Just finished The Tommyknockers...

[baylorbear2008]

And I saw some of the reactions that people have with the novel on here. I didn't see what the bad press what about...I really enjoyed it. Not his best work at all, but still an enjoyable read. I finished it in about 2 1/2 weeks...which is much better than I did with Duma Key (took about 3 1/2 months...thanks largely due to my job, school, and the first 300 pages being slow to me).

Semi-Spoiler following

I did think in the end...it could of really been mentioned what happened to Gardener, instead of him just being in space with the ship and him blacking out. Mainly I guess I was hoping to see where the ship ended up going to.

[bopropadop]

I liked The Tommyknockers too, though I've reserved comment on the board (until now) only because it's been sooo long since I read it. I remember at the time I enjoyed it, but I don't know if that's simply because it was a King book and I've always been a fan.

I've read so many of his other works since then, I'll be interested to re-read Tommyknockers and compare it to the others.

Thanks for your post! You've encouraged me to bump it up near the top of my re-read pile.

[Ubasti]

I don't remember liking it, but I read it several years ago so I re-read might prove me wrong.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Yeah, do that, Bop. Both Kim and I re-read it this year and enjoyed it far more than we'd remembered.

Long days and pleasant nights

[abominae1]

I didn't like the story that much when I first read it , but that was about 2 years ago , maybe i'll reread it , and give it another try as well.

[cappi]

Tommyknockers is not one of my favorites, but it's still pretty good. A bit long winded in places, was my biggest problem with it.

[Lencho_of_the_Apes]

Tommyknockers is one of my favorite King books; I've never been sure why it draws so much negative attention here. I suspect that it might be because it doesn't have a strong heroic figure at the center. Gard's pretty weak... which to me makes him more real-seeming; how many real people set down in such an overwhelming situation would be able to do exactly the right thing at all times in order to come out maximum-triumphant?

We all float down here...

[Mistangelique]

I liked it. It's not in my top 3, but not on the bottom either. I'm afraid to watch the movie.

[jopopoe]

Hi

I remember that I enjoyed it a lot, and that while reading it I laughed many times and thought "on this one Stephen King has really let himself go", it seemed so exaggerated and delirious !!!

[mensik]

I have read "Tommyknockers" for first time in the mid 90's and re-read it few months ago. It was just awesome even in second reading after more than 10 years! I have asked myself the same question though... May be I am just a big fan of King, thats why I like it so much?
But anyway, it felt great re-reading it!

[md10pc]

Tommyknockers is one of my favorite books. I especially like the relationship between Hilly and David. Having read "On writing", I like to think that Stephen's older brother was a prototype for Hilly.

As far as the end, it is obvious that Gardener is dying so I don't think there's any other way to end it. Gard had his faults but he was a hero. .

[Nomadofthehills]

I read it in 8th grade, and it was my favorite book of his at that point.

[Flayer]

The thing is its a very bloated, rambling novel. Its enjoyable and theres some absolutely great scenes in it, but it is so hard to understand.

And I was pissed when the Shop showed up in the end because that meant Charlie hadn't shut them down at the end of Firestarter.

[JohnDalglish]

I liked it. It's not in my top 3, but not on the bottom either. I'm afraid to watch the movie.

Hi,

Be afraid, be very afraid, the movie is AWFUL IMO.

Long days and pleasant nights

[tillyn]

i thought it was a pretty good book, who can get that rhyme out of their head after reading it after all these years .(tommyknocker, tommyknocker, knocking at the door,,,) lucy.

[Cognac]

i agree, not the best, but FAR from bad. i think most people give it a bad wrap because they are not patient enough, they want to know whats buried right NOW! lol

[SixPins]

And I was pissed when the Shop showed up in the end because that meant Charlie hadn't shut them down at the end of Firestarter.

Well she did go to a "rock" magazine that recently featured the Jonas Brothers on the cover spread. She should have gone somewhere else!
:biggrin2:

I have not read the Tommyknockers, and I guess I just ruined the ending for myself. Oh well, I have plenty of new King to read before I wind down to this one. Maybe I will have forgot about it by the time I actually read it.

