Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Surly Horns

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Featured Replies

On 7/2/2022 at 7:03 PM, dcbc said:

This bit from the book just floored me:

 

“For a moment everything was clear, and when that happens you see that the world is barely there at all. Don't we all secretly know this? It's a perfectly balanced mechanism of shouts and echoes pretending to be wheels and cogs, a dreamclock chiming beneath a mystery-glass we call life. Behind it? Below it and around it? Chaos, storms. Men with hammers, men with knives, men with guns. Women who twist what they cannot dominate and belittle what they cannot understand. A universe of horror and loss surrounding a single lighted stage where mortals dance in defiance of the dark.”

King had a lot of passages like that in his novels that can hit me right in the gut. He’s a magnificent story-teller, but many people don’t realize that he’s also a great writer with a gift for prose.

  • Replies 475
  • Views 42.7k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Most Popular Posts

  • Coach pop a bitch
    Coach pop a bitch

    Finished the Stand last night.  Wow! Just wow. I loved it. I'm bout to start the dark tower series (gunslinger). 

  • NeverMarryAStripper
    NeverMarryAStripper

    Don’t sleep on his older stuff.  Salem’s Lot is the book that got me hooked on his stuff.

Posted Images

  • Author
On 7/4/2022 at 9:09 AM, South Austin said:

King had a lot of passages like that in his novels that can hit me right in the gut. He’s a magnificent story-teller, but many people don’t realize that he’s also a great writer with a gift for prose.

For me, reading that bit was like staring at a painting.  I went back and read it over and over.  When he hits that groove, there aren't many contemporaries that do it better.  And when he is doing the par for the course stuff, it's still pretty damned enjoyable to read.

It's about 22 years old now, but the great mighty algorithm this morning served up the story Stephen King wrote in The New Yorker about getting back to writing after being hit by a car. He recounts the accident in great, vivid detail and it's a must read for SK fans:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2000/06/19/on-impact

Edited by Vegas64

  • Author
On 7/6/2022 at 10:49 PM, Vegas64 said:

It's about 22 years old now, but the great mighty algorithm this morning served up the story Stephen King wrote in The New Yorker about getting back to writing after being hit by a car. He recounts the accident in great, vivid detail and it's a must read for SK fans:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2000/06/19/on-impact

I haven't read the linked article yet, but he also goes into detail about it in On Writing.

On 7/6/2022 at 10:49 PM, Vegas64 said:

It's about 22 years old now, but the great mighty algorithm this morning served up the story Stephen King wrote in The New Yorker about getting back to writing after being hit by a car. He recounts the accident in great, vivid detail and it's a must read for SK fans:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2000/06/19/on-impact

Quote

He and Bullet had left the campground where they were staying, he later tells an investigator, because he wanted “some of those Marzes bars they have up to the store.” When I hear this detail some weeks later, it occurs to me that I have nearly been killed by a character out of one of my own novels. It’s almost funny.

Classic King.

  • 1 month later...

Fairy Tale drops tomorrow. I have a 12 page paper on the historiography of the American Revolution due on Sunday...bullshit.

Edited by SimonBolivar

  • Author

After a short hiatus from SK, I decided to give The Gunslinger (audiobook) another go.  I'm happy to report that I've made it farther than I did last time (almost 1/3 of the way now) and feel like I'll make it through this time.  There's a blog that ranks everything he's written and currently has Gunslinger as #1, which, unless this thing has a shapeshifting clown, haunted hotel, plague, or time traveling, assassination preventing school teacher in it at some point, I shall declare to be ludicrous.  Nonetheless, I persist.

Edited by dcbc

6 minutes ago, dcbc said:

 There's a blog that ranks everything he's written and currently has Gunslinger as #1, which, unless this thing has a shapeshifting clown, haunted hotel, plague, or time traveling, assassination preventing school teacher in it at some point, I shall declare to be ludicrous.  

