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Showing posts with label Literary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Literary. Show all posts

Frankenstein: Dead and Alive Review

Dean Koontz, American, Conspiracy, Dark Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Graphic Novel, Horror, Literary, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Frankenstein: Dead And Alive

Published: 2009
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: American, Conspiracy, Dark Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Graphic Novel, Horror, Literary, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller
Book 03 of 05: Frankenstein

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Dean Koontz's Frankenstein series continues in Dead and Alive, the third installment of the first series. This entry was supposed to be co-authored by Ed Gorman and Dean Koontz, but Koontz decided to write it alone.

It is Great! What else can I say? Dean Koontz did not let me down. When I was a youngster, I was a huge fan of the Frankenstein myth. This series has elevated the tale to a new level.

I enjoyed this book, although some readers may not make it all the way through. The second book was a direct sequel to the first one, and it even continued off just where the second one left off. 

The plot had kept me engaged, but this nearly put a stop to it. The more I read, the stranger and stranger this narrative becomes. 

Each chapter appeared to move this narrative from a believable notion to pure insanity, and I genuinely believed to myself several times that I was reading Stephen King's work, which is a compliment to this book.

Now, I realize it's fiction and far from possible, but Koontz created the first novel with Victor Frankenstein not only conquering reanimation but also solving the problem of mortality with his great mind. 

This grew so bizarre that I had lost faith in the plot till the very end. The finale was really well written and effectively brought this installment to a close, but don't worry, two more installments are already available and you won't have to wait long to read the next chapter in this series.

Dead and Alive is no exception to Dean Koontz's mastery at constructing a story that thoroughly engulfs the reader. 

I put everything on hold as soon as I received my copy and immersed myself in this horrific narrative. 

Many people think that when man tries to play God, only catastrophic events will occur, but I believe that we may exceed ourselves as humans if we can use our knowledge for the good of mankind rather than allowing any evil-minded individual to use it for wars and other financial gains. 

And I believe that one of the finest things we can do is to defeat death; if we can live longer or achieve immortality, we will be able to maintain all of our knowledge and put it to even greater use for mankind.

The primary characters have some of the greatest sentences I've ever read. It's intellectual, incisive, and amusing, with a wonderfully unique idea that makes me wish there were more than a few novels in the series.

Everyone should have read the first two novels in the series by now: Prodigal Son (Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, Book 1) and Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: City of Night: A Novel. 

This adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic blockbuster Frankenstein has been in the works for years. 

Victor Frankenstein had a devilish plot to create life, an insult to the gods that would have fatal consequences. 

The world had assumed that the events would destroy both the man and the monster, but their expectations and assumptions were incorrect!

Remember, this is the third book in the series, and you won't understand what's going on unless you read the first two novels in the series in order, readers may wish to find out more by reading my reviews of Prodigal Son and City of Night. 

All of the books are a mix of horror and comedy. They believe that Mary Shelley, the original author of Frankenstein, based her novel on historical events but misrepresented the facts. Dr. Frankenstein and his monstrous creation are both still alive.

Anyone who has read the previous two volumes can agree with Mr. Koontz's great additions to this classic, which include exceptionally well-developed characters and an exciting narrative that could only come from the maestro himself.

Let's fast forward to today's New Orleans. Two guys emerge with new identities, but it's difficult to escape old behaviors. The doctor has resumed his heinous experiments in the creation of life. 

Carson O'Connor and Michael Maddison, two detectives, are investigating a serial murderer and are thrown into the center of a mystery that dates back over 200 years. This case has the potential to mean the end of civilization as we know it.

I recommend purchasing the entire series and getting ready to read the new Dean Koontz. Not satisfied with frightening the living daylights out of Orange County and South Los Angeles inhabitants, Koontz has tackled a world-class bad guy, Victor Helios AKA Victor Frankenstein, with a cast of characters you will both love and despise. Koontz writes with the ease of a river flowing over stones, bringing you along.

I found myself laughing out loud every now and then; when was the last time you laughed while reading a Dean Koontz book unless you're genuinely deranged?


Final Thoughts

Dean Koontz's book and series are quite different, although I've been a voracious reader for a long time. I could always tell when someone had a good sense of comedy. 

But look at this series; it's insane, and I believe he went a bit too far. It was quite a bit, in fact, but I adored it. He employed banter instead of focusing all of his sentences on the environment. 

There is no respite. If you're a fan, you should check out one of these series. Mr. Koontz will appear in a totally different light. 

Although you may find yourself skipping a few pages, I recommend that you do not do so unless you are bored with hilarious discourse.

Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Dead and Alive: A Novel is a fantastic expansion and continuation that has seen two men trade roles: Deucalion, the monster, is becoming human...and Victor Helios, the doctor, is becoming the monster. 

The novel develops the reader's suspense to the climax and then unleashes them when the creator and created square off in the last showdown (not the final book in this series.)

This is a dual genre novel you don't want to pass up. Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Dead and Alive: A Novel is a must-read for fans of suspense and horror.

