stephen king c/d?

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king is 19c social realism applied to the 20c horror novel. please suggest a genre writer whose characters are less two-dimensional, whose settings have more life, whose voice is more natural, etc. he's very thorough, and he has a personality as a writer (compare to 90% of literary fiction).

don't really know what else to say except that i'm totally with David A in that he's a strong enough writer to make phrases like "he makes you care a whole hell of a lot" sound good, and if you can't see the charm in that we've probably got irreconcilable subjective differences.

― vahid (vahid), Thursday, 18 March 2004 04:00 (9 years ago) Permalink

2 weeks pass...

oh, the domains people register:

http://www.lamerkindustries.com/

― Kingfish Balzac (Kingfish), Monday, 5 April 2004 03:08 (9 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Two Stephen King memories that stick with me despite not having read any of his books in about 10 years:

One of his short stories, a sci-fi piece about how teleportation travel has finally been invented and popularized. For it to work, you have to be sedated, because you aren't supposed to have your eyes open during teleportation, though the specifics for why aren't explained. A family is going on a trip. They all come out on the other end, but uh oh, where's the son? All of a sudden he pops out. He somehow faked the sedation and went through with his eyes open. He has been turned into a grotesque pile of flesh, a la the inside-out dog from The Fly. This disturbed me greatly for some reason and I still think about it from time to time.

Stephen King on Celebrity Jeopardy. All the other celebrities are playing for cancer research or orphanages or something, King is playing for his local library. This strikes me as incredibly cool. He trounces the other celebrities handily.

― NA (Nick A.), Friday, 4 June 2004 19:20 (9 years ago) Permalink

He has been turned into a grotesque pile of flesh, a la the inside-out dog from The Fly. This disturbed me greatly for some reason and I still think about it from time to time.

actually, he went insane.

this is in the _Skeleton Crew_ collection.

― Kingfish Disraeli (Kingfish), Friday, 4 June 2004 19:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

See, my mind made it more disturbing than it was.

― NA (Nick A.), Friday, 4 June 2004 19:42 (9 years ago) Permalink

yes. no more chocolate doughnuts for you before bedtime.

― Kingfish Disraeli (Kingfish), Friday, 4 June 2004 21:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

i think we talked about that story on ILB. it is called "the jaunt". it is so fucking creepy that one time when i REREAD it i got so wigged out that i went into the side yard and threw the book into the trash can.

― vahid (vahid), Friday, 4 June 2004 21:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

and yeah the only thing that happens to the kid is he goes nuts, but gosh, does he go nuts.

― vahid (vahid), Friday, 4 June 2004 21:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

alfred bester! okay for the following 90 seconds i will think stephen king is cool again

― tom west (thomp), Friday, 4 June 2004 23:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

"king is 19c social realism applied to the 20c horror novel. please suggest a genre writer whose characters are less two-dimensional, whose settings have more life, whose voice is more natural, etc. he's very thorough, and he has a personality as a writer (compare to 90% of literary fiction).
don't really know what else to say except that i'm totally with David A in that he's a strong enough writer to make phrases like "he makes you care a whole hell of a lot" sound good, and if you can't see the charm in that we've probably got irreconcilable subjective differences.

-- vahid (vfoz...), March 18th, 2004."

OTM. Of all the writers who consistently sell millions and millions of books, he's one of the few who actually has a point of view. He's written some good stuff and written some shit, but a least he has his own voice.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 5 June 2004 00:43 (9 years ago) Permalink

Harlan Ellison made the specific claim that King as such is sui generis, maybe more so at the start of his career but that he does definitely have a distinct, VERY distinct voice -- if anything I think a good analog would be Ray Bradbury, who also has a distinct voice and is very much an American writer working with a variety of fictive forms.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 5 June 2004 01:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

Absolutely, the Bradbury connection looms large. Especially when you compare their short stories -- the singular, unmistakable (folksy yet lyrical) voice, the themes, the fictitious small communities, character as plot, hit-or-miss novels compared with more consistent shorter forms, their vaguely liberal small-town idealism, almost everything. I think King's gone on record citing Bradbury as an influence, too.

― David A. (Davant), Saturday, 5 June 2004 03:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

"The Jaunt" is about the gruesome effects of having to remain conscious for 90,000,000 years or something, right? I thought about it a lot when I worked in a call center. Actually it's like ALL jobs, really.

― dave q, Saturday, 5 June 2004 04:29 (9 years ago) Permalink

No, that was Kubrik's/Spielberg's A.I.

