Roland. The last Gunslinger.
Most people, at some time, will have come across the novels of, Stephen King. His main style of writing would almost certainly be identified as horror. Horror, on an epic scale. Some, would argue that his surname equates to his position in the canon of horror writers. If you wish to not sleep well, then focus on some of his early horror novels. I am not hugely into horror, both in literary and movie genre. It's never been something I would overly look for. Stephen King, however, I have read. Quite a few in fact. Though this phase would have been late teens/early twenties. We're talking a couple of decades ago. He is more than just a pure horror writer he thinks about it and a lot of the novels are quite philosophical. Yet, what he also wrote, very well, was fantasy. No horror in those, just plain fantasy. I also found this a little odd. Like Dickens suddenly popping a couple of comedy books out because he was bored of writing Victorian Dystopia.
I read one of his called, the eye of the dragon. I thoroughly enjoyed it. As I have said though. I kind of grew away from the horror writers I dabbled with at the time; King, James Herbert and Graham Masterton. I moved onto to other authors as I discovered that horror really wasn't what I enjoyed, and my imagination was too vivid for my own good. Still is, in fact. Can't sleep. I have still never seen Alien, all the way through!
In Brixham, this August, I revisited Stephen's novels. There's a story. Let me relate it to you;
A few months ago I noticed that one of my favourite books, American Gods, written by a british writer, Neil Gaiman is to be made into a TV mini series. It has taken a long time to reach this stage. It has been aborted quite a few times over the last few years. I noticed however in the article that there was mention that they were also looking at televising another novel. A series of novels in fact. These were written by Stephen King. The series is known as the 'Dark Tower'.
As a huge science fiction and fantasy I have always been aware of the Dark Tower for decades yet I never really got around to reading them. I, may have, many many years ago dabbled in the first book. I think I probably would have but have no memory of it. I have therefore been thinking about the Dark Tower for a few months now.
As I passed a charity shops outdoor book display I saw part 1. When I went inside I found books 3, 4. Missing 5 and 7. This is what I call the 'Library trick'. Libraries are notoriously poor at maintaining series of books. Many times in the past I have come across varying successes borrowing books that have been in series. Libraries specialise in stocking book 3 of 5 or books 1, 4 and 8 of a 9 book series. What they don't often have is complete stocks. That enable you to read the entire series. This was a bigger problem pre-internet when you couldn't search and order online.
So, I thought about and left and carried on the day. I then happened, on the way home, to nip into another charity shop and lo, and behold I found book 2 and 6. Hurrah thought I. That would nearly complete the entire corpus. I bought those books and went back the following day to get the others. I am now one book, number 5 short of a full set.
The grand Irony of this is that over the last few years passing through different bookshops I have often come across, book 5 'Wolves of Calla, often and never given it a thought. Now, however, I have search; Brixham, Kirkby, Mansfield and Nottingham and there is no sniff of a second hand copy for 50p or so. Typical, really.
I am, so far, enjoying the novels. I was able to put a lot of time into them and read the first two during the last few days of the holiday. It has the classic, Stephen King thing. Why use 10 words when 60 words can be used instead. However, it is fantasy work. It shows he isn't just a horror writer. He can turn his hand to most things and, wow, his imagination is something quiet special. Having not read any of his works for quite a few years you do forget the power of his thoughts and imagination.
It's good then. If you feel that you have not fully embraced a western, based in Tolkien's middle earth with some parallel worlds, then you need to embrace the Dark tower (whatever that turns out to be!)
I read one of his called, the eye of the dragon. I thoroughly enjoyed it. As I have said though. I kind of grew away from the horror writers I dabbled with at the time; King, James Herbert and Graham Masterton. I moved onto to other authors as I discovered that horror really wasn't what I enjoyed, and my imagination was too vivid for my own good. Still is, in fact. Can't sleep. I have still never seen Alien, all the way through!
In Brixham, this August, I revisited Stephen's novels. There's a story. Let me relate it to you;
A few months ago I noticed that one of my favourite books, American Gods, written by a british writer, Neil Gaiman is to be made into a TV mini series. It has taken a long time to reach this stage. It has been aborted quite a few times over the last few years. I noticed however in the article that there was mention that they were also looking at televising another novel. A series of novels in fact. These were written by Stephen King. The series is known as the 'Dark Tower'.
As a huge science fiction and fantasy I have always been aware of the Dark Tower for decades yet I never really got around to reading them. I, may have, many many years ago dabbled in the first book. I think I probably would have but have no memory of it. I have therefore been thinking about the Dark Tower for a few months now.
As I passed a charity shops outdoor book display I saw part 1. When I went inside I found books 3, 4. Missing 5 and 7. This is what I call the 'Library trick'. Libraries are notoriously poor at maintaining series of books. Many times in the past I have come across varying successes borrowing books that have been in series. Libraries specialise in stocking book 3 of 5 or books 1, 4 and 8 of a 9 book series. What they don't often have is complete stocks. That enable you to read the entire series. This was a bigger problem pre-internet when you couldn't search and order online.
So, I thought about and left and carried on the day. I then happened, on the way home, to nip into another charity shop and lo, and behold I found book 2 and 6. Hurrah thought I. That would nearly complete the entire corpus. I bought those books and went back the following day to get the others. I am now one book, number 5 short of a full set.
The grand Irony of this is that over the last few years passing through different bookshops I have often come across, book 5 'Wolves of Calla, often and never given it a thought. Now, however, I have search; Brixham, Kirkby, Mansfield and Nottingham and there is no sniff of a second hand copy for 50p or so. Typical, really.
I am, so far, enjoying the novels. I was able to put a lot of time into them and read the first two during the last few days of the holiday. It has the classic, Stephen King thing. Why use 10 words when 60 words can be used instead. However, it is fantasy work. It shows he isn't just a horror writer. He can turn his hand to most things and, wow, his imagination is something quiet special. Having not read any of his works for quite a few years you do forget the power of his thoughts and imagination.
It's good then. If you feel that you have not fully embraced a western, based in Tolkien's middle earth with some parallel worlds, then you need to embrace the Dark tower (whatever that turns out to be!)
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