Full Dark, No Stars
Encyclopedia
Full Dark, No Stars, published in November 2010, is a collection of four novellas
by the author Stephen King
, all dealing with the theme of retribution
. One of the novellas, 1922
, is set in Hemingford Home, Nebraska: home of Mother Abagail from King's epic novel The Stand
(1978), the town adult Ben Hanscom moves to in It
(1986), as well as the setting of the short story "The Last Rung on the Ladder
" (1978). The collection won the 2010 Bram Stoker Award
for Best Collection
.
has released several limited edition
iterations of the book: a Slipcase
d Gift Edition, a Signed Limited Edition, and a Lettered Edition shortly after the original hardcover edition. The paperback edition released on May 24, 2011 contains an additional new short story "Under the Weather" written in 2011 (ISBN 978-1451648386).
(1982) and Four Past Midnight
(1990).
, in its review of the book, called Full Dark, No Stars a "satisfyingly bleak" and "a disturbing, fascinating book." Amazon placed the book at #25 out of 100 in its "Best Books of 2010" list.
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
by the author Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
, all dealing with the theme of retribution
Retributive justice
Retributive justice is a theory of justice that considers that punishment, if proportionate, is a morally acceptable response to crime, with an eye to the satisfaction and psychological benefits it can bestow to the aggrieved party, its intimates and society....
. One of the novellas, 1922
1922 (novella)
1922 is a novella by Stephen King, published in his collection Full Dark, No Stars .-Synopsis:1922 is a first-person account by Wilfred James, the story's unreliable narrator. He writes a lengthy confession for the murder of his wife, Arlette, in Hemingford Home, Nebraska, in 1922.Wilfred owns...
, is set in Hemingford Home, Nebraska: home of Mother Abagail from King's epic novel The Stand
The Stand
The Stand is a post-apocalyptic horror/fantasy novel by American author Stephen King. It demonstrates the scenario in his earlier short story, Night Surf...
(1978), the town adult Ben Hanscom moves to in It
It (novel)
It is a 1986 horror novel by American author Stephen King. The story follows the exploits of seven children as they are terrorized by the eponymous inter-dimensional predatory life-form that exploits the fears and phobias of its victims in order to disguise itself while hunting its prey. "It"...
(1986), as well as the setting of the short story "The Last Rung on the Ladder
The Last Rung on the Ladder
"The Last Rung on the Ladder" is a short story by Stephen King, first published in King's 1978 collection Night Shift.-Plot summary:The protagonist is burdened with deep guilt and regret after discovering that his estranged sister has committed suicide. He recounts one fateful day long ago when...
" (1978). The collection won the 2010 Bram Stoker Award
Bram Stoker Award
The Bram Stoker Award is a recognition presented by the Horror Writers Association for "superior achievement" in horror writing. The awards have been presented annually since 1987, and the winners are selected by ballot of the Active members of the HWA...
for Best Collection
Bram Stoker Award for Best Fiction Collection
The Bram Stoker Award for Best Fiction Collection is an award presented by the Horror Writers Association for "superior achievement" in horror writing for best fiction collection.-Winners and nominees:...
.
Release
Announced on King's official site on February 16, 2010, it was published on November 9, 2010. Cemetery Dance PublicationsCemetery Dance Publications
Cemetery Dance Publications is a specialty press publisher of horror and dark suspense. Cemetery Dance was founded by Richard Chizmar, a horror author, while he was in college. It is associated with Cemetery Dance magazine, which was founded in 1988. They began to publish books in 1992.Cemetery...
has released several limited edition
Limited edition books
A limited edition book is a description of a book which is released in a limited print run quantity, usually much smaller than publishing industry standards, and connotes a level of scarcity or exclusivity...
iterations of the book: a Slipcase
Slipcase
A slipcase is a four or five-sided box, usually made of high-quality cardboard, into which binders, books or book sets are slipped for protection. Special editions of books are often slipcased...
d Gift Edition, a Signed Limited Edition, and a Lettered Edition shortly after the original hardcover edition. The paperback edition released on May 24, 2011 contains an additional new short story "Under the Weather" written in 2011 (ISBN 978-1451648386).
Pre-release information
The titles of the novellas and their synopses were announced on the author's official website on April 2, 2010. This is King's third collection of four novellas after Different SeasonsDifferent Seasons
Different Seasons is a collection of four Stephen King novellas with a more serious bent than the horror fiction for which King is famous:-Afterword:At the ending of the book, there is also a brief afterword, which King wrote on January 4, 1982...
(1982) and Four Past Midnight
Four Past Midnight
Four Past Midnight is a collection of four novellas by Stephen King, published in 1990. The four stories are "The Langoliers"; "Secret Window, Secret Garden"; "The Library Policeman"; and "The Sun Dog".- The Langoliers :...
(1990).
Contents
The four novellas are:- 19221922 (novella)1922 is a novella by Stephen King, published in his collection Full Dark, No Stars .-Synopsis:1922 is a first-person account by Wilfred James, the story's unreliable narrator. He writes a lengthy confession for the murder of his wife, Arlette, in Hemingford Home, Nebraska, in 1922.Wilfred owns...
- Big DriverBig DriverBig Driver is a novella by Stephen King, published in his collection Full Dark, No Stars .-Synopsis:Tess is a successful cozy mystery writer who appears at a speaking engagement at a library in Chicopee, Massachusetts. After the event, Ramona Norville, a librarian who had invited Tess to the event,...
- Fair ExtensionFair ExtensionFair Extension is a novella by Stephen King, published in his collection Full Dark, No Stars .-Synopsis:On his way home, Dave Streeter sees a man with a setup by the road to the airport. He goes out and talks with the man, George Elvid, who tells Streeter that he sells extensions of various types...
- A Good MarriageA Good MarriageA Good Marriage is a novella by Stephen King, published in his collection Full Dark, No Stars .-Synopsis:Darcy Anderson has been married to Bob, a partner at a Portland, Maine accounting firm, for 27 years. They have two children, Donnie and Petra, who have left home for college. They also have a...
Critical response
The Washington PostThe Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, in its review of the book, called Full Dark, No Stars a "satisfyingly bleak" and "a disturbing, fascinating book." Amazon placed the book at #25 out of 100 in its "Best Books of 2010" list.