Four Past Midnight

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: James Woods, Tim Sample, Willem Dafoe, Ken Howard

Length: 29 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Four chiller novellas set to keep listeners awake long after bedtime.

One Past Midnight: "The Langoliers" takes a red-eye flight from LA to Boston into a most unfriendly sky. Only 11 passengers survive, but landing in an eerily empty world makes them wish they hadn't. Something's waiting for them, you see.

Two Past Midnight: "Secret Window, Secret Garden" enters the suddenly strange life of writer Mort Rainey, recently divorced, depressed, and alone on the shore of Tashmore Lake. Alone, that is, until a figure named John Shooter arrives, pointing an accusing finger.

Three Past Midnight: "The Library Policeman" is set in Junction City, Iowa, an unlikely place for evil to be hiding. But for small businessman Sam Peebles, who thinks he may be losing his mind, another enemy is hiding there as well - the truth. If he can find it in time, he might stand a chance.

Four Past Midnight: "The Sun Dog", a menacing black dog, appears in every Polaroid picture that 15-year-old Kevin Delevan takes with his new birthday gift - with each following photograph beckoning him to the supernatural. Old Pop Merrill, Castle Rock's sharpest trader, wants to crash the party for profit, but the Sun Dog, a creature that shouldn't exist at all, is a very dangerous investment.

©1990 Stephen King. All rights reserved. (P)1990, 1991 Penguin Highbridge Audio. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"He never seems to use up the magic...these four novellas demonstrate the qualities that have made King by far the world's most popular author." ( Chicago Tribune)

"These stories grab and will not let go." ( The Washington Post)

"King is a master storyteller, and you will never forget these stories." ( Seattle Times)

For Stephen King Fans

It is hard for me to have any criticisms regarding this book. I can say in an unbiased manner that the book in not perfect, because some stories are great, while others were simply forgettable.

Awesome stories!

However, I do hear the differences in audio quality. Other than that it was a great book and enjoyed the performance/voices.

Another great piece by Stephen King!

Does not disappoint although has some very VERY disturbing moments in the 3 past midnight story.

Great Overall, but Woods' Lisp is Terrible

Great stories, but the recording quality is not the greatest. It must be from the original books on tape version. Most of the readers are great, but James Woods' lisp in Secret Window, Secret Garden is incredibly distracting. He's not known to lisp in his movies, I don't know what the deal is here.

Good stories

I had read the Langoliers before, as I used to read a lot of King. Some things are just too weird but these were mild enough.

Worth the listen!

Okay, yes the audio is a little underwatery, but it’s not a show stopper. The music is a little cheesy, but honestly it was great. I felt like I was watching a Stephen King movie from the 90s, loved every minute!! Great stories!

Great book

Stephen king books are always my favorites. I tend to not have a preference of the collections or the full novels. This one of for short stories was really good, even though I’m not a fan of Langoliers it was good too but that’s actually my own personal preference. I do wish the book of Stephen kings collections did say in the chapter selection when a new story would start instead of just having numbers. Some of his books to but this one did not. It certainly Did not make the book that the book. All in all good narrating good stories another A+

A Classic

This has always been one of my favourites collection of S. King. Willem narrating The Langoliers could have been louder, but all in all 5 Stars..

Chapter Listening Guide

Chapters 1-10 - One Past Midnight - The Langoliers

Chapters 11-15 - Two Past Midnight - Secret Window, Secret Garden

Chapters 16 - 22 - Three Past Midnight - The Library Policeman

Chapters 23 - 27 - Four Past Midnight - The Sun Dog

Love the short stories

I'm a huge Stephen King fan and the short stories are some of my favorites. Who knew Willem Dafoe had a voice so capturing