New Episode of THE DARK FANTASTIC PODCAST now available

 In this special episode, Ahmed Khalifa pays tribute to Peter Straub, the acclaimed dark fantasy author of such novels as Ghost Story and Floating Dragon.

Khalifa also discusses the work and legacy of Stuart Woods, most famous for his Stone Barrington thrillers, who also passed away this year.

Book Review. From A Buick 8 by Stephen King. *** out of *****

(c) Gallery Books.

First published in 2002, From A Buick 8, is midrange Stephen King, which means his irresistible voice and mastery of style are there, drawing the reader and moving the story along. But it also means that, like other King midrange novels, think Firestarter, The Dark Half, and Gerald’s Game, the plot is thin, the characters not very memorable, and the ending problematic.

The story. members of Troop Dee, a Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Western Pennsylvania, come across an abandoned Buick that resembles a vintage blue 1953 Buick Roadmaster. Slowly, they start to realise that it isn’t a car at all, but something other.

The story is told as a series of recollections by different troopers, and their experiences range from the nerve-wracking to the horrific. The book is at its best during these episodes, which are like tightly-written vignettes of imaginative weird fiction. But when King focuses on the characters and their inner thoughts, the book stumbles, as none of the characters are very interesting, and the plot is nothing less than a concept stretched to its breaking point. This is most apparent during the book’s climax, an unimaginative and predictable sequence that is short on thrills and catharsis.

Light on plot but highly readable, From A Buick 8 is King-lite, and one of the first books where King started to show signs of leaning too heavily on sentimentality instead of on structure and genuine emotions. But King is King, and one usually knows what they are getting when they pick up one of his books, an entertaining page-turner, which From A Buick 8 surely is.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2022.

New Episode of The Dark Fantastic Podcast now available, featuring Author/Narrator Nick Sullivan

On this episode of THE DARK FANTASTIC PODCAST:

- Your host, Ahmed Khalifa, talks about movies that are better than books, including Psycho (1960) and

The Grapes of Wrath (1940).

- An exclusive interview with author and audiobook narrator Nick Sullivan, whose latest book DEEP DEVIL is out now.

- A wonderful reading of Keats's poem THE LIVING HAND, by Winston Tharp.

- Easter Egg: THE FACES, a chilling Halloween short story, dramatized, and featuring sound effects.

Listen here:

Listen to "PSYCHOS AND SILVER BULLETS: A Post-Halloween Special Episode. Guest: Writer Nick Sullivan" on Spreaker.

Book Review: NIGHT SHIFT. By Stephen King *** and a 1\2 out of *****

What to do with the dilemma that is Stephen King? A prolific author, an assured stylist, and a man whose prose is so readable it is almost hypnotic. But there's also that other Stephen King, the one who writes interminable books that go nowhere, who is so politically correct to the point of blandness, and who flirts with crassness with seeming glee. Yes, I am conflicted about Stephen King. I love a lot of his work, but I also, well, don't like a lot of it. That wasn't always the case. As a younger man, I used to be a die-hard fan, saving much needed money to buy as many books of his that I could find, salivating over any movie poster that featured his name, and defending him to high-brow poseurs who called him a hack.

I still defend his work to these philistines, though, at least his earlier books. You see, I've come to realize that there are three epochs in the career of the King. There's early King (1974-1978), books that were mostly written before, but published after, he found success. All of those are great (including The Long Walk, Carrie, Salem's Lot). There's post-success King (1979-1987), books that were written and published after his breakout success with the movie adaptation of Carrie (1976). These include the much overrated The Shining, the masterpiece that is The Stand, the haunting The Dead Zone, the middling Firestarter, the awful Christine, the terrific Pet Sematary, and the masterwork that is Misery. And, lastly, there is post-fame King, books published after he became a household name all over the world (1988-Present). This period is the most problematic of all. It includes good books (Duma Key, The Colorado Kid), ok books (Cell), and books that are just terrible (the bland Mr. Mercedes, and the almost unreadable The Institute).

Which brings me to good, old, Night Shift (1978), King's very first short story collection, and a true box of wonders. In Night Shift, King showcases all his strengths, weaknesses, styles, and obsessions. From the blood and thunder Gothic horror of the opener, "Jerusalem's Lot" (a prequel to the novel Salem's Lot), to the pulpy, overheated, but terrifically entertaining horror of "Graveyard Shift" (about giant rats and exploited workers) and "The Mangler" (a truly ridiculous story about a killer laundry machine), to the forgettable but atmospheric prequel to The Stand, "Night Surf".

