Riding the Bullet by Stephen King | Goodreads
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Riding the Bullet

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A Stephen King ghost story in the grand tradition, Riding the Bullet is the ultimate warning about the dangers of hitchhiking.

A college student's mother is dying in a Maine hospital. When he hitches a ride to see her, the driver is not who he appears to be. Soon the journey veers off into a dark landscape that could only be drawn by Stephen King.

2 Cassettes / 2 Hours

66 pages, Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 2000

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About the author

Stephen King

2,526 books848k followers
Stephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.

Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.

He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.

Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.

In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.

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5 stars
3,956 (21%)
4 stars
6,007 (32%)
3 stars
6,528 (35%)
2 stars
1,500 (8%)
1 star
228 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 856 reviews
Profile Image for Rebbie.
142 reviews128 followers
September 30, 2018
This is a novella that's super fast to listen to on audio- approximately 2 hours, so if you're pressed for time but still want to enjoy a great story, give this a go.

The gist is this: a young male college student hitchhikes (that word looks like it should be separated, btw) to see his mother after she went into the hospital from having a stroke. The men who pick him up change his life forever, including with how he looks at himself as a person.

It's not a horror story even though it's got some scary parts to it, and it's not a psych thriller even though it messes with your head and puts forth some pretty awful questions that many of us have secretly asked ourselves.

Although it's not easy to label, it's a fun, edge-of-your-seat story that will have you wanting to know what happens next. This feeling, for me at least, is similar to turning on the light before you walk into a room. :P
Profile Image for Eloy Cryptkeeper.
296 reviews212 followers
May 28, 2021
"Esta historia nunca se la he contado a nadie, ni tenía previsto hacerlo; y no exactamente por miedo a no ser creído, sino por vergüenza… y porque era mía. Siempre he tenido la sensación de que contarla equivaldría a rebajarnos los dos, yo y la historia, volviéndola más pequeña, más anecdótica, como esos cuentos de fantasmas que se explican en los campamentos antes de apagar la luz. Creo que también tenía miedo de que si la contaba, si la escuchaba con mis propios oídos, podría empezar a no creérmela"

"Soy una especie de mensajero,Un jodido mensajero de ultratumba, ¿te gusta eso? Los tipos como yo en realidad salen bastante a menudo cuando las circunstancias son las adecuadas. ¿Sabes lo que creo? Creo que a quienquiera que maneje el cotarro - Dios o quien sea – le debe gustar entretenerse.Él siempre quiere ver si te quedarás con lo que ya tienes o si puede convencerte para descubrir qué hay detrás de la cortina. Las circunstancias tienen que ser las adecuadas, sin embargo. Esta noche lo eran"

Hay infinidad de historias de carreteras, autoestopistas y aparecidos. Pero esta, sin dudas, es de las buenas. Entrelazado Con un estrepitoso trasfondo dramático, y que plantea una decisión y un dilema por el que nadie quisiera pasar. En ese dilema radica el verdadero terror.
Profile Image for Carol.
1,370 reviews2,272 followers
August 16, 2018
"FUN IS FUN AND DONE IS DONE"

Stephen King's RIDING THE BULLET is a creepy little ghost story with an eerie graveyard you should not enter, and a ghoulish spirit with a fast ride who delivers a deadly ultimatum.

Scary business "riding the thumb."

UPDATE: August 16, 2018 - Thought the movie version of the nighttime 100 mile hitchhike confronting demons both living and dead was awesome! Lots more to the plot compared to what I remember of the novella. Watch this Halloween for a thrilling ride!

Profile Image for Coos Burton.
834 reviews1,408 followers
January 23, 2018
«¿Subiste a la Bala? ¡Qué cabrona! Yo cuatro veces»

Tanto la primera vez que lo leí, como ahora, me fue imposible no llorar. Quizá no sea la historia más compleja de King, pero es de las que más me llegan, me toca la fibra sensible sin lugar a duda. Les comparto mi video reseña, un poco más detallada: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZfaK...
Profile Image for Marie.
1,016 reviews336 followers
October 27, 2021
Hitchhiking is dangerous now days as you don't know what kind of a person is behind the wheel of the vehicle, but it is more dangerous if you are reading about it in a Stephen King book!

A college student is trying to get home as he finds out that his mother is dying and he decides to hitchhike to get there faster. His first ride is twilight zone weird (what do you expect as you are in a King book), but his next ride makes him go cold and shivery as the man behind the wheel is supposed to be dead.

