The first collection of short stories by Stephen King. From shadowy depths where repulsive rats defend their kingdom, to dizzying heights where a beautiful girl hangs by a thread over a diabolical fate, this collection of twenty stories will immerse the reader in the underworld labyrinth of the most chilling and otherworldly fantasy of our time.

The master of suspense Stephen King at his best, in an anthology that includes stories with titles such as "Night Shift," "The Mangler," "Sometimes They Come Back," or "Children of the Corn," all of which have been successfully adapted into films.

"Otherworldly, absurd, and unimaginably terrifying." – Publishers Weekly

"An excellent read... Horror stories that would send chills even to Hitchcock!" – Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph

Stephen King is one of the most important authors of our time. He has written over 50 novels, 200 short stories, and essays, with sales exceeding 350,000,000 copies. His works, many of which have been turned into films or series, include Salem's Lot, It, The Stand, the Dark Tower epic, The Shining, The Green Mile, Misery, Hearts in Atlantis, The Outsider, Elevation, Sleeping Beauties (co-written with his son, Owen King).

He has been honored with the Bram Stoker and Locus awards, from the British, American, and International Horror Writers Associations, with the Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and with the National Medal of Arts from the USA, while in 2016 he was honored by the Library of Congress for his body of work. In 2018, he received the prestigious PEN literary award.