Because in America, you could have anything you wanted, just as long as you could pay for it. If you couldn’t pay, or refused to pay, you would remainBecause in America, you could have anything you wanted, just as long as you could pay for it. If you couldn’t pay, or refused to pay, you would remain needful forever.
A new business has opened in the small town of Castle Rock, Maine. The proprietor, Leland Gaunt, will sell you whatever your heart desires in exchange for a small fee and a favor. The favor varies from person to person, but it often falls in the realm of a prank to be played on other townsfolk. As Leland’s business continues to prosper and pranks begin to pile up, Castle Rock falls into utter chaos.
By 1991, King had spent a few years in this cursed town. His novels The Dead Zone, Cujo and The Dark Half as well as a few short stories and novellas are drawn upon to flesh out the town’s history and residents. Sheriff Alan Pangborn, introduced in The Dark Half, returns as one of the story’s heroes while John “Ace” Merill from King’s novella The Body, resurfaces as a villain. This is one of the best things about King’s work and what I believe sets him apart from many of his contemporaries given the popularity of shared universes in storytelling nowadays.
Billed as “The Last Castle Rock Novel”, Needful Things certainly tries to live up to the hype. King does a number on the town and its residents by building tensions to a crescendo that ultimately brings Castle Rock to its knees. My issue lies in the fact that it takes far too long to get there. Like with all lengthy King novels, I respect the need to lay the groundwork so that what eventually happens means as much as possible, but this could have easily been about two hundred pages shorter than its final length. I really struggled through the first two hundred and fifty pages as the plot seemed to move at a snail’s pace. I believe it took me about a week and a half to get to page three hundred. When things kick into gear, I flew through this one, tearing through the remaining four hundred pages in about three or four days. The action moves much more swiftly as the novel goes on.
I didn’t care for Leland Gaunt as villain. His meticulous plan to destroy the town from within was mostly airtight, but I didn’t really enjoy any of the scenes he was in. He came across as hokey and goofy. Even when he tried to be aggressive or creepy, it didn’t have the jarring effect I believe King intended. When you line him up with the great pantheon of King villains, I don’t believe he holds a candle to someone like Randal Flagg or Henry Bowers.
Some of the violence here is top notch stuff. In fact, there’s a moment about halfway through that made me audibly say, “holy shit”. If that isn’t an endorsement, I don’t know what is. From there, the bloodshed only increases. There are a few moments, however, that didn’t sit well with me because it involved the killing of pets but at least one of them is very brief. I also couldn’t tell if it was meant to be funny? King has an odd sense of humour. It didn’t work for me either way.
To be honest, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I’ve read a lot of King over the years and while I’m not a huge fan of his newer stuff, I find it hard to find a lot I don’t like in his work in the 70s and 80s. I believe this is the first of King’s 90s work I’ve read (Dark Tower excluded) and while it’s better than most of what he churns out today, it’s not as good as some of his earlier novels. Maybe lies somewhere in the middle....more
Tim Jamieson stumbles into the sleepy South Carolina town of DuPray. A former police officer, Tim works his way up the law enforcement ladder fromTim Jamieson stumbles into the sleepy South Carolina town of DuPray. A former police officer, Tim works his way up the law enforcement ladder from glorified night watchman to cop proper – gun and all. However, that’s the last we’ll hear from Tim before the story shifts focus.
Luke Ellis is a gifted child. At twelve, Luke has outgrown what his specialized school can teach him. Presented with the option of attending MIT as well as Emerson College in the fall, Luke eagerly anticipates the next chapter of his life. That all changes when Luke wakes up one morning in a room not unlike his own. You see, Luke isn’t just gifted in your traditional sense, he also carries a touch of telekinesis, which put him on the radar of some very bad people. Aside from the lack of windows, there are a few small differences here and there that immediately jump out to Luke. Before long, he finds out he’s been kidnapped and placed in a special institution with other gifted children. Then, the experiments begin..
The Institute itself will draw comparisons to the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. It’s not like King is employing deep subtext here as he hits the nail on the head on more than a few occasions with Luke relating his own experience to Nazis performing experiments on their Jewish prisoners. That said, the ways in which the inhabitants are treated probably shouldn’t seem so commonplace nowadays given that WWII occurred generations ago, but with the demonization of migrants in the current political climate, you can see how others are able to compartmentalize their minds to allow themselves to see fellow humans as being “less than”. If you practice enough negative reinforcement, you can achieve anything!
If you follow King on Twitter, you’re well aware of his contempt for the current US president and the Republican party. He takes Trump to task daily on his abhorrent behaviour, so it’s not surprising that he found some room to insert some jabs at Donald and his administration through the mouths of his characters. Don’t get me wrong, I love to see this, but it felt very shoehorned in at times although I get what he’s doing by drawing parallels to the current situation at the US/Mexico border.
I’m glad to see King write a new book with kids fulfilling roles as main characters as it’s very much within his wheelhouse and something he hasn’t visited in quite some time (correct me if I’m wrong). King can usually ride that line between adolescence and adulthood better than most anyone and The Institute is no exception. The kids inside The Institute and their relationships with one another are the true driving force of the story. It’s not “The Body” level stuff, but it kept me reading on.
Of course, this being King, I am usually more critical than most books I read – especially given his track record in recent years. So, there were a few things that bothered me:
Tim Jamieson and the first forty pages or so that introduce him are largely irrelevant. I assume they’re there to help add a certain level of stakes to what happens with the characters involved when Luke finally meets up with Tim, but the truth is there isn’t enough substance to Tim nor the citizens of DuPray to make me care about them when the shit hits the fan.
There is a rather big reveal that King unveiled in a different way than I wanted. Rather than letting the air out slowly, he popped the balloon. It’s hard for me to get in depth on this one as it would be a big spoiler. Hopefully I’m not alone on this one.
I wasn’t 100% satisfied with the ending as it felt a bit too ambiguous. King has certainly gotten softer and more optimistic as he’s gotten older and it’s hard to blame him given the state of the world right now. The ending made sense in the scope of the story King was telling, but it felt messy and anti-climactic.
While The Institute is still a far cry from modern classics like 11/22/63, it’s one of King’s best efforts in a while. It isn’t without its problems, but it didn’t have Holly Gibney in it and for that, I give it a favorable review....more
Following a commercial flop with his debut novel, author Thad Beaumont begins writing violent crime stories featuring tough-guy Alexis Machine underFollowing a commercial flop with his debut novel, author Thad Beaumont begins writing violent crime stories featuring tough-guy Alexis Machine under the pseudonym George Stark. This seems to do the trick as Beaumont is massively successful. But the urge to return to his original dramatic style brings about the end of Stark. After a mock funeral for his alias is staged, those with a connection to Stark’s work are turning up dead. Is a vengeful fan behind the brutal killings or is George Stark himself taking revenge for his untimely demise?
Once again, I venture into Castle Rock, Maine for another of Uncle Stevie’s wild rides. The Dark Half is a good book yet not one of King’s more well-known ones, although I’d say it's better than most of the stuff he’s put out in the last few years. I find this surprising because although it has its flaws, it’s still a pretty solid premise.
I didn’t much care for the main character, Thad Beaumont, but the book has a great supporting cast. Up to now, I’ve only really been familiar with Sheriff Alan Pangborn due to the new Castle Rock TV series, so it was interesting to see his introduction and watch him interact with a new set of characters. For whatever reason, I pictured Patrick Wilson playing this character even though he never has. Probably because I saw a photo of him in his state trooper gear from Fargo recently.
