The Library Policeman

[krwhiting]

I read this story a long time ago. But, like Gramma, it has stuck with me as one of the scariest things I've ever read. I had to stop reading it at one point and go around my place checking doors and windows (it was 2 am). I was so nervous that I had to watch a couple of episodes of Andy Griffith to get to sleep.

When I moved home some years later, I saw my old public library and this whole story flooded back. I'd imagined it in the neighboring town of Payette, Idaho and that library was the one in my mind when I read this. I sometimes still get chills driving by that library. Especially if it's late and there are lights on there.

I rarely hear this story mentioned and I feel it is a neglected masterpiece. I think of it as hair-raising as Canon Alberic's Scrapbook or The Turn of the Screw.

Kelly

 

[GNTLGNT]

I read this story a long time ago. But, like Gramma, it has stuck with me as one of the scariest things I've ever read. I had to stop reading it at one point and go around my place checking doors and windows (it was 2 am). I was so nervous that I had to watch a couple of episodes of Andy Griffith to get to sleep.

When I moved home some years later, I saw my old public library and this whole story flooded back. I'd imagined it in the neighboring town of Payette, Idaho and that library was the one in my mind when I read this. I sometimes still get chills driving by that library. Especially if it's late and there are lights on there.

I rarely hear this story mentioned and I feel it is a neglected masterpiece. I think of it as hair-raising as Canon Alberic's Scrapbook or The Turn of the Screw.

Kelly

 

[skimom2]

I read this story a long time ago. But, like Gramma, it has stuck with me as one of the scariest things I've ever read. I had to stop reading it at one point and go around my place checking doors and windows (it was 2 am). I was so nervous that I had to watch a couple of episodes of Andy Griffith to get to sleep.

When I moved home some years later, I saw my old public library and this whole story flooded back. I'd imagined it in the neighboring town of Payette, Idaho and that library was the one in my mind when I read this. I sometimes still get chills driving by that library. Especially if it's late and there are lights on there.

I rarely hear this story mentioned and I feel it is a neglected masterpiece. I think of it as hair-raising as Canon Alberic's Scrapbook or The Turn of the Screw.

Kelly

Scared the crap out of me, I know

 

[blunthead]

I read this story a long time ago. But, like Gramma, it has stuck with me as one of the scariest things I've ever read. I had to stop reading it at one point and go around my place checking doors and windows (it was 2 am). I was so nervous that I had to watch a couple of episodes of Andy Griffith to get to sleep.

When I moved home some years later, I saw my old public library and this whole story flooded back. I'd imagined it in the neighboring town of Payette, Idaho and that library was the one in my mind when I read this. I sometimes still get chills driving by that library. Especially if it's late and there are lights on there.

I rarely hear this story mentioned and I feel it is a neglected masterpiece. I think of it as hair-raising as Canon Alberic's Scrapbook or The Turn of the Screw.

Kelly

I admit, it was pretty damn scary.

 

[Out of Order]

Made a great Seinfeld episode as well.

 

[shaitan]

Great story. Just finished it 3 days ago.
BTW, my local branch of NY Public Library is currently closed for renovations and will be reopening this coming Monday. Can't wait to check out those drop ceilings.

 

[muskrat]

Just realized (remembered) that I've never read this one! Did all the others in the book way back in the day, but for some reason or other missed out on the Library Police. Don't have a copy of FPM on the shelf, either. Looks like I've another book to order.

 

[Neesy]

Great story. Just finished it 3 days ago.
BTW, my local branch of NY Public Library is currently closed for renovations and will be reopening this coming Monday. Can't wait to check out those drop ceilings.

I hope the Library Policeman did not "drop" out of the ceiling and get ya!

 

[blunthead]

Just realized (remembered) that I've never read this one! Did all the others in the book way back in the day, but for some reason or other missed out on the Library Police. Don't have a copy of FPM on the shelf, either. Looks like I've another book to order.

I'm sicka you.

 

[Pucker]

When I moved home some years later, I saw my old public library and this whole story flooded back. I'd imagined it in the neighboring town of Payette, Idaho and that library was the one in my mind when I read this. I sometimes still get chills driving by that library. Especially if it's late and there are lights on there.

I recently had occasion to visit the public library in the small New England town where I grew up and found myself looking -- not at the library itself -- but at the evergreen bushes planted at intervals along the building's front.

