When Stephen King goes too far

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Edward John

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Aug 15, 2019
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I think "too far" is and should be for the reader to decide. Have you ever read Jack Ketchum or Bentley Little? Both are very popular horror fiction writers, and both take things so much farther than Stephen King. I even commented to the BF once about how the subject of a story by Bentley Little made me really uncomfortable. His response to me was "It's called horror for a reason. It's not supposed to be a feel good story."

Jack Ketchum, in the horror genre, was one of the best. Red is his dark masterpiece.
 

Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
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Great thread...

I agree with mjs and his analysis...it is true, it requires guts to go the extra mile on the highway of horror, and to take certain exits no one else dares to take. As stated, the constant reader is left with her own subjective analysis.

When you say does he go too far, for me, I take that more to mean when has it personally made me too frightened, not necessarily that society disapproves (although society does do that at times, for sure). King has done that for me; there are certain scenes I won't read again. There are many in Rose Madder that I just can't read again, yet let me say this - those scenes I am thinking of were incredibly well-written. They show just how much of a genius King is. I have to say, too, in all seriousness...don't ever think King isn't a genius. He is...there is something about his writing that is just superior all around: technique, execution, originality, generation of atmosphere, construction of symmetry, innovative use of words/grammar/dialect/punctuation...he can take your worst nightmare and market it back to you such that you will buy it with emotional currency you probably didn't know you don't have. (Besides Madder, some parts of The Stand are tough; Flagg is not a funny character, and that universe also has non-Flagg scenes that are pretty scary, for me, anyway.) I'll also point out King is the master of the metaphor, especially in his earlier stories; it is so difficult to constantly come up with clever, relevant, poetic metaphors on a constant basis within the prose narrative. Try it; it's work.

Someone asked: is King getting more frightening/crude in later writing? I agree, he has, I think. I agree too with the sentiment about some earlier stuff...more EC than anything else. (Someone mentioned Bentley Little: I'll tell you, I love him, he is afraid of nothing, but there was one thing in his latest collection of short stories that even I had to pause over; still, that particular story is awesome.)

I never would want to restrict King, though. I think all writers should be given that freedom. I myself, mostly a hobbyist, have already chickened out a couple times with something I am writing on Wattpad. King would not have done that, even when he was starting out. Wish I had that literary courage...
 

Edward John

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Aug 15, 2019
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Lovecraft lived from 1890 to 1937, so that is slightly earlier.
But he is the opposite of the cheap and crude shock effects I'm referring to. His stories are always exalted, referring to dreams and otherworldly deities. Not at all what I meant.

Majority of his stories where not published until after, once he developed a following. So, forties.
 

Gerald

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Sep 8, 2011
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Even SK has limits, therefore he didn't want to publish Pet Sematary originally. Although you could wonder why he didn't have a problem with Cujo, as I feel it's just about as dark.

I think everyone has limits of some sort. Sometimes I find it hard to say if they're put on by upbringing or society, or if they're really personal limits. But then, our personality is no doubt formed and strongly influenced by our upbringing and by the society we live in.
 

prufrock21

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Jun 2, 2011
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I've always been willing to trust the artist, especially Mr. King. Even when he writes for extreme shock value, what he calls the gross-out. If he can't get you with literary style (The Last Gunslinger), multiple characters point of view (The Stand), compelling story line (Joyland), historical speculation (11-22-63), vampires, werewolves and other fearful creatures of the night, then he'll get you where you'll feel it the most: the gut and the stomach. Some might call this going too far. So be it. I believe early on he promised himself he wouldn't apologize for anything he wrote, and, as things have worked out, he was right, since most of his work is still in print.

And his fans are legion.
 

mjs9153

Peripherally known member..
Nov 21, 2014
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What? I don't remember this at all, maybe I need to reread Dr Sleep, I just don't recall that..seems more than a bit weird..
I think I figured it out..I never read Dr Sleep! I think I read the excerpt that was posted here on the website, and thinking that I read it I overlooked(overlooked, did you catch that haha) buying that book. I can't believe it, I have SK books all over, I believe I have every one, but that one.. oh well, have to save the pennies to get this one too, I just bought Sleeping Beauties.. ;)
 

Wayoftheredpanda

Flaming Wonder Telepath
May 15, 2018
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I think "too far" is and should be for the reader to decide. Have you ever read Jack Ketchum or Bentley Little? Both are very popular horror fiction writers, and both take things so much farther than Stephen King. I even commented to the BF once about how the subject of a story by Bentley Little made me really uncomfortable. His response to me was "It's called horror for a reason. It's not supposed to be a feel good story."
The_Store.html
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, sounds a little familiar, but I just can't put my finger on it
 

Steffen

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2015
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No one here can "hate" you for expressing your opinion. "Too far," however, is precisely one of the main reasons why he's The King: he'll take you down the road that few are brave enough to go, and he will show you what's under that moldy old coffin lid. And he will do it all while still keeping the story firmly anchored in the human experience.

Then one day he'll wake up and decide to write a story like "Laurie," which will break your damn heart but you'll smile anyway.

If that's going too far, then I'll continue along with him.
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
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The_Store.html
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, sounds a little familiar, but I just can't put my finger on it
I don't get it. The book I was reading at the time was The House.