The Talisman and the Eye of the Dragon are my 2 favorite works by King.
Most all the others I have read have just been to fill in space between times I have not been to the bookstore to find some good fantasy or sci-fi books.
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Have any of you read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon? I was in the bookstore the other day and they have turned this into a pop-up book and placed it in the childrens section.
I love King books, (finished the Dark Tower Series, read a lot of his other stuff) so I picked it up.
If I had read this as a kid I probably would have spent my youth locked in my room with the lights on screaming if there was a power outage.
Check it out some time, the artists depiction of the "God of the Lost" is pretty freaky, and would definately mess up most kids who got ahold of it.
Oh and if you like Stephen King then you should try reading F. Paul Wilson. I recommed the Repairman Jack series (especially if you like long series with static characters) and the LaNauge Chronicles or Sims (if you like more of a sci-fi tilt).
Wilson is another author who cross refrences almsot every book he has ever written.
I love King books, (finished the Dark Tower Series, read a lot of his other stuff) so I picked it up.
If I had read this as a kid I probably would have spent my youth locked in my room with the lights on screaming if there was a power outage.
Check it out some time, the artists depiction of the "God of the Lost" is pretty freaky, and would definately mess up most kids who got ahold of it.
Oh and if you like Stephen King then you should try reading F. Paul Wilson. I recommed the Repairman Jack series (especially if you like long series with static characters) and the LaNauge Chronicles or Sims (if you like more of a sci-fi tilt).
Wilson is another author who cross refrences almsot every book he has ever written.
Man, I had forgot all about The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Kind of thought that one was freaky.
Kind of thought that one was freaky.
Mindwalker wrote:
Quote:
Oh my god! Really? I thought Insomnia was his worst work ever. It was just so incredibly tedious and meanders along with either nothing at all happening, or something that is utterly inexplicable (and not even interesting) happening. Blech! It was awful.
Insomnia was the book that really turned me off to King, and I really haven't read anything of his since.
Insomnia was the book that really turned me off to King, and I really haven't read anything of his since.
Honestly a lot of people read Insomnia and just don't get it. They see the 'old people' story and get bored. The simple fact is that you should not read Insomnia unless you've read almost all of his previous works. If you have, then this book is a pure gem. I was going 'wow' every few pages as another story was linked in.
Insomnia is the book that linked all of SK's previous works in with the Dark Tower series. Without a thorough understanding of the previous works, these references are lost - and don't make much sense I've heard.
I thought it was one of his best ever - and I've read everything King has written at least 3 or 4 times, with the exceptions of Dark Tower 7 and Danse Macabre (the endless baseball stories practically bored me to tears).
I had read most of King's previous works, and still couldn't force my way through Insomnia...but I knew nothing of the Dark Tower tie-in.
publiusvarus wrote:
we all know liberals are well adjusted american citizens who only want what's best for society. While conservatives are evil money grubbing scum who only want to sh*t on the little man and rob the world of its resources.
Matter of fact, Insomnia is the Dark Tower tie-in. Apparently, and I haven't finished #7 yet only bout half way thru, Insomnia is like the Dark Tower itself. The Center of everything King has written to date.
BTW DT 7 has made me ill, not in a bad way, but in its harshness towards the characters who have tread the long journey with me looking over their shoulder the whole way.
Someone should get a Mordred Avatar up. That would be pimp.
BTW DT 7 has made me ill, not in a bad way, but in its harshness towards the characters who have tread the long journey with me looking over their shoulder the whole way.
Someone should get a Mordred Avatar up. That would be pimp.
O and...uhhh....yea. Sry I doubled.
Edited, Fri Jan 14 15:10:35 2005 by DarkRein
Edited, Fri Jan 14 15:10:35 2005 by DarkRein
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon was one of my first King books, it was really good.
But, a children's pop-up? That doesn't seen possible. I know I've heard about an illustrated version, but a children's book?
Ya know what, I might just do that. *starts scanning DTVII illustrations*
But, a children's pop-up? That doesn't seen possible. I know I've heard about an illustrated version, but a children's book?
Quote:
Someone should get a Mordred Avatar up. That would be pimp.
Ya know what, I might just do that. *starts scanning DTVII illustrations*
i have just finished the last book in the series, and i mean to discuss it a little bit so please know there are spoilers below
****************WARNING SPOILER!!!!!!***************************
i agree with an earlier post about how horrible it was when jake, eddie and oy all died. it was the right thing to do because roland had to go on alone. and i think Eddie and Oy were the sad ones, especialy Oy, as he is impaled on a tree and says "Oland" and then licks Rolands hand and dies. that was pretty sad.
Now the very end, when Roland realizes for a brief moment that he has been doing this quest, over and over and over and over again, and that he has to do it all at least one more time, at first, i thought what a cowardly way to end the book, and the series. but then after having a few days to think about it, it is actually, quite brilliant, he leaves you with enough so that you can still hope for Roland to complete his quest, for instance he has his horn with him this time, which could be the final key. it also however helps the reader feel that the story is not over and that there is more, since Roland still has to quest and has to reach the end, again. all in all this series was awesome, i was caught hook, line and sinker.
