That was not the point, sorry I didn't express myself well! Why would somebody like Miss T want to drive such a huge car? She's apparently alone and has no need for it (doesn't need to drive anybody around, no children or grand children and so on). A SL500 is a much better choice for her, convertible, fancy...
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That was not the point, sorry I didn't express myself well! Why would somebody like Miss T want to drive such a huge car? She's apparently alone and has no need for it (doesn't need to drive anybody around, no children or grand children and so on). A SL500 is a much better choice for her, convertible, fancy...
Nit-picking in this case is going into details in order to better understand the story.
The killer car has to be strong enough and has to have an aggressive image. Just imagine a Fiat 500 „plowing into the crowd“. So the S600 would be appropriate.
With the SL 500 as being closer to a woman’s car than the S 600, makes it easier for SK to keep the cops on the wrong track. The cops keep discussing the key issue (sic!) with Ms. OT without getting any closer to the solution. They are too prejudiced against OT (as a woman) to believe her and look for any alternative solution. Ironically enough it’s another prejudice about women that points towards the solution (Jerome’s story about his mother and the key).
It’s an upperclass car which again sets the cops on the wrong track: The first attack is done with a Mercedes on jobless people at a job fair. Later Hodges interprets this as a clue and assumes the second attack will take place at the career’s day.
The killer car has to be strong enough and has to have an aggressive image. Just imagine a Fiat 500 „plowing into the crowd“. So the S600 would be appropriate.
With the SL 500 as being closer to a woman’s car than the S 600, makes it easier for SK to keep the cops on the wrong track. The cops keep discussing the key issue (sic!) with Ms. OT without getting any closer to the solution. They are too prejudiced against OT (as a woman) to believe her and look for any alternative solution. Ironically enough it’s another prejudice about women that points towards the solution (Jerome’s story about his mother and the key).
It’s an upperclass car which again sets the cops on the wrong track: The first attack is done with a Mercedes on jobless people at a job fair. Later Hodges interprets this as a clue and assumes the second attack will take place at the career’s day.
Welcome, but relax and enjoy the ride. I've been reading SK since 1974 and have never worried about that kind of stuff. Do you worry about accuracy on cartoons as well?
Once again. It's an alternate universe. And in that particular one Mercedes SL500s are 4 door sedans not 2 door convertibles.
I do not worry at all. I'm just interested in the reasons behind. There is a lot of research about so-called facts in fiction. (Very interesting for example: People were given texts (fiction) to read, the texts included statements which are quite obviously wrong, e.g. chocolate is healthy - that's the only example I remember ;-) . And later, it was found out that the people had taken over these wrong statements as common knowlegde!)
So it's intentional and it is an alternate universe - why does King do it the way he did? And what are the effects? That's what I'm interested in. Some of the discussions in the forum tell you quite a lot about that
I do not worry at all. I'm just interested in the reasons behind. There is a lot of research about so-called facts in fiction. (Very interesting for example: People were given texts (fiction) to read, the texts included statements which are quite obviously wrong, e.g. chocolate is healthy - that's the only example I remember ;-) . And later, it was found out that the people had taken over these wrong statements as common knowlegde!)
So it's intentional and it is an alternate universe - why does King do it the way he did? And what are the effects? That's what I'm interested in. Some of the discussions in the forum tell you quite a lot about that
Thank you so much Lyko, I'm absolutely with you!
Why would somebody who's most likely spending a lot of efforts on research of facts ignore something so obvious. There should be a reason.
And sorry to say that, but a SL500 is never a 4 door sedan, it's an icon of motor history since the 1950s and always has been a 2 door roadster, since the Uhlenhaupt prototype and the gullwing SL300
Well, it's not like he does it on purpose.I do not worry at all. I'm just interested in the reasons behind. There is a lot of research about so-called facts in fiction. (Very interesting for example: People were given texts (fiction) to read, the texts included statements which are quite obviously wrong, e.g. chocolate is healthy - that's the only example I remember ;-) . And later, it was found out that the people had taken over these wrong statements as common knowlegde!)
So it's intentional and it is an alternate universe - why does King do it the way he did? And what are the effects? That's what I'm interested in. Some of the discussions in the forum tell you quite a lot about that
I'll give it a go.
From what I understand, Mr. King knows a lot of information about Mercedes and even if he didn't I believe he could readily get information from many sources.
I believe he deliberately made up a type of Mercedes so an actual type of Mercedes would not be seen in a negative light (being used in a mass killing.) Made-up kind of Mercedes. Not an actual type. No negative stigma. No possibility of lawsuit.
(IIRC-an image of Christine on the dust jacket was not the model described in the book.)
Just my two centavos.
From what I understand, Mr. King knows a lot of information about Mercedes and even if he didn't I believe he could readily get information from many sources.
I believe he deliberately made up a type of Mercedes so an actual type of Mercedes would not be seen in a negative light (being used in a mass killing.) Made-up kind of Mercedes. Not an actual type. No negative stigma. No possibility of lawsuit.
(IIRC-an image of Christine on the dust jacket was not the model described in the book.)
Just my two centavos.
Exactly. He made up his version of it for his fictional story.
In the Keystone World. Yes
You keep asking the same question, but don't listen to the answers.
Jan Timmich and Lyko
You both seem to reject any/all theories we have offered you. Y'all seem to know better.
So, thrill us with your acumen. Please let me/us know what your theory/theories are.
It seems you have an agenda.
L8r
You both seem to reject any/all theories we have offered you. Y'all seem to know better.
So, thrill us with your acumen. Please let me/us know what your theory/theories are.
It seems you have an agenda.
L8r
OK, I try to summarise (while the kids are still asleep):
King used an existing brand and existing car models and made up his own version of a car. Just as he could have made up a La Z Boy Recliner with a slumber air mattress option - possible, but never produced and on sale like this.
Possible reasons: He didn't know any better (very unlikely), it better fits the story (innocent rich single woman with a SL 500 plus more power to use the car as a dangerous weapon), King doesn't want to get in trouble with Daimler (hmm? it's not the car who killed but the driver, and at the end of the story the car is fast enough to get the trio to the next setting and to prevent the next attack; and Holly is quite happy with her baby blue MB).
The difference between a fictitious La Z Boy and Mercedes: The recliner is not mentioned in the title of the novel, it's not used as a weapon, it's not hiding the 'key question' the cops keeps so busy and on the wrong track for a long time, it's not used as a weapon to find the perk/p, it's not used to distract the perp/k, it doesn't help to prevent the next attack and catch the perp/k, and it doesn't accompany Holly in her "new" life. Besides, I've never heard about the La Z Boy brand before whereas the brand Mercedes.... and the brand SL... They probably evoke quite distinct images for many readers, some of them end up in this forum
I don't know about Jan's agenda, but mine is quite simple: get ideas about King's reasons, get ideas about how it effects the story, and the readers (I'm doing research on facts in fiction, especially brand images in fiction, especially cars, especially Mercedes). That's why I keep questioning But thank you so far!
King used an existing brand and existing car models and made up his own version of a car. Just as he could have made up a La Z Boy Recliner with a slumber air mattress option - possible, but never produced and on sale like this.
Possible reasons: He didn't know any better (very unlikely), it better fits the story (innocent rich single woman with a SL 500 plus more power to use the car as a dangerous weapon), King doesn't want to get in trouble with Daimler (hmm? it's not the car who killed but the driver, and at the end of the story the car is fast enough to get the trio to the next setting and to prevent the next attack; and Holly is quite happy with her baby blue MB).
The difference between a fictitious La Z Boy and Mercedes: The recliner is not mentioned in the title of the novel, it's not used as a weapon, it's not hiding the 'key question' the cops keeps so busy and on the wrong track for a long time, it's not used as a weapon to find the perk/p, it's not used to distract the perp/k, it doesn't help to prevent the next attack and catch the perp/k, and it doesn't accompany Holly in her "new" life. Besides, I've never heard about the La Z Boy brand before whereas the brand Mercedes.... and the brand SL... They probably evoke quite distinct images for many readers, some of them end up in this forum
I don't know about Jan's agenda, but mine is quite simple: get ideas about King's reasons, get ideas about how it effects the story, and the readers (I'm doing research on facts in fiction, especially brand images in fiction, especially cars, especially Mercedes). That's why I keep questioning
But thank you so far! 
OK, I try to summarise (while the kids are still asleep):
King used an existing brand and existing car models and made up his own version of a car. Just as he could have made up a La Z Boy Recliner with a slumber air mattress option - possible, but never produced and on sale like this.
Possible reasons: He didn't know any better (very unlikely), it better fits the story (innocent rich single woman with a SL 500 plus more power to use the car as a dangerous weapon), King doesn't want to get in trouble with Daimler (hmm? it's not the car who killed but the driver, and at the end of the story the car is fast enough to get the trio to the next setting and to prevent the next attack; and Holly is quite happy with her baby blue MB).
The difference between a fictitious La Z Boy and Mercedes: The recliner is not mentioned in the title of the novel, it's not used as a weapon, it's not hiding the 'key question' the cops keeps so busy and on the wrong track for a long time, it's not used as a weapon to find the perk/p, it's not used to distract the perp/k, it doesn't help to prevent the next attack and catch the perp/k, and it doesn't accompany Holly in her "new" life. Besides, I've never heard about the La Z Boy brand before whereas the brand Mercedes.... and the brand SL... They probably evoke quite distinct images for many readers, some of them end up in this forum
I don't know about Jan's agenda, but mine is quite simple: get ideas about King's reasons, get ideas about how it effects the story, and the readers (I'm doing research on facts in fiction, especially brand images in fiction, especially cars, especially Mercedes). That's why I keep questioning
In this case using a fictitious model of a real brand reduced the chances of having any issues with Mercedes-Benz that would have resulted in having to rewrite the book. Stephen frequently does this sort of thing with both facts and brand names even when he knows it's not accurate. In some cases it's because he doesn't want anyone trying to replicate what he's described and by having the facts skewed slightly or creating a fictitious brand, that makes it impossible. It's called artistic license and because it's clearly a work of fiction, it's not necessary to be 100% accurate. Readers of fiction are often asked to suspend their disbelief so going into more detailed explanations and analysis of minutia isn't something he's thinking of when he's drafting his books.
