"Today it was announced that King's next book will be a collection of 4 previously unpublished novellas. The title is Full Dark, No Stars. Here is what's posted on King's board:

I have been given permission to announce that Steve's next book titled FULL DARK, NO STARS, is a collection of 4 previously unpublished novellas and is expected to be released in November (possibly 9th, but that is subject to change). We will announce more details as they become available. "

http://www.liljas-library.com/section.php?id=75

Curious to hear what these novellas are...

Cool. I can't think of a novella of his that I haven't enjoyed.

Will always read King, so I can't wait.

guess one of them won't be The Cannibals.

Alas, it morphed into Under The Dome. He turned a "human interest/tragedy" into a science fiction piece. It got published, but he took two steps back to do it (in my opinion).

...or Blockade Billy (which is to be released as a stand-alone the end of this month).

I think there's a good chance we'll finally see Aftermath and Sword In The Darkness

Aftermath - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Aftermath_(novella)

Sword In The Darkness - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_in_the_Darkness

Christ - never mind. I just saw this on Stephen King's website:

Full Dark, No Stars
Estimated Release: November, 2010

A collection of four previously unpublished novellas



The story titles and plot synopses for Full Dark, No Stars are:

1922
The story opens with the confession of Wilfred James to the murder of his wife, Arlette, following their move to Hemingford, Nebraska onto land willed to Arlette by her father.

Big Driver
Mystery writer, Tess, has been supplementing her writing income for years by doing speaking engagements with no problems. But following a last-minute invitation to a book club 60 miles away, she takes a shortcut home with dire consequences.

Fair Extension
Harry Streeter, who is suffering from cancer, decides to make a deal with the devil but, as always, there is a price to pay.

A Good Marriage
Darcy Anderson learns more about her husband of over twenty years than she would have liked to know when she stumbles literally upon a box under a worktable in their garage.

? What's wrong with that? Try describing some of his other novellas in one sentence.

The Body - 4 kids go looking for a dead kid.

Rage - A teenager takes his class hostage.

The Long Walk - A contest about walking.

They don't sound particularly thrilling when described that way either.

Yeah, they all sound pretty interesting to me.

I doubt those stories will ever see the light of day, unless they're released posthumously. If King had any desire for them to be released, I'm sure they would have been by now.

^ pic fail.



Kinda dull compared to King's usual style. Looks like a generic thriller cover.

How big, if any, do you think Mother Abigail's role will be in 1922?

Wiki says that the original version of The Stand took place in 1980. Revised to 1985 and ultimately 1990 for extended edition. Correct? So she'll be 40 years old in 1922? 108yo in The Stand.

Amazon delivered mine a day early, and so far I've had a chance to read the first story. It reminds me a lot of Joe Hill's "Abraham's Children," or perhaps "The Tell-tale Heart" written by James M. Cain.

Finished all four of them. Really great reads, though the first one I thought was kind of weak. I'm not a fan of period pieces though, so maybe that's my fault.

I'd rank them

2, 3, 4, 1

I wasn't impressed by the book. 1922 dragged on too long at the end, while Big Driver and A Good Marriage take too long to get started and I can't even remember Fair Extension beyond a vague sense that it's a mash-up of Needful Things and Thinner

Big Driver was the best of the stories, once you get past the Gingerbread Girl rehash at the beginning and the heroine starts talking to her cat and GPS, but it's barely above average.

They're both in box 1010 in the Stephen Edwin King Collection at the Fogler Library at the University of Maine, Orono. No access restrictions.

read these over christmas break.. liked them
not his best work/collection.. but decent stories

I'm reading the book now, and I'm more than impressed! In fact, this is the best King material (IN MY OPINION) since Dolores Claiborne.

For the most part, I think the stories lack supernatural elements (aside from the diseased mind of the narrator in "1922," and his "possible" imaginings), and that's when I like King the best in these later years.

Four Past Midnight, his last collection of novellas, only had one worthwhile story: Secret Window, Secret Garden, and I think that's because it was the only story that didn't get ridiculous (to me, again mine own opinion).

But this seems like a great book, from what I've read so far. Last night I started and finished A Good Marriage, and I must admit I was a little afraid after turning out the light after midnight. Made me think of the B.T.K. dude Dennis Rader, and how he worked for an alarm company, and how he knew how to by-pass a home alarm system to get at his victims.

Stephen King really got back to disturbing me, because I also understand how in another of his stories, he graphically details a woman's rape. Atta Boy, Stevie! (wink-wink)

I just finished 'Under the Dome' and am now half-way through 'The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.' Once I finish that, I might try to get it from the library. I also have Patton Oswald's new book reserved for when it becomes available though.

I'm really interested in reading this.

Been stuck to the couch for a week and finally plowed through this. I really dug it. After 'Dome' and 'Blockade Billy,' King has been on a roll for me. However I picked up After the Sunset and am working through that and it's not wowing me yet. I usually love all his collections though.

1922 - Great story but dragged out for far too long. The Violent Femme's "Country Death Song" played in my head over and over while I read it.

Big Driver - Excellent. Paired with A Good Marriage, it makes 'Full Dark' King's darkest and most twisted collection in years. I keep wondering if it would have been better without the twist at the end though. Without the twist, it probably could have developed into a full fledged novel.

Fair Extension - Very fun and dark story. I liked how it moved along and didn't meander like 1922. It was nice break being sandwiched between BD and AGM.

A Good Marriage - Excellent. Twisted and evil. Loved every minute of it.

Looks like the paperback(just released) has a 5th story. From StephenKing.com:

I HATE that kinda crap.

They do it for the Annie Wilkes of the world.