I thought a lot of the horror aspects were done quite well - the prologue was classic, over-the-top 80s King - and the suspense built around whether or not George was really doing the killing kept the pages flying. However, about three quarters of the way through the story was when I really started feeling the length of the book. There seemed to be a lot of padding, repeated scenes and dialogue. I really liked the idea, but I thought it could have worked better as a novella within one of King’s four story collections rather than a six hundred page paperback.
With each passing day, Scott Carey weighs less and less, however, he continues to retain mass. What will happen if he hits zero? That’s not Scott’sWith each passing day, Scott Carey weighs less and less, however, he continues to retain mass. What will happen if he hits zero? That’s not Scott’s only problem, either. A young lesbian couple next door walk their dogs every day in front of Scott’s home only to have the dogs relieve themselves on Carey’s front lawn. He’s tried to reason with them, but they’re having no part of Scott’s efforts to establish a neighborly relationship.
At seventy-one, Stephen King isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Elevation - although a novella - is the second book he's released in 2018 and while it’s better than its predecessor The Outsider, it’s pretty forgettable.
King has been a vocal critic of President Trump and has often commented on the deep political and ideological divide plaguing his country, so I can understand why he felt the need to write a story about folks coming together despite their differences. However, Elevation felt over-simplified with thin characters in a paint-by-numbers plot. To put it simply, it seemed like an after-school special with an ending wrapped up with a bow.
I think what bothered me the most was the sudden change in attitude by the townspeople - these are long-held, deep-seated convictions that are seemingly altered by one event. For a story like this, you’re going to need more time. It just didn’t work in less than one hundred and fifty pages. You’re also talking about Castle Rock here - people are off their rockers in this hole of a town.
Maybe I judge King more harshly than most authors but why not? He’s written some of my favorite stories, so he deserves to be held at a higher standard. If it were up to me, and I was his publisher, I believe Elevation belongs in a short story collection, maybe as an opening novella. I’m not sure this deserves its own release.
*** Also, the fact that this is classified under Best Horror in the Goodreads Choice Awards is laughable. King has written several stories that venture outside the borders of horror but he unfortunately gets stuck within the genre even if he isn’t writing under than umbrella....more
It’s October.. you know what that means? Another month filled with spooktacular Halloween reads! And who could have a month of horror without UncleIt’s October.. you know what that means? Another month filled with spooktacular Halloween reads! And who could have a month of horror without Uncle Stevie? Not this guy, that’s for sure. So I’ve dug into the past and selected one of Sai King’s early books, Cujo. Yes, a book that was written by an author so hopelessly consumed by cocaine he doesn’t even remember writing it. Does this book have bite? Or is it all bark?
The book sees us return to Castle Rock following the events of The Dead Zone where a beloved family dog comes down with a particularly nasty case of rabies (are there any good cases?). The novel follows two families; the Cambers (the owners of the killer Saint Bernard) and the Trentons. Both families are on the brink of collapse prior to Cujo's reign of terror. Joe and Charity Camber have never had an easy marriage and the long-suffering Charity is about to hit her limit while Vic and Donna Trenton are hoping to work through a bout of infidelity.
I hate to admit it but I sort of had my mind made up before I even opened this book. I was positive I wasn’t going to enjoy it. There was just something inherently cheesy about the plot and when you add in the cocaine-fueled memory loss, the book didn’t have a lot going for it. However, as often happens with rock-bottom expectations, the story ended up surprising me.
For a story about a bloodthirsty dog, there’s a lot of emotional depth here. King pens a few passages about the perils of aging. Donna, the matriarch of the Trenton family, discusses life passing her by while trapped in the life of a bored housewife:
“A little at a time, the shit started to back up in the pipe. She started to sharpshoot at Vic about little things, sublimating the big things because they were hard to define and even harder to articulate. Things like loss and fear and getting older. Things like getting lonely and being terrified of being lonely. Things like hearing a song on the radio that you remembered from high school and bursting into tears for no reason. Feeling jealous of Vic because his life was a daily struggle to build something, he was a knight-errant with a family crest embossed on his shield, and her life was back here, getting Tad through the day, jollying him when he was cranky, listening to his raps, fixing his meals and his snacks. It was a life lived in the trenches. Too much of it was waiting and listening.”
There’s quite a bit of that in the novel. A lot of these characters are grappling with lives that have turned out less than ideal in their eyes - it just seemed odd to craft an atmosphere of regret and mistrust featuring a raging canine as the central focus of the story.
Like many before me have said, I think this may have worked better as a novella - maybe along the same lines as The Mist. There’s a bizarre subplot about a struggling breakfast cereal company that while it does help to add some depth to characters, it really isn’t necessary. Same goes for the Cambers' trip down the coast to Boston.
Where this novel really shines is in the final fifty pages or so. King gets a lot of flack for some of his botched endings over his long career (I’m looking at you, Under The Dome) but the finale of Cujo is one soul-crushing experience. I felt like my heart was ripped out. I wouldn’t put it on the same level as Pet Sematary, but it’s not far off. Those who have a hard time with animal violence should probably steer clear of this one, but I’d say King could do a lot worse....more
Following a four and a half year coma, Johnny Smith awakens to psychic powers that allow him to see the future. As he predicts events over time,Following a four and a half year coma, Johnny Smith awakens to psychic powers that allow him to see the future. As he predicts events over time, Johnny struggles with the responsibilities that go hand in hand with these new abilities. Should he prevent inevitable tragedies? If so, how can he persuade skeptics to believe him? And what happens when Johnny’s path crosses that of a rising politician who threatens the future of mankind?
The Dead Zone is a book you’ll probably find in the horror section with the rest of King’s work. But I’d argue that following several novels published in King’s scary 70s, this is his first foray into heavy drama. Sure there are some sci-fi elements, maybe a little fantasy and a bit of a thriller thrown in there, but King is deep into character study here. The novel’s protagonist, Johnny Smith, is an intensely tragic character. Seemingly everything that happens to Johnny is completely out of his control and you can’t help but feel for the incredibly difficult choices he has to make.
When not focusing on Johnny, the novel shifts to bible salesman-cum-politician Greg Stillson. Running as an independent, Stillson rises from small-town mayor to the house of representatives with his sights ultimately set on the nation’s highest office. Nearly thirty years prior to the rise of Donald Trump, King shows a man who excels through petty attacks, cheap political populism and a whole lot of smoke and mirrors. It’s almost eerie how similar he is to the current US leader. I had heard about this prior to picking up the book, but I guess I wasn’t prepared for unsettling comparisons.
As you can guess – and without spoiling anything – the two do eventually cross paths. The flash of the future Johnny receives upon shaking Stillson’s hand is particularly frightening and rocks Johnny to his core. King asks the hypothetical question – “if you travel back to 1932 and are given the opportunity to kill Hitler, do you do it?” Can he trust his own vision of the future? Is he prepared to deal with the moral consequences of assassinating someone who has yet to commit a crime? Given what Hitler goes on to do, it’s a no-brainer. But is Johnny prepared to deal with the consequences to himself and to his family? Johnny is in a no-win scenario and the pressure he’s under passes on to the reader. At least it did for me, anyway.