There are also a handful of truly original and masterfully told tales of terror and suspense. Like the disturbing "I Am The Doorway", about a man who may or may not be possessed by an alien force that just wants to kill for pleasure; "Strawberry Spring", about a man who violently kills college students in a fogbound campus; the Hitchcock Presents homage that is "The Ledge"; and "One For The Road", a terrifying and somber sequel to Salem's Lot.

But the standout is "The Last Rung on The Ladder", a heart-wrenching tale of innocence, love, and loss, about the toll time takes on the bond between a brother and a sister, and the vows they made to each other as children only to abandon them as adults. This story is a wonderfully written piece of literature, and, arguably, was the first indication that King had the ability to write masterfully in any genre, and so is a precursor to such beloved classics like the novellas "The Body" and "Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption", both featured in the collection Different Seasons.

So, if you find yourself disappointed with King's uneven output in the past two decades, travel back in time and pick up a copy of Night Shift. It features a number of duds, but it also has some stories that will chill your bones and warm your heart, and remind you that there once was a king named King.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2021.

Ahmed Khalifa is a filmmaker and novelist. He is the writer/director of several short films and a feature, which was released on Netflix, and the author of a number of novels and short stories, including the YA horror novel, Beware The Stranger, available on Amazon. Find him on Twitter @AFKhalifa and on Facebook @Dark.Fantastic.AK·Writer

Video Version of this article:

Review: SALEM'S LOT (1995 BBC RADIO DRAMA) *** and 1\2 OUT OF *****

The BBC's attempt at dramatizing Stephen King's classic vampire novel Salem's Lot for radio, is a flawed but enjoyable affair. The actors playing Ben Mears and Mark Petrie are terribly miscast, delivering forgettable, monotonous performances, but the rest of the cast shines, especially Doug Bradley as the vampire master Barlow.

Writer Gregory Evans, who adapted the book for radio, pares the story down to its bare essentials, leaching it of almost all subtext, and so turning it into a simple horror story, but one that is compelling and occasionally thrilling, and which is marred only by uneven pacing. What makes the radio drama work, though, is its atmosphere, helped tremendously by the minimalist electronic score, and the clever intermingling of King's book with elements from Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Fans of King's work, the original novel, or the seminal 1979 TV adaptation, will surely find a lot to enjoy. Recommended.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2020.

Ahmed Khalifa is a filmmaker and novelist. He is the writer/director of the feature film Wingrave, released on Netflix, and the author of a number of novels and short stories, including the YA horror novel, Beware The Stranger, available on Amazon. Find him on Twitter @AFKhalifa and on Facebook @Dark.Fantastic.AK·Writer

Book Review: THE COLORADO KID By Stephen King. *** and a 1\2 out of *****

The Colorado Kid (2005) is a story about storytelling, and our continuous search for answers to questions that might never have answers. It is a short, entrancing novel, with Stephen King at his avuncular best, weaving a tale seductively told by two ageing journalists in a small town in Maine; a  tale that grows more intriguing with every chapter, while never actually giving us any definite answers to the central mystery. It's a bold choice for a populist writer like King, who usually specializes in masterfully written but wholly accessible novels, revolving around tired genre tropes raised anew by his unique and incomparable voice.

Here, King stretches his muscles a bit, writing a story about a story with no ending, and focusing on a few hours in the lives of two ageing characters who live to tell a good tale. It's a charming little book, and one which ends far too soon.

* The audiobook version, wonderfully narrated by veteran screen and TV actor Jeffrey DeMunn, is highly recommended.

** The book was adapted to TV as the Canadian-American TV series Haven (2010-2015), which bore almost no resemblance to the novel, but which was a charming supernatural mystery in its own right.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2020.

Video Version:

Movie Review: SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK (1991) *** out of *****

One of a number of Stephen King adaptations produced by movie mogul Dino De Laurentis, Sometimes They Come Back (1991) premiered on US television in 1991 to little fanfare. But, years later, it as become a minor cult favorite, and has spawned two direct-to-video sequels. It’s easy to see why.

Sometimes They Come Back is a very affecting film, with a notable and touching performance by Tim Matheson, as a school teacher running away from the ghosts of a childhood trauma involving a bunch of older bullies and the death of his older brother. Returning thirty years later to his hometown as a husband and father, he tries to settle in and focus on starting a new life. But soon, ghosts from his past invade his life, in the form of a bunch of bullies with a striking resemblance to the ones who killed his brother thirty years ago, and who start terrorizing him and his students.

