Product Description

A collection of four stories on the theme of 'midnight', the moment when the familiar world gives way to an alternative reality, and a new and terrifying world is revealed. By the author of CARRIE, THE SHINING and THE DARK HALF.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #289570 in Books
• Published on: 1991-10-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 944 pages

Frances Fyfield, Express
‘Splendid entertainment...Stephen King is one of those natural storytellers...getting hooked is easy’

Review
‘An incredibly gifted writer, whose writing, like Truman Capote’s, is so fluid that you often forget that you’re reading’ (Guardian )

‘A writer of excellence...King is one of the most fertile storytellers of the modern novel...brilliantly done’ (The Sunday Times )

‘Splendid entertainment...Stephen King is one of those natural storytellers...getting hooked is easy’ (Frances Fyfield, Express )

Guardian
‘An incredibly gifted writer, whose writing, like Truman Capote’s, is so fluid that you often forget that you’re reading’

Customer Reviews

A few good stories
I just recently read this book and although I really enjoyed the stories The Langoliers, Secret Window Secret Garden, and The Sun Dog I didn't really enjoy The Library Policeman. I thought it was a bit off the wall, and not in a good way. However I do rate this book 4 stars because of the other 3 good stories in the book. The Langoliers is one of the most interesting short stories I've ever read. I would definitely reccommend this book.

Not as good as 'Different Seasons'
I am a Stephen King fan and have read quite a few of his books. Often Mr King will write a novel that is a stroke of genius, at other times he will produce some real stinkers (Dreamcatcher anyone?). I feel that 'Four Past Midnight' encapsulates this observation. The book contains 4 'short' stories (well short for Stephen King) or novellas as King likes to call them. 'The Langoliers' and 'Secret Window, Secret Garden' are excellent. 'The Sun Dog' is okay. 'The Library Policeman' is ridiculous. However, 'Four Past Midnight' is well worth the cover price for the first two stories alone.

Having said that, be prepared for the mildy irritating 'King phrases' that he seems to use in every single novel he writes. For example:

1. "The nape of the neck"
2. "When you get right down to it"
3. "Ayuh"

And so on... He uses these phrases in almost every book he writes to some degree and this one is no exception. In 'Four Past Midnight' he uses 'King phrases' quite often.

To sum up, if you like King you'll like 'Four Past Midnight'. A hit and miss collection of novellas, but in true King style there is more of the former than the later. I recommend it, but I didn't think it was as consistantly excellent as, say, 'Different Seasons'. 3/5

Another Collection of masterful terror from the KING
King brings us another book of short stories (except these are rather longer than usual). These stories are really some of Kings best work (but isn't all his work). The First Story 'The Langoliers' is an excellent story about a plane journey back through time of 15 minutes. And we find out what King thinks happens to the past....SO well written! The second story 'Secret Window,Secret Garden' is about a famous writer, who one day receives a call at his door by a man claming he stole his short story. Our writer protests he didn't but that's not good enough for JOHN SHOOTER...Brilliant twist at the end! 'The Libary Police' is the third story but this synopsis is getting to long, so let me just say both the next two stories ('The Sun Dog' being the final one) are both REALLY good, and King as usual writes to scare the pants off of you. I still haven;t read a King book i don't like