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The Tommyknockers Review

Stephen King, Alien Invasion, Classic, Contemporary, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

The Tommyknockers

Published: 10, November 1987
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Alien Invasion, Classic, Contemporary, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King's The Tommyknockers is a science fiction novel with a touch of horror. While the novel maintains a horror tone, it is author's first foray into science fiction, as the citizens of Haven, Maine, gradually come under the sway of a strange device hidden in the woods. Stephen King has now changed his mind on The Tommyknockers, calling it "an awful book." But I don't see it that way, and I believe the author expressed it in his own style for his own reasons, such as perhaps he wasn't satisfied with what he wanted to produce since I always assumed he would publish the second part, but I have yet to get it.

Stephen King credits the main notion to H. P. Lovecraft's short tale "The Colour Out of Space" in his book On Writing.

However, writer and critic Kim Newman said of the novel that King had "more or less rewritten Quatermass and the Pit," a television serial from the late 1950s in which an alien spacecraft excavated in London evokes latent psychic abilities in some of the people who come near it, but I believe it was just a close idea that he may have never seen.

This novel was his last before he sobered up or cleaned himself up from drugs and the type of stuff he was into, and it's possible that's why he believes it's not his best work. 

That supports my theory that he was planning to write it in a different way but decided to stick with what we read, and in his own words, if he wrote it now, it would be shorter than it was before. 

In 1993, ABC aired a two-part television miniseries based on the novel, starring Jimmy Smits as Jim Gardner and Marg Helgenberger as Bobbi Anderson

King claimed that he "didn't like it," describing it as "cheap and thrown together." I on the other hand enjoyed it and felt like so much more was possible when I saw the technology used in it. However, the book was far more superior to the movie. 

I believe a new film is in the works, but there is no link or news at this time. I'll share the results as soon as I learn more about it.

The book's topic, I believe, was "off." I had the impression that Stephen King was only skimming the surface of the subject matter. 

He touches on group thinking, addiction, and obsession, but he doesn't quite smash the ball out of the park—just a few singles here and there, which is what he meant when he stated he wasn't satisfied with the book. 

Yes, even though I adored this book, I believed it had the potential to go deep, broad, and vast, which is why I hoped for, and continue to hope for, a sequel in this universe. 

Don't think it's dull or doesn't have a decent tale because it isn't. And it was fascinating to see the seeds of his later work Under the Dome sown all over this book. 

You may read it if you're a Stephen King diehard fan, and it'll be fine for you, but if you don't know and understand how he writes, chances are you won't enjoy it as much as I or any other fan of his. 

There are numerous types of Stephen King novels, but this one adheres to the classic structure of characters, town, tragedy, and inescapable devastation. In Needful Things, the formula works well, and it looks to be roughly identical to the author's approach in this book as well.

Author's ability to draw a reader into a tale is unparalleled, the pacing is excellent, and the finish is rewarding. Some of the portrayals of technology feel dated, but it's still a page-turner.

It's similar to Under the Dome, except instead of the horrible things people can do when they're isolated; it's the terrible things individuals can do when they lose control due to addiction. A little community crumbles, there's a lot of wickedness, and don't forget about the aliens.

For whatever reason, this novel is not regarded as one of author's most successful! Personally, I've always enjoyed it and have read it a few times. 

What I discovered about this book is that it is essentially a blend of old-fashioned sci-fi movies with a dash of Lovecraft horror, as stated by the author himself. 

If a book can give you nightmares or the most dreadful of dreams, which I call loop dreams because they trap you in your sleep and you can only wake up by realizing you are dreaming or being awakened by someone, then that book is a masterpiece in my eyes.

I had several loop dreams when reading this book for the first time and had to stop reading for a few days since I was basically reading too quickly, and my advice to new readers is to read it leisurely rather than like a page eater.


Final Thoughts

This novel, one of Stephen King's most divisive, nearly reads like two: a prequel and a sequel. 

The first is entirely focused on character development, whereas the second is entirely focused on action. 

Both are Stephen King trademarks, therefore I interact with them. I don't mind reading about the characters, the boring aspects of their existence, since I know the author will deliver in the end. 

I never got bored or lost track of where I was. the author writes with a ferocity that demonstrates his commitment to the narrative, and he is one of the few authors who never fails to satisfy my ravenous reading hunger. 

'The Tommyknockers,' while not his greatest, was certainly not his worst. Aside from the lengthy 'intro,' it is vintage Stephen King throughout. 

After reading some of his more recent works, reading 'Tommyknockers' is like returning to your childhood home. It's all about the anticipation of what you just know is going to happen, and it's a touch predictable, familiar, and like the same ghost story recounted over and over.

If you like vintage King, the good old' Maine backwoods King, you should read it. Because you're a fan of his wacky characters.

