Stephen King

[rcjohnso]

I've started reading the final book of King's Dark Tower series, which (along with Salem's Lot and The Talisman) are the only things I've read of his.  The Dark Tower is a series of seven fantasy/horror books that he started writing in 1970, the characters and situations of which keep popping up in his other books in a sort of unified universe way.  He wrote himself into the Dark Tower series - the protagonists cross over to a parallel reality where they meet King, who is only halfway done writing their story.

Overall I'm not the biggest fan of King's writing.  Salem's Lot (his 2nd novel) and the first two Gunslinger books are fairly tight and well spun tales, and I'm interested in checking out some of his other early work, but the latest stuff is pretty terribly writing.  Ever wonder why his books are 1500 pages long?  At least with the last few Dark Tower novels, it isn't that he has 1500 pages worth of story to tell, but because he writes fat, lazy prose.  His dialogue is terrible, his devices are repetative and well worn, and he writes as if he's being paid by the word.

But I keep reading.  Like soap operas or fast food, he knows how to hook you despite your best intentions.

Anyone else read him?

[Iris]

I've read a couple of things. I really liked "The Green Mile." I think it's actually 5 different books, but in any case, I thought they were very well written. I've also read "On Writing" which he wrote to be a guide to...well, writing. I'm not personally a writer, but a friend told me I'd like it and he was right, I did. About half of the book is actually his life story and very interesting.

I haven't read much more than that. I think one of the problems with Stephen King is that he isn't always very consistent. Part of that issue might be that I know there were quite a few of his books that he's written while completely under the influence of one substance or another. When he's not on something, the writing is bound to be different (good or bad, I don't know).  

[skepticaloptimist]

From roughly 6th to 9th grade, I thought that the literary world could do no better than Stephen King.  I read as much of his stuff as I could, including the first three installments of the Dark Tower.  In 9th grade, I discovered other authors who diverted my attention, nonetheless when the fourth Dark Tower came out, I bought a copy and tore right through it (I'm guessing that was around when I was 15 or 16).  And then... six years before the fifth installment.  When it came out, it barely even registered a blip on my radar, but I picked it up in Borders one day and started reading it, and all I could think was, "is this book going to have a plot any time soon?"  What happened?  Did Steve change?  Did I change?  All I know is that we seem to have grown apart after all these years, and sure I could see it coming even in those early days, but I thought the exploits of Roland et al would always hold us together, and now I'm just not so sure.  Yeah, I'm still interested in who's going to make it to the tower, but if someone might just casually mention it in conversation, I think that'd be enough for me.

As for our generation's Poe, it's probably Neil Gaiman (who I don't particularly like either, but he's pretty original... and pretty dark).

[unknownperson]

Our generation does not, I think, have a Poe. Poe was his own thing realy. Looking for a "Poe" in a generation is a little like looking for a Hemingway... they are their own thing. Lets look for who is speaking for our generation in stead of comparing... I think.
As far as King. I have read very little but I get the feeling he has maby cranked out a few too many books. Like Grisham or Clancy or Cusller or anyone else who writes a lot of books. New ideas can not continue in the same genre over and over. Or at least it would be extreemely dificult. The limits must be pushed beyond all that.
This could link up with a sort of ongoing theme most recently touched on by our own marke in the chat forum on the subject of tention and all that. You have to be able to pull against things more than Stephen has of late I guess.
my 2 cents

[Iris]

I think that is "spot on" as far as there not being a "Poe" for our generation. Could anyone really compare to a Poe anyway?

And you're right about what happens when an author writes too many of the same genre of fiction. I, for one, was a Grisham fan when he started being more well-known. Loved "The Firm" and my personal favorite book of his, "A Time to Kill." But now, when I pick one up and read the dust jacket, it just doesn't seem like it's unique enough. Authors need to explore different stories and even different genres to keep their writing interesting, I think. Of course, I offer this critique as someone who couldn't write a good piece of fiction if someone had a gun pointed to my head.  

[Zooey]

Who the hell is this Poe guy?  Was he a Poe(t)?  AHAHAHAHA.

[unknownperson]

Z!! That was awsom!!
Frigin awsum!!

[Rainfall]

i think i read a S. King book once that I liked, but i don't remember it's title. i may have picked up one of the dark tower books once too, but i think i put it down again fairly quickly.

[zwqrtrvj]

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