i’ve read most of his books) – I have never (and I mean NEVER) been as frightened as I was when I read his short story “The Mist
I was living at home for the summer – I was in between my junior and senior year in college – I remember this because that was the summer I fell in love for the first time, and he fell in love with me, and we had picnics and cavorted thru Newport, and blah blah … most exciting summer of my life up until that point. Yay! Love! And I was living with my parents – and I was reading the collection of short stories by Stephen King – and i was working 2 jobs, I remember – at the pizza parlor by the beach, and I was also running lights and sound for the big Freshman Orientation shows they were putting on on campus. I know this is a long-ass story full of extraneous details, but whatevs, I’m busy writing Quantum Leap fanfic right now and cannot be bothered. So I was VERY busy, what with 2 jobs and my first boyfriend courting me and all that. And I picked up “The Mist”, having no idea what I was getting into. I thought I knew what scared was. I thought I had already experienced the full throttle of the King imagination of horror. But no. Oh no.
That was, hands down, the scariest mo-f’in thing I have ever read in my life – I lay in bed, tense as a BOARD … and I had to wake up at 6 am to get to the theatre by 7 am – to set up the light board … but I couldn’t put the book down. Not just because it was so good … but because I WAS AFRAID TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF. I was afraid of what dreams may come.
We were “cat sitting” that summer for my friend Jackie – it was a small mischievous ball of grey fur – who would attack his own reflections in the mirror, and pounce on my dad’s head from behind. He was adorable but a terror. And he snuck into my room, as I lay there – reading – it’s, like, 3 in the morning – I didn’t see him come in – and he skulked towards the bed and in one fell swoop leapt up onto the bed, claws digging into my arm … and I
FLIPPED
OUT
That poor cat. His prank worked better than he could ever have imagined. I threw him off the bed, screaming and thrashing and panting … and then … because I had to … a force beyond my control was leading me … picked up the damn book again.
I finished it that night and didn’t sleep a wink.
I haven’t read it since but I remember some paragraphs of it with what feels like word-for-word accuracy – I’d have to go back and check. But that book emanates a dark horrific glow … I am still afraid of that stupid book.
Great stuff!
Anyway – just found out via this site that they’re turning it into a movie.
Fingers crossed. It would make a great movie, I think! A classic war of the worlds type situation. Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying. I am also pleased to see that Thomas Jane is the lead. He was in one of my Faces I love, don’t ya know!
I have never forgotten the horrible night I stayed up and read that stupid story!
Total agreement on that story. Great. Almost too scary to describe. In continuing with the Chabon genre thing from earlier, this is the kind of work that would get dissected up and down if it was written by a ‘serious’ writer. How the ‘mist’ means x, y, z, and whatnot. How the small society trapped in the mall mirrors society at large. Put a garish cover on it, stick it in the horror section, and it is just a goofy monster story. Unfair.
Oh, and I’m reminding you to dig into The Dark Tower series. I know you are busy so just consider this a tiny bee in your bonnet. Do not let the ‘fantasy’ label deter you!!! (did you like how I turned the whole topic of the day into a way to get you to read it??? hee hee!)
Ooh–I second the recommendation for The Dark Tower series. I’ve read it through several times (the earlier books more than the later books, given how long it took for King to write them).
We listened to The Mist on audiobook when I was a kid and it scared the crap out of my whole family, in the best possible way.
annie – ha!!!
Seriously – i just remember it as the scariest story EVER.
only in relation to your busy-ness is this relevant, but sheila — please tell me that *in spite* of your busy-ness, you’re going to write for matt’s close-up-a-thon at the house next door, in october?
Bren …
I am sure you will win your battle to get me to read the Dark Tower series! hahaha To be fair, I’ve heard nothing but great stuff about it – and I trust your judgment totally.
amelie – yeah. I already wrote one.
