Skeleton Crew
Encyclopedia
Skeleton Crew is the second collection of short fiction by Stephen King
. The first collection, Night Shift
, was published seven years prior in 1978. Different Seasons
, a collection of four novellas, was published between the two in 1982. Skeleton Crew was originally published in hardcover form by Putnam. It has been reprinted multiple times in the years since in both hardcover and paperback forms. A limited edition of 1,000 copies was published by Scream/Press in 1986 featuring illustrations by J.K. Potter, as well as an extra "bonus" story, "The Revelations of 'Becka Paulson," which had originally appeared in two parts in Rolling Stone magazine (July 19 and August 2, 1984).
, Startling Mystery Stories, Weirdbook and Fantasy and Science Fiction
) and popular magazines (Redbook
, Gallery
, Yankee and Playboy).
Although published in 1985, the stories collected in Skeleton Crew span seventeen years from "The Reaper's Image
" (King's second professional sale when he was just eighteen years old)[#endnote_intro] [#endnote_Collings] to "The Ballad of The Flexible Bullet
" which was completed in 1983[#endnote_intro].
Skeleton Crew is critically held as showing King as a maturing writer [#endnote_Beahm] with greater breadth and depth than his previous short works [#endnote_Collings].
The collection also features some more personal works, including "For Owen", the poem he wrote for his son, and "Gramma" a horrific tale from an eleven-year old boy's perspective that seems to recall King's own horrors living with his invalid grandmother [#endnote_essential].
Of one of the stories in the collection, King says: "As far as short stories are concerned, I like the grisly ones the best. However the story "Survivor Type" goes a little bit too far, even for me." [#endnote_kinggrant]
, with a script by George A. Romero
, and directed by Michael Gornic.
"Word Processor of the Gods" (1984 Laurel TV, directed by Michael Gornic) was a 22-minute episode of Tales from the Darkside
.
"Gramma" (1986 CBS/MGM-UA, directed by Bradford May) was a 21-minute episode of The New Twilight Zone
written by Harlan Ellison
.
The Mist (2007 The Weinstein Company, written/directed by Frank Darabont
) was adapted into the film The Mist
, which was released on November 21, 2007.
short films:
was adapted into a text-based computer game by Mindscape Software.
The Mist
was adapted as a 90-minute full-cast audio recording in 1986 in "3-D Sound" from ZBS Productions, released by Simon & Schuster, Inc..
The collection Skeleton Crew made an appearance in a public service poster encouraging Americans to patronize their local libraries, where a series of celebrities would be seen with books. In this poster, Michael J. Fox
is holding a copy of Skeleton Crew while a ghostly hand is on his shoulder. The poster reads "Michael J. Fox for America's Libraries".
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...
. The first collection, Night Shift
Night Shift (book)
Night Shift is the first collection of short stories by Stephen King, first published in 1978. Many of King's most famous short stories were included in this collection.-Stories collected:-Details:...
, was published seven years prior in 1978. Different Seasons
Different 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...
, a collection of four novellas, was published between the two in 1982. Skeleton Crew was originally published in hardcover form by Putnam. It has been reprinted multiple times in the years since in both hardcover and paperback forms. A limited edition of 1,000 copies was published by Scream/Press in 1986 featuring illustrations by J.K. Potter, as well as an extra "bonus" story, "The Revelations of 'Becka Paulson," which had originally appeared in two parts in Rolling Stone magazine (July 19 and August 2, 1984).
