Flight or Fright: 17 Turbulent Tales

Stephen King curates Flight or Fright, an anthology examining the terror inherent in air travel. The collection gathers seventeen tales that explore the psychological and supernatural dread of being suspended six miles above ground at high speeds within a sealed metal tube. Contributors span multiple eras and styles, drawing on horror traditions from classic Gothic fiction to modern speculative narratives. Notable entries include Richard Matheson’s Nightmare at 20,000 Feet and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Horror of the heights, which anchor the volume in established literary history alongside newer works like Joe Hill’s You are released and Bev Vincent’s Zombies on a plane. The book is organized by theme rather than chronology, offering a varied mix of short stories and poems that address specific fears such as claustrophobia, mechanical failure, and supernatural intervention. Roald Dahl’s [They shall not grow old] and James Dickey’s Falling provide contrasting perspectives on loss and descent. The volume concludes with an afterword by Bev Vincent titled an important message from the flight deck, which frames the preceding fiction. This collection suits readers who enjoy atmospheric dread and classic horror tropes adapted to modern settings. It may not appeal to those seeking straightforward adventure or non-fiction accounts of aviation safety.