― David A. (Davant), Saturday, 5 June 2004 05:19 (9 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

y'ever wonder what a Crimson King looks like?

― Kingfish von Bandersnatch (Kingfish), Thursday, 29 July 2004 16:20 (8 years ago) Permalink

2 years pass...

So, I need some easy summer reading, and seeing as the new Michael Connelly isn't in paperback yet, I thought I'd try some Stephen King for the first time -- any recommendations?

More specifically, I kinda fancy checking out "The Stand" because the Lost writers keep name-dropping it -- is it worth it (it's long!) and should I read the old/short or new/long version?

Apart from that, Pet Sematary and Salem's Lot look interesting.

― Chuck_Tatum, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 20:47 (6 years ago) Permalink

The Stand is my favorite of them; read the unabridged version. It's perfect if you like end-of-the-world type stuff.

Pet Sematary and Salem's Lot are also solid choices. Of his more recent books, I really liked Bag of Bones.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 20:49 (6 years ago) Permalink

I love the Stand but I don't know if I would start out with that.

Misery and The Shining spring first to mind. I don't remember PS or SL enough to say if they'd be better choices though. Carrie is also good. Basically I think any of the more well-known ones would be a good first choice before you delve into some of the longer, more King-y ones.

I'm sure someone on ILX will disagree.

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 20:49 (6 years ago) Permalink

I re-read Misery last year and was amazed at how compelling I found it. (I mean, it's not like I didn't know the ending.) The Shining is also very good. I might steer clear of reading Cujo, though because it's just soooooo depressing.

Oh, and his short story collections Skeleton Crew and Night Shift are really great.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 20:55 (6 years ago) Permalink

Not showing up to disagree, but It is still my favorite King.

But Misery and The Shining are both good recommendations.

― Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 20:56 (6 years ago) Permalink

Ahh, yes It was one of my faves too. I *loved* King as youngster but it's been a long time since I read anything of his. Will have to dig some out. . .

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 20:57 (6 years ago) Permalink

It -- I've seen the TV mini series: is the book different? Does the baddie still turn into an Evil Spider at the end?

― Chuck_Tatum, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 20:59 (6 years ago) Permalink

It scared the hell out of me the first time I read it. I was in high school, so too old to be as freaked out as I was... I'd start thinking about It in the shower and finish washing my hair as fast as I could so I could get out of there.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:03 (6 years ago) Permalink

I re-read It post-college and still enjoyed it thoroughly, though it was obviously a little less frightening than when I read it at 13.

I avoided the TV mini-series. But it sure looked like crap. I guess it's technically very loyal to the novel. Did King have anything to do with it? Because that is a sign of a bad movie.

Read The Stand. It's as good as any, and it's a big source for pop culture references.

― Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:03 (6 years ago) Permalink

Yeah. It works better in the book.

Of the books you mentioned, I like The Stand the most but would recommend 'Salem's Lot first. I hated Pet Sematery.

I read It during a period of time when I was travelling back and forth between Minnesota and Louisiana to visit my comatose brother in the hospital. It was... unsettling.

― HI DERE, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:05 (6 years ago) Permalink

I've only read the first four Dark Tower books, but we have all of them. My favorite was the fourth (Wizard and Glass). I've heard mixed things about the rest of the series.

Also considering getting the Dark Tower graphic novel interpolations or prequels or whatever they are.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:07 (6 years ago) Permalink

Whoa Dan, that would be unsettling. (All of it.)

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:09 (6 years ago) Permalink

I stopped at the second Dark Tower and had lost track by the time he followed up. I should really pick them back up b/c I loved that series.

Did King have anything to do with it? Because that is a sign of a bad movie.

haha, absolutely. I don't know if a series/movie of IT would work so well period.

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:10 (6 years ago) Permalink

Yeah Sara, I was already depressed, then I was reading this huge book about a monster that ate kids while staying in a hotel room with huge, forbidding-looking closets, and I didn't sleep very much.

― HI DERE, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:11 (6 years ago) Permalink

Aw, I just want to travel back in time and give you a hug. And TAKE THAT BOOK AWAY FROM YOU FOR A WHILE.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:14 (6 years ago) Permalink

I didn't realize that was when you read It.

― Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:14 (6 years ago) Permalink

It could have been worse! I could have been reading Johnny Got His Gun.

― HI DERE, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:14 (6 years ago) Permalink

ha ha - I read that at John's recommendation. And it haunts me to this day.