In my opinion, The Dead Zone is one of King’s all-time greats. It’s an emotional read that touches on guilt, love, mortality and obligation. At well over five hundred pages, I’d still call this a brisk read. It was one I couldn’t put down through the last hundred pages and at this point, it’s definitely in my top five King stories....more
A boy is found brutally murdered and the evidence collected from the crime scene, along with eyewitness reports, identifies English teacher and littleA boy is found brutally murdered and the evidence collected from the crime scene, along with eyewitness reports, identifies English teacher and little league coach Terry Maitland as the man responsible. The problem for detectives? Terry was out of town at a teachers conference with several co-workers willing to back up his claim. With rock solid evidence up against an airtight alibi, Stephen King asks the question: how can a man be in two places at once?
Around these parts, it’s no secret that I’m a big fan of mystery, thrillers and crime fiction, however I didn’t care much for King’s foray into that world with his 2014 novel Mr. Mercedes. As a result, I skipped over the following two books that make up his Bill Hodges trilogy. So you can imagine my disappointment when I had heard some rumblings online that there was a connection between The Outsider and the Hodges books. In an effort to dispel those rumors, prior to its release, King tweeted out that The Outsider was in fact a stand-alone and not a Hodges book - and while I suppose that’s technically true, it certainly doesn’t feel like it. It’s worth saying that if you haven’t finished those books and still plan to check them out - DO NOT read The Outsider as it completely spoils them.
I honestly don’t know what this book is supposed to be. The first half of this book is some of the best police procedural fiction I’ve read this year. If I had the time, I could have easily seen myself sitting down and blowing through the first two hundred pages in one sitting - it was that good. But as soon as King opened up the door to the supernatural, this story just.. dragged for me, which is a shame because I obviously love King’s spooky stuff, but reading The Outsider is like watching Stan Lee cram The Thing into The Batmobile on that episode The Simpsons - the two just don’t fit together.
A review that I had read called The Outsider “an IT for the Trump era”. I understand what the reviewer was reaching for with that comparison, but I feel like that’s putting an awful lot of praise on a novel that has nowhere near the emotional depth of IT. These characters were forgettable cutouts that I could not get invested in no matter what the stakes were - so it wasn’t a surprise that I felt next to nothing following one of the novel’s more explosive scenes near the finale.
I know it sounds like I hated this book, but I really didn’t. Like I said earlier, the first half of this book is excellent and an average Stephen King novel is still better than most books, so I still managed to enjoy myself. I liked the overall premise and despite my complaints, I did want to know where things landed when the dust had settled.
If I’m being honest - and I can’t believe I’m saying this given my taste - I’m hoping King can move past this fixation of his regarding detective novels. Yes, I know he has a massive back-catalog of books - of which I’ve only read a few dozen -, but I just think he does his best work when he focuses more on characters and less on plot, which is what The Outsider does....more
I used to have an aversion to short story collections. I’m not sure what has changed, but we’re five months into 2018 and I’ve just finished my secondI used to have an aversion to short story collections. I’m not sure what has changed, but we’re five months into 2018 and I’ve just finished my second of the year. Granted, they’re both works from Stephen King, but I’ll take my little victories however I can get them.
Sandwiched between The Talisman and It, Skeleton Crew was King’s lone release in 1985 and his second short story collection. Similar to his prior collection, Night Shift, Skeleton Crew is mostly previously published work with only a handful of original contributions.
A few of my favorites:
The Mist, obviously. This one is the basis of both the 2007 film and short-lived 2017 TV series. It’s been argued that the film has the better ending, and I’m inclined to agree. The book ending isn’t bad per se, but King has even said himself that he wished he’d thought of it.
The Jaunt. I heard a lot about this one from fellow King fans – it was actually the reason I picked up the book in the first place. I think this one was my favorite. It details the short history of the use of teleportation and its discovery as told by a father to his children as they wait to teleport to Mars. The ending really freaked me out and stuck with me long after I moved on to other stories.
Survivor Type. This was a gruesome read. King writes of a man shipwrecked on an island devoid of vegetation and food. The story takes the form of diary entries written by the man as he struggles to survive. King has even noted that this story goes a little bit too far, even for him.
Nona. A suspenseful read about a pair of killers traversing the roads of Maine leaving chaos in their wake. I liked the use of narration as one of the two tells of their actions while residing in a jail cell.
Those were the ones that stood out as exceptional stories – the majority were good to OK (Cain Rose Up, The Raft and Beachworld as examples), but there were also a few duds. I didn’t care for There Will Be Tygers, The Monkey or both of the Milkman stories. Several of these stories were written before Night Shift and were likely left out of the collection, which had me thinking they weren’t quite as strong.
Outside of Mr. Mercedes, I’ve yet to be truly disappointed by a King release, so even his more average ones are enjoyable reads. I’d choose Night Shift over this one if we just compared his first two collections, but it’s worth picking up – especially for The Jaunt....more
By 1982, although King had become a tremendously successful horror novelist, he wanted to prove he had the ability to write something a little..By 1982, although King had become a tremendously successful horror novelist, he wanted to prove he had the ability to write something a little.. different. Therefore, with four previously unpublished novellas just lying around, King crammed them into one singular release he dubbed Different Seasons.
Rather than review the whole book in one long blurb, I’ll just share my thoughts on each story individually:
Rita Hayworth & The Shawshank Redemption - I’m sure I’m not going to ruffle any feathers by saying that Frank Darabont’s film adaptation is one of the greatest of all time. Having seen it and loved it, I’ve always been curious to read the source material. Without a doubt, Darabont did King’s work justice and the bits he added to the movie expand upon the original rather than muddle up the story. Also, it’s likely impossible not to hear Morgan Freeman’s voice in your head - even if “Red” is supposed to be an Irishman. This was the only story I felt was too short, but I can always watch the movie if I ever need more of Andy and Red.
Apt Pupil - This was my favorite of the bunch, despite the subject matter. Todd Bowden discovers a former Nazi, Kurt Dussander, is living in his neighborhood and promptly threatens to expose him unless he recounts his time as the head of a concentration camp - in painstaking detail. Apt Pupil is some of King’s strongest character work through Todd’s gradual mental breakdown. In the film version, a different ending is used that I feel takes away from what the novel built toward. The original ending is chilling stuff.
The Body - Like Shawshank, The Body is one where I had seen the movie (Stand By Me) beforehand. I haven’t seen the movie in years and only really remembered two parts: the leeches scene and in the end when they find the deceased kid, Ray Brower. I can remember watching this when I was very young and having to turn away from the screen when they find the body. I was terrified! I guess things are scarier when you’re eight. I didn’t like this one as much as I expected. King injected a few short stories by a character within the story that I found unnecessary and really broke up the flow of the novella.
The Breathing Method - Of the four novellas contained in Different Seasons - this is the closest to King’s horror wheelhouse. The Breathing Method is the odd one out that has yet to be adapted for film and is probably my least liked story of the bunch despite earning bonus points for taking place around Christmas.
As someone who occasionally struggles with story collections, the fact that the book was limited to four novellas helped me to invest in the characters and each story before moving onto the next one. Although jumping from Apt Pupil to The Body was a little difficult if only due to the fact that the ending to Apt Pupil blew me away....more
Susannah travels to New York City to have her baby, in the year 1999, with mental passengers Detta and Mia. Hoping to give chase, Roland and Eddie endSusannah travels to New York City to have her baby, in the year 1999, with mental passengers Detta and Mia. Hoping to give chase, Roland and Eddie end up in Maine in the late 1970s where they confront notorious book collector Calvin Tower as well as a burgeoning author who knows a great deal about the Ka-Tet’s journey. But what of Father Callahan and Jake? Luckily they land in The Big Apple in 1999, but they must track down Susannah before she gives birth.
