Stephen King Fans discussion

What non-King books are we all currently reading?
About to begin 'Dark Matter' by Blake Crouch - looking forward to it!

I'm currently reading "Return of the Crimson Guard" by Ian C Esslemont. A part of the Malazan series of books

Currently reading The Shining, but recently fell in love with the Sigma series by James Rollins.

Storm light archive words of radiance. Pure epicness:D

Nick wrote: "What non-King books are we all currently reading?
About to begin 'Dark Matter' by Blake Crouch - looking forward to it!"

You won't regret it---incredible read that unfortunately goes so fast you'll be dying for more!

I recently finished Night Film and really enjoyed it. I was very close to giving it 5 stars.

Shell wrote: "I recently finished Night Film and really enjoyed it. I was very close to giving it 5 stars."

I did give it five stars... thought it was incredible.

Nick wrote: "Shell wrote: "I recently finished Night Film and really enjoyed it. I was very close to giving it 5 stars."

I did give it five stars... thought it was incredible."

It was so clever, probably one of, if not the best book I've read this year. I think I actually read it after hearing how much you enjoyed it Nick, so thanks for the recommendation!

Shell wrote: "Nick wrote: "Shell wrote: "I recently finished Night Film and really enjoyed it. I was very close to giving it 5 stars."

I did give it five stars... thought it was incredible."

It..."

Kind of a multi-media book. I think I did all the interactive stuff, can't remember, but even the newspaper clippings etc really helped.

Nick wrote: "Shell wrote: "Nick wrote: "Shell wrote: "I recently finished Night Film and really enjoyed it. I was very close to giving it 5 stars."

I did give it five stars... thought it was in..."

Thanks for reminding me - I meant to check out the interactive stuff online and I'd forgotten. I'm going to go and do that right now!

I just got a copy of S. because I thought it might have a similar feel to it, but now that it has arrived I can see that it is going to be quite different. It is so clever though - very hard to describe, but a beautiful book to own. I don't think I've ever seen a book quite like it.

Every time someone posts a link to S. I get excited thinking they are reading S.! It's a pity we have so few words that titles resurface. O_o

I am excited, but daunted at the thought of reading it Kandice! I feel a bit like I don't know where to start... but I guess I just start at the beginning!

The authors I have read in the last month or so:

Brian Keene
Darcy Coates
Blake Crouch
William H. Johnston (his horror books)

I am liking so far...Darktown

Kandice wrote: "Every time someone posts a link to S. I get excited thinking they are reading S.! It's a pity we have so few words that titles resurface. O_o"

Wow! So this is interesting S. vs S.! in other words, JJ Abrams. vs John Updyke. The premise of S. (Abrams) sounds so intriguing. Plus there was his great work as the executive producer of 11.22.63. I may give it a try. The concept reminds me a little bit of Night Film, you know... more than a book, almost multimedia. S.! sounds interesting too though.

I just finished The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon. It was a sorta creepy/supernatural-ish book that flashes back and forth from the 1900s to now. Enjoyable read.

Three Hours by Chris Mooney
The Jungle by Clive Cussler

With Peter Straub contributing to some of King's novels, I suggest: Ghosts by Peter Straub

I recommend giving his son's a try - writes as Joe Hill.

I am currently reading Savages by Greg F. Gifune. Took me a while to get into it buy I must say I am enjoying it.

I'm reading Boy's Life by Robert McCammon. A few fellow Stephen King fans had suggested checking him out and I'm really glad I did. His writing has a very comfortable flow to it like King's, in my opinion.

Reading NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. (S. K's. son)

Mike wrote: "I just finished The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon. It was a sorta creepy/supernatural-ish book that flashes back and forth from the 1900s to now. Enjoyable read."

I read The Winter People earlier this year and really enjoyed it! I loved the jumps back and forth in time, and the book was wonderfully creepy! Definitely one I would recommend.

I would also recommend to my fellow King fans The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Luiz Zafon and Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan.

Amanda wrote: "I'm reading Boy's Life by Robert McCammon. A few fellow Stephen King fans had suggested checking him out and I'm really glad I did. His writing has a very comfortable flow to it like King's, in my ..."

Check out Swan Song by McCammon - Very "The Stand"-ish.
I also really, really, really liked The Five.
Along with Boy's Life, my three favorite McCammon books!

I'm currently reading Dark rivers of the heart by Dean Koontz

The Troop - if you liked Dreamcatcher (and maybe It)
Kubrick's Game - If you're not still angry about the Shining
Something Wicked This Way Comes - If you want to read one of SK's influences

Todd wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I'm reading Boy's Life by Robert McCammon. A few fellow Stephen King fans had suggested checking him out and I'm really glad I did. His writing has a very comfortable flow to it like..."

I'm very curious about Swan Song. I've got it on my to-read list.

If you are into epic Fantasy, try reading the Wheel of times series it's long slow but a very good series, 14 vol and over 11,000 pages.

mrbooks wrote: "If you are into epic Fantasy, try reading the Wheel of times series it's long slow but a very good series, 14 vol and over 11,000 pages."

I really need to read those! They are on my list.

I liked Swan Song but was very aware of it's similarities to The Stand the entire time I was reading.

