Stephen King Fans discussion

I've started working my way (slowly) through the above, what stories in particular should I look out for?

I LOVE this book! I love the Road Virus Heads North! I also really enjoyed the Man in the Black Suit. Plus I read Autopsy Room Four right before I got my wisdom teeth out and then I was totally freaked out!

I agree with Angie about Road Virus Heads North. I also really enjoyed Everything's Eventual. I think that was the actual name of the story about the guy who could "do" things. Sorry, I don't have my book with me.

I've now finished the above and largely enjoyed it, here is the review I posted:

I can remember reading a critical appreciation of King once (Lord knows where, and Google ain't being much help this morning) that opined he was actually a stronger short story writer than a novelist. I'm not sure I'd entirely agree with that, but the very nature of the short story means that King avoids what I often find his biggest flaw - namely his long windedness.

To be honest I only read 13 out of the 14 offerings in Everything's Eventual - I have no interest in The Dark Tower and so skipped 'The Little Sisters of Eluria' - and for a large part these stories are undeniably strong. In fact there is only one absolute stinker. The South American torture chamber setting of 'In The Deathroom' finds the author so out of his comfort zone, you wince and turn away in the hope that he'll stop embarrassing himself shortly.

If I had to pick favourites I'd choose 'The Road Virus Heads North', (which is the kind of 'there's something scary in the picture' tale I've been reading all my life but done brilliantly); 'That Feeling You Can Only Say What It Is in French' and 'Riding The Bullet' - the latter which manages to be both scary and sad.

I love the Dark Tower series, so "The Little Sisters of Eluria" is one of the stories that I am most looking forward to in the book. I think that I am going to move this book up on my To-Read list.

F.R., is there any particular reason you have no interest in the DT series? In my opinion, it's a must read for any King fan! :)

Hi Becky.

I just have little interest in fantasy, and so spending thousands of pages wading through a fantasy epic - even if it's written by an author I like - does not appeal.

Of course I might be completely wrong, do you think there is a compelling reason why I should pick it up?

Ahh, I see. Well the fantasy aspect is very strong in the DT series, so if you are not a fantasy reader, then there's not much that I could offer as a recommendation to read them... At least nothing that would be profound enough for you to ignore the fantasy storyline in order to enjoy it!

Thanks for explaining F.R., I'm always trying to convince people that they should love the books I love. ;D

FR If I remember correctly that short story that has to do with the DT can be read as a stand alone story. So you may want to go back and read it?

I really really enjoyed both The Road Virus Heads North and The Man in the Black Suit. LT's Theory of Pets was also great. I havent read them all, but those we're great. :)

F.R. wrote: "Hi Becky.

I just have little interest in fantasy, and so spending thousands of pages wading through a fantasy epic - even if it's written by an author I like - does not appeal.

Of course I mi..."

You're missing out, The Dark Tower is amazing.

As far as scary...Autopsy in Room 4, The Road Virus Heads North, and 1408 were probably the one that irked me the most. I think this collection is a more interesting than horrifying one though. Compared to say, Night Shift.
Stories like The Death of Jack Hamilton, In the Deathroom, Luckey Quarter and Everythings Eventual arent so much scary as they are adventurous and/or just interesting stories.

"The Little Sisters of Eluria" is simply wonderful.....

Chris wrote: ""The Little Sisters of Eluria" is simply wonderful....."
That's the story that made me decide I had to revisit The Dark Tower series! (It reminded me a bit of Firefly... with monsters) I still didn't like Gunslinger but I'm looking forward to getting to the rest of the series now :)

Stacie, do you Joss Whedon's Firelfy? If so, I will have to read it again.

I just read The Man in the Black Suit and I think it's creep fantastic!

Did you know that "The Man in the Black Suit" won the O. Henry Prize for last year? That's the most prestigious prize a writer can win for a short story. SK writes that he was totally surprised!!

Bondama wrote: "Did you know that "The Man in the Black Suit" won the O. Henry Prize for last year? That's the most prestigious prize a writer can win for a short story. SK writes that he was totally surprised!!"

Thanks for the heads up Bondama! Yeah I knew it won the O. Henry award. I'm just intrigued why it won, and now I know for sure. The story still lingers in my head for days now and it made me confront those "profound" questions regarding death, as it did with Gary, the story's protagonist. At death's door, can he now look at the Demon straight in the eye and confront it? Or will he run away once again, just like what he did in his childhood? But to where, when the claws of death is grasping him inch by inch? I just couldn't get it out of my head! Arrghh.. And I'm curious about what Gary really did when he came face to face with the Demon?

So guys, what's your take on this?

I want to read Dinky's story again just because I recently finished the DT series. I know I'll end up reading the whole book.

Its been a while since i read this but i really liked it. The story (i think this is the title) "The Man in the Black Suit" scared me. It was great.

Bondama wrote: "Did you know that "The Man in the Black Suit" won the O. Henry Prize for last year? That's the most prestigious prize a writer can win for a short story. SK writes that he was totally surprised!!"

BEST SHORT STORY EVER!

i agree with you angie

jzhunagev wrote: "I just read The Man in the Black Suit and I think it's creep fantastic!"

Thank you! :)

Chris wrote: ""The Little Sisters of Eluria" is simply wonderful....."

Thank you!

