Halloween Reading: Highway to Hell Week | Payback x2 | AstraDaemon

BIG DRIVER by Stephen King, originally published in Full Dark, No Stars, and was made into a Lifetime movie. (Let that sink in for a minute...) I've watched the movie, but I didn't read the written story until very recently. Of course, the book is better than the movie.

An author is on her way home after a signing event, and takes a recommended detour home. Only a few miles from her turn-off, she unknowingly runs over debris in the road, and must pull over due to an instant flat tire. Soon after, a giant of a man arrives, offering to help, but rapes her repeatedly instead.

King is kind enough not to include graphic details of the violence, and he's smart enough not to try and pawn this off as a "rape makes the victim stronger" scenario. Tess, lucky to have survived, is simply trying to figure out how to process the attack. Eventually she decides, in order to give life to her new persona, a sacrifice must be made.

There is also a bonus story, FAIR EXTENSION. A man dying of cancer makes a deal with a man selling extensions on the side of a road. Reminded me a bit of King's story Thinner, released under the name Richard Bachman. Only Streeter is a far more horrific character.

As always,

AstraDaemon

P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the autographed five-book series.