Purchase all five and be ready to sit down, turn off the television, and embark on a roller coaster ride that only a great storyteller can deliver. Because if you just buy one at a time, you'll have to wait to find out what the hell else is going on, so get the books right now.


Synopsis

“From the celebrated imagination of Dean Koontz comes a powerful reworking of one of the classic stories of all time. If you think you know the legend, you know only half the truth. Now the mesmerizing saga concludes. . . .

As a devastating hurricane approaches, as the benighted creations of Victor Helios begin to spin out of control, as New Orleans descends into chaos and the future of humanity hangs in the balance, the only hope rests with Victor’s first, failed attempt to build the perfect human. Deucalion’s centuries-old history began as the original manifestation of a soulless vision–and it is fated to end in the ultimate confrontation between a damned creature and his mad creator. But first they must face a monstrosity not even Victor’s malignant mind could have conceived–an indestructible entity that steps out of humankind’s collective nightmare with powers, and a purpose, beyond imagining.

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Dean Koontz's The City.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Carson And Michael, City Of Night, Frankenstein Series, Koontz Frankenstein, New Orleans, New Race, Odd Thomas, Third Book, Third Installment


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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Frankenstein: Prodigal Son Review

Dean Koontz, Kevin J. Anderson, Children's Comics, Conspiracy, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Police Procedurals, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Frankenstein: Prodigal Son

Published: 2005
Genre: Children's Comics, Conspiracy, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Police Procedurals, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller
Book 01 of 05: Frankenstein

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Dean Koontz's novel Prodigal Son is a best-selling novel. The novel is the first in a series of five by Dean Koontz named Dean Koontz's Frankenstein. Kevin J. Anderson, another fantastic author, contributed to the book as a co-author. 

I was already planning to buy and read this book because it contained the name Frankenstein, but it became even more necessary after learning about both writers' names.

Koontz is one of my favorite modern fiction writers because of his sense of humor and assimilation of the spiritual component of reality in his work, where the brilliant optimism of good and the horror of evil are eloquently represented and contrasted.

The next few lines are connected to the narrative of this work, however, I am simply posting them since all of this information is already on the back of the book, thus it is not considered a spoiler. 

The basic narrative follows New Orleans detective Carson and her partner Michael as they search for "The Surgeon," a serial killer. 

Deucalion, once known as The Monster, is alarmed by reports of this serial murderer, believing that his old master and creator, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, has returned. 

When Carson meets Deucalion, the investigation takes a darker turn, leading Carson and Michael down the road of a 200-year-old mystery and evil that threatens more than just New Orleans.

The series' idea was based on a script created by Koontz and Anderson for the 2004 USA Network TV movie Frankenstein. 

Due to creative differences with the network, Koontz resigned from the project, and the production went on a new route with identical characters and a different narrative, while Koontz was able to publish his own series.

The production firm 1019 Entertainment announced in October 2012 that they have obtained the whole Koontz Frankenstein novel series. TNT has announced plans to adapt it into a television series, with writer James V. Hart and his son Jake Hart penning the screenplay.

This novel has so many side tales that I was worried about how everything will fit together while I was reading it. 

After a third of the way through the novel, you discover you're following two separate stories: one about Carson and Michael and the New Orleans Homicide Division, and the other about Victor and Deucalion. When the novel's end arrives, everything falls into place.

The number of characters I was following when I initially started reading this story astounded me. 

The narrative began by following four separate characters, each with their own story. I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first, but I think it turned out well. 

I was also dissatisfied with the quantity of hopping back and forth between storylines. We seemed to be going to a different individual with each new chapter, which was around three pages long on average. 

With all of the leaping around, I was left wondering how anything could possibly progress. It wasn't long before it became clear that all of the hopping around was leading to one tale.

All of the leaping about bothered me. At the beginning of the novel, I never felt like I got to know the characters. 

I had a solid understanding of the characters at the conclusion of the book, but I lacked any kind of emotional attachment to any of them. 

I also didn't enjoy how none of the characters grew as the tale progressed. Carson was Carson from start to finish; Michael was Michael from start to finish, and so on. 

The lone character that changed significantly during the novel had such a little role in the plot that the alteration was easily unnoticed.

This book is unexpectedly clever, with aspects of both a superb detective story and a science fiction classic. 

The characters are nicely rounded, and the plot is intriguing. I'm presently reading the final book in the series, and it's just as good as the others.

All of the components of an excellent thriller are present. Some verb tense changes looked superfluous. 

If you require closure, the finale leaves a lot of loose ends, so be prepared to read the sequels. 

You may read the book summaries if you want, and I usually put a link to them near the top of the review, but if you are a genuine book lover, I recommend avoiding reading the summaries so you can be shocked by what occurs next.

Finally, Dean Koontz's and Kevin J. Anderson's thriller portrays the true story of Frankenstein's monster. 

It's a fast-paced thrill rush that you won't be able to stop following. Michael Connelly meets Mary Shelly. I am confident that you will not be able to wait and avoid reading the second book in the series.


Final Thoughts

I've always been a fan of vintage horror characters. The Frankenstein monster was one of my favorites since it was a man-made monstrosity that was never given the opportunity to learn and develop, much like my own ideal of defeating death so that we as humans may do more and achieve our full potential with an unlimited life. 

I was fascinated when I learned Dean Koontz had written a Frankenstein book. I had no idea what to expect from this book and was pleasantly pleased to discover that it was set in the modern times. 

This is set about 200 years after its birth, as if the Frankenstein monster still existed and how he would adjust to modern civilization.

I enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I enjoyed the unfolding plot and never knew what would come next. 

I always had a pretty decent concept of what was going to happen, but I was never able to get even half of it correct (for example, a killer is discovered, begins to flee, is apprehended, and dies). 

When, in actuality, the perpetrator is apprehended, flees, begins to shift, finds himself in a difficult place, narrowly escapes, is killed, and yet manages to flee at the same time. Isn't it perplexing? Start reading to find out.

Overall, the plot was exciting and fast-paced. I would suggest this book to anybody who likes mysteries, especially those in which the reader is taken in by the mystery and then is left wondering, "What just occurred, I'm blown away?"

Koontz's concept is pretty intriguing, and it leaves you guessing as to how it will all play out. For fans of the Frankenstein narrative, this is a must-read.


Synopsis

“From the celebrated imagination of Dean Koontz comes a powerful reworking of one of the classic stories of all time. If you think you know the story, you know only half the truth. Get ready for the mystery, the myth, the terror, and the magic of…

Dean Koontz's Prodigal Son

Every city has secrets. But none as terrible as this. His name is Deucalion, a tattooed man of mysterious origin, a sleight-of-reality artist who’s traveled the centuries with a secret worse than death. He arrives as a serial killer stalks the streets, a killer who carefully selects his victims for the humanity that is missing in himself. Detective Carson O’Connor is cool, cynical, and every bit as tough as she looks. Her partner Michael Maddison would back her up all the way to Hell itself–and that just may be where this case ends up. For the no-nonsense O’Connor is suddenly talking about an ages-old conspiracy, a near immortal race of beings, and killers that are more—and less—than human. Soon it will be clear that as crazy as she sounds, the truth is even more ominous. For their quarry isn’t merely a homicidal maniac—but his deranged maker.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Body Parts, Kevin Anderson, Looking Forward, New Orleans, New Race, Odd Thomas, Serial Killer, Still Alive, Victor Frankenstein, Victor Helios


Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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Ghost Story Review

Peter Straub, American, Drama, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literary, Literature, Suspense, Thriller

Ghost Story

Published: 1979
Author: Peter Straub
Genre: American, Drama, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literary, Literature, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Peter Straub's Ghost Story is a horror story. Coward, McCann, and Geoghegan published it on January 1, 1979, and it was made into a horror film in 1981, minus the fifth protagonist, Lewis Benedikt. It was a turning point in Straub's career, becoming a national best-seller and solidifying his reputation.

Stephen King rates Ghost Story as one of the best horror books of the late twentieth century in his non-fiction study of the horror medium, Danse Macabre, and includes a comprehensive critique inside its "Horror Fiction" section.

In the manner of Stephen King in this book, Peter Straub has linked his works and book universe, and some of the links are as follows: Ricky Hawthorne is referenced in the author's 1983 novel Floating Dragon, where it is revealed that he is the uncle of a victim in the latter book. Milburn appears briefly in Koko, which was released in 1988.

This was a mind-boggling story, vast in scale and unsettling in execution. Peter Straub is a virtuoso at trapping the incomprehensible in the net of language and producing enchantment too high for fiction in words that are typically too thin to hold it, and this book is proof of that ability. 

In the pages of this novel, a complete little town comes to life, only to break apart at the seams one by one. Too much detail would detract from the narrative's grandeur, but this is a magnificent story that must be experienced.

If things appear to be moving slowly at first, have confidence that these flows will eventually snowball into a gigantic avalanche of horror. 

The past is necessary in order to experience the full weight of the present. Knowing the people so well is essential for feeling the full scope of their tragedy. 

A horrible narrative constructed from strands of remorse, fear, and yearning, this is a towering example of what the most creative human minds are capable of when turned on, as the title suggests, a 'Ghost Story.'

The work is hypnotic. The author has constructed a waystation deep in snow in the imaginary town of Millburn where people live their own lives, unknowing of the horrifying monsters hiding in the forest ready to strike. These evil creatures eventually come for the helpless people, and they are caught off guard.

This story of ghostly vengeance is educational in many ways because it reveals the consequences of abuse humans inflict on one another. The town itself is full of individuals surviving in varying degrees of guilt, and it is precisely these scars on their souls that brand the victims for the marauders out to feed on them.

I adore this book and wanted to share three things I learned from it.

