Stephen Kingis an outright literary legend whose name alone has become synonymous with the written word.
Indeed, a few of his books are genuine doorstoppers, clocking in at over 1000 pages.
These tomes include the epic dark fantasy ofThe Dark Towerand the time-twisting drama of11/22/63.
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They range from post-apocalyptic epics to introspective reflections on trauma and destiny.
As Ralphs sleep deprivation intensifies, he uncovers a secret dimension intertwined with the Dark Tower universe.
While the premise is fairly pulpy,King elevates it substantially withstrong characterization and a lot of philosophical musing.
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As a result,Insomniablends supernatural suspensewith poignant reflections on aging, death, and purpose.
His descriptions are also vivid throughout, particularly when describing Ralph’s trippy visions.
Short story collections are tricky, as some people simply don’t like the format.
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The plots are all engaging, and they head into some truly unnerving territory.
Some of the imagery in “The Sun Dog” is sure to make one’s hair prickle uncomfortably.
“The Dark Toweris probablyKing’s most ambitious project.
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Along the way, the book also links playfully to King’s earlier classic,‘Salem’s Lot.
The Dark Toweras a whole iscommendably bold and grand-scale, though it’s also something of a mixed bag.
There arestretches that get tedious, and sometimes, the books’ grim vibe can be offputting.
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The love story is well-written, revealing a lot about Roland’s character.
King employs lyrical prose to portray the doomed romance, interwoven with intrigue, betrayal, and sacrifice.
Story-wise, it sees Roland and his diminishingka-tetconfronting terrifying obstacles in a multiverse collapsing around them.
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Their fellowship is bruised by loss, betrayal, and uncertainty, though not yet broken.
It was divisive on release, with some fans embracing it and others practically reviling it.
The book got a fair amount of grief, with many mocking its perceived similarity toThe Simpsons Movie.
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The conceit is devilishly simple, and King expands it intoa study of human nature under pressure.
Trapped within the dome, all the townsfolk’s secrets and inner demons begin bubbling to the surface.
Itis a masterful book, representing the author at the height of his powers.
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2'11/22/63' (2011)
849 pages
“The past is obdurate.
It doesn’t want to be changed.
“11/22/63is another King epic thatturns a simple conceit into a vast odyssey.
Epping’s struggle becomes deeply personal as he builds a new life in the past.
This book could easily have collapsed into absurdity, but somehow, King keeps all the plates spinning.
He rewrites history with glee, showing us a raft of famous figures whose lives have been tweaked.
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Only that you were there… and still on your feet.”
It chronicles humanitys desperate struggle for survival in a post-apocalyptic Americadevastated by a superflu pandemic.
The Standis like a dark modern myth, everything intense and larger-than-life.
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