New user here...and an observation

[jordy verrill]

I'm glad I found this board. I wanted to throw out an observation and see if anyone else has any ideas about it. I am reading perhaps my 12th Stephen King novel now (the Talisman) and I've started to wonder why so many of his books have the thematic element of a person or group having to travel a long distance or walk a long distance to achieve their goal? Has anyone else noticed this, and has this ever been discussed by King? I tried to search the internet for a possible comment by him, but couldn't find anything. Look forward to hanging out here! Thanks!

[Lee Y]

Welcome Jordy to the forum. You make a good observation on some of SK's novels!

[Dani~]

Welcome! That's a great observation. My thought is that, every goal in life is achieved after a journey of some kind and Stephen King writes about life. The situations are unusual, surreal and sometimes horrifying but the human struggle is (somewhat) the same for his characters as it is for any of us trying to accomplish something to better our lives. There's always the journey... See you around!

[marew1]

Yes, I've noticed that, too. If he didn't use that thematic element, it would seem too easy to meet their goal. He is also being realistic such as in The Stand. With that much of the population wiped out there would be no mass transit to depend on, etc.

[BarryHutchison]

I think a part of it is that leaving your home/comfort zone is scary. Ordinary life is largely safe and predictable. Once characters are forced to leave their ordinary life behind and embark on a journey they are exposed to new dangers.

[Terry B]

Very good topic.

[Bryan James]

Certain words--even phrases--are (on-porpoise) used quite often. A theme overarching all, even the Master gets caught in his own traps over time...but considering the best laid plans and all that jazz, he probably intended it.

If you get stuck with characters? Send 'em on a trip and see how they make out!

BJS