Nightmares & Dreamscapes

Published: 1993

Nightmares & Dreamscapes (1993) is King's third major short story collection, containing 24 stories written over more than a decade, including previously published work and new material. The collection showcases King's versatility across multiple genres—from traditional horror ('Crouch End,' 'The Night Flier') to crime fiction ('Dolan's Cadillac'), baseball fantasy ('Head Down'), psychological suspense ('The House on Maple Street'), and satirical science fiction ('The Ten O'Clock People'). In his introduction, King reflects on the short story form and his development as a writer, while extensive endnotes detail the origins of each story. Published during King's post-addiction creative renaissance, the collection received mixed critical reception, with reviewers praising standout stories while noting the inevitable unevenness of such a diverse collection. The book sold well initially, though not matching the success of his novels. Several stories have been adapted for film and television, including 'Dolan's Cadillac,' 'The Night Flier,' and '1408,' while TNT produced a miniseries titled Nightmares & Dreamscapes in 2006 adapting eight stories (some from this collection and others from different King works). King has expressed particular pride in stories that stretch beyond horror conventions, such as the non-fiction 'Head Down' about his son's Little League team. For readers, Nightmares & Dreamscapes represents King's most eclectic collection, demonstrating his range beyond horror while featuring some of his most memorable short fiction. The collection is notable for including 'Umney's Last Case,' a noir pastiche later connected to Lisey's Story, and 'The Doctor's Case,' King's Sherlock Holmes homage. Certain stories, like 'Crouch End' and 'The End of the Whole Mess,' have become anthology staples, regularly appearing in 'best of' horror collections.

Themes

• Varied across stories
• Supernatural
• Psychological horror
• Crime
• Everyday fears

Adaptations

• Nightmares & Dreamscapes (2006 miniseries)
• 1408 (2007 film)
• Dolan's Cadillac (2009 film)
• The Night Flier (1997 film)

Collector Notes

King's longest and most diverse collection of short fiction. Includes detailed notes on the origins of each story. First editions are common.