Yeah it's fine, but nowhere near #1 even if you read the rest of the series.

  • Author
6 minutes ago, SimonBolivar said:

Yeah it's fine, but nowhere near #1 even if you read the rest of the series.

Yeah, I'm going to see how I feel at the end of it before deciding if I'm going to go on a Dark Tower run.  I'm really not much for Fantasy type stories, but I'm giving it a go to see what all the fuss is about. 

  • Author
On 9/5/2022 at 9:13 PM, SimonBolivar said:

Fairy Tale drops tomorrow. I have a 12 page paper on the historiography of the American Revolution due on Sunday...bullshit.

The cover is cool.  Let us know how it is.

Yeah, I'm going to see how I feel at the end of it before deciding if I'm going to go on a Dark Tower run.  I'm really not much for Fantasy type stories, but I'm giving it a go to see what all the fuss is about. 

The next two (Drawing and Waste Lands) are excellent and I loved Wizard and Glass. King’s voice got really muddled for me in the last two books, but I’m glad I finished the series.
1 hour ago, dcbc said:

Yeah, I'm going to see how I feel at the end of it before deciding if I'm going to go on a Dark Tower run.  I'm really not much for Fantasy type stories, but I'm giving it a go to see what all the fuss is about. 

Do yourself a favor and read at least the Drawing. It’s completely  different and a great book. Lots of people don’t like Gunslinger 

  • Author
4 minutes ago, The Dude said:

Do yourself a favor and read at least the Drawing. It’s completely  different and a great book. Lots of people don’t like Gunslinger 

That's what I hear.  Is Drawing of the 3  the second book?  It probably doesn't help (for this first book) that I don't really like Westerns generally, with a few notable exceptions.

Edited by dcbc

6 minutes ago, dcbc said:

That's what I hear.  Is Drawing of the 3  the second book?  It probably doesn't help (for this first book) that I don't really like Westerns generally, with a few notable exceptions.

Yes sir, book 2

On 9/5/2022 at 7:13 PM, SimonBolivar said:

Fairy Tale drops tomorrow. I have a 12 page paper on the historiography of the American Revolution due on Sunday...bullshit.

 

I'm barely into it, but I'm hooked already. It's gonna be fun, this is the my favorite King. 

 

1 hour ago, dcbc said:

Yeah, I'm going to see how I feel at the end of it before deciding if I'm going to go on a Dark Tower run.  I'm really not much for Fantasy type stories, but I'm giving it a go to see what all the fuss is about. 

 

The Dark Tower series is one of my favorites, and I don't think I ever actually read The Gunslinger. I started on book two, which was really good....Waste Lands is a little better, and Wizard and Glass is chef's kiss. The rest are also really good. 

 

27 minutes ago, Austinvines said:


The next two (Drawing and Waste Lands) are excellent and I loved Wizard and Glass. King’s voice got really muddled for me in the last two books, but I’m glad I finished the series.

Yeah, Wizard and Glass actually got me good enough that I picked up some of the graphic novels. 

On 9/8/2022 at 6:45 PM, Doc Sam Beckett said:

 

I'm barely into it, but I'm hooked already. It's gonna be fun, this is the my favorite King. 

 

So how was it without giving away spoilers?  Crazy, wtf King moments?

  • 2 weeks later...
On 9/8/2022 at 6:45 PM, Doc Sam Beckett said:

I'm barely into it, but I'm hooked already. It's gonna be fun, this is the my favorite King. 

I, too, am interested.  I have read some pretty glowing reviews but have yet to talk to anyone that has read it.

I finished up Fairy Tale last week.  It's excellent and very vintage King in the storytelling and somewhat reminiscent of The Eyes of the Dragon.  It also has a great canine major character that makes it get a little dusty while you're reading it

Edited by NeverMarryAStripper

  • 3 weeks later...
On 9/16/2022 at 8:00 AM, Elmer_Fudd said:

So how was it without giving away spoilers?  Crazy, wtf King moments?

