why doesn't Dreamcatcher rank in the top tier?

[Maoster]

Like others on here it didn't really hit me first time but really enjoyed it when I re-read recently. Love the Kurtz character and reference to Heart of Darkness and the whole mossy/telepathic thing going on. S***t weasels really were gross! I always find it hard to rank KS books as depends on the mood when reading but this would be up there.

[hustle111]

sci-fi... not too many ppl crazy about sci-fi

that, plus the whole army aspect

i loved it though, definitely one of my fav SKs

[Banjo Kazooie]

Well, it's in my top tier along with It, The Stand, Pet Sematary, The Long Walk and Under the Dome. I love a cold setting, and the flashbacks of Duddits were great moments.

[duf70]

I have owned this book for several years and somehow gotten past it when deciding what to read next from SK. I think partly it had to do with the fact that I inadvertently watched the movie (I prefer to read the books first).
Anyway, I think it is time to get down to it. It seems from the posts that the book is far better than the movie, which does not surprise me in the least. I liked the movie so I hope that the book will be in my top tier.

[Doc Wilson]

Oh you'll definitely enjoy the book more than the movie. The whole "two minds warring for one body" thing is so much richer and more comprehensible in the book. And the movies ending kinda blows, has nothing to do with the book's ending.

[Sundrop]

I've attempted to read Dreamcatcher several times, and have never been able to finish it......It's not that I don't like the story, because I do.
Whenever I start reading this book, something happens either at work, or in my life that requires all my energy, and the book gets shelved.
I've got it back in the tbr stack......maybe soon

[Learah Greene]

I know for a fact that I soak up anything SK writes and at first, 99.9% of the time, adore it. But time is a tool and I find that a natural order takes control and ranks his work and measures his best, and ultimately there just isn't enough substance in this one to properly withstand the endurance test when compared to the more intricately-detailed books, the clever plotlines, the great ideas, originality, ultimately Dreamcatcher turns out an enjoyable romp but not really something on par with his finer moments. And that's absolutely fine, it means I appreciate his best all the more. It's nice to know his talent is not viewed (by me) from a wildly subjective viewpoint of 'everything is amazing so shut up!'

[guido tkp]

why does it not appear on my list of best books by king...because it simply is not a good as those great, highly original reads !!

dreamcatcher is a bit too derivitive on just about every level...it is well told, for the most part...but so is Needful things...which i rank in the same sort of area: not all books can be in the really big big leagues: this one is triple a ball all the way

king, for me, often has a bit of trouble ending his stories..all for a variety of reason...and this one just didn't fall together, for me, as some others have: i remeber it a being kinda confusing and lost...kinda like the snowstorm

all what came before, he'd done elsewhere, better...if It is a class-a spectacular...then this is its b-movie kid sister wannabe...really nice, kinda enjoyable...but that's about it

but i'm glad as heck that there are so many who did find it fantastic: means that whenever i get around to the obligatory reread...i just might find an absolute gem and change my mind