Stephen King

[StephenKingman]

^
No problem! I loved Geralds Game and actually think it would make a great movie, it was one of the first King books i read and also introduced me to that unique talent he has for making your blood cold in the middle of a paragraph, especially when he described the midnight visitor, brilliant book.

[Va_treehugger]

I just read Cell last year. It was great and it was scary. That takes place in modern time, but if you like a book that is based in the past (kinda), his book The Eyes of the Dragon was entertaining.

[Gannon]

I just read Cell last year. It was great and it was scary. That takes place in modern time, but if you like a book that is based in the past (kinda), his book The Eyes of the Dragon was entertaining.

I have two copies of "The eyes of the Dragon", I had a softcover version and then a friend gave me a beautiful hardcover version for my birthday. I love this book, to me it reads like a children's fairy tale (which is not a bad thing). The style of writing does not really seem like SK. Great book, it would make a brilliant animated film.

[Sophius]

I actually just finished Cell the other day. I have to say, it sure made me glad that I don't own a cell phone. I suppose it was a good book, but I wish that the origins of the pulse were specified.

As for Eyes of the Dragon, it definitely was a serious change of pace. Again, I liked it, but it wasn't spectacular. However, I found that it was almost the anithesis of horror, that being a sentimental quality. In a way, the book was rather touching.

Out of curiosity, I was wondering if everyone could list their five favorite Stephen King books. Here are mine

1.) It
2.)The Stand
3.)Salem's Lot
4.) Desperation
5.)The Shining/The Tommyknockers

I know that neither The Tommyknockers nor Desperation are all that popular, but I greatly enjoyed both of them. I found that Desperation kept me on edge more so than other books, as the sheer strangeness of the various events in the book serve to convey a great sense of horror and suspense. It was one of the few books that really had me creeped out.

On the matter of The Tommyknockers, I felt that the buildup was great, and the transformation of the townsfolk excellently orchestrated. I really don't see what was so bad about this book that so many people list it among their least favorites, could someone explain it to me?

[StephenKingman]

^ Eyes of the Dragon was an early foray into the world of fantasy for King. Apart from a few exceptions (the excellent Talisman and Wizard and Glass from The Dark Tower), i dont think sci-fi or fantasy suits King as much as straight laced horror. Not to take away from his broader writing abilities (his collaborations with Peter Straub or the alias Richard Bachman were pure genius), i think horror alone is his strong point and he excels in this genre when he isnt actively trying to portray a different writing style.

Top 5, thats extremely tough, can i list The Stand 5 times

If i had to then:

1. The Stand
2. The Shining
3. Geralds Game
4. Carrie
5. Talisman

I can see why Tommyknockers is so poorly received, King spends the first half of the book jumping from one character to another with a vague sense of the eponymous Tommyknockers lurking in the background, when the statue of Jesus begins to talk thats when he lost it! Just a mess of different styles and a very poor book, the movie was laughable.

[BookWorm617]

Although I mostly read non-fiction and classics SK is my FAVORITE authors of all time. The man never ceases to amaze me. I love his writing style and imagination. I have read about 99% of his books and must say there are only a few that I didn't like Lissey's Story being one of them. Here are my favortites:

1. The Stand
2. Insomnia
3. The entire Gunslinger series
4. The Long Walk
5. The Talisman

I just finished his new one Full Dark, No Stars and I loved it.

[Gannon]

Although I mostly read non-fiction and classics SK is my FAVORITE authors of all time. The man never ceases to amaze me. I love his writing style and imagination. I have read about 99% of his books and must say there are only a few that I didn't like Lissey's Story being one of them. Here are my favortites:

1. The Stand
2. Insomnia
3. The entire Gunslinger series
4. The Long Walk
5. The Talisman

I just finished his new one Full Dark, No Stars and I loved it.

"Insomnia" , what a great book. I love how King uses the "Fates" from greek mythology as his bad guys.

He has written so many good books it is very hard to list five. But if I was forced to pick five I would say.

1. Misery
2. The Long Walk
3. The Stand
4. Four past Midnight (because of "The Langoliers")
5. Skeleton Crew (I find SK to be one of the best at the short story format)

[Marto]

I've heard Stephen King's son is a good horror author. Anyone read any of his books? How does he compare?

[Gannon]

I've heard Stephen King's son is a good horror author. Anyone read any of his books? How does he compare?

Hi Marto, I have read both of SK's son's books. I enjoyed both of them and I have to say that he has a style of writing very similar SK's. In fact if I was not told the author I would have said they were written by King. Imo if you enjoy SK books you wil enjoy both of them.

[StephenKingman]

I've heard Stephen King's son is a good horror author. Anyone read any of his books? How does he compare?

Hi Marto, I have read both of SK's son's books. I enjoyed both of them and I have to say that he has a style of writing very similar SK's. In fact if I was not told the author I would have said they were written by King. Imo if you enjoy SK books you wil enjoy both of them.

Hmm, never really considered reading his sons books, i guess i would have an impression of a poorer imitation but i will try to get one read this year.

[Sophius]

which one of his sons, Owen or Joe?

[Gannon]

I've heard Stephen King's son is a good horror author. Anyone read any of his books? How does he compare?

Hi Marto, I have read both of SK's son's books. I enjoyed both of them and I have to say that he has a style of writing very similar SK's. In fact if I was not told the author I would have said they were written by King. Imo if you enjoy SK books you wil enjoy both of them.

Hmm, never really considered reading his sons books, i guess i would have an impression of a poorer imitation but i will try to get one read this year.

Being the great lover of SK that you are, I would bet you every book that I own that you would like if not love both of them. They are both really short and both feel like King in his early days. (I am only joking about betting you all my books ).

[Marto]

I've heard Stephen King's son is a good horror author. Anyone read any of his books? How does he compare?

Hi Marto, I have read both of SK's son's books. I enjoyed both of them and I have to say that he has a style of writing very similar SK's. In fact if I was not told the author I would have said they were written by King. Imo if you enjoy SK books you wil enjoy both of them.

Well, I'll have to check some his novels out then. The Heart Shaped Box will probably be the first one I check out.

[Mairin]

My favorite book of his has to be Desperation. If we include short stories to the list my favorites are The Mist and The Jaunt (Jaunt being number 1).

[Pmcombs]

If I had to pick where to start I would suggest starting with either "The Shining" or "Nightmares and Dreamscapes". I won't go into my opinion about "The Shining" because everyone pretty much has said all there is to say. It is a great book. "Nightmares and Dreamscapes" is a short story collection and it is where I started. It was the perfect way to enjoy many different stories from King during a shorter amount of time. All of the stories in "Nightmares" are excellent and leave you wanting more. I highly recommend this book.