Discussion 16: The Ten O'Clock People

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fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
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First thing that caught me after a re read--- vibes of DT and Low Men in Yellow coats. Since it is a written story, with detailed description (that SK does so well), ones minds -eye makes pictures. I kept seeing the Can toi as the batmen creatures. Too much DT?

Enjoyed the story.

I think they are Can toi. When we first read this story back in 1993, it was too early in the DT universe to notice the connection.
 

cat in a bag

Well-Known Member
Aug 28, 2010
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wyoming
I did not think of Can toi right off, but of the teacher and kids in Suffer the Little Children.

I had to stop a minute and chuckle at the mention of World Book Encyclopedias. How the world has moved on! I don't know how many hours I spent laying on the living room floor at my grandparent's house, just picking an encyclopedia at random and thumbing through it, looking at pictures and reading whatever caught my eye. All through school, from little to big.

I wish I had a set of encyclopedias, for nostalgia's sake.

Also how this story would never work in today's age of cell phones and pictures and videos that are put on the internet. Everyone everywhere would know about the batmen....at least if you are of the Ten O'Clock People tribe, I suppose. Everyone else would be screaming Fake News!!

;-D
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
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I think they are Can toi. When we first read this story back in 1993, it was too early in the DT universe to notice the connection.
That was a creepy story - not sure but the mutant described in the expensive suit sounded a bit like the Can Toi - made me think that some folks in high places might just be quite evil underneath. Plus I had to look up one word - phylacteries.
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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How the world has moved on! I don't know how many hours I spent laying on the living room floor at my grandparent's house, just picking an encyclopedia at random and thumbing through it, looking at pictures and reading whatever caught my eye.
I did, too. Well, not at your grandparents' house but y'know...;-D

It was an exhilarating thing, to my ten year old mind, to possess such vast knowledge in 26 volumes and feel the godlike power of learning about foreign lands and exotic animals. I don't think I would reflexively categorize myself as a nerd but I loved books and had an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
I wonder if today's kids take for granted the world wide web? To them, I imagine, typing a word in the search bar is as casual or commonplace as brushing their teeth.
 

Spideyman

Uber Member
Jul 10, 2006
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I did, too. Well, not at your grandparents' house but y'know...;-D

It was an exhilarating thing, to my ten year old mind, to possess such vast knowledge in 26 volumes and feel the godlike power of learning about foreign lands and exotic animals. I don't think I would reflexively categorize myself as a nerd but I loved books and had an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
I wonder if today's kids take for granted the world wide web? To them, I imagine, typing a word in the search bar is as casual or commonplace as brushing their teeth.

A neighbor had a set of Encyclopedia Britannic . They were huge with blue hardcovers. Hours spent reading , learning, absorbing. I think my love for science and nature was born there. Did you have grocery stores that sold encyclopedias- a new one each week? That is how my children collect their set. Then they would publish a yearly update.
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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I liked this story when I first read it but, upon rereading it, I think I like the idea of it more than how it was executed. I agree with everyone's Dark Tower comparisons. All in all I liked the Twilight Zone mood of it but I think it is missing something. It could be something as simple as my not connecting to the main character. I'm not sure.
 

cat in a bag

Well-Known Member
Aug 28, 2010
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I did, too. Well, not at your grandparents' house but y'know...;-D

It was an exhilarating thing, to my ten year old mind, to possess such vast knowledge in 26 volumes and feel the godlike power of learning about foreign lands and exotic animals. I don't think I would reflexively categorize myself as a nerd but I loved books and had an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
I wonder if today's kids take for granted the world wide web? To them, I imagine, typing a word in the search bar is as casual or commonplace as brushing their teeth.
I know MY kids do take it for granted. It is as natural to them to find info on the web as using encyclopedias and the card catalog was to us. Hand any of my kids an actual, printed dictionary and watch the funny looks you get. ;-D
 

doowopgirl

very avid fan
Aug 7, 2009
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....I agree with the supposition that these "batmen" are just another version of Can-Toi....and to think he wrote this in just 3 days!......for quite a while afterward I kept a close eye on fellow smoke chokers.......
I never thought about Can-Toi, but it was a long time before I read any DT. But I know what you mean about keeping a close eye on and spent a lot of time thinking about fellow smokers.
 

Brittney

Well-Known Member
Apr 9, 2018
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....I agree with the supposition that these "batmen" are just another version of Can-Toi....and to think he wrote this in just 3 days!......for quite a while afterward I kept a close eye on fellow smoke chokers.......
Haha I finished this story today and I was thoroughly spooked! But not as much as I am reading crouch end! But I liked this story, was interesting an spooky