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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
Violence ranges from moderate to extreme across the stories; body horror in several entries
Language
A lot
Strong language throughout in King's characteristic style
Sexual Content
Barely any
Some adult content in several stories
Substance Use
Barely any
Some substance use in the collection's social settings
Emotional Intensity
A lot
The variety of psychological horror across the collection — from paranoia to cosmic dread — is King's defining quality
What this book is about
Stephen King's first short story collection contains twenty tales including Children of the Corn, Sometimes They Come Back, Quitters Inc, and the first Lot story. King's range is on display: from quiet dread to explicit horror to body horror. The violence varies across the stories. Children of the Corn, The Mangler, and Graveyard Shift are among the more intense entries. An essential King collection that defined American horror short fiction for a generation.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Horror violence across the collection
Some extremely intense stories
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