Why do you love Stephen King?

[ChickenStu]

Thought this could be an interesting little chat! Having only recently really discovered his books (even though I've read a good chunk of them in that short time) I've really surprised myself in how much I've fallen into his world. And what he writes. Even before I turned the first page on Carrie I was like "Hmmm, I should read a couple - even though I don't like horror. I'm gonna hate them..."

Now I'm totally hooked, and believe me when I say I'm still not a fan of horror. But is what he does really horror? I mean, yeah of course, there's elements in there and a lot of it is quite strong - but I view his books (and I mean this as a complement) more as "tall tales". You know, like feature length literary episodes of The Twilight Zone.

When he really lets loose it's an absolute joy to behold. It's clear from what he writes and the way he writes that he really enjoys what he does. And he knows he's good at it too. Not in a conceited way - I just think he's very aware of his "constant reader" and doesn't want to let down this gestalt ever. He's always at the top of his game.

One novels by him that really impressed me was Dreamcatcher. I don't mean by that that it's my favourite or anything, but the reason I singled this one out particularly is because of his showmanship. It's big, epic, ambitious and no other author could pull a story like that off, but King does it with ease.

His use of language in colourful and strangely beautiful, his narratives are tightly constructed and seamless - and every character is vivid. It's just a pleasure every time.

What about you guys?

[donna1982]

For me its his characters for sure. Reading the novel for the first time is like making lifelong friends. Reading them after that is like visiting old friends. The descriptions make the characters "alive" for me. I also love and appreciate the suspense in books like Lisey's Story.

[Becks19]

SK never fails to surprise me, creep me out or entertain me. (And play yo yo with a readers emotions) No one could ever say that SK's books are predictable. (IMO)

[PatInTheHat]

He's a great travel agent with the best brochures.

[MorganGamerPoet]

Although I've only read three of his books so far (Misery, Cujo, and On Writing, in the process of reading The Stand), I like him because he has so much to say about writing in general. He tells stories so well. I feel like when I read him, my own writing gets a little better.

[GNTLGNT]

His "drawing"(pun intended)of characters makes them live and breathe...his locales real or fictional are like I'm right there, and his turns of phrase are damn near magical...he never fails to entertain me in some way, shape or form and that is a rare gift...

[fushingfeef]

He knows how to tell a story, and he respects the story above all else ("It is the story, not he who tells it"). And he creates characters you care about.

[king family fan]

I guess for me it is the way he puts things,Alot of times its the surprise. And the fact that when I re-read his works,I find things I had missed before. I been a SK reader along time and still have lots to discover.

[bopropadop]

I've grown up reading Stephen King. My first real novel was The Stand at the age of 13. I've read everything since, sometimes two or three times. He's made me laugh, cry, shout - - you name it. Whether I do it intentionally or not, I now compare every other author I read to him. And I've only found a few who interest me as much.

And with the Dark Tower series, I believe he's achieved something unparalleled in literature. Not only did he give us the masterful seven volume series, but so many of his other works tie into it. It's fun to go back and find the connections, even the most obscure. And every time something new is published, there's the added excitement of looking for another piece to the DT saga. Over the course of almost 40 years, that's some accomplishment.

[Spideyman]

Becoming one with the characters. Feeling what they feel. When a beloved character, part me me dies. The escape into a journey, not just a story. The effects his works has on my life.
As a person, his kindness and generosity to others, and his humor.

[Tery]

The characters are one part of it. But he also "builds" great places. I mean, I want to live in Castle Rock! He makes these places and puts people in them, makes us care about them.... and then does horrible things to them. It's a catharsis. It helps me to deal with real-life horror. It takes me away, throws me around, bloodies me a bit and then drops me right back on my comfy couch.

[catnoel]

I love Sai King because his characters are so "real". They are usually neither completely bad or good as most of humans are with some exceptions (Crimson King) They are everyday people. He covers so many subjects and can write from a male or female or animal perspective. He captures the essence of insanity!! I can empathize with so many of his characters good or bad. He can just tell a good story without smoke and mirrors!! His stories have gotten me through some tough times and it is always a joy to open up a new book of his!!!

