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the_windrunner94's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hannah2909's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bradland's review against another edition
3.0
This book is amazing value for money. With 4 reasonably lengthy novellas these stories could be considered separate books in another author's hands. For King however, a man with a reputation for getting carried away with his words, these stories ain't as long as they could have been!
Langoliers is great all the way through. Just a shame I had seen the TV movie sometime before so was familar with what happens, thereby not enjoying it as much as I would have. I can see why he associates it with his equally excellent 'The Mist'.
The other three stories start out good, with well drawn out characters, then suffer .... average climaxes/endings. I was hoping he'd have something equally as clever as he did the first story but.... didn't.... and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Langoliers is great all the way through. Just a shame I had seen the TV movie sometime before so was familar with what happens, thereby not enjoying it as much as I would have. I can see why he associates it with his equally excellent 'The Mist'.
The other three stories start out good, with well drawn out characters, then suffer .... average climaxes/endings. I was hoping he'd have something equally as clever as he did the first story but.... didn't.... and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
nonijapier's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
eesh25's review against another edition
4.0
The Langoliers is a story with many genres. I always find such stories particularly interesting, especially when an urban fantasy novel has scientific elements. It adds another layer, in my opinion, to how believable something is. Also, science fiction is just fun.
This is about a flight on which something strange happens. Almost everyone on the flight disappears except for eleven people. And it's up to these people to figure out what the hell happened. And to deal with all the problems that they come across throughout the story. Believe me, there are several of them.
...And that's all I'm saying about the synopsis. There's a lot to learn about what's going on. But it's all in the form of revelations or things the characters figure out. So saying more than I have so far would feel like I'm spoiling everything. I don't wanna do that, at all, because this is a very interesting story. I didn't find it particularly horror-like, but it kept me intrigued and, often, on the edge of my seat.
One way that was done was by the number of questions there were about what had happened. Also, every question that got answered usually led to another question. Plus, there were the characters.
Out of the eleven survivors, seven were more important than the others. There was Dinah, a blind eight-year-old whose aunt had disappeared; Brian, a pilot flying to his ex-wife's funeral; as well as Nick, Laurel, Albert, Bob and Craig. All of them had a role to play in resolving the predicament the passengers found themselves in. Though, it's not that the others were insignificant. They just didn't have as prominent a role to play. The seven "main characters" were also better developed. And most of them, I really liked.
Another thing I like—loved—was the sci-fi element. I can't tell you what it was, but it has been done before. Just not in this particular way. It's the first time that this trope/theme has made sense to me, at least in terms of believability. It was so cool.
Now, I’ve run out of words. I don't know what else to write without giving things away. In fact, I might review the next two stories together if I don't have much to say again. For this one, I'd heard it's the best of the four. Also, I've been so busy this last week that it's all I've managed to read. Hopefully, the review wasn't too bad. Because this is a great story, and one I'd recommend.
This is about a flight on which something strange happens. Almost everyone on the flight disappears except for eleven people. And it's up to these people to figure out what the hell happened. And to deal with all the problems that they come across throughout the story. Believe me, there are several of them.
...And that's all I'm saying about the synopsis. There's a lot to learn about what's going on. But it's all in the form of revelations or things the characters figure out. So saying more than I have so far would feel like I'm spoiling everything. I don't wanna do that, at all, because this is a very interesting story. I didn't find it particularly horror-like, but it kept me intrigued and, often, on the edge of my seat.
One way that was done was by the number of questions there were about what had happened. Also, every question that got answered usually led to another question. Plus, there were the characters.
Out of the eleven survivors, seven were more important than the others. There was Dinah, a blind eight-year-old whose aunt had disappeared; Brian, a pilot flying to his ex-wife's funeral; as well as Nick, Laurel, Albert, Bob and Craig. All of them had a role to play in resolving the predicament the passengers found themselves in. Though, it's not that the others were insignificant. They just didn't have as prominent a role to play. The seven "main characters" were also better developed. And most of them, I really liked.
Another thing I like—loved—was the sci-fi element. I can't tell you what it was, but it has been done before. Just not in this particular way. It's the first time that this trope/theme has made sense to me, at least in terms of believability. It was so cool.
Now, I’ve run out of words. I don't know what else to write without giving things away. In fact, I might review the next two stories together if I don't have much to say again. For this one, I'd heard it's the best of the four. Also, I've been so busy this last week that it's all I've managed to read. Hopefully, the review wasn't too bad. Because this is a great story, and one I'd recommend.
rainy_window's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Vomit
siarahflanz's review against another edition
4.0
The Langoliers ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Secret Window, Secret Garden ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Library Policeman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Sun Dog ⭐️⭐️⭐️
renlau13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Absolutely loved the concept and the eerie feel throughout. Personally the langoliers themselves felt a bit too silly to be really afraid of and the buildup was much more effective than the actual depiction of them. I did sort of zone out when in the pilots POV a few times due to all the tech talk/plane jargon but other POVs were much more interesting. I felt genuinely bad when Nick died which surprised me as I didn't think I'd care as much as I did. The ending left me feeling good and surprisingly light.
headinthebooks's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars.
I really loved some(The Secret Window, Secret Garden), some I felt meh about(The Langoliers, The Library Police), and then some I completely did not finish(and The Sun Dog).
The reason why I didn't really enjoy The Sun Dog was because It didn't really stick to me(that doesn't mean that it's bad or anything)
The Secret Window, Secret Garden, is differently my favourite (:
I really loved some(The Secret Window, Secret Garden), some I felt meh about(The Langoliers, The Library Police), and then some I completely did not finish(and The Sun Dog).
The reason why I didn't really enjoy The Sun Dog was because It didn't really stick to me(that doesn't mean that it's bad or anything)
The Secret Window, Secret Garden, is differently my favourite (: