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Customer Reviews (6)

THX :)
received fast and in great condition - awesome book!A must for SK fans.

For all constant readers of Stephen King
The Complete Stephen King Universe: A Guide to the Worlds of Stephen King
The perfect book to read for every constant reader, this book examines all of the works of Stephen King (up to the time of publishing) and details the continuity and discrepancies between the worlds Stephen King has created.Truly a must for those which Stephen King refers to as constant reader.

Great for everyone..
This is a great book for everyone interested in Stephen King's works. I have read a great deal of his work, so I imagine that I am one of those that falls under the 'Constant Reader' title, and this book had me noting that I had missed some of the overlaps and complexity of his many books. I look forward to reading his books again, and catching even more, thanks to this book.

However, this is also good for the more casual Stephen King reader, as it guides you through his worlds and his books. The authors give very good analyses of each book and each world, sorting through the myriad of characters and ideas that Stephen King uses (quite deftly, in my opinion).

Educational
This is the most helpful book I have read regarding writing. This information has everything from first writeto the way to get it published.

The only thing I found missing was a word/page index.

This is a book I would recommend to others.

A must read for Stephen King fans
Many fantasists or fantasy authors create their own parallel universes, which stand as back drops for their stories. H. P. Lovecraft did this with his Cthulhu Mythos, creating a pantheon of dark gods who have the ability to slip into our universe from time to time and sunder reality. Cthulhu's theme is to eradicate all humankind from the face of the earth.

Stephen King's parallel universe, however, appears to be a multitude of intertwining dimensions comprising malefic and beneficial cross-over characters and deities whose conflicts influence these various dimensions for good or for evil. According to authors Hank Wagner, Christopher Golden, and Stanley Wiater, in this, their definitive reference entitled THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE: A GUIDE TO THE WORLDS OF STEPHEN KING, Mr. King's DARK TOWER series stands as the central and unifying dimension from which his parallel universe emerges and ultimately returns. CSKU defines and describes all of Mr. King's stories and novels to date, tying events and people together in each of the over-lapping tales--but the fun does not stop there, readers. At the end of every chapter, the authors reveal interesting trivia about the characters and events that make-up Stephen King's world, sometimes pointing out that people in our so-called "reality" also have a share in his universe, the most obvious person being author Peter Straub, co-author of THE TALISMAN, one of my favorite novels of all time. (Speaking of Peter Straub, an interesting observation is the creepy character in his novel MR. X, who seems to make a brief appearance--at least in this reader's opinion--in Mr. King's novel FROM A BUICK 8, when he delivers the vintage Buick, then disappears behind the gas station where he abandons the car.)

If you are a fan of Stephen King's work, and the author himself, you will enjoy reading THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE. This fascinating and literate guide brought many details of Mr. King's overall work to my attention, details I was not aware of before reading CSKU, and has inspired me to read his stories and novels over again. (No mean feat, I would like to add; although a pleasurable one!) One of the more interesting pieces of information in THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE involved the accident in which a drunk driver struck and nearly killed Mr. King in 1999, while he was out jogging alongside a country road near his summer home in Maine--bizarre stuff, life imitating art.

THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE is highly recommended reading!
... Read more

Product Description

"Sometimes dead is better...."

When the Creeds move into a beautiful old house in rural Maine, it all seems too good to be true: physician father, beautiful wife, charming little daughter, adorable infant son -- and now an idyllic home. As a family, they've got it all...right down to the friendly cat.

But the nearby woods hide a blood-chilling truth -- more terrifying than death itself...and hideously more powerful.Amazon.com Review
Renowned for its superior productions, BBC radio may haveoutdone itself by adapting Stephen King's Pet Sematary toaudio. A clamorous cacophony of talking, whining, whistling, andhowling, Pet Sematary is a quick, entertaining earful for those whodon't have other auditory distractions to contend with, such as a carfull of talking whining, whistling, howling children. However, themelodramatic prose marries well with the acting; such is the case whenone reader--whose voice bears an uncanny resemblance to Kramer's fromSeinfeld--tells another about the effects of the Pet Sematary:"Heroin makes junkies feel good when they put it in their arms, butall the time it's poisoning their mind and body--this place can belike that and don't you ever forget it!" (Running time: three hours,two cassettes) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (412)

If you could bring back a loved one would you?
While Pet Sematary is definately one of my top ten books of all time, its also one of my favorite movies. It was just terrifying. I think even the movie can't touch how excruciatigly dark this book is. I read it my freshman year year in high school I believe and never forgot it.

If you're familiar with the movie, I don't recall too many differences between the book and movie except for alot of backstories and more noticable character depth (its been along time since I watched the movie though). For those who aren't familiar with the story heres a brief summary:

Lois Creed is a doctor from Chicago who moves his family to Ludlow, Maine. Once there they befriend thier elderly neighbor Jud Crandall who warns them of trucks from a chemical plant that constantly travel at high speeds down the highway. One day Jud takes the family out into the woods behind thier house where they discover a pet cemetary. A place where children used to bury thier diceased pets in the past. After this things get dark and I mean really DARK. When at Lois job a university student dies and one night his corpes lead Lois to the pet cemetary where he warns Lois not to go beyond a deadfall. Then things take a turn for the worse when Winston Churchill the family cat is run over and than the fun really begins.

I know i'm not very good at summaries, but this is the best I can explain without giving to many spoilers. Unlike the movie the book goes into more detail and info on where the Pet cemetary originated, where it came from, and peaple who used it. What makes it so terrifying is that with this cemetary you're given an opportunity to bring a loved one back, but it begs the question: Will they come back as you remember them? Or is it REALLY them coming back? Maybe the dead should stay dead.

Its also scary seeing how these dark events affect the characters. It just destroys thier lives. It turns a pleasent and happy family into wreck! Its especially noticable in Lois, who in the end just looses his mind. It just keeps getting darker and darker! That is why I love this book! This is an example of what a true horror book should be! This book is an example of why Stephen King is known as the King of horror.

My first Stephen King Experience!!
This is the first stephen king novel i have ever read (or the second, if you include his excellent memoir "on writing").

Basically, his memoir made me want to try out some of his work. And many of the positive things i expected from King were present in Pet Semetery: dark humour, interesting dialogue, creepy horror scenes. But what let me down was the incredibly slow pace of the novel (in King's memoir he states that "i like a slow build") which only picked up in the final 50 pages of the book. The sluggish pace could have been streamlined with some good editing, because at times King has a tendency to repeat himself and labour a point for too long.

What keeps the reader trawling on through 500 pages are the decent character portraits, the creepy setting, King's dark humour and unnervingly accurate insights into family life. But unfortunately the novel fails to reward the reader for its epic build-up, as the finale is overwrought and dissapointing. It even features a cameo appearance from a random monster at the very end, a monster which was barely even referred to earlier in the novel. Unfortunately these blockbuster fireworks only shatter the readers suspension of disbelief.

From a psychological perspective the book is interesting, as it engages with the metaphysics of death and loss on a very deep (and dark!!) level. But by no means could this novel be described as a "scary". Its depressing and sad, but never horrifying.

I think i'll try reading "The Shining" next to find out what i really think of this writer. So far my main impression of King is "geez, this guy could be brilliant with a bit more editing and refining." Hopefully some of his other novels are more polished, coz Pet Semetery is a good novel that maybe could have been great.

Good book, bad end
I recently picked up a couple of Stephen King's older works at a used book store. This was one of the ones I'd never read before.

It's a good book, fairly enjoyable and spooky in it's own way. But the last 20 pages or so completely kill the tone of the thing. They don't fit. I don't know how better to say it, but the final scenes just don't fit with the mildly uncomfortable feeling the rest of the book gives you.

And believe me, my suspension of disbelief is a pretty sturdy thing. Ancient evil indian burial ground? Sure. I'll take that. Dead pets that come back to life? I'll take that too. But the very end, which I'll leave spoiler free in case there are those who haven't read a book written before I was born, was unforgivably goofy. It was like King wrote however many pages, got bored of it, and called up RL Stine to finish for him.

He could have just left us hanging at the end, and it would have made for a better close than... whatever that was I read the other day.

Not to discourage one from reading the book. The rest of it is beautifully done, and explores those uncomfortable feelings about death we all have. It makes you think, and I like any book that can do that. Even if you aren't too happy with the thoughts it brings about.

Terrific
This was the first Stephen King book I had ever read. Because of this, I ended up trying many more of his books. A great story told by a great author.

Pet Sematary
It is no wonder that Stephen King was reluctant to publish this novel, as it mirrored his own life at the time. However, this novel should be required reading for those who are only now exporing the horror genre, and of course, the modern day master of horror, Stephen King.
When I read this novel, it almost has a gothic feel to it, as if I were reading an old classic by some long gone but not forgotten English novelist, writing about his foggy and mysterious London. And yet, King brings it home to us, in the here and now. It is a nightmare on paper, akin to something one's mind might produce in the dark alleys of dreams.
This is by far my favorite of all the King novels. It is not appropriate to reveal specifics, for this novel must be approached with little idea of what the reader has in store. It is a prime example of King's handiwork, and will sure prompt one to seek out more by this wonderful author.

