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Desperation Review

Stephen King, Classic, Drama, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literary, Literature, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Desperation

Published: 24, September 1996
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Classic, Drama, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literary, Literature, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King wrote the horror-thriller Desperation. It was released at the same time as its mirror novel, The Regulators, which was also published under King's alias Richard Bachman. In 2006, it was also adapted into a TV film starring Ron Perlman, Tom Skerritt, and Steven Weber. The two novels depict parallel worlds in relation to one another, and the majority of the people in one novel's world also live in the other novel's reality, albeit under different circumstances.

A cross-country journey in 1991 inspired the author to write Desperation, during which he saw the little desert village of Ruth, Nevada, near U.S. 50. His initial assumption was that the town's residents were all dead. He then pondered who had killed them, and it occurred to him that it may have been the town's sheriff.

The author establishes the scene right away, and you, the reader, get to feel it. The powerlessness, the out-of-control paralysis that befalls these unfortunate people as they journey over Nevada's lonely, ancient stretch of roadway known simply as Interstate 50, or "the loneliest place on Earth."

Is it by chance that a chosen few become victims of the evil that masquerades as a savior in the shape of a cop? Do his victims have the destiny to meet in Desperation or do they have no choice?

Stephen King is a master at expressing how it feels to be so fragile and susceptible. In Desperation, he creates a one-of-a-kind thriller and page-turner that is sure to make you nervous!

Although the story reminds me a touch of Dean Koontz's "Phantoms," in which a wicked, age-old creature lurks beneath the ground, ready to wreak havoc and ruin on a little isolated village. 

But that's where the similarity ends; Stephen King has built and developed compelling and realistic characters who entice you to read the novel as much as the narrative. 

It's the sort of book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to race through the pages to find out what happens next. I believe this is one of Stephen King's scarier books, ranking with It and Pet Cemetery.

I'm a huge admirer of Stephen King's and Dean Koontz's work, but it doesn't mean I think King isn't good. 

In fact, I'm sure he's written works that would make Dean Koontz jump out of his skin! This one has a good chance. And, like "Phantoms," this novel may make the reader uncomfortable and jittery for several days. 

So, if you're looking for anything to keep that nightlight on, read this book. However, this novel contains a lot of graphic violence, so if you're easily offended by blood and guts, you might want to skip it.

This novel was very appealing to me since it was set in such a remote location. I can fairly state that I can draw parallels between this and his other epic, The Stand, and I can understand why. 

In Desperation, a tiny group of characters must make a stand, although it is on a much smaller scale. Aside from that, The Stand's characters were all over the place. 

The wickedness shown in that book was enormous. I enjoyed how this really scary narrative took place in one specific location. 

When you read this, you nearly feel as lonely and miserable as the folks you're reading about, and unlike The Stand, you don't feel like the rest of the world is continuing on while the six people in Desperation, Nevada are stuck in hell.

David Carver, who is ten or eleven years old, is without a doubt the most interesting character in the entire novel. Because he'd gone through so much, I felt sympathy for him when I read about him.

Few linkages to Stephen King's universe may be discovered here, since he usually always leaves hints and doors for a connection between his works, such as Cynthia Smith, who first appeared in Rose Madder

Ellen Carver is shown reminiscing over a book called Misery in Paradise, which was authored by Stephen King's fictional character Paul Sheldon in his novel Misery

Tom, one of the main characters, mentions the Tommyknockers. And Tak features prominently in The Regulators as well.

The Low Men in Yellow Coats, who are weird animal-human hybrids, are referred to as can-toi in the Dark Tower series. The vampiric Sisters employ this language in the Dark Tower short story "The Little Sisters of Eluria." 

The context of the following few lines is basically what is printed on the back of the book, so I don't consider it a spoiler, but if you don't want to know the background of the narrative, go to Final Thoughts.

Desperation is a narrative about a group of individuals who are abducted while driving down Nevada's barren Highway 50 by Collie Entragian, the deputy of the fictitious mining town of Desperation

Entragian utilizes a variety of pretexts for the abductions, ranging from a narcotics arrest to "rescuing" a family from a nonexistent shooter. 

The hostages realize that Entragian has been possessed by an evil monster named Tak, who has influence over the surrounding desert fauna and must switch hosts to stay alive. 

They continue to struggle for their freedom, sanity, and lives before concluding that if they are to ever leave Desperation, they must imprison Tak where he came from.


Final Thoughts

This was a nerve-racking read! I didn't want it to finish, and I certainly didn't want it to be put down! A thrilling page-turner! Stephen King had a lot going on in this story, and I liked how it all came together. 

You're so engrossed in the plot that you can't stop reading to find out what happens next. Very well written!

