Stephen Kings wonky astronomy

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Jimpy

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2014
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I'm sure it's been brought up before, including by Stephen King himself, but the full moon dates of Cycle of the Werewolf really destroyed the book for me. The worst part was that if he picked his year carefully, he could have had the two big days, the 4th of July and Halloween both have full moons, along with a couple days after thanksgiving and December 29th. He also would have been within a week of New Year's Day, Easter and Labor Day. It happened in 1974, full moon was a day before Labor Day and the day after thanksgiving. It was a week off of Easter, valentines day and New Year's Day.

He either didn't do any research or got all artsy "damn the calendar" on us. Either way (or both) it bothered me to much to really enjoy the book. It took me years to finish it because I'd always cringe at his full moon dates.

Jimpy
If you can't take the heat, don't swim with the big dogs.
 

VultureLvr45

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2012
2,650
13,707
Maryland
I'm sure it's been brought up before, including by Stephen King himself, but the full moon dates of Cycle of the Werewolf really destroyed the book for me. The worst part was that if he picked his year carefully, he could have had the two big days, the 4th of July and Halloween both have full moons, along with a couple days after thanksgiving and December 29th. He also would have been within a week of New Year's Day, Easter and Labor Day. It happened in 1974, full moon was a day before Labor Day and the day after thanksgiving. It was a week off of Easter, valentines day and New Year's Day.

He either didn't do any research or got all artsy "damn the calendar" on us. Either way (or both) it bothered me to much to really enjoy the book. It took me years to finish it because I'd always cringe at his full moon dates.

Jimpy
If you can't take the heat, don't swim with the big dogs.

Like your avatar Jimpy...and 2014-04-11-20-12-59-1333842919.jpeg
 

DiO'Bolic

Not completely obtuse
Nov 14, 2013
22,864
129,998
Poconos, PA
“The Fishing” is often contingent on the moon cycles. Last year I planned my fishing trips around the dates in Cycle of the Werewolf. Yeah King messed things up for me also, as it couldn’t possibly have been my lack of fishing talent. :)

All I can say is he better not write a book about menstrual cycles, as it could really screw things up for someone who relies on the rhythm method. ;)
 

carrie's younger brother

Well-Known Member
Mar 8, 2012
5,428
25,651
NJ
I'm sure it's been brought up before, including by Stephen King himself, but the full moon dates of Cycle of the Werewolf really destroyed the book for me. The worst part was that if he picked his year carefully, he could have had the two big days, the 4th of July and Halloween both have full moons, along with a couple days after thanksgiving and December 29th. He also would have been within a week of New Year's Day, Easter and Labor Day. It happened in 1974, full moon was a day before Labor Day and the day after thanksgiving. It was a week off of Easter, valentines day and New Year's Day.

He either didn't do any research or got all artsy "damn the calendar" on us. Either way (or both) it bothered me to much to really enjoy the book. It took me years to finish it because I'd always cringe at his full moon dates.

Jimpy
If you can't take the heat, don't swim with the big dogs.
Yes, and I also missed catching Captain Trips when that blew through town a while back, but didn't hold SK accountable for making that one up either.
 

Shoe

Ka 'n' stuff
Nov 7, 2011
503
777
Phobos
I'm sure it's been brought up before, including by Stephen King himself, but the full moon dates of Cycle of the Werewolf really destroyed the book for me. The worst part was that if he picked his year carefully, he could have had the two big days, the 4th of July and Halloween both have full moons, along with a couple days after thanksgiving and December 29th. He also would have been within a week of New Year's Day, Easter and Labor Day. It happened in 1974, full moon was a day before Labor Day and the day after thanksgiving. It was a week off of Easter, valentines day and New Year's Day.

He either didn't do any research or got all artsy "damn the calendar" on us. Either way (or both) it bothered me to much to really enjoy the book. It took me years to finish it because I'd always cringe at his full moon dates.

Jimpy
If you can't take the heat, don't swim with the big dogs.

I don't remember the specifics, it has been awhile since I read it, but I feel like he mentioned the lunar cycle directly in either the Introduction or the Afterword. I'm paraphrasing here but I think he essentially said:
"
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"
 
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Shoe

Ka 'n' stuff
Nov 7, 2011
503
777
Phobos
Out of curiosity do you enjoy movies, TV shows, or visual entertainment of that sort? You must have a hard time with them if the lunar inconsistencies of COTW bothered you so much you could not enjoy the story. If you look at the majority (~95%) of night time shots in anything, animated or not, the moon is shown as full.