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Mile 81
Mile 81
Mile 81
Ebook88 pages1 hour

Mile 81

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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Mile 81 is Stand by Me meets Christine—the story of an insatiable car and a heroic kid.

At Mile 81 on the Maine turnpike is a boarded up rest stop, a place where high school kids drink and get into the kind of trouble high school kids have always gotten into. It’s the place where Pete Simmons goes when his older brother, who’s supposed to be looking out for him, heads off to the gravel pit to play “paratroopers over the side.” Pete, armed only with the magnifying glass he got for his tenth birthday, finds a discarded bottle of vodka in the boarded up burger shack and drinks enough to pass out.

Not much later, a mud-covered station wagon (which is strange because there hadn’t been any rain in New England for over a week) veers into the Mile 81 rest area, ignoring the sign that says “closed, no services.” The driver’s door opens but nobody gets out.

Doug Clayton, an insurance man from Bangor, is driving his Prius to a conference in Portland. On the backseat are his briefcase and suitcase and in the passenger bucket is a King James Bible, what Doug calls “the ultimate insurance manual,” but it isn’t going to save Doug when he decides to be the Good Samaritan and help the guy in the broken down wagon. He pulls up behind it, puts on his four-ways, and then notices that the wagon has no plates.

Ten minutes later, Julianne Vernon, pulling a horse trailer, spots the Prius and the wagon, and pulls over. Julianne finds Doug Clayton’s cracked cell phone near the wagon door – and gets too close herself. By the time Pete Simmons wakes up from his vodka nap, there are a half a dozen cars at the Mile 81 rest stop. Two kids – Rachel and Blake Lussier – and one horse named Deedee are the only living left. Unless you maybe count the wagon.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherScribner
Release dateSep 1, 2011
ISBN9781451665604
Mile 81
Author

Stephen King

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection You Like It Darker, Holly, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King. 

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Reviews for Mile 81

Rating: 3.649521451196172 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

418 ratings23 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Fun. Best 'haunted car' story since 'Christine'. Ending left me feeling unfulfilled.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This kinda put me in mind of his book Christine. It starts out with Pete and his brother and their day of two brothers one old and one younger wanting to follow, but of course the older brother doesn't want him to tag along. So Pete goes off on his own and finds more than he bargains for at Mile 81 where he isn't supposed to be. While Pete is sleeping off his drunk alot happens in the parking lot with an abandonded car and good samaritans trying to stop and help, some just don't make it out of there. Good short story but it left me wanting a little more.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Interesting short story by Stephen King. This is a very short read in under an hours but worth the little it cost. This is only in ebook format. But it is Stephen King. Yes, it is weird. But it is Stephen King what more can I say? This ebook has a teaser of the new novel 11/23/69 that is coming out soon.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This sort story was okay but not great., liked how it begins, Liked how he made the characters so real but did not like the end much. I love short stories and have read better ones by Stephen King, but it is not bad. 2.5
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I liked this, but...
    well, the writing was fine, and in some parts, really good! And I liked the action, pace, and dialogue! But... (spoiler alert!) ... it's a car that eats people? Really? A car, that eats people? Umm... that's fairly weak. I just, well, a car? Sigh...
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Fun classic Stephen King story.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The good folks in Maine are once again under attack. The alien car must be the little brother of Buick 8 and gas guzzler does not apply here.

    A very quick and enjoyable read which once again has you warning the protagonists not to approach the entity at hand, but alas, to no avail.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Mile 81 refers to a closed rest area on I-95 in Maine. And as it goes in Stephen King's world, it's a place where Very Bad Things happen. King has always done pretty well writing kids. His slang might be kind of out of date (or maybe it's just more regional), but the basic kid-ness of the character is usually spot-on. The character of Pete Simmons is one of King's better kids and his portion of the story is the best part. In fact, if the story had ended before the whole killer-car thing then I'd probably rate it much higher. I don't think I'm blowing the plot by mentioning the killer-car, but yeah. There's been some ink spilled about how this is kind of a return to King's early, grittier days - but I don't agree. The "villan" of the story seems more mystical than plain evil. Like there's some kind of unexplored method or reason for what it does. I get that this is a short story or novella, but the randomness of the evil doesn't add anything to the story, so it just felt like there needed to be more investigation into what the deal was with this car.The first section (focusing on Pete Simmons) is pretty good, but the rest is just kind of paint-by-numbers with a rushed ending. All build and no pay-off. Also - 20% of this e-book is the preview for King's upcoming novel, 11/22/63 - so the story is even shorter than it appears
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Short stories are Mr. King’s forte. Mile 81 is no exception. A ten year old adventurer, a very “hungry” car, some curious passers-by and two children left to tell the tale … and that is all I am going to say about the plot.

