BookPath
Young Monsters
Stephen King

Young Monsters

Quick Answer

"Young Monsters" is an optional companion work. It can be read at any time, though it is usually best enjoyed after reading the first few core novels of the Collections.

Quick Verdict

🟡 Optional side story — not required for main plot

There are multiple ways to approach this series. Our recommended order is optimized for first-time readers.

❓ Can I skip this book?
✅ Yes — Optional

This is a side story that can be safely bypassed without losing any context for the main series.

Verdict Insight: While this short_story provides deeper world-building, it is a standalone story and can be read at any stage.

Is this helpful?
202424 ppShort StoryOptional Side Story
The children in these stories have one thing in common--they are all young monsters. Some of them are horrid. Some are grotesque. And still others are diabolically clever at disguising their awful desires. Some of the monsters are unwitting captives of their fates. Others relish what they are--horrible as it may be. Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, and Charles G. Waugh have selected stories by Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, H.H. Munro, and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, among others, that will evoke both sympathy and horror. All will chill you to your very bones. Contains: Homecoming / by Ray Bradbury Good-by, Miss Patterson / by Phyllis MacLennan Disturb not my slumbering fair / by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro The wheelbarrow boy / by Richard Parker The cabbage patch / by Theodore R. Cogswell The thing waiting outside / by Barbara Williamson Red as blood / by Tanith Lee Gabriel-Ernest / by Saki (H.H. Munro) Fritzchen / by Charles Beaumont The young one / by Jerome Bixby Optical illusion / by Mack Reynolds Idiot's crusade / by Clifford D. Simak [One for the road](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL19791071W/One_for_the_Road) / by Stephen King Angelica / by Jane Yolen
Next Recommended Book

The Stephen King Collection. Stories From Night Shift

Book # of 241 in Series

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

medium Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Collections conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading Young Monsters?

This is a side story that can be safely bypassed without losing any context for the main series.

Can I read Young Monsters before other books in the series?

Yes. Young Monsters is an optional side story and can be read at any time without spoiling the main series plot.

Is Young Monsters required reading for the Collections?

No, it is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not essential to the central storyline.

What comes after Young Monsters in the reading order?

The next recommended book after Young Monsters is The Stephen King Collection. Stories From Night Shift (Book #null).