Stephen King

[Mel Carriere]

Agree with your take on "Full Dark No Stars," regarding the story about the dude making the deal with the devil not being particularly fulfilling. But I still don't understand the angst against the Tommyknockers. I found the entire concept interesting - lady digs up a crashed UFO in her backyard, and a drunken poet saves the world. Who else but King would give you a drunken poet as a protagonist?

[StephenKingman]

Agree with your take on "Full Dark No Stars," regarding the story about the dude making the deal with the devil not being particularly fulfilling. But I still don't understand the angst against the Tommyknockers. I found the entire concept interesting - lady digs up a crashed UFO in her backyard, and a drunken poet saves the world. Who else but King would give you a drunken poet as a protagonist?

I found the story dragged for far too long before the UFO was discovered and the actual tommyknockers were so badly described it was laughable, no suspense or fear associated with them and in my opinion King made a real mess of this book trying to splice sci fi and horror and failing on both counts- and dont even get me started on the movie

[Gannon]

Agree with your take on "Full Dark No Stars," regarding the story about the dude making the deal with the devil not being particularly fulfilling. But I still don't understand the angst against the Tommyknockers. I found the entire concept interesting - lady digs up a crashed UFO in her backyard, and a drunken poet saves the world. Who else but King would give you a drunken poet as a protagonist?

I found the story dragged for far too long before the UFO was discovered and the actual tommyknockers were so badly described it was laughable, no suspense or fear associated with them and in my opinion King made a real mess of this book trying to splice sci fi and horror and failing on both counts- and dont even get me started on the movie

I know that everyone has their own opinion but "Tommyknockers" is almost panned worldwide by King fans as his worst novel ever, I mean even King agrees with them. I think the drugs and the drinking he was doing at that time really did affect his writing. Even when I don't like a King story I still normally love his characters. I think his character development in his books is his greatest strength. A classic example is "Under the dome", a plethora of brilliant characters, loved some of them hated others (in a good way) but they were all so real. King destroyed the ending, ruining what could have been a book to rank up there with "The Stand". Even though the books ending ruins the book in my eyes, I have still read it a couple of times simply to revisit the characters. Anyway the point I was trying to make was that even the characters were bad in "Tommyknockers", and as SKM says the moive. OMG, nearly ruined Jimmy Smitts career.

[StephenKingman]

^ Agree with your post, Gannon, Tommyknockers is a famous stinker. along with the apalling Bag of Bones, another bore-fest which defied genres. Not sure his drinking and personal life has too much of a connection though, he also went through hard times in 1993 and 2008 but managed to write Geralds Game and Duma Key, both fantastic books. His bad books are just bad writing in my view. I agree with Under the Dome, such a disappointment after such a great build up

[anu_]

I recently read Under the Dome by Stephen King and absolutely loved the book. I was appalled with the sheer number of characters this author created in this novel and I think despite the huge number, he pretty much does justice to all of them. When I had begun Under the Dome, I was quite interested in finding out the real reason of a sudden mysterious dome covering an entire city. However, as the novel progressed, I was so involved with numerous characters that I did not want it to finish, though, the emotional mumbo jumbo in the climax disappointed me.

[Maud Fitch]

Stephen King's newest book, 11.22.63, about a modern day Maine teacher who time travels, is in my local bookstore at AU$22.95 and getting rave reviews. Albeit from the bookstore staff. It's about 1,000 pages long. Does anyone have plans to read it? Or has anyone read it and would care to comment?

[StephenKingman]

Stephen King's newest book, 11.22.63, about a modern day Maine teacher who time travels, is in my local bookstore at AU$22.95 and getting rave reviews. Albeit from the bookstore staff. It's about 1,000 pages long. Does anyone have plans to read it? Or has anyone read it and would care to comment?

I will be reading it on release, with a hint of caution though, no great hype after Under The Dome which was disappointing

[Gannon]

I will also be reading it as soon as I can. Lets hope it is another King classic(The Stand) as opposed to another fizzer(Under the Dome).

[StephenKingman]

I have it on good word that i will be getting 11.22.63 for Christmas so if anyone reads it here please keep spoilers to a minimum, ill be looking forward to curling up in front of the fire and savoring it...

[Cara]

I bought a Joe Hill (King's son) book yesterday and I'm enjoying it. It's called 'Heart-Shaped Box' and, appropriately, the main character is a troubled rockstar.

I wonder if anyone else has read any of Joe Hill's books? How do you think he compares to his dad?

[Eskatra]

I've heard a lot of good things about Joe Hill, though I've yet to read Heart-Shaped Box. It is my intention to do so when November is over though. (:

I do look forward to new King books, and I'm interested in the new one he has coming out in December, but like the rest of you, his more recent works have put me on the fence. Most of the time it seems like he spends more time churning out drivel just to keep his name out there, and I'm not a fan of that.

[StephenKingman]

I've heard a lot of good things about Joe Hill, though I've yet to read Heart-Shaped Box. It is my intention to do so when November is over though. (:

I do look forward to new King books, and I'm interested in the new one he has coming out in December, but like the rest of you, his more recent works have put me on the fence. Most of the time it seems like he spends more time churning out drivel just to keep his name out there, and I'm not a fan of that.

A valid point but i thought Duma Key (2008) was one of the best books he has ever done and even that was a different style but was a great success in my opinion. Im hoping his latest book is a belter.

[Gannon]

I am a big fan of Joe Hill and loved the two books of his that I own. "Heart Shaped Box" and "Horns" Imho his writing is very similar to his fathers, a great start to what could be a stellar career. Hey SKM, I ordered King's latest today, can't wait to have a good look at it.

[Fran]

Though Joe Hill was a US Labour Leader made famous by Joan Baez

[StephenKingman]

I am a big fan of Joe Hill and loved the two books of his that I own. "Heart Shaped Box" and "Horns" Imho his writing is very similar to his fathers, a great start to what could be a stellar career. Hey SKM, I ordered King's latest today, can't wait to have a good look at it.

Wow, i hope you really enjoy it Gannon, ill be getting it as an Xmas present so i cant wait, i have high hopes he can redeem himself after Under the Dome, let us know (in a non spoiler way) what you make of it.