This was a weird one. Song of Susannah feels more like a bridge to the conclusion, which being the sixth book in the series and the last pit stop before the end, makes sense. It does more to set up the finale than stand on its own. You’re thrown in the deep end immediately and leave without a real conclusion. That isn’t to say it’s uneventful because you really do learn a lot, it’s just that the biggest action set pieces seem to be in the distance.
In Song of Susannah, we’re essentially following three stories simultaneously. All are interesting enough, but I missed the interactions among all the characters. That being said, this was a hard one to put down – although, that may have had more to do with how highly regarded the seventh novel is and how much I am looking forward to picking it up.
Roland and Eddie continue to gel and strengthen their bond as they face tremendous adversity. Not only do they have to secure the vacant lot owned by one Calvin Tower, but they have to come to grips with a major development when meeting a man privy to both their lives and destiny. Jake and Father Callahan, while used sparingly this time around, race against the clock to reach Susannah. Jake has a few moments – one in particular – where I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. I could have used more of the pair.
But it’s Susannah that is front and center this time around. I didn’t care much for her story, which surprised me as she has been one of my favorite parts of the earlier novels. This had a lot to do with finding a few of her integral scenes hard to follow. Not only does King have three separate voices for one character, but shifted settings quite a bit, sometimes in the middle of conversations. It doesn’t lend itself well to skimming.
Having started the series in December 2010, I’m finally nearing the end. I can’t wait to pick up book seven and dig in. However, if the reviews I’ve read are any indication to what lies ahead, I’m bracing myself for all the emotions....more
I originally rated this four stars, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about it the last few days. I think if a book can do that to me, it atI originally rated this four stars, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about it the last few days. I think if a book can do that to me, it at least deserves 5.
Just like The Shining and Salem’s Lot, my first exposure to Pet Sematary prior to reading the novel had been from a Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror episode. You know, the one where Bart reads this incantation from a book of black magic in hopes to raise their beloved cat Snowball I from the dead but instead unleashes a hoard of zombies upon Springfield? Good times. Man, those were some great episodes. You can’t go wrong with Treehouse of Horror.
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Anyway, the parody isn’t exactly the same (it never is) but the meat and potatoes of it are present. There’s still a dead cat, although this one is named Church (short for Winston Churchill). Following its death, its owner Louis Creed, is approached by his neighbor who has a suggestion that may help alleviate his family’s impending grief - take the kitty up to an old Mic Mac burial ground behind Louis’ property and put the cat six feet under before his wife, daughter and toddler son return home from their Thanksgiving vacation in Chicago. And why not? Louis could just lie and say that Church ran away - no one needs to know the details. However, what Jud doesn’t tell Louis is that this spot will not be Church’s final resting place...
As much as I love my cat Gertie, ain’t no way I’m bringing her back from the dead if I’m to expect something like this. Church returns void of personality and lingers like a shell of his former self. When Lou’s family return, they can tell something is off about the family cat but aside from an ever present noxious odor, they can’t quite put their finger on it. While the novel is often considered King’s most terrifying work (he admits as much in the introduction), it’s more about how we deal with grief and what lengths we will go to help the ones we love, and I think that’s what struck me the hardest. As another tragedy strikes the family and as the story moves along and the characters make increasingly poor decisions, you want to grab their shoulders and shake them, tell them to take a second and look before you leap. It’s like when you watch the lead in a horror movie go down into a dark basement or cellar and you can’t help yelling at the screen. Then you remember that Louis is dealing with a level of guilt that you just cannot imagine and you’re not sure if you would do anything differently.
In my experience reading King, I often find he struggles with endings. He can write a hell of a journey but I’m not quite sure if he ends up in the right destination. Pet Sematary is one of those exceptions as I can’t think of a better ending. Remember that episode of Friends where Joey put The Shining in the freezer because it was too scary to have lying around? He’ll likely need to put Pet Sematary in liquid nitrogen....more
Following the death of his wife, author Ben Mears returns to Jerusalem’s Lot, the town in which he spent his childhood, to continue work on a novel.Following the death of his wife, author Ben Mears returns to Jerusalem’s Lot, the town in which he spent his childhood, to continue work on a novel. However, it wouldn’t be a Stephen King story if there wasn’t something sinister lurking in a small town. Did I mention this takes place in Maine?
King has noted that the idea for Salem’s Lot came from a thought he had while teaching Dracula to his high school class – what if the famous vampire landed in America and terrorized New York City? Luckily, Uncle Stevie’s wife Tabitha had a better idea – put the bloodsucker in a small town. Although the novel’s antagonist isn’t the contemptuous Count himself, King imagines a foe on the same grand scale – a centuries-old undead monster with an ego the size of Manhattan. He even monologues like a Bond villain!
Surprisingly, I didn’t find Salem’s Lot as scary as I expected. This might have something to do with the fact that I’ve seen the two-part mini-series from 1979 and seemed to remember most of the more frightening parts from the show, albeit that was at the very least a dozen years ago (that window scene really stuck with me). That being said, I managed to forget enough of the core plot that it ended up feeling pretty fresh overall. After the first vampire rears his ugly head, the facade of happy life in ‘The Lot’ comes tumbling down like a flimsy house of cards. From that point on, the book becomes extremely difficult to put down, firmly establishing itself as one of those page turners that you have to refrain from reading ahead – something I struggled with during many of the action scenes.
In the end I had a few small gripes, and although they didn’t keep me from enjoying the book as a whole, it left me feeling like some elements of the novel could have been cut out entirely along with a few of the characters’ actions looking suspect and oddly motivated. With this being only King’s second effort, it’s proof that he did not suffer from the fabled sophomoric slump that plagues a lot of successful authors. Salem’s Lot is a recommended read for those with limited exposure to vampires, mainly of the sparkly persuasion....more
Over the years I’ve struggled with short story collections as I’m very much a long-form kind of guy. I especially dislike the start/stop of shortOver the years I’ve struggled with short story collections as I’m very much a long-form kind of guy. I especially dislike the start/stop of short story collections – you get invested in a character or a story and in fifteen or twenty pages it’s done. Kind of like driving down a highway and smashing into a brick wall. That being said, Stephen King’s Night Shift is one of the few exceptions. I enjoyed the hell out of this collection.
Night Shift crams twenty of King’s earliest short stories into a brisk 502 pages. While I’ve been reading King for years, I’ve only read two dozen of his full-length novels and although most certainly exist in the realm of horror, it seems that short-fiction is where he really lets his freak-flag fly as there are some truly messed up stories in this compilation. The Lawnmower Man, Graveyard Shift and Gray Matter were downright disgusting and represent the true depths of King’s depravity.
Outside of the gross-out factor, there were some truly scary stories. Sometimes They Come Back really stood out (even if the ending was a bit much), I Am The Doorway had one hell of an eerie ending and One for the Road did a number on me by taking me back to Salem’s Lot. Even the infamous Children of the Corn offered up some thrills and chills.
Some other highlights were Quitters Inc. – a story about a man desperate to quit smoking until confronted with an alternative method, The Last Rung on the Ladder which was beautifully tragic in its execution and Battleground, a fun action-packed story that succeeded by not taking itself too seriously.
They weren’t all winners though. I didn’t care much for The Mangler, Trucks or Jerusalem’s Lot. The Mangler and Trucks were a bit too similar, I guess. Jerusalem’s Lot was a Lovecraftian-style monster story that didn’t really do anything for me, especially when compared to the superior One For The Road later on in the collection.
King is one of my favorite writers, so it’s not all that shocking that I would enjoy one of his short story collections. What is shocking is how quickly I tore through this one – even the ones that I didn’t enjoy all that much were rapid reads. I haven’t been all that impressed with some of the books I’ve been reading lately, so a King was just what I needed....more
Every twenty-seven years, an evil presence returns to the sleepy town of Derry, Maine to feast on children. Alternating between 1958 and 1985, KingEvery twenty-seven years, an evil presence returns to the sleepy town of Derry, Maine to feast on children. Alternating between 1958 and 1985, King focuses on a small group of friends that dared to fight back against that very entity; a being they dubbed IT.
As a kid, I was picked on by bullies. Be it my lazy eye, my stutter, my weight or my shyness, I was a pretty easy target. In IT, King produces two monsters. There’s of course, the shape-shifting, child-killing entity commonly known as Pennywise the Clown or IT, but there’s also the ruthless, psychotic bully Henry Bowers, who lives to torture the novel’s main characters, The Losers’ Club, and Henry Bowers is a son of a bitch.
To date, I’ve read a good chunk of King’s catalogue and although I still have a ways to go, I can’t think of a character that I wanted to see “get his” more than Henry. On a surface level, Bowers exists to provide Ben, Eddie, Bill, Beverly, Mike, Stan and Richie with a common enemy so they may ready themselves for an all-out battle with Pennywise. However, I think King wrote Bowers so well that he stands an equal footing with the novel’s namesake. This kid is a monster, plain and simple. Pennywise, while its actions are abhorrent, at times feels less dangerous than the psycho with the switchblade and a fist full of gravel lurking around every corner.
Bowers’ targets and the novel’s main characters, The Losers’ Club, are all well-drawn characters both as children and adults (although, like most, I enjoyed the 1958 losers over the 1985). I found myself connecting strongly with Ben, the chubby kid with the crush, as he squirmed his way through school, avoiding bullies and packing on the pounds. While I never experienced the level of aggression from a bully that Ben did (or Mike for that matter), it was still a tough time having to duck insults and threats from bastard-classmates.
I didn’t find the novel quite as scary as some of King’s other work but it wasn’t for lack of trying on the author’s behalf. He really pushed Pennywise to the limit with some of its dialogue and scare-tactics. Rather than frightening or unnerving me, there were a few scenes of animal torture/death that turned my stomach. You can fill a book with an insane body count, but kill one dog and it’s an unforgivable sin!
My biggest gripe however, would be with something that occurs near the end. I can’t dig too deep without charting into spoiler waters, so I will say that it made me want to throw my poor Kindle across the room. It’s safe to say that the scene in question likely won’t make it into the upcoming movie as it was not in the 90s mini-series.
Having read both Under the Dome and The Stand, you’d think I’d be used to King’s longer novels. But there were points while I was reading this story where I really felt its length and I found myself acting as editor, looking at what could be cut out to bring this under 1,000 pages. While most of it seems integral to the kind of story King was trying to tell, there seemed to be some unnecessary bulk. It seemed insane to me that around the 70% mark, he was still introducing new characters.
I know that seems like a lot of complaints, but I did like this book. It’s not one of my favorites, but it’s still King in the end. There are better books that he’s written but with a catalogue of over fifty novels, they all can’t be as good as The Stand or as scary as The Shining....more
Lately I’d been going through a bit of a reading slump. I picked up and put down a number of novels before deciding on King’s latest short storyLately I’d been going through a bit of a reading slump. I picked up and put down a number of novels before deciding on King’s latest short story collection, The Bazaar of Bad Dreams. While I skipped Uncle Stevie’s most recent release, “Finder’s Keepers” – I wasn’t big on its predecessor Mr. Mercedes – I trusted in King to snap me out of my funk. Luckily, my trust was not misplaced.
Within King’s latest short fiction anthology are twenty tales featuring everything from a mystical Kindle that acts as a window to alternate dimensions (UR), to a man with the ability to kill people through writing obituaries (Obit), to a man who finds out what awaits us after death (Afterlife) as well as many other chilling stories. It should be worth noting that only two are previously unpublished (three if you count the fact that Bad Little Kid had yet to be published in English). Luckily for me, I’d only read three of them (Blockade Billy / Mile 81 / Morality), so there was not a lot of overlap.
A few of my favourites include the above mentioned Kindle-centric story UR – which despite initially turning me off due to its blatant product tie-in (first published as a promotional story for the Kindle Singles brand) it managed to shine as a truly original bit of storytelling. I also loved Bad Little Kid, a tale about a bastard of a child who shows up at different points in the life of a man, causing psychological harm to those the man cares about. The final story, Summer Thunder, was a very difficult read as it detailed both the heartbreaking loss of a pet as well as the horror of nuclear war.
I was delighted to see Drunken Fireworks included as it was originally released as an audiobook exclusive this summer. I had downloaded it a few months back but could only stomach a little less than five minutes as I strongly disliked the narrator.
Overall, I was happy with the collection and I think King’s introductions about how each story came to be, added quite a bit to the overall experience. If you’re a fan of King’s other short story collections, I can’t see you walking away disappointed....more
"Once upon a time, I would have said we choose our paths at random: this happened, then that, hence the other. Now I know better.
There are forces."
"Once upon a time, I would have said we choose our paths at random: this happened, then that, hence the other. Now I know better.
There are forces."
After a less than stellar shot at crime fiction, King makes a triumphant return to his bread and butter: old school, balls-to-the-wall horror. In his new novel Revival, we follow Jamie, a burned-out rhythm guitarist, destined to be forever tied to Charlie Jacobs, a man he met when he was younger. Jacobs was a youth minister stationed in a small Maine town when he made an indelible impression upon Jamie and his family. Leaving town and burning bridges along the way, Jacob’s philosophy on life changes and as years go by, he becomes a very different man from what Jamie so fondly remembers.
I was worried that Revival would suffer from the dreaded hype machine that seems to follow all of King’s work these days and after Mr. Mercedes left me feeling underwhelmed, I certainly had my reservations going in. Luckily, while it didn’t knock my socks off, I was left with an overall feeling of satisfaction along with an ending that had me gripping my Kindle a little harder than I would’ve liked.
With Revival, King presents a pretty wide cast of characters and does his best to fully flesh them out. I liked the style in which he presented the story, having Jamie seemingly write a memoir, trying to get everything out of his system in an effort to cleanse his soul from the madness. Jacobs is truly a character that I can see King having a blast writing. Jacobs goes through so many changes that in the end, he is hardly recognizable from when we met him in the first dozen or so pages.
I should note that Revival is the first “blockbuster” novel I have purchased for my Kindle on its release day. As you move through the text, it shows you specific lines or passages that other readers have highlighted – moments that stuck out to them while going through the story. While it’s something you can no doubt turn off, it was interesting to see what grabbed a lot of King’s fans. It felt like I was reading along with hundreds of others.
While I can give Revival a firm recommendation, I wouldn't suggest it for anyone looking for nightmare material. The ending is chilling – there’s no doubt about that – but if you’re looking for something to scare you stupid, check out Nick Cutter’s The Troop, a book that will make you want to sleep with the lights on.
Acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon, badly injured in a car accident, is held captive by deranged super-fan Annie Wilkes. A former RN, she vows to aid himAcclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon, badly injured in a car accident, is held captive by deranged super-fan Annie Wilkes. A former RN, she vows to aid him back to health until he’s well enough to make the trek to a hospital. However, it’s on one condition; he write a new novel featuring his signature character Misery Chastain - just for her.
Outside of the legendary Randall Flagg, Annie Wilkes has to be the most terrifying villain King created. Mentally unbalanced and completely unpredictable, she’s everything you want in a horror novel “bad guy”. Driven by an insane goal, to see Misery Chastain resurrected from the dead and once again placed into the literary world, Annie will do anything to make sure Paul Sheldon “makes it right” with a novel written just for her. If Paul decides to make this process difficult, well, she has ways of making him write.
Having not seen the classic 1990 Rob Reiner film, I went into Misery blind. I knew next to nothing about the story other than Kathy Bates taking the Oscar for best actress and that very famous “wooden block scene”. If you think that was hard to watch, try giving the book a read - things get graphic and Annie’s punishments are downright brutal.
Seeing as Misery - for the most part - is a two person show, King writes both characters with a tremendous sense of depth. These are two characters who are far from cookie cut-outs of the “heroic” protagonist and the “crazy” antagonist. King kept me guessing right up to the very end, wondering what would happen - would Paul kill himself? Would Annie kill him and then herself out of desperation? Would Paul kill his captor and escape? I honestly didn't know - which was fantastic.
After a particularly brutal finale, in which King blew my mind with the sheer ugliness of it all, he’s still intent on scaring the crap out the reader. Lesson learned - King isn't truly finished until the book is closed. Misery is loaded with suspense and despite the story taking place over a period of several months, a sense of absolute urgency is constantly at the forefront. King should teach classes on pacing alone.
Retired Detective Bill Hodges is toying with the idea of ending it all. Alone in his home, he spends the majority of his golden years in front of aRetired Detective Bill Hodges is toying with the idea of ending it all. Alone in his home, he spends the majority of his golden years in front of a TV, stuffing his face with processed food and keeping a watchful eye on his father’s gun; his passport to the afterlife. Everything changes when he receives a letter from the Mercedes Killer, a madman who plowed into a crowd of people using a Mercedes SL500 - hence the flashy name. Hodges retired before he could find the bastard responsible and rather than bring the new evidence to his former colleagues, he decides to track the perp (or perk) down himself.
I received a free copy from Simon & Schuster in exchange for a fair review.
It’s no secret that my absolute favorite genre is crime fiction. It’s also probably not a secret that Stephen King is one of my favorite writers. Combine the two and you should have a recipe for a surefire great tasting literary meal. Even though Mr. Mercedes is not made up of the best ingredients, it’s still pretty tasty.
It seems that the novel’s hero Det-Ret Bill Hodges is getting the brunt of the criticism, and with good reason. The man is reckless; he’s not showing any signs of a man who was largely a by-the-book detective in his days behind the shield. His plan to wind up and basically poke a homicidal maniac is pretty thin and he’s lucky the killer doesn't self-destruct immediately. Even when Hodges' back is against the wall and he knows he should turn the investigation over to the proper authorities, he keeps on keepin’ on.
Fortunately for us, The Mercedes Killer himself is the real star of the show here. King has crafted a real sick puppy with his newest villain. There’s no rhyme or reason why he went bowling for bodies and when his thoughts drift to what he could potentially do for an encore, the fact that the few devious plans that come to mind appear through mere flights of fancy make it all the more chilling - and don’t get me started on his beyond unsettling relationship he has with his dear mother.
Mr. Mercedes isn't the tightest of thrillers but I’d be lying if I said I had an easy time putting it down. I’m not sure how I feel about it being the foundation of a planned trilogy but I’m sure I’ll check out to see what book two has to offer. Now, to patiently wait for Revival.
Little Danny Torrance is all grown up and guess what? He’s a booze hound just like his dear old Dad. Following the morning-after-from-hell, DanLittle Danny Torrance is all grown up and guess what? He’s a booze hound just like his dear old Dad. Following the morning-after-from-hell, Dan decides to kick the bottle and lead a life of sobriety. Taking a job as an orderly in a hospice, Dan gets the reputation of being able to ease the dying over to the other side. While he’s content to live a quiet life, Dan still struggles with his unique gift (or curse depending on when you ask him) and when he’s mysteriously contacted by a fellow shiner, a 13 year old named Abra Stone, he’s determined to protect her against a group of murderous nomads who prey on those who “shine” brightly.
After being constantly bothered by people demanding an update on “that little boy from The Shining”, King buckled under the pressure and knocked out a 530 page answer. A simple, “he’s still pretty screwed up” would’ve sufficed, no? Then again, where’s the fun in that? Besides, how could he resist the temptation to live up to the impossible expectations in writing a sequel to one of his most popular books? Given all that he was going up against, it almost seemed like this book was doomed to disappoint before King even wrote the opening sentence. While it didn’t exactly let me down, it didn’t particularly blow me away either.
Earlier in the year, King knocked my socks off with his Hard Case Crime novel, Joyland. Despite how much I loved that book, I was worried that I was reading a rewrite of sorts with Doctor Sleep. Both novels share similar beginnings as they feature a directionless guy taking a job in a tourist attraction of sorts and renting a room from a kind older lady in a large home. However, after that, the similarities end as King goes full force into supernatural territory.
As the story progresses and King plays out the war over Abra’s soul, I found myself missing King’s musings about Danny’s battles with the bottle. While I felt the story triumphed in Dan’s struggles with alcoholism and his never-ending tug of war over his sanity with the shining, it seemingly stumbles with the antagonistic True Knot. Don’t get me wrong, King definitely paints them as a force to be reckoned with and while they do give Abra and company a run for their money, they more often than not come across as amateurs. That being said, King does acknowledge that they’re used to taking their prey down easily so it’s not a shock that they would be unprepared in the face of someone willing to finally push back. I guess I expected them to be a little smarter given the way they’ve been able to survive undetected for so long.
When it comes down to it, I’m not saying it’s a bad book, there’s a lot to like here (including a beautiful moment in which King describes the passing of a patient through Danny’s influence), I just feel my expectations may have been a little too high.
"When it comes to the past everyone writes fiction."
In Joyland, King takes us all the way back to the early 1970s by way of a theme park located in a"When it comes to the past everyone writes fiction."
In Joyland, King takes us all the way back to the early 1970s by way of a theme park located in a North Carolina small town. Seeking summer employment, college student Devin Jones joins the cast of carneys as a part-time worker. While it was meant to occupy his time between semesters, Devin doesn't realize just how important this job is and how it will change his life forever.
I may list The Stand as my favorite Stephen King novel but I'm not sure I connected with that book in the same way I did with Joyland. While I'm not much older than twenty one, I can remember being in a similar situation to that of Devin Jones. No, I never did spend a summer working at a theme park nor did I stumble upon an unsolved murder, but I do recall being in the same emotional state as young Devin.
