Mile 81

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann, Thomas Sadoski

Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

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 10th 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.

©2012 The Storyville Company, LLC. (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Classic King

Any additional comments?

This was a classic Stephen King short story, and, as with most King stories, I truly enjoyed it. It would have been a really quick read, but listening to it drew it out a bit longer. Wish I had just bought the collection it was in though because it was a bit of a tease. I wanted more when it was all said and done.

Both stories were good, typical King

Mile 81 seems like a monster movie waiting to happen. A good story, though you'd think that some of the adults would be a little more cautious with obvious crime scenes. I'm glad that it wasn't the kids who died in this one, this time. The Dune, the second short, was quite good, and a very long setup to a quick joke. Quite good!

Loved it

Really enjoyed how Stephen King created the scene and details he puts into his stories. This audio recording also included The Dune.

Careful Of Repeats

Both of these stories are included in larger collections of short stories by King.
This isn't revealed by Audible when purchasing, so I had already heard them both. 😥

Even When King's not at his Best, He's Five Stars

Were these two of King's best novellas? Certainly not. Were they true to his addictively unique voice and full of fantastic character portraits as always? Of course. Certainly worthwhile for any King fan. The two tales within, Mile 81 and The Dune, are both engrossing and well-told - if a tad derivative - and I doubt you'll be left with regrets.

mile 81 did not go the distance

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was just "okay" for a Stephen King short story.

What was most disappointing about Stephen King’s story?

The ending seemed uncharacteristically unimaginative.

What aspect of Edward Herrmann and Thomas Sadoski ’s performance would you have changed?

The reading performance was done well.

Was Mile 81 worth the listening time?

I think I would have picked something else for the money.

A Deadly Detour

With all the eerie scene-setting of a Stephen King work, and more than a few horrifying events, this little story never really goes anywhere.

Reused storyline

King has used the storyline before it's very similar to a story that he wrote about a killer oil spot of sorts on the lake that attacked and devoured teenagers.

Another great story from Stephen King.

As always Stephen King has a twisted spin on a story. I'v not listen or read a book by him that I did not like. His story line is just left of center enough, and as syfy goes, just maybe could be believable as real. Great author!!

Very Creative great story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

As a SK Fan I love his variety of storys this one was short and a great story.