    This story is tight. Just as you begin to suspect that something is going to happen, you are thrown, very suddenly, into the midst of the trouble. The implausible becomes plausible and there is no reprieve until the end. This was a nice “appetizer” in the King comfort zone, before delving into the 11/22/63 main course, which I understand is a little bit of a deviation from the Stephen King norm.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A quick, enjoyable read, kinda corny, but with some of the quality of the old pulp writers. Reminded me a little of Theodore Sturgeon/Ray Bradbury, both of whom I like. A great choice to read as you decide what you want to read next.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I don't know exactly what King was going for here. At the end, he throws out a dedication to a few people who supported his earlier work, so I'm guessing he was going on nostalgia?

    This thing reads like a really bad B-movie. Not in a good way. I could've done without the blatant and unnecessary plug for AT&T wireless internet. Also, all the mentioning of an ongoing series that he's working on (American Vampire) and a film adaptation from his previous work (Christine) was kind of distracting and pulled me out of the story.

    I don't know what I expected. I loved Blockade Billy (his short story I read last summer).. but this just bothered me way too much.

    Gah.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was another short story that I chose to read and I really enjoyed it! Again like most of Stephen Kings novels, there was a monster... I read this short story in one day as it kept me on the top of my toes. A good read for junior high/high school level!
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Like I said, I'm on the fence about Stephen King. While UR was a great read, Mile 81 - a Kindle Single - felt more like a chore.

    Taking place in the shut down Mile 81 rest area, one would think it was about some grizzly murder that happened which still haunts the area. Instead, we get a muddied station wagon that eats people. One part Christine, one part Little Shop of Horrors. Three parts bad. Story revolves around several characters - most of which become a grizzly meal for the alien vehicle. There's next to none character growth. It lacks substance underneath the surface. It's almost as if Mile 81 was a write-for-hire piece, something King had to do because of some agreement he made with Amazon.

    It's hard to say if Mile 81 is a lengthy short story or a novella, but it sure has hell felt like a longer read than UR.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This totally didn't go in the direction I expected it to go. In some ways, it's a companion to King's From a Buick 8. I have to say, I quite enjoyed the entire yarn...right up until the end. The end felt a little "tacked on" if you know what I mean.

    Still worth the read, though.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    it's a little slow at first but then picks up really fast
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I’m at a loss for words, even a short story can take you to a long journey.. If you have some great stories like this one, you can publish it on Novel Star, just submit your story to hardy@novelstar.top or joye@novelstar.top
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I don't generally enjoy SK's alien tales, but this one was amusing, particularly the part about a boy chasing away an alien with the use of the magnifying glass trick.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Stephen King was one of the first established writers to have his work published in e-book format. He published UR as an Amazon Kindle novella in 2009. Mile 81 is a Kindle Single published by Amazon this year, a terror story that takes place at a defunct rest area at mile marker 81 of Interstate 95.Mr. King returns to a topic he wrote about in a 1983 full length novel, Christine, the name of a 1958 Plymouth Fury with a terrible mind of its own. This time it is an old mud slathered station wagon, vaguely defined as a Ford or Chevy. It has a different mind than Christine that several characters discover at their peril.The prolific writer shows his talent for engaging the reader in the action and causing her to care about the characters. They are a random set of people in a variety of vehicles who pull off the highway where the station wagon is parked. In his narrative, Mr. King introduces products and services current today that pull the reader into identification with the ordinary people driving on I-95 who make the bad decision to stop. For example, they eat brand name foods, drive well known vehicle models, use contemporary jargon, and talk about current events. Mr. King has the unique talent to make the reader believe in the story and care about the realistic characters no matter how bizarre the premise of the work.This is a very good, satisfying novella for the reader offered by Kindle Singles publishers. It is well worth the very affordable price. The e-book also contains a teaser for Stephen King’s new full length novel, 11/22/63.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a typical creepy Stephen King book. It's a short story about a car that sucks people in and eats them. I "read" the audio book because the library didn't have any hard copies. This was enjoyable to listen to. I found myself saying "don't touch the car!" as I was listening. The book is about a strange station wagon that shows up at a closed rest stop. People think someone is in trouble so they approach the car to help and that is their biggest mistake. Having this short taste of Mr. King reminds me of how much I enjoy his writing and that maybe I need to get back to reading his stories.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As usual, King doesn't disappoint!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another good story from King. The short story, "The Dune", included in the audio book is priceless for the last sentence cliffhanger.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The King sure loves his cars! I preferred his story "Trucks" from the Night Shift collection over Mile 81 but this is a decent Stephen King tale that fellow Constant Readers will enjoy. Mile 81 will make you think twice of station wagons with muddy-covered windows and car doors that creak open. No spoilers but the ending was underwhelming and seemed a bit rushed. The best parts for me were King's signature characterization skills (man, he's good!) and King's cleverly scattered horror humor.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Can't beat Stephen King for originality and terror. This story was good, but the end wasn't quite satisfying although maybe that was his point. A good quick read.