What makes the film work are a number of things: Matheson’s invested and heartfelt performance, an engaging script that astutely captures Stephen King’s voice and serves as a greatest hits collection of his main motifs, and tight direction by genre veteran Tom McLoughlin (aided by stylish cinematography by Bryan England).

But what marrs the film to a degree are the horror elements, which are poorly handled, and come off as hokey and intrusive. Schlocky make-up effects also don’t help matters. As a psychological thriller with supernatural overtones, the film works pretty well. But when the film focuses on the gang of bullies and their otherwordly abilities, it falters, with the shift in tone jarring, to say the least.

Still, there’s much to like about Sometimes They Come Back, as this is a compelling, occasionally heartfelt, and pretty atmospheric supernatural thriller, and, despite its faults, is sure to please Stephen King fans.

Trivia: The film was shot both for a theatrical release overseas and a TV premiere in the US on CBS. This explains the film’s top notch cinematography and the film’s careful compositions, which were framed for a 2.35: 1 theatrical aspect ratio.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2020.

Movie Review: DOCTOR SLEEP (2019) *** out of *****

Making a sequel to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) was always a dicey proposition. How do you make a sequel to a film considered by many to be one of the best horror films of all-time, and directed by one of the most analyzed and revered filmmakers ever? It’s a daunting task, and one that is conceptually problematic as well. But in 2013, Stephen King, the author of the original novel on which The Shining was based, and the writer/producer of his own mini-series adaptation of the novel, released the long-awaited Doctor Sleep, a sequel focusing on the troubled life of Danny Torrance, the son of Jack, played by Jack Nicholson in the movie version.

But Doctor Sleep turned out to be one of King’s most underwhelming books and a huge disappointment to fans of the original novel, who expected something with more originality, atmosphere, and scares than what King ultimately delivered. In comes writer/director Mike Flangan, a talented but underachieving genre filmmaker whose credits include the bland Occulus (2013) and the terrific Gerald’s Game (2017), a muscular, haunting adaptation of one of King’s worst novels.

Many hoped that lightning would strike twice. Maybe Flanagan could do with Doctor Sleep what he managed to do so well with Gerlad’s Game? Alas, that didn't turn out to be the case. Doctor Sleep (2019), starring Ewan McGregor as the adult Danny Torrance, is a bloated, tremendously disappointing movie, more so because it contains some great visual ideas and some truly inspired deviations from the source material. But what brings the whole thing down are Flanagan’s approach and choices.

Over his career, Flanagan has shown a flair for atmosphere and visual storytelling. But he has also shown a lamentable penchant for a certain dour tone, an off-putting mix of sentimentality and aloofness, that rears its ugly head in almost everything he makes (Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House is a glaring case in point). In Doctor Sleep, this po-faced, elegiac tone makes the film a struggle to watch in one sitting, whether it is the theatrical version, or the 3 hour director’s cut released on home video. Dialogue scenes, never Flanagan’s strong point, go on forever and have a monotonous, repetitive quality, while the film’s pace is bumpy and distracting. Add to that that the villains, the weakest part of the novel, fare even worse here, with a terribly miscast Rebecca Ferguson delivering an annoying performance as Rose The Hat, a kind of succubus with a taste for children with psychic abilities. And then there’s the strange choice of focusing on the battle of wits between a child character called Abra and the villains, instead of on Danny Torrance’s struggle with his past and his inherited alcoholism, the strongest part of King’s book, which, in turn, gives Ewan McGregor very little of interest to play. Instead, he delivers a decent if forgettable performance that is so understated, it’s borderline mumblecore. Then there’s the climax, which tries to honor Kubrick’s original, King’s book, and Flanagan’s own vision of the story, with jarring results.

Still, Doctor Sleep has its merits, including a wonderful turn by the underrated Carl Lumbly as Dick Hallorann, filling in for the late Scatman Crothers. And although the movie is a misfire, it’s an interesting one, and is worth a watch for fans of King’s and Kubrick’s work.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2020.

