Horror Aficionados discussion

Stephen King's writing has evolved over the years, but it's been said that his work since 2000 has been completely different from his earlier work.

Has anyone else noticed this?

What's your opinion of his current output, and what's your favorite King era?

This was a suggestion for discussion made by member Jamie Stewart.

My favourite era of Kings work is the stuff he wrote in the 70s and 80s. The reason being that he embraced the supernatural aspect of his imagination a lot more. He still does currently but to lesser degrees. For every Doctor Sleep there is a Mr. Mercedes now. Also when he does write novels that have supernatural elements like The Outsider and Joyland it’s relative small compared to stories like It and Salem’s Lot.

I credit King's accident with the big change in his writing. Having come so close to death, I think perhaps he discovered that real-life can always be so much more horrifying than fiction. Yes, I prefer the earlier novels (that had me reading late into the night with all the lights in the house on) over the newer ones, because I love the scare!

King is a real mixed bag for me. I really enjoy some of the older novels but the endings often left something to be desired. My fav among the older novels would be The Dead Zone. One of King's strengths has been good storytelling and that shows in a few of his newer novels like the Mr. Mercedes series, 11/22/63 and The Outsider. They all have better endings too.
So I guess I'd say in general I like the newer stuff a bit better.

I haven't written enough of king to judge.

I agree with many of your points already. His books are still good but very little supernatural compared to earlier works. I think you have a point with the accident, I could see realizing just how scary real life is can change one’s writing. I still read him but go back to his older works a lot more and almost feel with some of his newer books I’m reading a different author. I still really enjoy his short stories so much though. I think 80’s and around there were his best times.

Writing on the brain. Oops

My favourite King is his Dark Tower series which is pretty different to all of his classic horror stuff, so I always find myself leaving it out of comparisons. It's a great way to compare his writing in itself, though, since there was something like 20 years between books 4 and 5.

I've read Carrie and I've read Mr. Mercedes (and more in between) and for me I think its more just the evolution of a writer. He's brilliant at creating stories for every single one of his characters, and I think that's still a trademark of his writing, though stronger in more recent stuff.

In terms of topics and plots etc I again just think its the natural evolution of a writer.

That being said, I'm still working my way through all of his books so don't have as much material to go by as others.

Sonya wrote: "Writing on the brain. Oops"

LOL, no worries!!!

I’ve read 18 books of Stephen stories so far and I am a huge fan, recently I’ve been reading more of his old work and i think the writing is more natural I could even say less touched by editors and more raw and I love it, I'm currently reading Pet Sematary.

Rachel wrote: "I agree with many of your points already. His books are still good but very little supernatural compared to earlier works. I think you have a point with the accident, I could see realizing just how..."

I was just going to post, but Rachel said pretty much everything I was thinking--LOL! While I have enjoyed "some" of his newer novels, I prefer his earlier ones much more so. The supernatural influence is one reason. With a few exceptions, many of the more recent novels feel like there's a lot more "padding" that could be cut out, and doesn't really serve to move the plot along. Speaking for myself only, that takes me out of the story--whereas his earlier novels tended to get right to something "new" and "necessary" in the book each chapter, keeping me mentally engaged in the story.

Kimberly wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I agree with many of your points already. His books are still good but very little supernatural compared to earlier works. I think you have a point with the accident, I could see rea..."

Yes! I feel the same way, Kimberly.

If I was forced to give a generalized and unproved/unprovable rant, I'd locate the cut-off point in time where King's works changed around the date Duddits was published.

Also: King was a better author when he wrote horror instead of literature, while others, especially Robert McCammon, are much better at writing literature than horror.

Ekel wrote: "If I was forced to give a generalized and unproved/unprovable rant, I'd locate the cut-off point in time where King's works changed around the date Duddits was published.

Also: King was a better a..."

I have to agree with you, Ekel. I enjoyed his horror much more than his literature.

I do think the car accident that he endured did have an affect on him. Has anyone ever read Dreamcatcher? That book seethes with anger and pain. However, I think his writing style has changed because he is focused on more the external struggles of his characters. The way I look at his early works is that there is a lot of focus on setting and the supernatural horror of each story. I see it as the writing of a man whose read about these monsters and how has a chance to but his own spin on them. His later stuff seem to aim away from the setting and focus on the character. The most disturbing thing in Doctor Sleep for me is not the ghosts or the True Knot but Dick Halloraan’s story of child abuse. That’s because King is able to get you to care for his characters by delving so deep into them. He also is more focused on middle aged issues. As someone who read all his book at 13 beginning at Carrie and working my way to his latest releases at that time (2003) I found the experience jarring because his characters grew older and his topics were less reliable to my teenager self. As a adult now I firmly believe Stephen King as written a story for each period in a persons life.

I'll admit I'm a 70s/80s era fan and not as up on King's recent work as I'd like to be - that said, I think one of his scariest books (other than perhaps Salem's Lot) is definitely Lisey's Story. He creates a unique fantasy world stalked by a Lovecraftian monster, interweaves it with a mysterious family saga, and throws in an obsessed literary stalker who makes Annie Wilkes look tame.

