Just a Wonder

[Balrog21]

I wonder if Mr. King has even fathomed the idea of making a Danse Macabre II or something similar since there has been quite a few years since the last one has been published.

i think it would be a GREAT read if not to rehash the old ones he went over but give more insight on some more up to date novels and short stories and movies that he thinks hits the mark as the ones he described in Danse Macabre I.

Just a thought and wondered if anyone else had the same wishes?

Best,
Bal

[Moderator]

He doesn't have any plans to do that because he says the first one was too much work. :smile2:

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I've thought about this before and I think that it would be impossible for him to do it justice anyway, as by far the biggest thing to happen to the genre in the last thirty years is the emergence of Stephen King and how could he possibly be objective about that?

But I'd love for him to pass the baton on, perhaps even keeping it in the family, to the likes of Joe Hill or Owen King. I think Robin Furth or Bev Vincent could do the subject justice as well.

Long days and pleasant nights

[michal]

I have to admit this book was extremely hard for me to read. I had to literally fight my way through it, and really wished it would have a more coherent storyline, so personally, I wouldn't read number 2 if it follows.

Of course, that's really just me.

[Ebdim9th]

I used it as a reference book, to help remind me of movies I was looking for that I had forgotten. Like this movie from '79, Prophecy, which I couldn't found but I did stumble across the novelization, by David Seltzer, an above-average writer, in my estimation. It was about logging companies poisoning rivers with organic mercury, and the Wendigo that exacted revenge... not to mention the story is set in Maine....

[Mr Nobody]

To add to what John said, the genre has also changed to a degree, especially in film. What, for example, would you say about the Saw movies? Anything good? Anything at all? And there have been so many remakes (which continue ad infinitum and indeed, ad nauseum).
As an example, I recently watched both versions of The Day the Earth Stood Still. The modern version didn't really stand a chance, IMHO. Same goes for the remake of Psycho. The new version, I've seen once (and even then not all the way through). The original, I can watch time and time again. Strange but true.

[Magoo2]

I think it would be great too

[B4victorycomestemptation]

I have to admit this book was extremely hard for me to read. I had to literally fight my way through it, and really wished it would have a more coherent storyline, so personally, I wouldn't read number 2 if it follows.

Of course, that's really just me.

i am in the same boat. I love Mr. King and I hate not being able to read it. But I do keep my copy in the bathroom and take a look at it every once in awhile. It was very strange last week I was reading a part of the Danse Macrabe where King says a reporter told him he was more like a corporation then a writer. (something like that) He replied that no he was a hard worker and those who could not work like him did not work as hard. (something like that) So while reading Duma Keys the painter was told something similar about his fast-paced painting and he had a very similar reaction as King. It was weird I happen to open that page of Danse Macrabe and then read the same concept in Duma Key only days later.

[giftshoparty]

Danse is quickly becoming my favorite non-fiction read...going to start a movie-watching group called "Danse Club" to watch and discuss the films Mr.King tackles. Like John said, Stephen King is too relevant since that very book to do a new one - besides, I think the end of the silver age of horror was about 1982 - the best single year of film, anyway.

[cwalrus]

I just finished reading Danse Macabre, and I also had to grapple with myself to finish it. I even read a totally unrelated brain candy scifi novel in the middle just to get away from it for a while. I found the personal stuff interesting such as when he talked about the experience in the movie theater and his experience writing the Stand. I also came away with a few books that I want to read. I've never read Dracula, and even though I probably read some Shirley Jackson Short stories in school, I don't remember them well enough.

I've read Frankenstein and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, so danse macabre helped me appreciae those stories more. Still, when he would go on about films and books that I haven't read or heard of, it made me feel out of the loop like someone who just crashed a family reunion of some kind. I paid attention trying to get everything but felt unable to participate in the discussion with anything close to matching SK's adroit command of the subject.

Still, it was a book I wanted to read, and I'm glad a read it. Most of all though, I'm glad I'm done. I might refer to it when looking for some new and interesting non-SK books to read. I know that I must read Dracula as soon as I get the chance.

Perhaps instead of writing a sequel, SK could just keep us more informed about what new books and films he likes and thinks are important to read or watch.

[Checkman]

It's a good read and an even better reference book despite it's age. One can never have enough reference books.

[scarywriter]

I am a huge horror fan and have been since I was a kid. I thought it was very interesting to see the films and books approached with a more "scholarly" outlook.I would definitely read an updated Danse.
Another good one in this vein is "The Philosphy of Horror" by Noel Carroll.

[dav]

If only it were that simple. Some things are passed along in genetics and others you either have or you don't. I personally think SK mind is one of a kind....

[Lina]

I read Danse Macabre a few weeks ago. I wanted to read it so much because I do like non-fiction by Stephen King.
I like Danse Macabre because it's really interesting to read about the movies and the books that King likes, although it was very difficult for me to read this book because I haven't seen all the movies described in it and haven't read all the books. But I noted some books that I would like to read once.
So, I don't regret I've read this book. But it also would be interesting to read about new books and movies, to know what he thinks about them.

[giftshoparty]

Going to start a thread to talk exclusively about books and films discussed in DM...you remember the days before cg and blockbuster...me too...

[bryantburnette]

Personally, I'm a big fan of Danse Macabre[I].

I'm also a big fan of audiobooks, and apparently [I]Danse Macabre is finally getting an audio release in January '10! Amazon has it available for pre-order.

No word on who the reader is; I'm definitely hoping it's King himself.

[Dana Jean]

I loved Danse Macabre. And I'm pretty positive I may be an army of one here, but I almost like his nonfiction voice better than his fiction voice.

Don't get me wrong though. I love his fictional work. It's because of that, that I love to listen to him as just a regular person.

[bryantburnette]

I agree; I've always thought King was underrated as a nonfiction writer. I'd rank both Danse Macabre and On Writing amongst his very best works.

[fushingfeef]

Here's an idea. Since SK doesn't want to write a sequel to Danse, I wonder if some other author would like to take this project on, (if they haven't already)?

Maybe SK could write an introduction? I'm sure if he agreed to do that, you'd have authors lined up wanting to tackle this project!

[A. R. Braun]

I was thinking the same thing my friend. I was going to ask that very question. It would cover horror from 1981 to 2011, I believe. If he's not going to do it, someone should!

[simon1]

Does anyone happen to know where I can get the 2010 reprint from?

Here in the UK I've seen no mention of it at all.