If you're a slow reader, you shouldn't read it. If you're impatient and don't understand subtleties, this is the book for you. If you don't care for well-crafted text and want nonstop action, this is the book for you.

The story is strong; all you have to do is put in the effort.


Synopsis

Stephen King never stops giving us his all” (Chicago Tribune) in this #1 national bestseller about the idyllic small town of Haven, Maine, and its encounter with a deadly evil out for a diabolical invasion of body, soul—and mind.

Something was happening in Bobbi Anderson’s idyllic small town of Haven, Maine. Something that gave every man, woman, and child in Haven powers far beyond those of ordinary mortals. Something that turned the town into a deathtrap for all outsiders. Something that is buried in the woods behind Bobbi’s house. With the help of her friend, Jim Gardener, they uncover an alien spaceship. And as they learn more about this strange discovery, the citizens of Haven begin to change: The townspeople are being welded into one organic, homicidal, and fearsomely brilliant entity in thrall to the Tommyknockers, who piloted the alien ship.

In Tommyknockers, “Stephen King at his best” (San Francisco Chronicle), King has given us a “brilliant, riveting, marvelous” (The Boston Globe) novel. “You will not be able to put this down” (Los Angeles Times Book Review). And the next time someone raps at your door, you may want to keep the chain on. It just might be the Tommyknocker Man.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Bobbi Anderson, Body Snatchers, Character Development, Flying Saucer, Jim Gardener, Jimmy Smits, John Power, King At His Best, King Novel, Knocking On My Door, Marg Helgenberger, Salems Lot, Small Town


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

Buy the Kindle Version Here

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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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Roadwork Review

Stephen King, American, Crime, Fiction, Literature, Psychological, Rural, Small Town, Teen, Thriller, Young Adult

Roadwork

Published: March 1981
Genre: American, Crime, Fiction, Literature, Psychological, Rural, Small Town, Teen, Thriller, Young Adult

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King's thriller novel Roadwork was published as a paperback original under the pen name Richard Bachman. It was included in the hardback omnibus The Bachman Books in 1985.

This was written when Stephen King felt he'd be able to get away with writing stories under the pseudonym Richard Bachman for the time being. Now that we know it's Stephen King, it's amazing to note how different the writing is when he's not being Stephen King.

The original Bachman books all deal with guys breaking up and fighting back against the system, while the details differ from one book to the next. This one is about a man who loses his house, his wife, and his job, as well as the subsequent downward spiral. 

It's a decent read for followers of the author; however, horror lovers may be disappointed. Those who aren't lovers of the author may like the book's unique style and subject matter.

In 1972–1974, the narrative takes place in an undisclosed Midwestern city. A father, bereaved by the loss of his son and the collapse of his marriage, is pushed to mental instability when he hears that both his house and employment will be destroyed to make way for an interstate highway extension.

In August 2019, a cinematic version of the novel was announced, with Pablo Trapero as director, Andy Muschietti the director of It and It Chapter Two, and Barbara Muschietti as producer.

With this narrative about a guy fighting his own personal demons, the author strayed from his customary genre.

The novel represents a significant shift for the author. It's possible that it's one of his lesser-known pieces. There are better Stephen King books out there. But don't overlook this opportunity. It's got Bachman written all over it, which isn't a terrible thing.

We currently live in a time where everyone wants what they want right now and isn't willing to wait for it. The author could have made this a short novella, according to several reader friends, but he stretched it out. This novel progresses in such a way that the protagonist gradually loses his sanity, or does he?

I feel the tale was written in the most effective way possible. It piqued my interest right away, and I couldn't put it down as it progressed to a climactic conclusion. This is an excellent book to read.

When you read this book as a Stephen King novel, it may bore and disappoint you; well, rather, it may bore and disappoint you as a Richard Bachman novel—and believe me, if you're a Stephen King fan, you'll know the difference between King and Bachman

In terms of flavor, it's the difference between chocolate and chili sauce, and that's a great example because most people like chocolate, but chili sauce... well, let's just say it's a requested taste. 

Unlike King, Bachman is a harsh, disagreeable author who has no affection for his readers. That's OK since it's a performance. 

The Long Walk was about a group of youngsters who were slain by a big brother society that shot them if they stopped walking or went below a particular speed. What amuses you about that?

Similarly, what's fun about a man named Burt who lost his job, his wife, his house, and eventually his sanity and will to live in Roadwork

The voyage of his unraveling is essentially the roadwork. The plot isn't really complicated. But don't anticipate ghostly activity around every turn, for clarity's sake, since Bachman is not the same guy as King (they are physically, but not in their literature.) 

In some ways, Bachman is similar to Eli Roth (director of Cabin Fever and Hostel Parts I and II,) in that it's all about the character's and audience's dissatisfaction.