If you're into religion, this book is obviously a religious experience of sorts for you, but if you're turned off by religion or just don't feel comfortable confronting your own views about God, you really shouldn't read it. 

But, away from the religious component, this was one of those readings that, at least for me, had me wondering how these bunch of very diverse individuals were going to escape the misery they were in. 

And I believe it is preferable to read it as a fantasy novel rather than delving deeply into religion and to simply have fun since that is what this book is all about.


Synopsis

“The terror is relentless” (Publishers Weekly) in Stephen King’s #1 national bestseller about a little mining town, Desperation, that many will enter on their way to somewhere else. But getting out is not easy as it would seem…

Located off a desolate stretch of Interstate 50, Desperation, Nevada, has few connections with the rest of the world. It is a place, though, where the seams between worlds are thin. And it is a place where several travelers are abducted by Collie Entragian, the maniacal police officer of Desperation. Entragian uses various ploys for the abductions, from an arrest for drug possession to “rescuing” a family from a nonexistent gunman. There’s something very wrong here, all right, and Entragian is only the surface of it.

The secrets embedded in Desperation’s landscape, and the evil that infects the town like some viral hot zone, are both awesome and terrifying. But as one of the travelers, young David Carver, seems to know—though it scares him nearly to death to realize it—so are the forces summoned to combat them. “Stephen King’s knack for turning the stray junk of pop culture into sick, darkly engrossing thrills has rarely been this much in evidence as in Desperation” (Salon).”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Annabeth Gish, Charles Durning, Collie Entragian, Dark Tower, Edge Of My Seat, Good And Evil, Henry Thomas, Highly Recommend, Johnny Marinville, Kelly Van Horn, King At His Best, Mick Garris, Mining Town, Page Turner, Ron Perlman, Steven Weber, Tom Skerritt, Town Of Desperation


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

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Desperation (2006) (16+)

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Christine (1983) (R)

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Misery (1990) (R)

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The Talisman Review

Stephen King, Peter Straub, American, Classic, Dark, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Occult, Shape Shifter, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Werewolf

The Talisman

Published: 8, November 1984
Genre: American, Classic, Dark, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Occult, Shape Shifter, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Werewolf
Book 1 of 3: Talisman (The third book has not yet been published.)

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

The Talisman is a fantasy collaboration novel written by Stephen King and Peter Straub in 1984. Although there is one indirect allusion to a Sir Walter Scott novel, the narrative is unrelated to Walter Scott's 1825 novel of the same name. In 1985, The Talisman was nominated for both the Locus and World Fantasy Awards. Black House 2001, a sequel written by King and Straub, takes up with a now-adult Jack as a retired Los Angeles homicide investigator attempting to investigate a string of murders in the little village of French Landing, Wisconsin.

This narrative belongs to and is tied to the Dark Tower series, making that vast universe much larger than it already was. In the book's sequel, Black House, the Territories are shown to be a counterpart to All-World

The pavilion where Jack Sawyer meets Sophie in The Little Sisters of Eluria is the identical pavilion mentioned in King's introduction to The Little Sisters of Eluria.

There was a lot of buzz about this book because Straub and King were both hugely famous and well-known horror and suspense authors in their own right. 

Multiple pieces were published praising the two authors' collaboration and speculating on what would be the best horror novel ever written, thanks to a $550,000 advertising budget provided by the publisher. 

It was a smash hit in its own right, but for me, it was a fantastic quest with a great cause and an incredible adventure that I want to read again and again and watch as a movie if they can produce an exact word-for-word adaptation, and I'm happy to report that a series may be in the works. 

It was stated in 2021 that Amblin will adapt the novel into a Netflix television series, with the Duffer Brothers assisting with development. And I will certainly include any fresh material in this area if I come across it.

I must warn you that this book and story will make you think in two ways: one, you will throw it away, and the other, you will embrace it passionately. 

The issue is simple: if you're an adult with a frozen brain and little imagination, you can find it boring and ridiculous since you'll believe it's a genuine stretch of the imagination to even consider it a storyline. 

But for everyone else, just try to enjoy it the way it was meant to be experienced. Of course, the narrative will contain darker undertones than other popular literature. 

It begins slowly but gradually accelerates into a fast-paced, attention-grabbing narrative. The characters rapidly won me over, and I got emotionally immersed in the story. 

This is one of my 'favorite' novels because I can re-read it and still be immersed in Jack's world. And Wolf is without a doubt my favorite character.

Following this cooperation with Stephen King, I fell in love with Peter Straub's works. Stephen King, as you may know, is the maestro of fiction and horror writing, and Peter Straub is his doppelganger, or as what is known as a twinner in this book's universe. 

