top 10 stephen king short stories

Well, 'The Man in the Black Suit' is often considered among the top. It tells a terrifying encounter of a boy with a devil - like figure. 'Survivor Type' is also quite well - known. It's a disturbing story about a shipwrecked doctor who resorts to extreme measures to survive. These stories are great examples of King's ability to create horror and suspense in a short form.

One characteristic is the vivid and often grotesque imagery. In 'The Man in the Black Suit', the description of the titular character is really spine - chilling. His short stories also tend to have a moral or a lesson, although sometimes it's very subtly presented. For instance, 'Quitters, Inc.' has a commentary on addiction and the lengths people will go to overcome it. And they are all very engaging, making the readers keep turning the pages to find out what happens next.

Most of them are known for their ability to create intense fear. For example, in 'The Mist', the sense of claustrophobia and the unknown threats make it really scary. They often have ordinary settings turned into places of horror, like the small town in 'Children of the Corn'.

Some of his well - known short stories that could be in the top 5 might include 'The Mist', which creates a terrifying post - apocalyptic - like atmosphere in a supermarket surrounded by a strange mist filled with dangerous creatures. Another could be 'Children of the Corn', with its creepy cult of children in a rural town. 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption' is also a great one, which was later adapted into the famous movie. It tells the story of a man's journey in prison and his hope for freedom.

Often, his short stories have a sense of the ordinary turned extraordinary. Take 'The Jaunt'. It starts with a seemingly normal family trip through a teleportation device, but then things go horribly wrong. His use of setting also adds to the atmosphere. In 'Strawberry Spring', the college campus setting during a foggy time enhances the feeling of unease.

Some of his well - known short stories that might be in such a top 10 include 'The Mist'. In this story, a group of people are trapped in a supermarket by a mysterious mist filled with terrifying creatures. Another could be 'Children of the Corn', which tells a spooky tale about a cult of children in a small town.

Some of the top ones are 'The Mist'. It's a great horror story set in a small town trapped in a mysterious mist filled with terrifying creatures. Another is 'Children of the Corn', which has a really creepy cult of children in a rural area. And 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption' which later inspired the movie 'The Shawshank Redemption'.

Some of the well - known ones are 'The Mist'. It creates a terrifying atmosphere where a group of people are trapped in a supermarket by a mysterious mist filled with dangerous creatures. Another is 'Children of the Corn' which has a really creepy premise of a town run by murderous children. And 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption' which later inspired the great movie, telling a story of hope and survival in prison.

Stephen King's top short stories usually have strong hooks at the beginning. Take 'Children of the Corn', the very idea of a town full of strange children is immediately captivating. His stories also often deal with moral and psychological issues. In 'Survivor Type', the main character's moral degradation as he tries to survive is a key aspect. Moreover, his use of vivid descriptions, like in '1408' where he describes the strange happenings in the hotel room in great detail, makes the stories very engaging.

Well, 'It' is definitely a top Stephen King story. The way it jumps between the past and present, and how the Losers' Club battles the shape - shifting Pennywise is really engaging. 'The Stand' could also be considered one of the top. It's a post - apocalyptic story that shows the battle between good and evil in a world decimated by a plague. And 'Pet Sematary' is great too. The idea of an ancient burial ground that brings the dead back in a very wrong way is quite spooky.