Worst Stephen King novel

raychensmith · 07-20-2012, 07:04 PM

I believe Stephen King is the most talented commercial writer working today, and his best novels, like his recent 11/22/63, are so beyond the abilities of most novelists, it's not even funny. His way with prose, character development, and most especially dialogue is just stellar. Even minor characters (for example, Lee Harvey Oswald's mom in 11/22/63) are fleshed out to an extent that rivals other writers' MAJOR characters.

Having said this, some of his stories are pretty bad. Long and meandering and anticlimactic. I nominate Under the Dome as probably his worst book; at least, his worst recent book. This novel is like 1000+ pages long and has the most ridiculous protagonist in it (this wimpy soldier guy [I forgot his name] who is somehow entrusted by the US government to help out but is promptly arrested and stays in jail for like half the story). Worse is the ending. It's like Stephen King said to himself, Hey, my novel's starting to get too long, and he just threw his arbitrary tragedy into it that abruptly ends everything. I can't really explain it more without spoiling it (though this turd of a story can't really be spoiled), but it just truly sucked.

carld · 07-20-2012, 07:12 PM

For me it was Lisey's Story. I really tried to read it, but the lead character was SO repetitive. Yeah, we get it, your husband was a great guy, and it really sucked that he was shot and killed, but do we really need to hear about it over and over and over again for page after page?

It's the first King book I couldn't finish.

Also King's endings are notoriously weak. I think he builds up a great tense story and then has no idea how he's going to wrap it up.

Timoleon · 07-20-2012, 07:43 PM

I gave up on The Stand after 400 pages...

JSWolf · 07-20-2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timoleon

I gave up on The Stand after 400 pages...

How could you give up on such a good book?

cearbhallain · 07-21-2012, 12:04 AM

Needful Things. That is the point at which it became irrefutably obvious to me that he was a hack. I hadn't liked It, which I read when it was new. After realizing that he could (and would) publish anything I looked back at it and admitted that it was not a good book.

Dr. Drib · 07-21-2012, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How could you give up on such a good book?

...he gave up on it because he didn't like it. (An opinion.)

You didn't give up on it because you liked it. (An opinion.)

NEXT!!!

Don

Dr. Drib · 07-21-2012, 08:39 AM

For me, it was "The Tommyknockers."

A flushing toilet has more action.

Don

Ninjalawyer · 07-21-2012, 09:21 AM

I think that the later Dark Tower books could, collectively, be called King's worst book. King doesn't plot out his books in advance (in fact, he's said anyone who does this isn't a real author), and the flaw of this becomes readily apparent when you're trying to write an epic that spans thousands of pages.

I knew I should have stopped reading that series when Stephen King introduced Stephen King as a major character, but I had committed too much time already to not see how it ended. Even worse than that though was the big reveal that:

Spoiler:

mellina 52 · 07-21-2012, 09:44 AM

I agree Ninjalawyer. I was very upset about the 7th Dark Tower (Gunslinger) book. But I finished it just to see what happened.

applesauce · 07-21-2012, 10:21 AM

I also find it strange to hear The Stand come up. I know everybody is different but I would love to know if they like any of his other books, if so which ones. I really loved Pet Cemetery but I was about 18 when I read it. I know lots do no like that one . I just find it strange the book more people would say is the best makes the worst list.

applesauce

Timoleon · 07-21-2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How could you give up on such a good book?

It just refused to engage my interest --- I'd put it down, then pick it up a week later, put it down again...

I was really surprised, because I had read and enjoyed "Carrie", "Salem's Lot", "The Shining", and "Night Shift" before I tackled "The Stand." I guess I'm just not a walking man kind of guy.

AndrewH · 07-21-2012, 01:03 PM

I've only read about a dozen of King's books. Some I really liked (Pet Cemetary, Salem's Lot, The Dark Half...), some not so much. I hated Thinner, I don't think I even finished it. I really hated The Stand, but I've heard it said many times it's an incredible book so I forced myself to keep reading hoping it would get better... it didn't.

Gronk · 07-21-2012, 01:12 PM

I'm 260 pages into The Stand right now and I'm looking hard for a reason to continue it.

Quexos · 07-21-2012, 01:24 PM

I enjoyed IT so far the most from King. But I have not read his recent books yet. So much to read out there, so little time.

tecweston · 07-21-2012, 04:41 PM

Worst I've read is probably Song of Susannah or Dreamcatcher. But only Song of Susannah was bad enough for me to give up halfway though, so that gets my vote.

I liked Under the Dome. And The Stand, although both had dumb, deus ex machina endings.

