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dirk_bannion_author's Reviews (157)
I was a bit less convinced with The Dead Zone than I was with a lot of other King books. The premise was legit, and the villain was every part a scary bad guy. But when it all came down at the end I felt a bit let down by the climax and clean up.
I guess all I can say is read it for yourself and let me know if I missed anything. That's always a possibility.
I guess all I can say is read it for yourself and let me know if I missed anything. That's always a possibility.
The DT storyline takes a dip at this point in favor of a really cool novel-length flashback into the childhood of Roland and his previous ka-tet. The journey is a lot of fun, with scene after scene of edge-of-your-seat action, intrigue and heartbreak, plus immeasurable insight into Roland's character as we know him in later years.
All manner of Midworld's backstory is presented as well, hand-in-hand with Roland's own. An awesome next step in the Dark Tower series.
All manner of Midworld's backstory is presented as well, hand-in-hand with Roland's own. An awesome next step in the Dark Tower series.
I liked Under the Dome a lot, although I can understand some peoples' comments about it being too long for its own good.
For reasons I can't fully explain, I decided I HAD TO read this book in large print, which means my copy topped 1000 pages. But, as I turned all those pages, I kept telling myself I was making quick progress because the print was large... Any way, bottom line is I enjoyed it and didn't feel the story got bogged down often enough to ruin it.
The ending was oddly satisfying. Although it was not what I expected and was not completely cliche'. It reminded me a lot of the old Twilight Zone TV show because the twist at the end was almost always out of left field and made you shake your head and grin. That's how Under the Dome left me: shaking my head, grinning and breathing out a "let's get off the roller coaster" sigh.
For reasons I can't fully explain, I decided I HAD TO read this book in large print, which means my copy topped 1000 pages. But, as I turned all those pages, I kept telling myself I was making quick progress because the print was large... Any way, bottom line is I enjoyed it and didn't feel the story got bogged down often enough to ruin it.
The ending was oddly satisfying. Although it was not what I expected and was not completely cliche'. It reminded me a lot of the old Twilight Zone TV show because the twist at the end was almost always out of left field and made you shake your head and grin. That's how Under the Dome left me: shaking my head, grinning and breathing out a "let's get off the roller coaster" sigh.
This was like a thinking-man's George Romero film. It was a fast-paced read and had its fair share of grossout thrills and chills, but it kept the zombie motif out of Cheeseville, at least IMHO.
Getting into this one was a bit slow for me. I think it was all the inner dialogue the main character deals with. The story moves slower than usual for a King book, but by the end I was definitely a satisfied reader. Worth the effort.
I like all of Stephen King's "Bachman Books" because he takes a step outside his norm and provides a compelling story with a very different voice and feel. Thinner, I would say, is the closest any of the Bachman Books came to vintage King. The curse of weight loss made for a very compelling "ticking clock" device to notch up the tension as the chapters are headed with the main character's ever-decreasing weight. Stylistically smart move.
A very satisfying conclusion to an incredible fantasy series. I won't give the ending away, but I do want to mention that while some may view it as cliche', it's really the ONLY way the story could have possibly ended. So, in that way, it's perfect.
I say that because when I first finished it, it was a straight-shot seven-book marathon during which I became so thoroughly engrossed in the world of the novels I literally did not want it to end. So when it did, I was naturally let down as anyone would be who abruptly ends up back in dreary old reality after being immersed in fantasy. I blamed it on the ending.
But, looking back a short time later, after having time to digest the whole story arc, I realized that the ending is perfect and the series is awesome.
I say that because when I first finished it, it was a straight-shot seven-book marathon during which I became so thoroughly engrossed in the world of the novels I literally did not want it to end. So when it did, I was naturally let down as anyone would be who abruptly ends up back in dreary old reality after being immersed in fantasy. I blamed it on the ending.
But, looking back a short time later, after having time to digest the whole story arc, I realized that the ending is perfect and the series is awesome.
Definitely a favorite of mine: it combines alien invasion (a la X-Files!!!) with some truly classic King writing. And, unlike the other SF alien-centered storyline King explored in [b:The Tommyknockers|17660|The Tommyknockers|Stephen King|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1193781002s/17660.jpg|150226] this one didn't feel to me like it got bogged down in its own details. The pace was right for the story: not too fast but not too slow either.
And, the aliens' method of invasion is absolutely stellar grossout.
And, the aliens' method of invasion is absolutely stellar grossout.
I read the whole book, and I'm glad I did. But I have to say this is one of my least favorite King books. It's not that the story is bad, it's just far longer than it needs to be to tell the story in my opinion.
But, I need to throw a significant caveat in here: I read this book before I read the Dark Tower series and before I became familiar with King's entire Midworld mythology. Therefore, I came in blind to what some people have called the "keystone text" to the whole background mythology that has been weaved through so many of King's works, especially since the 90's.
That being said, I may have appreciated the book more had I read it with more insight into the DT series. My advice is to do some research on stephenking.com and/or read the DT books first before tackling Insomnia.
But, I need to throw a significant caveat in here: I read this book before I read the Dark Tower series and before I became familiar with King's entire Midworld mythology. Therefore, I came in blind to what some people have called the "keystone text" to the whole background mythology that has been weaved through so many of King's works, especially since the 90's.
That being said, I may have appreciated the book more had I read it with more insight into the DT series. My advice is to do some research on stephenking.com and/or read the DT books first before tackling Insomnia.
As I've noted before, the Dark Tower series is one of the best I've read. I think Wolves of Calla is a solid mid-adventure story for the series. It's essentially an interruption of the ka-tet's journey along the Path of the Beam toward the tower, as they come upon the town of Calla Ben Sturgis and agree to help them fight a villainous invasion of "wolves" who come to steal the town's children and bring them back to the town "roont", or mentally handicapped.
It's a fun, exciting and engaging story that tells us a lot about the characters without slowing the action. This is probably the only DT novel I could imagine someone picking up as a standalone and actually enjoying. I still think it's best not to, though.
It's a fun, exciting and engaging story that tells us a lot about the characters without slowing the action. This is probably the only DT novel I could imagine someone picking up as a standalone and actually enjoying. I still think it's best not to, though.