First - If you're going to get retribution, instead of focusing on a few old townsfolk, ramp it up to eleven and destroy the entire town. 

The main villain, who goes by several aliases, all of which begin with the letters AM, intends to accomplish precisely that. 

And, like the author, she instructs her victims in the ways of the occult and why they must die. Fortunately, the monster's coup de grâce cannot be delivered because of the bravery of Ricky Hawthorne, Peter Barnes, and Don Wanderly. Nonetheless, a commendable effort.

Second - in my opinion, stories in which the innocent are slaughtered like lambs are not entertaining. 

But if you take a community full of folks who have done everything from the heinous to the just irritating and go after them, you've got something. 

Of course, the Chowder Society members are the worst, because they killed a young lady, well, she seemed to be a young woman and buried the evidence. 

Add to that a lunatic farmer who is always suing people and seeing Martians, a drunken shell of a sheriff, and a woman who would rather have sex with almost every other man in town than stay at home. Wouldn't you say there's enough fodder for a spiteful, deadly, otherworldly being?

Third - This final point highlights Straub's genius. He might have provided a nice old-fashioned vindictive spirit like Henry James did in The Turn of the Screw. 

But he went one step further: he created a being—or, God help us, a race of beings—that has inhabited the globe for thousands of years and feeds not only on people's flesh but also on their fear. 

That, in my opinion, is what pushes this work over the top. You can't merely crouch inside a circle of salt while holding a crucifix. These are actual things, that may really be living among us.

Is this Straub's greatest work? That's what I knew before I read this book, and it's very evident it is throughout and after reading it. 

It has the sense of a great classic to it when you're reading it. As I previously stated, Straub's writing is excellent, from the thrilling prologue to the sinister undertone that runs throughout the novel. 

This is one of the greatest horror books I've ever read, and I definitely recommend it. Also, while Straub does a fantastic job of conveying terror without being overly gruesome or bloody, that does not imply there isn't any. This is an excellent book.


Final Thoughts

I have to say that I am disappointed that I did not find this excellent author sooner. I had no idea who Peter Straub was until I discovered the books (The Talisman and Black House) he and Stephen King co-wrote. 

And, like many other Stephen King and Peter Straub fans, I consider myself fortunate that they collaborated on the Talisman series.

There is no comparison to Stephen King, yet I had to tell myself several times while reading this novel that I was not reading his work.

If you haven't already done so, I recommend picking up a copy of Ghost Story and bracing yourself for a night of non-sleeping. While you're at it, watch the 1981 film starring Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, and John Houseman, which was released in 1981.

Without a doubt, one of the most terrifying ghost stories ever told. If you didn't believe in them before, you will after reading this book. "The Shining" by Stephen King is right up there with it. 

You don't want to flip the page to see what happens next, but you have no choice. Do not, I repeat, do not begin reading this book late at night; you will most likely experience nightmares. 

It's best not to start it before heading to work or while you're at work, as it's tough to put down. 

Take a few days off, relax, put on all the lights, and read this fantastic terrifying tale of vengeance perpetrated by the most enraged ghost you'll ever meet.


Synopsis

"#1 New York Times bestselling author Peter Straub’s classic tale of horror, secrets, and the dangerous ghosts of the past...

What was the worst thing you’ve ever done?

In the sleepy town of Milburn, New York, four old men gather to tell each other stories—some true, some made-up, all of them frightening. A simple pastime to divert themselves from their quiet lives.

But one story is coming back to haunt them and their small town. A tale of something they did long ago. A wicked mistake. A horrifying accident. And they are about to learn that no one can bury the past forever..."


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Alice Krige, Burt Weissbourd, Character Development, Chowder Society, Douglas Green, Ever Read, Ever Written, Fred Astaire, Ghost Stories, Horror Novels, John Houseman, John Irvin, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., New York, Ralph Cohn, Salem Lot, Small Town, Thing That Ever


Rating: 80/100
Recommended: 90/100 Yes.

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Ghost Story (1981) (R)

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Just After Sunset Review

Stephen King, American, Anthologies, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Short Stories, Suspense, Thriller

Just After Sunset

Published: 11, November 2008
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Anthologies, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Short Stories, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:
Just After Sunset Summary


The Review

Stephen King's Just After Sunset, is his fifth collection of short tales. Scribner published it as a hardback on November 11, 2008, with a holographic dust jacket. Just Past Sunset was unveiled as the title of the collection on the author's official website on February 6, 2008. The title was altered to Just After Sunset about a month later. Pocket Rockets and Unnatural Acts of Human Intercourse were previous names cited in the media by Stephen King himself.

I believe it is one of his best short story collections. While the stories aren't all winners, King covers a wide variety of narrative topics, demonstrating his incredible ability to elicit feelings ranging from dread, contempt, humor, and, most impressively, an uncomfortable sensation that his tales might actually happen. 

These pieces, when compared to his previous works, show an astonishing maturity that makes them well worth reading.

King has an incredible capacity to communicate with his audience/readers, which is most noticeable in his introductions. 

