Stephen King Fans discussion

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message 1: by DJ (new)

DJ | 18 comments Hope I'm putting this in the right thread.

I read Under The Dome. It's not my favorite, but I really liked it a lot. I felt the ending was slightly rushed IMO.

Anyways - Since I started The Stand (unfinished, put away at the moment), and I'm starting reading "IT" now. I am noticing that King likes to have a lot of characters and writes about their back stories and such. I have a little bit of a hard time keeping up (attribute that to slow reading and reading at night).

When I read Under the Dome - I was impressed with how King had the list of characters and a small tidbit about them in the beginning of the book. It was very helpful at times because I would be like, "Wait, I know that name before, who was she again?", and I would just go back to that section and refresh my mind.

Now, I would like to know if there's any websites or places where I can find something similar to that for It, The Stand, etc. Does anyone know?

Thanks for the help!!


message 2: by Jeremy (last edited Jan 13, 2011 12:56PM) (new)

Jeremy | 13 comments Well, if you go to his website, (www.stephenking.com) you can click on "The Library" tab, search for the book you want to know about, and on the left side you can click on "characters" .. I just checked IT, and wow, that's a long list.

Be careful, though. Some of the short descriptions may spoil bits for you.


message 3: by DJ (new)

DJ | 18 comments Jeremy wrote: "Well, if you go to his website, (www.stephenking.com) you can click on "The Library" tab, search for the book you want to know about, and on the left side you can click on "characters" .. I just ch..."

Thanks for the HELP!! I usually will refer it the first time I see the character, and go back and check again. Ctrl-F is my friend, so I just use that instead of tempting myself to scroll down the list. :-)

Big hug to you.


message 4: by Jeremy (new)

Jeremy | 13 comments Glad to be of service!

The Stand and IT, two of my top 5 SK books. Enjoy :)


message 5: by Scott (new)

Scott | 401 comments I think if you search a book on Wikipedia it will usually give a list of main characters and a short description.


message 6: by Chris , The Hardcase (new)

Chris  Haught (haughtc) | 1169 comments Mod
Scott wrote: "I think if you search a book on Wikipedia it will usually give a list of main characters and a short description."

And a lot of spoilers. Wikipedia is great for info, but be careful. You might find too much info....


message 7: by Scott (new)

Scott | 401 comments Very true. I should have mentioned that.


message 8: by Chris , The Hardcase (new)

Chris  Haught (haughtc) | 1169 comments Mod
That's cool, Scott. I wouldn't have thought of mentioning it except that I recently ruined Mockingjay for myself by going there....


message 9: by Steven (new)

Steven Belanger | 53 comments It and The Stand are my favorite King novels, #1 and #2.


message 10: by DJ (new)

DJ | 18 comments yeah, that's why Jeremy's suggestion was very helpful. The website gave character's names (and many that are one-time and obvious), with a small tidbit. To me, there's no spoiler or very little. That's exactly what I need to "remind" me who that person is.

Chris - I know exactly how you feel. When I went to buy Catching Fire as an eBook, the first thing I saw was a HUGE spoiler (by B&N's descriptions that ruined how Hunger Games ended). I hate spoilers.


message 11: by Tek (new)

Tek | 97 comments If you've ever read George RR Martins A Song of Ice and Fire, he places a huge character index in the back of his books. It is incredibly helpful sometimes. Makes me wish more authors that have a huge cast list would do the same.


message 12: by Dustin (new)

Dustin I don't think character index's are necessary..


message 13: by Leland (new)

Leland (lelandhw) Dustin wrote: "I don't think character index's are necessary.."

I thought one was very necessary when I read the Wheel of Time series. What was it...Currently 2000+ characters or something like that. The character list for 'The Stand' was also quite helpful.


message 14: by Chris , The Hardcase (new)

Chris  Haught (haughtc) | 1169 comments Mod
With Martin's series, I found it essential. Not to keep up with the main characters, but to keep up with all the noble houses and which other houses they were allied with, married into, etc.

Steven Erikson's Malazan series also features indexes, and they're valuable.

Oh, in Wheel of Time, I need an index just to keep up with all the female characters whose name begins with "A".


message 15: by Dustin (new)

Dustin I don't recall a character list in The Stand...


As for The Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire, I can see how one would be helpful.


message 16: by Leland (new)

Leland (lelandhw) Dustin wrote: "I don't recall a character list in The Stand..."

You're right. There wasn't one in the book. And the first time I read it, I only had my own notes with which to jog my memory. There is a character list at www.stephenking.com for most of his novels. That's the one I was referring to.


message 17: by Becky (new)

Becky (beckyofthe19and9) I want to say that there was a character list in Under The Dome, but I can't say for sure and I'm not home to check.

Yes? No? Becky, you're crazy?


message 18: by Leland (new)

Leland (lelandhw) I know that there was one in the super special edition that came with the cards. But I'm not sure if the regular edition had it. I, too, am not at home to check.

For that matter all my books are packed up right now. Our water heater blew and needed to be replaced. The only access for it is the wall in our living room where the bookshelves are. Bizarre no?

The mission is yours Becky.


message 19: by Becky (new)

Becky (beckyofthe19and9) O_o

I choose to accept. (And I hope that this message will not self-destruct.)


message 20: by Scott (new)

Scott | 401 comments Becky wrote: "I want to say that there was a character list in Under The Dome, but I can't say for sure and I'm not home to check.

Yes? No? Becky, you're crazy?"


There was a character list and a map in the front of the book.


message 21: by Chris , The Hardcase (new)

Chris  Haught (haughtc) | 1169 comments Mod
What Scott said, but you are a little crazy at that, Becky.


message 22: by Leland (new)

Leland (lelandhw) Thanks Scott! (*whispers* He beat us to it Becky!)

*grin*


message 23: by Becky (new)

Becky (beckyofthe19and9) Thank you, Scott! :)

And an *eye twitch* to you, Chris.


message 24: by Chris , The Hardcase (new)

Chris  Haught (haughtc) | 1169 comments Mod
Crazy in a good way, say true.


message 25: by Becky (new)

Becky (beckyofthe19and9) Leslie wrote: "Thanks Scott! (*whispers* He beat us to it Becky!)

*grin*"


That's OK... By the time I got home I would have forgotten anyway. :P


message 26: by Leland (new)

Leland (lelandhw) YEah. Meetoo


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