[gniknehpets]

I think he makes me love, hate, cheer for, boo, mourn and feel joy for his people better than anyone. And I say people because they are not characters in a book to me. He makes them real. I have thrown one of his books onto the floor in anger, stomped around the room calling him names then collapsed on the couch howling laughter. My husband thought I'd finally lost it but it was only King doing his best and worst to me. I have a love/hate relationship with his works...

[dejolane]

I have to agree the characters like Mr Gaunt in Needful Things is very interesting. Wondering just how long Stephen takes to pick the right people for his movies if he has anything to say about it. Kathy Bates was perfect for Misery.

[JellybeanJay]

What draws me to SK is his ability to create characters that I can fall in love with. One of my favorite novels is Under the Dome. The characters were wonderful and the storyline was captivating.

[~Ally~]

I love that no matter how many times I have read "IT" this is still the only book that has ever scared me. So much that when reading I can't sleep with the book in the same room as me. (I still don't keep it in my room, it has a special place in the bottom of a cupboard in the kitchen...far away from me.)

I once even read IT during my breaks at work, in the daytime, and I was too scared to use the bathroom! That was probably the third time I'd read it so to still have that effect on me proves he is an awesome writer. The majority of his characters/stories feel real, no matter how far fetched at times.
I can dig him!:cool2:

[Patricia A]

I love his work because he loves his work. :love:

[Pucker]

He almost never puts the empty milk carton back in the refrigerator.

[JohnDalglish]

Kathy Bates was perfect for Misery.

Hi,

And for Dolores Claiborne as well IMO.

And What Everyone's Said.

Long days and pleasant nights

[aspergillus]

His writing always makes me want to turn the next page. Always.

[MadamMack]

Because he can scare the crap outta me and make me feel a deep compassion as well. And he can also piss me off!

[bobledrew]

I think of SK and the work as sort of a 20th/21st century Charles Dickens. Why?


Interest in the eerie and supernatural, check!
Great ability to draw characters that are broad, flawed, sometimes grotesque, sometimes caricatures, and always fully human. Check!
Absolute master of setting a place in your mind. The towns of Castle Rock, Salem's Lot, Derry, etc. are etched in my mind. He's a master at the creation of place in fiction. Check!
The interest in pushing form and genres -- Riding the Bullet, The Plant, Green Mile, Dollar Babies, Storm of the Century, Kingdom Hospital, Danse Macabre, etc -- a restless intellect that wants to keep pushing even if it results in less than a masterpiece. CHECK!
An abiding moral sense that informs all of the work, and strong feelings about poverty and the weakest among us. Check!

That's a start, at least.

[Seneca_V]

He's an AMAZING storyteller for one! I've been reading and/or listening to his stories for almost 19 years! :eek2: I also find the story of how he came to be a writer very inspiring, especially since I like to write myself. And certainly for providing this web site where I have met more like minded people, and made more friends than I ever figured I would! Oh, I also love how he recommends other authors to read so I have something to do while I wait him to write a new one! :D I could probably write a whole essay, but I'll keep it short, lol! :)

[Haunted]

For me it's this:

"Johnny sometimes called her--with a mixture of irritation and amusement--the world's smallest Marine D.I. She had ordered and cajoled and demanded him back from a bed-fast patient who could barely hold a glass of water to a man who could walk without a cane, do three chinups at a time, and do a complete turn around in the hospital pool in fifty-three seconds--not Olympic time, but not bad. She was unmarried and lived in a big house on Center Street in Oldtown with her four cats. She was slate-hard and she wouldn't take no for an answer."

In these few words, Mr. King has completely described a character, one of many, in The Dead Zone. Getting to know the characters of Mr. King's books is the best part of the journey on the way to the end.

[ChickenStu]

I want to live in Castle Rock!

Erm... you're on you own with that one Tery! ;-)

I'd hate to live in a place where all that weird sh** goes down...

