General Matheson

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Tiffany Alien

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Sep 5, 2019
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I've been rewatching the X-Files from the beginning and I currently finished episode 1 in season 2 titled "Little Green Men". Fox Mulder was brought in to talk to a General Matheson who informed Fox to go check on some Intel pertaining to signals proving the existence of ETs. After doing some light searching, I found that quote "the episode introduces the character of Senator Richard Matheson. Matheson was named after the sci-fi and horror writer Richard Matheson, who wrote many episodes of The Twilight Zone."

Knowing that bit of information, is it possible that Stephen King did the same by having a General Matheson in Dreamcatcher who also dealt with the knowledge and information of aliens or was this purely coincidence? I found it interesting I suppose that both Matheson's (from X-Files and Dreamcatcher) were ones who dealt with extraterrestrial beings and the information of Aliens reaching Earth. Was it intertwined with episodes pertaining to the X-Files or just a tribute to Richard Matheson who was known for his Twilight Zone episodes? Or am I just over thinking this entirely. Thoughts?
 

Tiffany Alien

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Sep 5, 2019
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Thank you for the welcome! After I heard the name General Matheson my mind instantly went to Dreamcatcher and wondered if there were any ties to each other.

Also, I cannot express how excited I am to have found this site! Finally, somewhere to discuss Stephen King books with fellow fans! Most of my family and friends don't read and find SK "too frightening and strange"....whereas I throughly enjoy his twisted imagination and unique wording in his books (and movies). Although the Under the Dome series definitely bummed me out, I try to watch any movie or TV series that's made based off his novels.
 

Edward John

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Maybe he just subconciously had Matheson on the mind. Its possible, it might also be an ode to X-Files as I know for a fact that Stephen is a massive fan. If I'm not mistakes I think he actually wrote an episode of the show, 'Chinga,' I believe it was called. So, he probably had to do a lot of research on the show in order to write for it. Dreamcatcher is great though.
 

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Maybe he just subconciously had Matheson on the mind. Its possible, it might also be an ode to X-Files as I know for a fact that Stephen is a massive fan. If I'm not mistakes I think he actually wrote an episode of the show, 'Chinga,' I believe it was called. So, he probably had to do a lot of research on the show in order to write for it. Dreamcatcher is great though.
He hadn't ever watched The X-Files before writing the episode. It came about when he and David Duchovny were on Jeopardy together and he asked Steve when he was going to write an episode for them. They sent him VCR tapes of all the past episodes so he could get caught up on the show and was a fan once he started watching them. I don't remember the timing, though, and am too lazy this morning to look it up. :redface:
 

Edward John

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Aug 15, 2019
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He hadn't ever watched The X-Files before writing the episode. It came about when he and David Duchovny were on Jeopardy together and he asked Steve when he was going to write an episode for them. They sent him VCR tapes of all the past episodes so he could get caught up on the show and was a fan once he started watching them. I don't remember the timing, though, and am too lazy this morning to look it up. :redface:
Brillaint story. David should try and get Stephen to write a new episode of X-Files, 'Chinga' was my favourite episode. I love the fact that Stephen was on Jeopardy , I'm going to search for that, lol. Thanks for the info.
 

Tiffany Alien

Member
Sep 5, 2019
5
16
35
Maybe he just subconciously had Matheson on the mind. Its possible, it might also be an ode to X-Files as I know for a fact that Stephen is a massive fan. If I'm not mistakes I think he actually wrote an episode of the show, 'Chinga,' I believe it was called. So, he probably had to do a lot of research on the show in order to write for it. Dreamcatcher is great though.

Agree. I loved Dreamcatcher so much. Like I've stated before, I've read the book at least 3 times and the movie was very well done too. Definitely stuck with the story more so than the Under the Dome series. I was severely disappointed in that whole "effort". Under the Dome is another book I've read a couple of times. I wish I had half the imagination that King has. He will always be my favorite.
I didn't know he was a massive fan of X-Files, but now I love him even more haha
 

Edward John

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Aug 15, 2019
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Agree. I loved Dreamcatcher so much. Like I've stated before, I've read the book at least 3 times and the movie was very well done too. Definitely stuck with the story more so than the Under the Dome series. I was severely disappointed in that whole "effort". Under the Dome is another book I've read a couple of times. I wish I had half the imagination that King has. He will always be my favorite.
I didn't know he was a massive fan of X-Files, but now I love him even more haha

The Under the Dome TV Series starts off really well, but a few seasons in they kept adding new stuff to the point where it was no longer the same show, should have followed the book. I agree, Under The Dome is one of my favourite King novels, great book. I can guarantee that you probably have just as much imagination as King, I think its just getting over that barrier of managing to put it down. I find that asking 'what if' questions is the basis of writing, and especially with King. Under the Dome - 'What if a dome was put over by a small town?' The Shining - 'What if a family with telekinetic powers was put in a haunted hotel? Christine = 'What if you could possess a car?'
Hope that helps.
 
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Tiffany Alien

Member
Sep 5, 2019
5
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35
The Under the Dome TV Series starts off really well, but a few seasons in they kept adding new stuff to the point where it was no longer the same show, should have followed the book. I agree, Under The Dome is one of my favourite King novels, great book. I can guarantee that you probably have just as much imagination as King, I think its just getting over that barrier of managing to put it down. I find that asking 'what if' questions is the basis of writing, and especially with King. Under the Dome - 'What if a dome was put over by a small town?' The Shining - 'What if a family with telekinetic powers was put in a haunted hotel? Christine = 'What if you could possess a car?'
Hope that helps.

I've tried writing a few short stories before but they're more for my personal enjoyment rather than for public view. I have issues editing and getting the story shortened in a way that makes complete sense. I define have a vivid imagination and throughly enjoy making up stories to tell my child before bed (I make them more happy than frightening for obvious reasons, haha) but I trail off too much to actually write anything good.

I'm just excited to have found this site! So many Stephen King fans to discuss so many things!
 
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Edward John

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Aug 15, 2019
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I've tried writing a few short stories before but they're more for my personal enjoyment rather than for public view. I have issues editing and getting the story shortened in a way that makes complete sense. I define have a vivid imagination and throughly enjoy making up stories to tell my child before bed (I make them more happy than frightening for obvious reasons, haha) but I trail off too much to actually write anything good.

I'm just excited to have found this site! So many Stephen King fans to discuss so many things!

Everything Stephen K
 
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