Could be anything hiding in there.

 

[shaitan]

I hope the Library Policeman did not "drop" out of the ceiling and get ya!

I'll jutht have to kick hith ath

 

[Doc Creed]

I read this story a long time ago. But, like Gramma, it has stuck with me as one of the scariest things I've ever read. I had to stop reading it at one point and go around my place checking doors and windows (it was 2 am). I was so nervous that I had to watch a couple of episodes of Andy Griffith to get to sleep.

When I moved home some years later, I saw my old public library and this whole story flooded back. I'd imagined it in the neighboring town of Payette, Idaho and that library was the one in my mind when I read this. I sometimes still get chills driving by that library. Especially if it's late and there are lights on there.

I rarely hear this story mentioned and I feel it is a neglected masterpiece. I think of it as hair-raising as Canon Alberic's Scrapbook or The Turn of the Screw.

Kelly

Yes, the lisp of the Library Policeman gave me chills. Reminded me of the Jim Jones death tape. Very troubling story...even when King is winking at you, it is still scary.

 

[Sunlight Gardener]

Definitely creeped me out too, back when I originally read it in my early 20's and again when I read it this past summer. It's a gem.

 

[not_nadine]

I just finished a re-read. I had forgotten a lot of it.

What happened to Sam. (come with me, son....I'm a poteethman)

And I see shades of that book that were written after it.

 

[sam peebles]

But things are looking bright for me now! I married Naomi, moved out of Junction City, and sold my shop to a kindly old man by the name of Leland Gaunt.

Hmm...maybe I should check in on Junction City.

 

[Christine62]

A Study in Character (Spoilers)

I am listening to this story from youtube on my cell phone that means when ever I go back to it I kinda have to fish around and find where I left off. Needless to say, I have listened to parts of this story multiple times. The one scene I actually went back to and listened to at least four times on purpose was when Sam Peebles goes to Angle street and talks to Dirty Dave. The whole scene moved me and I felt a real sympathy for Dirty Dave.

It got me thinking, how does Mr. King do it? How does he get us to totally root for his characters, even the ones we wouldn't normally root for and be able to do it in one scene? (He did the same thing in the opening scene with the janitor's essay in 11-22-63). As best as I can figure, Mr. King weaves, he doesn't paint.

Before reading this story, I was trying to listen to Pulitzer Prize Winning writer Robert Olen Butler's The Star of Istanbul. There some really stylish lines that I appreciated but his characters were as flat as a highway going through Midland, Texas. Painted pretty but I couldn't have cared less.

I think how Mr. King made me care in this story is that he showed Sam Peebles as a likable character, or at least Sam thought he was a good guy... a great guy after writing such a heartwarming speech. But in this scene, we see the cracks in his character and our hearts go out to Sam because we have those very same cracks of having a self-righteousness that leaks through our humble, "we are all one family" mask when it is actually tested.

Dirty Dave has hints of Jack Torrance in the novel, The Shining. Yes, he's a f*ck up but he has the intention to be good. There is a humility about him that one sees when one is trying to work the Program even if he doesn't succeed all the time. Dirty Dave's good intentioned character is more prominent in contrast to Slim Jim Lukey and Night Train Rudolph.

Of course the best line of the whole passage is when he didn't pursue painting: The day got late while I was doin other things.

I've seen Mr. King draw these contrasts in The Bad Little Kid--the good intentioned character reaching out to a societal undesirable. He is masterful at it. I think this is what is going to keep Mr. King on the map. It is not his "spooky" what if's but the humanity he effortlessly weaves through his stories.

 

[FlakeNoir]

A Study in Character (Spoilers)

I am listening to this story from youtube on my cell phone that means when ever I go back to it I kinda have to fish around and find where I left off. Needless to say, I have listened to parts of this story multiple times. The one scene I actually went back to and listened to at least four times on purpose was when Sam Peebles goes to Angle street and talks to Dirty Dave. The whole scene moved me and I felt a real sympathy for Dirty Dave.

It got me thinking, how does Mr. King do it? How does he get us to totally root for his characters, even the ones we wouldn't normally root for and be able to do it in one scene? (He did the same thing in the opening scene with the janitor's essay in 11-22-63). As best as I can figure, Mr. King weaves, he doesn't paint.

