Thoughts on the ending? (SPOILERS!)

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Hall Monitor

All bars serve the Beam.
Nov 7, 2013
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I liked the 'Leatherheads' though weather the image in my mind is anything like what was written, I'm not sure. I often see characters far differently from description. Anywho...my fave part of this story was when the writer speaks to the reader and takes us on a trip around the town...we see much of what is going on and it helps build the anticipation of knowing this story is heading in to some...excitement. The calm before the storm, kinda thing. The mental picture of that 'flyover' really stuck with me.
I agree . . . the flyover segments made me think back to Salem's Lot and the vivid description of the town before and after Barlow's influence. A nice throwback in style.
 

TrueGeneration

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2014
6,354
22,711
NY
I finished the book today and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was superb. I love how Mr. King writes character development and the details he puts into them. Like with 'Salem's Lot, I felt like I was a part of the town, Chester's Mill, and knew the characters. I liked the journey the characters went through and how the dome affected them: how it changed them and the actions they took, whether heroic, barbaric or drastic. For me, the characters' storylines kept me more intrigued than the mystery of the dome...

As for the ending...I don't know, I'm still mulling over it. With the Leatherheads, I don't if I feel a little disappointed or just felt short to me. I would have to think it over!

In all, great novel!
 

leke

Member
Jul 23, 2013
13
35
Loved the book, the character development was excellent, true testament to Kings skilled writing. The ending like everyone mentioned was a bit of a letdown to me. A bunch of kid aliens with no rhyme or reason thought it would be nice to try this out and just up and leaves because someone said please in the end. I've watched the series and that to me has a better story line about the object so far.
 

rudiroo

Well-Known Member
May 20, 2008
474
1,898
London, England
Here's the thing - both UTD and The Tommyknockers have low-key endings, by comparison with the run-up.
In UTD, I expected the "leatherheads" to be truly monstrous, not barely out of childhood.
And I expected the Tommyknockers to be super-superior beings, not the botch-jobbers from outer space.
But both endings work wonderfully.
Tension can only be ratcheted up & up for so long.
Then it has to escape, like steam out of a kettle.

And there's a whole heap of futility going on UTD.
And pointless sacrifice.
And so many people running wild, because suddenly, they have the means and opportunity to do. . anything.

Yeah.
No tidy tying-up of loose threads and a lot left unresolved.
Just like. . real life.:wow:
 

rudiroo

Well-Known Member
May 20, 2008
474
1,898
London, England
A bunch of kid aliens with no rhyme or reason thought it would be nice to try this out and just up and leaves because someone said please in the end.

Hot damn, you nailed it.

I love UTD for a hundred & one reasons, but the biggest (and best) thing about this novel is that SK shows us how quickly society falls apart, once the checks and balances are swept away.

The best SK novels aren't only about the destination, but the journey too:thumbs_up:
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Hot damn, you nailed it.

I love UTD for a hundred & one reasons, but the biggest (and best) thing about this novel is that SK shows us how quickly society falls apart, once the checks and balances are swept away.

The best SK novels aren't only about the destination, but the journey too:thumbs_up:
Yup - you got that right! The ending did not bother me one iota (hmmm - now I sound like my old English teacher)
who, coincidentally was Greek
 

Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
1,394
4,588
I believe I have written this before -- or some version of it -- but here's how I think the book should have been concluded.

I would either have gone for no explanation, or have Jesus suddenly appear and take the dome away. He would have been cryptic as to why he did it. He would have said something like I'm sure you guys will be writing books about this for years; what was its purpose? And am I really Jesus?

Another possibility: the rest of the world is destroyed save for everyone in the dome. Again, Jesus arrives. He lifts the dome, and says, be fruitful and multiply.

If King was insistent on aliens, quite frankly, that ending triggers in my mind a different premise. Know all those videos on YouTube where people have one insect fight another? (And those are terrible videos, I don't know why people do that.) I would have the aliens have all kinds of Earth vs. contests, depositing their creatures into our world (tiny to them, huge to us). I would have literally had the alien kids filming these battles and then uploading them to their alien YouTube and generating viral videos. Eventually, the alien YouTube would ban those videos and they would stop. Humans would have no idea what's going on, but an epilogue would explain it to the reader.

I never read the book, but know the ending. So maybe some of this was hinted at in the book, I don't know. I kind of want to write that idea about the aliens and the YouTube-vs. videos as a short story. I hope that hasn't been done before (but it probably has).
 
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Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I believe I have written this before -- or some version of it -- but here's how I think the book should have been concluded.

I would either have gone for no explanation, or have Jesus suddenly appear and take the dome away. He would have been cryptic as to why he did it. He would have said something like I'm sure you guys will be writing books about this for years; what was its purpose? And am I really Jesus?