Thus begins the ride of his life and he then remembers the warnings from his mother about hitchhiking. What happens on his ride with the ghost man? Does he make it in time to see his mother? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book.

This was a short and to the point kind of book which encompasses the fear of hitchhiking as you never know "who" or "what" will be picking you up.

Moral of the story: Do not hitchhike and if it is Stephen King behind the wheel, all I can say is: RUN!

Four stars for this one!
Profile Image for Karla.
1,169 reviews328 followers
February 1, 2023
Story 3.5 stars**
Audio 4.25**
Narrator Josh Hamilton
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,784 reviews6,702 followers
January 7, 2016
★★★½
Riding the Bullet is a horror novella written by Stephen King. This short-story does not contain the typical blood, gore, and blatant suspense that you may expect when you think of horror, but it offers the subtle, f*ck with your head variety. It's a story about making an impossible choice, and those types of themes most always prompt self-reflection. That's where the horror comes in play. What would you do in a similar predicament?

They don't call Stephen King the king of horror for nothing!

My favorite quote:
"I know something now that I didn't before. The worst stories are the ones you've heard your whole life. Those are the real nightmares."
Profile Image for Matt.
4,060 reviews12.9k followers
May 28, 2020
A short story by Stephen King is a treat like no other, particularly one that pulls the reader into the middle of an exciting tale. As I needed to fill some time before my next major reading adventure, I turned to one of these short pieces. Alan Parker is a student at the University of Maine. He receives a troubling call that his mother is in the hospital after having a stroke. Without a vehicle of his own and worried about his only living parent, Alan makes the decision to hitchhike down to see her. His first driver is an older man with some obvious health issues, so much so that Alan begs off early into their journey. As he awaits the next vehicle to pass by, Alan comes across a small graveyard with markers. When headlights illuminate the road, Alan gets in and strikes up a conversation with the young man behind the wheel, which veers towards a death-defying rollercoaster called The Bullet. Alan has eerie memories about it, but listens as his driver tells of riding it multiple times. What follows is a scary tale about riding the Bullet and a bargain made on the way to central Maine. Another interesting piece with twists that only King can create effectively. Perfect for a short trip or to pass the time.

I have long been a fan of Stephen King’s work, both the longer stories and shorter pieces like this. He has a wonderful ability to create characters and offer them much backstory in short order. His ideas seem plentiful and he uses the simplest event as a major plot twist. With themes woven into the fabric of his pieces, the reader learn a great deal about themselves as they read. The tangential nature of a well-crafted King piece is sometimes lost in the shorter works, but there is no lack of depth or intrigue. No matter what choice Alan Parker makes in this story, the possibilities are endless and King always lays them out for the reader to ponder, even late into the night.

Kudos, Mr. King, for another winner. I love how my mind races whenever you are writing and cannot wait to see what you have in store for your fans next!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Profile Image for Oscar.
2,049 reviews531 followers
July 12, 2017
Stephen King sabe contar historias. Es un narrador nato. Pocos escritores te arrastran con sus palabras página tras página, y King es uno de ellos.

‘Montado en la Bala’ (Riding the Bullet, 2000) es un relato largo de terror, protagonizado por Alan Parker, un joven universitario de veintiún años. Un buen día Alan recibe una llamada de su vecina con malas noticias: su madre ha sufrido un derrame mientras trabajaba y está hospitalizada. Alan, sin vehículo propio, no tiene más remedio que hacer autostop para llegar al hospital ese mismo día. Lo que parece un viaje inofensivo, se convertirá en una pesadilla.

En poco menos de cien páginas, King es capaz de meternos el miedo en el cuerpo. Buena historia del Maestro de Maine.
Profile Image for Peter.
3,340 reviews564 followers
July 10, 2018
Absolutely loved this story. Hitchhiker, lonesome street, ghosts, classic car, a secret... great storytelling. You certainly get goosebumps by reading this novella!
Profile Image for Andrew Smith.
1,146 reviews741 followers
May 18, 2023
When I borrow books from my local library they’re normally in audio format these days. But the catalogue is a little thin (ok, more than a little!) and I’ve worked my way through a good number of those that have piqued my interest. I’ve been eyeing this short story for a while - well, I believe anything by Stephen King is worth considering. The trouble is, I have an aversion to anything that involves supernatural activity, and King is prone to include such elements in a good number of his stories.