Stories collected
| Title | Originally published in |
|---|---|
| The Mist The Mist The Mist is a horror novella by the American author Stephen King, in which the small town of Bridgton, Maine is suddenly enveloped in an unnatural mist that conceals otherworldly monsters. It was first published as the first and longest story of the 1980 horror anthology Dark Forces. A slightly... |
Dark Forces Dark Forces (book) Dark Forces: New Stories of Suspense and Supernatural Horror is an anthology of 23 original horror stories, first published by The Viking Press in 1980 and as a paperback by Bantam Books in 1981. It was edited by New York City literary agent Kirby McCauley... (1980) |
| Here There Be Tygers Here There Be Tygers (1968 short story) "Here There Be Tygers" is a short story by Stephen King. It was originally published in the Spring 1968 issue of Ubris magazine, and collected in King's Skeleton Crew in 1985... |
Spring 1968 issue of Ubris |
| The Monkey The Monkey "The Monkey" is a short story by Stephen King, first published in Gallery magazine in 1980. It was significantly revised and published in King's collection Skeleton Crew in 1985.-Plot summary:... |
November 1980 issue of Gallery Gallery (magazine) Gallery is a men's magazine begun by Montcalm Publishing in 1972. It is one of the more popular "skin" magazines that arose on the Playboy magazine pattern in the 1970s... |
| Cain Rose Up Cain Rose Up "Cain Rose Up" is a short story by Stephen King. It was originally published in the Spring 1968 issue of Ubris magazine, and collected in King's Skeleton Crew in 1985. It deals with a depressed and homicidal college student, Curt Garrish, who goes on a murderous sniper rampage from his dorm room.... |
Spring 1968 issue of Ubris |
| Mrs. Todd's Shortcut Mrs. Todd's Shortcut Mrs. Todd's Shortcut is a story by Stephen King, first published in the May 1984 issue of Redbook magazine, and collected in King's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew.-Plot summary:... |
May 1984 issue of Redbook Redbook Redbook is an American women's magazine published by the Hearst Corporation. It is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines.-History:... |
| The Jaunt | June 1981 issue of The Twilight Zone Magazine |
| The Wedding Gig The Wedding Gig The Wedding Gig is a short story by Stephen King first published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in 1980 and collected in King's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew.- Plot summary :... |
December 1980 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine is an American monthly digest size fiction magazine specializing in crime fiction, particularly detective fiction... |
| Paranoid: A Chant Paranoid: A Chant "Paranoid: A Chant" is a 100-line poem by Stephen King originally published in the 1985 short story collection Skeleton Crew.-Synopsis:The poem is a first-person narrative from the diary of a paranoid schizophrenic person, the character complains of persecution from "the old woman in the room... |
Previously unpublished |
| The Raft | November 1982 issue of Gallery Gallery (magazine) Gallery is a men's magazine begun by Montcalm Publishing in 1972. It is one of the more popular "skin" magazines that arose on the Playboy magazine pattern in the 1970s... |
| Word Processor of the Gods | January 1983 issue of Playboy |
| The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands "The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands" is a short story by Stephen King first published in the 1982 horror anthology Shadows 4, edited by Charles L... |
Shadows 4 Shadows (anthology) Shadows was a series of horror anthologies edited by Charles L. Grant, published by Doubleday from 1978 to 1991. Grant, a proponent of "quiet horror", initiated the series in order to offer readers a showcase of this kind of fiction. The short stories appearing in the Shadows largely dispensed... (1982) |
| Beachworld Beachworld "Beachworld" is a short science fiction story by Stephen King, first published in Weird Tales in 1984, and collected in King's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew.-Plot summary:"Beachworld" is set at an unspecified time in the distant future... |
Fall 1985 issue of Weird Tales Weird Tales Weird Tales is an American fantasy and horror fiction pulp magazine first published in March 1923. It ceased its original run in September 1954, after 279 issues, but has since been revived. The magazine was set up in Chicago by J. C. Henneberger, an ex-journalist with a taste for the macabre.... |
| The Reaper's Image The Reaper's Image "The Reaper's Image" is a horror story by Stephen King, first published in Startling Mystery Stories in 1969 and collected in Skeleton Crew in 1985... |
Spring 1969 issue of Startling Mystery Stories |
| Nona | Shadows Shadows (anthology) Shadows was a series of horror anthologies edited by Charles L. Grant, published by Doubleday from 1978 to 1991. Grant, a proponent of "quiet horror", initiated the series in order to offer readers a showcase of this kind of fiction. The short stories appearing in the Shadows largely dispensed... (1978) |
