Leni Zumas's writing crackles. Her books are sharp, bleak, funny, and possibly dangerous. When her collection of short stories, Farewell Navigator,...
Continue »
"Needful Things" is a quintessential Stephen King horror story, incorporating a number of themes observed in other King novels, including the idea of a "demonic plaguebearer" descending on a hapless group of people, and the use of white magic and 'taking a stand' against evil.
The plot centers around the town of Castle Rock, where a new store has opened. Called "Needful Things", it is run by the enigmatic proprietor Leland Gaunt, and seems to provide, at outrageously low prices, items that make the dreams come true for its customers. As the plot progresses, however, Gaunt's more sinister motives and character become apparent, along with the shocking finale to the novel that brings all of the horror unleashed to a climax rarely matched even in King novels.
What distinguishes the novel, other than its distinctive themes, are the realistic characters, and the complex systems of interaction between them in the town of Castle Rock. At times, this is a bit of a disadvantage to the reader, since it appears to take the novel a considerable amount of time to get the plot moving. However, it also allows us to observe the subtlety of the evil that Mr. Gaunt unleashes on the unsuspecting village, and the dark motives that underly each of the people in the town beneath a homely exterior.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(6 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
"Salem's Lot" is a classical King horror story touching on one of the horror culture's greatest icons: the vampire.
The story, although told from different perspectives, centers around Ben Mears, a writer from the small town of Jerusulam's Lot, Maine ('Salem's Lot to the natives), who has returned to the town to write after the death of his wife. At the same time, a strange visitor comes into town, accompanied by a mysterious, unseen master. People begin to disappear, and it builds one on top of the other in terms of horror, until the whole town is engulfed.
Fans of Stephen King novels will notice some ideas that are central to the Vampire story and play key roles in later King novels like "Needful Things" and "The Stand." These are the use of "white magic vs dark magic" (usually the dark is in the form of a demonic figure), and the importance of people to stand up true against evil. This plays a critical role in the novel, as those who are able to stand up to the darkness, and believe in it, survive, while those who cannot, die.
Perhaps the only flaw I can think of in the novel is the description of the town itself as calamity settles upon it. Although it is a guarded town, and quiet about its secrets, one would think that several mass disappearances would almost certainly lead to mass panic and avoidance of being outside at nighttime.
It is an excellent novel, and it moves very quickly in its development, both character and plot wise. I recommend it heartily to any prospective horror readers.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(13 of 24 readers found this comment helpful)
"The Stand" is a landmark amongst Stephen King novels. King himself has commented, perhaps half-jokingly, that to quite a few of his fans, he could have died in 1980 and the quality of his work would not have suffered for it. It is certainly one of my favorite Stephen King novels.
The overarching plot is a striking combination of apocalypticism and horror. A terrible disease annihilates 99% of the human race, leaving human civilization in ruins. In America, the survivors in the wake of the disease are "called", within their dreams, to two prospective figures. On the side of the good, there is the prophetic Abagail Freemantle, a 108 year old Nebraskan black woman. On the darker side, people are drawn to the enigmatic Randall Flagg, a powerful, demonic being with terrible powers. Eventually, this leads up to the namesake of the book; a 'stand'.
This overview, of course, does not mention what really makes "The Stand" as great as it is; the developed, realistic characters and their complex interactions, the great attention to detail, and the subtle depictions of the main figures. Flagg is not "The Devil", but he is a subtle being with demonic undertones and power. Similarly, Mother Abagail is a prophetic figure, but she is also human, and makes mistakes. All of this makes "The Stand" a highly enjoyable read.
Be warned, however; the book (and particularly the Uncut version) is quite long. Furthermore, King takes considerable time to develop the situation and characters, so, at least to some, that might strike as "very slow development." I recommend, however, that you read it; it is one of the high points of King's career, and a multigenre masterpiece of a novel.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(10 of 17 readers found this comment helpful)
Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.
Don't Miss
Customer Comments
Guardsman Bass has commented on (3) products.
