The Mist (Previously Published as a Novella in 'Skeleton Crew') [Mass Market Paperback]

Stephen King (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 2, 2007

In the wake of a summer storm, terror descends...

New York Times bestselling author Stephen King suspends a small town in a haze of terror-as humanity makes its last stand against unholy destruction...

Editorial Reviews

Review

'super-spooky...don't even think of putting it in the car' -- The Times 'Liable to leave the reader in a state of shock' -- Sunday Telegraph 'Deliciously scary' -- Cosmopolitan 'A fabulous teller of stories' -- Daily Express 'As a storyteller King is unbeatable' -- Mirror --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From the Publisher

Sound so visual you're literally engulfed by its bonechilling terror! Stephen King's sinister imagination and the miracle of 3-D sound transport you to a sleepy all-American town. It's a hot, lazy day, perfect for a cookout, until you see those strange dark clouds. Suddenly a violent storm sweeps across the lake and ends as abruptly and unexpectedly as it had begun. Then comes the mist...creeping slowly, inexorably into town, where it settles and waits, trapping you in the supermarket with dozens of others, cut off from your families and the world. The mist is alive, seething with unearthly sounds and movements. What unleashed this terror? Was it the Arrowhead Project---the top secret government operation that everyone has noticed but no one quite understands? And what happens when the provisions have run out and you're forced to make your escape, edging blindly through the dim light? The Mist has you in it grip, and this masterpiece of 3-D sound engineering surrounds you with horror so real that you'll be grabbing your own arm for reassurance. To one side---and whipping around your chair, a slither of tentacles. Swooping down upon you, a rush grotesque, prehistoric wings. In the impenetrable mist, hearing is seeing---and believing. And what you're about to hear, you'll never forget. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Signet (October 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451223292
• ISBN-13: 978-0451223296
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (167 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. Among his most recent are the Dark Tower novels, Cell, From a Buick 8, Everything's Eventual, Hearts in Atlantis, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and Bag of Bones. His acclaimed nonfiction book, On Writing, was also a bestseller. He is the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#9 Overall (See top 100 authors)

#2 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Horror

#2 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#7 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

#7 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction

#9 in Books > Literature & Fiction

#2 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Horror

#2 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary

#7 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

#7 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction

#9 in Books > Literature & Fiction

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 77 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great, Spooky Adaptation of the Stephen King story January 7, 2001

By Ryan Costantino

Format:Audio CD

This adaptation of the Stephen King story (found in Skeleton Crew)is perfect for long car rides. Even more so if you have to drive at night. This story of an inexplicable mist that engulfs a small, New England town has long been a fan favorite and this superb production helps prove why. The screams and cries of pain are startling, the sound effects make this work incredibly, allowing for a real level of fear to develop. The voice acting (for the most part) is amazing. This really isn't an audio book as much as it is audio theater, kinda like the old radio shows. The Mist is an experience that Stephen King fans ought to know, especially if you have ever read the story. Also, Frank Darabont (director of The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile)has the movie rights to the story. And if this cd doesn't whet your appetite for the film adaptation I don't know what will. A prime example that radio is still a powerful storytelling medium.

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, but consider buying Skeleton Crew December 11, 2007

By Joseph Boone VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

The Mist was first published in Skeleton Crew (Signet), a collection of Stephen King short stories. This new edition presents The Mist separately for the first time, presumable to capitalize on the release of the movie adaptation. The novella begins with a sudden and dangerous storm that causes a lot of damage to the small town of Bridgton, Maine. David Drayton takes his son to town for some groceries the next morning only to get socked in by an extremely thick fog. Unfortunately, there are creatures out there in the mist that are like nothing on Earth. Drayton and the others who are trapped in the story must try to come to terms with what it happening while struggling for survival.

Because this is a novella, there is little space wasted here. There is a reasonable length setup introducing a few key characters and then the "fun" begins. The pacing remains pretty tight until the end of the story. Despite the small amount of space, the characters are pretty well developed and I definitely cared what happened to them. As is standard with Armageddon style stories, man is often his own worst enemy and this group is no exception. The extreme behavior of some in the store is all the more chilling because you believe it could happen.

The Mist is an excellent story, one of King's best regardless of length. I would suggest that readers might want to consider buying Skeleton Crew instead of this novella, however. For just one dollar more you can obtain an additional 21 stories and many of them are also enjoyable.

71 of 79 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story... but buy SKELETON CREW... November 3, 2007

By Dukjin Im

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I loved this short story. Best one in the collection SKELETON CREW.

But why pay $6.99 for the one story, when you can buy the collection for $7.99 and get 21 other very good Stephen King stories in it?

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining read October 6, 2007

By E. Von Ray

Format:Mass Market Paperback

An interesting novella with a unique, if very ambiguous take on the end of the world. There are great moments throughtout but it never rises to the overall level of greatness. It lacks the richness of some of Kings other works but I still recommend it. It moves quickly, has some nice characters and the scenario is very effective. It will be interesting to see how it tranlates to modern film.

28 of 34 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Bad Handling of a Great Story August 24, 1999

By [e-mail]

Format:Audio Cassette

I am a big Stephen King fan, and have really enjoyed other audiobooks of his. So, I was excited when I saw a cassette of "The Mist," a novella which I thought was excellent. Well, I was doomed to be disappointed by this tape. It starts out by informing the listener that it was recorded in 3-D sound. Indeed, it does sound a little more textured than the usual audiobook. But I think it was a big mistake to read it as a play. I think the listener would have gotten a lot more out of it if it was read straight from the book. You see, in the process of rewriting it for the audio book, they changed the integrity of the story. In the cassette, David Drayton and his wife yell at each other like shrews, and their son sounds like somebody is pinching his nose shut while he talks. Another irritant: all the pitches for name brand foods. "Here, have some Post Toasties!" "How 'bout some Ruffles Potato Chips." I don't know if this was intentional or not, but it certainly wasn't in the book, and it was enough to make me want to gag. One more thing; true, the 3-D sound is neat, but it is not good to listen to while you're driving. Nobody in the car will be satisfied with how well they can hear. All in all, avoid this audiobook. Reading the story will let you absorb the atmosphere much, much better.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I want more!!! November 20, 2007

By M. B Cole

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Ohhh maaan. What a fun read. I was hooked within minutes. Good thing this is coming out in the movies or I might have never read it. I picked it up at my local grocery market and read it in about 7 hours with no breaks..lol. It's a short book so you know.

I'm not a huge King fan but I really did enjoy his writing in this book. He made me like the characters I was supposed to like and made me hate the ones I was supposed to hate. The whole time reading, I really felt like I was there and kept thinking to myself "WHAT IN THE HECK WOULD I DO IF I WAS THERE?! ARRGH!" There are so many parts where I would think to myself..oh come ON..there is no way that could happen. Yet, King would really make me believe that it was happening, because everyone else in the book was basically thinking, 'There is NO WAY this is happening'...lol.

The book is about a man/husband/fater named David who goes to the store to pick up some supplies for his house after a very bad storm blew through. While he's there with a bunch of other people doing the same thing, a strange mist rolls in that he had seen earlier...bringing along with it...well...I dont want to ruin it for you...but it's a horror novel for a reason..=D

By the end of the book I was just totally trapped in Kings imagination. I couldnt believe that in such a short book, I actually felt compassion for certain characters. I really wish the book had been longer (the ending seemed a little rushed). But for some reason..I liked the actual ending. I wish I could have known more though. Thank goodness for my own imagination I guess..heh.

Only one gripe really..actually 2, but the second one would ruin a certain part of the book. The one I will say is...I hated how King wrote the child in this book.... I think the kid was like 6 or 8 or something, but yet he had the thought process of a grown man. Until King wanted you to realize he was a child and make him cry or something like that. That part annoyed me.

Hope the movie does the book SOME justice. Read more ›