Before reading this story, I was trying to listen to Pulitzer Prize Winning writer Robert Olen Butler's The Star of Istanbul. There some really stylish lines that I appreciated but his characters were as flat as a highway going through Midland, Texas. Painted pretty but I couldn't have cared less.

I think how Mr. King made me care in this story is that he showed Sam Peebles as a likable character, or at least Sam thought he was a good guy... a great guy after writing such a heartwarming speech. But in this scene, we see the cracks in his character and our hearts go out to Sam because we have those very same cracks of having a self-righteousness that leaks through our humble, "we are all one family" mask when it is actually tested.

Dirty Dave has hints of Jack Torrance in the novel, The Shining. Yes, he's a f*ck up but he has the intention to be good. There is a humility about him that one sees when one is trying to work the Program even if he doesn't succeed all the time. Dirty Dave's good intentioned character is more prominent in contrast to Slim Jim Lukey and Night Train Rudolph.

Of course the best line of the whole passage is when he didn't pursue painting: The day got late while I was doin other things.

I've seen Mr. King draw these contrasts in The Bad Little Kid--the good intentioned character reaching out to a societal undesirable. He is masterful at it. I think this is what is going to keep Mr. King on the map. It is not his "spooky" what if's but the humanity he effortlessly weaves through his stories.

Nicely written piece...

(Ack, but the book shouldn't be on You Tube!)

 

[skimom2]

A Study in Character (Spoilers)

I am listening to this story from youtube on my cell phone that means when ever I go back to it I kinda have to fish around and find where I left off. Needless to say, I have listened to parts of this story multiple times. The one scene I actually went back to and listened to at least four times on purpose was when Sam Peebles goes to Angle street and talks to Dirty Dave. The whole scene moved me and I felt a real sympathy for Dirty Dave.

It got me thinking, how does Mr. King do it? How does he get us to totally root for his characters, even the ones we wouldn't normally root for and be able to do it in one scene? (He did the same thing in the opening scene with the janitor's essay in 11-22-63). As best as I can figure, Mr. King weaves, he doesn't paint.

Before reading this story, I was trying to listen to Pulitzer Prize Winning writer Robert Olen Butler's The Star of Istanbul. There some really stylish lines that I appreciated but his characters were as flat as a highway going through Midland, Texas. Painted pretty but I couldn't have cared less.

I think how Mr. King made me care in this story is that he showed Sam Peebles as a likable character, or at least Sam thought he was a good guy... a great guy after writing such a heartwarming speech. But in this scene, we see the cracks in his character and our hearts go out to Sam because we have those very same cracks of having a self-righteousness that leaks through our humble, "we are all one family" mask when it is actually tested.

Dirty Dave has hints of Jack Torrance in the novel, The Shining. Yes, he's a f*ck up but he has the intention to be good. There is a humility about him that one sees when one is trying to work the Program even if he doesn't succeed all the time. Dirty Dave's good intentioned character is more prominent in contrast to Slim Jim Lukey and Night Train Rudolph.

Of course the best line of the whole passage is when he didn't pursue painting: The day got late while I was doin other things.

I've seen Mr. King draw these contrasts in The Bad Little Kid--the good intentioned character reaching out to a societal undesirable. He is masterful at it. I think this is what is going to keep Mr. King on the map. It is not his "spooky" what if's but the humanity he effortlessly weaves through his stories.

That's exactly where his real writing power lies: his humanity. All the rest is 'so much hugger-mugger'. The scares lure you in, and if you want to stop there, that's okay. His books and stories can all be read at a surface level. But for those who want to go deeper...man, he isn't written much that doesn't take you into the heart of America and Americans, and let you look at the complexities of human beings and human behaviour.

 

[Aloysius Nell]

The Library Policeman was a very good yarn. But the best part of it was Dave's back story with Ardelia, not Sam's. Mr. King sometimes does his best writing when doing "back story." I'd be willing to bet he starts the idea there, and then writes the "main" story to include it.

 

[Autumn13]

Like the rest of you, I also look at the evergreen bushes planted along side the library in the town where I grew up. Is it some kind of law that every library has to have evergreens planted at the foundation?
I did see a reference to The Library Policeman in The Dark Tower. Chow d dow.
It took me a while to place it. A lot of brain wracking. But Angle Street is the answer.