Well said!

I agree King's 'old' books were great. (The Shining!) But then he went off the edge with stupid scenarios like 'Tommyknockers'... that ended my love affair with King's novels. It seemed he tried to spins crap out as fast as he could, without a lot of depth or even concern with his product. For me, it has to be a little believable, or it isn't fun. And certainly not scary! Hope his new book is the old King.

I agree! When I read his books I can see what he is writing in my head. Only a few authors that I have read (and I read a lot I have over 500 books in my house) have that ability. Can't wait to get this one.

i thot it was just me!!! maybe we've "matured" and the things Mr. King writes about no longer scares us? still and all, i will take nothing from him. when i loved him, I did.

I agree. King's work is excellance. I get what he is saying in his books because I've read them all and I plan on reading this one as well. I don't understand what people mean, "the old King?" His works have always been a stretch of the imagination. I think he is one of the best fiction writers of our time and deserves to be recognized for this.

You are crazy. If an author censored himself, what kind of author would he be? I have no respect for anyone who is afraid of words. If you don't like mature novels, then don't read them. But going online saying he has stooped to a new low is blasphemy. He has been graphic since the 70's.

King took a lot of time off writing because he was in a near fatal accident. At the time he said he might never write again, so I'm really glad to see he's done another book, and one that is predicted to be so good. I've missed reading his "new" books.

I agree! And, if you ever got the chance to meet him--you will find that he is a very nice guy and quite down-to-earth. He is the best and I will continue to buy his books. I have quite a collection.

Mature writing does not mean cram as many four letter words into a book as possible. You can have complex and interesting writing without swearing. It is the sign of a small mind that always has to resort to foul language to express a point. And it's not censoring yourself as a writer, it's finding a better way to tell your story.

You would think AOL would care enough to install spam filters. Guess not.

wrong wrong wrong, birdge.
it's dialogue; it doesn't reflect on King's personality or his skills as a writer, it reflects on the character speaking.
I was in my hospital's pediatrics waiting room and a father decided it was okay to drop the F-bomb repeatedly in front of his daughter. if I were to write about the event, would I be considered an immature author because the character used the F-bomb in the course of the story? no.
people are vulgar, and King's writing reflects that as he realistically depicts his characters. if a character doesn't speak with proper grammar, it doesn't mean the writer is poor, it just means the writer is aware of how people speak.
if you're going to criticize an author's writing, don't criticize his characters or their actions unless the depiction is just plain off.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but King writes fiction right? He is not giving testimony, he is making up what the characters say. I understand if a character's personality warrants course language, but I also think there are ways to portray that without peppering dialogue with swears. From what I remember, King can create extremely elaborate descriptions. So I think he can convey a rough-around-the-edges character without making every other word a curse.

I agree with you, Bob. From what I've heard, the writers do okay when they are first published, but then they get tied to a contract which results in nothing but the author cranking out novels as fast as the contract says.
Writing is a mood thing. It's difficult to get into the writing mood when you have a deadline hanging over your head.

I agree completely, Stephen King is my absolute favorite, always has been! I love his style of writing, he has that way of making you see things exactly the way he wants you to. He doesn't just pound out stories as fast as he can, he waits til the stories come to him, a true writer!

How old is your grandaughter? Is she old enough to even read King?

Beth,
You're absolutely right. The Dark Tower is genius work along with his other stories which work the Tower within. It's good to know there are others who feel the same way.

Sharrie: With all due respect, real people don't say things like, "gosh-darnit! That unpleasant woman killed my baby!' King writes as he always has, with dialogue that rings true. If this type of language offends you, there are plenty of books out there with characters who never face anything that would bring a real, visceral, emotional outburst. Just like changing the channel on the T.V. you have done the right thing to seek out more pastoral reading material. Please don't condemn an excellent author just because all of his characters weren't raised in church.

iagree with Beth-i have loved stephen Kings writing for quite a few years now. I have read all of his books and have all in first editions, except for the first dark tower book. I am very much looking forward to his new book and have ordered it through the publisher-collecters edition of course. He is the greatest!
Pam

I jumped off the Kingtrain after "it".

King didn't stoop low, he was using dialogue that was real to the people he was writing about. If he censored his writing, it would not only not ring true it would be like putting a pair of shorts on Michaelangelo's David -you don't do that to art.