Book Review: THINNER by Stephen King (as Richard Bachman) **** out of *****

The last book to be published under the Richard Bachman pseudonym before it was revealed that Bachman is actually Stephen King, Thinner is the closest in tone and subject matter to what is usually considered a “Stephen King” book than the rest of the Bachman books. It is the only Bachman book to feature a supernatural threat - the overweight protagonist Billy Halleck, after accidentally running down an old gypsy woman, is cursed by her father, and starts losing weight at an unnatural and fatal rate -  and it has more dark humor than any other Bachman novel. It is a brilliant, harrowing, often funny, and brutally dark tale of suspense.

Here King is at his most effective, with honey-smooth prose and impeccable storytelling. It is a testament to King’s ability as a writer that a book with a concept this unpleasant, can be such a pleasure to read. This is King at his absolute best, and it is arguably the second best Bachman book, right behind The Long Walk.

It is a great loss to the world of literature that Bachman was outed as Stephen King, as King seemed to be having a blast writing under an alias, with his writing darker and more energetic than in many of his works under his own name.

King later published two other books under the Richard Bachman alias (with the heading “Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman”), The Regulators and Blaze, but they didn’t really feel like vintage Bachman. So do yourself a favor and grab a copy of the out-of-print edition of The Bachman Books that includes Rage, and a copy of Thinner. You won’t regret it.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2020.

Watch the expanded video version: 

 

Book Review: The Bachman Books by Stephen King *** out of ****

As a huge Stephen King fan, I have to admit that, for me, early King is the best King. Books like Salem's Lot, The Stand, and Pet Sematary remain unparalleled in their ability to entertain, frighten, and transport. The Bachman Books, first published in hardcover in 1985, is an omnibus of the first four books King published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. The books themselves were written in the late 1960's and early 1970's, at a time when King was, in his own words, "infatuated with the art and craft of writing."

Why King published these four books (and Thinner, which is not included in this omnibus) under an alias is a matter of debate, and King himself has always answered the question with cagey evasiveness. The short answer seems to be that King wanted to know whether he really was a good writer, or if his success was just a fluke and his name nothing but a comforting brand. The four novels included in this volume (Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork, The Running Man) are somewhat uneven in quality, but King's unique and hypnotic voice is loud and clear, and the stories themselves are compelling and entertaining. But it is obvious why Bachman's tales never caught the public's fancy like the tales of uncle Stevie. Uncle Stevie's tales, with a few exceptions, like Pet Sematary, are dark but ultimately human and hopeful stories of good versus evil. Simply put, The Bachman Books are not.

Rage, the first one published under the Bachman name, and long out of print at King's request, is an addictive, immensely readable tale, but one which is also brutal, angry, and relentlessly nihilistic. Dealing with bullying, teenage sexuality, mental illness, parental abuse, and teen violence in schools, Rage is an almost overwhelming exercise in hopelessness and, well, rage, and the heavy-handed and immature writing doesn't help matters much. Its pitch-black ending, reminiscent of William Golding's The Lord of The Flies, is one of King's most pessimistic and grim. 

The Long Walk, the second novel published under the Bachman name, is, hands down, the best book in this collection, and an underrated masterpiece. Here King is at his most hypnotic and assured, taking a simple concept - in an alternate future where resources are scarce, male children between the age of 12 and 18 are encouraged to participate in The Long Walk, a contest in which one hundred boys embark on a never-ending walk, with the last one still alive getting whatever he desires for the rest of his life - and using it as an exercise in storytelling excellence. Although the dialogue is occasionally stilted, and the cast of teens sometimes act and talk a lot older than their age, this is a near-perfect novel; atmospheric, highly readable, and thought-provoking, with an ending that is nothing short of haunting.

Roadwork, considered by many, and at one time by King himself, to be the weakest Bachman book, is a touching, somber tale about a middle-aged man coming undone. Unable to deal with his young son's death, his failing marriage, and his house being torn down to make way for a new road, he starts down a path that ultimately leads to his destruction.

Roadwork is basically a psychological drama about one man's inability to let go, and the consequences of that failure. This is a loosely plotted tale, with enough incident and believable characters to make it enjoyable. But even though it remains compelling till the end, it's a predictable, straightforward story, and one which hasn't aged as well as other King books.

The Running Man, the fourth book to be published under the Bachman name, is arguably the worst of the Bachman Books. A superficial, slow-going tale of a dystopia where the poor are enlisted to participate in televised game shows that always end in death, The Running Man suffers from some of King's weakest, most heavy-handed writing, and an unlikable protagonist. Its saving grace is its brevity. It was very loosely adapted as a feature film in 1987, starring Arnold Schwarzeneger.

