DVD release details

[Gerald]

In addition to the dream, Steve has mentioned the short story by Evelyn Waugh "The Man Who Loved Dickens" being an inspiration. I've never heard it being a reaction to fans rejection Eyes of the Dragon.

Yes, it mentions that story on this site, only posting that link creates an error in posting.
The connection to Eyes of the Dragon is mentioned on the Wikipedia page of the book and other sources.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Yes, Misery was inspired by a dream, not an actual personal experience of his. That's not to say that there haven't been situations in which he has been stalked to various degrees.

...oh sure!.....put my kitchen tour wishes on blast!....

 

[Neesy]

Are those people who think he has satanic leanings worried (fundamental) religious groups or rather individuals? And is that something mostly Americans think or people all over the world?
Anyone with some common sense can understand that a horror-writer is dealing with fiction, and at most may research subjects like that but not dabble in them, but I suppose that for some people that line may not appear to be so clear.

Does fatal attraction in this case mean people who have some sort of crush on him and would stalk him?

As for political, I can understand. Because he is very outspoken in that respect and constantly posting his comments and that could rub people the wrong way. American politics always are so personally aimed anyway - it's like a personal fight between people almost.

Do you have strict gun laws in Holland?

Here in Canada we are pretty strict.

I know in the US it seems like pretty much everyone carries a gun (well, perhaps I am exaggerating - just recently saw Miss Congeniality where they said "This is Texas - my grandmother carries a gun!").

No offense to anyone, especially those who favour upholding "the right to bear arms" but I would be nervous if I were Stephen King. There really are too many nut cases out there.

I saw the strict security they had for him in Toronto - he is so famous now that people just want to get near to him, even if it's just to get a book signed.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Do you have strict gun laws in Holland?

Here in Canada we are pretty strict.

I know in the US it seems like pretty much everyone carries a gun (well, perhaps I am exaggerating - just recently saw Miss Congeniality where they said "This is Texas - my grandmother carries a gun!").

No offense to anyone, especially those who favour upholding "the right to bear arms" but I would be nervous if I were Stephen King. There really are too many nut cases out there.

I saw the strict security they had for him in Toronto - he is so famous now that people just want to get near to him, even if it's just to get a book signed.

...not everyone “down here” packs weapons...though millions do and the wing nuts make me worry for Steve, hell for all of us for that matter....

 

[Moderator]

Yes, it mentions that story on this site, only posting that link creates an error in posting.
The connection to Eyes of the Dragon is mentioned on the Wikipedia page of the book and other sources.

We don't supply the information for the Wikipedia page but I'll check it out to see what their sources are.

 

[Gerald]

Do you have strict gun laws in Holland?

Here in Canada we are pretty strict.

I know in the US it seems like pretty much everyone carries a gun (well, perhaps I am exaggerating - just recently saw Miss Congeniality where they said "This is Texas - my grandmother carries a gun!").

No offense to anyone, especially those who favour upholding "the right to bear arms" but I would be nervous if I were Stephen King. There really are too many nut cases out there.

I saw the strict security they had for him in Toronto - he is so famous now that people just want to get near to him, even if it's just to get a book signed.

Yes, no one can own a gun basically, only police and people like that. I think there are gun clubs, but I doubt people can take guns home.
I knew someone one time who owned firearms and similar weapons like a crossbow. But I think if it had been found out, they would have had to turn them in and there would be legal consequences.
I think it's like that in most places over the world apart from the US?

 

[Gerald]

We don't supply the information for the Wikipedia page but I'll check it out to see what their sources are.

The wikipedia page clearly shows what the references are, in this case a book called The Stephen King Story by George Beahm. Another reason for rejection was that it was a children's story. I can understand that reason for rejection more, because he had already published The Stand, The Talisman and The Gunslinger before Eyes of the Dragon, which all are in the fantasy realm - even though not purely 'epic fantasy' I suppose.
And also a book like Different Seasons is not strictly horror. So even though he was branded King of Horror he had already done things outside the genre before Eyes of the Dragon, but apparently it was still poorly received by (constant) readers (not by the critics).

 

[Moderator]

The wikipedia page clearly shows what the references are, in this case a book called The Stephen King Story by George Beahm. Another reason for rejection was that it was a children's story. I can understand that reason for rejection more, because he had already published The Stand, The Talisman and The Gunslinger before Eyes of the Dragon, which all are in the fantasy realm - even though not purely 'epic fantasy' I suppose.
And also a book like Different Seasons is not strictly horror. So even though he was branded King of Horror he had already done things outside the genre before Eyes of the Dragon, but apparently it was still poorly received by (constant) readers (not by the critics).

That explains a lot. George Beahm has never interviewed Stephen.

