Stephen King Fans discussion

Matthewcross87 wrote: "has any one read this and watched the tv series if so does it mostly stay true to the book ?"

The series is almost nothing like the book besides the premise of the dome itself.

Matthewcross87 wrote: "wow the show has me hooked , some thing tell me that the book is going to be far better though"


I really enjoyed the first season of the show, despite it's variance from the source material, but the second season went off the rails and felt genuinely stupid by the end.

I think the first season tried hard to at least capture the spirit of the book... then all kinds of nonsense was added that really deviated from the book and from the heart of the story. Not sure what happened but half way through season 2, I just gave up. Having said that, I read the book three times and loved it.

I just don't understand why Stephen allows the producers to deviate from his books, which are always the death blow. As far as under the dome, the book....what a story! But I truly did not like the characters that just took over; man I simply hated them and was happy to see them die. My favorite and hero was Dale Barbie...

As someone who currently has a book that has been optioned for both film and television The Fourth Monkey I can tell you the author has very little control over this entire process. In my case, The Fourth Monkey novel is long and large chunks will need to be cut for the film. On the television end, they have to keep the story going beyond the book and producers/writers keep that in mind before they shoot the first scene - they will make changes early on in order to get those few extra seasons out of it. In my opinion, the best outcome for an author who options his/her novel is something like True Detective on HBO, something shot with a beginning, middle, and end all in mind from the start. Allowing for that full loop allows everyone to stay true to the original story. Under the Dome is a great book but you really need to watch the series as a standalone. These stories take on new life once they leave the author's desk and land in the hand's of others. Hope this helps!

Kenneth wrote: "I just don't understand why Stephen allows the producers to deviate from his books, which are always the death blow. As far as under the dome, the book....what a story! But I truly did not like the..."

King always says that when adaptations are made from his books and they deviate (with the exception of The Shining) he's okay with it because his book is still right there on the shelf. It doesn't change what he wrote or his story.

This is one of King's novels that I just couldn't finish. I tried a couple of times to put it down and go back later but it didn't work. Then that series came out, I watched a few episodes and thought I'm glad I didn't finish it, as I couldn't stand that either. Something about it just didn't sit well..

You're right about the series. It was terrible. But I did enjoy the book.

After series one the it went to hell in a hand basket.

mrbooks wrote: "After series one the it went to hell in a hand basket."

I thought season one started off okay, but as it went along I could see it drifting in the wrong direction. I liked the first show of season two and then it just collapsed.

You got farther then I did then.

mrbooks wrote: "You got farther then I did then."

Yes, and since my wife wouldn't watch it, it became a solitary experience. I'm having the same problem with American Gods.

As I was leaving work today I watched a prop plain fly overhead and could not help but think how under the dome started kind of freaked me out then along came the helicopter making its emergency landing then reality came back and was thinking of Mash and bringing in the wounded....

I really liked the map at the beginning of the book... totally awesome since it gave me something to follow... another successful author that puts a lot of maps in his book is James Rollins....

Kenneth wrote: "I really liked the map at the beginning of the book... totally awesome since it gave me something to follow... another successful author that puts a lot of maps in his book is James Rollins...."

You are right, Kenneth, I love James Rollins.

The copy of the Lord of the rings has maps in it. I also remember the Shanara series has maps, I am a sucker for maps the more maps in a book the happier I am.

The lord of the rings are on my list to read after I complete the dark tower
Another good read that has a good map is the lost city of Z

Kenneth wrote: "I really liked the map at the beginning of the book... totally awesome since it gave me something to follow... another successful author that puts a lot of maps in his book is James Rollins...."

mrbooks wrote: "The copy of the Lord of the rings has maps in it. I also remember the Shanara series has maps, I am a sucker for maps the more maps in a book the happier I am."

Maybe we should start a Cartographiliac Bibliophiles group. :p

I've got a folder full of SFF maps.

