I found it boring as hell, both as a teen and as an adult. To each their own, I guess
What authors write as well as SK?
- Thread starter Lord Tyrion
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Thought of another few: Kazuo Ishiguro, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and John Ajvide Lundqvist.
*twitch twitch* Which authors, I think. Which. I might be wrong, but it pleases me better. 
But either way, it's an excellent question and I'm really struggling to answer it.
The reality is that there are obviously loads, but it's one of those times where I'm um-ming and ah-ing and then seeing someone else mention a name and going "Yes! Him/her! Of course!"
In terms of nailing the truth of the everyday, the mundanity, the casual throwaway nature of speech, though...SK's possibly close to matchless. That's not to say some things don't clunk, it's just that he seems to produce fewer instances of it. (While some otherwise very good/excellent writers couldn't write convincing dialogue or 'do' character motivation if their lives depended on it.)
But either way, it's an excellent question and I'm really struggling to answer it.
The reality is that there are obviously loads, but it's one of those times where I'm um-ming and ah-ing and then seeing someone else mention a name and going "Yes! Him/her! Of course!"
In terms of nailing the truth of the everyday, the mundanity, the casual throwaway nature of speech, though...SK's possibly close to matchless. That's not to say some things don't clunk, it's just that he seems to produce fewer instances of it. (While some otherwise very good/excellent writers couldn't write convincing dialogue or 'do' character motivation if their lives depended on it.)
*twitch twitch* Which authors, I think. Which. I might be wrong, but it pleases me better.
But either way, it's an excellent question and I'm really struggling to answer it.
The reality is that there are obviously loads, but it's one of those times where I'm um-ming and ah-ing and then seeing someone else mention a name and going "Yes! Him/her! Of course!"
In terms of nailing the truth of the everyday, the mundanity, the casual throwaway nature of speech, though...SK's possibly close to matchless. That's not to say some things don't clunk, it's just that he seems to produce fewer instances of it. (While some otherwise very good/excellent writers couldn't write convincing dialogue or 'do' character motivation if their lives depended on it.)
I've been struggling with this question. Who "writes as well as SK?" isn't necessarily the same as who "do you love as much as SK?"
There are so many wonderful writers, in so many genres. Horror? Hard to miss Neil Gaiman. Young Joe Hill's pretty darn good too. I just finished a book called Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, and that was a super book (that would be a worthy companion to "The Stand", actually. I'm gonna stop so I don't spend all night making a list of 4 million books.
There are so many wonderful writers, in so many genres. Horror? Hard to miss Neil Gaiman. Young Joe Hill's pretty darn good too. I just finished a book called Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, and that was a super book (that would be a worthy companion to "The Stand", actually. I'm gonna stop so I don't spend all night making a list of 4 million books.
*twitch twitch* Which authors, I think. Which. I might be wrong, but it pleases me better.
But either way, it's an excellent question and I'm really struggling to answer it.
The reality is that there are obviously loads, but it's one of those times where I'm um-ming and ah-ing and then seeing someone else mention a name and going "Yes! Him/her! Of course!"
In terms of nailing the truth of the everyday, the mundanity, the casual throwaway nature of speech, though...SK's possibly close to matchless. That's not to say some things don't clunk, it's just that he seems to produce fewer instances of it. (While some otherwise very good/excellent writers couldn't write convincing dialogue or 'do' character motivation if their lives depended on it.)
This one!
That's two votes already for Joe Lansdale and mine makes it three! This man is fantastic! His dialogue is sharp as a knife and cracks like a whip! His characters are wonderful, too.
She only has one book (so far) but I'd nominate Harper Lee, with To Kill a Mockingbird. A true classic with memorable characters and a GREAT story.
John
John
I'm going to recommend John Steinbeck for his deceptively simple prose and his characters. Check out Ira Levin, Robert McCammon, Ray Garton, Don Robertson (who Stephen King names as one of the two authors that most inspired him to write, the other being Richard Matheson).
Didn't she write under the non-de-plume Danielle Steele?
i am not sure any of them do. I really like kings writing.
Didn't she write under the non-de-plume Danielle Steele?
I'm really looking forward to Lee's new Go Set a Watchman, coming out soon.
John
There have been instances when I felt I was in the places SK was writing about. I haven't read a book of his where I don't feel that on some level (I've only read his newer books).
David McCullough has that knack. His descriptions of the Founding Fathers taught me more about American History than an AP class. John Adams is a great piece of work.
1776 was damn good, as well, as was Truman. McCullough is a wonderful history writer.
Poppy Z Brite has a sort of flair to writing that is rare among authors. I can't say she writes as well as Stephen King but she beats him out on writing locations and having great sensory depictions.
Neil Gaiman is pretty great, too. He once wrote a short story called Glass Apples which remains one of my favorite.
Neil Gaiman is pretty great, too. He once wrote a short story called Glass Apples which remains one of my favorite.
Everyone is going to have their own opinions on what makes a great writer so I'll throw mine in here and say that Bentley Little is a favorite of mine.........he's a great "filler" while patiently awaiting new King books
Totally subjective like noted before. Some authors that I think write beautifully are Anne Rivers Siddons (so glad to see her get a mention in this thread and Mr. King has praised her) and Chris Bohjalian. Honorable mention to Dennis Lehane.
Both The Stand and Swan Song were great apocalyptic stories; each special in its own way. For someone to say that one was better than the other is being most unfair to our gracious host and Mr. McCammon.