Customer Reviews

Dark Visions

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Dark Visions" (2000) is a new edition of a 1988 anthology called "Night Visions 5: The Skin Trade."

It includes 3 short stories by Stephen King, 3 more by Dan Simmons, and one by George R.R. Martin.

King's contributions are "Reploids", "Sneakers", and "Dedication." Reploids is very short and goes nowhere. "Sneakers" is okay. Some parts are pretty cool. It's basically about a haunted men's room. (I kid you not.) "Dedication" is pretty gross. (As part of a black magic spell, a woman eats a man's congealing semen off of his sheets.) It gets points for the originality of its disgusting premise, but it's not a great story. Plus, if I'm not mistaken, all three stories are reprinted in King's collection "Nightmares & Dreamscapes."

Dan Simmons' contributions are "Metastasis" -- which is great -- "Vanni Fucci is Alive and Well and Living in Hell", and "Iverson's Pits." Metastasis is about supernatural slug-like creatures that cause cancer. They're usually invisible. Only one man is able to see them, and he invents a technique for drawing them out of their victims. "Vanni Fucci" is about a damned man and is slightly comedic. It's an okay story. A lot of Dan Simmons' fans think "Iverson's Pits" is the best of the three, but I liked it least. It's about Civil War ghosts, I think. (It's been a while since I read it.) Like Stephen King's stories, these three Dan Simmons stories were reprinted elsewhere. I think they're in the collection "Prayers to Broken Stones."

The best story is the last and also the longest. It's George R.R. Martin's werewolf story "The Skin Trade." I don't remember the whole plot, but I remember the story was *good*. And I don't think this story is available in another book.

I purchased this collection of works originally in its 1988 "Night Visions" release, primarily for its Stephen King contributions - and promptly work the cover off reading and re-reading the absolute masterworks by Dan Simmons and George R.R. Martin. I was literally jumping out of my chair when I happened across this new edition!

First off King's works are as good as always, both entertaining (Reploids, Sneakers), disturbing (Dedication) and thought-provoking.

Dan Simmons' contributions were an unexpected surprise. "Metastasis" had me on the edge of my seat, and "Vanni Fucci is Alive and Well and Living in Hell" had me laughing out loud and shouting triumpantly at the same time. Bravo, Mr. Simmons!

George R.R. Martin's "The Skin Trade" definitely saves the best for last. This short story has become my favorite horror tale of all time, hands down. As of my writing this, I have read it at least twenty times, and it hasn't lost a bit of its appeal. For those of you who only know Mr. Martin through his "Song of Ice and Fire" series, this will show you why he is one of the greatest storytellers of our generation. It is a must-have for any reader's shelf.

This was an awesome book and I would love to find more along these lines. seller had this to me quickly and in mint condition

the book kept me interested throughout. Not the finest collection of Kings works, but entertaining. Worth reading.

A strong anthology, with a 3.57 average, with the Simmons being the weakest part in general. However, the Martin 'hard boiled werewolf' novella is excellent.

Dark Visions : The Reploids - Stephen King

Dark Visions : Sneakers - Stephen King

Dark Visions : Dedication - Stephen King

Dark Visions : Metastasis - Dan Simmons

Dark Visions : Vanni Fucci is Alive and Well and Living in Hell - Dan Simmons

Dark Visions : Iverson's Pits - Dan Simmons

Dark Visions : The Skin Trade - George R. R. Martin

Tonight show replacement appearance.

4 out of 5

Music biz mule dunny ghost.

4 out of 5

Spoof eater curse signing time.

3 out of 5

Cancer monster suspicion.

3 out of 5

Bolgia's televangelist transformation torment time.

3.5 out of 5

Officer's holey end.

3 out of 5

Mirror mirror on the wall, werewolf killer, blood will call.

4.5 out of 5

3.5 out of 5

I think one day the publisher called around to Stephen King's house and asked for the three stories which were overdue for this contracted book. Stephen obviously wasn't home and his wife or kid had to search for the stories. They found three in a drawer or something and quickly handed them over. Obviously these weren't the ones King had intended as these three stories have no ending and are obviously incomplete. They are good stories but they're like reading a novel where someone has ripped out the last hundred pages. You get really into the stories then you're left wandering what is going on. There's no closure, there's no hint that the story is about to end, questions aren't answered. The other author short stories do have endings but are pretty average. Don't waste your money.

I have been reading SK for almost 30 years now. Along the way I have occasionally had to allow for some "make a deadline" stories(ie Geralds Game, The Tommynockers.) Over all I have loved most of his work and have always eagerly awaited his next story. The last one I read was the final Dark Tower book of the series and I have to say, his ego seems to be out of control in this one. It used to be quirky and fun to have him incorporate himself into his stories and movies.

Stephen King's story, in this book, definitely falls short of his normal intense and creative writting. As was stated in another review, there seems to be no ending. As for buying it, that's up to you. I am a loyal reader of his and will give him a few more sales (we'll see what "Cell" has to offer, but it sounds dangerously close to the semi-recent movie) just in case he is going through a slow period. Dare I say it...maybe it's time to call it a day and retire from writing Stephen...or at least take an extended vacation.

I agree with Harry - I don't know why everyone feels the need to post reviews before they actually read/use the products. This definately goes to all the losers who posted reviews on the latest Harry Potter book seconds after it came out. Or spoiled it by insisting on reviewing right after they finished it. I really don't care if you lined up for a two hours at midnight and then read it cover to cover over the next 24 hours...get a life.

In short -- don't display your ignorance for the whole world to view...there are enough people doing it as it is.

If you really want to see crazy, check out the review of "Partridge Family Christmas" that some religious nutbag posted.