What book do you wish Steve would re-write?

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Blake

Deleted User
Feb 18, 2013
4,191
17,479
I would like him to do about five Travis McGee novels, but I understand that John D MacDonald's son said no. So, why don't he make up a similar character, something between Stacy Keach's Mike Hammer and Tom Selleck's character in Magnum PI.
 

carrie's younger brother

Well-Known Member
Mar 8, 2012
5,428
25,651
NJ
;-D But, how would he work in arc-sodium lights- there'd have to be some kind of time travel in the plot.....;;D
After a number of years on this board, I just have to ask... what in heck is this reference all the time to "arc-sodium lights?" I can only assume it's something he "got wrong" in one of his books, but which one and what are the specifics?
 

Aericanwizard

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2011
218
306
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. Of course the original is a classic, but I can see SK doing a rewrite justice.

In that same vein, "Frankenstein" or "1984" might be interesting. I felt a "Frankenstein" vibe in "Revival", but it's more of an homage than a re-write, similar to "'Salem's Lot"'s homage to Dracula.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
After a number of years on this board, I just have to ask... what in heck is this reference all the time to "arc-sodium lights?" I can only assume it's something he "got wrong" in one of his books, but which one and what are the specifics?
'Arc-sodium lights' refers to something that continuously pops up in Steve's stories. Instead of just saying 'street light' (which we all probably call them in real life) he uses the 'arc-sodium light' description. We tease him with it, nothing more.
 

carrie's younger brother

Well-Known Member
Mar 8, 2012
5,428
25,651
NJ
'Arc-sodium lights' refers to something that continuously pops up in Steve's stories. Instead of just saying 'street light' (which we all probably call them in real life) he uses the 'arc-sodium light' description. We tease him with it, nothing more.
Interesting. Thanks.
I've read every novel (and many more than once) and NEVER noticed this. Just goes to show you how different we all are.
 

the_last_gunslinger

Well-Known Member
Nov 21, 2008
904
761
37
Michigan
I just finished reading The Hunger Games trilogy a few days ago. Good books as far as young adult literature goes. But in King's hands, I think he could do something special with them. Make them more adult oriented and brutal. He's always had a knack for writing about kids.

It would also be cool to see him take on the Hellbound Heart, The Call of Cthulhu and Amityville Horror.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
sigh. yes. probably.

But I also know those stupid Joad people would've been hanging from the orange trees. And those damn coins they left on grandpa's eyes would have gotten picked up by some serial killing clown truck driver. And Rosasharn's bum would've turned into some mutant tommyknocking rat mutha! It would be epic.
Ah, now you've ruined both for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kingricefan

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
I'm not sure about the ending. King has a tendency to "wimp out" on the endings of many of his books. I agree that a King re-write of The Exorcist could be one of the most terrifying books written, though.

John
Not to sully the thread but I don't like the popular trend of assuming that sK writes bad endings. I don't get it, I don't see it.
 

jchanic

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2006
3,164
6,097
79
Cleveland Ohio
Cell, Under the Dome, the original ending for 11/22/63 (the one that was published was "helped" by his son, Joe), the novella The Mist, lots of his more recent short stories, and I can go on. There are lots of negative comments about the ending of DT VII also, many of which I agree. He could have done better.

John
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
Cell, Under the Dome, the original ending for 11/22/63 (the one that was published was "helped" by his son, Joe), the novella The Mist, lots of his more recent short stories, and I can go on. There are lots of negative comments about the ending of DT VII also, many of which I agree. He could have done better.

John
It's a matter of opinion, I guess.