David Rhodes, author of The Ritual and Risen ... Read more

Product Description
From the Publisher: This book takes a critical look at Stephen King's most iconic works and reads between the lines to uncover the personal influences and demons as reflected in each monster, epidemic, and depraved character. Unseen family photographs and 16 pieces of previously unpublished ephemera - such as handwritten manuscript notes, typed early drafts, lengthy journal entries, and doodles for King's college newspaper - complete this tangible tour. Packed with fascinating biographical details, literary interpretations, and personal memorabilia, The Stephen King Illustrated Companion is a must-have addition to any true fan's library.About the author: Bev Vincent is the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of The Road to the Dark Tower, an authorized companion to King's Dark Tower series. Vincent has published more than fifty of his own short stories. He lives in Texas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An insightful and fun read - a must-have for Stephen King fans
I chanced upon this at a local chain bookstore and promptly bought it (good thing too since there were only two left). "The Stephen King Illustrated Companion" by Bev Vincent contains manuscripts, correspondence, drawings, and memorabilia associated with the renowned author of the macabre. This book provides a critical analysis of some of King's more iconic works such as "The Shining", "The Stand", "The Dark Tower" series, "It" and many more. There are also some rare photographs of the author, including photographs from his childhood, and also 16 pieces of previously unpublished ephemera (as claimed by the publishers) such as reproductions of typed early drafts, journal entries,handwritten manuscript notes, etc.

The chapters:
Introduction: Mr Horror USA
The Early Years - inserts include "The 43rd Dream" s story by King written for his High School newspaper, a submission letter by a 14-year-old King, and a story written by King for the Comics Review. There are lots of photographs of King from early childhood onwards, cover art for various novels including a Doubleday Hardcover edition of "Carrie".
Room 217: The Shining - includes inspirations for some of King's stories such as the Marsten House in Salem's Lot, the Overlook Hotel in The Shining, publicity campaign for The Shining, and inserts include three pages from the original manuscript about how King changed his mind about Danny's encounter with the fire hose outside room 217 in Ch. 19.
The Walkin' Dude: The Stand - inserts include the final galley page from The Stand.
Welcome to Castle Rock: The Dead Zone - inserts include a copyedited page of The Dead Zone's prologue, a page from King's first draft of The Dead Zone, and four handwritten pages of the first draft of Cujo.
Sometimes Dead is Better: Pet Sematary - inserts include manuscript pages from Pet Sematary
Pennywise Lives: It - inserts include copyedited pages from It.
Number One Fan: Misery - insert is a reproduction of the inaugural issue of Castle Rock, a newsletter published by King's staff with the objective of coping with the fan mail.
The Night Journey: The Green Mile
Things That Go Bump: Bag of Bones - highlights include candid shots of King at work and play in his office, c. 1990s
The Accident - covers the 1999 accident that King was in, his self-publishing (on the internet) of his novella "Riding the Bullet",etc.
More Worlds Than These: The Dark Tower Series - inserts include a handwritten ledger of a section of an unpublished story that is reminiscent of The Dark Tower.
The Thing With The Endless Piebald Side: Lisey's Story
Conclusion: The Test of Time - among others,a full-page color photograph of King's office in Bangor which showcases fan art etc.

There's a selected bibliography at the end, as well as endnotes. To conclude - I found this book to be a treasure trove of photographs and ephemera, and though the information provided within may not be altogether comprehensive, it is well-compiled and beautifully presented - a loving tribute to a great author, and a wonderful souvenir for the 'ardent reader'. ... Read more

Product Description
Thousands of miles away from the small township of 'Salem's Lot, two terrified people, a man and a boy, still share the secrets of those clapboard houses and tree-lined streets. They must return to 'Salem's Lot for a final confrontation with the unspeakable evil that lives on in the town. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Even Better 2nd Time Around
I read this book when I was in junior high.Thought I would give it another go around after 15 years. It was even better than I remember it. I found the book well written and terrifying in parts through King's images.The characters are likeable, but King has a way of not letting you hold on to them. I also recently finished reading Pet Semetary again and loved it, but I even think this was better. A classic and must read.

Salems Lot
I enjoyed the book very much and and eagerly waiting for the rest of them.thank you so much was a little bit surprised at the handleingcharge.

Fantastic
This is one of my all time favorite books, and easily my favorite Stephen King book and fave Vampire book. Forgive me, but I'm old fashioned and I like my vampires serious and bad. I do not like them to sparkle, carry on with funny texas drawls or turn out to be ex-presidents. I like this vampire, because he was NOT dracula, but was actually cooler than that. This is one of King's earlier books, and has more meat in it, there are not so many scenes where you are in some person's head for approximately 42 pages when you don't even care about that guy. Sure, he has way too many characters, but they are sketched out fast and interestingly, and almost none of them bore you for an instant. Also, this is a rare book in that the good guys are good and the evil guys are evil. I appreciate that. I like a flawed priest doing his best, not another story where the priest (if there even is one) is worse than the vampire. This vampire is not "misunderstood" he is flat out EVIL.

A decent classic vampire yarn
When Ben Mears, a successful writer, returns to his hometown of Salem's Lot, he has on only one mission: to finally deal with the monster of his youth. As a teenager he entered the abandoned Marsten House on a dare and was confronted with the spirit of Hubert Marsten, a `30s gangster who committed suicide in that same house. By writing a novel about this doomed place, Ben hopes to finally get rid of the images that haunt his dreams. He plans to stay in the Marsten House, but is surprised to find that it has been sold. Unbeknownst to Ben the new owner has a strong link with the monster of his nightmares.

Not only is `Salem's Lot an extensive tribute to Dracula, one of greatest classic horror novels ever written, it is on its own also a decently structured yarn that has all the aspects of a classic. But this part of the homage is at the same time also its weakest point. At no point does the story offer any significant surprise or twist. It is all set-up according to a format that was innovative in Bram Stoker's era, but has lost much of its potency in our modern times. As such, the reader is able to simply predict the denouement based upon the number of pages that follows. At the same time I am afraid that people that are unfamiliar with the original Dracula might miss quite some of the poignant tongue-in-cheek humour that King has added in abundance to the story. Nevertheless `Salem's Lot has all the characteristics of an enjoyable vampire story.

Ho hum
'Salem's Lot is set in a quiet, folksy New England town.Former resident and author Ben Miers returns to cash in on the demons of his youth only to stumble upon a new, more pronounced evil when the mysterious Straker and Barlow are not what they seem.As people start to go missing, etc. he enlists the help of his former teacher, a doctor, a young boy, a priest, and his new girlfriend, Susan Norton to combat this evil.

The novel was written before King developed the formula he would follow in subsequent books and is an entertaining although rather unoriginal take on a classic vampire story.To King's credit the small town atmosphere feels genuine, the characters are well written and likable, and his decision to wait to introduce vampires to the story line adds suspense and excitement.

It's not ground breaking but Salem's lot is an enjoyable read; particularly outside on a cool autumn night where the rustling leaves will make you look over your shoulders more than once. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1988, on Stephen King’s retirement JWT published ‘The King Papers’ a small collection of Stephen King’s published writings spanning 1967-1985.  They remain timelessly potentially valuable but are an almost unexploited gold mine.  This book is comprised of a selection of 20-25 of Stephen King’s most important articles, each one introduced by a known and respected practitioner who, in turn, describes the relevance of the particular original idea to the communications environment of today.

The worth of this material is that, although the context in which the original papers were written is different, the principles themselves are appropriate to marketing communications in today’s more complex media environment. 

The book will serve as a valuable reference book for today’s practitioners, as well as a unique source of sophisticated, contemporary thinking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

master class
I view this book a must for every one of my students who think or hope to become an Account Planner or for any job in Advertising. Merry and Judy have done a service to all who work in and teach advertising. Steven's writings are as concise as can be.
It is amazing to see how the basic thought that Steven King developed is still so pertinent now. During a time when many clients are afraid of what's next, this is the perfect time to refresh our thinking and to understand what Steven saw, thus more confidently helping clients.
I ask students to read it so they waste less time guessing and fumbling for an idea or an insight and I suspect the information can be used by educators and professionals for another 40 years.

Superb thinker in the narrow field of adertising
The true master piece in advertising written by a scientifically minded thinker. It's an invaluable reading to anyone who wants to have a sound and solid basis to discuss and consider any problems in advertising.

Great book and highely recommended!

Planning's Essential Toolkit
When it says 'master class' it means that it won't tell you what to think but it will teach you how to think, which is much more enduring and useful. Every planner I know should read this and inwardly digest its perennial wisdom.