I agree with 90% of what has been said. For me, personally, Salem's Lot shall always be my favorite King novel. I think the storyline and the characters are so true to "real" people. I've read his writing book, On Writing by SK, and it does have moments of insight into his personal life.

He's definitely gone through 'cycles' in his writing over the years. For me, his prime years were the mid-80s-1991. While 'Salem's Lot and The Stand are among my top books by him, I think the string of great books in a row - Christine, Pet Sematary, Cycle of the Werewolf, The Talisman, The Eyes of the Dragon, Thinner, Skeleton Crew, It, The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three, Misery, The Tommyknockers, The Dark Half, Four Past Midnight, The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands, Needful Things - mark the peak of his career. Since that time he's been up and down, and it's been years since anything of his has seemed to be in the ballpark of those books.

I will give a shout out to Duma Key, 11/22/63, Joyland and From A Buick 8 are all fantastic reads.

Jamie wrote: "I will give a shout out to Duma Key, 11/22/63, Joyland and From A Buick 8 are all fantastic reads."

I have to agree with DUMA KEY, and FROM A BUICK 8--I haven't read the other two yet, but I've heard from many that they are BOTH well worth the read. :)

I, too, will have to get them.

They are fantastic books, worthy enough in my mind to put them in my list of top ten Stephen King novels.

I have read all of his books and I do think he has gone through cycles as an author. A lot of his earlier works I consider favorites of mine. I do think some of his current books have been a little hit or miss, but I have enjoyed the majority of them.

I've read the majority of his work, and believe that while he's matured as an author, I much prefer his earlier works.

Novels like "Tom Gordon", "From A Buick 8", and a few others...make absolutely No sense.....and his books could do with some judicious pruning...."The Outsider" was far to long, and his recent book with his son Joe was horrible...

What worries me is that we may not get any more real horror novels from King, his last novel which can be considered as such was Revival (which I loved). After that he has written stories with a slight supernatural backdrop but never going into horror territory.

Luis wrote: "What worries me is that we may not get any more real horror novels from King, his last novel which can be considered as such was Revival (which I loved). After that he has written stories with a sl..."

I agree with you. I may not have read as many as other might have but his earlier works are what brought me to like him. His earlier works such as Cujo, Pet Cemetery, The Shining etc. to me atleast define him. His modern ones I.e. Bill Hodge series even though I liked them don’t hit at the same level to me.

The Shining. I'll never forget it!

Just read Elevation, written in 2018. Something supernatural may be going on with King himself, as he seems to have channeled Dean Koontz when writing this one. Friends are made with unnatural speed, coming together with unnatural empathy and understanding of a strange circumstance. I kept expecting a great ending, some sort of revelation, but I didn't find it. The only reason for this novel seems to be a moral lesson of accepting people who are different from you. Rather prosaic in these times.

I definitely prefer his older stuff. Salem's Lot. IT was, and remains to this day, the only book that ever really got to me (without exaggeration, I slept with the lights on for a week after reading it.) Many of his older works just seem to have an ability to live beyond the period they were written in. IT, for example, has of references that many people won't get these days, but it's still written in such a way that people these days understand the example through the context enough to find a way to relate to the situation the characters are in. His older writing really just seems to have a magic to it.

I absolutely believe his accident changed his writing. It could be that his outlook has changed, that almost dying from something wholly natural has pushed him to write more in the real world vs finding threats in the supernatural. It could also simply be the fact that he lives in pain and on painkillers now.

It could also, unfortunately, just be the fact that he's getting older. It's really hard to know.

Stephen King has a talent for taking something simple, or that's been done before, and making it seem unique and totally his own. His plots have made him famous, as have some of his stand-out characters, the small town settings of Maine, the come of age feel (people love that), siding with the ones who are bullied or abused or underdogs.

He has a real knack for writing genuinely SAD scenes. The funeral in Salem's Lot was the most depressing funeral scene I've read, the sorrow in Pet Semetary, I seriously sobbed with Cujo....he does the dark, depressing stuff remarkably well.

His beginnings are gripping enough, but he has always had a weakness with endings, even his earlier books. He also tends to write too much too long and try the patience.

He's a good writer with a loyal fan base. Like every author, he has his strengths and weaknesses.

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Stephen King has a talent for taking something simple, or that's been done before, and making it seem unique and totally his own. His plots have made him famous, as have some of his stand-out chara..."

I agree with you totally. I just love his writing--I wish I had his talent! Oh well.

I enjoy Stephen King books, but he can be a little hit and miss for me. I think with some of his books he needs to self edit a bit more, not everything needs to be described in pain staking detail.

Honestly, King has always been a bit of a hit-and-miss for me. I absolutely love some of his books (e.g. It, Misery) while others just fall flat (most recently Elevation). When he is good, he is really good, but a lot of his other works are rather mediocre and often overstay their welcome (Cujo, for example, could've done with 100 pages less and would've been better for it).

