Stephen King

MetallicPyreal · 03-14-2005, 05:32 AM

Anyone read some of his works? I'm reading "Christine". Next is "The Shining" and "It".

Busterslash35 · 03-14-2005, 05:39 AM

I seen the movie "The Langoliers" if that counts.. never read any of his works, though.

Punichu · 03-14-2005, 05:58 AM

I feel a lot of his works are drawn out too long. His best work is STILL "Maximium Overdrive".

**piccolo#1** · 03-14-2005, 07:49 AM

Read a couple of his books and seen a lot of his movies. I think he's vastly overrated.

`Phenom · 03-14-2005, 10:55 AM

I read Cujo and watched a few of the movies based on his works. I was a bit disappointed. After being years of being scared by my big bro about Cujo coming to bite off my toes and trembling at the sight of the book's cover, I was very dissappointed to finally read the book(at a much older age

)and find out it was just a stupid dog with rabies.

WildWill · 03-14-2005, 12:17 PM

He's a hack. A talented, rich hack, but a hack nontheless. I've read probably 20 of his books over the years, and I've given up.

But I do respect him. He's very into the literacy campaign, and does a lot of public speaking in support of it. He's also VERY intelligent, and realizes that the works he writes aren't heavy-duty literature.

His longer-form fiction does tend to be incredibly dull, and in the end pointless (CF "It").

His shorter fiction is much better, and actually enjoyable to read, I've got several of his short-story collections, and that's where he really shines.

At some point I'll read the Roland series (or whatever it's called). I read the first one ages ago, then I discovered through the magic of English classes, that he's doing a pastitche and tribute to Robert Browning and a bunch of other poets in that series, so when it's over, I'll probably read them all (after Graduation that is, I have almost NO time for fun reading at the moment).

All that said, there's NOTHING like reading "The Shining" while you're WORKING at the front desk of a hotel doing the night-audit shifts...that's scary.

And I do still like the long, uncut version of "The Stand".

GooberGrape513 · 03-14-2005, 12:29 PM

The uncut version of The Stand is the only book I read of his, and it is probably one of best, if not the best, books I have ever read. The storyline behind it is incredible and the chracters suck you into the story.

I suggest it to anyone.

Blankauctions · 03-14-2005, 12:38 PM

If anyone saw Kingdom Hospital (or read the book)... you'd know some of his stuff isn't great.

"The Shining" , "It" , "The Langoliers", "Storm of the Century" (again, not his best) and "Christine" are his better novels. Can't wait till he gets back to writing (He's on "hiatus" ^_^)

I think Patterson is a better writer.

Greg · 03-14-2005, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punichu

I feel a lot of his works are drawn out too long. His best work is STILL "Maximium Overdrive".

my thoughs exactly, but i do like IT and shawshank

sixersballernum3 · 03-14-2005, 02:56 PM

Will, the series you're thinking of is The Dark Tower series. I think....the main character is Roland.

Anyways, I started The Gunslinger, the first of the series, but then my Reading teacher assigned a huge project to go along with Treasure Island, so I had to stop.

I'm currently reading IT over again, and I plan on reading The Stand next. I've read some of his work already, like Carrie, Christine, Misery, and Cujo. I plan on checking out Nightmares and Dreamscapes and Salem's Lot also.

Village Dag · 03-16-2005, 12:55 AM

I have only read the Green Mile, and I can honestly say, that it is a ****ing brilliant book and movie.

shadow magician · 03-16-2005, 03:49 PM

I like Dreamcatcher and Pet Sematary. I liked these more than most of the other novels.

LMR Star · 03-21-2005, 02:41 PM

The Dark Tower Series is a must read.

MetallicPyreal · 03-21-2005, 03:16 PM

"The Shining" was great, but it was waaay too slow. He could've shortened the book by like 50 pages by taking out some of the useless scenes in there.

"Pet Sematary" was amazing. And scary, too.