Edited, Fri Jan 14 16:27:34 2005 by Banter
****************WARNING SPOILER!!!!!!***************************
i agree with an earlier post about how horrible it was when jake, eddie and oy all died. it was the right thing to do because roland had to go on alone. and i think Eddie and Oy were the sad ones, especialy Oy, as he is impaled on a tree and says "Oland" and then licks Rolands hand and dies. that was pretty sad.
Now the very end, when Roland realizes for a brief moment that he has been doing this quest, over and over and over and over again, and that he has to do it all at least one more time, at first, i thought what a cowardly way to end the book, and the series. but then after having a few days to think about it, it is actually, quite brilliant, he leaves you with enough so that you can still hope for Roland to complete his quest, for instance he has his horn with him this time, which could be the final key. it also however helps the reader feel that the story is not over and that there is more, since Roland still has to quest and has to reach the end, again. all in all this series was awesome, i was caught hook, line and sinker.
Edited, Fri Jan 14 16:27:34 2005 by Banter
Scholar
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I absolutely loved the DT series. I picked up the first book when I was a kid, probably around age 12. At that age I was eating up all the Stephen King I could get my hands on, and the Dark Tower shined among the rest.
Over the years, I waited, sometimes quite impatiently for King to relase the rest of the series. About 14 years later, I had finished the last book and felt a sense of completion that was a long time coming.
The neatest thing about reading this series so far, was meeting a young boy who is about the same age as I was when I read The Gunslinger. Although I am female, when he would talk to me and ask me questions about the books, it really brought me back. It was really fun being able to get perspective on the reading from someone who was so much younger than myself.
I am curious though. I wonder if people who had to wait a long period of time between the books, as opposed to individuals like the young boy I met (Who read them in rapid succession) ended up developing a greater affection for the story. Waiting on the next book to come out certainly did give me something to look foward to. I actually rationed DT VII to make it last as long as I could!
Over the years, I waited, sometimes quite impatiently for King to relase the rest of the series. About 14 years later, I had finished the last book and felt a sense of completion that was a long time coming.
The neatest thing about reading this series so far, was meeting a young boy who is about the same age as I was when I read The Gunslinger. Although I am female, when he would talk to me and ask me questions about the books, it really brought me back. It was really fun being able to get perspective on the reading from someone who was so much younger than myself.
I am curious though. I wonder if people who had to wait a long period of time between the books, as opposed to individuals like the young boy I met (Who read them in rapid succession) ended up developing a greater affection for the story. Waiting on the next book to come out certainly did give me something to look foward to. I actually rationed DT VII to make it last as long as I could!
Quote:
I am curious though. I wonder if people who had to wait a long period of time between the books, as opposed to individuals like the young boy I met (Who read them in rapid succession) ended up developing a greater affection for the story. Waiting on the next book to come out certainly did give me something to look foward to. I actually rationed DT VII to make it last as long as I could!
I like you started reading them when I was pretty young. 30 now.
I started out really young (no ********* reading Roald Dahl, John Blaine, John D. Fitzgerald, and a lot of other 'tweener' books when I was like 7 or so. The librarian at school didn't believe me when I brought in the last one and wanted to check out another. In depth discussion of the plot changed that.
By the time I was 11 I got bored with all this 'kid' stuff, and I happened to stumble onto an older brother's box of old SK paperbacks. I was instantly hooked. The only problem was explaining to a 6th grade teacher why it wasn't wrong for me to be reading 'The Stand' or 'It' in class (for Silent Reading time ^^ -love those dumb names they make up) when my classmates were on average reading Hardy Boys or Boxcar Children books.
The trade paperback of The Gunslinger came out not too long after that - and I got it right away. Since then it's been almost 2 decades, and my brothers and one of their wives joined me in the whole 'is he gonna finish it before he croaks?' discussions. When he had his van accident we feared the worst.
Good to say the apprehension was excessive - for DT7 is truly a masterpiece if you understand the context. I completely feel that people like us, who have been reading SK for far longer than your young friend has been alive, have a much greater appreciation for the work when it finally came out. I've read all the DT books several times (Gunslinger, Drawing, Waste, and Wizard prolly 5 or more times each) and there is no way that your young friend has uncovered all of the nuances and details that come out upon rereading.
Edited, Sun Jan 16 00:56:43 2005 by Mindwalker
I finished the series last night.
Wow.
The way King wrapped everything up in the sentence "Ka is a wheel." somewhere back in the first or second book is amazing.
Oy is da man....or da bumbler. By far the best fictional character ever created IMO. Mordred's end was weak, but the prelude to his demise was well scripted. And I think the Crimson King's finale was fitting. He was absent physically from the first 5000 or so pages, and his banishment made sense from a literal standpoint.
If you haven't read the DarkTower Serie, I highly reccomend starting immediately. Wow again. Way to go Mr. King.
Wow.
The way King wrapped everything up in the sentence "Ka is a wheel." somewhere back in the first or second book is amazing.
Oy is da man....or da bumbler. By far the best fictional character ever created IMO. Mordred's end was weak, but the prelude to his demise was well scripted. And I think the Crimson King's finale was fitting. He was absent physically from the first 5000 or so pages, and his banishment made sense from a literal standpoint.
If you haven't read the DarkTower Serie, I highly reccomend starting immediately. Wow again. Way to go Mr. King.
Yea, I've been a huige fan of this series for a while now.
I'm reading Wolves of the Callah.
Unfortunately ******* school means I mostly have time for text book readings.
It is an amazing series of books.
If you do some research you may be able to find out about the pink paper he used to write the story.
I'm reading Wolves of the Callah.
Unfortunately ******* school means I mostly have time for text book readings.
It is an amazing series of books.
If you do some research you may be able to find out about the pink paper he used to write the story.
Quote:
If you do some research you may be able to find out about the pink paper he used to write the story.
Ahh yes... wasn't that back when he was still teaching at U Maine - Orono, or whatever?
Great story on that one - I'd love to read the original manuscript on that crappy colored paper though.
So, the only other King book I had ever read was The Langoliers... But I saw 5 of the seven books in a used book store for $2 each, so I bought them, and sat down, and started reading. The Gunslinger grabbed me, and I fear I'm going to have to go buy every King book and read them, or at least all of the ones with DT tie-ins, and other good ones.
Cht, get The Talisman since you are liking the DT series so well. Has some tie ins, and is a really good read.
I like Kings books, havent read too many.. Read Geralds Game. that was pretty cool.. I loved the Talisman.. that kind of stuff gets in my skull.. Insomnia I started 2 years ago.. got 2-3 chapters in.. and just couldnt stand it.. It still sits on my head board waiting for me.. I need to find more like the Talisman..
Chtulhu the Quick wrote:
So, the only other King book I had ever read was The Langoliers... But I saw 5 of the seven books in a used book store for $2 each, so I bought them, and sat down, and started reading. The Gunslinger grabbed me, and I fear I'm going to have to go buy every King book and read them, or at least all of the ones with DT tie-ins, and other good ones.
"Hearts in Atlantis", "The Talisman" and "The Stand" have the biggest tie-ins to the series Mr. The Quick. Looooooong reads, but they fill in the blanks the most.
i just started this series back in december, about a third of the way through the Wastelands right now. all i can say is that The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three were amazing. i constantly hear #4 is the worst of the bunch so im kinda fearing it, especially since it looks to be the longest of the bunch.
DT is an ADDICTION! It has been my crack since i was 12 and ive read 1-4 about 8 times each 5-7 twice. It's imo the most beautiful thought provoking yet entertaining read ever.
I'm a huge fan of SK and almost all his books~ almost all of his books/work tie to one another in some way. What grabs me is that he can maintain the level of fascination and originality while encorporating his main archetypical themes and charcters into so much of it.
Noone talks about his short stories/novellas here but I prefer his collections to some of his novels... If you don't like the long windedness of his novels check out these relatively short and sweet tidbits, some of which also connect to DT.
Nightmares and Dreamscapes.
Night Shift.
Skeleton Crew.
Four Past Midnight.
Different Seasons (4 novellas)
Hearts in Atlantis.
Everything's Eventual. (waited along time for this~ pretty good)
The Bachman Books. (4 of the stories he wrote under psuedonym, quite good. The movie Running Man was based upon on of these and if you've seen it you know it licks. The original story is MUCH better.
These are alternatives to SK's *ahem* "drivel" ^.- Check them out I reccomend them all to anyone who hasn't read them alrdy :)
Also.. just as a side Author Plug ~ read Ray Bradbury ~ he's the **** (Martian Chronicles :D~~~)
I'm a huge fan of SK and almost all his books~ almost all of his books/work tie to one another in some way. What grabs me is that he can maintain the level of fascination and originality while encorporating his main archetypical themes and charcters into so much of it.
Noone talks about his short stories/novellas here but I prefer his collections to some of his novels... If you don't like the long windedness of his novels check out these relatively short and sweet tidbits, some of which also connect to DT.
Nightmares and Dreamscapes.
Night Shift.
Skeleton Crew.
Four Past Midnight.
Different Seasons (4 novellas)
Hearts in Atlantis.
Everything's Eventual. (waited along time for this~ pretty good)
The Bachman Books. (4 of the stories he wrote under psuedonym, quite good. The movie Running Man was based upon on of these and if you've seen it you know it licks. The original story is MUCH better.
These are alternatives to SK's *ahem* "drivel" ^.- Check them out I reccomend them all to anyone who hasn't read them alrdy :)
Also.. just as a side Author Plug ~ read Ray Bradbury ~ he's the **** (Martian Chronicles :D~~~)
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