Just After Sunset

Stories

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Stephen King, Jill Eikenberry, Holter Graham, George Guidall, Ron McLarty, Denis O'Hare, Ben Shenkman, Mare Winningham

Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

2010 Audie Award Finalist for Short Stories/Collections

Stephen King - who has written more than 50 books, dozens of number-one New York Times best sellers, and many unforgettable movies - delivers an astonishing collection of short stories. The stories in this collection have appeared in The New Yorker, Playboy, McSweeney's, The Paris Review, Esquire, and other publications.

Who but Stephen King would turn a Port-O-San into a slimy birth canal, or a roadside honky-tonk into a place for endless love? A book salesman with a grievance might pick up a mute hitchhiker, not knowing the silent man in the passenger seat listens altogether too well. Or an exercise routine on a stationary bicycle, begun to reduce bad cholesterol, might take its rider on a captivating -- and then terrifying -- journey.

Set on a remote key in Florida, "The Gingerbread Girl" is a riveting tale featuring a young woman as vulnerable -- and resourceful -- as Audrey Hepburn's character in Wait Until Dark.

In "Ayana," a blind girl works a miracle with a kiss and the touch of her hand.

For King, the line between the living and the dead is often blurry, and the seams that hold our reality intact might tear apart at any moment. In one of the longer stories here, "N.", which recently broke new ground when it was adapted as a graphic digital entertainment, a psychiatric patient's irrational thinking might create an apocalyptic threat in the Maine countryside...or keep the world from falling victim to it.

Just After Sunset - call it dusk, call it twilight, it's a time when human intercourse takes on an unnatural cast, when nothing is quite as it appears, when the imagination begins to reach for shadows as they dissipate to darkness and living daylight can be scared right out of you. It's the perfect time for Stephen King.

©2008 Stephen King (P)2008 Simon & Schuster

decent for SK, but not great

I'm a long time SK printed page reader...he's the only writer who can actually scare me or gross me out on a page. These stories are OK, some decent, some decent but overly long and a couple downright boring. A couple gems but overall not particularly creepy or enthralling.

Wish I could give a 6 star review

I thought this book was fantastic. I could not pick a favorite story. Each one had an element that made you grin, shake your head, or think "he's back". A few gave me chills, a couple made me think deeply. One brought tears to my eyes. Several made me laugh. All of these stories were so much like the good old Stephen King, and all the narrators were dead on. I recommend this to any one who thinks King has lost his touch. I hated to finish this book.

Nice mix, some pretty great short short ones too😉

loved the mix on this one, this book def kept me thinking long after the end of the story! had quite a few favorites this time, the one and only King, have always read his novels, just decided 1 day to buy all his short stories on audible, and this was my favorite by far, very different! 100℅ best way to read these is to have someone else read them to you! Awesome Experience!

great to pass time. great way to pass the time in

great way to pass the time of the car familiar with the places he talks about in Florida real accurate love it

Spine-tingling stories to read afterdark! Oh yeah!

Leave it to Stephen King to write these wonderfully chilling, creepy stories! Every story has a full cast of evil characters. Just the kind of book to curl up in a chair with... and a hot cup of ghoulish green tea...

Even subpar King is worth reading

I've read about 40 Stephen King books including four of his short story collections. This is weaker than the majority of his books including Night Shift, Skeleton Crew and Nightmares and Dreamscapes. A couple of the stories in this volume are unpleasant tales about surviving abuse or terminal illness, without the joyful note of spooky fun that defines many of his earlier short stories. None the less Just After Sunset still has some clever premises in it, the writing is strong as ever and I never tire of King's writing for more than a few minutes here and there. If you're a casual King reader the three other short story volumes I mentioned are more fun. But if you've read those, I recommend reading the author's life work.

Very good. Like usual.

This series was put together very well. All the stories are engaging and that is very rare to come by with short story collections and anthologies. If you like these collections by Stephen king, I recommend bazaar of bad dreams first, but if you like Stephen king's work you will not be disappointed.

How do you drive shotgun...are you a mute, or a rambler....

I downloaded this recently even though I read the book many years ago. The only story I remembered from back then was stationary bike.

I enjoy Mr. King’s short stories, they’re perfect for car rides or listening while on the aforementioned stationary bike in the gym....which does become boring very quickly...maybe I’ll make my own roadmap like Richard in the story....then again...maybe not.

My favorites...

N ——The narration was excellent between doctor and patient. Especially when John, in the second part of the story decides...or rather is compelled...to investigate the field of stones for himself. He shouldn’t have...but we all know what curiosity does don’t we.

MUTE—-a hitchhiker who is of course, mute. Sometimes I wish my car rides were with the passenger in the story instead of a motormouth. We all know them, unless you’re one. Not that, that is a bad thing...mostly. Being able to say whatever you want has its benefits...and it’s drawbacks. It was an entertaining listen, although...ahem...a one sided conversation.

A VERY TIGHT PLACE—-It was tight indeed. I did not think it possible that so many things could happen in such a claustrophobic structure...very, shall I shall dirty, and smelly. The next time you leave a concert or go camping....do yourself a favor. If you have to go, in one of those blue port-a-potties, maybe you should leave it unlocked while doing your business...you never know what lies outside or beneath...

Looking forward to Full Dark No Stars...the next on my short story hit list.

Absolutely fantastic fun

it was so much fun to read a bunch of short stories from Stephen King again I think my favorite was like his "Wilma". I really like "Wilma" and who can't like "In the shits"

Great Short Stories by Stephen King

Willa and N. were fantastic short stories. This is his best short story collection. JP