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The Sickness

Name: The Sickness
Price: 13.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781540760401

✍️ Stephen King

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$13.99 ~~$22.00~~ Save $8.01 (36%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A collection of six dark short stories by Stephen King exploring hidden human instincts.

The Sickness delivers six terrifying tales that confront the reader with the uglier sides of human behavior. King examines the instinctual drives that society usually suppresses, such as disrespect for decency and unchecked passion. The stories are not designed to entertain in a conventional sense but to shock and provoke thought about the darker corners of the mind. This approach aligns with King’s established career as a master of horror fiction. The work is structured to maximize discomfort, forcing readers to face experiences they normally keep buried in their conscience. It is a stark examination of what lies beneath the surface of civilized behavior.

Key Themes

human instinct disrespect for decency dark passion

Literary Context

Published in late 2016 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, this work sits within the tradition of American horror fiction. King’s status as a bestselling author provides context for his exploration of taboo subjects. The book reflects a period where independent publishing allowed for more experimental and challenging content to reach audiences directly.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · Edgar Allan Poe · H.P. Lovecraft · Clive Barker

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2016 📖 210 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781540760401

📝 Description: The Sickness

Stephen King presents a collection of six short stories in The Sickness, published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform in November 2016. This volume explores the darker instincts that reside within human conscience, focusing on themes of passion and disrespect for decency. The narratives draw from life experiences that readers typically keep hidden away, bringing these unsettling realities to the forefront of awareness. The book suits readers who appreciate shocking and dark fiction that challenges conventional morality. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted entertainment or traditional horror tropes without psychological depth. King’s reputation as a bestselling author qualifies him to deliver these intense examinations of the human condition. The stories are organized to maximize their impact, leaving little room for comfort. This collection does not offer redemption or clear resolutions. Instead, it presents raw and unfiltered glimpses into the sick aspects of humanity. The prose remains direct and unadorned, allowing the disturbing content to stand on its own merits. Readers looking for a gentle reading experience should look elsewhere. This volume demands engagement with uncomfortable truths about passion and human nature.

💎 Our verdict on The Sickness

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Stephen King’s The Sickness delivers six terrifying tales that prioritize discomfort over comfort. The work is structured to maximize impact, leaving little room for ease as it forces readers to face the darker corners of the mind. This approach aligns with King’s established career but may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted entertainment or traditional horror tropes without psychological depth. The narratives draw from hidden life experiences, bringing unsettling realities to the forefront. While the prose is direct and unadorned, allowing disturbing content to stand on its own merits, readers looking for a gentle reading experience should look elsewhere. It demands serious engagement with uncomfortable truths.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate shocking and dark fiction that challenges conventional morality will gain from this book. It suits those seeking to confront the uglier sides of human behavior and explore instinctual drives usually suppressed by society. The collection offers a stark examination of what lies beneath civilized behavior, forcing engagement with uncomfortable truths about passion and human nature. For those willing to face experiences normally kept buried in their conscience, it provides raw and unfiltered glimpses into the sick aspects of humanity. It is ideal for individuals who value direct prose and want to experience narratives designed to provoke thought rather than offer conventional entertainment or redemption.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Seekers of psychological dread and moral ambiguity will devour this collection. Those craving cozy mysteries or lighthearted fare should avoid it, as these tales offer no comfort, redemption, or escape from their raw examination of human depravity.

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

❓ Frequently asked questions

No. The horror here is entirely psychological and human-centric. You will not find vampires or ghosts, but rather the terrifying reality of flawed people making monstrous choices.

Not really. The collection is noted for its bleakness. King deliberately avoids neat resolutions or redemption arcs, leaving you with lingering discomfort and unsettling observations about human nature.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

This volume sits firmly within the tradition of King's early, unfiltered horror, echoing his fascination with the grotesque lurking beneath suburban normalcy. By stripping away supernatural crutches to focus on innate human nastiness, it aligns with the psychological horror lineage of Poe and Shirley Jackson. It represents a raw exploration of the id, challenging readers to confront the uncomfortable truth that evil often stems from within rather than without.