 

On 9/25/2022 at 5:43 PM, futureman said:

I, too, am interested.  I have read some pretty glowing reviews but have yet to talk to anyone that has read it.

Yeah, you guys have probably read it by now, but real life delayed my reading of Fairy Tale. Agree with @NeverMarryAStripper, it was fantastic. I enjoyed Billy Summers, but it's been awhile since King came out with one of his long winding yarns that I don't want to end, but this was one of them. Definitely recommend. 

  • 3 weeks later...

Just finished Fairy Tale.  Really enjoyed it.  it somewhat reminded me of Jack Sawyer's trip through "The Territories".  A great story.......There are other worlds than these...

  • 1 month later...

At the In-Law's this week for Christmas.  Brought a few books and started Billy Summers yesterday after we arrived.  Almost half way through.

  • 2 weeks later...
On 7/2/2022 at 6:59 PM, dcbc said:

Reread IT, then read 11.22.63.  I sound like a broken record in this thread, but 11.22.63 is his best book.

OK, just finished rereading It... Starting 11/22/63 today.

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

I just finished Fairy Tale (audiobook).  It was pretty good or better than good.  I dug it.  Mostly because, thankfully,

the dog didn't die

.  That would have hurt.

 

Onto the third DT book - Wastelands.  It's gotten a bit better since the Gunslinger.  I don't find myself blown away though.

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Author
On 2/21/2023 at 4:49 PM, Elmer_Fudd said:

How many more books does King have left in him?

'bout tree-fiddy

42 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

He doesn't seem to be slowing down.  He's got a new one coming out this year featuring Holly Gibney

I've read all of the Bill Hodges trilogy and the Outsider liking all four, but I'd rather read something other than another Holly story.

 

 

 

...who am I kidding, I'll read it.

If It Bleeds is like 3 short stories - one of which is another Holly story. I think you'd like it if you liked The Outsider. 

  • 3 months later...

Knocked out Fairy Tale in about 10 days which is pretty good for me. Loved it. 

Started The Institute and picked up Tommyknockers. I know the latter isn't considered one of his better books and it's long as fuck, but I've always wanted to read it.

I grabbed Night Shift from HPB the other day.  Anyone have any particular favorites other than Quitters Inc?

17 hours ago, NorthLoop said:

Knocked out Fairy Tale in about 10 days which is pretty good for me. Loved it. 

Started The Institute and picked up Tommyknockers. I know the latter isn't considered one of his better books and it's long as fuck, but I've always wanted to read it.

I enjoyed the shit out of Tommyknockers.

On 6/24/2023 at 10:32 PM, NorthLoop said:

Knocked out Fairy Tale in about 10 days which is pretty good for me. Loved it. 

Started The Institute and picked up Tommyknockers. I know the latter isn't considered one of his better books and it's long as fuck, but I've always wanted to read it.

Yeah I've had Tommyknockers on my shelf waiting to be read for a while.  Got it on ebay a couple years ago, 1st edition Hardcover in shrink-wrap for like $15, was kinda' shocked.

On 6/24/2023 at 10:32 PM, NorthLoop said:

Knocked out Fairy Tale in about 10 days which is pretty good for me. Loved it. 

Started The Institute and picked up Tommyknockers. I know the latter isn't considered one of his better books and it's long as fuck, but I've always wanted to read it.

Let me know what you think about The Institute. I'm a big fan of that one and want a sequel. 

Got a long plane flight, any recs for a newish King novel? I’ve read all the classics but haven’t read a new one since 11/22/63. 

5 hours ago, Hank Scorpio said:

Got a long plane flight, any recs for a newish King novel? I’ve read all the classics but haven’t read a new one since 11/22/63. 

If it’s been that long, I’d recommend Dr. Sleep (unless you’ve seen the movie). Or pick up Mr. Mercedes and start that trilogy.

