This thread is for general discussion about Stephen King and his works. I like to hear some feedback about your favourite characters, scenes,novels and movies or any criticisms.

Eh... the Shining, the Shawshank Redemption, the Green Mile and Stand By Me are good films. I haven't read any of his books though, apart from It.

I think that Stephen King best work is IT... and I am not talking about the lame movie they made...

I have read probably half of his books, and the Dark Tower series is my favorite. I own, but have not read the 7th and final installment. 6 was a bit of a letdown, but I've heard good things about 7.

I'm what Stephen King refers to as a "constant reader." I have a majority of his books (most of them in glorious hardcover). Easily my favorites are his Dark Tower series, but I put them in a class of their own. Of his "non" DT series (and I know most of these that I'll name are in some way connected to the Tower -- All Things Serve The Beam, after all) I REALLY love the following:

Salem's Lot: I didn't read this one until a couple years ago. It's a wonderful and loving tribute to the old EC horror comics. The underlying sense of dread throughout the book is palpable and the story's structure is gripping.

The Stand: one of my all-time favorite King novels. An epic in every sense of the word. I was fortunate to read the original version of the novel shortly before he released the complete and uncut version. Though I prefer the latter after reading the two.

Insomnia: The first King novel that scared the absolute shit out of me.

Bag of Bones: probably my favorite of King's work simply because it shows a level of maturity not since seen in any of his books. I think this was his peak as a writer (DT notwithstanding) as the mechanics, the pacing and the plot were all amazingly tight and unmatched.

The Green Mile: I bought this in "serial" installments as they came out in 1996. I would read each installment completely through each day they came out. Part 6 had me bawling like a baby.

Hearts In Atlantis: the final story of this collection is about my parents' (and King's) generation and it went a little ways towards understanding them better. Another King novel that had me crying -- at least twice this time.

I could write all day about King's work and how it's affected me, and ultimately I'd wind up listing almost everything I've read of his. So I'll stop here.

I am probably the most hardcore Stephen King reader you have ever met.

I own everyone of his books. I have read them all in order of publication including his short stories. I love them all


My favorite is the long edition of The Stand. I must have read that book ten times.

I love the Dark Tower series of course.

It's really hard to discuss my favorites because I just like them all.

I would love to discuss any book, though. Any time with anyone.

I've read practically all of King's books with the exception of the Tower series. I buy most of my books used and I can't seem to find the first one, but I have all the rest ready to read once I do.

Some of my faves are The Talisman, Desperation, It, The Shining, Needful Things, The Stand, Tommyknockers, The Dark Half, Eye of the Dragon, Insomnia, the Bachman books...I can go on and on I guess. I love how his stories just totally suck me in, I become so absorbed in the characters, not so much with the later stuff.

Yup that book got to me too. Especially the part with Percy and the mouse.

I'm reading Carrie right now cuz I felt like a good short one. I really like it.

I always thought the Long Walk was very unique and good. Misery was good. I've also read a lot of the dark tower series and stuff like Cujo, Pet Sem, etc. but they don't live up to a lot of his other stuff.

You should really do yourself a favor and read the New Gunslinger. It's much more congruent with the series. You probably will have a tough time finding it used though. It's worth the price of the new paperback, though.

He wrote Cujo while high on cocaine, and doesn't even remember doing it. After he finished Pet Sematary, he decided against releasing it, because it felt it was too mean and disturbing. His wife encouraged him to release it. I haven't read either of those books, and I doubt I will for those reasons.

I've also skipped the books his wife wrote under his name.

Cujo is his worst book in my opinion. Pet Sematary, however, is worth the read. It is dark and more evil than his other works, but it is damn scary.

What books are you refering to by Tabitha?

Gerald's Game and Dolores Clairborne.

It's also been rumored that The Regulators was written by Tabitha since it was under the Bachman name and released simultaneously with Desperation, but I'm not so sure about that one.

i've really enjoyed pet semetary, IT, Dark Tower (haven't finished the last two), and some of the shorter stories....

I could see it being a possibility with Gerald's Game and Dolores Claiborne. Although I highly doubt it. SK has always been pretty proud of his work and I don't think he would let her publish entire novels under his name.

I'm POSITIVE that she didn't write The Regulators. It is sooooo SK. Or should I say it's so Bachman. There is no way anyone else wrote that book.

The reason that I've read that he brought Bachman out of 'retirment' was basically an experiment on his part. The Regulators is basically the opposite or mirror image of Desparation. It's got all the same characters placed in a flip-flop situation. What better way to do that than to use King's alter-ego or mirror image, if you will.

Without cheating or using Google or Amazon, name the last Tabitha King novel you've read.

Honestly, though, the line of thought on this comes from the fact that the style is not entirely King's and the female POVs are a lot stronger than normal in both books, among other things. There's a clear argument that it can be her, especially when you consider she hasn't had much success as a novelist. Tabitha has had a strong influence on his career, as a husband or wife is likely to in any relationship.


That's a pretty certain statement.

It could have EASILY been written by Tabitha, using an outline of Desperation and aping her husband's style (who would know King better than his wife?) to get both books done under deadline. For the record, I've read both Desperation and The Regulators and you'll note I said it was rumored she had written it. I don't necessarily believe it. Just coming at it from all angles.

Using this argument, you would have to include Rose Madder in there too. And The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.

Yes, i would agree that nobody knows King better than his wife. But to say that's all it takes to be able to duplicate his work is a huge disservice to King's talent.

I think King is an incredibly talented storyteller with a style unlike any other contemporary writer. I would like to think that I would know if someone was just blatently copying his style.

It may be possible that she wrote those stories and he refined it using his style. Basically rewriting it to sound like one of his stories. I do not, however, believe that she wrote any book and then just slapped his name on it.

Funny you bring that up. It's also been suggested that Tabitha wrote those two books. Seriously. The DT connection in Rose and the BoSox connection in Girl have quieted some critics' claims for those books.

The fact that those four books are considered four of his weakest novels also lends creedence to this theory. His other "weak" output has been attributed to drug and alcohol abuse.


Obviously there's more to it than that, but honestly, creative people, when they're in a long-term romantic partnership, tend to rub off on one another. Look at Paul and Linda McCartney as an example.


This argument really only applies to The Regulators -- again, the whole "Tabitha Theory" stems from the fact that those books were written in a slightly different style than normal. To say you would know, with such certainty, is pretty darn naive. At the end of the day, we don't know and we'll never know the truth in this situation. It was just a long-standing theory I happened to bring up.

I wouldn't know anything with certainty. I just hope it's not true. To pull the wool over your 'constant readers' eyes in order for you wife to have a little fame and credibility is beyong low. It's not like she needs the money. I would be very dissapointed to know that was true.

"You stole my story."

he is a god among men. I'm over half-way through Wolves of the Calla right now.