Despite my reservations, pickings were that thin that I eventually succumbed. And I was quickly reminded how the author expertly draws you in, no matter which of his tales you dip into. This time it involved a college kid hitching a lift to visit his ailing mother who is in a hospital bed after suffering a stroke. He’s picked up by a spooky dude who may or may not be of this world.

It’s an entertaining, easy listen and I also enjoyed the way the story was narrated. I find it hard to get fully invested in a short story and this one was over before I’d gotten anywhere near that point. But for something to listen to on a 90 minute dog walk, it worked a treat.
.

Profile Image for Sumit RK.
911 reviews522 followers
February 7, 2017
This book is neither a out and out ghost story nor a psychological mystery. The first half has really creepy moments & keeps you hooked but the second half and the ending disappoints. Still a good fun read.
Profile Image for Franco  Santos.
483 reviews1,442 followers
July 8, 2015
Un libro muy corto de King pero muy interesante. Es muy rápido y ameno; no decae nunca. Es para leer en una hora. Un buen relato que estremece y, a su vez, emociona.

El final me dejó gusto a poco, eso tengo que aclararlo. No obstante, es una buena historia; para pasar el rato.
Profile Image for Diego Beaumont.
358 reviews584 followers
September 10, 2023
Una historia corta pero muy intensa. Stephen trata temas como la vida y la muerte, el apego y los sacrificios. Un breve Road Trip donde el protagonista se encontrará con varios personajes un tanto extraños. Sin duda un relato de los bueno del gran maestro King.
Profile Image for Farnaz Farid.
247 reviews27 followers
December 8, 2023
یه داستان کوتاه ۲ ساعته
کلا من هیچ وقت نتونستم با داستان های کوتاه ارتباط بگیرم تا آدم میاد از کتاب خوندن لذت ببره داستان تموم میشه!
این کتاب هم همینطور بود
موضوع جالبی داشت نمیشه گفت ترسناک بود اما مرموز بود .

صوتی اش رو با صدای تایماز رضوانی می تونید گوش کنید که به نظرم بعد از آرمان سلطانزاده یکی از بهترین صداهاست

ترجمه خوب
امتیازم ۲/۵
Profile Image for Olethros.
2,681 reviews497 followers
March 1, 2018
-Más logrado en lo que significa, en varios sentidos, que en lo que ofrece de manera directa.-

Género. Novela corta.

Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Riding the bullet: montado en la bala (publicación original: Riding the Bullet, 2000) nos presenta a Alan, un joven estudiante universitario que recibe una llamada avisando de que su madre ha sufrido un derrame. Alan decide viajar de inmediato los casi doscientos kilómetros que lo separan del hospital en el que está ingresada, y para ello hará autoestop. Uno de los conductores que lo recoge le hará vivir una experiencia inesperada.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
Profile Image for Shannara.
529 reviews88 followers
March 31, 2020
I finished this a while ago and forgot to actually mark that I was done. That was kind of how it left me feeling. I was very into the beginning and the creepiness factor was spot on. But then that tingling at the back of your neck fades into nothing. Not that the ending was bad, it certainly wasn’t. It was just a little underwhelming after the awesome feels of the first part of the story. I like it, but not one of my favorites.
Profile Image for Yeferzon Zapata.
118 reviews27 followers
December 24, 2020
Otra historia para pasar el rato.

"Se acabó lo que se daba"

