# Poll: Stephen King Fans - Favorite story from Skeleton Crew **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 7, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565 "2011-04-07T19:03:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/21 "2011-04-07T23:26:49Z")
Word Processor of the Gods, followed closely by Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut. Of course, this is based on not reading the collection recently. Maybe I should crack that puppy open… ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/22 "2011-04-07T23:28:56Z")
I love Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut. But I also love The Mist. And I think The Jaunt is one of the finest short stories ever written. The Mist is the scariest of those. And The Jaunt has the best shock ending. But Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut has the best characters, so that’s what I picked in the poll. Could easily have gone with any of those, though. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/23 "2011-04-07T23:34:33Z")
> [@stretch](#): > > Word Processor of the Gods, followed closely by Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut. Of course, this is based on not reading the collection recently. Maybe I should crack that puppy open… Oh, yeah, _Word Processor of the Gods_. That’s one of the King stories I used to introduce my older daughters to King when they were considerably too young for most of his stuff. I started out with that one, and _The House on Maple Street_ from _Night Shift_. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/24 "2011-04-07T23:48:44Z")
I voted for _The Mist_. It’s closely followed by _The Jaunt_, with _Survivor Type_ at third. _The Mist_ gets the nod because its longer length lets it pack in more creepiness than _The Jaunt_. Still, \*“Longer than you think, Dad! Longer than you think!” \* ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/25 "2011-04-08T00:18:57Z")
Hard to pick one, but I had to go with The Jaunt, followed closely by Survivor Type. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/26 "2011-04-08T00:23:25Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Still, \*“Longer than you think, Dad! Longer than you think!” \* That line creeps me out to this day. Also, “It’s eternity in there.” Can there be a worse fate? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/27 "2011-04-08T00:50:13Z")
This motivated me to read it again, but I can’t find it now :smack: Well, trip to the trade-a-book never hurt anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/28 "2011-04-08T01:25:30Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > This motivated me to read it again, but I can’t find it now :smack: Well, trip to the trade-a-book never hurt anyone. Except that one guy who had a book shelf fall on him. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/29 "2011-04-08T02:58:24Z")
_Survivor Type_ would be my favorite out of the collection (“Lady fingers…they taste just like lady fingers.”). No love for _The Reaper’s Image_? I thought that one was just good, dumb fun. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/30 "2011-04-08T03:24:49Z")
“Survivor Type”, which I always thought should have been entitled “You are what you Eat”. Darkly humorous and a sense of karmic justice. A close second for “The Reach”. SS ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/31 "2011-04-08T03:34:51Z")
> [@filling\_pages](#): > > I had to go with The Jaunt, because that one effed me up in the best way when I was about 14, but I really love at least half of these and enjoy 90% of the rest. This is easily some of the best short work King’s ever done. This. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/32 "2011-04-08T03:55:48Z")
I chose _Survivor Type_. I always think of a poem from one of my very old Monty Python books: “Much to his mum and dad’s dismay, Horace ate himself one day…” ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/33 "2011-04-08T08:50:32Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Oh, yeah, _Word Processor of the Gods_. That’s one of the King stories I used to introduce my older daughters to King when they were considerably too young for most of his stuff. I started out with that one, and _The House on Maple Street_ from _Night Shift_. Just so folks don’t go looking in the wrong place, The House on Maple Street is from _Nightmares & Dreamscapes_ ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/34 "2011-04-08T10:40:07Z")
> [@divemaster](#): > > Just so folks don’t go looking in the wrong place, The House on Maple Street is from _Nightmares & Dreamscapes_ :smack: You’re right, of course! I shouldn’t post when I’m so tired! ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/35 "2011-04-08T13:00:22Z")
I thought The Mist was more of a novella, but I had to throw this in the mix with The Jaunt and Survivor Type. I finally went with The Jaunt. It really packed a punch, and teaches you that you should never never never push that red button that says DO NOT TOUCH. Side note: On my computer system at work, there is a button on the touch screen that literally says “DO NOT PRESS”. So I pressed it. It shut down the system and it took the manager about ten minutes to reboot and fix it back to startup standards. But then again, I’m a wet paint kind of guy. If I see a “Wet Paint” sign, I’ll touch the surface, just to check. Hey, you got to check the slackers, right? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/36 "2011-04-08T13:05:00Z")
**Uncle** , whenever a waiter in a restaurant warns me not to touch a hot dish, I do it straightaway. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/37 "2011-04-08T13:11:13Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > **Uncle** , whenever a waiter in a restaurant warns me not to touch a hot dish, I do it straightaway. 🙂 Ditto. “Look out, that plate is hot.” “Really?” _touches plate_ “Yep.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/38 "2011-04-08T13:14:29Z")
Geez, this is next to impossible. It’s right up there with “what’s the sound of one hand clapping?” and “could God create a stone so big even he couldn’t move it?” It’s an imponderable: “What’s the best story in Skeleton Crew?” I exclude The Mist, for one reason only: In my mind, this is a novella. It’s an outstanding story, I love it, but it’s too long to be included in the short story category. I’ve always divided up Skeleton Crew into two parts: The Mist, and everything else that comes after. So The Mist doesn’t get the nod, even though I do love it. The Jaunt, Survivor Type, Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut, The Raft, and Word Processor of the Gods are clearly in the first tier. So it’s gotta be one of these. But there’s no way I can choose. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/39 "2011-04-08T13:24:40Z")
The one that stuck most with me is _Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut_. I have a weak spot for stories in which reality just turns out to be not quite as fixed and firm as it’s made out to be. > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Ditto. > > “Look out, that plate is hot.” > > “Really?” _touches plate_ “Yep.” :smack: I like to think that’s just an outgrowth of my sceptical nature (better, at least, than I like to think that I’m just an idiot sometimes). ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565/40 "2011-04-08T13:29:57Z")
> [@filling\_pages](#): > > I had to go with The Jaunt, because that one effed me up in the best way when I was about 14, but I really love at least half of these and enjoy 90% of the rest. This is easily some of the best short work King’s ever done. Huh. I didn’t feel that way at all; I thought most of the stories were pretty weak, but a few were fantastic. Contrast that with Night Shift, where I thought the majority of the stories were pretty good, but there weren’t any as good as “Survivor Type” or even “The Mist”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-stephen-king-fans-favorite-story-from-skeleton-crew/577565.md?page=3)