This collection of short stories includes a few written early in the horror meister’s career, some of which have been published previously on audio. Among the standouts are “Stationary Bike,” performed by Ron McLarty, whose affinity for King’s works also shines in “A Very Tight Place.” Jill Eikenberry’s delivery of “Graduation Afternoon” and “The New York Times at Special Discount Rates” suffers from her lisp, which proves distracting in an audio-only performance. The full-cast production of “N.” draws the listener into its creepy manifestation of what happens to trespassers who persist after multiple warnings. King himself takes on “Harvey’s Dream,” delighting listeners with his laid-back tone and Maine accent. If the offerings in this compilation are any indication, we hope King continues with more short story collections. R.L.L. 2010 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2008
Duration: 15 hrs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A series of terrifying accounts of the macabre is brought to life through David Ledoux's splendid reading. Ledoux offers a straightforward approach, making Hill's startling tales as believable as they are frightening. As narrator, Ledoux understands these stories—be it the dazzlingly imaginative "Pop Art" or the tense "Best New Horror," in which the central character is a horror editor who finds himself entrapped in one of his stories. Hill is a master at creating a high-tension atmosphere that never ceases to pay off with a scare. This innate ability is perfectly realized by Ledoux, who knows precisely when to increase his tone and pitch, or let his voice accelerate to increase the stakes. Dark, brooding, and realistic, Ledoux's performance is underplayed where it could go over the top.
Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2007
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780061554667
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ottessa Moshfegh, author of several audiobooks, one of which she narrates, steps in to deliver this new production of the late Leonard Cohen's early fiction, written in the 1950s. The 16 short stories and a novella are a snapshot of the period and the artist's development of his voice. Cohen focuses on themes of violence, deeply intimate sex, rejection, the betrayals of old age, and more violence. Moshfegh's voice may be unexpected, given Cohen's many first-person male characters, but, curiously, it works. Moshfegh meets the moments of sexual intimacy, and of shocking violence, straight on, conveying a reverence for these early works.
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2022
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781696609784
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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