Just s started this one... I had watched the show, and liked it well enough...I mean it started great, but tapered, but at least had to see how they wrapped it up!

Anyone, it seems there are a lot of differences between the book and show. Like Junior and Angie, Norie's backstory, Joe's persona, "the great pumpkin" etc. Interested to see how this continues to differ from the show.

I stoped watching after half to three quarters of the way through the first series. It differed from the book and ruined it for me.

mrbooks wrote: "I stoped watching after half to three quarters of the way through the first series. It differed from the book and ruined it for me."

Yeah, I definitely had the benefit of not having read the book first

I will say, the cow splitting in half was one of the coolest things I've ever seen in TV and probably better than a woodchuck

Marcus wrote: "I will say, the cow splitting in half was one of the coolest things I've ever seen in TV and probably better than a woodchuck"

I agree with that Marcus. But in spite of the dissected cow, the series was really weak, I thought. I watched into the second season and then just gave up. It was very disappointing.

I'm about 60% through the book, and it is very different from the show...it's interesting because there are some really good characters and plots from the book that did not make the show (though I can understand cutting out things like the rape scene)... And on the other hand, a ton of stuff they put in the show that does not seem to have any basis in the book.

The pink stars falling for instance. It actually made sense in the book. And Junior is so much creepier and menacing in the book. Rusty is a great character.

The show is a HOLLOW SHELL OF THE WONDERFUL WHOLE THAT THE BOOK'S STORY IS! --Jen from Quebec :0) (Although, to be fair, I watched the show religiously, as it was as much as we were able to get of the awesomeness of this underrated novel)

About 90% done and wondering how he is going to wrap everything up by the end. Really like it.

I understand why they needed to add to the story to turn it into a multi-season show (there just aren't enough story beats in the book), and I appreciate they tied some if it to things that were hinted at in the book (Black ops conspiracies etc). But for the interpersonal town stuff, I don't get why they deviated so much from the book. Rusty, Linda, Piper, Carol, Thurston, Andi, Carter, etc. Are all much more interesting characters than the side characters introduced on the show.

Well, Chef's endgame was (view spoiler)[ a heck of a lot more devastating than I expected. It left me a bit unsatisfied for two reasons. First, it made everything else that happened earlier almost irrelevant. What does it matter who murdered who, who was in charge of what, whether the newspaper burned down, what happened to the Vadar file, etc. None of it had an impact on the resolution of the story, other than that the group was lucky to be in hiding and this survived the fire. Second, none of the heroes even had an opportunity to prevent the cataclysm. They were able to save themselves mostly, and that was it). (hide spoiler)]. Interested in others thoughts.

On the whole, I liked it though. I wish some of the stuff in the show has been more faithful to the book.

Marcus wrote: "Well, Chef's endgame was [spoilers removed]. Interested in others thoughts.

On the whole, I liked it though. I wish some of the stuff in the show has been more faithful to the book."

It's been a long time, but what Chef did seemed unexpected but still logical to me. And I don't think it shortcut the ending of the story or reduced the importance of the story elements. I read the book three times I think but quite a while ago so I'm just going by distant memory. But I sure don't remember being outraged by (view spoiler)[the fire and its consequences (hide spoiler)]. Your very right about the show should have been more faithful to the book.

The book was absolutely better than the series.

Of course it is, there is no way a TV series or movie can match let alone beat the book.

My favorite character was Dale Barbara a.k.a Barbie

I started listening to it again a couple of days ago if anybody wants to discuss with me. I'm about 15% in.

I have just finished this one and I don't think I expected to enjoy it as much as i did. Not exactly in a fun way, as anyone who's read it and knows the outcome can guess...but i loved how the characters drove the plot. Things seemed to happen for reasons, sometimes trivial and stupid, but human. With the exception of existence of the dome and the leatherheads and whatnot. I don't know maybe its just the honeymoon phase of finishing a novel and I'll remember all the flaws tomorrow but I really enjoyed reading this one.

I loved it too. Far better than the TV series.