07-20-2012, 07:04 PM	#1
raychensmith Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kindle	Worst Stephen King novel I believe Stephen King is the most talented commercial writer working today, and his best novels, like his recent 11/22/63, are so beyond the abilities of most novelists, it's not even funny. His way with prose, character development, and most especially dialogue is just stellar. Even minor characters (for example, Lee Harvey Oswald's mom in 11/22/63) are fleshed out to an extent that rivals other writers' MAJOR characters. Having said this, some of his stories are pretty bad. Long and meandering and anticlimactic. I nominate Under the Dome as probably his worst book; at least, his worst recent book. This novel is like 1000+ pages long and has the most ridiculous protagonist in it (this wimpy soldier guy [I forgot his name] who is somehow entrusted by the US government to help out but is promptly arrested and stays in jail for like half the story). Worse is the ending. It's like Stephen King said to himself, Hey, my novel's starting to get too long, and he just threw his arbitrary tragedy into it that abruptly ends everything. I can't really explain it more without spoiling it (though this turd of a story can't really be spoiled), but it just truly sucked. __________________ Last edited by raychensmith; 07-31-2012 at 08:29 PM. Reason: add signature

07-20-2012, 07:12 PM	#2
carld Wizard Posts: 2,649 Karma: 3273499 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, Droid Razr Maxx HD	For me it was Lisey's Story. I really tried to read it, but the lead character was SO repetitive. Yeah, we get it, your husband was a great guy, and it really sucked that he was shot and killed, but do we really need to hear about it over and over and over again for page after page? It's the first King book I couldn't finish. Also King's endings are notoriously weak. I think he builds up a great tense story and then has no idea how he's going to wrap it up. Last edited by carld; 07-20-2012 at 08:22 PM.

07-20-2012, 07:43 PM	#3
Timoleon Time Enough at Last Posts: 370 Karma: 551316 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New England Device: Kindle 3, Sony PRS-350, HP TouchPad, Kindle Fire, Windows Phone	I gave up on The Stand after 400 pages... __________________ Quae Sursum Volo Videre

07-21-2012, 08:39 AM	#7
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 21,564 Karma: 6945377 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Borja (Lima), Peru Device: Pcktbk 360; Kindle Paperwhite (WiFi)/ Fire HD; nook STR & Col; KoboGlo	For me, it was "The Tommyknockers." A flushing toilet has more action. Don __________________ “How to Write the First 3 Paragraphs of YOUR Indie Novel” - by Max Waxwelp 1) Always write 3 sentences of exposition; 2) now create some dialogue, preferably no more than 2 sentences; and 3) make certain the dialogue is either inane or humorous. Example: “Bob, I did not know you wore yellow suspenders,” Sally remarked. “Gee, Sally, those are not suspenders. I am wearing yellow underwear today,” Bob revealed. The dialogue above will help produce at least 100 more pages of dialogue.

07-21-2012, 09:21 AM	#8
Ninjalawyer Guru Posts: 621 Karma: 15284098 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Blackberry Playbook	I think that the later Dark Tower books could, collectively, be called King's worst book. King doesn't plot out his books in advance (in fact, he's said anyone who does this isn't a real author), and the flaw of this becomes readily apparent when you're trying to write an epic that spans thousands of pages. I knew I should have stopped reading that series when Stephen King introduced Stephen King as a major character, but I had committed too much time already to not see how it ended. Even worse than that though was the big reveal that: Spoiler: the character of Stephen King was a god.

07-21-2012, 12:04 AM	#5
cearbhallain Groupie Posts: 182 Karma: 53258 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fort Vancouver Device: nook	Needful Things. That is the point at which it became irrefutably obvious to me that he was a hack. I hadn't liked It, which I read when it was new. After realizing that he could (and would) publish anything I looked back at it and admitted that it was not a good book.

07-21-2012, 09:44 AM	#9
mellina 52 Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 201 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southeast Virginia Device: Sony PRS-505. IPAD	I agree Ninjalawyer. I was very upset about the 7th Dark Tower (Gunslinger) book. But I finished it just to see what happened.

07-21-2012, 10:21 AM	#10
applesauce Addict Posts: 229 Karma: 1266916 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle paperwhite	I also find it strange to hear The Stand come up. I know everybody is different but I would love to know if they like any of his other books, if so which ones. I really loved Pet Cemetery but I was about 18 when I read it. I know lots do no like that one . I just find it strange the book more people would say is the best makes the worst list. applesauce

07-21-2012, 01:03 PM	#12
AndrewH Fanatic Posts: 518 Karma: 1016456 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver, WA Device: Sony PRS-T1	I've only read about a dozen of King's books. Some I really liked (Pet Cemetary, Salem's Lot, The Dark Half...), some not so much. I hated Thinner, I don't think I even finished it. I really hated The Stand, but I've heard it said many times it's an incredible book so I forced myself to keep reading hoping it would get better... it didn't. __________________ __________________ Dropbox

07-21-2012, 01:12 PM	#13
Gronk Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 500356 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Sony PRS 950, 350	I'm 260 pages into The Stand right now and I'm looking hard for a reason to continue it. __________________ Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. Francis Bacon

07-21-2012, 01:24 PM	#14
Quexos Freethinker Posts: 1,444 Karma: 7012494 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: European Union Device: Glo, Aura HD 2.5.1	I enjoyed IT so far the most from King. But I have not read his recent books yet. So much to read out there, so little time. __________________ . "All in all you're just A-nother brick in the wall" (Pink Floyd)

07-21-2012, 04:41 PM	#15
tecweston Comic book artist Posts: 530 Karma: 1079133 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Device: Nook STR, iPad, iPod touch	Worst I've read is probably Song of Susannah or Dreamcatcher. But only Song of Susannah was bad enough for me to give up halfway though, so that gets my vote. I liked Under the Dome. And The Stand, although both had dumb, deus ex machina endings.

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