That makes it hard for me to pin down a specific era I particularly like. If I had to pick, I'd probably say the mid-80s to mid-90s. But it's only a true-ish answer because while he produced some of his best works in this time it is also where he produced The Tommyknockers and other forgettable stuff.

Even within a series, he isn't consistent for me. I really enjoyed both Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers but wasn't too pleased with the weird changes that got introduced to the world in End of Watch.

I think his greatest strength is in getting you to go along for the ride, however implausible.

Scout wrote: "I think his greatest strength is in getting you to go along for the ride, however implausible."

So true!

I agree with everything that has been said on here. I love his earlier work as those books had more of a scary, thrilling, keep the lights on creep factor throughout the books.

After his accident though I could tell the writing style had changed and I didn't feel that "creep factor" like I had before. His newer books just don't have that creepy leave the light on atmosphere wafting through them.

His newer stuff has taken on more of a true life type of read then a scare your pants off type and the newer stuff is more drawn out instead of cut to the chase like his earlier books.

I didn't like his book Revival and the only book I did like that came after his accident is Cell. Though I have to admit that I am in the middle of reading The Outsider and so far I am impressed. I can hardly put the book down and it has been a very long time that a Stephen King book has kept its hooks in me like this book is doing.

Marie wrote: "I agree with everything that has been said on here. I love his earlier work as those books had more of a scary, thrilling, keep the lights on creep factor throughout the books.

After his accident..."

I agree with all you have said about SK. I love his writing too.

Has anyone else read Later?

I just finished it and it felt a lot like his earlier writing to me. Really enjoyed it!

I have never read a Stephen King Book, can you please give an advice about which book should I start with? Thank you!

Salem's Lot, Christine, Pet Sematary.

Nicolas wrote: "I have never read a Stephen King Book, can you please give an advice about which book should I start with? Thank you!"

Firestarter is a great first King read. Or Carrie

I for sure loved King's older books better, The Shining Misery It, they were SO good! But know it feels like he write to please the audience and writes just for the sake of it.

Lora wrote: "Has anyone else read Later?

I just finished it and it felt a lot like his earlier writing to me. Really enjoyed it!"

I finished reading it not that long ago and I loved it.

I finished "Later" a couple of weeks ago. A short book, I gave it 5 stars for all the King reasons; storyline originality, readability; and, (most importantly) his ability to transport me from the world I am in, to the world within the pages of the book. The ending is definitely wide open for a sequel and I will look for it and be one of the first to read it. My first King Novels' began with the Mr. Mercedes books. Like a fool, I was going to the movies for my judgment of Stephen King. Yep, those terrible movies made me NOT want to read Stephen King. I have nothing to compare books before Mr. Mercedes to his current work. I like his current work very much and look forward to it. Dr. Sleep was so good that I went back and read The Shining and was gob-smacked at how I could have missed judged it all these years.

If I had to read a recent King's book (past "Under the Dome"), which one should I choose? (Except "11/22/63" because I don't give a damn about JFK please)

Thanks :-)

Seb wrote: "If I had to read a recent King's book (past "Under the Dome"), which one should I choose? (Except "11/22/63" because I don't give a damn about JFK please)

Thanks :-)"

Revival, Doctor Sleep, Joyland

Nancy wrote: "I finished "Later" a couple of weeks ago. A short book, I gave it 5 stars for all the King reasons; storyline originality, readability; and, (most importantly) his ability to transport me from the ..."

My same thoughts on Later, I would love to see a sequel.

Erin wrote: "My same thoughts on Later, I would love to see a sequel."

As would I!

Oh and JFK isn't the reason to read 11/22/1963. It could have been any historical moment that needed to be changed. The way King treats the time travel anomalies is what it's really all about.

Kimberly wrote: "Jamie wrote: "I will give a shout out to Duma Key, 11/22/63, Joyland and From A Buick 8 are all fantastic reads."

I have to agree with DUMA KEY, and FROM A BUICK 8--I haven't read the other two ye..."

It's great to see some love for Joyland! That's one of my favorites. I have recommended it even to people who don't traditionally like horror or ghost stories, and they have all enjoyed it.

Stephen King wrote some terrific non-horror novels early on in his career. He published them under the pen name Richard Bachman to distinguish them from his horror works and his personal brand as "THE horror guy". Now that he can write whatever he damn likes (without worrying if it will sell or not), it seems like he's drifting back toward hardboiled crime and even sci-fi-ish stuff.

His post-2000 books are a mixed bag for me - the Mr. Mercedes series left me cold - but even a "bad" Stephen King book beats any other horror author's "great" book, IMO. Duma Key, Doctor Sleep, Joyland, and Under the Dome are all excellent, and 11/22/63 is a masterpiece. His story collection The Bazaar of Bad Dreams is also well worth checking out.