Craig wrote: "Its been a while since i read this but i really liked it. The story (i think this is the title) "The Man in the Black Suit" scared me. It was great."

Thank you!

I found this to a very disappointing collection. Not up to the usual King short story standard, IMO. My favorite was Road Virus Heads North.

I love the notes from The Man in the Black Suit - where SK says he was told the story by someone who swore it was true! The stinger on Autopsy Room Four was fantastic as well. My favourite is Everything's Eventual - love the voice of the character.

Even when King does short stories he is such a master at grabbing your attention and not letting go until the story is over. AWESOME

I read most of the comments here and didn't notice, but has anybody else seen the movie that was made for Riding the Bullet, with the same name? It's actually really good. I was surprised. It's an indie film and David Arquette is the driver of the hotrod. Check it out if you can find it, I got lucky and stumbled on it in a used movie store.

F.R. wrote: "Hi Becky.

I just have little interest in fantasy, and so spending thousands of pages wading through a fantasy epic - even if it's written by an author I like - does not appeal.

Of course I might ..."

F.R., I'm not a big fantasy fan either. I actually have a friend who wrote a novel and it's a fantasy story and she wanted me to read it to give her feedback and I'm having the hardest time with it because it's fantasy, although it's written very well. I feel bad, but I totally understand what you're saying, and I'm currently on the fourth book of the DT series and I've read Sisters of Eluria and they are amazing stories. They're not so fantasy... mostly it's a western. But it's a fantasy as done by Stephen King, so all of the messed up stuff is done his way, and it's just written brilliantly. Seriously, give it a shot. Read Sisters if you want, but you don't have to. Pick up the Gunslinger and check it out, you might change your mind. I first read that in 3 hours and fell in love with the story.

I have almost finished the book its great book to read.some of the stories are very well written and scary.my fauvorites are !$)*(as usual), The Road Virus Heads North and the man in black suit.But Night shift is better;-)

My favorite was Lunch at the Gotham Cafe it was a bit short but man its so detailed and bloody. It was just so random and scary that its one of those stories that stays in your head.

I loved the Road Virus Heads North, soooo creepy!

Lunch at the Gotham Cafe was always my favorite from this book. Perhaps it was because the cover artwork drew me in to reading it, and it just happened to be taken from this story. But the fact that there is so much fast paced, gory carnage going on and all you're thinking is about what their marriage was like to make him so pathetically desperate and her such a b****. The violence was almost ambience to set the story of their divorce to. And everytime I read it, I walk around the house all day saying "Eeeeeeeeeeeeee!" to myself. Lol.

Too bad he didn't really write any of those stories... :)

Steven wrote: "Too bad he didn't really write any of those stories... :)"

Yeah, what are you talking about..?

Compare the grammar to his previous works.

Crowd sourced book.

Matt wrote: "F.R. wrote: "Hi Becky.

I just have little interest in fantasy, and so spending thousands of pages wading through a fantasy epic - even if it's written by an author I like - does not appeal.

Of co..."

It's true about the DT series.
I hated fantasy...HATED it. But his version of fantasy is completely different than say Tolkien's or George R.R. Martin's. He is still himself but instead of horrifying like his usual work, it's sci-fi-ish. That might be a better description actually.
Look into it...for sure.

Kyle ~Special K: Rebel Leader~ wrote: "Steven wrote: "Compare the grammar to his previous works.

Crowd sourced book."

King did write those stories. I have no idea what you're inferring here."

Neither do I..

I love this book! :) All of the stories were interesting and they have that right kind of punch of scary/thrilling for me.

"The Man in The Black Suit" scared the hell out of me, that's for sure.

Im currently reading this book, I have only finished the first short story, but I just want your input on what were some of your favorite stories out of this book?

~Sammy

That Road Virus Heads North-Amazing!

Sammantha wrote: "Im currently reading this book, I have only finished the first short story, but I just want your input on what were some of your favorite stories out of this book?

~Sammy"

Hi, Sammy!

"Little Sisters of Eloria," for obvious reasons.:)

The Road Virus Heads North and 1408 are among the scariest short stories I've ever read. I was literally shivering. Lunch at Gotham Cafe has always been my favorite of the 14 stories though.

Autopsy Room Four was one of the most stressful stories I have ever read. That one stayed with me more than any of the other stories. The way King draws out the suspense was masterful.

The Man In The Black Suit made me think of that creepy old dude from the Poltergeist sequels. The way he says biiiiig fiiisssshhh creeps me out.

Ralf wrote: "The Road Virus Heads North and 1408 are among the scariest short stories I've ever read. I was literally shivering. Lunch at Gotham Cafe has always been my favorite of the 14 stories though."

I loved the Road Virus Heads North too! It was definitely one of my favorites from that book. SK is brilliant at inciting creepy and terror..

I've just borrowed this from the library, but somehow I think I've already read it!
Is this what happens when you get old ?
( I did the same thing with nightmares and dreamscapes last week!)
Oh well I'll read it again anyway just to refresh my memory.

Kath wrote: "I've just borrowed this from the library, but somehow I think I've already read it!
Is this what happens when you get old ?
( I did the same thing with nightmares and dreamscapes last week!)
Oh we..."

Well there's nothing wrong with that, Kath.:) I love re-reads!