I genuinely feel this book was created in another universe with both of these amazing writers. It's weird, and it'll make you consider the remote chance that the Territories exist. Unless you have no imagination, I am confident that everyone will like it.

If you are a casual or non-reader, bear this in mind while purchasing the book. It's highly comprehensive, so if you can't take large or complex novels, I'd recommend listening to it on Audiobook. 

Don't pass on Stephen King novels just because they're huge; if they're too daunting, you can always listen to them with an Amazon audible account.

Keep in mind that if you had a loved one who had cancer, it may have an emotional impact on you because Stephen King goes into great detail about individuals who have diseases or impairments, and it may be rather sentimental to those who aren't used to reading his writings.

It's a mix of horror, fantasy, and adventure. What King and Straub accomplished was to build a beautiful narrative full of mystery and suspense, whatever you want to categorize it. 

In The Talisman, Jack Sawyer must travel between his reality and a parallel dimension in order to save his dying mother. 

Despite the protagonist's childhood, the tale has a distinct gloomy edge. It's not all fun and games for Jack, who in this journey has the capacity to switch between universes.

During this time, he befriends Wolf, a werewolf from another dimension. Wolf provides both humorous entertainment and frightening times for Jack when he turns into a werewolf in our world during a full moon.

The late great Frank Muller gives yet another powerful performance, reading in a tense, hypnotic style and developing unique voices for most of the characters in the epic narrative of The Talisman

It lasted about 29 hours and was a fantastic way to enjoy a superb novel, especially if you're taking a lengthy road trip or just a regular commute. If you're lucky enough to have the Frank Muller version, I highly suggest the audio version.


Final Thoughts

You must read a few pages before you can get into the main story, but once you do, you will not be able to put it down, and this becomes a really fast-paced novel, even if it is large by many readers' standards, so do not stop and continue reading.

Even if you've never read Peter Straub, you can tell which parts were written by him, and I'll leave it up to the readers to figure it out. 

Yes, it was cooperation and an effort by both authors, but you can tell who is writing what in this narrative, and it was part of the pleasure for me to figure it out.

The novel has a strong action-adventure vibe about it. There are several fascinating connections between the universes, including the relationship between time and distance, as well as the contrast between the usage of magic and technology. 

It's well-created and written. Stephen King and Peter Straub are each excellent authors in their own right, but they work well together.

I would suggest this book to everyone who enjoys an exciting, attention-grabbing fantasy/reality fictional novel.


Synopsis

“The iconic, “extraordinary” (The Washington Post) collaboration between #1 bestselling author Stephen King and Peter Straub—an epic thriller about a young boy’s quest to save his mother’s life.

Why had twelve-year-old Jack Sawyer’s mother frantically moved the two of them from Rodeo Drive to a New York City apartment to the Alhambra, a fading ocean resort and shuttered amusement park in New Hampshire? Who or what is she running from? She is dying . . . and even young Jack knows she can’t outrun death. But only he can save her—for he has been chosen to search for a prize across an epic landscape of dangers and lies, a realm of innocents and monsters, where everything Jack loves is on the line.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Across The Country, Along The Way, Black HouseDark Tower, Highly Recommend, Jack Sawyer, King And Peter, King And Straub, Morgan Sloat, Tower Series


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

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

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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Cycle of the Werewolf Review

Stephen King, American, Classic, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Folk Tales, Graphic, Horror, Literature, Mythology, Shape Shifter, Suspense, Werewolf

Cycle of the Werewolf

Published: November 1983
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Classic, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Folk Tales, Graphic, Horror, Literature, Mythology, Shape Shifter, Suspense, Werewolf

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King's Cycle of the Werewolf is a short horror story with pictures by comic-book artist Bernie Wrightson. Each chapter is a self-contained mini-story. It depicts the story of a werewolf who haunts a small village when the moon is full once a month. Land of Enchantment released it as a limited edition hardback in 1983, and Signet published it as a mass-market trade paperback in 1985. 

Silver Bullet, the cinematic adaption, was also written by Stephen King (1985). At 127 pages, it is author's smallest novel to date, making it originally a novella. He confesses to taking liberties with the moon cycle in the author's notes at the conclusion of the book. 

For example, if a full moon occurred on New Year's Day, another would not occur on Valentine's Day, despite the fact that these events are generally celebrated in January and February. He argues that this was done to help readers remember the key months more precisely.

This was a brief narrative and a quick read, and the reason it was so short was that it wasn't planned to be a novel; instead, it was going to be a calendar with a tiny amount of information every month, but it was too short, so Stephen King made up a plot to go with the drawings.

The structure consisted of the months of a single year and, in particular, the days on which the full moon occurred, rather than chapters. Because, of course, this was the time when the ugly beast from Tarker Mills appeared to carry out his murderous acts. 