I forget now which collection “The Mist” is in, dernit – I got rid of a lot of books years ago – and I don’t think I have that collection anymore. The only collection of Stephen King short stories that I have is the Different Seasons one – with the 4 novellas.
Anyone have any idea which collection “The Mist” is in?
well, from what i know, it was in the dark forces anthology, and in the skeleton crew short story collection. not sure which you’re looking for…
[[and, glad to hear it!]]
I second the scariest Stephen King story EVER motion; it gives me the creeps just thinking about it. I think it was in “Skeleton Crew.”
Benjamin – totally. I just remember the last image he has of her … in the road … with her red (of course) hair …
shivers. Terrifying.
It’s the “dash to the car” scene that gets me, when they’re fleeing the relative sanctuary of the grocery.
Zoe!!! That breaks my heart….
p.s.
can you hear me now?
“Jackie, you were so wonderful … garble garble garble …”
“CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”
“Jackie, I just need to tell you I thought you were fantas—- garble burble blrrrrr burble …”
hahahaha
Yes – Zoe!
Member my dad?? “Is Zoe helping Daddy in the garden??”
Heartcrack!
Sheila, if you had Delicious Library you would know which collection it was in and where it was located in your apartment. ;-)
Love Kerry
sheila, was it the collection i posted above?
Absolutely my favorite King short story. Skeleton Crew had some of his best, but the Mist is head and shoulders above his others.
But you haven’t experienced it until you’ve read it, all alone working third shift, in the back room of a grocery store.
It’s the only time I’ve yelled out when I heard a noise while reading….
I also recommend reading the Dark Tower books. But I recommend reading each volume by itself, and allowing some distance between them–A few weeks, at least. It lends to the whole “Time’s funny out here” vibe of the saga…
amelie – Huh? I’m confused by your comment. I don’t know – I don’t have the book right now in my collection (like i said) – threw lots of books out years ago. Looks like, from other commenters – it’s in Skeleton Crew.
Tommy – it is so cool to hear how many people love (and FEAR) this story!!
Kerry – ahhhhhhhh!!!!! You are RIGHT, technology wizard!!!
/well, from what i know, it was in the dark forces anthology, and in the skeleton crew short story collection. not sure which you’re looking for…
[[and, glad to hear it!]]
Posted by amelie / rae at September 4, 2007 4:58 PM/
first comment after you asked what collection it was in. my second comment on the thread. that’s what i was talking about; sorry for the confusion!
bren, it was me who was telling you att he cape that the fantasy label deterred me—to not read ‘the dark towers’. just letting you know you’re getting your sisters confused@
Siobhan – hi! I am also resistant to the “fantasy” genre. hahahaha I was like: Uhm, Stephen? No thanks. But Bren insists!
If they do as well with this as they did with the Stand miniseries then it ought to be a good movie. Admittedly, the atmosphere doesn’t work the same on screen as it does when reading “The Stand” but I thought it was well-done. Can’t really go wrong with Gary Sinise and Matt Frewer (among many others).
Saw the trailer for The Mist last night as we were getting ready for the Rob Zombie Halloween, and it looks promising.
The scariest thing that ever happened to me while reading Stephen King involved four o’clock in the morning, a mailbox, a quiet night, the first 80 pages of It, and an extremely loud noise. I’m still surprised I didn’t hit my head on the ceiling. I should blog about that, one day.
Sheila, Sheila, Sheila! READ THE DARK TOWER BOOKS. They are spectacular at their best, and prime King at their worst. An’ it please ya.
I had to throw away the panties I was wearing when I read “The Mist”. Also in a single night. Literally a dark and stormy one. Which explains the shit-stained panties.
And I second (third? fourth?) the Dark Tower suggestion. But let each book settle in before starting the next. And in case you need even more incentive, the end of the series is perfect.
i d idn’t know you didn’t like fantasy either. i just had a conversation specficiallyw tih bren at the cape bout him trying to get me to read the dark towers. and i said “i won’t even read the hobbit!” which discouraged him a little.