On Stephen King's Writing

[lastplaneout]

Say what you will about the Richard Bachman years, I've read "The Long Walk" probably a dozen times and it never seems to get old. Last I heard, Frank Darabont had the rights to develop it for a film adaptation.

[kathleen_in_chicago]

It's been a good long time since I read any Stephen King. Two standouts for me, the ones I remember the best, are The Stand and the short story The Langoliers. I loved The Stand for the first 500-600 pages or so (I read the original, "abridged" version) but the ending really fell flat for me. I think King has the same occasional problem that Neal Stephenson has - he's got great output, a good feel for pacing, and he really knows how to write an action scene.  He just doesn't know how to write endings.

"The Langoliers" sounds like it might have certain things in common with this new book - there's a little bit of sci-fi time travel element, a lot of suspense, and spooky (but not terrifying) M. Night Shyalaman-like feel throughout.

I'm curious to know if King overcomes his "can't write an ending" thing in this book. Can't wait to hear the close-out in the next show, if Tom manages to finish.

[JonFromMaplewood]

I think King has the same occasional problem that Neal Stephenson has...he just doesn't know how to write endings.

So true. I loved Snow Crash until the ending. Yeesh, what a let down.

[Sarah]

I forgive Neal Stephenson his endings because there's so much else to love in his books.

[buffcoat]

I think King has the same occasional problem that Neal Stephenson has...he just doesn't know how to write endings.

So true. I loved Snow Crash until the ending. Yeesh, what a let down.

Thirded.

[dave from knoxville]

Definitely agree with the quality of Misery (the book). Haven't read The Langoliers, but the filmed version of that (I don't even want to call it a movie) is one of the worst things I have ever seen.

[wenderric]

I actually really like Stephen King's work. I think he's a terrific character writer and though some of his books are much better than others, I think for the most part he is actually a really good writer. I think my top five pieces of his work are:

1. Apt Pupil
2. The Long Walk
3. The Stand
4. Rage
6. The Running Man

But I do like others including the Dark Half, the first four books of the Dark Tower (plus the ending-ending--YES, I actually do think the ending is perfect but that series...well, you know, things get pretty squiffy after Wizard and Glass with You-Know-Who being a character in the series (trying not to spoil it)), Duma Key, and most of his short story collections. In fact, I think short stories are definitely his strong suit. Skeleton Crew is probably my favorite of his short story collections.

In Neal Stephenson's case, I love him but I haven't enjoyed his last two books. I loved when the scholars sat around and talked in Anathem, but other than that, I thought the book was pretty poorly planned out. And Reamde was just a lackluster version of Cryptonomicon (which might be my favorite of all his books).

[wood and iron]

What's Rage like? It's pretty infamous for King pulling the book and refusing to let it get back into print after Columbine and other school shootings.

[wenderric]

It's actually a really good book. I'm sad he pulled it. The book is about a school shooting but it in no way makes doing what the main character does seem like a very good idea. It's a very sad, angry book.

[Steeley Chris]

In the past year, I've read, "Cell", "The Stand", "Gerald's Game", "Lisey's Story", "Night Shift", "Cycle of the Werewolf" (Bernie Wrightson's illustrations in this and the expanded "The Stand" are pretty cool). I think I've read about 18 of Uncle Stevie's books (more if you break up The Bachman Books) in my lifetime. Literary crack.


A question for the ages:
Which "Pet Semetary" is the best?
- the book
- the movie
- the Ramones' song

[Chrissy in MN]

I think he was the first novelist I really 'got', starting around 3rd grade or so.  LOTS OF STUFF I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN READING THAT YOUNG. 

I was with him until Delores Claiborne, and then I bailed--couldn't handle anything after that, for some reason.  I read that one the year I started college, so there you go. 

In order: 

1.  Firestarter

2.  Dead Zone

3.  Misery (a breathtaking read)

4.  Different Seasons

5.  Carrie

I loved Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption and The Body from Different Seasons when I was in middle school.  I think I read Shawshank at least 50 times and am long overdue for another read.  I read Dead Zone and Misery a long time ago also and loved them. I loved The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon when I was in high school.  Though his prose isn't always the best, King has a way of grabbing his readers and keeping them enthralled through the entire read. I should really go back and read them again.

[Smelodies]

Say what you will about the Richard Bachman years, I've read "The Long Walk" probably a dozen times and it never seems to get old. Last I heard, Frank Darabont had the rights to develop it for a film adaptation.

Yes, that's a great one.  I've always taken it as an allegory for the Vietnam War.

[cerny]

Top Five:

1) Carrie

2) Salem's Lot

3) The Stand

4) Dark Tower: The Gunslinger

5) It

[dave from knoxville]

1) Misery 2) The Shining 3) The Dark Tower: Wolves of the Calla 4) The Stand 5) The Dead Zone

[Rick in Salt Lake]

"The Langoliers" sounds like it might have certain things in common with this new book - there's a little bit of sci-fi time travel element, a lot of suspense, and spooky (but not terrifying) M. Night Shyalaman-like feel throughout.

Did you watch the tv movie version of "The Langoliers"? It's so funny. From Bronson Pinchot's amazing performance to the "yeah team" air jump at the end, it's pure comedy gold... You must check it out if you haven't seen it....