Tim Dunlap

All the stories in this collection from Stephen King are related to the Vietnam War. King fans will recognize echoes of The Dark Tower series in the collection's first story, "Low Men in Yellow Coats." As the characters develop over the next four stories, King's version of the Vietnam War becomes one of his most frightening tales ever.

When Captain Ryker Vaughn signed up for ordnance patrol, he knew that scavenging for improvised explosive devices carried risk. After unexpected and inexplicable dangers, he becomes the sole survivor of his team—and a double amputee. Cinching tourniquets on his traumatically amputated legs, he fends off enemies before losing consciousness.

Since his wife died, Ralph Roberts has been having trouble sleeping. Each night he wakes up a bit earlier until he's barely sleeping at all. During his late-night walks, he observes some strange things going on in Derry, Maine. He sees colored ribbons streaming from people's heads, two strange little men wandering around town after dark, and more. He begins to suspect that these visions are something more than hallucinations brought on by lack of sleep.