[ally88]

I read this years ago and am ashamed to say that i cant remember whether i liked it or not..guess a re-read is in order soon.
Phew, since i joined this board ive started thinking about a lot of re-reads..wonder if i will have time to fit my real life in somewhere???

[King Jacob]

I enjoyed The Tommyknockers when I read it a year or so ago. I had actually watched the movie first, but I didn't think the movie was too bad. I say that knowing full well that I have horrible taste in films, and I couldn't be a good critic if I was held at gunpoint. Anyway, back to the book, I don't think there was anything wrong with it.

[benbennett]

Always enjoy reading it. Top six book for me.

[Bluey Lunger]

I think it's a great story. All those Pennywise appearances. More. Makes me want to get a puppy.

[thebobbleman]

I didn't love this one as m:sad:uch.

[Mistress Sawyer]

I really liked the book...it was great! I don't think I'd watch the movie though...not sure it would the book any justice. And remember...the movie is almost NEVER exactly like the book.

[hysteria_625]

Just finished rereading for the first time in 22/23 years and (maybe obviously) it was like reading it for the first time.
It was neat to see the connections to IT, as Haven is not far from Derry, Talisman where Gard is getting ready to kill himself and meets Jack and others I'm probably missing.
I'm also leaning towards thinking this is probably one of Sai King's most politically focused books - and perhaps his own beliefs come through clearly (the nukes).
IMHO, would've been neat to see Hilly/David brought back in the DT series - maybe as the guards in the building where Roland meets the remainder of the Tet Corporation
I put Tommyknockers in my top 10.

[Gard-ole-Gard]

I loved Tommyknockers, as evidenced by my forum name. I've read it twice and feel like Gard's an old friend. I'm not surprised that it's not everyone's favorite; seems like I read once that Sai King had forgotten writing it :biggrin2:

[marew1]

I enjoyed The Tommy Knockers and the TV movie version. It is an interesting book.

[jimi-donohue]

It pains me to think that i last read Tommyknockers when i was 18, that was 7 years ago. I made a decision then, that i would never read any of kings books twice untill i had read everything that he had written once. I have four books to go till i reach that goal. Whwn I read tommyknockers i loved it. I loved his girlfriends nasty sister, i laughed my heart out at her behavior

[seanryan]

I really enjoyed Tommy Knockers (movie was poor).

I loved the way the story unfolded with people inventing devices and having that flash of genius moment.

One could argue the Matrix movies borrowed the idea of "human batteries" from this story.....

[Prince of Darkness]

Hi,

I used to hate it with every fibre of my being, but now it is definitely one of my Top Five.

I LOVED IT.

It's still haunting me now, after a week. :oops:

Long days and pleasant nights

[LOTUS]

I,ve read it for the first time an year ago and absolutely loved it.It is in my top 10 SK books and I plan to reread it very soon.:smile2:

[sam peebles]

I must say I really enjoyed Tommyknockers. Its nice when King shows little restraint and just goes out with guns blazing, setting up an entire town like a house of cards before knocking it down. All the references to the Stephen King universe is like an inside joke (It, Pet Semetary, Dead Zone, The Stand, Dart Tower). The movie is absolutely awful.

[johnny39]

I have yet to actually hate a SK book. This might have been my least favorite so far though.

I thought the idea was cool, but I just did not like Gardner or Bobbi Anderson very much at all.

I'm not sure how I feel about the parallels to the dangers of nuclear power seeming like the inspiration for it.

It was a fun story, but sorry... the soda machine? :)

[adrianmarley]

I'm currently reading The Tommyknockers and, I have to say, really enjoying it. I did notice something and wanted to ask about it here. On page 121 of the Signet paperback edition, Gard meets a boy on the beach:

The boy is able to repeat the old Tommyknockers rhyme that Gard had learned from his mother. When Gard asks him where he learned it, he says:


"My Mom. With her it was always funny stuff like The Tommyknockers or too hung-over to talk."

A few lines later he says that his mother died in a car crash and, when asked, says that his name is Jack. Now, not having read The Talisman (I know, I know. Get a move on, right?), is this kid actually Jack Sawyer?

