The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

by Stephen King
495 pgs

It's been about seven years since Stephen King last published a collection of his short stories--and it's about time. I'm not the type of person who reads his short stories as they come out individually in their various forms (i.e., magazines, e-stories, etc.) so it's always nice when he's written enough of them to warrant putting them together in one book for publishing. Once again, King doesn't disappoint.

The Bazaar of Bad Dreams consists of 18 stories and two poems. They include Mile 81, a classic King-type story of an abandoned car at a highway rest stop that captures and devours anyone who comes in contact with it. Morality, a Faustian story of a young couple and a wealthy man who makes them an unusual offer that has unexpected and dire consequences. Ur, a Dark Tower story (nothing more needs to be said). Obits, a story of an online obituary writer who discovers his obituaries possess a power too tempting not to use. And a post-apocalyptic story of two men and a dog, living out their last days while the world itself is on its last breath.

There are several other stories in the book, and they're all strong stories, but these were the ones that really stuck out and were hard to forget. Fans of King will enjoy the collection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