Richard Bachman's novel is a well-known work. It has no supernatural, occult, or ghost elements. Only a man on the verge of losing his mind.

Although it is neither a large book nor a long novel, the idea is as massive as it gets. Even if you compare it to The Long Walk, the slowness of this work will leave you unsatisfied. 

However, keep in mind that The Long Walk's premise implies that there will be more action. If there was a lot of activity on Roadwork, it would be there merely for the purpose of being there. And King, or should I say Bachman? is generally adept at sensing when to speed up the tempo.

Another thing that can help you understand it is that if you read this novel while thinking about AMC's Breaking Bad, I think you'll appreciate it a lot. 

The idea is very identical to that of Breaking Bad. I would have rated this novel a 3/5 if I had given it a score after the first hundred pages. 

However, by the midway mark, I had a better understanding of the style and tone, which is what makes this book so appealing. If you're a patient reader or a Breaking Bad enthusiast, I strongly suggest it.


Final Thoughts

This is a fantastic novel. All Stephen King aficionados should read it. The characters are well-defined, and the narrative is well-constructed. 

It was difficult to put the book down. The author has a unique way of developing suspense as the novel progresses, and I adore it!

Author paints Dawes' mind in vivid hues that grow increasingly muddied as his desire becomes more concentrated, yet absurdly unattainable.

The fact that Dawes is driving himself down a dead-end road with the help of numerous others makes the mind games laughable. However, the novel maintains a good pace and is a welcome diversion from Stephen King's usual territory.

I believe there is a limit to how far one may be pushed before cracking. Barton Dawes, a guy who achieved that stage in 1974, is one of them.

Remember, Stephen King never meant for anyone to realize it was him who authored Roadwork; as a result, it's the farthest thing from a King novel. An author has unlimited freedom to write whatever they choose, with no limitations.

Yes, it is not a perfect novel, which is why I gave it a lower rating, but the reason I am giving this novel a hundred percent recommendation is because of the last pages and the moral of the narrative, as well as what this novel is attempting to teach the mindless masses to realize what is going on behind everything we simply blindly follow.


Synopsis

“Only Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman, can imagine the horror of a good and angry man who fights back against bureaucracy when it threatens to destroy his vitality, home, and memories. “Under any name King mesmerizes the reader” (Chicago Sun-Times).

Barton Dawes is standing in the way of progress when his unremarkable but comfortable existence suddenly takes a turn for the worst. A new highway extension is being built right over the laundry plant where he works—and right over his home. The house he has lived in for twenty years and where he created loving memories with his family. Dawes isn’t the sort of man who will take an insult of this magnitude lying down. His steadfast determination to fight the inevitable course of progress drives his wife and friends away while he tries to face down the uncaring bureaucracy that has destroyed his life. But before the city paves over that part of Dawes’s life, he’s got one more party to throw—and it’ll be a blast.

What happens when one good (and angry) man fights back…and then some? This #1 national bestseller includes an introduction by Stephen King on “The Importance of Being Bachman.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Bachman Books, Bart Dawes, Barton George, Eminent Domain, George Dawes, Good Read, King Book, King Writing, Long Walk, Main Character, Well Written


Rating: 85/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

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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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Christine Review

Stephen King, American, Classic, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Christine

Published: 29, April 1983
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Classic, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King's horror thriller Christine, released in 1983, depicts the story of an automobile, a 1958 Plymouth Fury, that appears to be possessed by malicious demonic powers. Christine has been nominated for a Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel (1984). Between 1990 and 1999, the American Library Association ranked Christine as the 95th most banned and disputed book in the United States. It was issued in a limited 30th Anniversary Edition by PS Publishing in April 2013.

In December of the same year, a film adaption directed by John Carpenter was produced, starring Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, and Harry Dean Stanton. 

The movie was nothing like the book and, in fact, deviated quite a little from the real narrative, as is often typically the case, but it still made me want to read the book. 

Christine is enigmatic, gloomy, angry, and envious, and she's out to get you. The characters have been completely developed, so you have a better understanding of Arnie and Christine.

A remake is in the works by Blumhouse Productions and Sony Pictures Entertainment, and I'll update this section as soon as I locate any fresh information or connections to the film.

This is just another of Stephen King's masterpieces. Christine is consumed with adolescent angst, first romance, a problematic family situation, and, of course, Christine, the witch on wheels. Was there been a more terrifying and unique monster? 

I had avoided reading this one since I had no clue it was written by the great Stephen King, even though I had seen the movie and enjoyed it. 

Arnie was performed brilliantly, but when I learned that the film was based on a novel, I knew I had to read it because, as I always say, a movie can never be as good or as comprehensive as the book. 

So I just went to a nearby bookstore and found the book. I couldn't take my eyes off it. The characters were believable and engrossing. 

This is Stephen King at his finest once more. The youngsters, Arnie and Dennis, and their bond, which deteriorates as Arnie progresses from nerd to freak. 