[sam peebles]

Yes, it's probably Jack Sawyer. Gard meets him on the beach in New Hampshire. In the beginning and end of the Talisman, Jack is at the Alhambra hotel on the beach in New Hampshire. And there certainly is some funny stuff going on with Jack's mom at that point, though she did not die of a car crash when he was a kid.

[Jayviar]

I liked it, but don't remember much about it. I also never understood why people hated it.

[davidbo32]

Tommyknockers was the first Stephen King book I read, when it came out in 1988. It is what made me into a S.K fan. I rate it among his top 5 books, along with The Dark Half, The Shining, Salem's Lot and The Stand. I prefer his books from the 70's and 80's. With a few exceptions such as Dreamcatcher, The Green Mile and Needful things, I think most of his books from the 90's and 00's aren't that great. His worst novels are Rose Madder, Insomia and Desperation, Nevada. In my opinion he has run out of original ideas, and he should shorten down some of his newer books.

[bopropadop]

Tommyknockers was the first Stephen King book I read, when it came out in 1988. It is what made me into a S.K fan. I rate it among his top 5 books, along with The Dark Half, The Shining, Salem's Lot and The Stand. I prefer his books from the 70's and 80's. With a few exceptions such as Dreamcatcher, The Green Mile and Needful things, I think most of his books from the 90's and 00's aren't that great. His worst novels are Rose Madder, Insomia and Desperation, Nevada. In my opinion he has run out of original ideas, and he should shorten down some of his newer books.

I'm sorry to hear you don't care for his more recent novels. I think your top 5 is about spot on but I noticed you didn't mention the Dark Tower series at all. Have you tried it yet? For one thing, it would help you to enjoy Insomnia more. Many connections there.

Also, if Rose Madder, Insomnia, and Desperation put you off, you might not have read Lisey's Story. Please try that, too, as I think it's his best writing in recent times.

Welcome to the board and thanks for posting your thoughts! Please keep doing so, it's what keeps this place alive and well!

[cfin5256]

Ironically, my first post here comes about 15 minutes after finishing The Tommyknockers for the third time, seeing the website posted on the back of the book, and following the link here. Glad I found it!

The first time I read the book was when it was first released and when I purchased it again a couple months ago, I couldn't remember if I had enjoyed it the first time or not. I defenitely enjoyed it this time. The scene where Gard enters the shed for the first time and you finally find out what happened to the dog Peter sends shivers down my spine; just the realization of how quickly the ship had seperated Bobbi from her human side was eerie.

I enjoy all of Sai Kings books so not sure where I would rank Tommyknockers, but I would guess in the top 7 at least.

[Terry B]

I love The Tommyknockers the first time and plan to read it again soon.

[jackson992]

wow I would say Desperation is his best book along with Regulators since they go together really.

[thepunisher82]

I really like The Tommyknockers. Gard is definitely one of King's best written characters. To me, there is a great story in this book and if about 50 pages would have been chopped out I feel that the story would have had a better pace and maybe not turned off so many people. As it stands, I do have to admit that there is a lot of filler.

[the_last_gunslinger]

The Tommyknockers was actually the book that got me hooked on Stephen King. When I read it, I thought it was excellent. Now, having read many more of his novels, I can see that it certainly isn't as good as others, but I think it warrants a re-read, which I'll probably get around to after I finish my current stash of unread books.

[Clairepie]

I am currently reading it and really enjoying it, anyone see the tv series, I didnt!

[millhaven]

I find The Tommyknockers a very enjoyable book to read, almost entirely because of the character of Jim Gardener. His thoughts are absolutely hilarious ("Shot your wife, huh? Good f**kin deal")

The scene at the cocktail party where he wields an umbrella always cracks me up (Patricia Argle-Bargle!)

I think the relationship between him & Bobbi, although flawed, is very sweet. I would have to say that Gard is one of my favourite King characters, just for his humor and take-no-sh*t attitude.