[GLewman]

I love SK because he has/had Corgis...AND...there is something intriguing about that large upper lip :)

[staropeace]

He is the best writer of all time and he makes gloop....I would be a fool not to love a man like that.

[LindainLondon]

Stephen's stories succeed in suspending my disbelief, I love that.

[smooth operator]

He took my hand and said "Come with me, I have something to show you." He kept me company through some of the darkest times of my life. He told me stories about everyday people in extraordinary circumstances - and he made me care about these people because he let me know them.He offers me an avenue of escape when I need it the most. And one day almost a year ago, he really looked at me, he joked with me, and he offered me his hand (during flu season, no less!) I will forever be a Constant Reader.

[Matticus]

I love Stephen King mostly because he is a family man. We need more of those these days.

[FlakeNoir]

Well, I could get into a power o' shite if I answer this one...
(Towers could fall, beams could fail) so lets just say that:
Just because I don't feel THAT way about you doesn't mean that I don't feel this way about you...


"When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh now now stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah

Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me, oh now now stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

Darlin', darlin', stand by me-e, stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me"

Stephen, I know that you don't know me and that is perfectly kewl... but regardless of that, I feel a kind of kinship with you because of each and every step I've ever taken with you via your stories. Thanks, man - for being a wonderful non-friend. :smile2:

Jesus crikey, a full moon must be on its way. :oo:
M.O.O.N that spells - Flake yer fricken sap! :biggrin2: :blush:

[SusanNorton]

I love him because not only is he the greatest writer of his generation (and if you don't agree with that, you must agree that he is in the top three), but he is one of us. He listens to our music, eats our crappy food, and watches (and loves) our television programs. He's not so hung up on being timeless that he's afraid to name names. He laughs at us, and laughs at himself. He's honest, he's funny, he's human.

[blunthead]

For starters, I like his attitude toward the story--he doesn't take credit for its creation, and he has ultimate respect for its true nature, whatever it turns out to be. He likens the process to an archeologist unearthing a new find.

Also, I think he's not linear, but multi-dimensional. I've yet to get actually bored reading him. I love never getting to anticipate what will happen next.

Also, his characters are believable (no mean feat in terms of horror/fantasy/scifi [or whatever his classification is], btw), sympathetic, and necessary.

Also, there are times, many of them, he's simply hilarious.

Mostly, I love sK because he gets my attention. I'm not only interested in what I'm reading, I'm fascinated. I appreciate art, and sK's an artist. He's graphic but not gratuitous. He exposes evil but is not himself effected by it; so, I know it's okay. I think maybe the single value sK offers me is that he's not afraid of what he's discovering, but is fascinated with it himself, like me. Reading him feels like listening to a friend, one I can trust, but who intends to fascinate, entertain, and scare me, and make me listen.

[GLewman]

Also, there are times, many of them, he's simply hilarious.

I laughed and laughed when the Beaver explained the difference between a "f***karee" and a "f***karow" ...I use those words all the time now, when situations are going good or bad...most notably the threads in hot topics :D

[Jojo87]

When I open his short story book 4 years ago ( O gosh 4 years ago, these years went quickly :biggrin2:) and start to read, I thought, now I have a found a author I love. Because I love horror movies and was always wonder if I ever gonna find any horror book. But after I've read King's book I knew he was the right author. And he's books and characters are just awesome.

[ChickenStu]

I like his attitude toward the story--he doesn't take credit for its creation.

Indeed, that is something I picked up from him. Just by reading his comments on the problems he had with Kubrick's movie of The Shining. He said that he thought his story was about one thing and Kubrick thought it was about something else. Nowadays, he just waves the whole think off as "Kubrick saw it differently than I did". That's a pretty pragmatic attitude to an adaptation of something he's written himself. Not ONCE did he say that Kubrick was WRONG. Not once. And let's face it... he had every right too if he felt that way.