In this section, he discusses what sparked the collection and why the short tale is significant. Despite his nearly nasally voice, King is a terrific reader of his own work and has a distinct folksy manner about him, which means you will undoubtedly like the audio version of this book as well.

End notes, which I'm sure all of King's readers enjoy, are also included, as are a few comments from King about writing. 

When I read these additions by King, I fall in love with them. This is a compilation for fans of Stephen King's uncanny ability to create believable, engaging characters.


The following are the titles of short stories from this collection, along with some details:

01 - Willa
Stephen King's story about the afterlife and the fear of what we can't comprehend. Many of these stories deal with the unknown; sadly, it is one of the weaker stories in the collection; however, keep in mind that it is the weakest of the best collection of stories, so you can't really call it a bad story when compared to stories outside of this book. And one thing is certain: this narrative gives you goosebumps of a different type.


02 - The Gingerbread Girl
It is an excellent illustration of two things King excels at: tension building and painting amazingly complicated and varied characters. 

This suspense story is strengthened by a strong psychological profile of the main character and King's flair, which provide a nice touch to everything. 

The title references the fairy tale The Gingerbread Boy, also known as The Gingerbread Man.


03 - Harvey's Dream
Another narrative with good depiction, but this short story doesn't have much else going for it. It's a good read, with language that conveys the same matter-of-fact sense of late-life sadness and tragedy. It is worth reading and especially listening to since Stephen King read this story to us.


04 - Rest Stop
This is the narrative, about a writer who relies on his alter identity in a pinch, is amusing, and may be regarded as a decent story; but, I don't think it would come over as well without O'Hare's delivery in the audio version. A strong, no-nonsense reading elevates this narrative from unremarkable to memorable.


05 - Stationary Bike
This is the story of an artist who is tormented by his work and whose addiction has been smoothed out through time. Another terrific character makes the narrative easier to swallow, despite a somewhat sad finale.


06 - The Things They Left Behind
This is a fantastic narrative that, unfortunately, resolves too quickly and then drags towards the finish. 

There are many unsettling concepts in this story, and the main character has some of the most compelling expressions. 

There's one amazing anecdote here; King knows how to make us uncomfortable in the most delectable ways! 

If you have the audio version and are in the mood to experience a wide range of emotions, this is a terrific listen.


07 - Graduation Afternoon
It's a short story about a girl who sees a catastrophe. The tale isn't particularly interesting, but King maintains his streak of exceptional character development. However, because the character has nothing to do, this one is forgettable, albeit it can be a memorable read in rare situations.


08 - N.
This story, which appears for the first time in this collection, is another King nod to Weird fiction, and it ranks among the finest of the bunch. 

King may have been thinking about Machen here, but Lovecraft devotees will recognize several clichés mastered by the master himself. 

The plot revolves around a man seeking therapy for OCD and explaining why he's suddenly got the ailment. The story's structure, which has the eponymous man discussing his life and experiences, is an exceptionally perceptive examination of OCD, but with a supernatural twist. 

This is so brilliant that it almost makes you angry that King can still wield the pen with such accuracy, intelligence, and ingenuity. This narrative deserves to be at the top of the list of stories in this book. 

I'm using the author's words here, but merely modifying the way they were expressed to avoid the Copywrite issue: In interviews and in the book, King stated that the story was inspired by Arthur Machen's The Great God Pan: "It's not Lovecraft, but a play on words of Arthur Machen's 'The Great God Pan,' one of the finest horror stories ever written. The greatest in the English language, maybe. My writing is nowhere near that brilliant, but I enjoyed the opportunity to combine neurotic behavior—obsessive/compulsive disorder—with the concept of a monster-filled macro verse."


09 - The Cat from Hell
This is one of King's shocking stories that works because it blends absurdism and graphic, primal gore in such a manner that you have to take it seriously until the trigger is pulled and you know the joke is on you. 

It doesn't exactly fit in with the rest of the book, but it's good to have this classic included in an official collection. 

The audio version of this story is also excellent. This story was also adapted for film in the anthology film Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990), and I loved it. 

I remember my cousins' faces when one of the craziest scenes from the book happened on screen, the eyes of all my cousins looked like they were going to pop out and one of them threw up with sheer terror of it but I was laughing so I think it really depends on who is reading or watching this story and that determines how they will react.


10 - The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates
This is similar to Harvey's Dream. This seems like a fragment of a wonderful narrative that isn't long enough to please you, and you're left wanting a lot more of this amazing idea and plot. 

In this one, a phone call from beyond affects a recent widow, but there's not enough to it. A film project was in the works, but it became stalled and has remained dormant for a long time.


11 - Mute
This is another story that appears to be a snoozer at first but then turns out to be extremely good towards the conclusion. A powerful character propels a narrative of betrayal, rage, and bewilderment that takes a softer approach to organized religion than King is renowned for. It's not a terrifying narrative, but it has a tremendous emotional pull.


12 - Ayana
A narrative about miracles and their positive and negative aspects with a good plot that is greatly aided by King's ability to generate almost lyrical passages in a narrative.


13 - A Very Tight Place
Another absurd tale But this one is a slam dunk! With one character spouting hate speech in the beginning, I was already uneasy, but as the tale progresses, it becomes a compelling thriller that is skillfully written behind all the awful stuff. 

There is an Easter egg for Stephen King fans. The numerals on the main character's dog's collar total up to 19, an important number that appears throughout King's novel worlds, most notably in the Dark Tower series.


Final Thoughts

The stories themselves exhibit King's distinct blend of horror, pop culture, and music allusions, all laced with King's tremendous sense of humor. 

Almost all of the stories are excellent and innovative in the King tradition. Nobody writes like King, and it pays off, as seen by this compilation. 

This compilation will be quite entertaining and even interesting for both first-time King readers and those who have read huge portions of his literature.

You know how it is with short stories: we don't all like the same ones, but there are always a few that you enjoy. 

I used to feel the same way after reading all of Alfred Hitchcock's short story collections. This book featured some extremely fantastic stories and some that were just okay. 

I also enjoyed how Stephen King wrote a little bit about how he wrote each story, which is near the finish but I would not read it till the end so they are not spoiled.

In a nutshell, this is a compilation of short stories that all kept me fascinated from beginning to end. 

I've never read anything by Mr. King that didn't grab my interest and keep me wanting more.

He's been doing it since I was a kid, and he still does it now. I can't imagine growing up without being both bewildered and delighted by The King. This is a fantastic collection of short stories, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.


Synopsis

The following synopsis is taken from the book's audio version.

“Who but Stephen King would turn a Port-O-San into a slimy birth canal, or a roadside honky-tonk into a place for endless love? A book salesman with a grievance might pick up a mute hitchhiker, not knowing the silent man in the passenger seat listens altogether too well. Or an exercise routine on a stationary bicycle, begun to reduce bad cholesterol, might take its rider on a captivating -- and then terrifying-journey. Set on a remote key in Florida, "The Gingerbread Girl" is a riveting tale featuring a young woman as vulnerable -- and resourceful -- as Audrey Hepburn's character in Wait Until Dark. In "Ayana", a blind girl works a miracle with a kiss and the touch of her hand. For King, the line between the living and the dead is often blurry, and the seams that hold our reality intact might tear apart at any moment. In "N", which recently broke new ground when it was adapted as a graphic digital entertainment, a psychiatric patient's irrational thinking might create an apocalyptic threat in the Maine countrysideÉor keep the world from falling victim to it.

Just After Sunset -- call it dusk, call it twilight, it's a time when human intercourse takes on an unnatural cast, when nothing is quite as it appears, when the imagination begins to reach for shadows as they dissipate to darkness and living daylight can be scared right out of you. It's the perfect time for Stephen King.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Christian Slater, David Johansen, Deborah Harry, James Remar, John Harrison, Left Behind, Mitchell Galin, New York, Paramount Pictures, Rae Dawn Chong, Richard P. Rubenstein, Richard P. Rubinstein, Stationary Bike, Tight Place, William Hickey, York Times


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Tales From the Darkside: The Movie (1990) (R)

1408 (2007) (R)

Stand by Me (1986) (R)

Apt Pupil (1998) (R)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) (R)

Secret Window (1994) (PG-13)

The Langoliers (1994) (PG-13)

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It (2017) (R)

It Chapter Two (2019) (R)

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Desperation (2006) (16+)

Silver Bullet (1985) (R)

The Tommyknockers (1993) (M)

Christine (1983) (R)

The Dead Zone (1983) (R)

Misery (1990) (R)

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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Everything's Eventual Review

Stephen King, American, Anthologies, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Occult, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Supernatural, Suspense

Everything's Eventual

Published: 19, March 2002
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Anthologies, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Occult, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Supernatural, Suspense

Check the summary of this book here:
Everything's Eventual Summary


The Review

Stephen King's Everything's Eventual is a collection of 11 short stories and three novellas. The title of this book is derived from what is possibly the best tale in the collection. It's a strange story about a young man who has the capacity to influence others through symbols and writing. He tells the narrative himself, sounds like the village fool, and has the oddest job conceivable.

L.T.'s Theory of Pets is a close second. It's a narrative about marital strife, pet incompatibility, and the art of storytelling. It's quite good, far better than any storyline explanation could possibly do credit to. You'll laugh, weep, and have a good time.

The longest tale is a prelude to the Dark Tower series, and lovers of that series will undoubtedly like it. Another interesting story is "1408," which was made into a film. This, I admit, was my driving force, and it's well worth reading. Because it is a factual short tale, it has less twists and turns than the movie and concludes more neatly.

The most suspenseful story may be Autopsy in Room 4. It depicts a paralyzed guy on an autopsy table, and you don't have to be the most imaginative person on the planet to understand how terrifying that idea might be.

