How good is Stephen King as a writer? - Page 4 - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

genisis2 · 4th June 2006, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddy

Those of you who didnt like The Stand have me flabbergasted! I am shocked because i thoroughly enjoyed it. I guess it does start a little slow but once it gets going I thought it was great!

Hope those of you who don't care for King will give him 50 pages to grab you. If he isn't your man then I guess he is just not someone you will enjoy. I wonder who you do like though...Dan Brown? Mr. 2-3 days of miraculous discoveries!

The Stand & Carrie are great. I find that he seems to create poor endings in many of his books.

ZoeRat · 4th June 2006, 09:09 AM

I like all of the Stephen King books I have read. His books always terrify me, so I can't read him after it gets dark and I am home alone. But I consider any writer who can keep my attention through an entire book a good one, because I get bored easily.

Chrystelia · 4th June 2006, 10:46 AM

I read a lot of SK before I found RJ, GRRM etc. I think it all depends on personal taste. I like dreamcatcher, the dead zone, it, desperation, the shining, pet cemetery, tommyknockers, so many to list. He's good at writing about devastation and the way he goes into characters' psychy is interesting. I didn't get heart of atlantis though I finished it. I started the dark tower series but stopped after the second book. The shining scares me so much! Looking at a bath tub will always remind me of the lady in room 217, and that story about the washing machine (shudder*

Nesacat · 13th July 2006, 03:58 AM

I've always liked Stephen King's books for the element of reality in them. He tends to use everyday people and occurences. Things that we can all easily comprehend and see as happening to us in our lives. The rabid dog, the bullied child finding a terrible means of revenge, the desire to bring back loved ones somehow.
Two of my all time favourites are Salem's Lot and Cycle of the Werewolf. He took two very old, traditions and he put a new angle on them. You see that the people being preyed upon and not quite nice. That they cause pain and hurt to others. And you wonder then who really is the monster.
I also liked It, Dreamcatcher, Needful Things. They all have such simple premises. I give you what you need and in return you do me a tiny little favour. We all can relate to that. And we all of us have that one thing we are absolutely terrified of. Imagine being confronted by it.
Shawshank Redemption and The Shinning were really good walks into the minds of men and the way they work.
I guess my only grouse with King is this obsession he has with spiders and how they tend to spoil his endings. His books have great build-up and they are creepy and then suddenly the horror turns out to be this giant spider in a basement or the hand of god or some such external agency. Such an anti-climax. The book ends with a damp fizzle instead of the terrifying bang.

dustinzgirl · 13th July 2006, 05:58 AM

I am often confused by his writing, but not in a way that makes me not want to read...except the stand, which I found extremely boring. I think King has amazing vision, and writes in a generally non-arrogant manner. He uses images, language, histories, and situations I understand. I think that is truly why he is so well loved, because we can relate to the characterisation and extremes.

CarlottaVonUberwald · 13th July 2006, 07:28 PM

i love..b tu i dont like book
s that strain to have these god awful rounded off done and dusted endings..

also i like the fact some of his books are scuh pure horror but some get just a tad sci-fi

id still ratehr read koontz though

Jaljoul · 20th July 2006, 12:39 PM

Im really surprised!!!!!
Why dont u like his works?!?!?!?!?!
He's one of the greatest writers ever, and if you've read The dark tower series you'll know what i mean. The fourth is maybe the best book i have ever read and will read. He's master mind in writing.

steve12553 · 21st July 2006, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaljoul

Im really surprised!!!!!
Why dont u like his works?!?!?!?!?!
He's one of the greatest writers ever, and if you've read The dark tower series you'll know what i mean. The fourth is maybe the best book i have ever read and will read. He's master mind in writing.

I own about 50 King books and have read quite a few of them. I enjoyed many of them immensely. I have been reading the fourth book of the Dark Tower series off and on for 2 years. I get distracted so easy by other books and don't get back for months (and books). MAybe it's just me.