A Must-Read for Anyone Building or Sustaining a Brand
A Master Class in Brand Planning is an invaluable, long over-due introduction to the writings of Stephen King for all marketers in the United States.King, a pioneer in account planning in the UK, spent his career teaching his colleagues, his clients and countless fans how brands work, how to approach brands and importantly how to sustain brands.The brilliance of this compilation of his work is the addition of contemporary commentaries by today's leading thinkers about advertising, marketing and brands.They make this book as relevant and timely as the latest blog on brands. A must-read for people starting out in the business, people building and selling brands, and people teaching marketing in business schools.

Enduring jewels from the King!
Stephen King's writings, as most reviewers acknowledge, are as relevant and stimulating today as they were when he first published them.Between the lines, however, one can still detect the humor and irreverence which were King hallmarks.Stephen was relentlessly rigorous in his approach to brand planning, but at the same time was disarmingly charming and witty.You'll find these qualities here as well.

In an age when desires for instant insights attract attention to short cuts, Stephen King will give 'real planners' tools that require thoroughness and hard work, but which lead to far richer and more rewarding results over time. Brands he touched in his lifetime, and people he inspired, still reign all over the world!

It's a treasure trove, indeed!

Long live the King! ... Read more

Product Description
There is a strange club in New York where men tell each other stories. The years pass but no one looks any older. One night a doctor tells the story of a young woman who gives birth to a baby in the most horrible way!Evil psychic powers, obsession and the supernatural in the most ordinary, everyday places. A spine-chiller from the master of horror. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Satisfying twists and turns of plot
Veteran narrator Frank Muller provides a vivid recording - one of his last - in Stephen King's THE BREATHING METHOD, telling of an exclusive membership club based on a telling of tales. When one story turns into a nightmare for all listeners, chaos emerges in this fine chilling listen for any fan of King or stories with satisfying twists and turns of plot.

Incredible!!!!
This review refers to the mp3 version of the novella.

I recently became interested in audio books, and quite by accident I came upon Frank Muller reading The Great Gatsby. I was so impressed with him that I eagerly looked for more books narrated by him. Being a Stephen King fan, I was thrilled to find Mr. Muller has also read several of his works.

I read the Breathing Method years ago and was intrigued and impressed.Hearing Mr. Muller's interpretation has only added to my love of this novella. He is an amazing narrator!! I cannot say enough how much he adds to the experience of reading. He makes it a very personal, visceral experience, as if he is an old friend, sitting reading to you right in your living room. You will feel as though you are in the story. If you like King, you will love this version of The Breathing Method... I have no doubt.

Review for the Audio CD version
This is for the new Re-released audio ediiton on CD.
The audio quality of this release is louder and fuller than the re-released HighBridge editions, which is a shame b/c i think Different Seaesons is the only one of these just released editons to be Penguin Audio only. It seems Highbridge dropped the ball. Either way the audio is good and full but the cd's are cheap and skip alot more than music cds.
Frank Muller is just awesome reading this, sometimes it doesnt even seem as though he's catching his breath while reading.
This is a Perfect experience. One of Steve's best with an awesome narrator/reader.
Some notes on the story: It really has a different voice than most SK stories, very atmosphreric and almost classical. It also has some sneaky Dark Tower references in it. Enjoy!

Tale a deep breath


Only Stephen King can write a novel that is so completely lucid and insane at the same time and get away with it. Having a particular affection for audio books, I recently listened to his novella, THE BREATHING METHOD.
While nowhere near as frightening or gory as some of his other works, the story does what it is meant to do, and that is wonder which turn KING will take this time.

How many times have many of us NON FAMOUS writer's of suspense and horror thought about this type of story, only to shove it in a drawer or leave it on our word processors because we thought the subject matter just too darn bizarre?
This is one such tale and told by one of the great masters of the telling.
Not having children myself, but having been an offside observer to the births and stories thereof, of many nieces, nephews, and friend's kids, I fully understand THE BREATHING METHOD and what it is supposed to do. Without spoiling it for those who have not read the novella, let's just say when a woman wants to give birth to her baby-illegitimate or not, she will, NO MATTER WHAT! Interest peaked? Well you should read this Novella and be prepared to smile with realization that King does it again.

What I particularly liked at the end of this story, Mr. King offers insight on his writing method and the deep black hole the NOVELLA GENRE falls into. He amusingly gives reminisces about writing stories that are rather too long or too short. When they are short they fall into the Novella category, and into the abyss of probably-never-to-published. He admits he was lucky at times, and also gives valuable publishing information for both horror and sci-fi authors. Most writers of his magnitude wouldn't reduce themselves to offer such help.

Now for you audiophiles. Anytime you can listen to anything read by Frank Muller, (who I believe reads a lot of King's work), by all means do it. He has that unique voice that is quick, precise and puts you right in the middle of the piece he is reading. As an audio book lover, the narrator is important to me as the story. If I don't like a narrator I make note of it, even if I loved the book.

Just gave me nightmares
I finished the audio book earlier this week.In typical Stephen King fashion, he draws you along the story, twisting several plots into it.Surprisingly, it was not the main focus of the story that gave me chills, but the last 5 minutes when certain revelations are made, or at least hinted at.

I especially loved the iconography of the statue in front of the hospital, and the often repeated quote which basically said that there was no comfort without pain.Which I guess can be considered a message of hope, or at least a message that suffering is not done in vain.But again, it's one of those details that makes this whole story just a bit askew.

Overall, it was a great read.I really enjoyed the story, it was a bit predictable, but the pace of the words draws the listener along nicely.I would recomend this book to a friend, but not to my mother. ... Read more

Product Description
In this newly available paperback edition, Spignesi selects and ranks the top 101 works out of the more than 550 created by King during his prolific career. Each chosen work is synopsized and reviewed by the writer that Entertainment Weekly has called "the world's leading expert on Stephen King."Fiction and nonfiction, well-known and obscure, scary and scarier-discussions of King's best short stories, novellas, screenplays, novels, essays, forewords, articles, introductions, and more are all here! From his best-selling novels (The Dead Zone, The Shining, Carrie, The Green Mile, Pet Sematary, It, Riding the Bullet, The Plant, The Dark Tower series, Insomnia), to short stories and novellas ("Survivor Type," "The Last Rung on the Ladder," "Gramma," "Shawshank Redemption"), thought-provoking nonfiction (Danse Macabre, On Writing, "Remembering John," "My Little Serrated Security Blanket," "Leaf-Peepers")...even an amazing column from King's college newspaper ("The Subject This Week is Cops")! This book provides uncompromising summation and review of King's work and is a must-have for both the serious and casual fan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

5 FEET TALL IN THE LAND OF MIDGETS
Stephen King is the best horror writer I know of, and that isnt saying much when you consider how untalented all the competition is. Robert Bloch is the exception. King will never equal Bloch's PSYCHO, and I truly love some of King's books....SALEM'S LOT, CARRIE, CHRISTINE, THE LANGOLIERS, SHANKSHAW REDEMPTION, THE GREEN MILE. DOLAN'S CADILLAC is a sublime short story.

But King is soooo uneven as a writer; 90% of what he writes is mind numbing, inane chatter with eruptions of genius. King's books are packed with more stuff than Santa's sleigh, and are busier than Katrina looters. The man needs an editor bad! Not sycophants.

This book, THE ESSENTIAL STEPHEN KING, is a sycophant's pilgrimage to Mecca or Lourdes.

Kings best book isnt IT, it's CARRIE.

Not awful, but not great.
As another reviewer stated, this work is great for a casual or new fan, wanting to learn more about individual S.K. works and whether he or she might like to read them. For serious fans such as myself, this work is just one glaring error after another, coupled with the lackluster opinions of a self-proclaimed super-fan. In particular, the numerous factual errors that I have found in this book are at the very least distracting, and make me question Spignesi's assessment of S.K.'s writings, especially since he can't seem to keep his literary facts straight! For example, in his entry on "Bag of Bones," Spignesi asserts that Mattie Devore, one of the main characters, is divorced. She is actually widowed, and this facet of this story is important. Another error can be found in Spignesi's entry on "The Dead Zone" (a personal favorite of mine). In this work, Greg Stillson is a third-party candidate for the House of Representatives, not the U.S. presidency! This seemingly minor amount of power initially courted by Stillson is vital to the story. These are just two of many errors, both literary and grammatical, that I found when I read this work. By all means, check it out at the library or borrow it from a friend if you want to know which S.K. book to start with (or just ask an S.K. fan...there are lots of us!).

garbage
The idea for this book isn't a bad one: the ranking of the Top 100 of all Stephen King's works.However, in order for such a conceit to mean anything, there has to be some thought, skill, and insight involved on the part of the ranker.Spignesi showcases none of these qualities.