Like Jonesy, I had my heart broken for reasons I couldn't understand. When Devin decides to take a job working his summer months as a part-time employee of Joyland, his girlfriend Wendy races off to Massachusetts for her own seasonal employment. While apart, Wendy grows distant and gradually her physical separation mirrors an emotional one. Devin sends her letters proclaiming his love for her and detailing his day-to-day life working in Joyland, only to receive short, spastic responses about random road trips. Jones knew where this was headed but like many in his position, he was in denial. Eventually, a letter arrived from Wendy that effectively severed ties with Devin. Devin did not write back.
"I'm not sure anybody ever gets completely over their first love, and that still rankles. Part of me still wants to know what was wrong with me. What I was lacking. I'm in my 60's now, my hair is gray and I'm a prostate cancer survivor but I still want to know why I wasn't good enough for Wendy Keegan."
Eventually, this leads to a scene in the novel where Jones, now 60, is sitting awake in his kitchen reminiscing over his lost love. He’s got a pretty good life – married to a lovely woman, working as an editor for a somewhat popular magazine, yet he still wonders just why he wasn't good enough and what exactly was wrong with him. Like Devin, I found myself asking the same questions. In this alone, King’s writing gripped me and often refused to let go. There wasn't anything complex in how he shaped Devin’s loneliness or confusion, he wrote it in a way that laid everything out for what it was at its core: rejection. King instructed Devin how to handle his heartbreak – sit in his room and listen to records, steal away some time to read and escape into Tolkien’s Middle Earth, anything to distract himself from Wendy and his future without her.
Like Devin, looking back I knew I was suffering from a "bad case of the twenty-ones". Knowing now that my life wasn't over and that things never did become quite as bad as I'd initially feared, it all seemed so ridiculous. However, that's all a part of getting older – growing up and knowing that you're able to face adversity and move on. King crafted a story and main character which, in all honesty whom you should be yelling at to grow up, to get his shit together, to move on with his life. But you can't because you've probably been there. It's easy to forget that sometimes but it takes a story like Joyland to bring us back.
Given all the nostalgia and heartbreak, it’s easy to forget this is also a murder mystery. Instead of what Hardcase Crime is mostly associated with, King takes the whodunit portion, buckles it into the back seat and lets it ride along in the background. While he pops in and reminds the reader every now and then that it's a core part of the story, he’s much more interested in exploring Devin, his friends and his memorable summer in North Carolina.
I should say that I was a little worried before I even cracked open the book. In an interview with NPR's Terry Gross, King had said he didn't even know who the killer was until he neared the novel’s completion. I had feared he would reveal the killer and it would come across as anticlimactic – as if it came out of left field. Thankfully King tied everything together in a plausible and reasonable way that did not leave me scratching my head.
In the end, I really loved Joyland and what I'm about to say shouldn't be taken in a negative way. Stephen King is like literary comfort food. Sure, there may be more challenging novels out there but you can't beat that feeling of sitting down and digging into a fresh plate of fiction as a home cooked meal.
Worrying about starting a family but afraid that your eventual child may dieDo endless nightmares got you down?
Still fretting over Captain Trips?
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I really enjoyed this final volume. I was worried that too much was left for the last book but it certainly didn't feel that way. I was really interested in how they were going to present the ending. It's certainly a unique situation and having seen the mini-series version coupled what I envisioned while reading King's actual book, Perkins art really nailed it.
I must say I'm impressed with how Marvel handled the comic adaptation. Gives me hope for their Dark Tower books. Once I finally finish that series, I plan on giving those a try....more
Stephen King’s Dark Tower saga comes to a conclusion with the seventh (or eighth if you’re counting “The Wind Through the Keyhole”) and final novelStephen King’s Dark Tower saga comes to a conclusion with the seventh (or eighth if you’re counting “The Wind Through the Keyhole”) and final novel appropriately titled, “The Dark Tower”. In the series’ finale, Roland and his ka-tet draw ever closer to their destiny as the Tower is finally within reach, however, death and destruction lie ahead. Can Roland reach his ultimate destination without paying a heavy price?
It took King nearly twenty-two years to finish the series (from the publication of The Gunslinger) and in the end, he did not disappoint. King ran me through an emotional wringer in deciding to push Roland and his Ka-Tet to their absolute limit both mentally and physically. There’s so much loss in the finale that the weight of the novel cannot be measured in mass alone.
That being said, it’s really difficult for me to review this without heading into spoiler territory as all I really want to do is talk about the ending. It is the opinion of many of his fans that King often struggles with endings (he even says as much in the afterword). However, when he does get it right, he nails it - as is the case with The Dark Tower. I couldn’t imagine a more fitting end to the series despite some of the anti-climactic deaths on the antagonist side of things. I also would have likely trimmed some of the fat from the last 200 pages or so - there are points where it feels unnecessarily bloated. Then again, it wouldn’t be a King novel if Uncle Stevie wasn’t a little long-winded at times.
King’s magnum opus is not to be taken lightly. In total (including Wind Through The Keyhole), there are a staggering 4,250 pages when all is said and done. It has action, adventure, emotional depth and its own mythology. It connects many of King’s other novels into what many have dubbed “King’s Dominion” - it is what I feel to be the heart and soul of his life’s work. It is most assuredly worth your investment as a constant reader and I look forward to the day that I will once again set upon the journey to the Tower.
Here are some spoilerific comments:
(view spoiler)[Mordred felt ultimately pointless in the end. While he served a purpose in killing off Flagg, I would have prefered a showdown with the Ka-tet. He was seemingly half-dead from food poisoning when he finally caught up with Roland leading a fairly swift and anti-climactic death at the hands of the Gunslinger - but not before killing Oy (an unforgivable sin).
The Crimson King really sucked.
Patrick Danville seemed like a weird addition to finish off the novel and having him kill the man responsible for 99% of the shit that happens in the book seemed like an odd choice. Also, why didn’t he draw Roland’s hand giving him his fingers back? I was waiting for that to happen, but I guess it didn’t matter in the end.
I.Loved.That.Ending.
The absolute horror that Roland would have felt upon realizing he’d already reached the Tower time and time again. Can you imagine? Going through all that just to have to do it again? Jesus Christ. At least he wouldn’t know any different going forward. Is that worse?
The Ka-Tet of Nineteen’s skills are requested when a gang of marauders threaten an entire generation of townsfolk. As Gunslingers, Roland and companyThe Ka-Tet of Nineteen’s skills are requested when a gang of marauders threaten an entire generation of townsfolk. As Gunslingers, Roland and company are unable to refuse those who seek their assistance so they quickly begin preparing for battle. Susannah Dean, pregnant with a demon’s child, has yet another personality arise during her sleep. Her name is “Mia” and she may prove to be very, very dangerous.
There is a lot going on in King’s fifth entry of his acclaimed Dark Tower saga. Susannah’s ongoing mental issues are straining the relationship between Roland and his pupils while the enormity of their duty as gunslingers lingers in the background. Stress is at an all time high and doubt is running through their veins like blood. Fortunately for those involved, situations like this can help to shape a person and while Roland’s Ka-Tet is undoubtedly united, they are far from the force they are destined to become.
While I’ve read a good chunk of Uncle Stevie’s yarns, I have yet to check out Salem’s Lot. With Father Callahan playing such an integral role in the novel, I couldn’t help but feel I may have missed a few things here and there. However, King does a good job expanding Callahan’s story so there’s a chance it’s all covered.