Nesacat · 21st July 2006, 02:13 PM

I think I've read everything of King's but the Dark Tower books. They've started showing up in the discount book stores here and I've been thinking about getting them. What are they about and how many books are there really? I saw one bundle of books that was made up of a whole bunch of really thin books, and I've also seen regular sized ones. Is the series complete and if so are there any compediums that anyone knows of

genisis2 · 21st July 2006, 02:31 PM

yup its complete

j. d. worthington · 21st July 2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nesacat

I think I've read everything of King's but the Dark Tower books. They've started showing up in the discount book stores here and I've been thinking about getting them. What are they about and how many books are there really? I saw one bundle of books that was made up of a whole bunch of really thin books, and I've also seen regular sized ones. Is the series complete and if so are there any compediums that anyone knows of

No, the most recent (and apparently final) book is too new for a compilation. I'm not sure how many are in the series, someone else could tell you that. But I believe the are all available in paperback, albeit in order to get a good reproduction of the artwork, you'd need to go for the TPB, probably. I think the series is 7 or 8 books, but I could be mistaken, as I've never been particularly interested in it...

Okay, Nesa, I just checked the King website, and this is the series:

The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger (1982)
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (1987)
The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (1991)
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (1997)
The Dark Tower V: Woves of the Calla (2003)
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah (2004)
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (2004)

star.torturer · 21st July 2006, 05:15 PM

the dark tower does look good, but im not into reading it, for no apparent reason, i have no desire to even pick them up, nothing to do with the writer or anything

i just seem to like other things instead

i realy would like to read the dark tower but am too lazy to get it

Paige Turner · 21st July 2006, 05:16 PM

I'm embarking on my second King novel this weekend; Cell. I picked it up in our staff library for the same reason Mallory climbed Everest. If anybody wants to warn me off, please do so in the next seven hours, as my bus leaves at 3:30.

weaveworld · 21st July 2006, 07:20 PM

I think it depends on what books you read...

The Dark Tower Series - Fantastic
The girl who loved Tom Gordon
Bag of bones
Cell
Hearts in Atlantis
Insomnia
Christine
Carrie
The Shining
The Dead Zone

I could go on....

Gerald's Game
Rose Madder

Not good at all...

epicfantasy7 · 8th December 2006, 11:39 PM

I am not a fan of Stephen King. I like his short work but don't care much for his novels. I just can't seem to get involved.

But, as far as the craft of writing goes he is just a superb writer. I mean he really has the ability to write. His technical ability to form sentences and paragraphs is among the best. It is his storytelling that doesn't jazz me.

This is kind of a difficult distinction to understand and maybe a metaphor would help.

Stephen King to me is like a Master Auto Mechanic who could build a car where all the parts go together perfectly and the car runs perfectly --every part is adeptly assembled into a running car. But when you look at the car or drive it you go "ehhh, nothing special."

4th June 2006, 09:09 AM	#47 (permalink)
ZoeRat Medieval Princess Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 41	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? I like all of the Stephen King books I have read. His books always terrify me, so I can't read him after it gets dark and I am home alone. But I consider any writer who can keep my attention through an entire book a good one, because I get bored easily.

4th June 2006, 10:46 AM	#48 (permalink)
Chrystelia elven farseer Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 134	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? I read a lot of SK before I found RJ, GRRM etc. I think it all depends on personal taste. I like dreamcatcher, the dead zone, it, desperation, the shining, pet cemetery, tommyknockers, so many to list. He's good at writing about devastation and the way he goes into characters' psychy is interesting. I didn't get heart of atlantis though I finished it. I started the dark tower series but stopped after the second book. The shining scares me so much! Looking at a bath tub will always remind me of the lady in room 217, and that story about the washing machine (shudder*