| For Owen For Owen For Owen is a poem by Stephen King first published in King's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew. The thirty-four line free verse poem consists of eleven unrhymed, unmetered verse paragraphs. The poem concerns King walking his son Owen to school, as the boy describes a fantastical school attended by... |
Previously unpublished |
| Survivor Type | Terrors (1982) |
| Uncle Otto's Truck Uncle Otto's Truck Uncle Otto's Truck is a short horror story by Stephen King, first published in Yankee in 1983, and collected in King's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew.-Plot summary:... |
October 1983 issue of Yankee Yankee (magazine) Yankee Magazine was founded in 1935 and is based in Dublin, New Hampshire. It is the only magazine devoted to New England through its coverage of travel, home, food, and features... |
| Morning Deliveries (Milkman #1) Morning Deliveries (Milkman No. 1) "Morning Deliveries " is a short story by Stephen King published in King's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew. The story follows the morning route of a milkman named Spike Milligan, who leaves various "surprises" in the milk bottles for his customers to find, including poisonous liquids, deadly gas, and... |
Previously unpublished |
| Big Wheels: A Tale of The Laundry Game (Milkman #2) Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman No. 2) "Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game " is a short story by Stephen King, first published in the 1980 anthology New Terrors, edited by Ramsey Campbell, and collected in King's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew.... |
New Terrors (1982) |
| Gramma Gramma (short story) "Gramma" is a short story by Stephen King first published in Weirdbook magazine in 1984, and collected in King's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew. Certain characters/creatures/unearthly powers featured in the works of H.P... |
Spring 1984 issue of Weirdbook |
| The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet is a novella by Stephen King first published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in 1984 and collected in King's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew... |
June 1984 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction is a digest-size American fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House and then by Fantasy House. Both were subsidiaries of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Publications, which took over as publisher in 1958. Spilogale, Inc... |
| The Reach The Reach The Reach is a short story by Stephen King. First published in Yankee in 1981 under the title "Do the Dead Sing?", it was later collected in King's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew. It was also included in American Gothic Tales in 1996.... |
November 1981 issue of Yankee Yankee (magazine) Yankee Magazine was founded in 1935 and is based in Dublin, New Hampshire. It is the only magazine devoted to New England through its coverage of travel, home, food, and features... |
Overview
The collection features 22 works, which includes nineteen short stories, a novella ("The Mist"), and two poems ("Paranoid: A Chant" and "For Owen"). In addition to the introduction, in which King directly addresses his readers in his signature conversational style, Skeleton Crew features an epilogue of sorts entitled "Notes" wherein King discusses the origins of several stories in the collection. The stories are collected from science-fiction and horror anthologies (Dark Forces, Shadows, Terrors, and New Terrors) genre magazine publications (Twilight Zone, Ellery Queen's Mystery MagazineEllery Queen's Mystery Magazine
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine is an American monthly digest size fiction magazine specializing in crime fiction, particularly detective fiction...
, Startling Mystery Stories, Weirdbook and Fantasy and Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction is a digest-size American fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House and then by Fantasy House. Both were subsidiaries of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Publications, which took over as publisher in 1958. Spilogale, Inc...
) and popular magazines (Redbook
Redbook
Redbook is an American women's magazine published by the Hearst Corporation. It is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines.-History:...
, Gallery
Gallery (magazine)
Gallery is a men's magazine begun by Montcalm Publishing in 1972. It is one of the more popular "skin" magazines that arose on the Playboy magazine pattern in the 1970s...
, Yankee and Playboy).
Although published in 1985, the stories collected in Skeleton Crew span seventeen years from "The Reaper's Image
The Reaper's Image
"The Reaper's Image" is a horror story by Stephen King, first published in Startling Mystery Stories in 1969 and collected in Skeleton Crew in 1985...
" (King's second professional sale when he was just eighteen years old)[#endnote_intro] [#endnote_Collings] to "The Ballad of The Flexible Bullet
The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet
The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet is a novella by Stephen King first published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in 1984 and collected in King's 1985 collection Skeleton Crew...