[Drummerboy]

Tommyknockers was one of the first SK books I've read, and I liked it. I don't remember much from it but, I do recall that I enjoyed it. One of these years, I'll re-read it.
As a side-note, without actually checking..was it Marg Helensomething(from CSI) that played Bobbi in the t.v. movie? For some reason that really sticks out in my mind. Anyway, take care all, happy reading!!
Kennan

[michal]

Love the book, even though I agree with most - I would never post it at my "top 3 list". It's a story that have been told plenty of times before, but that is true regarding most of Mr. King's books. The point isn't the story, but the way its told and the goosebumps on your arms when you hear it being told.

Late last night
And the night before
Tommyknockers Tommyknockers
Knocking at the door.

I want to go out,
Don't know if I can
'Cause I'm so afraid
of the Tommyknocker man.

[natalia101]

tommyknockers is one of my fav king books i seem to re read this every couple of years [about 4 times now]! was really surprised when i heard it had received negative reviews.

i agree that because there isnt an obvious hero that might be where the problem for some people is. ive always thought Ev hillman to be the hero of the book personally!

[blunthead]

Hi,

Be afraid, be very afraid, the movie is AWFUL IMO.

Long days and pleasant nightsAgreed. Especially in terms of special effects, The Tommyknockers is essentially a B-movie. The image I liked most in the novel was the immensity of the emerging object as it was being exhumed. In the movie this image is replaced by silly-looking half buried props. The movie also includes a worn out Hollywood climax which doesn't exist in the book.

So, you can afford to skip this adaptation, at least until you can check it out for free someday.

[Bluey Lunger]

I've read so many of his other works since then, I'll be interested to re-read Tommyknockers and compare it to the others.



I had the same thoughts. picked up a couple hc sk stories recently, both of them i'd read in pb, desperation and tommyknockers. read desperation again a week or so ago and started in on tommyknockers. dunno if there's much to it, but both stories have a character(s) who are writers, james eric gardener, and johnny edward marinville. not that it matters much, either, but both works also contain that magical word, dome.

guess we need the spoiler here, right race fans? in desperation, the two brothers working on bringing the ceiling of the shaft down on those below them are described as creating a dome above them until finally the thing caves in. in tommyknockers...spoiler here?...kinda aggravating, really, i mean, what is this site for if not discussing sk's stories? anyway, in tommyknockers...maybe it's actually a dragon...or some sort of anomaly related to air traffic, but the space above the buried spaceship is a kind of dome...yeah, okay, so maybe it isn't a dome...guess it is described as a dragon. all that and no play.

i thought desperation was the best story i read whilst reading it. i'm reconsidering that thought in light of tommyknockers. could be that tommyknockers if the best by sk, by far.

[ameregirl]

I just finished it today, and conviently, The Running Man is on Encore.

Is it just me or is the woman Agnes, the old lady in the audience at the tv station, have the same last name as Patricia, the poet caravan lady in Tommyknockers...

McCardle???

[DaveBond21]

I love the Tommyknockers, and I re-read it about 2 years ago. But there's nothing quite like your first time.

The kids magic show scene is one of the most scary and mindblowing in any King novel.

[Atlana]

Oh I don't see why people we not like the tommyknockers. I thought it was a great book. I loved every page of it. I just think some people just get way too judge mental about books. Books are made to be read, and enjoyed. Not judged.

[matthunter]

On his way to Bobbi's, Gard is picked up by some kids in a van and one kid is referred to as "Beaver" ..could this be the Beaver from Dreamcatcher...the age and the Derry location are right..but i know Dreamcatcher was written well after The Tommyknockers

[skyrow]

I also LOOOOOOVED this book. I couldn't put it down. I also love how you meet other characters of his book in this story,, So it might be the same beaver even though I havn't read Dreamcatcher yet. I know it had Jake from the Talisman and Pennywise from It though.

[jalexbrown]

I hit page 250 today, and I think the story is really good. I can see where it would require a great amount of patience - the story really seems to be based around the build up - but I think that, if you can appreciate a build up, the book so far seems very good.

[jalexbrown]

I hit page 250 today, and so far I think the book seems very good. The story - from what I've read, anyways - seems to rely on the build-up and the suspense. It's not a book for readings wanting immediate gratification, but it seems to me that if you're a reader who's in it for the long haul, The Tommyknockers is a very good read.

[NathanStrickland]

Ugh. Tommyknockers. Ugh.