Really well construed Arnie's fascination, then obsession, with Christine, which affects his entire personality, is incredibly well done, and the subsequent tragedies - well, they're horrifying, which is why many people read Stephen King's works. 

It's delightful to be scared and creeped out while author's stories have you in their grip. So, in essence, the narrative is not about the dangerous murdering vehicle. It's about a troubled boy who loses it and his friends and family who can't help him, much like in real life, which is why readers keep coming back for more from Stephen King.

A wonderful narrative with true tension and frightening moments. But one of author's major flaws in this work, in my opinion, was having the story presented by a future Dennis. To a loyal fan, the narrator could be a ghost or a newly formed monster, but to a new reader, this removes a lot of suspense from some of the tensest scenes in the book because the reader is being told the story by a character who is involved in a near-death experience, thus revealing that the narrator survived his experience. 

One of the things that make reading a Stephen King novel so intriguing, in my opinion, is that as a reader, you never know which characters (if any) will survive whatever hardship they happen to be faced with. 

He has removed the mystery concerning Dennis's survival by having one of the primary characters tell the story.

Loyal Stephen King fans will undoubtedly not be shocked to learn that the book's greatest strength is its characterization. 

Dennis narrates the majority of the story and is a really approachable young man. Leigh is another likable character who is simple to cheer for. 

Arnie is essentially the unfortunate victim in this story. Before purchasing the automobile, he was victimized by school bullies and his dominating mother, and now he is in danger of losing his whole being. 

Roland LeBay, the former owner of the automobile, also looms prominently, and his pure cruelty makes him interesting in his own right. 

The plot flows at a steady pace for the most part but sags slightly in the middle. The novel is more eerie than scary. The tension keeps you interested, but don't expect any big scares. 

There is some light humor interspersed throughout the narrative to help relieve tension, and it works really well. 

The beginning of each chapter is marked with song lyrics about vehicles, which is not bad and demonstrates the amount of research and knowledge that went into collecting these songs. 

They don't appear to be connected to the story and appear to be there purely for nostalgic purposes. 

Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading them all for the sheer pleasure of it. The dilemma is that they are so primitive and/or unknown that I've never heard the great majority of them, thus I believe they will serve no function for the younger and new readers of this time and age. 

It's clear that the author spent a lot of work into finding them, but the effort may have been lost on these new readers unless they're like me and read whatever they see or hold, but most readers under the age of 55 or 60 will probably have the same reaction of not understanding what they are (Songs/Lyrics.) 

This book is broken into three-story segments, the first and final of which are written in the first person from Dennis's point of view, and the middle in the third person.

Even though it is about a car, this novel reminds me of Carrie when it comes to bullying, the school environment, and the brutality of schoolmates on innocent and lonely individuals.


Final Thoughts

In conclusion, I loved reading Christine. The characters are intriguing, the tension did work for me, and I was eager to find out what occurred next. The book has issues, but they are minor and did not impede from my amusement in any way.

Anyone who has heard of Stephen King knows that he has written some of the scariest novels of all time, but few realize that he can also write unexpectedly poignant stories as part of those novels. 

Yes, this is a novel about an automobile that has been taken over by demonic forces, but it's much more than that. It's really about two best friends, Dennis, a popular athlete, and Arnie, a geek.

Arnie, in fact, is such an outsider that Dennis is his sole acquaintance. They couldn't be more different from one another, but they've known each other since kindergarten.

Arnie is a figure that should be recognizable to everyone who recalls high school, when it's common to discover numerous students exiled from the regular social groupings for a variety of reasons, and this serves to personalize him to the reader quite effectively.


Synopsis

Stephen King’s ultimate evil vehicle of terror, Christine: the frightening story of a nerdy teenager who falls in love with his vintage Plymouth Fury. It’s love at first sight, but this car is no lady.

Evil is alive in Libertyville. It inhabits a custom-painted red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine and young Arnold Cunningham, who buys it.

Along with Arnold’s girlfriend, Leigh Cabot, Dennis Guilder attempts to find out the real truth behind Christine and finds more than he bargained for: from murder to suicide, there’s a peculiar feeling that surrounds Christine—she gets revenge on anyone standing in her path.

Can Dennis save Arnold from the wrath of Christine? This #1 national bestseller is “Vintage Stephen King…breathtaking…awesome. Carries such momentum the reader must force himself to slow down” (The New York Times Book Review).”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Alexandra Paul, Arnie Cunningham, Character Development, Dennis Guilder, Former Owner, Friend Dennis, Great Book, High School, John Carpenter, John Stockwell, Keith Gordon, Killer Car, Much Better, Plymouth Fury, Richard, Kobritz, Roland Lebay


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

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

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)

Compare Kindle E-readers on one page

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