Just a few questions.

[Aarny]

Could someone explain briefly what the plot is to this novel? I can't find a quick summary anywhere that doesn't spoil things.

Also, this is said to be the "Last Castle Rock Story" but Lisey's Story is set in Castle Rock, too? I'm curious about this that's all.

Thanks in advance.

[Moderator]

We have a plot synopsis for most of the novels in the Library section of the main portion of the site. Click here for the one for Needful Things.

[Tooley]

It says the last Castle Rock story, but perhaps Mr. King decided to write another one in Castle Rock... for the hell of it?

[karenml]

i've only read the first 4 books of "the dark tower","Skeleton Crew" and "dark half", but I'm a fan and I just read "Needful Things"..I have a few questions about Alan Pangborn, he reminds me of Roland's character, maybe that's why I like ... is roland ancestor?, ever really tell us how his wife died? appears in other stories? I am new to this to leave messages, I hope to answer my question

[JohnDalglish]

i've only read the first 4 books of "the dark tower","Skeleton Crew" and "dark half", but I'm a fan and I just read "Needful Things"..I have a few questions about Alan Pangborn, he reminds me of Roland's character, maybe that's why I like ... is roland ancestor?, ever really tell us how his wife died? appears in other stories? I am new to this to leave messages, I hope to answer my question

Hi,

Maybe si, maybe no.

But he's certainly a coppiceman and a gunslinger.

Enjoy the rest of DT!

Long days and pleasant nights

[Bryan James]

It was happy enough...the small, podunk town, with regularly whitewashed picket fences and front doors that were always unlocked.

A charming gentleman moved in and made a hard bargain, a few Old Scratches at a time.

A very hard bargain, indeed.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I've always thought that this was the inspiration for Needful Things.

Faustus

Long days and pleasant nights

[Lily Sawyer]

Hi,

I've always thought that this was the inspiration for Needful Things.

Faustus

Long days and pleasant nights

Indeed, I thought the same. Needful Things remains in my Top 5 most-loved King books.
-From the perspective of someone who used to sell unbelievably expensive clothing for a living, I can tell you I've seen that same expression Leland Gaunt saw come over the faces of customers who just HAD to have the $1000 Australian felt jacket - and who I knew didn't REALLY need it.
I often felt I was bartering my soul to the Devil for selling something that went for what I write on my rent check every month. (I was on commission, and also under extreme pressure from the store to make sales plans every month and quarter.)

I got out of retail when I'd had enough of integrity compromise. I'm sure I'll be having a day of reckoning about this with Someone On High at some point, but at least I extricated myself from the sewer before everything went out to sea.