Taken together, The Bachman Books are a revealing look at Stephen King before he became a phenomenon. This is Stephen King at his rawest. It is also surprising how political these novels are, with every one of them dripping with working-class rage and bitterness, where every authority figure is a nasty villain, and every rich person is either corrupt or willfully unaware of the plight of the poor. King seemed to show more maturity and restraint as he grew older and more successful, but here, in this phase of his life, the rage, for better or worse, was palpable, and because of it, the writing was leaner, sparer.

Highly recommended for fans of King, or for readers who think King is nothing but a horror writer. Writing as Richard Bachman, King may not have sold as many books, but he sure as hell proved he could write anything he wanted, and write it well.

© Ahmed Khalifa. 2019.

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Book Review: THE OUTSIDER By Stephen King. *** and a 1/2 out of *****

What begins as an "impossible crime" thriller - a man accused of killing and raping a young boy was seemingly at two places at the same time, providing him with a perfect alibi, while furnishing the police with damning evidence - eventually turns out to be a supernatural thriller with a dash of Dark Tower mythology to round things off. And, truth be told, the transition between the genres ain't exactly smooth. With The Outsider, Stephen King attempts to write a modern take on Dracula, with some elements of the crime novel mixed in. He doesn't entirely succeed, but it's a good read nonetheless.

The first half of The Outsider features some of King's best writing in years, with tight plotting, believable characters, and short, ridiculously readable chapters. For a while there, one would be forgiven for thinking that this was going to be King's version of an Agatha Christie mystery. But, alas, that doesn't turn out to be the case.

The second half of the book is typical King, replete with all his strengths and weaknesses as a writer. You get the readable, unfussy prose, the likable characters, and King's endearing, addictive voice, which keeps you reading even when things aren't exactly moving along. But you also get the cute dialogue, the endless references to pop culture, the occasionally lazy plotting, and the hokey finale, all trademarks of a King book.

But this isn't a bad book. As a matter of fact, it's a damn entertaining one, with a villain that is fascinating and utterly terrifying. That is, till he's unmasked in the underwhelming climax.

This might not be King's best book in years as some have proclaimed it to be. But it is a good one, and, like most of King's work, there's magic to it, .

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

Flashback Review: SLEEPWALKERS (1992) - **&1/2 out of four

Considered by many one of Stephen King's most embarrassing projects, Sleepwalkers (1992) is indeed a very flawed movie, but a fun one nonetheless.

Director Mick Garris, one of the horror genre's most reliable filmmakers, injects a lot of energy and style into the story, and the performances by the main cast (Brian Krause, Alice Krige, and Madchen Amick) are top notch.

What takes the film down a number of notches are the considerably uneven screenplay (reportedly penned by Stephen King as a lark), and the herky-jerky pacing, causing the film to have an incoherent, episodic feel that never lets the characters fully come to life. Also, the film's tone is all over the place, alternating between black comedy, low-brow humor, gory horror, and, ultimately, serious horror; not exactly an easy mix to take.

But, decades after its release in theaters, the film still holds up, mainly because of the terrific make-up/creature effects by Tony Gardner, Garris's stylish direction, and capable performances by the cast, both human and feline (the film features more than a hundred cat performers). So taken for what it is, a cheesy but slick horror film from the early 90s, Sleepwalkers is a tremendously entertaining watch.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2017

Book Review: CELL by Stephen King

One of King's darkest novels in a long time, Cell is a compelling, tense, unsettling read. While apocalyptic novels have been done to death (with King himself penning a few prior to this one), Cell sets itself apart by its unflinching focus on its characters' plights, tragedies, and tenacity. Despite a central premise that is conceptually and scientifically wobbly (a cell phone-transmitted pulse that turns people into violent, senseless beasts), the book works because of the characters, a bunch of superbly drawn, if not always likable, individuals, whose actions are almost always believable and whose fates we truly care about. Cell is also one of King's bleakest and most daring novels since Pet Semetary, with King at his most brutal and graphic. A haunting, disturbing read. Highly recommended.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.

Book Review: THE LEFTOVERS by Tom Perrotta

Original Book Cover

Stephen King described it as reminiscent of The Twilight Zone. Well, not quite. The premise of an unexplained mass disappearance of millions of people around the world (the Biblical Rapture, more or less) and how it affects the leftovers, or those who were are behind, is endlessly intriguing, and Perrotta gives us a cast of interesting, if not fascinating, characters to follow. And while his portrayal of religious cults is interesting and the overall atmosphere of the novel somber and hypnotic (his prose is lean and highly readable), there are passages that are annoyingly pretentious, and the hugely anti-climactic ending is a major disappointment. Still, this is an original tale, well-told, even if it's ultimately a bit underwhelming.