 

[Gerald]

That explains a lot. George Beahm has never interviewed Stephen.

So it's probably untrue that this was what inspired him for Paul Sheldon's trying to break away from his usual genre?

I can see how a 'dragon' might worry fans of horror though. The dragon is so much a symbol of high fantasy (Game of Thrones etc.), that it may put off readers of horror, thinking their favourite writer may have changed genre totally. So it doesn't sound completely untrue.

 

[Moderator]

So it's probably untrue that this was what inspired him for Paul Sheldon's trying to break away from his usual genre?

I can see how a 'dragon' might worry fans of horror though. The dragon is so much a symbol of high fantasy (Game of Thrones etc.), that it may put off readers of horror, thinking their favourite writer may have changed genre totally. So it doesn't sound completely untrue.

Anything's possible but in this case it's unlikely. Stephen has frequently given the story about the dream when he's been asked about how he came up with the idea and he had told me personally about the Evelyn Waugh story so I know that one to be true.

 

[Dana Jean]

I'm a huge fan and I totally embraced Eyes of the Dragon. One of my top 10 of his works. I wish he would do more in that genre.

 

[Gerald]

Anything's possible but in this case it's unlikely. Stephen has frequently given the story about the dream when he's been asked about how he came up with the idea and he had told me personally about the Evelyn Waugh story so I know that one to be true.

I don't have many books that are ABOUT him, so I don't know how good or accurate The Stephen King Story is. Can anyone just publish a book ABOUT him, or would they need permission first? I think if he gives permission to publish a book about him, he doesn't fundamentally disagree with that book - although it can still can contain errors and untruths of course.

It's often multiple things that inspire a novel, first the initial idea (in this case the dream), then one by one other inspirations contribute to it.
Here's the story for those interested:

Tales of Mystery and Imagination: Evelyn Waugh: The Man Who Liked Dickens

 

[Moderator]

I don't have many books that are ABOUT him, so I don't know how good or accurate The Stephen King Story is. Can anyone just publish a book ABOUT him, or would they need permission first? I think if he gives permission to publish a book about him, he doesn't fundamentally disagree with that book - although it can still can contain errors and untruths of course.

It's often multiple things that inspire a novel, first the initial idea (in this case the dream), then one by one other inspirations contribute to it.

Permission is not required to publish a book about him. Stephen has never given George Beahm permission to write any of the several books published by him about Stephen nor that does not imply agreement with anything contained in them.

 

[Gerald]

Permission is not required to publish a book about him. Stephen has never given George Beahm permission to write any of the several books published by him about Stephen nor that does not imply agreement with anything contained in them.

That's surpising, since when you write about a (living) person you make money off his/her name. You'd expect that person to be involved somehow, or want some of the money made by the book.

 

[Gerald]

So he does not receive payment for any of the books that are written about him?

 

[Moderator]

So he does not receive payment for any of the books that are written about him?

No, he doesn't.

 

[Gerald]

No, he doesn't.

It has to do with freedom of speech, I suppose? But if he fundamentally disagrees with a book he must have the option to stop them publishing it. If there are strong untruths in it that harm him.

 

[Moderator]

It has to do with freedom of speech, I suppose? But if he fundamentally disagrees with a book he must have the option to stop them publishing it. If there are strong untruths in it that harm him.

Yes, freedom of speech allows it and it would be difficult for anyone to prevent publication. If they had published a book that was damaging his reputation, though, he could sue them for libel if he chose to do so. That's true for anyone.

 

[Gerald]

Yes, freedom of speech allows it and it would be difficult for anyone to prevent publication. If they had published a book that was damaging his reputation, though, he could sue them for libel if he chose to do so. That's true for anyone.

Makes sense in a way or otherwise journalists could never use books to expose things of importance to society. Right now Trump is trying to prevent a book about him being published.

I suppose the difficulty is that you can't prevent your name being used. SK has said that his name has become a brand name, but it isn't actually. If it actually was a brand name, maybe he could prevent them from using it on those grounds if he wanted. But I think it's impossible to make a brand name of a real person's name.

I think though when you publish a book about someone you have to indicate whether it's authorized or not.

 

[Moderator]

Makes sense in a way or otherwise journalists could never use books to expose things of importance to society. Right now Trump is trying to prevent a book about him being published.

I suppose the difficulty is that you can't prevent your name being used. SK has said that his name has become a brand name, but it isn't actually. If it actually was a brand name, maybe he could prevent them from using it on those grounds if he wanted. But I think it's impossible to make a brand name of a real person's name.

I think though when you publish a book about someone you have to indicate whether it's authorized or not.

I could be wrong, but I don't think it's required to note whether it's authorized.