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Everything’s Eventual: 14 Dark Tales by Stephen King Recommendation: •••
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Bedtime Bonanza Some writers have mastered the short story genre. Words are economized. Action moves quickly. Imagery supports the narrative efficiently. Anything that’s unnecessary is discarded. Many writers lack the discipline to create good short stories. To the delight of many readers, Stephen King usually does a fine job in crafting a short story. While some of his fans read everything he writes, I’ve found that some of his longest books are among his worst. His latest collection of stories, Everything’s Eventual, will please both King fans and short story lovers. Over two weeks, it was a pleasure to read a story a night at bedtime. No nightmares, just satisfaction in reading a well-told tale. Here’s an excerpt from the title story: “I’ve got a house, okay? My very own house. That’s fringe benefit number one. I call Ma sometimes, ask how her bad leg is, shoot the shit, but I’ve never invited her over here, although Harkerville is only seventy or so miles away and I know she’s practically busting a gut with curiosity. I don’t even have to go see her unless I want to. Mostly I don’t want to. If you knew my mother, you wouldn’t want to, either. Sit there in that living room with her while she talks about all her relatives and whines about her puffy leg. Also I never noticed how much the house smelled of catshit until I got out of it. I’m never going to have a pet. Pets bite the big one. Mostly I just stay here. It’s only got one bedroom, but it’s still an excellent house. Eventual, as Pug used to say. He was the one guy at Supr Savr I liked. When he wanted to say something was really good, Pug’d never say it was awesome, like most people do; he’d say it was eventual. How funny is that? The old Pugmeister. I wonder how he’s doing. Okay, I suppose. But I can’t call him and make sure. I can call my Ma, and I have an emergency number is anything goes wrong or if I think somebody’s getting nosy about what’s not their business, but I can’t buzz any of my old friends (as if any of them besides Pug gave Shit One about Dinky Earnshaw). Mr. Sharpton’s rules. But never mind that. Let’s go back to my house here in Clumbia City. How many nineteen-year-old high-school dropouts do you know who have their own houses? Plus a new car? Only a Honda, true, but the first three numbers on the odometer are still zeroes, and that’s the important part. It has a CD/tape player, and I don’t slide in behind the wheel wondering if the goddam thing’ll start, like I always did with the Ford, which Skipper used to make fun of. The Assholemobile, he called it. Why are there so many Skippers in the world? That’s what I really wonder about.” Most of these stories have appeared elsewhere. I had listened to the audio version of two of them, but still enjoyed reading them. If you’re ready for some strange and macabre stories, pick up Stephen King’s new collection, Everything’s Eventual. Steve Hopkins, April 10, 2002
ã 2002 Hopkins and Company, LLC The recommendation rating for this book appeared in the May 2002 issue of Executive Times Hopkins & Company, LLC • 723 North Kenilworth Avenue • Oak Park, IL 60302 Phone: 708-466-4650 • Fax: 708-386-8687 E-mail: books@hopkinsandcompany.com www.hopkinsandcompany.com