I'm currently on "It" and "Hearts in Atlantis". Next I'm gonna read "Cujo".

buu11235 · 03-21-2005, 07:08 PM

I loved the Dark Tower series. I thought that the Dark Half was well written and a very fast book. I agree that his short staries are better than most of his novels. i loved The Monkey, The Jaunt, Chain Rose Up, and Gramma.

serpentknightsoldier · 03-21-2005, 07:12 PM

I'm a big fan of Stephen King's novels. I've read "Bag of Bones", "Needful Things", "Salem's Lot", and "Desperation". All were terrific and certainly suspenseful.

kunai_knives · 03-22-2005, 04:37 PM

Dude, he can write any good book for any genre. I heard that right now, his writing a pulp fiction genre book, that features a 1950's style cover.

Al_Pacino · 10-12-2005, 06:57 PM

Which of his books is the scarierst?

I've only read that Werewolf one and am currently reading Cujo.

MetallicPyreal · 10-14-2005, 11:07 AM

This topic is still alive? Cool.

I haven't read a good King book since Insomnia. Maybe I should look into the Dark Tower stuff...I've run out of King stuff to read after deciding I didnt like Firestarter, The Regulators(worst one i've read), and the Tommyknockers. Since I didn't like the Regulators I'm not gonna read Desperation either.

I've read and liked these:
IT
Insomnia
Needful Things
Salem's Lot
Pet Sematary
Christine
The Dead Zone
Night Shift
Four Past Midnight
Skeleton Crew
Cujo

IT and Pet Sematary were the scariest. Salem's Lot was also somewhat scary.

Disgruntled_Minority · 10-14-2005, 08:52 PM

Wow. Let's see. I've read so many of his books. He is seriously my FAVORITE author. I read my first Stephen King book when I was like 11 and I just fell in love with his style of writing, even though a lot of the characters are quite similar. That's understandable though, because he is from New England, and that is where many of his stories take place.

Here are the books of his I have read:

Desperation (very first book by King I read)*
The Shining
'Salem's Lot*
Pet Sematary
The Stand*
Cycle of the Werewolf
The Talisman*
Black House*
The Eyes of the Dragon*
The Dark Half
Hearts in Atlantis*
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger*
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three*
The Dark Tower III: The Wastlands*
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass*
The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla*
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah*
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower*

Thos are all of them I think.

The * signifies books that have intertwining storylines. What this means is basically they are all related in some way. If anyone has read and liked 'Salem's Lot, then you should read the Dark Tower series. Father Callahan is in Wolves of the Calla.

WildWill · 10-14-2005, 09:00 PM

At some point I am meaning to get to the Dark Tower series. I read the first one a LOOOOOOOONG time ago, and liked it well enough. I especially liked the fact that it's all based on Robert Browning poetry, and I didn't figure that out until I took an English Lit class.

I just saw that King has put out a pulp type detective story, I think I might pick that up. I'm a sucker for noir fiction. I just can't get enough. Last Summer I picked up "The Postman Always Rings Twice" - can't beat it.

I didn't realize that "Eyes of the Dragon" had anything to do with any other story...that's cool. I suppose I should go looking for a Stephen King site...

I also really dug the Kingized "Kingdom Hospital". Then again, I really dug the original Swiss version.

Disgruntled_Minority · 10-14-2005, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildWill

I didn't realize that "Eyes of the Dragon" had anything to do with any other story...that's cool. I suppose I should go looking for a Stephen King site...

The only thing it has in commonn is the wizard. In The Eyes of the Dragon his name is Flagg. In The Dark Tower series he is called Walter. In The Stand he is referred to as "The Walkin Dude".

twist 4 twenty · 10-14-2005, 10:58 PM

i saw the shining both 1st was better
saw it meh it was ok
stephen king is wierd he reads at red sox games

olibuhero22 · 10-15-2005, 09:32 PM

Being a Maina myself (Mainer.....thats how we say it up here....)...I read Stephen King...it is actually part of the curriculum in Augusta ME to read a few of his books.....he does write decent books...i just don't ever remember hearing of this dark tower series.....hmmm...ill have to check it out....