The 'Funhouse killer' was never found and, four years on, in 1973, Devin is quick to develop a fascination with the story. Her body wasn't found until one o'clock the next morning, and a host of Joyland employees say they've since seen a girl standing beside the track, wearing the clothes Linda Gray was wearing when she died. The story runs that, four years ago, Linda Gray visited the fair with her boyfriend and ended up in the Horror House, where halfway around the ride he cut her throat and threw her out, leaving behind him just a bloodied shirt and a pair of gloves. He was suffering, he says, with a likably deadpan humour, from a 'really bad case of the twenty-ones'.ĭevin meets and hits it off with his fellow carnies – fortune teller Madame Fortuna, who might just have a 'genuine psychic touch' owner Bradley Easterbrook, who tells his young employees that they are entering 'a different world, one that has its own customs and its own language, which we simply call the Talk' Lane Hardy, who runs the big wheel and who tells Devin that the funfair's Horror House ride is haunted. I spent most evenings in my room, rereading The Lord of the Rings and writing letters,' Devin tells us. Classic King.The thriller's narrator is Devin Jones, looking back on his 20s and the time he spent working at the North Carolina funfair Joyland – 'We sell fun,' says its owner – while recovering from a broken heart. I cannot recommend this novella collection enough. All of the characters of The Body rang true, and as is the case with the best of literature, I recognized so many traits in myself and my own friends. King is a genius creator of characters, especially kids (see IT). Without revealing much (and how likely is it that you haven’t either seen the movie or read the novella?), The Body is a coming of age, adventure story with a healthy dose of suspense and a hint of horror. The movie version (Stand By Me) is a tremendous achievement, but the book stands on its own. The Body is simply one of the best stories I have ever read. I still have a horrifying vision of an oven, because of this novella. Apt Pupil may not be pure horror, but it is absolutely horrific.

Watching the characters devolve in my mind’s eye was unforgettable. King had me squirming as soon as the truth was revealed of the mysterious old recluse. However, Apt Pupil and The Body stand out to me as the anchors for this collection.Īpt Pupil is one of the most disturbing stories I have read. I cannot say enough good things about Different Seasons, arguably some of King’s best work.Īll four novellas are terrific and engaging.

If you are in a similar mode currently, I recommend reading (or revisiting) Stephen King’s Different Seasons.

Sometimes it is nice to speed through a series of short stories or novellas. As much as I love to read, sometimes I don’t want to commit myself to 1,000 pages and 300,000 words.

Four seasons stephen king