Took me three times trying to get through this one, almost like I had to get a running start to jump over some sort of narrative hurdle. I liked Bobbi enough as a character, but then, well, if you've read the book you know how that turns out.

But Gard. Wow. It's one thing to have a standard writer character involved in the plot (writing must be a very dangerous business in the King universe), but to have two of them really slows things down to a crawl. And Gard just sits there like a lump on a log for most of the book!

I can appreciate the Tommyknockers in a macro sense, as a sort of allegory for addiction, and I'm glad Mr. King finished this because it helped him through a lot of personal demons, but this one was the literary equivalent of valium for me.

At least Insomnia tied into the Dark Tower.

[thebarbster24]

I've finished Tommyknockers two days ago and I admit that at first I thought that it is going to be a really long read since the beginning was kinda dragging. I missed a strong central character,I didn't like Bobbi that much and Jim Gardener was sitting on his A doing nothing for most of the book. On the other hand, around the time King started describing how Bobbi's discovery effects the town's people, the book drew me in and I was quite enjoying it from then and even finished it pretty fast (and towards the end, Gardener even grew on me, a bit). It's definitely not one of King's best, but having some great parts it's far from his worst.

[Echoes917]

I just finished reading The Tommyknockers for the first time last night. I absolutely loved it. It was extremely engaging throughout most of the book. The only party that I skimmed over was the preacher getting it on with the whole town in the 1800's part.

Other than that I think this just might be one of my favorite King novels, really well paced with lots of interesting characters.

Anyways...that's my two cents.

[liya]

I really like this book, I don't know what it is about it. I usually take it with me when I go camping or to the cottage. I settle down in a comfy spot by the water with a nice cold beer and read.

[Echoes917]

I really like this book, I don't know what it is about it. I usually take it with me when I go camping or to the cottage. I settle down in a comfy spot by the water with a nice cold beer and read.

Quite the creepy story to read while in the woods right? I'd be afraid I'd stumble over something...

[NDFan4ever]

This was the only book of SK's that I read with one thought beating in the back of my mind: Seriously?

The story is great, the characters are great, I even liked the cool inventions...just didn't buy the whole "aliens made me do it" scenario.

Don't hate me!

[wilhelmreems]

i enjoyed this one, really liked the characters.

I think I enjoyed it a bit more thoroughly after finding out a bit more info about the process of how it was written from reading "On Writing".

[xP3AC3MAK3Rx]

Well, Mr. King himself admitted 'TommyKnockers' and 'Insomnia' being his weakest books (he was a little harder on himself actually) in 'On Writing'.

I've read 'TommyKnockers' like 1/3 of it and was totally bored, not so with 'Under The Dome' which I'm currently reading, and of course lot's of his other great novels.

[Er0tic NeUr0t1c]

i read that book in a week and a half and loved it. Gardener is one of my favorite King characters ever. Like, for real, he's a pissed off drunk poet who finds himself in a sticky situation where the town turns into aliens. The whole book, save the first part, he spends up in that cabin digging and getting drunk, digging and getting drunk, and i loved that. He was so pissed off all the time. And then at the end it was almost like "**** man, those townspeople sure are going crazy... plus they're sucking the life out of people in that little cabin over there.... better hop to it." so he wobbles his drunk ass off to save the day and I loved the ending.

furthermore.... it was totally outrageous reading about a killer coke machine floating down the street. I loved when the dude (cant really remember who it was, maybe a reporter or someone might be wrong) but he parks on the side of the road and the coke machine just floats on by. It then starts flying towards him and knocks his head off and then crushes him to death. It then floats off drenched in blood. Later in the story, two guys have a battle with the blood covered soda dispensing unit and ultimately kill it with the shotgun and the circumstances of that situation caused them to just lay down and laugh. In my head, I was really chilled by a killer soda machine, but really tickled by the idea too. How can you guys not find that just fun as hell?

[Er0tic NeUr0t1c]

sorry to double post, but really, remember when like tentacles came out of Bobbis vagina (random)? Well, did anybody register that when gardener tapped that **** like two days later?

[randallFlaggfan1]

This I don't recall. Were you being serious?:confused: