Just After Sunset

Stephen King returns with his first collection of short stories in six years, following Duma Key and Lisey's Story. This volume gathers tales previously published in outlets such as The New Yorker, Playboy, McSweeney's, The Paris Review, and Esquire. The author brings a renewed passion for the form to these narratives, which explore the thin line between the living and the dead. The stories range from mundane settings to supernatural horrors. One narrative transforms a portable toilet into a slimy birth canal, while another features a book salesman who picks up a mute hitchhiker that listens too well. A character on a stationary bicycle experiences a terrifying journey during an exercise routine. The Gingerbread Girl places a vulnerable young woman in a remote Florida key, and Ayana involves a blind girl performing miracles through touch. N. depicts a psychiatric patient whose thoughts may cause an apocalyptic threat in Maine. King examines human interactions during twilight hours when reality seems to tear apart. This collection suits readers who enjoy the author’s signature blend of everyday life and supernatural dread. It may not appeal to those seeking long-form novels or historical epics. The book remains a solid entry for fans of his shorter fiction.