[SCano]

I love Mr. King because I'm my own worst critic, so no matter how good my writing is his will always be better. In short, I will never have to worry about someone else being a greater story-teller than me. One already exists :)

[E.Freemantle]

This is an interesting question. First of all, I truly believe that there is some pure darkness in everyone. Unfortunately, some more than others. I believe that throughout his opus, he has been able to covey this message in an elegant, erudite, and- also straightforward way. The prose reads like pure thought, -fast,conversational and pulls you in... immediately. He has an uncanny ability of metacognition, whereby he enables for us to tap into our darkest fears, desires, and empathetic sympathies. This is rare ,some Constant Reader is some character in every story. A "walk in " if you like. He is a true Artist, cannot stop writing-and yet has an ability to take me away from my worries, by comparison ,i.e.-"I may be late on my rent" -but at least- Mr. Grey is not spreading Ripley mold on me. I grew up on railroad tracks in Brooklyn New York and "played " around. Thus REMEMBERED "Stand BY Me" and "IT", as if he was writing about myself and my friends . Wonderful long -distance time bonding. Plus he is personable, philanthropic, playful, and POWERFUL. Maybe beyond his own comprehension.There is a great catharsis in reading and finishing his works. I sense that evil never is eradicated in his writing ; only changing from one form to another - preying on the meek, and the dubious greedy- equally. Most of all he presents"what would I do in this situation or scenario?" I find myself rooting for the horrific powers, and crying for the victims. He has kept a kind of spiritual compass that has helped me through some very hard times. I am very glad that I found his books, they make my life more preternatural and aware . He makes me question what is "the right" thing to do in a given situation- to STAND- and battle evil. Thanks Stephen for making my literary life richer and able to identify with your characters-both good and evil, E. Freemantle. Keep Cranking Out. They are living things of the mind. P. S. I love the beautifully constructed ,hyphenated sentences you create. BRILLIANCE

[Silhouette86]

I always get amazed at how different the characters are in his novels, how scary the situations are in his stories; and I also love his writing because it isn't staggeringly verbose. The main thing that catches my attention about his writing is that sometimes the good guys don't win.

[xville]

He's not afraid to start up the story, and peel out.

[ayane]

because he's such a great storyteller that he's actually the only author where i read even the introduction before i read the story itself...

his introductions alone are so rich... i can imagine a professor telling me what he felt about the story, why he liked the story, what led him to write it, blah blah yakkity yak.

if in his introductions alone, i am already captivated... just imagine how i greatly love the stories he writes. :blush:

[Damaris]

There are many wonderful answers on here already, so I won't mind if mine gets ignored ... it's rather redundant anyway. And now, my dissertation on Why I Love Stephen King...

I do for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that he is a good, kind man. If I knew nothing else about him, I would love his charity. And of course I love his characters and stories ... I love their integrity and the truths he uncovers with them. But more than that, I think he has a unique ability to remind me that life goes on and that I'm still alive. I get stuck in a rut, down in the dumps, and forget that I'm still breathing in and out, I still have the chance to change. Get busy living or get busy dying, he once wrote. His work tends to help bring out the best in me and, I would argue, the best of pretty much everyone on the board, and many others elsewhere. He's like a friend, but not one caught up in paying bills and extra-curricular activities and whether or not to buy that car ... he's the kind of friend who sits patiently in the corner waiting for me to put away my baggage and come talk. Nothing is off-limits, nothing is taboo or pointless or dumb ... even when I am pointless and dumb. It may sound sad or pathetic but the truth is that he has been a better companion than most of the people in my life. Part of that is because I know I can trust him; he never laughed when I cried over something silly, never minded if I missed that joke, never felt jilted or wronged when I left him alone for years because I couldn't talk to anyone, not even him. He often calls himself our uncle, and that's exactly how it feels, like he's a part of the family (or at least part of the family we always wanted), a confidant, an unshakeable ally, the guy shouting encouragement from my corner of the ring when I'm getting the crap knocked out me. How could I not love him?

[mohctep]

For me its his characters for sure. Reading the novel for the first time is like making lifelong friends. Reading them after that is like visiting old friends. The descriptions make the characters "alive" for me.
I totally concurr-and the people that I discuss these very enjoyable topics with I view as friends,as well!

[Lily Sawyer]

I love Stephen King because I love a good story. His use of the vernacular, his willingness to stray from mainstream topics, his character development, and his inclusion of the cultural Zeitgeist are a wonderfully-tempered "formula" that cuts across all socio-economic strata. No two "formulas" are alike and he imbues his works with a humanity that is vastly appealing.

[JohnDalglish]

I love Stephen King because I love a good story. His use of the vernacular, his willingness to stray from mainstream topics, his character development, and his inclusion of the cultural Zeitgeist are a wonderfully-tempered "formula" that cuts across all socio-economic strata. No two "formulas" are alike and he imbues his works with a humanity that is vastly appealing.

Hi,

Beautifully put, Lily!

AWLS! (And What Lily Said).

Long days and pleasant nights

[towerchilde78]

I love Stephen King because his works invoke true emotion within myself. Whether it be sadness, yearning for more, or even fear, it's true emotion. Stepping into one of Mr. Kings worlds is like living another life. One where the monsters are real, magic is abundant, and absolutely anything is possible.

[Demeter]

.....because there's no other storyteller who makes me feel the way he does.

[vickita]

"Here is yes...Here is you may. Here is the good turn, the fortunate meeting, the fever that broke just before dawn and left your blood calm. Here is the wish that came true and the understanding eye. Here is the kindness you were given and thus learned to pass on. Here is the sanity and clarity you thought were lost. Here, everything is all right."
That passage from Wolves of the Calla sums it up so well.
I am Constant Reader. You are Constant Reader. WE are Constant Reader.

[Cthulhu]

Because he is awesome.

[tempest]

He taps the imagination--takes readers on an adventure--makes me love to read.

[Trang]

Stephen king is a very strong writer and really develops his characters in the books =)

[Dana Jean]

I love Stephen King because we share a fascination for the "unquiet coffin", he has a wonderful sense of humor and I understand his jokes, I get his pop culture references to things from "way back when", he's smart and he has a nice smile and seems like a kind man. And through him, I have met some people who are very dear to me and I will never forget them as long as I live.

[Roland Deschaine]

He is responsible for my love of the written word. His descriptive powers make you feel like your inside the book. His characters are so deep you actually care about them.

[LadyCatMD]

Because I love and appreciate people of amazing gift or talent, in any field really. Watching an incredible athlete at his peak performance can be as inspiring as reading an incredible writer's world web weavings - no matter which, or what's in between, it's all awe inspiring, and leaves me completely enrapt.

[DwayneHoover]

He mixes sci fi with the real people. Brings two the movie's 2010, and starwars to on golden pond, or the longest yard. Oh, and I love his dimples!

[Moderator]

Steve has dimples?! :oo: Seriously? I've never noticed.

[LadyCatMD]

LOL
Maybe you weren't looking at the right end?

[Moderator]

Oh, lordy, Lady, not even here a month and you're going to have everybody back on the commando question again! :biggrin2: There are some things a personal assistant should never, ever know about their boss and that's one of them! :blush::biggrin2:

[SusanNorton]

LadyCatMD - Hi, my name is Susan. I think we're destined to be great friends!

[Becks19]

Susan, It's good to see you back.

[Ela]

Art is weird because it is never only about the creation but both, the creator and his art.
That is the case with Stephen King. It is not only his books it is the person behind the books.
His eyes, the posture, the deepness of the mind.

I have known of stephen king for a long time, but only read one of his books so far (heart's in atlantis) ( not much of a reader..)and watched movies ( which now I know can never be as good as a book itself).
What fascinated me with the man first, was the statement of the back of the Insomnia = "We never sleep" and that he does not go into his wine cellar in the basement because he is scared, And from that moment I felt sorry for the man.. ( I know it might be just a publisher's catch to make people read the book but never the less)
Anyway, from that moment I said "We always dream we never sleep our imagination goes deep deep a s the .."and so forth.
As much as people might like reading horror it is not easy to live with it ( I think)
I wouldn't say I love Stephen King, I care and I wouldn't stay here on the forum if it wasn't for his fans as he is absent. You are kind of an interesting bunch of people.:love:

[DwayneHoover]

Steve has dimples?! :oo: Seriously? I've never noticed.