I just remember that I read It in 11th grade; but I also remember Dan saying that It had freaked him out - yes, that is all I remember of Mr. H3b3rt's biology class. So you must have read it the year before I did, then, Dan. (Also, I didn't realize that your brother had been in a coma for long enough for you to travel back and forth... wow you went through a lot during that time.)

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:18 (6 years ago) Permalink

(Actually I have one other memory of Dan from that biology class; the day that he refused to take his hat off.)

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:19 (6 years ago) Permalink

I liked the Dark Tower series, but I think it's because I haven't read a fantasy novel since 5th grade (when Fellowship of the Ring bored me to death and turned me off of reading altogether for the next five years) and a part of me still yearns for epic quests where the fate of the world hangs in the balance etc etc. At any rate, it was a relatively guilt-free way to get my fix, so I'm not complaining.

I get why people hate the ending, and I didn't immediately embrace it either, but I'm cool with it now. I'm not a big ending guy anyway.

― bernard snowy, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:19 (6 years ago) Permalink

Stephen King's endings always seem to be his weak spot. I have a friend who is a writer and she was really peeved by the ending of Cell. Actually, I think she's still annoyed about the ending to It as well.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:23 (6 years ago) Permalink

There's a copy of Cell in my house! I might read that. The cover is great: "Your Number is Up!" (Stormclouds in background, etc.)

― Chuck_Tatum, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:24 (6 years ago) Permalink

Oh God, the fucking hat story. Ugh.

King's anthologies are really great; Skeleton Crew is one of the most fun things I've ever read.

― HI DERE, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:26 (6 years ago) Permalink

Cell is not bad... I liked it and I didn't mind the ending.

Whatever you do, I'd avoid Insomnia. From a Buick 8 kind of left me cold, too.

Skeleton Crew was what made me a King addict. I still can't read "The Mist" without my palms sweating.

(Dan, sorry to bring up the hat story.)

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:28 (6 years ago) Permalink

My scalp is tingling now. Either I am about to be attacked by The Green goblin or my father scarred me mentally for life.

― HI DERE, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:29 (6 years ago) Permalink

lol... sorry. I blame myself. (Seriously, what WAS your father thinking?)

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:32 (6 years ago) Permalink

"The Mist" was a fun read.

― Anonymous, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:32 (6 years ago) Permalink

He was thinking it was 1960 instead of 1990?

― HI DERE, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:33 (6 years ago) Permalink

yeah, Skeleton Crew was great. I thought the ending of "The Mist" was perfect, with the sudden shift of focus from a very small geographic area to this entire weird terrifying world filled with horrors you can only begin to imagine. it's a total mindfuck moment, and left me so freaked out that I didn't even really care about the fate of the characters anymore.

― bernard snowy, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:34 (6 years ago) Permalink

OK, why do I not remember the hat story?

― Anonymous, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:34 (6 years ago) Permalink

Yes, please share.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:36 (6 years ago) Permalink

I'm resisting writing my dim memory of it out because I fear it would not be accurate.

"The Mist" is terrifying. I was on an airplane when I read it the first time... surrounded by clouds.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:44 (6 years ago) Permalink

i'm dreading/anticipating the movie

― latebloomer, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:45 (6 years ago) Permalink

FB = RUMBLED

The hat story: Because it was a pain in the ass to get haircuts in the Twin Cities and my family didn't trust the hairdressers in town to know how to do black hair, my haircuts were very, very infrequent, usually something on the order of 8 months apart. In the midst of one of these haircut lapses, my dad decided that it would help make my hair more manageable if he straightened it. I didn't fully understand the logic behind it, but I deferred to his 33 years of added life experience and let him put relaxer on my head. The end result, of course, was that he burned all shades of holy shit out of my scalp and created a situation where all of the hair on my head essentially stuck straight out and my scalp was so damaged that even a light breeze wafting across my head caused intense pain. I got around this by wearing a baseball cap. The next day in biology class, the teacher decided that it was hellaciously disrespectful of me to wear a hat in his class and demanded that I take it off. I told him no and tried to relay what my dad had done to me, but he was hearing none of it. The thing basically turned into a shouting match where I finally yanked off my hat and displayed my comedy afro + oozing scabby scalp and said, "THERE! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?" He took a horrified look at my head and said, "Okay you can keep the hat on," to which I said, "THANK YOU!" and slammed the hat back on my head, which of course was followed by a muffled yelp of pain.

Good times.

― HI DERE, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:45 (6 years ago) Permalink

fun fact: "The Mist" was part of the inspiration for Half-Life

― kingfish, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 21:46 (6 years ago) Permalink

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