Another possibility: the rest of the world is destroyed save for everyone in the dome. Again, Jesus arrives. He lifts the dome, and says, be fruitful and multiply.

If King was insistent on aliens, quite frankly, that ending triggers in my mind a different premise. Know all those videos on YouTube where people have one insect fight another? (And those are terrible videos, I don't know why people do that.) I would have the aliens have all kinds of Earth vs. contests, depositing their creatures into our world (tiny to them, huge to us). I would have literally had the alien kids filming these battles and then uploading them to their alien YouTube and generating viral videos. Eventually, the alien YouTube would ban those videos and they would stop. Humans would have no idea what's going on, but an epilogue would explain it to the reader.

I never read the book, but know the ending. So maybe some of this was hinted at in the book, I don't know. I kind of want to write that idea about the aliens and the YouTube-vs. videos as a short story. I hope that hasn't been done before (but it probably has).
Read the book.
 

AchtungBaby

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2011
3,856
15,540
UTD and Cell (and It, a little) are the only SK endings that have annoyed me....but the journey more than made up for it--well, except Cell....sheesh I hate that book.

;P
 

leke

Member
Jul 23, 2013
13
35
Hot damn, you nailed it.

I love UTD for a hundred & one reasons, but the biggest (and best) thing about this novel is that SK shows us how quickly society falls apart, once the checks and balances are swept away.

The best SK novels aren't only about the destination, but the journey too:thumbs_up:
You nailed it also I love this quote!!!
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
UTD and Cell (and It, a little) are the only SK endings that have annoyed me....but the journey more than made up for it--well, except Cell....sheesh I hate that book.

;P

That made me laugh hard! I feel the same about The Regulators. I don't hate UTD, but all of the 'alien books' bore the crap out of me. I've only read this one once, though; I'll likely give it another try (like I did with Tommyknockers, From a Buick 8, and Dreamcatcher). I don't hold out a lot of hope, but you never know :)
 

AchtungBaby

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2011
3,856
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That made me laugh hard! I feel the same about The Regulators. I don't hate UTD, but all of the 'alien books' bore the crap out of me. I've only read this one once, though; I'll likely give it another try (like I did with Tommyknockers, From a Buick 8, and Dreamcatcher). I don't hold out a lot of hope, but you never know :)
Yeah, I don't like The Regulators either. Or Firestarter. Heh.
 

Mr.Ace

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2011
449
557
Russiа
It's great book and the good story. I like the story, like the characters, I like it all exept the ending. I'm really disappointed with the ending. I mean what's the problem with this if they should just to ask "Leatherheds" to stop it? Seriously? That's all they needed. It ruins all suspense for me. Nevertheless it's a great book, I enjoyed when I was reading it.
 
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Pucker

We all have it coming, kid
May 9, 2010
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I enjoyed this one immensely and I remember quite clearly reaching a very specific point in the story and thinking:

"He (King) could kill them all. This might finally be the one where he goes extreme sanction."

Of course, he didn't, although I still believe he is one of the few authors who could get away with it. But unhappy endings are a young man's game and -- while I wasn't entirely thrilled with the Dread Pirate Roberts flavor of the ending -- "She said 'please,' " it is instructive to remember that

there is only one "leatherhead" who hears Julia's plea, which makes all the difference.

It is no great secret that good children (and adults) will sometimes join in bad group behavior, but are less likely to oppose their true nature when alone.

Which turned out to be very lucky, indeed, for the Barbie-ites.
I
 
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Pucker

We all have it coming, kid
May 9, 2010
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I didn't like the ending. I loved the story. It was a great ride. I see your point Pucker, but to me it was a very meh ending.

Oh . . . I agree.

But I don't like endings in general. I like stories that keep going.

There are people (one of whom is sometimes me) who will tell you that King is so good at putting his characters in impossible situations that he occasionally writes himself into corners from which he can only escape through . . . well . . . let's say "sleight of hand."

I don't think that was the case here and further, I think the very simplicity of the narrow escape is a wonderful counterpoint to all the craziness that led up to it. Sometimes the story just ends where it ends.

Ever read James Joyce's Araby?
 

doowopgirl

very avid fan
Aug 7, 2009
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Oh . . . I agree.

But I don't like endings in general. I like stories that keep going.

There are people (one of whom is sometimes me) who will tell you that King is so good at putting his characters in impossible situations that he occasionally writes himself into corners from which he can only escape through . . . well . . . let's say "sleight of hand."

I don't think that was the case here and further, I think the very simplicity of the narrow escape is a wonderful counterpoint to all the craziness that led up to it. Sometimes the story just ends where it ends.

Ever read James Joyce's Araby?
I sometimes have a hard time with Joyce, but I will give it a try. I know what you mean by King escaping by 'sleight of hand'. Needful Things comes to mind.
 
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