I enjoyed the first half of Swan Song, but felt he kinda gave up for the second half. Generally I really enjoy McCammon's work. For completely non-horror work, but with a similar approach to character development, try out Robertson Davies. The Cornish Trilogy: The Rebel Angels; What's Bred in the Bone; The Lyre of Orpheus is my favourite, though you can't really go wrong with anything. Plus he was Canadian!

For those who like King's It, I'd recommend Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. Its similar in theme and setting. Group of kids in the 50 or 60's (I forget which) who discover their school is haunted and strange things are going on. The kids band together to try and stop it. Personally I'd say it surpasses It simply because it avoids a lot of the filler that It has though its still a lengthy book in its own right. While it certainly does sound similar in theme / setting it stands well on its own and doesn't feel derivative. Simmons is a very good writer who has won numerous writing awards including the Hugo award, the main thing keeping him from being a big name in writing is that he jumps genres all the time having written in horror, sci fi, crime noir, alternative history, thriller etc.

Thanks Rik!

The Devil's detective
Simon Kurt unworth ( if I'm not mistaken his last name )
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Amazing read

This is the on my list to read next and IT looks awesome
Check out Alliance: The Beginning by Sal Ardisi
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Where do I start?

I've already seen some great recommendations, such as;

Robert McCammon.
Peter Straub
Dan Simmons

and many others...

To add to the above Authors...

For Robert McCammon, check out, "Gone South". As stated above, a very fluid writer, much like SK. This book has you gripped within the first 2 chapters and holds you in suspense throughout. Great read.

For Peter Straub, check out, "Ghost Story". Although not quite as frightening these days (I read it just this year) it contains nothing but memorable characters and a rather twisting plot.

For Dan Simmons, there are MANY. I personally loved the Hyperion series. It is Sci-FI/Horror and is written much more density than your typical SK book with multiple plot lines to follow and a plethora of characters to enjoy.

Other Authors/Books to look for:

Philip K. Dick - Literally anything by PKD is absolutely phenomenal. My favorites are, "Ubik", "Our Friends From Frolix 8", "A Scanner Darkly" & "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" <-- this is the story that Blade Runner is based on.

Clive Barker - "The Great and Secret Show". A complex, new age (If you consider the nineties, "New Age" HA) Horror novel from the genius who brought you Hellraiser and so many more.

Neil Gaiman - "American Gods" - Enough Said.

Alastair Reynolds - "Revelation Space" - This entire series is a fascinating space opera that is as dense as as it is heady.

Michael Crichton - "Sphere", "Eaters of the Dead", "Congo", "The Andromeda Strain" - If you think Jurraisic Park is the only thing worth a damn in Crichton's universe, then read The Andromeda Strain (Don't watch the movie, very corny).



So many more. Hope these get a few reads. I can attest to their greatest!

I second Straub’s “Ghost Story”...love that novel. Another great read that I had recently was “A Simple Plan” by Scott Smith.

I'm currently reading Reviver by Seth Patrick. So for its been a pretty good read.

Has anyone here read the Nathaniel Cade books by Christopher Farnsworth? The books are Blood Oath, The President's Vampire, and Red, White and Blood. Basically they are about a secret agent vampire sworn to protect the President of the United States. They are really good.

Lots of good recommendations here.
Noticed Swan Song. Read that quite some time ago. I don’t think it resembles The Stand in any way, I’m not sure why people feel that? Regardless the first half was incredible and then I felt it got pretty weak unfortunately.
I must recommend and encourage everyone to read John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series. It starts off as a crime series with a touch of supernatural but by the 5th book it gets deeper and deeper into the supernatural end of things. I’ve read up to book 7 and Connolly is officially my second favourite author behind Mr. King.

Glen wrote: "Lots of good recommendations here.
Noticed Swan Song. Read that quite some time ago. I don’t think it resembles The Stand in any way, I’m not sure why people feel that? Regardless the first half w..."

I'm thinking the similarity between the stand and swan song is only that they are post-apocalyptic. Interestingly, the nature of the cause of the disaster gives you two different worlds, or even 3 if you add in The Road. Nuclear Winter vs a clean world that gets even cleaner because the human population was wiped out by disease.

I really need to read The Road. I watched the movie and was disturbed for a good week. Honestly, end of the world scenarios play on my mind. I live in a heavily populated city in Edmonton, Canada and with a world ending crisis there is just no escaping the tendrils of the sprawling landscape of the city. As soon as there’s a couple accidents you’re basically boxed in!
The Road showed just how the human species can degrade to a former lizard like thought pattern in regards to sheer survival. Scares the crap out of you!
So ya, I need to read the book! Haha!

Yes Glen you really need to read the road. It is well worth the time it takes to read.

If anyone is looking for a milder novel, in the same vein as A Boy's Life or The Body, then I recommend Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. There is a lot of religion within it but it is a fantastic book.

I'm starting The Hunger by Alma Katsu which is a book recommended by SK.

Dianne you will like the Hunger Games.

mrbooks wrote: "Dianne you will like the Hunger Games."
I've read each of The Hunger Games at least 3 times and loved them. Also listened to the Audio books. Did you read The Hunger?

Oh yes I have read the books multiple times as well. I have also listened to the audio books. But if it's YA it has to be Harry Potter. Also Miss peregrines series.

I haven't finished the Miss Peregrines series. I also loved the hungar games trilogy and of course Harry Potter.

Having read plenty of Stephen King books I recently read a novel called The Mother of all Things by Gabriel Blake. It was brilliant. Quite dark and scary at times, well it was for me.