Needful Things: The Last Castle Rock Story by Stephen King
Guardsman Bass, May 29, 2006
"Needful Things" is a quintessential Stephen King horror story, incorporating a number of themes observed in other King novels, including the idea of a "demonic plaguebearer" descending on a hapless group of people, and the use of white magic and 'taking a stand' against evil.The plot centers around the town of Castle Rock, where a new store has opened. Called "Needful Things", it is run by the enigmatic proprietor Leland Gaunt, and seems to provide, at outrageously low prices, items that make the dreams come true for its customers. As the plot progresses, however, Gaunt's more sinister motives and character become apparent, along with the shocking finale to the novel that brings all of the horror unleashed to a climax rarely matched even in King novels.
What distinguishes the novel, other than its distinctive themes, are the realistic characters, and the complex systems of interaction between them in the town of Castle Rock. At times, this is a bit of a disadvantage to the reader, since it appears to take the novel a considerable amount of time to get the plot moving. However, it also allows us to observe the subtlety of the evil that Mr. Gaunt unleashes on the unsuspecting village, and the dark motives that underly each of the people in the town beneath a homely exterior.
(6 of 10 readers found this comment helpful)
Salem's Lot by Stephen King
Guardsman Bass, May 29, 2006
"Salem's Lot" is a classical King horror story touching on one of the horror culture's greatest icons: the vampire.The story, although told from different perspectives, centers around Ben Mears, a writer from the small town of Jerusulam's Lot, Maine ('Salem's Lot to the natives), who has returned to the town to write after the death of his wife. At the same time, a strange visitor comes into town, accompanied by a mysterious, unseen master. People begin to disappear, and it builds one on top of the other in terms of horror, until the whole town is engulfed.
Fans of Stephen King novels will notice some ideas that are central to the Vampire story and play key roles in later King novels like "Needful Things" and "The Stand." These are the use of "white magic vs dark magic" (usually the dark is in the form of a demonic figure), and the importance of people to stand up true against evil. This plays a critical role in the novel, as those who are able to stand up to the darkness, and believe in it, survive, while those who cannot, die.
Perhaps the only flaw I can think of in the novel is the description of the town itself as calamity settles upon it. Although it is a guarded town, and quiet about its secrets, one would think that several mass disappearances would almost certainly lead to mass panic and avoidance of being outside at nighttime.
It is an excellent novel, and it moves very quickly in its development, both character and plot wise. I recommend it heartily to any prospective horror readers.
(13 of 24 readers found this comment helpful)
The Stand by Stephen King
Guardsman Bass, May 29, 2006
"The Stand" is a landmark amongst Stephen King novels. King himself has commented, perhaps half-jokingly, that to quite a few of his fans, he could have died in 1980 and the quality of his work would not have suffered for it. It is certainly one of my favorite Stephen King novels.The overarching plot is a striking combination of apocalypticism and horror. A terrible disease annihilates 99% of the human race, leaving human civilization in ruins. In America, the survivors in the wake of the disease are "called", within their dreams, to two prospective figures. On the side of the good, there is the prophetic Abagail Freemantle, a 108 year old Nebraskan black woman. On the darker side, people are drawn to the enigmatic Randall Flagg, a powerful, demonic being with terrible powers. Eventually, this leads up to the namesake of the book; a 'stand'.
This overview, of course, does not mention what really makes "The Stand" as great as it is; the developed, realistic characters and their complex interactions, the great attention to detail, and the subtle depictions of the main figures. Flagg is not "The Devil", but he is a subtle being with demonic undertones and power. Similarly, Mother Abagail is a prophetic figure, but she is also human, and makes mistakes. All of this makes "The Stand" a highly enjoyable read.
Be warned, however; the book (and particularly the Uncut version) is quite long. Furthermore, King takes considerable time to develop the situation and characters, so, at least to some, that might strike as "very slow development." I recommend, however, that you read it; it is one of the high points of King's career, and a multigenre masterpiece of a novel.
(10 of 17 readers found this comment helpful)