Review of The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) (Paperback)

At under 300 pages, "The Gunslinger" - the first book from Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" series - may seem oddly short, especially when compared to the latest volume from the epic, weighing in at around 700 pages. Andstill, Constant Reader, there are thousands more to go!

According to theafterword from this book, it took King twelve years to complete thewritings. He wrote the opening line, "The Man in Black fled across thedesert, and the Gunslinger followed"while an undergraduate, the middleportions when "`Salem's Lot" was going bad, and was inspired with anotherconcurrent writing: "The Stand." For King to have kept the Gunslinger, theMan in Black, Jake, and the other characters - and really the entire worldof the Dark Tower - alive for so long in his mind is a testament to notonly the power that this held over the author, but holds over us - hisConstant Readers. Moreover, since the first publishing of "The Gunslinger,"around twenty years have passed, a number of newer volumes in this serieshave come and gone - yet with this first, partially inspired by RobertBrowning's poem, "Childe Roland," and partially inspired by reams of greenpaper (read the afterword to the book), you know that this was a veryspecial creation indeed.

I am not a fan of King's horror fiction. Butwhen he gets down to writing about "other worlds than these," such as "TheStand," "Insomnia," "The Green Mile," and "The Talisman" (co-authored withPeter Straub) - there is no one better. His is an imagination to be jealousof. There is always a feeling that alternate universes exist, next to ourown. King imbues his other worlds with just enough of our own so that wefeel a tantalizing connection between our own perceptions of reality, andthose that King entertains us (Constant Readers) with.

At any rate, "TheGunslinger," at under 300 pages, is just right to introduce us to the worldof The Dark Tower, and keep us on course, with a desire to continue (and towait, ever so patiently for the next volume in the series) the journey theGunslinger started many years ago.



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Review of Just After Sunset: Stories (Hardcover)

First, I'm an avid Stephen King fan.I'm pretty sure I've read all of his books but I don't think I can say I've read every word he's written....but I have to be close.After reading Just After Sunset, I'm convinced that King's true talent lies in the short story/novella sphere.He is a master at developing stories and characters quickly and like a spider can spin his web with perfection.His novels, all of them, are worth reading.You won't be sorry having invested the time with any of them, but his true masterpieces are in his collections of short stories and novellas.

Just after Sunset is comprised of 13 stories, many published previously.For example, The Cat From Hell was originally published in 1977.King displayed, even then, his willingness to experiment with publishing.Originally, only the first 500 words of Cat From Hell were published in Cavalier.Readers were invited to finish the story and the completed work was published later the same year.The story has been published, revised, and then published again.The story was also used in Tales From the Darkside. Others, such as Willa are recent creations and are a treat for the mind.

"N" continues King's willingness to experiment in getting his stories out to the public in innovative ways.The short story "N" was the basis for the animated series of the same name.

Harvey's Dream, originally published in New Yorker in 2003, is a story of fathers, daughters, and dreams and is a read that will keep you interested throughout.

Of all the stories included in Just After Sunset, my favorite is Stationary Bike.Richard Sifkitz has a belated physical and learns that his cholesterol is extremely high; dangerously so.Like so many of his generation he decides to get a stationary bike to exercise and hopefully ride off his health problems.Unlike many of his contempories, however, Richard rides his workout machine.He rides and he rides and he rides.He decides to paint a mural in the room he rides in to give him something to look at while he's working out.As in all of King's work, the simple mural turns out to be unique and Richard's bike takes him on trips he really doesn't want to make.This is a riveting story and is worth the cost of the book by itself.

Other stories of note (my opinion only) are "The Things They Left Behind", "Graduation Afternoon", and "The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates".

I especially appreciated the last section, Sunset Notes, comprising King's own thoughts about each of the stories in the collection.I always like the special note he includes to readers at the end of many of his books.

Thank you once again Stephen King."And the beat goes on!"

Peace to all.








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Review of Four Past Midnight (Mass Market Paperback)

i recently saw the movie secret window, and loved it. then i saw the book in borders and decided to read it. i have to say i like the story almost more than the movie! ive read all the stories except the sun dog, which i am almost done with. this is definitely a book worth reading.

Product Description
A brand new movie.
And King at his mind-blowing best.

STEPHEN KING
SECRET WINDOW

NOW A BLOCKBUSTER MOVIEFROM COLUMBIA PICTURESSTARRING JOHNNY DEPP,SET TO RELEASE MARCH 12TH
Featuring:
"THE LANGOLIERS"
"SECRET WINDOW, SECRET GARDEN"
The inspiration for the film Secret Window from Columbia Pictures
"THE LIBRARY POLICEMAN"
"THE SUN DOG"
Based on "Secret Window, Secret Garden," a novella in
Four Past Midnight

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