The one issue that could be lobbied against Stephen King is that some of his stories tend to be a little too long. For instance, his most iconic books ("IT," "The Stand," etc.) fall somewhere in the quadruple digits and may have some excisable material. It's generally why his short stories collections are usually a breath of fresh air, and few have achieved that quite like "Different Seasons." Even if they're not his shortest short stories, they feature arguably two of his most iconic works ("Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" and "The Body") as well as two perverse secondary works ("Apt Pupil" and "The Breathing Method"). While one could argue that his other anthologies collect more great short stories, there's definitely not one that is as effective and succinct in capturing the genius behind the author quite like this one, which explores empathy and horror in equal measure, adding new wrinkles to the King of Horror's overall reputation.
The conception of "Different Seasons" was to tell stories set during the four natural seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. With punny titles, each story is divided into sections meant to embody ideas such as "Winter of Discontent." While the concept is novelty, the events that follow have little to do exactly with the months in question. "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" is the first story, but doesn't directly tie into a season, as it's a story of prisoners over several decades. However, it's an atmosphere of melancholy that hides optimism and the sense of purpose as one struggles behind bars. It's here where King has one of his most iconic stories, which was later adapted into a Best Picture Oscar nominee. It remains his most celebrated work in part because of its outlook on life and the idea that people could be redeemed in spite of their circumstances. King has rarely been able to balance sincerity with occasional scenes of horror that come from humanity instead of supernatural forces. It also features one of his most memorable third acts, which brings Rita Hayworth into the mix in a very clever manner.
Likewise, "The Body" is another all time classic from King as it follows a boy on his way to see a dead body. It's more than a morbid fascination. It's a moment when they bond over being young and still into obscene stories of gorging on too much food. There's a joy to the boys club mentality that drives the story, and the adult narrator's insight into these moments reflect equal amounts of nostalgia and regret. Even with gross imagery and some scary moments, this may be King's most honest and open tale, revealing plenty about how people from different socioeconomic upbringings relate to each other on a base level and find ways to bond over banal subjects. King is never dull in capturing what makes these kids so interesting. Even the big reveal of a dead body manages to provide a deeper clarity that is earned not because of the shock of death, but by the journey it took to this moment. It's a story that finds sentimentality in the nothingness of youth, and uses it to full effect.
The third story adapted to film was "Apt Pupil," which starts to steer away from sentimental period pieces and goes for something more perverse. It's a story of a boy obsessed with Nazism who befriends a living one in his own neighborhood. The obsession seems to be a way to blackmail the aging man, but slowly becomes a different kind of attraction. It's disturbing and features some bizarre Holocaust-related imagery, all in helping to define the neural deviance of the protagonist. It's a story that doesn't exactly sympathize with its protagonist, but paints a disturbing picture by placing the audience into the inner circle of this man's thinking. He was a smart man taken in by hatred, and the story can be disturbing on premise alone. It's not the greatest work by King, but it's definitely audacious in that it still feels prescient in spite of having concepts that should've been way outdated.
The final story is "The Breathing Method," which saves one of King's most gruesome images for last. It's about a doctor studying pregnancy techniques and discovering some perverse thoughts by the expecting mothers. It's starts off cold and calculating, in part because of it taking place during winter. However, it's also another story in which the research cannot prepare for the horrors seen, which feature some of his more unforgettable prose. While the other three stories are more accessible and enjoyable, there's something to the conclusion here that reminds readers of King's roots. He is a horror writer first and foremost, and he knows how to get under your skin. The images he creates with pregnant women may be a bit over the top, but it captures a certain zest for chills that is admirable.
As a whole, "Different Seasons" captures both sides of King in excellent detail. His two best short stories are present here, and are more than worth investing in this book along. "The Body" is especially effective as a companion piece to Stand By Me, as it captures one of his most sincere and natural stories that he's ever conceived. However, the other two stories are a little more traditional King, and reflect a man whose tendencies for shock and awe are always prowling in the background. He's still doing great work here, and it's further evidence to why he's been so acclaimed. However, it may not be for those who are easily squeamish. This is a book for people who want to understand the depth and variety of tones and themes that King can achieve within one book. He may have collections with a larger number of great short stories (since most of these are borderline novellas), but this is a great place to start if one had to understand his appeal in every facet from horror to earnestness. It's all here.
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