Instead, what you are left with is something that goes no deeper than you might find on any fan-based website.Spignesi's knowledge of King's work is admittedly considerable, but in order for a work of literary criticism -- which this is, no matter how poorly-thought-out and poorly-presented -- to be worth reading, it has to cut a bit deeper than mere knowledge.There has to be insight.Perhaps Spignesi has such insights, but if so, he has no interest in demonstrating it in this book: his typical mode is to simply list what he liked in each work, and usually this consists of saying that he liked the characters, or something similarly facile.

Spignesi himself is a TERRIBLE writer.This book is peppered with poor writing, with the misuse (or nonuse) of commas being especially prevalent.Why should we accept the critical judgment of a writer who himself cannot write?

There is an attempt to make it plain that the idea behind this book is for it to stimulate discussion about King's works.Well, really, the best way to do that is to simply read them for yourself.You don't need a writer who ought to properly be confined to fanzines to tell you what King's best works are.And if you don't need that, then you don't need this book.

Thank God, it was given to me as a gift; no dollars of my own were wasted on this sad excuse for criticism.

Ranking of Kings Work by Maybe His Biggest Fan but a Very Average Reviewer
If you took a random Amazon reviewer, collated all their reviews of one author (in this case Stephen King) and asked them to rank the books they reviewed then you'd come up with something like the text book laid out in appearance work, The Essential King.Throw in the fact that Spingesi is as gushing a King fan as a twelve year old girl is of her favourite boyband lead singer and what we've got in this collection are biased positive reviews by someone who thinks everything his idol wrote is a masterpiece, these reviews aren't critical at all.I've read a lot of Stephen King, enjoyed most of it but come on there are some novels and short stories in anthologies that aren't quite up to par including a lot which Spignesi rates highly.I would take in the ranking of an authors work much more critically if done by someone who is prepared to admit their idol has flaws.

Also if you're going to rank his work you've got to at least provide a list of the other stuff that didn't make the list.Spignesi also suffers from the bad reviewer quality of thinking there's nothing wrong about including spoilers in a large number of his reviews which means you may become interested in tracking down a story, well that is until the ending or a major twist is ruined for you.Other than a summary Spignesi provides little reasoning for why each piece of work makes the cut or why he likes the stories with most explanations of this only being one or two sentences.Spignesi's list also contains a lot of rare stuff but often he provides no information which magazines or whatever to locate these for the person who has become interested and wants to track them down.
I picked up this book as I thought it would be an interesting look at King's novels and discuss the major differences in the books from their movie adaptations.There's not much of this here.Flip through it at your local library if trying to put on hold a book and you can't remember what its called but don't waste money on this disaster.

Utterly uncritical, and duller than dishwater...
The problem with the book is that it's utterly uncritical of the entirety of Stephen King's work - it's simply a basic recounting of the novel's plot, followed up with a few bits of trivia and the author's "What I Liked" section.

The problem is that the author of this book likes everything about Stephen King, even when he's talking about King's weaker material. You could write the words "I love Stephen King and everything he's ever done!" on an index card, then post it next to the Amazon search results for Stephen King and you'd have this book in a nutshell.

Plus, he refers to the Gor novels as "wildly popular". Uh, no.

-Darren MacLennan ... Read more

Product Description
Todd Bowden is an apt pupil. Good grades, good family, a paper route. But he is about to meet a different kind of teacher: Mr. Dussander. Todd knows all about Dussander's darl past. The torture. The death. The decades-old manhunt Dussander has escaped to this day. Yet Todd doesn't want to turn him in. Todd wants to know more. Much more. He is about to learn the real meaning of power--and the seductive lure of evil.

This acclaimed collection of four novellas by Stephen King also includes "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" (basis for the Academy Award nominated film The Shawshank Redemption), "The Body" (inspiration for the motion picture Stand By Me), and "The Breathing Method." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (62)

Apt Genius
Seeing the title and reading other reviews I had to stop and leave my comment about this story.I listened to the audiobook version ten or so years ago.The story is with me still. It grabbed me, disturbed me, then froze me. It is without doubt a masterful story telling, the equivalent of a Dali painting. Scholars may someday point to this story and King's talent as we do Edgar Allan Poe. What begins as curious interest by the"pupil" is instead psychological venom.So subtle, unique, even remarkable that even the listener isn't aware they've been bitten until it is too late. Like a fly in a spiderweb the listener is trying to fathom how this happened as the spider is seen approaching!

You must think me a King fan.I was enthralled with the Night Flyer short story too, but for different reasons.But frankly, I stopped listening to King stories altogether soon after. What I want from a story I wasn't getting in these.Still I can appreciate supreme talent.

A tense thriller
Todd is an apt pupil with good grades, good family and responsibilities - but when he meets teacher Dussander, trouble begins. Todd knows his dark secrets - and is about to learn the meaning of evil in this tense thriller which receives a fine narration by veteran Frank Mueller, perfect for any audio lending library.

Apt author
The first thing I need to make clear is that the novella "Apt Pupil" is much better than the 1998 movie adaptation. Despite a superb performance by Ian McKellen, the filmmakers made a number of choices which hurt the integrity of the story. The novella is a meditation on the nature of evil, whereas the movie is more of a thriller.

Reading the novella at this late stage brought into focus all the things I've always admired about Stephen King: his vivid imagination, his sharp attention to detail, his perverse sense of humor, and his mastery at crafting a battle of wills between two characters. But I was also impressed that he tackled material this challenging. He not only had to present a believable Nazi, he also had to confront the question of what makes people evil, all the while telling a compelling story about two unsympathetic characters who are surrounded by idiots.

The story is set in the 1970s. A pampered suburban youth named Todd Bowden discovers that an elderly neighbor of his is an escaped Nazi commandant named Kurt Dussander. Instead of turning him in, Todd blackmails him into recounting his hideous crimes. Todd once did a research paper on the camps and greatly impressed his teachers, who don't realize he is fascinated by the subject for all the wrong reasons.

King invites us inside these two people's heads, and what we see are two individuals lacking in guilt but filled with fear, haunted by the threat of exposure. Both characters turn to violence as a release, but this in turn increases their fear, in a self-perpetuating cycle not unlike drug addiction.

The story tempts us to ask which character is more evil. Though Dussander has done worse things than almost any human being alive, Todd has ghastly potential. Unlike Todd, Dussander rationalizes his actions, giving the standard line about having been just following orders. Todd is simply a sneaky bully who puts on a public face of being a nice, well-adjusted kid.

Even I, a grandson of Holocaust survivors, found myself almost rooting for Dussander. He's smarter and more charming than the boy, and since he begins the story as victim, I had to marvel at the way he maneuvers the situation and turns it to his advantage. It is easy to forget that his cold rationality is in many ways more frightening than Todd's sick perversion. King exploits this deceptive quality of fiction by not letting us get to know any of Dussander's victims until late in the story.

Another question left unanswered is how much Todd's descent into violence is influenced by Dussander. He might have become that way on his own, but we can't be sure. His most obvious internal change surfaces when he privately rationalizes his lack of attraction to his girlfriend by thinking she must be secretly Jewish. (The real reason is that he has violent homoerotic fantasies which take the place of ordinary sexual feelings.) Did he get his anti-Semitism from Dussander, or was it there to begin with? His liberal parents show no signs of prejudice but are trapped in a world of empty platitudes that keep them from seeing what's in front of them.

There are political overtones to the story, set at the end of the Vietnam War. Dussander defends himself by accusing America of hypocrisy: "The GI soldiers who kill the innocent are decorated by Presidents, welcomed home from the bayoneting of children and the burning of hospitals with parades and bunting.... Only those who lose are tried as war criminals for following orders and directives" (p. 130). Here and elsewhere, King hints at the idea that Americans tend to have a sense of incomprehension at evils committed by other countries yet fail to see the parallels when the evil is homegrown.

The introspective nature of the story may help explain why the movie (set in the 1980s) didn't work. The problems are various. The process of abridging the plot for screen time makes certain elements seem arbitrary. The racial aspects of Nazism are largely ignored. Most significantly, the film softens the character of Todd, depicting him more as a confused kid who gets in over his head than as an unrelenting psychopath. This change leads the movie to have a very different ending than in the novella.

I suppose the producers felt that audiences needed to be able to relate to the young protagonist, but it creates an imbalance that obscures the story's message about the nature of evil. The film can't even decide what exactly Todd and Dussander are guilty of doing. There are several confusing scenes that leave us unsure whether the two have been murdering animals or simply imagining doing so.

I had the feeling the filmmakers were interpreting the novella as a typical horror story because it was written by Stephen King. They underestimated the source material, a thoughtful fable with something valuable to say about the world.

King Grabs You And Won't Let Go
This being only my second Stephen King story I am amazed at how this story grabbed me and won't let go. We come to know who the apt pupil is; but who is the teacher of evil? How guilty is our society in the making of such evil? How can evil exist so close to people and they are not even aware of it? Can we prevent evil or do we foster it by denying that it exists so near? I found some answers in this great story; maybe you can too.