" which was completed in 1983[#endnote_intro].
Skeleton Crew is critically held as showing King as a maturing writer [#endnote_Beahm] with greater breadth and depth than his previous short works [#endnote_Collings].
The collection also features some more personal works, including "For Owen", the poem he wrote for his son, and "Gramma" a horrific tale from an eleven-year old boy's perspective that seems to recall King's own horrors living with his invalid grandmother [#endnote_essential].
Of one of the stories in the collection, King says: "As far as short stories are concerned, I like the grisly ones the best. However the story "Survivor Type" goes a little bit too far, even for me." [#endnote_kinggrant]
Film and television
"The Raft" was adapted as a segment of the 1987 New World Pictures anthology film Creepshow 2Creepshow 2
Creepshow 2 is an American horror comedy anthology film directed by Michael Gornick, who was George A. Romero's cinematographer on the original Creepshow. Released in 1987, the screenplay for Creepshow 2 was penned by Romero , and once again based upon stories by Stephen King...
, with a script by George A. Romero
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
, and directed by Michael Gornic.
"Word Processor of the Gods" (1984 Laurel TV, directed by Michael Gornic) was a 22-minute episode of Tales from the Darkside
Tales from the Darkside
Tales from the Darkside is an anthology horror TV series produced by George A. Romero; it originally aired from 1983 to 1988. Similar to Amazing Stories, The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, The Outer Limits, and Tales From The Crypt, each episode was an individual short story that ended with a plot...
.
"Gramma" (1986 CBS/MGM-UA, directed by Bradford May) was a 21-minute episode of The New Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is an American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. Each episode is a mixture of self-contained drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist...
written by Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
.
The Mist (2007 The Weinstein Company, written/directed by Frank Darabont
Frank Darabont
Frank Darabont is a Hungarian-American film director, screenwriter and producer who has been nominated for three Academy Awards and a Golden Globe. He has directed the films The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Mist, all based on stories by Stephen King...
) was adapted into the film The Mist
The Mist (film)
The Mist is a 2007 American science-fiction horror film based on the 1980 novella of the same name by Stephen King. The film is written and directed by Frank Darabont, who had previously adapted Stephen King's works The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile...
, which was released on November 21, 2007.
Dollar Baby adaptations
The following stories have been adapted as Dollar BabyDollar Baby
The Dollar Baby is a term coined by best-selling author Stephen King in reference to a select group of students and aspiring filmmakers or theatre producers whom he has granted permission to adapt one of his short stories for $1...
short films:
- Here There Be Tygers (1988) by Guy Maddin
- Paranoid (2000) by Jay Holben
- Here There Be Tygers (2003) by James Cochrane
- The Jaunt (2007) by Todd Gorman
- Survivor Type (2011) by Chris Ethridge and Jayson Palmer
Other media adaptations
The MistThe Mist
The Mist is a horror novella by the American author Stephen King, in which the small town of Bridgton, Maine is suddenly enveloped in an unnatural mist that conceals otherworldly monsters. It was first published as the first and longest story of the 1980 horror anthology Dark Forces. A slightly...
was adapted into a text-based computer game by Mindscape Software.
The Mist
The Mist
The Mist is a horror novella by the American author Stephen King, in which the small town of Bridgton, Maine is suddenly enveloped in an unnatural mist that conceals otherworldly monsters. It was first published as the first and longest story of the 1980 horror anthology Dark Forces. A slightly...
was adapted as a 90-minute full-cast audio recording in 1986 in "3-D Sound" from ZBS Productions, released by Simon & Schuster, Inc..
The collection Skeleton Crew made an appearance in a public service poster encouraging Americans to patronize their local libraries, where a series of celebrities would be seen with books. In this poster, Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox, OC is a Canadian American actor, author, producer, activist and voice-over artist. With a film and television career spanning from the late 1970s, Fox's roles have included Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy ; Alex P...
is holding a copy of Skeleton Crew while a ghostly hand is on his shoulder. The poster reads "Michael J. Fox for America's Libraries".