13th July 2006, 03:58 AM	#49 (permalink)
Nesacat The Cat Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 3,013	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? I've always liked Stephen King's books for the element of reality in them. He tends to use everyday people and occurences. Things that we can all easily comprehend and see as happening to us in our lives. The rabid dog, the bullied child finding a terrible means of revenge, the desire to bring back loved ones somehow. Two of my all time favourites are Salem's Lot and Cycle of the Werewolf. He took two very old, traditions and he put a new angle on them. You see that the people being preyed upon and not quite nice. That they cause pain and hurt to others. And you wonder then who really is the monster. I also liked It, Dreamcatcher, Needful Things. They all have such simple premises. I give you what you need and in return you do me a tiny little favour. We all can relate to that. And we all of us have that one thing we are absolutely terrified of. Imagine being confronted by it. Shawshank Redemption and The Shinning were really good walks into the minds of men and the way they work. I guess my only grouse with King is this obsession he has with spiders and how they tend to spoil his endings. His books have great build-up and they are creepy and then suddenly the horror turns out to be this giant spider in a basement or the hand of god or some such external agency. Such an anti-climax. The book ends with a damp fizzle instead of the terrifying bang.

13th July 2006, 05:58 AM	#50 (permalink)
dustinzgirl Mod of Awesome Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,633	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? I am often confused by his writing, but not in a way that makes me not want to read...except the stand, which I found extremely boring. I think King has amazing vision, and writes in a generally non-arrogant manner. He uses images, language, histories, and situations I understand. I think that is truly why he is so well loved, because we can relate to the characterisation and extremes.

13th July 2006, 07:28 PM	#51 (permalink)
CarlottaVonUberwald Just Julie Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 243	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? i love..b tu i dont like book s that strain to have these god awful rounded off done and dusted endings.. also i like the fact some of his books are scuh pure horror but some get just a tad sci-fi id still ratehr read koontz though

20th July 2006, 12:39 PM	#52 (permalink)
Jaljoul Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? Im really surprised!!!!! Why dont u like his works?!?!?!?!?! He's one of the greatest writers ever, and if you've read The dark tower series you'll know what i mean. The fourth is maybe the best book i have ever read and will read. He's master mind in writing.

21st July 2006, 02:13 PM	#54 (permalink)
Nesacat The Cat Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 3,013	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? I think I've read everything of King's but the Dark Tower books. They've started showing up in the discount book stores here and I've been thinking about getting them. What are they about and how many books are there really? I saw one bundle of books that was made up of a whole bunch of really thin books, and I've also seen regular sized ones. Is the series complete and if so are there any compediums that anyone knows of

21st July 2006, 02:31 PM	#55 (permalink)
genisis2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 380	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? yup its complete

21st July 2006, 05:15 PM	#57 (permalink)
star.torturer Shh!! Evil Genii At Work Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 142	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? the dark tower does look good, but im not into reading it, for no apparent reason, i have no desire to even pick them up, nothing to do with the writer or anything i just seem to like other things instead i realy would like to read the dark tower but am too lazy to get it

21st July 2006, 05:16 PM	#58 (permalink)
Paige Turner Just another busted robot Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 707	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? I'm embarking on my second King novel this weekend; Cell. I picked it up in our staff library for the same reason Mallory climbed Everest. If anybody wants to warn me off, please do so in the next seven hours, as my bus leaves at 3:30.

21st July 2006, 07:20 PM	#59 (permalink)
weaveworld ~Behold my sparklies!~ Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 588 Blog Entries: 4	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? I think it depends on what books you read... The Dark Tower Series - Fantastic The girl who loved Tom Gordon Bag of bones Cell Hearts in Atlantis Insomnia Christine Carrie The Shining The Dead Zone I could go on.... Gerald's Game Rose Madder Not good at all...

8th December 2006, 11:39 PM	#60 (permalink)
epicfantasy7 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 23	Re: How good is Stephen King as a writer? I am not a fan of Stephen King. I like his short work but don't care much for his novels. I just can't seem to get involved. But, as far as the craft of writing goes he is just a superb writer. I mean he really has the ability to write. His technical ability to form sentences and paragraphs is among the best. It is his storytelling that doesn't jazz me. This is kind of a difficult distinction to understand and maybe a metaphor would help. Stephen King to me is like a Master Auto Mechanic who could build a car where all the parts go together perfectly and the car runs perfectly --every part is adeptly assembled into a running car. But when you look at the car or drive it you go "ehhh, nothing special."

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