N.B. The novel is the basis for the HBO series of the same name, though the series continue the story past the events of the novel.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2015-2016.

Review: STRANGER THINGS: SEASON 1 (2016)

Fun, polished, and very well-produced horror/thriller TV show set in 1983, with terrific performances from all involved (especially Winona Ryder as a mother trying to find her missing son, and Millie Bobby Brown as the psychic, Eleven) and spot on characterization.

What is surprising, however, is how unoriginal the plot is, as it borrows wholesale from Stephen King's It and Firestarter and plenty of Steven Spielberg's movies from the early 80's. I get the idea of paying tribute to what you loved watching growing up, but the show hasn't a single fresh idea under its sleeve.

It is true that the well-written characters and the filmmakers' masterful grasp of atmosphere make this an entertaining and compelling show, but considering the hype, and the quality of all other aspects of the show, one would expect a little bit more effort to have been put into the plotting (there are plot holes galore), while the final episode is probably the weakest installment of the whole series, with an ending that fails to give a satisfying, emotionally resonant conclusion to the story.

Still, flaws aside, this is quality TV, with plenty to offer, and one of the most entertaining dark fantasies to air on TV in a long, long time. Recommended.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.

Flashback Review: CHRISTINE (1983)

Original Theatrical Poster

Made after the cold reception to his masterpiece The Thing (1982), Christine (1983), based on the hit novel by Stephen King, is John Carpenter as a hired hand. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, as Carpenter is a master of his craft, and Christine, despite its faults, is a compelling, atmospheric horror movie, with plenty to offer in terms of visuals, mood, sound design, and performances.

Where Christine falters is in its abrupt pacing and an under-polished script, especially when it comes to characterization. It also suffers from being one of Carpenter's least ambitious and personal films, with a particularly underwhelming climax. It does feature one of Carpenter's best soundtracks, a hypnotic, eerie score, with disturbing washes of synthesizers and thumping arpeggios. And despite all its faults, Christine is a film that begs for repeated viewings, as, ultimately, this is John Carpenter we are talking about here, and even with a flawed script, his mastery of the medium and his skills as a storyteller ensure that Christine is never boring and always gorgeous to look at.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.

Quick Review: TOURIST TRAP (1979)

One of Stephen King's favorite horror films, Tourist Trap (1979) is an original, surreal, and endlessly creepy experience. It gets a bit repetitive near the end, but, overall, this is a unique, memorable horror film. Although it is clearly influenced by the works of Tobe Hooper and Mario Bava, it has a bizarre, nightmarish feel all its own. Highly recommended.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.

Is Stephen King A Bad Writer?

There has been a tendency in the past decade, mostly by younger readers and writers, to over-analyze and criticize King's writing and argue that he's undeserving of his mega success. As a huge fan of King myself, and as someone who has read the majority of his works, I have a few things to say about this.

First, King, mainly due to his strong sales, has, almost singlehandedly, elevated the status of the horror genre in the past four decades from something akin to porn, to a genre that's on bestseller lists almost all the time alongside "literary fiction". That is an unquestionable fact. 

Second, King's massive and thriving popularity hangs mostly on his many popular, successful, and occasionally critically-acclaimed film adaptations. Who doesn't have fond memories of watching Salem's Lot (1979), The Shining (1980), or Silver Bullet (1985) on TV as a youngster, and getting the crap scared out of them?

Third, King's literary output has been of uneven quality in the past two decades, with novels like some of the Dark Tower books and the terrible Doctor Sleep valid proof of that. 

And, finally and most importantly, I think King is a brilliant writer when he wants to be. Books like Salem's Lot  (1975), The Shining (1977), Skeleton Crew (1985), Pet Semetary (1983), The Dark Tower VII (2004), and Duma Key (2008) are suspense/horror writing at its most stylish, flavorful, and compelling. Yes, King has a tendency to overwrite and overcook, but his voice and mastery of characterization are awe-inspiring. I have to admit that some of his recent work has been underwhelming. But I still keep up with every new release of his, and, every once in a while, I pick up one of his books and dive in, expecting magic. And, sometimes, I still find it, in spades. 

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2015