This, as far as I'm concerned, is the first frightening bit of horror Mr. King has released in quite some time. And it rocks. The first story petered out like ZZ Top song with no substative ending, but beyond that, this collection thumps. I don't scare easily, but the story 1408 had me doing sanity checks for the next two days. I don't know if I'll ever stay in an old hotel again. The exposition leading to the horror is unparalleled. The horror itself NEVER lets you go. The falling action, as it turns out, is just a little more horror, toned down to allow our pulses to normalize. The last story is just a bit of flavor and a good yarn like the first, but unlike the first, it feels more complete. But, my God, the second tale, 1408, must be heard to be believed. Listen to it in the dark, alone, at night, preferably in an old hotel room.