I would have hated to be reading this series as the books were released. The wait between The Wastelands and Wizard and Glass had been six years. The wait between Glass and Wolves was another six years! Two DT books in a combined twelve years. Too long! Thankfully, I can grab books six and seven whenever I damn well feel like it. A luxury for sure....more
In No Man's Land, Harold's turn to the dark man has come full circle as his plan comes to fruition. With Nadine by his side, Harold enlists the powerIn No Man's Land, Harold's turn to the dark man has come full circle as his plan comes to fruition. With Nadine by his side, Harold enlists the power of explosives to attempt to bring about the demise of the Free Zone Committee. Meanwhile, the search for Mother Abigail continues as her mysterious disappearance causes several of the townsfolk to worry about her ability to survive the elements.
This is a pretty important volume. So much happens within these 136 pages and surprisingly, it moves along at a brisk pace without feeling cramped and rushed.
Obviously, a lot is lost here when you're transferring an incredibly long and detailed novel into a story telling medium that relies so heavily on one person's depictions of events and characters. Luckily, they've chosen an excellent artist who really works well with facial expression and body language.
I felt that Harold's turn to evil was handled well, especially after his penultimate moment and the way he presents himself to Nadine - some chilling stuff there.
The final volume is obviously going to be very heavy on Vegas and Flagg's camp so needless to say, I'm excited. Flagg is probably my favorite literary villain and I'm excited to see how this crew manages to depict the ending....more
Picking up where The Wastelands left off, the Wizard and Glass takes us back to the ka-tet's excruciating marathon riddle session with Blaine thePicking up where The Wastelands left off, the Wizard and Glass takes us back to the ka-tet's excruciating marathon riddle session with Blaine the Mono. Shortly thereafter, Eddie, Suzannah and Jake are told a crucial story of Roland's youth during his formative years as a young gunslinger.
This was a really hard one to rate. While I loved the first three books, this one abandons the story that King has been building up since the beginning in favor of a long, drawn out back story. I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy Roland's tale of travel with Alain and Cuthbert, it just felt a little bloated at times, leaving me pining for more of Eddie, Jake and Suzannah.
I felt like a lot probably could've been cut out or condensed. For example, Susan's arguments with her Aunt were well written but I could've done with less of them. It felt like they were screaming at each other during every other chapter.
There were however, a lot of awesome scenes written - the brutal battle near the book's climax for one. For someone who has a knack for writing thrillers and horror novels, King has a striking talent for crafting brutal action scenes right out of a multi-million dollar blockbuster movie. While not as intense as the Battle of Tull (and how could it be?), it stands alone as an example of just how destructive and deadly Roland can be.
I settled on three stars because while I enjoyed the majority of it, I couldn't get passed the fact that it felt padded. Like Dan said over in his review, the Wizard of Oz stuff really felt unnecessary. For King to spend so much time on Roland's youth only to jump into something that felt disconnected from everything else was jarring to say the least.
I certainly will not wait as long as I previously did to pick up the next one. From what I've heard, the final 3 books are full of awesomeness. Might as well stay on the path of the beam while the story is still fresh in my head.
*** Oh, and I have to give points to King for bringing the ka-tet into the world created by Captain Trips. I believe I had read something before that foretold the groups journey into this universe but I had forgotten about it by the time they arrived. I couldn't have been happier!...more
I flip-flopped back and forth between what to rate this but ultimately decided on a 4. In fact, I think 2012 has been the year that I've awarded theI flip-flopped back and forth between what to rate this but ultimately decided on a 4. In fact, I think 2012 has been the year that I've awarded the most 4 star reviews. I guess that's what happens when you stay within the lines of what you're primarily expected to enjoy.
Finally, we've arrived in Boulder and a new United States of America beings to slowly take form. Many are beginning to be made aware of a growing army within Nevada, ruled by The Dark Man, so preparations must be made. In this volume, Aguirre-Sacasa concentrates mainly on the formation of the ad-hoc committee in Boulder as everything from corpse removal to restoring the power must be organized before winter sets in.
Harold Lauder starts to slowly turn to The Dark Man for acceptance and guidance as his hatred flows through him into the pages of his secret ledger. However, Harold isn't the only rotten apple in town as Nadine Cross shows signs that her faith may not be within Mother Abagail but rather that of Randall Flagg.
Hardcases concentrates in the development of the opposing civilizations with the promise of battle on the horizon. Flagg, while a known evil, seems to have happier followers whereas those in Boulder are not without conflict.
I really enjoyed this collection but annoyed that I've now caught up and have nothing else in the series to read. The remaining installments cannot come fast enough. Then again, it's not like I'm not aware of how this ends or anything....more
Nick Andros continues on his trek across America, stumbling across Tom Cullen, a mentally handicapped survivor of the plague. While the two aren'tNick Andros continues on his trek across America, stumbling across Tom Cullen, a mentally handicapped survivor of the plague. While the two aren't exactly compatible at first, they soon realize that they're important to one another after two near death experiences. We're also catching up on Larry Underwood's journey as he meets up with Nadine Cross and her much younger companion.
Stu Redman collides with Frannie and Harold as they're on their way to Vermont. Harold holds his ground as he's not exactly willing to trust a stranger but an event later on brings the group closer together.
Not exactly a focal point this time around, the Dark Man's influence and appearances in the character's nightmares still lingers in the background. However, word is spreading that he's assembling an army.
Volume 3 is a good bridging gap between the installments. There are a few important developments but nothing quite as jarring as a few scenes from the first two volumes. I will say that the gore is certainly in full force this time around - especially during a violent confrontation involving Frannie, Harold and Stu as they face down a roadblock created by murders and rapists.
With 3 volumes left and a hell of a lot story to tell, I am a little worried with how they're going to bring it to us, the constant readers. With how well they've adapted the story so far, it's hard not to have faith....more
I'll start this off by saying that I fully expected to hate this.. or at least be bored by it. Despite the fact that Scott Snyder is highly regardedI'll start this off by saying that I fully expected to hate this.. or at least be bored by it. Despite the fact that Scott Snyder is highly regarded in the comic industry at the moment - what with kicking all kinds of ass with the recent Batman reboot/relaunch/whatever - and perennial favorite, Uncle Stevie lending his writing chops to the series, I still expected mediocrity.
Why?
Because I'm starting to hate vampires. No, this isn't an anti-twilight rant nor does it have anything to do with disliking something because it's popular. It mostly has to do with just a never ending stream of what feels like average content. Take Justin Cronin's The Passage series. While I felt the first book was OK at best, the second book was unbearable, so much so that I put it down - I just couldn't soldier on through something I feel so negatively about.
The good news is, with lowered expectations, it only really leaves room for someone to move up. That or dive down into the sub basement of boredom.
Snyder and King craft a story bringing together two distinct periods in time involving two pretty different characters. While at their core, they're a lot a like, it's there origins that bring about conflicting emotions in the reader. One, an outlaw of the old wild west and the other, a struggling young actress in 1920s Hollywood.
Both were excellent and certainly leave a lot in the open for future volumes. I already enjoy Snyder's writing but Rafael Albuquerque's art is exceptional to say the least. His visuals sync up perfectly with the style of the story that's being told and offer up some pretty gruesome shots.
This is the kind of vampire storytelling I can get behind. You've got compelling characters with an interesting plot for them to play around in. It doesn't feel manufactured and the inclusion of vampires never really feels like a gimmick used to cash in on the genre's massive popularity.
I've got volume one and two sitting on my coffee table all set to go - I think I'll be breezing through these in pretty rapid succession....more
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