The Cannibals?

[desimd01]

An unfinished story about tenants who are trapped inside their large apartment complex. What's more, the outside world begins to transform before their eyes into some unstable, hallucinogenic nightmare. The irony is that usually bad trips make people want to quit doing drugs. In this case, the real world is the bad trip, and the main characters resort to drugs to escape it. That's as far as the story gets before it stops cold. I wish there was more. I'd love to find out how it all ends up.

Anyway, I've got two questions:

1) How do you think Stephen King came up with the title? And 2) If he, by some miracle, decided to finish The Cannibals, how would you like to see the rest of the story play out?

I can only guess that the title was inspired by Dawn of the Dead, which I think was still very hot at the time The Cannibals excerpts were written (1982<>). It was also during this time that Stephen King was working with, or had just finished working with, George Romero on Creepshow. The connection between the cult horror classic and S. King's working proximity with the film's director is too convincing to be coincidence in my mind.

Personally, I'd love for the story play out as literally as the title suggests. Maybe the yellowy atmosphere leaks into the building and its toxic effects cause everybody trapped inside to slowly turn against one other. At first, controlled agitation and impatience turns into impulse - sometimes verbally, and sometimes physically. Then impulsiveness deteriorates into something more base, like a craving for each others' flesh - first sexually, and then finally crumbling to its lowest, most monstrous form: a craving for protein. Human protein. Beautiful.

What do you think?

[kingricefan]

I think King has said that the title gave away the ending on this one. You just knew where it was gonna end up by the title.

[Dishsoaps]

Where would one find The Cannibals?? Sounds interesting!!

[Moderator]

You can download the first couple of chapters here.

[GNTLGNT]

It would have hilarious in my warped opinion if he had written it as Stephen DONNER King...yeah, I'm a sicko-don't rub it in...

[Dishsoaps]

Hmm is this Under the Dome with a different name? I haven't read either yet but was just curious

[kingricefan]

Hmm is this Under the Dome with a different name? I haven't read either yet but was just curious

Yes, this was the basis for Under The Dome. King tried to write the story years ago (back in the late 70's or early '80's) and couldn't get it to work.

[huf2much]

I WANT MORE CANNIBALS STEPHEN!!!
Please release more of it.
With the scribbles and edits would be great, it's fun to see a master in the process of creating a masterpiece. even if it is an incomplete work.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, I'll be your bestest friend eva!

[muskrat]

Loved Under The Dome, but this Cannibals thing sounds ever so much juicier...like the old stuff.

[fromTull]

Why, yes, Mr. King I would like to finish THE CANNIBALS! Thanks so much for offering! Or should it be THE PLANT = fooled me once + THE CANNIBALS = shame on you! But I'll take what I can get, incomplete or not.