King discusses the peculiar process he used to categorize the stories in the book's preface (the following phrases are not precisely his words; I simply put his words in basic form): I removed all of the spades from the deck, as well as the joker. 1-13 from ace to king. Joker has a value of 14. I dealt the cards after shuffling them. Based on their position on the list my publisher supplied me, the order in which they came out of the deck formed the sequence of stories. It also served as a great counterpoint to the literary tales and the all-out screamers. I also included an explanation note before or after each story, based on which place looked most appropriate. Tarot has chosen the next collection.


There are 14 short stories in this book, and I'm sharing names and information about each one here:

01 - Autopsy Room Four

After being bitten by a rare snake on a golf course, a guy is paralyzed. Everyone believes he is dead, which is why he is in an autopsy room. 

This narrative gives you the uneasy feeling that you would have if you were buried alive. King is a virtuoso at making his readers feel the same emotions as his primary characters. 

This is an excellent story and an excellent way to begin the book. However, owing to the theme of this narrative and what is going on with the bitten individual, it may make you uneasy at points. 

The storyline is based on the setup of Louis Pollock's short tale "Breakdown," in which the protagonist is incapacitated in a car accident and must show that he is still alive. At one point in King's narrative, the protagonist reflects his focus in a television adaptation of "Breakdown" that appeared on Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 1955.

The short tale, together with "The Road Virus Heads North," was adapted into an hour-long episode of the Turner Network Television mini-series Nightmares and Dreamscapes in 2006, and was almost as remarkable and effective in causing the readers to forget about breathing in many scenes.


02 - The Man in the Black Suit

Consider encountering the devil in a very real-world context. In a nutshell, this is the plot of this narrative. It's a lot better than it sounds. This piece earned King a prize for best short fiction, and it was well deserved.


03 - All That You Love Will Be Carried Away

A disturbing narrative about a traveling salesperson who is on the edge of attempting suicide. This is a story that makes you ponder if we all have a predetermined fate or if we have the ability to change the course of our life. An intriguing narrative, not the finest but certainly not the worst.


04 - The Death of Jack Hamilton

This narrative is based on the actual story of a member of John Dillinger's first gang's death. Normally, I enjoy westerns or outlaw stories, but King drew me in even more with this one. It was a fantastic novel, and I was delighted to read it. King does an excellent job at describing the story in the first person.


05 - In the Deathroom

An odd King narrative involving something that does not generally occur in his stories. Throughout most of the novel, however, it does not appear that this will be the case. 

Again, King makes you feel as though you are the main character. He manages to make the scenario both sympathetic and terrifying. 

I had a feeling I knew the twist and finale from the beginning, but I won't reveal anything here. 

It was initially published in textual form in Secret Windows in 2000. As stated by Stephen King this is a little Kafkaesque narrative about a torture cell in a South American version of Hell.


06 - The Little Sisters of Eluria

This is a narrative about the Dark Tower series. I've read this series several times and want to read or listen to it again as soon as I get some spare time. 

Dark Tower is a fantasy series with a western flavor, related to a gunslinger. I'd like to say a lot more about this extension of that story, but I'll let the admirers of the series read and decide for themselves.


07 - Everything's Eventual

In my view, this is one of King's greatest stories. It's about a tormented child who discovers his abilities and fights back against the bullies. 

This is a guy with abilities, unlike Carrie or Firestarter. The main guy is a nerd, yet he is easy to sympathize with. The narrative will undoubtedly leave you wondering and yearning for more.

The inspiration for this short tale came from a dream about someone dumping coins down the storm drain, according to King's foreword.

Dinky, like Ted in the novella Low Men in Yellow Coats, is a "Breaker," according to Stephen King, who thereby connects this story to the universe of The Dark Tower, The Stand, and other King Dark Tower works. 

Dinky and Ted also featured together as minor characters in the Dark Tower series' last novel.


08 - L. T.'s Theory of Pets

An intriguing story about the dissolution of a marriage and how dog and cat interactions are comparable to those of married couples. 

I am confident that the readers will be surprised at the conclusion of this story. This is the type of story to tell over a campfire because it puts you on an emotional roller coaster ride. This story, like Everything's Eventual, is one of King's greatest.


09 - The Road Virus Heads North

This is another narrative based on a picture owned by King. Those paintings that appear to move in front of your eyes. 

Unlike the other drawings or paintings, the author, who purchased it at a yard sale, is haunted by it. 

After a period, he attempts to get rid of the picture, only for it to return to torment him, and the driver of the automobile in the painting tracks down the author. 

The primary premise of the narrative is that we are all doomed to our own fate.

In 2006, the short tale was turned into an hour-long episode of the Turner Network Television mini-series Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From Stephen King's Stories. Kinnell was played by Tom Berenger in the episode.


10 - Lunch at the Gotham Café

This story is about a couple going through a divorce and how much of the journey is a waking nightmare. This is a twisted narrative, but you can envision something like this occurring. Another excellent story in this compilation!