I was kidding. Thought I was being too serious. So I peppered in some bad humor.

[Moderator]

I was kidding. Thought I was being too serious. So I peppered in some bad humor.

No harm, no foul. :smile2:

[bhill]

Just a few words sum it ALL up: Wordslinger,Horror Master, and Unprecedented Literary Genius!!!!!!:biggrin2:

[mrblonde]

I discovered Stephen King when I was 14 years old. I was on a vacation with my mother on Cape Cod. We were there about 2 weeks earlier than usual and none of the season friends I made were there. I was unhappy and had nothing to do as my mother parked her butt on the beach and read books from 8 am till dinner time.
I would swim and walk, but that was a lot of time to soak up.
One day I was annoying her and she told me to go read a book. I looked at what she had brought and saw a dozen true crime books with titles like "The green river killer" and "in his garden." Then there was one called "The Stand." it was the ONLY one without a picture of a murder scene or mug shot on the cover. It was the HUGE extended version that had just come out in hardcover.
So I started reading. Up until then the most I read was the TV Guide and Wrestling Magazines. Two weeks later I finished it. On the 3 hour car trip home I started it again. a week later I finished it again.
the next year I brought my paperback copy to Cape Cod and read half of it (My friends were around) and the other half when I got home.
It became a tradition. Fran and Stu and Tom became my other Cape Cod friends.
I tried other King books (Cujo, Carrie, The Dark Half) but they never took.
Eventually I stopped brining The Stand to the cape and I kind of forgot about it until last year.
I got a new job as a regional manager and my territory spans ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ and eastern Canada. All by car. For the first few week the driving was killing me. A friend suggested audio books.
No naturally the first one I thought of was my old friend "The Stand."
I obtained a copy of the books for the blind version and I was off. The first road trip was from Boston to Buffalo and back. It was a delight hearing my old favorite.
Next I bought Under The Dome and that was all she wrote.
Over the past year I have listened to Stand, the (1978),It (1986),Tommyknockers, the (1988),Dark Half, the (1989),Needful Things (1991),Desperation (1996),Bag of Bones (1998),Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, the (1999),Dreamcatcher (2001),Colorado Kid, the (2005),Cell (2006),Duma Key (2008),Under the Dome (2009),UR (2009),Four Past Midnight (1990),Nightmares & Dreamscapes (1993),Just After Sunset (2008),Full Dark No Stars(2010) OK IT, The Stand & Under The Dome Twice each :)
I love this man's work and look forward to his world when I have to be away from mine.

[downarabbithole]

Why do i love Stephen King? Because he loved an idea enough to grab a pen and write it down, then type it, get it rejected and rejected and rejected and to one day have a book, then another... and another.
I love Stephen King because me and his novels found each other at the hardest part in my life, severe depression and eating disorders. I had a friend in school who had read a few novels and loved them, so i went to the library and got 'Gerald's Game' (my favorite) and begun to read, and while i had that book in my hands and my mind was off with Jesse by the lake, things in my world didnt seem so bad anymore. Instead of spending my evenings writing out goodbye letters, searching the house for blades and pills, and being generally ignored/neglected by my mother, i read. I read until i slept. And the next day, Id read more.
At school i'd zone out and think about methods of what i called 'opting out' but then instead i'd read. I gladly failed maths this way, and managed to get the whole class interested in "what Roland was doing".
But in the end, i still have depression. I'm still living in misery most days, but when things are unbearable, i have a wall of Kings books i hide in. And i have my tattoos as a kind of personal thank you, Even though i know we'll never meet, and he'll never see the scars on my body or my tattoos, Id like to just say Thank you for writing, for being there to distract me, and in the end, for saving me from me.

[ZBliss]

I consider him a personal hero, and everyone has someone they look up to, and when you do it seems like only you will ever understand why you believe them to be and always will be the coolest guy who ever did live.

[staropeace]

He makes fuggin good glop.....I love franco american spagettie and worship he taste for the finer things in life.:cool2: