Skeleton Crew is a collection of short stories by Stephen King. It is a challenge to review the book as an atomic entity so my review will consist of my thoughts on each story. The overall rating will be the average:

The Mist - More of a novella than a short story and I believe this is the longest tale in the Skeleton Crew combo pack. A mysterious mist engulfs a small Maine town. An interesting play on characters, as all types are trapped in a market together. (3.5 stars).

Here There Be Tygers - Terrible. A young boy needs to use the bathroom and there is a tiger in waiting. (1 star).

The Monkey - Who among us is not terrified of those crazy-eyed, demonic-grinning, cymbal-toting monkeys? When you hear the cymbals crash together death is inevitable. (3 stars).

Cain Rose Up - A disturbing tale. A young college boy unleashes his wrath on campus. Short but powerful. (3.5 stars).

Mrs. Todd's Shortcut - An old man shares the tale of a young woman on a constant quest for the shortest route from point A to point B. You may think the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but what happens if you fold the map? (3 stars).

The Jaunt - More sci-fi than horror. It is the future and teleportation is the way to travel. A bit of a stretch from Mr. King's usual work, but I found it quite enjoyable (3.5 stars).

The Wedding Gig - A Dixieland group is hired to play at a mobster wedding. Gunfire ensues. Average story. (2.5 stars).

Paranoid: A chant - Read the first stanza and stopped. Not my cup of tea (1.5 stars).

The Raft - This short story is also represented in one of the Creepshow movies. It could be the memories of watching the movie as a kid, but I really like this story. Two college couples head out to the lake for one last hurrah and meet with something unexpected. (3.5 stars).

Word Processor of the Gods - A fun story. Imagine if you had a computer that let you delete or insert something in your real life with just a keystroke. Would you change your life with riches or with something a little more personal? (3.5 stars).

The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands - If you are curious about this one, there is a not so subtle hint in the title of the story. That's right, he would not shake hands. (2.5 stars).

Beachworld - I could not get into this one. I read the first few pages and skipped ahead to the next story. (1.5 stars).

The Reaper's Image - A mirror, a mystery and a man. A very short story about an old mirror that shows some people an unexplainable view of 'The Reaper'. Another average story in this tome. (2.5 stars).

Nona - A prisoner recalls his crimes. He would like you to believe that a ghost led him on his murder spree. Was it a ghost or insanity? (3 stars).

For Owen - A poem that I lost interest in before I started. (1 star).

Survivor Type - Now, this is Stephen King! A man is stranded on a deserted Island with a ton of heroin and no food or drink. Eventually, our 'protagonist' has to choose between starvation and self-cannibalization. (4 stars).

Uncle Otto's Truck - Uncle Otto thought the truck was trying to kill him. Was it the truck or a guilty conscience that finally gets him in the end? (2.5 stars).

Morning Deliveries (Milkman #1) - Weird stuff. A milkman is doing his rounds and while delivering dairy products he also delivers murder. The main character is very candid, almost likeable... until you figure out he is a psychopath. (3 stars).

Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman #2) - Two drunks set off on a mission for vehicle registration. They drink, drink again and then drive home. However, on the way home they run into the Milkman (see above). Tragedy is soon to follow. (2 stars).

Gramma - There is more to "Gramma" than meets the eye. Is she dead? Is she alive? I thoroughly enjoyed the intensity and fear that King captured of a boy alone in a house with his dying grandmother. This story felt very real to me. (3 stars).

The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet - Another fun story describing an editor’s trip to crazytown. Magical elves are living in your typewriter and they are very sensitive to electricity. (3.5 stars).

The Reach - Another tale I could not get into. I read the first five pages and the only thing I was looking forward to was the end of the book. (1.5 stars). ( )

IMHO, The Fog is the best story in this collection. Some are hits, some are misses.

A collection of short stories, some of which are outstanding and some of which are less so. ( )

The best collection from King as far as short stories go. Love it. Haven't read it in ages, but I don't recall a single clunker. The most memorable for me is Survivor Type. ( )