Not many folks know that a young Stephen King was awarded 1st place in a short story competition judged by Samuel Beckett.
Not many folks know that a young Stephen King was awarded 1st place in a short story competition judged by Samuel Beckett.
"Saw this friend the other day, I was like "HEY WHERE'S THAT FAX MACHINE YOU PROMISED ME, YOU SAID TUESDAY NOW IT'S FRIDAY, he was like "STOP PUNCHING MY SINCLAIR C5 AND I'LL TELL YOU" and then we wrestled for about 20 minutes".
The Turn of the Screw
I like Stephen King, but there's not really much to argue about. His novels don't make me think, admire his writing style, encourage me to think about philosophical concepts. Nor do they engage my brain in considering why their plots are constructed in a particular way. They just keep me entertained for a while. There are writers who are clearly much better in that they deal with much more complex topics and write in a much more elegant and admirable, intelligent style. However, I still like to read novels by King cos sometimes I can't be bothered with books that make me think, I just want to read a book I enjoy. Same as Harry Potter really. The novels I really don't like are those that are neither intelligent nor entertaining, those that are poorly constructed or just plain offensive. Or offensive just to shock. Or books that try to be clever when they're really not. At least King writes fairly well constructed stories that engage my attention right to the end. I really like when he deals with a simple, concise idea, like Geralds Game for example. I entered the short story competition in 'On Writing.' Didn't win. Oh well. Brings up another point; who am I to criticise when I clearly can't write as well as Stephen King, despite being pretty well read in the 'classics'?
Thanks for the varied comments!
Second the comment about putting Stephen King in with Dan Brown and Tom Clancy - that is harsh!
I do agree that he hasn't done himself any favours in recent years - he appears to have lost the plot quite severely. If he doesn't find something worth writing in the next few years he's going to be just another writer selling on his name alone.
Go to work, get married, have some kids, pay your taxes, pay your bills, watch your tv, follow fashion, act normal, obey the law and repeat after me: "I am free."
Anon
from the atheis
I call it the KKK club, and link King, Koontz, and Klancy (Clancy)...by and by Brown is an honorary member.Second the comment about putting Stephen King in with Dan Brown and Tom Clancy - that is harsh!
"I am glad to learn my friend that you had not yet submitted yourself to any of the mouldy laws of Literature."
-John Muir
"My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends - It gives a lovely light"
-Edna St. Vincent Millay
Not the King of the 70s and early 80s but the late 80s to present, yes, that could fit quite well.Originally Posted by B-Mental
You want a better more literary class of modern horror try Shirley Jackson and Richard Matheson.
I've heard interesting comments about Cell which haven't enticed me to read it. One comment from one review said the novel seemed slapped together like a manuscript (... movie in the works?).
Want to read about zombies and not feel self-conscious about your choice literature I'd recommend World War Z by Max Brooks.
"Do you mind if I reel in this fish?" - Dale Harris
"For sale: baby shoes, never worn." - Ernest Hemingway
Blog
Oh, recommended reads of Jackson and Matheson, in print in North America...
Jackson:
The Haunting of Hill House
We Have Always Lived In The Castle
The Lottery and Other Stories (25 short story collection, wide range)
Come Along With Me (Jackson's incomplete novel written just before her death, 16 short stories many horror, and four essays including one on The Lottery)
Matheson:
I am Legend
The Incredible Shrinking Man
Hell House (Matheson's tribute/homage to Jackson, easily equal to Jackson's masterpiece)
Richard Matheson: Collected Stories Volume 1
Richard Matheson: Collected Stories Volume 2
Richard Matheson: Collected Stories Volume 3 (this edition contains Nightmare At 20,000 Feet the famous Twilight Zone episode starring William Shatner, Duel adapted into a Steven Spielberg film, and Prey featuring He Who Kills the Zuni fetish doll one of the three stories featured in the Karen Black Trilogy of Terror television movie. Avoid the Tor/Forge short story collections getting much less per the buck than the Edge Books 3 volume set.)
Last edited by Stieg; 06-01-2007 at 12:44 PM.
What do you think about the film adaption, in post-production, starring Will Smith?
"Do you mind if I reel in this fish?" - Dale Harris
"For sale: baby shoes, never worn." - Ernest Hemingway
Blog
True, and the literary capacities of nations has risen and fallen throughout history.
Uncertain, I mean, are we in for a farcical radical rewrite that's more CGI and action oriented or are we going to have a film that is going to be faithful to the book is going to make all the difference in the world. Sadly the former resounds because of today's commercialized mainstream cinema institution we aren't likely to get the artistic film this novel demands.
Which reminds me, another film adaptation of Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House is due. Of course, Robert Wise delivered the previous horror classic The Haunting in 1963. What a task to bring Jackson's novel to film considering how deeply penetrating the book goes into the psychological realm and creeps up on the reader. He more or less succeeded despite failing to bring the scariest moments in the novel to the screen. Pales in comparision, nearly always the book is better and likewise probably the same applies with this new take as Will Smith film.
Brilliant! I don't care for any of them because they are "story-teller" writers (probably Enneagram Personality 5's and 9's) while I prefer literary authors with substance.
The closest Stephen King ever got to subtstance was The Green Mile. In that, he actually approached literary status; unfortunately it was the exception to the rule rather than the rule itself.
Oh, damn, shoot me. It's The Lottery that's enjoyed a recent remake not The Haunting of Hill House. I don't know how I got them mixed up especially since the latter suffered that 1999 debacle.
And I am Legend is being made by a music video director the same one that brought us Constantine starring Neo.
Interesting, originally Ridley Scott had the project in 90s that was going to star Arnold Schwarzenegger. Eh?!
Then Michael Bay and Will Smith had it but made Bad Boys 2 instead in 2003.
Wow, considering the production's recent history, my expectations are considerably low.
Actually, I think The Shining, The Dead Zone, Apt Pupil, Cujo, The Body, and Pet Semetary are all pretty 'literary'. They all (quite subtly, sometimes) deal with heavy themes (while still managing to be a darned scary story). The Shining probably shines the brightest as a 'literary' story; it's really just a deep introspection on the nature of addiction.
Everything from It and on, though, is pretty much crap.
Um, can i say that ya'll are strayin off the topic, lol...
I'm a King fan, and I know he's influenced by others, but I mean,
the guy can write pretty dag on good,
some of his books show it and some don't,
come on now, writers block, it gets to you,
and every writer has their winning streak and losing streak, it happens,
his books are choppy/random most of the time,
but they're wuite interesting...
You know what, Neo played a good Constatine too, so ha,
he's been around for ages and now he get's rcognized?
well they're making a Rush Hour 3,
in 2007 what a way to be late,
Jackie n Chris back in action...
And Rose Red was pretty good...just saying,
"Yes, madam, I am drunk. But in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly."
-Winston Churchill
Are we speaking the same Constantine? It is a DC Comic titled Hellblazer quite dark and existential, noir even. And dealt with alot of adult themes but included magic and supernatural elements including many appearances by Lucifer, demons, and angels.
The film was about an exorcist named Neo.
Yes, this has gone quite offtopic.
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