Una historia amena, que no esperaba que tuviera tintes de nostalgia.
Una idea interesante que se mezcla con pasajes de terror. Ideal para leer en una tarde.
Profile Image for Caro.
747 reviews11 followers
April 18, 2018
Aunque fue editado como un libro independiente, la verdad es que esto es solo un relato corto, puede que demasiado corto para algunos. Te lo avientas en un par de horas y más que una historia de miedo es para reflexionar. Siempre he pensado que SK no solo escribe historias de terror, escribe sobre la vida y sus metidas de pata y este librito habla sobre identidad, familia, propósito y todas esas cosas bellas que tanto nos motivan pero de una forma retorcida que te golpea, te patea y luego te da palmaditas en la cabeza todo en menos de 100 páginas.
No entra en mis favoritos del maestro pero me gustó bastante.
Profile Image for Encarni Prados.
1,158 reviews84 followers
June 24, 2021
Un relato de King a su más puro estilo, de los que te erizan el bello.No es muy largo, se lee en un rato.Esta historia es más famosa porque King la subió a internet antes de publicarla en las redes que por la historia misma. El título ��montado en la bala” es casi mejor no traducirlo tal cual, porque aquí no tiene mucho sentido, aunque si lo adquiere después de leer la historia. El protagonista, un chico valiente en algunos aspectos, también tiene sus momentos de terror y el plantel de personajes no tiene desperdicio. Recomendable para todos los amantes de King.
February 2, 2021
2.5
Pues no sé qué decir, la verdad.
Es dinámico, fácil y rápido de leer y entretenido, pero para como se iba desarrollando, esperaba más.
La parte de "terror" de la historia sí es muy de típica leyenda de carretera que todos conocemos, y al final no fue lo que esperaba, pero en general no me pareció malo, está bien y ya.
Profile Image for Doreen Petersen.
742 reviews140 followers
November 4, 2017
Delightful short and story. Just when you think you know what's going to happen things turn around and you're stunned. Absolutely loved it! If you like Stephen King this is a book for you.
Profile Image for Kenneth McKinley.
Author 2 books282 followers
February 22, 2015
A short and sweet ghost story that Stephen still excels at. As the calendar turned into the 1990s, it's no secret that his novels became more and more bloated. That doesn't mean that I don't enjoy them. I simply happen to miss the days where he did more with less and I think that's why I like Riding the Bullet. While the story might not be original,mI'm positive we've all heard some variation at summer camp when we were kids, it's King's delivery that makes it so good. Throw in a moral dilemma that we all might struggle with if put to the challenge and you start to see why this story works.

Alan Parker is a college student that learns that his mom has had a stroke and is in a hospital. His car is broken down and being no stranger to hitchhiking, Alan uses his thumb to get to the hospital. Along the way, he gets a ride from a ghostly visitor that puts him to the test. Choose to save your mother or yourself. The story is all about choices and you constantly ask yourself "What would I do if I was in this situation?" and the dreadful feeling of choosing wrong.

4 out of 5 stars


You can also follow my reviews at the following links:

https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...

TWITTER - @KenMcKinley5
Profile Image for Lou.
884 reviews914 followers
June 2, 2011
Excellent creepy story once you ride the bullet time is of the essence!

“ I’d hitchhike down to Lewiston, then out to our little house in Harlow if it wasn’t too late. If it was, I’d snooze in one of the hospital lounges. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d ridden my thumb home from school. Or slept sitting up with my head leaning against a Coke machine, for that matter. ”

" Not a single light out there except for the moon. The trees rushed by, writhing like spontaneous dancers at a tent-show revival. The road rushed under us. I looked at the speedometer and saw he was up to eighty miles an hour. We were riding the bullet right now , he and I; the dead drive fast."
Profile Image for Osvaldo.
454 reviews187 followers
March 14, 2014
Me agrado, buena historia corta, tal vez incluso DEMASIADO corta, la lees en un par de horas pero bueno KING sabe como dejarnos siempre con un buen sabor de boca, aunque en este caso con un final un poco al aire, y más que un relato de miedo, es un relato reflexivo acerca de quienes somos, quienes queremos ser, y que tan importantes son los demás para nosotros.

Chequen reseña pronto en mi sitito :D

axesbooks.blogspot.mx
Profile Image for Zai.
720 reviews25 followers
August 19, 2021
Entretenido relato, que se lee de manera ágil y en apenas una sentada.

En este relato viajamos con Alan Parker que tras enterarse de que su madre ha sido ingresada en el hospital por un derrame, decide volver a casa para verla haciendo autostop, ya que su coche está estropeado....

Iremos viendo lo que le depara este viaje, a través de los acontecimientos que le suceden y con los diferentes conductores que le recogen a lo largo de su viaje....
Profile Image for BabuBooks.
81 reviews13 followers
February 13, 2020
Se lee en una sola sentada. Es maravilloso cómo King consigue hacer historias buenísimas de lo simple y lo cotidiano. Además del orgullo de ser el primer libro electrónico, la puerta que abrió nuevas posibilidades de lectura.
Profile Image for Maca Mamone.
222 reviews66 followers
January 23, 2018
Muy buen relato. Como suele sucederme, los relatos cortos de King no me deslumbran como sus novelas, pero aún asi, Montado en la bala es una historia entrañable y bastante angustiante sobre la relación y el destino de Alan Parker y su madre. Se lee en un ratito y vale totalmente la pena
Displaying 1 - 30 of 856 reviews

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