11 - That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French

A woman traveling with her husband witnesses a reenactment of events, beginning with flying on an airplane and ending with riding in a limo to the flight. This story demonstrates how repetitive occurrences may be exhausting, yet it is still a good story.


12 - 1408

This is a narrative about a haunted hotel room that King began in his work On Writing. It was simply to demonstrate to fans how to compose a narrative that has been told a thousand times but in a way that makes it seem new and creative. 

You nearly get the impression that this narrative is set in one of the rooms of the Overlook hotel The Shining. Anything else would ruin the plot; therefore I'm not going to say anything further.

Based on the short tale, Swedish film director Mikael Hfström adapted the film 1408, starring John Cusack as Michael Enslin and Samuel L. Jackson as Mr. Olin. It was a great blockbuster when it was released on June 22, 2007.


13 - Riding the Bullet

It began as an online book. A straightforward story about a character confronting death. He's hitching to see his mother, who has recently had a major stroke. 

He falls asleep in a cemetery, unaware that the gravestone he is sleeping near is the next driver who will come to pick him up. 

Alan Parker the main character is compelled to confront his mother's death. If he does not pick her to die, Alan will be the one to die. 

A wonderful story that reminds us that neither we nor our loved ones are immune to death. Much better than the dreadful 2004 film adaption.


14 - Luckey Quarter

In a casino hotel, a man tips a woman a lucky quarter. She imagines herself wagering the quarter and winning again and again. 

The woman has two children, a teenage daughter, and a sickly younger boy. I don't believe it's a good idea to say anything further after this to avoid giving away the entire narrative, but it was a nice story. 

A pleasant upbeat narrative, which is unusual for King. Neither one of the greatest nor one of the worst.


Final Thoughts

Reviewing a collection of short stories may be difficult since there are so many stories in the book, and each one is an experience in its own right. 

Three or four are absolutely exceptional, and the majority of the rest are still extremely good and well worth reading. 

There were a couple of stories that didn't grab me, but the beauty of a short story is that you don't have to devote as much time, so the lesser pieces don't detract from your pleasure of the book.
 
Stephen King, one of the finest pure storytellers of the last several decades, isn't bound by narrative length: he'll produce short stories, novellas, short novels (like the Different Seasons collection), lengthy novels, and epic series (The Dark Tower). As a result, he can appeal to the reader in nearly any length of time and deliver.

This collection of short stories is intended for those who wish to read something in a single sitting. 

King is a writer who has had his quality highs and lows, but these pieces were written when he was at one of his peaks. 

As a result, the majority of these stories are decent, and a handful are outstanding. It comes highly recommended. One of King's greatest efforts to date! I'd suggest this book to anyone who enjoys Stephen King or the short tale style.


Synopsis

“Includes the story “The Man in the Black Suit”—set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King, the iconic, spine-tingling story collection that includes winners of an O. Henry Prize and other awards, and “Riding the Bullet,” which attracted over half a million online readers and became the most famous short story of the decade, as well as stories first published in TheNew Yorker, “1408,” made into a movie starring John Cusack.

“Riding the Bullet” is the story of Alan Parker, who’s hitchhiking to see his dying mother but takes the wrong ride, farther than he ever intended. In “Lunch at the Gotham Café,” a sparring couple’s contentious lunch turns very, very bloody when the maître d’ gets out of sorts. “1408,” the audio story in print for the first time, is about a successful writer whose specialty is “Ten Nights in Ten Haunted Graveyards,” or “Ten Nights in Ten Haunted Houses,” and though Room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel doesn’t kill him, he won’t be writing about ghosts anymore. And in “That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French,” terror is déjà vu at 16,000 feet.

Whether writing about encounters with the dead, the near dead, or about the mundane dreads of life, from quitting smoking to yard sales, Stephen King is at the top of his form in the fourteen “brilliantly creepy” (USA TODAY) tales assembled in Everything’s Eventual. Intense, eerie, and instantly compelling, they announce the stunningly fertile imagination of perhaps the greatest storyteller of our time.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Autopsy Room, Black Suit, Heads North, John Cusack, Lionsgate, Little Sisters, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Lunch At The Gotham, Man In The Black, Mary McCormack, Mikael Håfström, Road Virus, Samuel L. Jackson, Virus Heads


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

1408 (2007) (R)

Stand by Me (1986) (R)

Apt Pupil (1998) (R)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) (R)

Secret Window (1994) (PG-13)

The Langoliers (1994) (PG-13)

Under The Dome - Season 1 (2013) (13+)

Dreamcatcher (2003) (R)

Cell (2016) (R)

Bag of Bones Season 1 (2012) (13+)

Dolores Claiborne (1995) (R)

It (1990) (R)

It (2017) (R)

It Chapter Two (2019) (R)

Needful Things (1993) (R)

Desperation (2006) (16+)

Silver Bullet (1985) (R)

The Tommyknockers (1993) (M)

Christine (1983) (R)

The Dead Zone (1983) (R)

Misery (1990) (R)

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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