Book preview

Mile 81 - Stephen King

Cover: Mile 81, by Stephen King

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Contents

Mile 81

1. Pete Simmons (’07 Huffy)

2. Doug Clayton (‘09 Prius)

3. Julianne Vernon (‘05 Dodge Ram)

4. The Lussier Family (’11 Expedition)

5. Jimmy Golding (’11 Crown Victoria)

6. The Kids (’10 Richforth)

‘11/22/63’ Teaser

Mile 81

1. PETE SIMMONS (’07 Huffy)

You can’t come, his older brother said.

George spoke in a low voice, even though the rest of his friends—a neighborhood group of twelve- and thirteen-year-olds who styled themselves the Rip-Ass Raiders—were up at the end of the block, waiting for him. Not very patiently. It’s too dangerous.

Pete said, I’m not afraid. He spoke stoutly enough, although he was afraid, a little. George and his friends were headed up to the sandpit behind the bowling alley. There they’d play a game Normie Therriault had invented. Normie was the leader of the Rip-Ass Raiders, and the game was called Paratroops From Hell. There was a rutted track leading up to the edge of the gravel pit, and the game was to ride your bike along it at full speed, yelling "Raiders rule!" at the top of your lungs and bailing from the seat of your bike as you went over. The usual drop was ten feet or so, and the approved landing area was soft, but sooner or later someone would land on gravel instead of sand and probably break an arm or an ankle. Even Pete knew that (although he sort of understood why it added to the attraction). Then the parents would find out and that would be the end of Paratroops From Hell. For now, however, the game—played without helmets, of course—continued.

George knew better than to allow his brother to play, however; he was supposed to be taking care of Pete while their parents were at work. If Pete wrecked his Huffy at the gravel pit, George would likely be grounded for a week. If his little brother broke an arm, it would be for a month. And if—God forbid!—it was his neck, George guessed he might be whiling away the hours in his bedroom until he went to college.

Besides, he loved the little cock-knocker.

Just hang out here, George said. We’ll be back in a couple of hours.

"Hang out with who?" Pete asked morosely. It was spring vacation, and all of his friends, the ones his mother would have called age appropriate, seemed to be somewhere else. A couple of them had gone to Disney World in Orlando, and when Pete thought of this, his heart filled with envy and jealousy—a vile brew, but strangely tasty.

Just hang out, George said. Go to the store, or something. He scrounged in his pocket and came out with two crumpled Washingtons. Here’s a couple of bucks.

Pete looked at them. Jeez, I’ll buy a Corvette. Maybe two.

Hurry up, Simmons, or we’ll go withoutcha! Normie yelled.

Coming! George shouted back. Then, low, to Pete: Take the money and don’t be a boogersnot.

Pete took the money. I even brought my magnifying glass, he said. I was gonna show em—

They’ve all seen that baby trick a thousand times, George said, but when he saw the corners of Pete’s mouth tuck down, he tried to soften the blow. Besides, look at the sky, numbo. You can’t start fires with a magnifying glass on a cloudy day. Hang out. We’ll play computer Battleship or something when I come back.

Okay, chickshit, seeya later! Normie yelled.

I gotta go, George said. Do me a favor and don’t get in trouble. Stay in the neighborhood.

You’ll probably break your spine and be fuckin’ paralyzed for life, Pete said . . . then hastily spat between his forked fingers to take the curse off. "Good luck! he shouted after his brother. Jump the farthest!"

George waved one hand in acknowledgment, but didn’t look back. He stood on the pedals of his own bike, a big old Schwinn that Pete admired but couldn’t ride (he’d tried once and wiped out halfway down the driveway). Pete watched him put on speed as he raced up this block of suburban houses in Auburn, catching up with his homies.

Then Pete was alone.

He took his magnifying glass out of his saddlebag and held it over his forearm, but there was no spot of light and no heat. He looked glumly up at the low-hanging clouds and put the glass back. It was a good one, a Richforth. He’d gotten it last Christmas, to help with his ant-farm science project.

It’ll wind up in the garage, gathering dust, his father had said, but although the ant-farm project had concluded in February (Pete and his partner, Tammy Witham, had gotten an A), Pete hadn’t tired of the magnifying glass yet. He particularly enjoyed charring holes in pieces of paper in the backyard.

But not today. Today, the afternoon stretched ahead like a desert. He could go home and watch TV, but his father had put a block on all the interesting channels when he discovered George had been DVR-ing Boardwalk Empire, which was full of gangsters and bare titties. There was a similar block on Pete’s computer, and he hadn’t figured a workaround yet, although he would; it was only a matter of time.

So?

So what, he said in a low voice, and began to pedal slowly toward the end of Murphy Street. So . . . fucking . . .what.

Too little to play Paratroops From Hell, because it was too dangerous. How sucky. He wished he could think of something that would show George and Normie and all of the Raiders that even little kids could face dan—

Then it came to him. He could explore the abandoned rest area. Pete didn’t think the big kids knew about it, because it was a kid Pete’s own age, Craig Gagnon, who had told him about it. He said he’d

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