Each month featured a different citizen of the little town who became the werewolf's victim, and the killings were portrayed in graphic, brutal detail in classic Stephen King manner.

There wasn't a lot of character development because the chapters were so short, but I think the author still managed to give us a solid understanding of each person of the community. After all, this is his specialty.

Marty Coslaw was one of my favorite characters. He was a bright, level-headed, brave young man who was confined to a wheelchair and was possibly the most well-developed character in the entire novel.

Berni Wrightson's artwork looked fantastic and provided a lot of dimension and awe to the book.

This book is fantastic. It's unique in that, unlike much of Stephen King's writing, it doesn't revolve around a single character. 

The pictures are also fantastic; it's a fun way to experience the book through the eyes of someone else. 

The book's sole flaw is its brief length. I wish we had a closer look at the werewolf in human form. Stephen King is a brilliant storyteller, so even in a novella, he delivers, but he's so amazing with the werewolf genre that I'd happily read a 5000-page werewolf novel or series from him.

The movie was entertaining to watch and a little scary for young children, plus the pastor's dream can make even an adult scared. 

I watched this movie several times and each time one of my cousins would flee the room because he was terrified, but I told him to watch horror movies so we could learn how to kill the monsters and gave him motivation by making him watch the scene where Marty sitting on Silver Bullet uses the rockets to hurt the beast, and that actually helped my cousin become brave and sit with me to watch horror movies. 

I was so proud of my cousin for what he did next, he watched another of his nightmare movies called Troll, it was actually a very scary movie for kids and I don't remember the details but he was always scared to come in the room when we were watching that movie but, as I mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph, he watched it after the Silver Bullet incident. 

But I believe it was all Stephen King's trick to show kids like him to be brave because if a kid who couldn't even walk can do it, what's to stop a fully capable kid from doing the same?

That is what I learned from this great writer and his writing: he takes an ordinary person and transforms him or her into the bravest hero who inspires and encourages all.

The storyline doesn't completely emerge until halfway through the book, so anyone expecting a plot-driven novella may be disappointed – but the first half does contribute to the suspense element. 

Also, throughout this work, the author appears to have a problem developing female characters, portraying them as lusty, weak-willed doormats, shrieking harpies, or some combination of the three. 

This is a little surprising, given that he's written decent female characters before and after this book; perhaps he was showing or creating an atmosphere of despair or hopelessness, but we'll never know because we're talking about Stephen King, and he knows what he's doing; we just have to dive and find what he threw into the depths of his pages. 

And maybe on the tenth reading, you'll find and comprehend why he did something with a character that we didn't understand the first nine times we read it.


Final Thoughts

Both the movie and the book are good, but the book is far better as usual, even though both are written by Stephen King, the movie has some things added and other things omitted, as is customary. 

I saw the movie first, and then read the book, and it was a good mix. You may either read or watch first, I don't think it matters because you'll be able to appreciate both the book and the movie.

Stephen King is a great writer, his works filled with precise yet stunning details and able to find dark comedy in the most horrendous of situations. 

He's not afraid to give his characters flaws and weaknesses, and although this may lead to a cast full of jerks at times, it's balanced out here by some truly excellent people. 

Even the werewolf is a sympathetic character with plausible reasons for his horrible actions. 

The book's divided into twelve months, with one chapter for each full moon when the beast attacks, is a unique and welcome addition.

A wonderful bite-sized gift from Stephen King for horror enthusiasts and a refreshing change of pace from the flood of werewolf-themed romance that has taken over occult literature in recent years. 

If you want a rip-roaring horror adventure and don't mind the plot taking a second seat to the terror aspect, this is the book for you.


Synopsis

“The classic masterpiece by #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King—illustrated by the legendary artist Bernie Wrightson!

Terror began in January—by the light of the full moon...

The first scream came from the snowbound railwayman who felt the werewolf’s fangs ripping at his throat. The next month there was a scream of ecstatic agony from the woman attacked in her cozy bedroom. Now scenes of unbelievable horror unfold each time the full moon shines on the isolated Maine town of Tarker’s Mills. No one knows who will be attacked next. But one thing is sure. When the full moon rises, a paralyzing fear sweeps through Tarker's Mills. For snarls that sound like human words can be heard whining through the wind. And all around are the footprints of a monster whose hunger cannot be sated...”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Berni Wrightson, Bernie Wrightson, Black And White, Corey Haim, Daniel Attias, Everett Mcgill, Full Moon, Gary Busey, Martha De Laurentiis, Martha Schumacher, Marty Coslaw, Quick Read, Short Story, Small Town, Tarker Mills, Town Of Tarker


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

Buy the Kindle Version Here

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)

Compare Kindle E-readers on one page

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