📖 Have you read this book?

Your review can inspire others to read it

🎃 Young Adult Horror

The Mist

Name: The Mist
Price: 14.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781668264195

✍️ Stephen King

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$14.00

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A standalone novella about survivors trapped in a grocery store by a deadly, creature-filled mist.

King explores the collapse of civilization when ordinary people face an unknown supernatural threat. The narrative focuses on the internal conflicts within the group rather than just external monsters. Mrs. Carmody’s rise to power highlights how fear can manipulate communities toward fanaticism. The escape attempt reveals that human nature is as dangerous as the entities outside. This stand-alone edition allows readers to experience the full impact of King's short-form mastery without the context of a larger collection.

Key Themes

religious fanaticism survival horror group dynamics

Literary Context

This novella was originally part of Skeleton Crew, a collection by Stephen King. It draws on traditions of gothic fiction and supernatural horror. The story reflects anxieties about divine punishment and societal collapse. As a stand-alone edition, it brings this classic work to new audiences through a vintage cover design.

Stephen King

📚 all books by this author (530) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

H.P. Lovecraft · Richard Matheson · Shirley Jackson

🎃

Young Adult Horror

🏛 Scribner Book Company 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781668264195

📚 This Book in Collections

👹 Monsters & Creature Features 🆕 New Horror Books

📝 Description: The Mist

A novella about a town engulfed in a dense, mysterious mist. The story follows David Drayton, his son Billy, and their neighbor Brent Norton as they seek supplies at a local grocery store after a freak storm. They become trapped inside with other citizens while strange creatures lurk within the fog outside. As fear spreads, religious zealot Mrs. Carmody convinces some that this is divine vengeance requiring sacrifice. This divides the group into opposing factions. When staying becomes fatal, David, Ollie Weeks, Amanda Dumfries, Irene Reppler, and Dan Miller attempt an escape. They discover that what lies beyond the mist may be worse than their current situation. Originally published in King's acclaimed collection Skeleton Crew, this stand-alone edition features a stunning vintage cover design. It demonstrates why the #1 New York Times bestselling author remains a master of short-form storytelling. This book suits readers who enjoy gothic horror and supernatural fiction involving psychological tension and creature features. Those seeking lighthearted entertainment or traditional happy endings may find it unsuitable. The narrative relies heavily on claustrophobic settings and the breakdown of social order under extreme duress.

💎 Our verdict on The Mist

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Stephen King delivers a masterclass in short-form storytelling, focusing on the collapse of society rather than just external monsters. The narrative effectively uses a grocery store setting to heighten claustrophobic dread, allowing the internal conflicts among survivors to take center stage. Mrs. Carmody’s rise illustrates how fear can manipulate groups toward fanaticism, adding layers of psychological horror. While the creatures outside provide genuine terror, the true danger lies within the fractured social order. This work suits readers who enjoy gothic horror and supernatural fiction involving psychological tension. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted entertainment or traditional resolutions.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking intense psychological tension and claustrophobic horror will find this novella deeply rewarding. It appeals to those who appreciate the breakdown of civilization under extreme duress, offering a stark look at human nature when faced with the unknown. The narrative does not rely on traditional happy endings, making it suitable for audiences who enjoy dark fantasy and gothic themes where fear manipulates communities toward fanaticism. Those interested in how ordinary people react to catastrophic events will gain insight into the internal conflicts that drive the plot. It is ideal for fans of creature features who also value character-driven drama over simple jump scares.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

Seekers of claustrophobic dread and existential terror will find this tale irresistible. If you enjoy visceral body horror, psychological unraveling, and stories where the true enemy is often humanity itself, this short story delivers. However, readers who prefer lighthearted escapism or cannot…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

❓ Frequently asked questions

This is a standalone short story, originally included in the Skeleton Crew anthology. It is significantly shorter than King's novels but maintains his signature pacing and intensity.

The literary source material features a distinctively bleak and ambiguous conclusion that differs sharply from the movie's more controversial finale, leaving readers with a lingering sense of unresolved horror.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Published within Stephen King's 1985 anthology Skeleton Crew, this narrative exemplifies his mastery of the 'small town meets cosmic horror' subgenre. It stands as a seminal work in modern supernatural fiction, influencing countless post-apocalyptic tales by focusing on interpersonal conflict rather than just external threats. The story's ambiguous ending and reliance on atmospheric dread cement its place alongside classic works that explore the fragility of human sanity when confronted with the inexplicable.