Stephen King

[Morning Star]

I read Jerusalems Lot in a collection of horror stories called, Childrens Monsters or something, I'm not sure if it was the predecessor or a spin off to Salems Lot.

[The Master™]

Never really been one for horror writing... But here is my fourpenneth!!!
Can't say I'm a fan of Stephen King... Only read one book - I think it was called Dragon's Eye - though I put it in storage some time ago... Took me nay on two years to read... Not a big book, but heavy going...

Do have a copy of The Stand, but haven't read it yet...

Have seen one or two of the films from his books and not been too bothered about reading the books afterwards!!!

I understood from some sources (whether true or false, I don't know), but he didn't write any of the later stuff... But his name was put to them, so they would sell...

[Morning Star]

Thats a new one on me...but when I think about it, he announced he was done with writing some time back and yet, I still see stuff with his name on being churned out. Is it just old manuscripts that he dug up? Or are those rumours true?

[Vodstok]

hmmmm, that sounds very 50/50.

On one hand, i can see a very prolofic writer saying "screw it" and taking it easy for a few years. At the same time, that sounds very much like a rumor mill or conspiracy theory. It's amazing what people will come up with when they dont trust anyone. Actually, this reminds me of a Family Guy episode:

Stephen King: Now for my 300th novel, a couple... is attacked... by a giant lamp monster.
Editor: You're not even trying anymore are you?

[I, Brian]

On the books and his name issue - I think that could be confusing his stint as "Richard Bachman", when he wrote a few novellas under that name, to see how much of an influence his name alone made to sales. Later anthologised into the "Bachman Books" it contains four novellas/shorts, including one that formed the basis for Arnie's "Running Man". One of the perhaps more memorable stories in that collection was the Long Walk - effectively, a once a year exhaustive walking competition, where if you stop, you are killed.

As for the Stand - [shudders]. Most pointless book I've ever read. I just could see absolutely no point at all to the story. Some good ideas, and it develops nicely - those typical soft-rock Bob Dylan fan male characters - but the resolution made absolutely no point to myself. A couple of the male leads wre pretty easy to confuse as well - too many characters, perhaps.

[Traveller]

Stephen King has to be one of the most worthy Horror writers to have been published that is next to Dean Koontz who ive been reading since he was known as Dean R Koontz

The Stand I must say is one of my favourite books of his the whole good and evil aspect sets a sound pace for life that has been featured in countless films and tv programmes before I have read it so many times my copy is well thumbed The Dark Tower are a set of books that are also very good to read,

he also has a tv show called Kingdom Hospital that is showing on tv in the States

have any of you ever seen Stand by Me its one of his short stories called The Body it features in Different Seasons

Though he has written many great books he as you more than likely knwo was involved in a bad accident a few years back which kind of put him out of action for a while he thought he would not be able to write again hes a strange man that one he was on a tv documentary.

[I, Brian]

Stand by Me is a great film - notice a young "Wesley Crusher" from Star Trek: The Next Generation among the cast?

[Michael]

Used to read King's work a long time ago but I grew out of it. There's some work I really appreciate, but after Pet Semetary I had real difficulty enjoying any of it. Pet Semetary seemed okay, but I thought it went too far with some things and not far enough with others. Of course, that's proabably just me.

The Dark Half just did not give me any satisfaction at all. Then I tried to read Misery and gave the thing away before I'd read 30 pages.

I loved The Dark Tower as far as I'd read it (through the 3rd book). As far the plot and settings it really fascinated me.

I read both the edited and uncut versions of The Stand. The only reason I like the uncut version better is it included a lot about the military's efforts that did not appear in the first edition. I can see why the Dark Man is so annoying, however, in retrospect, but I still liked the whole story. I think the idea behind all of it was the the Dark Man set natural events in motion with his "influence" and then the survivors had to "make a stand."

I probably just stated the obvious. I can just imagine about 10 people sitting in front their computers grumbling, "Hey, we already knew that!"

The Dark Tower was my favorite, but I also enjoyed the Talisman with Peter Straub. Notice I picked the fantasies over the horror!

Now I'm interested about these rumours. I'd never heard any of them. Sure, I knew about the Richard Bachman pseudonym, but I'd hope the rest is not true. Apparently, the name V. C. Andrews is used this way and I find that very odd. For one, I don't want my work published in some other author's name. Using a pseudonym is one thing, but using King's name on my book just because he's famous is just plain crazy.

If an editor wants to change the title of my work, so be it, but there's just no way I'd let him/her put anyone else's name on it as the author--for any reason.

[knivesout]

A few points. I recently read a biography of King, that offered some expnantions on points raised here. The proverbial pinch of salt would not be out of place, but here goes:


Bachman was born owing to King's prolific output (publishers used to feel that the public could only swallow one book per year from an author) and his initial interest in exploring non-horror themes (although most of the Bachman books have a horrific element, only Thinner is really cut from the same cloth as the usual King horror).

Pet Semetary is not a book King is very comfortable with. He explored his own fears for his young son through it, and had in fact consigned it to a locked drawer when contractual obligations necessitated its resurrection. He claims to be unable to ever re-read it.

Well, these explanations can always be debated, but I just wanted to share them for what they are worth.

[I, Brian]

Ah, now I can understand that. The whole book was focussed on the son. I read it as a single male - and even then it had impact. As a dad now it would be truly horrific. and as King so closely identified the son to his own, no wonder it freaks him out a little.

However, if I may add, Pet Sematary is yet another story he wrote with no real ending.

[erickad71]

*****SPOILER*****
Just in case someone hasn't read the book or seen the movie and still wants too.





I like Stephen King, his older stuff mostly. But I could not finish Pet Sematary. When the father goes to re-bury his son...I put it down and could not pick it back up.

[Michael]

I finished it but wish I hadn't. It may be the only book that disturbed me that way. Nothing else in horror genre ever did anything but make go "Wow! Cool!"

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Morning Star

I read Jerusalems Lot in a collection of horror stories called, Childrens Monsters or something, I'm not sure if it was the predecessor or a spin off to Salems Lot.

Jerusalem's Lot was featured in King's shorts collection Night Shift. It was inspired by and certainly written in tribute to the legacy of Lovecraft. It was a really well-written story and in terms of writing skill better than, if I may say, a lot of HPL's stuff.
It has no relation to Salem's Lot which in King's own words is his modern day take on Bram Stoker's Dracula.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

I think the problem with the stuff he writes is that Good somehow always triumphs (no matter how horrific things get in between) and I think The Stand is a good example of this. For me, Horror stops being Horror when you can read a book comfortable in the knowledge that the Goodies will always win in the end.

That happens in his novels generally, again The Shining is an exception, but then it's always difficult to end horror novels on a morally ambigious note, few have done so.
His short stories don't follow such rules at all.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Marianne

I have been wanting to read Hearts in Atlantis but never seem to think of it when I am looking for a book to read. Even though I don't read much horror anymore I believe he is a great storyteller.

HiA is not a horror story at all, I would say it falls in the realm of magic realism. It holds a set of stories that're linked by characters common to some of them. It's also a nostalgic and introspective look back into the past, the America of the 60's with Vietnam in the background.

IMO it's amongst King's best work, a kind of spiritual successor to The Body, and the heart-breakingly beautiful note on which he should have ended his writing career.