Ratings92
Average rating3.8
Overall, a gripping and enjoyable experience which reminded my why I consider SK the best English language writer I have ever read (in the realistic lane, in the poetic there s Gene Wolfe). The stories:
Autopsy room four - perfectly written, but totally unoriginal. The weakest in the book, by far 2/5
The man in the black suit – also an all-round story, but not original, just a reboot of Pennywise from It 3/5
All that you love will be carried away – very realistic and full of believable small-time sorrow, but not much going on 3/5
The death of Jack Hamilton – good story about 30s gangsters, but that is all, no horror, no twist, not anything extraordinary 3/5
In the deathroom – very good story, it could have been perfect if only it ended when the dog woke up.... after that it loses a point 4/5
The little sisters of Eluria – though I am not a Dark Tower fan (on the contrary), this is a very very good Roland story I enjoyed thoroughly. The only thing that bugged me (pun intended) is the ”Why did she do it?” 5/5
Everything is eventual – this is the old-times SK I love and consider the best writer ever: realistic, painstanking attention to details, relevant or not, hints revealed at the perfect time, perfect pacing, questions always arising, unexpected twists and a perfect circle brought about by the end. Perfect. 5+/5
LT s theory of pets – good, funny and surprising. Not memorable, though 5/5
The Road virus heads north - good escalating horror, but I kept expecting a twist. There was none, the story is too straight forward 4/5
Lunch at the gotham cafe – perfectly describing thinking/feeling in a ruined marriage, but too much unnecessary gore 3/5
That feeling, you can only say what it is in French – unexpected twist, but not worth the wait 2/5
1408 - also another perfect story in the typical SK style, and scary too, but not bringing anything new 4/5
Riding the bulet – what starts as a very lame ”seen it before in a 1000 B movies” horror turns into a very mind-boggling moral dilemma and brings a non-spectacular, but good twist 5/5
Luckey quarter – a good way to bring forward a moral message, but not much more, it feels undeveloped 3/5