Stephen your the King
I listened to the audio book Apt Pupil 3 times. The audio version I must give credit to the reader Frank Mueller (I hope correct) Excellent choice.

My mind's eye was full of vivid scenes; senses, of the modern day evil (of the the boy's obession, with past evil of the war with Hitler:the heinous Nazi) The evil already of his (Todd's)own soul, of unbridled anti-social-in-born-psychotic behavior played on my mind's own screen.

The past evils of the old man and present evil of the young boy meshed as into one yet separate being. The assumed character in this story, never named but there it was almost holding one hand of the boys's and the other the old man. Each battling for balance of their lives in more morbid twisted ways. Yet, so similar in their means of balancing themselves or their souls.

Never, finding peace or the norm of acceptible qualities on the inside, yet each were able to assimilate the normalcy on the outside. That was so cool (wink and smile)

Now I will read the book to find that error. There was a proof error. Who ever proof read this book should be more careful. That's why only the 4 stars. There should not have been that error.

Also may I mention, there were no real people or animals injured or otherwise in making this book. That was all in your mind. This is fiction, a story, a great read.

Sorrowfully, there were real Nazi prison camps and millions of real people died there. This is a fact. It is a part of history that should not be forgotten and should never happen again.

Stephen if you read this write to me ... Read more

Product Description
Traces the life of a popular novelist, from his childhood as an avid reader to his current success as a creator of horror fiction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A FAN OF THE MAN
Although I have never been a fan of the writing of Stephen King, Wilson's book has made me a fan of the man. With fascinating anecdotes and sharp, clean writing, Wilson draws the reader into King's life and makes clear the connections between his life and his work. The downside is that I now want to see those connections for myself, so find myself with a ton of reading to catch up on. My only hope is that King will give me a chance to catch up by not being as prolific in the future as he has been in the past. However, I do hope to see more books by Wilson in the near future. She is proof that biographies written for younger readers can be as interesting to adults as to their intended audience. ... Read more

Product Description
'Although it is difficult to believe, the 60s are not fictional; they actually happened' (from the Author's Note). "Hearts in Atlantis" comprises of five brilliant, interconnected, sequential narratives, each deeply rooted in the 60s and haunted by the Vietnam War: In "Low Men in Yellow Coats", 11-year-old Bobby discovers that adults are sometimes not rescuers but at the heart of the terror. In the title story, a bunch of college kids get hooked on a card game, discover the possibility of protest and confront their own collective heart of darkness. In "Blind Willie" and "Why We're in Vietnam", two men who grew up with Bobby in suburban Connecticut try to fill the emptiness of the post-Vietnam era. And in "Heavenly Shades of Night are Falling", Bobby returns to his hometown where one final secret, the hope of redemption, and his heart's desire may await him.Amazon.com Review
With his idiosyncratic blend of patrician airs and boyish charm, narratorWilliam Hurt provides a wonderful complement to this wildly imaginativecollection of short stories by author Stephen King. Hurt carefully weavesthe disparate elements into a cohesive whole, embracing the subtlecomplexities of each character; one moment a wizened sadness leaks into hisvoice as a haunted old man, pursued by demons, asks his 11-year-oldlookout, "You know everyone on this street, on this block of this streetanyway? And you'd know strangers?Sojourners? Faces of those unknown?"Then, in a profound yet almost imperceptible switch, he exposes the boy'snaive enthusiasm, "I think so." Right about here your neck hairs will standat attention. Hurt's peculiar vocal style is in perfect pitch to King'sdark, surreal vision of growing up amid the monsters of post-VietnamAmerica. (Running time: 21 hours, 20 CDs) --George Laney ... Read more

Customer Reviews (595)

Brought back memories!
What real cops do.
I'm 61 now and as I read through the pages of this book, finding it hard to put down, it brought back so many memories. The innocence of childhood. The carefree life of a child. Finding that simple things can be the most fun and exciting. It also brought back memories of Vietnam, or should I say that era. I was a soldier between 1969 and 1972. I did not serve in Vietnam, but I knew many that did and I know of those who came back messed up physically and mentally. I was drafted and I knew of those that managed to stay out of the draft by going to college or going to the National Guard. I also knew a few that failed in college and went anyway and of at least one person who did not attend Guard meetings as required on was activated.
It also made me think of my first love.
This is a great read, and I would encourage anyone to read it.

WARNING - King reads half the book!
Nowhere on the label does it say Stephen King is reading any of this book.If it did, I would never have bought the CD.The first story is read by a very good reader.The rest is not -- at least so far as I can tell.I listened to King read for 5 more disks and that was all I could stand.I don't know how much of it he actually reads.I feel this was trick labeling of the CD and I will never buy another Stephen King audio book for fear it will not tell the truth about who is reading.

Good Bedtime Reading..
..because it's seldom so interesting that you can't put it down, and sometimes just boring enough to make you sleepy!

Seriously, this was not an awful book, but neither was it great.In fact it could just as well have been 3 separate novellas as each of the stories is only linked by the faintest of threads.The first reads like sci-fi, the second long section like autobiography.The third section (Viet Nam) suddenly delves deeply into some characters we've not even met with in the first 2 sections in order to compliment the story of some secondary characters from the 2nd section who go to Viet Nam. And for the grand finalle, it wraps up with a quip of an ending relating back to the first story.The only thing that unifies this novel besides the somewhat distant relationship between characters of the 3 parts, is the 60s, how they got through it and what finally became of them.

In a nutshell, it could be a frustrating read for folks that care about the outcome of the first story which is the most interesting.On the other hand, if you're feeling more detached and you don't mind a casual (long) walk down memory lane (from the point of view of college students in the 60s and then Viet Nam), you may find something in the autobiographical tone of the substantial second section (not autobiographical in fact) and the sorrow and nightmare flashbacks of the vets in the third section, though this seemed like it had been done before in too many Hollywood movies.Finally, what seems like eons later, we get around to wrapping up the original story in a dozen pages or so (I did like the name of the last section "HEAVENLY SHADES OF NIGHT ARE FALLING" - and it does end on a somewhat satisfying note).

While overall the book has a number of good moments and as many or more than are occasionally tedious, I don't regret reading it - but neither would I recommend.For much, much better 'new millenium' Stephen King (not horror, but gripping all the same) check out "Bag of Bones".

Heart breaking
I pretty much quit reading Stephen King in the early eighties.But in the last few years I've become attracted to his less supernatural horror stuff, in part because of the superb film adaptations like Stand By Me, Shawshank Redemption and (for me) recently, the excellent Dolores Claiborne.A few years ago, I read some really good short stories, as well as The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon , which was gripping but didn't really move me that much.However, I just finished Hearts In Atlantis.Amazing.Just a thread of the supernatural is masterfully strung throughout these five separate pieces, though it could just as easily be considered a novel.It's about the 60's; the effects of the Vietnam war, the anti-war movement and the horrible things that human being do to each other, as well as the wonderful things that human beings are capable of.All the main characters fail at some point in realizing their ideals, and the book appears to be a subtle indictment of the baby-boomer generation.However it really seems to apply to all of us who have settled for microwaves, cell phones and PCs rather than trying to understand and perhaps heal the insanity that has become of western civilization.But it's also full of compassion, and I was moved to tears more than once.Although the first story/section, "Low Men in Yellow Coats", appeared to me to be the highlight of the book as I approached the ending, the last two stories recast the rest of the book in an unexpected and totally compelling light, and it made it clear that this may be his masterpiece. Highly recommended.

poignant and real
Just when you think you have Stephen King figured out, he surprises you again!! The characters who inhabit the places and times of this book are richly limned and lovingly detailed. Mr. King has done them the justice that only someone the calibre of a Harper Lee or a Carson McCullers can do..in that he captures them in prose that is achingly reminiscent of these two authors..He has proven himself truly a master..as far as I am concerned, this is his magnum opus... ... Read more

Product Description
A must-have for every Stephen King fan! Creepshows is the definitive illustrated guide to the more than 50 film and television productions, sequels and spin-offs, stage shows, radio plays, and computer games adapted from the work of master storyteller Stephen King.Lavishy illustrated with 200 rare posters, behind-the-scenes photos, exclusive movie stills, and dazzling book covers, Creepshows includes in-depth coverage of classic films such as The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption, Carrie, and The Shining, as well as fan favorites like Salem's Lot, Christine, and The Running Man. Fans will also find a complete overview of highly praised TV work such as The Stand and Storm of the Century, and the inside story on Maximum Overdrive, the film King himself directed.Plus, this fantastic, one-of-a-kind resource features an original one-on-one interview with Stephen King and a captivating introduction by director/ screenwriter Mick Garris. Other contributors include horror artist Bernie Wrightson, Green Mile screenwriter Frank Darabont, and authors Peter Straub, Harlan Ellison, and David J. Schow.For all fans of horror films, Stephen King books, and movies in general, Creepshows is an essential reference! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

For the King collector
This is a nice book to have if you are a King Collector.

Decent and up to date, but flawed...
This large (in size rather than actual volume of text, as most of the book is occupied by photographs - the vast majority of them in black and white) guide to films, TV productions, fan videos and other filmed works based on or inspired by Stephen King's prose (and one poem...) is not particularly detailed, but certainly contains enough basic information, facts and trivia about almost every minor, major, cancelled or planned King production as of late 2002 to satisfy a King reader interested in the visual media.

Unfortunately, it leaves much to be desired. The layout is clunky at times, and there are a few truly pointless parts thrown in at the end most likely just to increase the volume (what in heaven's - or hell's - name would otherwise be the point in including such entries as Sean Cunningham's "House" [apparently listed because its protagonist is a "Stephen King-like writer"], "The Simpsons" episode "Maximum Homerdrive" [whose only relation to King is the title, as the book even admits], or some German porn flick which features a mad naked janitor [allegedly a ripoff of "The Shining's" Jack Torrance]?), and the book does not actually list *all* adaptations of King's writing (where is the best of the King shorts, "Strawberry Spring" from 2001?).

The most annoying thing about the guide, however, is the fact that it discusses the films in a chronological order rather than the proper, alphabetical one. This awkward (to put it mildly...) decision makes the book extremely inconvenient for quick checking, looking up particular titles, or comparing movies. Fortunately, there is an index, but still, flipping 87 pages to reach that index after reading an entry for one film, then flipping back 61 pages to find its sequel is infuriating.

Interesting Tidbits, But Gets Tiresome Fast
Creepshows: The Illustrated Stephen King Movie Guide got off on the wrong foot quick by crediting (On the lower back cover) the Berni Wrightson cover illustration to the woman who DESIGNED the cover layout. Very sloppy, especially considering Wrightson's rendition of "The Creep" is world-famous.....

The book covers all of the films that have sprung, however tenuous the connection may be (Children of the Corn 666), from Mr. King's stories. Stephen Jones does an interesting job of digging up little-known bits of trivia; I'm a King fanatic, and there were quite a few things here that were new to me. The irritating thing is the division of space in the book: A gem like The Green Mile gets the same amount of space as Children of the Corn. Jones devotes too much space to films that have nothing to do with King at all, such as the awful "House", covered because the main character is a King wannabe. The book is an American reprint of a British book, published in the UK by Titan Books, and the fact that Watson-Guptill couldn't even be bothered to Americanise the Brit spellings gets annoying after 100+ pages of "Favourite" and "Colour". Jones also seems to love the word "Eponymous"- He uses it on almost every page, and one would hope that someone has since bought him a Thesaurous. There's a brief King interview at the end, and the book is heavily illustrated with stills and poster reproductions. King fans will probably enjoy Creepshows a lot, but it could have been better.... ... Read more

Product Description
This encyclopedic king-sized reference covers every nook and cranny of theprolific author's career--as a writer, screenwriter, actor, and popular cultfigure.Drawing on nearly 25 years of work, Stephen King from A to Z is thefinal word on things King, portraying the writer who has sold a quarter-billioncopies worldwide of his books since 1974.Amazon.com Review
Did you know that the Bangor West All Stars was the LittleLeague team on which King's son Owen played (King being an assistantcoach), ultimately winning the Maine State Little League Championship(11-8) in 1989, and that the team's ascent to glory is recounted ingreat detail in Nightmares & Dreamscapes' "Head Down?" ThatCavalier is a cheesecake magazine in which King first sold"Graveyard Shift"? That King believes Hell House by RichardMatheson might be the scariest haunted-house novel ever written? Theseand hundreds more Stephen King-related entries await the Kingenthusiast in George Beahm's literary and biographicalencyclopedia. Drawing on years of Stephen King expertise (Beahm wrotethe Stephen KingCompanion, TheStephen King Story, and Stephen King: America'sBest-Loved Boogeyman), Beahm has larded his encyclopedia withdetailed information on King's stories, books, and films, as well asquotes that give King's take on everything from fame to censorship toauthors he admires and deplores. There are photographs (75),illuminated letters (26), a couple dozen essays on topics such asMaine, Philtrum Press (King's publisher), and King's movies, andtrivia such as the amount of prize money King won in a college Englishdepartment contest ($69.81) and the name of King's childhood dog(Queenie). The potential quality of life for Stephen King aficionadoshas just significantly improved. --Stephanie Gold ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Stephen King A+++
This book is quite informative. Everything is in alphabetical order & easy to find. I use it as a reference to his books that I have read. I really enjoy this purchase. And would recommend it to others.

A note from the author
This book is not, as one reader/reviewer put it, a biography; he was undoubtedly confusing THIS book with my biography on King, "Stephen King: America's Best-Loved Boogeyman." This book fills in the holes, so to speak, with detailed information from A to Z about the people, places and things in King's life, not his fiction; there's a difference--the latter is a concordance, and has already been ably compiled by the prolific Stephen J. Spignesi. My book draws on my extensive files on King that I've compiled since 1988, sports an introduction by King critic Dr. Michael Collings, includes a dozen short essays, 75 photos of things King, illustrated letters by artist Stephen Fabian, but most of all it includes hundreds of entries that shed light on King as a writer and a person. From "A" (AFTERMATH, THE; a novel King wrote when he was a teenager) to "Z" (the ZBS Production of "The Mist," a dramatization), this book covers King thoroughly.

The book is available in a trade paperback edition from Andrews McMeel Publishing. It is an oversized book with 250 pages.

This Is The best biography I've read
I read this book in 3 days and found it to be the most interetsing and fun biographies I've read. I'm A big fan Stephen king and this book told me the story behind Kings life. George Beahm did a Great job of telling the story. If your a Stephen King fan get this book you won't regret it. ... Read more

Product Description
Advance Praise

"What a treasure house is this book! Robots, space aliens, Einstein, black holes, time travel--these themes, and much more, from Stephen King's amazing books are opened up like toy chests. It's tremendous fun, entirely educational, and a great tribute to King."
--Peter Straub

"A fun, fun read."
--F. Paul Wilson

"The Science of Stephen King appeals to both the scientist and the longtimereader of Stephen King in me. Gresh and Weinberg use concepts from King's fiction as launching pads for in-depth explorations of concepts as diverse as ESP, pyrokinesis, time travel, artificial intelligence, quantum chemistry, alternate realities, string theory, and the possibility that we'll be visited by aliens or that we'll face a global pandemic. Much of what Stephen King writes about in his novels is closer to reality than you might think."
--Bev Vincent, Ph.D., author of The Road to the Dark Tower

"A superb overview of King's use of scientific concepts in his stories. And considering all the scary talk lately about pandemic flu, their chapter on The Stand is timely as hell."
--Stephen Spignesi, author of The Complete Stephen King Encyclopedia

"Just as Sagan and Asimov popularized science to the masses by making itentertaining and informative, so too do Gresh and Weinberg.Compulsively readable and thought-provoking."
--George Beahm, author of The Stephen King Companion ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

SOLO FANS DE STEPHEN KING
Este libro es solamente interesante para los verdaderos fanaticos de STEPHEN KING, quienes son los que desean saberlo TODO del maestro y sus escritos. En realidad, las obras de King son un pretexto solo para que los autores diserten a sus anchas en temas mas diversos, y que en realidad, tienen que ver poco con la esencia de King, que es el poner a personas normales en situaciones extraordinarias. Sin embargo, como sin querer la cosa, uno aprende algo mas. Denle una oportunidad.

Another great Science of Book
This book follows in the tradition of the Science of Superheroes, the Science of Supervillains and the Computers of Star Trek.Are the horrors and phenomenon that are described in Stephen King's books only a product of a highly imaginative author, or are any of these phenomenon ground in some sort of fact.If you wish to find this out, read this highly entertaining book.

Interesting, but lots of errors
I found this book at the library where I work and borrowed it, since I've been reading Stephen King for years.It seemed interesting enough, but I was too distracted by the errors to really get into it.The authors give a synopsis of the work they are about to discuss, and frequently the synopsis contains errors.Maybe I'm obsessive but it just seemed like someone should have taken the time to check for accuracy.
If you're not crazy about detail, this could be a good read.If you're a big Stephen King fan and the errors are going to drive you crazy, maybe this isn't the book for you.

good but not great
It's an okay book, the problem is trying to put some scientific reasoning behind King's supernatural works. That and I felt that they picked a lot of King's weaker works and didn't focus on where he was best. Plus King's fans are drawn by the human characters and their relationships and how they overcome adversary. But it is good for the hardcore fan.

A Whole New Perspective on King's Fiction
From religion to medicine and technology, THE SCIENCE OF STEPHEN KING poses educational and intriguing concepts that encourage the reader to look at King's fiction not just as entertainment but as both scientific and cultural reflections of our society. Weinberg and Gresh weave intricate mathematics and scientific calculations with detailed history and contrasting religious views. I found the book captivating. Stephen King's work resonates with deeper symbolism and meaning after I have examined the ins and outs of the realistic and unrealistic science that serves as the foundation of his fiction as proposed by Weinberg and Gresh. THE SCIENCE OF STEPHEN KING is a definite must-read for King fans and literary buffs of all genre-persuasions. In short: READ THIS BOOK. ... Read more

Product Description
Read by John Glover
Ten CDs, 9 hours

Tales from Gray Matter include:
The Boogeyman
I Know What You Need
Strawberry Spring
Gray Matter
The Woman in the Room
Battleground

Tales from Graveyard Shift include:
Graveyard Shift
The Man Who Loved Flowers
The Last Rung on The Ladder
Night Surf
Jerusalem's Lot

Tales from Lawnmower Man include:
Lawnmower Man
The Mangler
Quitters, Inc.
The Ledge
Sometimes They Come Back ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

stephen king on wheels
This product is great.Used it on a roadtrip to Florida.John Glover is Smallville's, Lex Luther's Father.Good reader.After the first few stories he gets into the stories more and they add background sounds into a few of them.I like that.It adds to the story.I recommend this product.

Classics
I've read and listened to these many times over the course of years.When I saw them finally in a CD format I thought it was my birthday.My old cassettes are warn so bad.I highly recommend these set if you are an "old" fan of Stephen Kings.

Maybe a little dated in the telling
I love Stephen King and find no fault with the narration by John Glover. Having said that, I found the set of short stories to be a little dated in 2008. Most of these SK shorts were early work in his career and while well crafted, a couple seemed a little predictable or dragged on. There are however a few I thought outstanding such as Quitters Inc, The Ledge, and Sometimes They Come Back. All in all a good listen for both a long and short commute.

A review of the audiobook set (not just the stories)
As a kid this was my first foray into the world of horror.I remember the tattered paperback of father's with the gauze covered hand with the eyes in it.

I took a break from fiction (for about a decade) and now have happily come back.

I don't have nearly as much time to read anymore unless I want to become nocturnal.And that may have worked in my early twenties, but it just doesn't cut it at thirty-nine years old.

As a result, I have begun buying a lot of audiobooks so I can listen to/from work where I leave off reading at night.I am a stickler about unabridged.I MUST have unabridged.

So when I saw this set I was a little confused.On ebay there's apparently 3 versions of the Night Shift audiobook.In reality, it's three different version with three different sets of stories.

The skinny on the CD audiobook of 10 CDs is that it contains the collected previous 3 volumes in on set.

The one question I had before buying this, "What's missing?How incomplete is it?"

The book itself contains 20 short stories, 16 of them are in this set.So the audiobook is nearly complete.What four stories are missing?"I Am the Doorway", "Trucks", "Children of the Corn", and "One For the Road."

It's well read and produced.I love having this on the ipod or in the car.Brings back the good ol' days.Days of sleeping with the light on.

Amazing stories
A copy of this collection stays in my car as a sort of back-up in case I go on a long trip without any audio books. Or at least that's what I tell myself as it's still in my car after six months. Perhaps it impressed/scared me so much that I'm afraid to let it out of my sight. ... Read more

Product Description
Early in 2004, two writers and Red Sox fans, Stewart O'Nan and Stephen King, decided to chronicle the upcoming season, one of the most hotly anticipated in baseball history. They would sit together at Fenway. They would exchange emails. They would write about the games. And, as it happened, they would witness the greatest comeback ever in sports, and the first Red Sox championship in eighty-six years. What began as a Sox-filled summer like any other is now a fan's notes for the ages.Amazon.com Review
Fans watching the 2004 baseball playoffs were often treated to shots of Stephen King sitting in the stands, notebook in hand. Given the bizarre events on the field, from the Red Sox's unprecedented comeback against their most hated rivals to their ace pitcher's bleeding, stitched-together ankle--not to mention the Sox's first championship in 86 years--you could be forgiven for thinking King was writing the script as he went along, passing new plot twists down to the dugouts between innings.

What he was writing, though, along with his friend and fellow novelist Stewart O'Nan, was Faithful, a diary of the 2004 Red Sox season. Faithful is written not from inside the clubhouse or the press room, but from the outside, from the stands and the sofa in front of the TV, by two fans who, like the rest of New England, have lived and died (mostly died) with the Sox for decades. From opposite ends of Red Sox Nation, King in Maine and O'Nan at the border of Yankees country in Connecticut, they would meet in the middle at Fenway Park or trade emails from home about the games they'd both stayed up past midnight to watch. King (or, rather, "Steve") is emotional, O'Nan (or "Stew") is obsessively analytical. Steve, as the most famous Sox fan who didn't star in Gigli, is a folk hero of sorts, trading high fives with doormen and enjoying box seats better than John Kerry's, while Stew is an anonymous nomad, roving all over the park. (Although he's such a shameless ballhound that he gains some minor celebrity as "Netman" when he brings a giant fishing net to hawk batting-practice flies from the top of the Green Monster.)

You won't find any of the Roger Angell-style lyricism here that baseball, and the Sox in particular, seem to bring out in people. (King wouldn't stand for it.) Instead, this is the voice of sports talk radio: two fans by turns hopeful, distraught, and elated, who assess every inside pitch and every waiver move as a personal affront or vindication. Full of daily play-by-play and a season's rises and falls, Faithful isn't self-reflective or flat-out funny enough to become a sports classic like Fever Pitch, Ball Four, or A Fan's Notes, but like everything else associated with the Red Sox 2004 season, from the signing of Curt Schilling to Dave Roberts's outstretched fingers, it carries the golden glow of destiny. And, of course, it's got a heck of an ending. --Tom Nissley ... Read more

Customer Reviews (103)

Good book but he should keep his politics out of it
I was looking forward to reading this book from the time I first heard of the project.I FINALLY got a chance to read it recently and it was a nice, relatively quick and fun read.Stuart O'Nan is quite the character, showing up in the monster seats during BP with a butterfly net to snag balls and other humorous antics.It's ironic (spooky) that they chronicled the 2004 season and the Sox first World Series win in 86 years.My only objection would be Mr. King having to inject his loony left political views periodically, sounds like he's got a crush on 'Longshot' John Kerry for one which made me want to #uke.Hey, Mr King, a village in KENYA is missing it's idiot (not Texas).Just wanted to clear that up for ya.

O'Nan drove me crazy--otherwise ok
I remember first reading this book in Cooperstown the day before the Sox played the Tigers in the 2005 Hall of Fame Game.I was disappointed, in part because I thought the playoff narration was very tepid...it didn't do justice to the tension, the wonderment and the sheer ecstasy of that magical time.Also, and primarily, I couldn't erase from my mind the disturbing image of O'Nan elbowing kids out of the way to grab foul balls and cadge autographs.For God's sake the man brought a ball-catching apparatus to a game (really Stewart?) and became upset when he was told that he could't use the contraption.The fascination with marginal players also struck me as a bit of a "look at me" pose (all the references to Dauber (?)while Ellis Burks, a great player gets barely a mention...please).King's part was ok, particularly given his track record as of late...while his writing has become clitche-ridden and often consists of nothing but smug, self-satisfied and self-referential prattle, at least the guy is a life-long Sox fan and is able, unlike his cohort, to restrain himself in the presence of baseballs and baseball players.I mean you could watch a game with him without worrying about your kids getting flattened anytime someone fouls a ball back or Dale Sveum's 3rd cousin is in the vicinity.

Surviving Grady is much, much better.

Still, although it chronicles manifest instances of Stewart O'Nan's childishness, Faithful also chronicles, in considerable detail, the greatest, most rewarding year of baseball I have ever experienced and that, along with the fact that I purchased the book at the Dollar Tree for--that's right--a dollar is enough to achieve a ranking of two and one-half stars in my book.

faithful
The whole season, game-by-game, may be more than I want to read; but if one goes to the more interesting series' and the more compelling aspects of the season - like the trades, the fights, the ALDS,ALCS and,of course, the anti-climactic World Series, the book is a great read. Especially so for an avid member of Red Sox Nation, who can relate to every expletive of elation, wonder and disgust. I remember uttering every one of them!

I was disappointed with this book
You hear Stephen King is co-writing a book about his beloved Red Sox and you get excited.Unfortunately this book did not live up to my expectations. It was a boring read because it basically spoke about what King and O'Nan where doing throughout the Red Sox historic season.Anyone could have wrote this type of book.

Fantastic Book. You relive the season thru It!
To preface this review, I am a die Hard Sox fan, so I am biased. But if you are as well, this book will take you thru the entire season, and allow you to relive it thru 2 other die hards eyes.
They really capture the feeling of a true fan. I just reread this again, and it really brought me back.
I highly recommend this book!
... Read more

Product Description

THE MAN IN THE BLACK SUIT FOUR UNABRIDGED DARK TALES FROM

STEPHEN KING
The Man in the Black Suit
Read by John Cullum

"...the face of the man in the black suit growsever clearer, ever closer, and I remember every word he said. I don't want to think of him, but I can't help it, and sometimes at night my old heart beats so hard and so fast I think it will tear itself right clear of my chest."

A haunting recollectionof a mysterious boyhood event, The Man in Black Suit read by John Cullum leads off this masterful collection from Stephen King.

Other dark tales include: All That You Love Will Be Carried Away read by Peter Gerety, in which a man checks into a Lincoln, Nebraska Motel 6 to find the meaning in his life; That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French read by Becky Ann Baker presents the ultimate case of déejàa vu; and The Death of Jack Hamilton read by Arliss Howard -- a blistering tale of Depression-era outlaws on the run.

Whether writing about encounters with the dead, the near dead, or about the mundane dreads of life, Stephen King's The Man In The Black Suit: Four Dark Tales is intense, eerieand instantly compelling. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

The Man in the Black Suit
This intriguing little collection of short stories is fun, but not my favorite of King's work. In the title story of this small collection, a young boy runs into the devil on a fishing trip. Pretty far-fetched, but King has the knack to make it seem real. The three other stories are a little less outrageous and deal with more mundane subjects. As always, the King character development skills are in full bloom here, but the plots of these stories don't have the usual twists and turns, and are more predictable. The narrators are excellent storytellers who add a lot to the interpretation of the stories.

Four unabridged short stories
Heard THE MAN IN THE BLACK SUIT, four unabridged short stories
by Stephen King.

Although I've liked some of the movies that have been made
out of King's work, I've never actually read (or listened to) very
much by him until this collection . . . and now, having spent
several hours listening to these tales, I'm not sure I want
to read too much more by this acclaimed author.

The very first story, "The Man in the Black Suit," just didn't
do anything for me . . . its' about a suicidal father, which to begin
with, is not one of my favorite topics . . . overall, it was a gloomy
beginning to what followed.

Only one story kept my attention: "The Death of Jack Hamilton" . . . it
is about John Dillinger and Hamilton, his friend, over the last days
of the latter's life . . . I don't know if things happened exactly
as they are written here, but it didn't really matter . . . I
was entertained from beginning to end.

The other two stories were so-so, at best . . . fortunately, the narration was
not done by King but by a quartet of professional actors: Becky Ann
Bakers, John Cullum, Peter Gerety and Arliss Howard . . . they
all were just fine.

The Man in the Black Suit
Excellent Service.
The product is in excellent condition. I am sure that I will
enjoy it much. Delivery was in a very timely manner.
Thank you so much,
Dee

Overall decent, but not his best work in short story form
Stephen King's `The Man in the Black Suit' is a collection of 4 short stories from his book `Everything`s Eventual`.As with all Stephen King audio books, these stories are unabridged.

The first story, `The Man in the Black Suit`, tells the tale from an elder man's perspective of his encounter with the devil when he was a young child.The story is well told.At 9 years of age, he sets out on a fishing trip by himself, John Cullum does wonderful voice work in this audio book.

The second story, `All That You Love Will Be Carried Away`, is about a traveling salesman by the name of Alfie.Alfie is a man obsessed with the graffiti he reads in rest area bathroom stalls.Much of the story is poems you would find there.At times it seems as if this work may be Stephen King's excuse to show off his prowess in these toilet poems.The story premise is of a man's world as he contemplates his final thoughts on his upcoming motel room suicide and how it will reflect on him and his loved ones.

The third story, and perhaps the most engaging one, is about John Dillinger and his friend, Jack Hamilton.In `The Death of Jack Hamilton', Dillinger and his gang are on the run from the FBI, when Jack Hamilton is shot and wounded.What follows is the continued adventure of their attempted escape and nurturing of Dillinger's close friend, Jack, in his final days.I am not sure how historically accurate the story is, or whether the author intended it to be, but the story does a good job with it's entertaining details.

The fourth story was one I had trouble with.While the story telling was good, it still disappointed.Carol and Bill are on their way to their second honeymoon.Carol encounters an incredible amount of déjà vu's.It builds up well, and has promise, but it never really goes anywhere.

Overall, these short stories are simply OK.They are well written, and well read, but they lack some of the meat of the story I expect from Stephen King.

Stephen King keeping alive the art of the short story
First, a few words about each of the four different stories.


"The Man in the Black Suit" - 3 stars

This is a story about a 9-year-old boy who meets the Devil himself. It's a very scary experience for the boy, especially because his older brother died the year before and now the Devil tells him that his mother has just died in the same way.

This is the weakest of the four stories because the Devil, although being scary, doesn't really come across as a serious threat. What kind of second-rate Devil is it that can't even catch a boy who decides to run away from him?

In "Everything's Eventual" Stephen King writes that this story won a prestigious "best short story" award in 1996, much to his surprise. That surprises me too, because in my opinion this story is not that great.


"All That You Love Will Be Carried Away" - 5 stars

This is the shortest story (only 35 minutes) and one of the two best ones in this collection. Alfie Zimmer is a traveling salesman in the American Midwest. He has an amazing hobby and he's tired of life. But if he commits suicide, what will everyone think of his hobby?

What makes this story so good are the very detailed and evocative descriptions of the conditions under which a traveling salesman lives. Alfie's strange hobby is also captivating, as are the descriptions of the landscape and isolated towns in the bleak and barren Midwest.

In "Everything's Eventual" Stephen King admits that Alfie's strange hobby was actually something he did himself!


"The Death of Jack Hamilton" - 4 stars

This is a very unusual story for Stephen King. It tells a "mythical" story about the 1934 death of Jack Hamilton, member of the John Dillinger gang. Homer Van Meter, another gang member, purportedly tells the story.

John Dillinger, Jack Hamilton and Homer Van Meter were all real people. You can find a lot of interesting background information about them by doing an Internet search for John Dillinger.

Despite the fact that these were all ruthless gangsters we find ourselves sympathizing with them. Stephen King's approach to the story is that gangsters are also human beings. The slow death of Jack Hamilton and the efforts of John Dillinger to get him medical help and Dillinger's distress as Jack Hamilton's condition worsens are powerful images.


"That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French" - 5 stars

This is the best story in the collection. Carol was brought up as a strict Catholic, but then, during the first years of her marriage to Bill, she had an abortion. Now she and Bill are supposed to be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and Carol is being subjected to a horrendous punishment for what she did.

What makes the story fascinating is that it is not God who is punishing Carol. No, it is Carol, under the influence of her Catholic upbringing, who has prescribed her own punishment. And this punishment Carol is inflicting on herself is much worse than a benevolent God would come up with, even assuming that God considers what Carol did to be wrong.


In summary, two very good stories, one good one, and one that's just OK.

The four stories are read by four different professional readers. The total running time is approx. 3 hours 40 minutes, not 4 hours as specified on the packaging.

All four of these stories are included in the book "Everything's Eventual", along with 10 other short stories by Stephen King. If you want to save money or if you dislike audio books then "Everything's Eventual" is a better deal.

Rennie Petersen ... Read more

Product Description
This is a collection of terrifying stories that reveal a shudderingly detailed map of the dark places that lie behind our waking, rational world. This is the horror of ordinary people and everyday objects that become strangely altered, a world where nothing is ever quite what it seems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Stephen King And Rod Serling Would Have Been Great Friends...
Having read the majority of Stephen King's works and now finish up with "the rest" of them, I am always excited for what the master storyteller has in store for me. With "Night Shift", one of King's early story collections, I was not disappointed and pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the stories.

To me, reading this collection was like randomly picked out about ten episodes of Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone" and watching them back to back. Some will be terrifying, some will be suspenseful, and some will be morality plays, while others will be downright funny and charming. Serling had a creative mind to write in all those genres, and (in this novel) King showed a similar proclivity with diverse material. From giant rats to a brother/sister bond to a guy who just wants to quit smoking, King is able (in relatively few pages, at least for him!) to tell a variety of stories that will keep you guessing as to what will happen next.

In all honesty, what I found to be the best (and most chilling) story of the whole collection was only a few pages long and entitled "The Man Who Loved Flowers", about a young man who is completely taken with the love of a woman (including an ending that will stun you).

Only a few stories in the collection were lacking, while all the others are prime examples of the genius of Mr. King. Read with confidence knowing that each and every little tale he tells will pull you in a different emotional direction.

IT was a gift
I scoured the internet for suggestions for REALLY scary books. This book was one of the suggestions of an "ALL GUY" website. THey said it would keep you up at night. It ended up being a gift for my little brother so I havent actually read it. ... Read more