2 hours ago, South Austin said:

If it’s been that long, I’d recommend Dr. Sleep

Seconded. The first 100 pages might be the best King has done in the last 20 years.

Just started The Stand journey.  Loving it. I don't know what took me so long
This is probably my favorite SK book. I love post-apocalyptic settings and the other day I was trying to remember how many times I've read it. I would say 4 or 5.
On 6/28/2023 at 9:01 PM, SimonBolivar said:

Let me know what you think about The Institute. I'm a big fan of that one and want a sequel. 

I really liked it. Pretty edge of your seat most of the way through. 

On 6/28/2023 at 9:01 PM, SimonBolivar said:

Let me know what you think about The Institute. I'm a big fan of that one and want a sequel. 

 

7 hours ago, NorthLoop said:

I really liked it. Pretty edge of your seat most of the way through. 

Also I don't see there being a sequel. Maybe a different story that intertwines a little bit, but that would be it. 

Spoiler

If they have these hit squads at their disposal, why the fuck did they need the kids in the first place?

 

Burned through about half of Billy Summers on the way back from Chicago on Tuesday.  It'll take longer to get through the second half without huge chunks of time like that, but so far I'm really liking it.  I've enjoyed King's occasional breaks from the supernatural, like the first two books of the Mr. Mercedes trilogy.

On 6/25/2023 at 4:08 PM, South Austin said:

I enjoyed the shit out of Tommyknockers.

About 200 pages in and it's dragging a little - but I've read enough King to know that a lot of his books are like this. This is typically the point where things start to ramp up. 

10 minutes ago, NorthLoop said:

About 200 pages in and it's dragging a little - but I've read enough King to know that a lot of his books are like this. This is typically the point where things start to ramp up. 

I think that’s right. I recall Insomnia was like that, and it’s one of my favorites. A real crawl for about 100-150 pages, but then takes off.

It's the King formula. 

1. Awesome background / Character development

2. Riveting Plot 

3. The Drag

4. Amazing build up

5. Average ending

(Profit)

Finished Billy Summers last night. Really liked it. Sad ending, but throughout the book I didn’t think there was going to be happy one no matter how it turned out.

Interesting tie to The Overlook in the Colorado scenes, and I thought that and the picture in the summer house might come into play more. But good that King left it minimal, just for the usual tie back to an earlier work and a bit of a spook, and still not veering back into the supernatural.

I think I’ll pick up Fairy Tale next based on comments in this thread.

  • 2 weeks later...
On 6/25/2023 at 3:47 PM, futureman said:

I grabbed Night Shift from HPB the other day.  Anyone have any particular favorites other than Quitters Inc?

I love Night Shift even more if you understand the context under which the short stories were written-exploitive, EC comic style short stories written for porno mags by a part-time freelancer looking for any extra cash possible.  
 

Not my favorite but Gray Matter refers to a haunting image that’s not really a spoiler that I’ll share and has stuck with me-in the story a bunch of regulars at a bar are recounting spooky tales; one of them describes a postman who, on his delivery route, passed one of those large storm drain pipes, the kind large for a man to crawl into.  Covering the pipe was a spider man and cocooned in the web were several kittens.  He never saw the spider.  

2 hours ago, LCHorn said:

I love Night Shift even more if you understand the context under which the short stories were written-exploitive, EC comic style short stories written for porno mags by a part-time freelancer looking for any extra cash possible.  
 

Not my favorite but Gray Matter refers to a haunting image that’s not really a spoiler that I’ll share and has stuck with me-in the story a bunch of regulars at a bar are recounting spooky tales; one of them describes a postman who, on his delivery route, passed one of those large storm drain pipes, the kind large for a man to crawl into.  Covering the pipe was a spider man and cocooned in the web were several kittens.  He never saw the spider.  

Ugh, that’s what I get for typing on my phone.  
 

“Covering the pipe was a spider WEB and cocooned within it were several kittens.”

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.