My agenda also is very easy and uncomplicated: Keep on reading the book till the end and same as Lyko, keep questioning like I do with almost everything I read or hear or watch. Enjoy folks 
So well said. Typed. Thought out.
Actually I was going to suggest that sK writes novels in order to find out about certain cars and guns and things that did and didn't happen in certain years just because he won't have to research anything himself because he knows certain readers will tell him what he wants to know.
I actually don't like the artistic license as a final explanation because it's more like a means to a certain end. It's fiction and it's his work, so thanks to artistic license King can write what he wants. My question is why he wants it different from what it is in the real world.
In order to avoid issues with Daimler? Hmm, as I've written before, the role of the MB in the book is not that bad. And it's obviously fiction, so skewing facts in order to avoid issues with Daimler should not be necessary (ok, there are disputes about fictitious books. Thanks to Charlie Hebdo the question about what art may or may not do is on the agenda again. But I would not see any danger for SK in this case). Furthermore, King wrote a disclaimer and could have extended it for that purpose.
I'm still the most convinced by the explanation that King uses the brand for his plot to work. He could have written about a big, powerful car and mention no brand at all. But he didn't. He could have written about a Mercedes, not mentioning any model or technical details. But again, he didn't. He could have written about an E class or C class. But no, King used the SL 500 (see the comment above about being an icon)! This sub brand and the technical detail of 12 cylinders are mentioned various times throughout the text (not only in the first chapter in the point of view of the jobless guy). And it perfectly works for the plot.
Just have a look at some of the scences with the Mercedes: Augie Odenkirk sees the MB and his first conclusion is the mayor coming to the job fair, which is kind of nice but not very clever (conflict of poor against rich etc.). Some of the victims recognise the headlights of the car and know it is a Mercedes; but the lights are described with words already anticipating the cruel thing that is going to happen. Imagine this scene with a Hummer (too obviously aggressive, people would be too suspicious and be alarmed too early; MB at least has the potential to be aggressive) or a Mini (too cute, too small, too powerless). I already described why the SL 500 was a clever choice for Olivia Trelawney; and Olivia Trelawney was a clever choice, because she would never be suspected to have committed this crime. The mechanic who sees the damage done to the car is almost crying, but forgetting about the many victims; so the car must be a special one and not just any car. Etc. etc. The detail with the backseat: well, perhaps King (as myself) liked the idea of using the killer car in order to rescue many, many people, and it was a team of three people to do the job, so Hodges had to sit on a backseat of a car which usually doesn't have one.
So I think King uses the brand and sub brands and their brand images to make the story work. The brand image as a stylistic device such as alliteration or foreshadowing or... How about that?
In order to avoid issues with Daimler? Hmm, as I've written before, the role of the MB in the book is not that bad. And it's obviously fiction, so skewing facts in order to avoid issues with Daimler should not be necessary (ok, there are disputes about fictitious books. Thanks to Charlie Hebdo the question about what art may or may not do is on the agenda again. But I would not see any danger for SK in this case). Furthermore, King wrote a disclaimer and could have extended it for that purpose.
I'm still the most convinced by the explanation that King uses the brand for his plot to work. He could have written about a big, powerful car and mention no brand at all. But he didn't. He could have written about a Mercedes, not mentioning any model or technical details. But again, he didn't. He could have written about an E class or C class. But no, King used the SL 500 (see the comment above about being an icon)! This sub brand and the technical detail of 12 cylinders are mentioned various times throughout the text (not only in the first chapter in the point of view of the jobless guy). And it perfectly works for the plot.
Just have a look at some of the scences with the Mercedes: Augie Odenkirk sees the MB and his first conclusion is the mayor coming to the job fair, which is kind of nice but not very clever (conflict of poor against rich etc.). Some of the victims recognise the headlights of the car and know it is a Mercedes; but the lights are described with words already anticipating the cruel thing that is going to happen. Imagine this scene with a Hummer (too obviously aggressive, people would be too suspicious and be alarmed too early; MB at least has the potential to be aggressive) or a Mini (too cute, too small, too powerless). I already described why the SL 500 was a clever choice for Olivia Trelawney; and Olivia Trelawney was a clever choice, because she would never be suspected to have committed this crime. The mechanic who sees the damage done to the car is almost crying, but forgetting about the many victims; so the car must be a special one and not just any car. Etc. etc. The detail with the backseat: well, perhaps King (as myself) liked the idea of using the killer car in order to rescue many, many people, and it was a team of three people to do the job, so Hodges had to sit on a backseat of a car which usually doesn't have one.
So I think King uses the brand and sub brands and their brand images to make the story work. The brand image as a stylistic device such as alliteration or foreshadowing or... How about that?
I stand by what I originally said but it is also true that over the years he has owned several Mercedes models including a 12 cylinder sedan and an SL model so it was something already familiar to him making it more likely he would use that brand rather than one which he has never owned.
See, this is why I justsit back and enjoy thr read. Otherwise I'm sure I wouldn't get half the fun out of books.