The Tommyknockers by Stephen King (1988)
At one point in this book a character is told in a flashback that "Poetry and politics rarely mix, poetry and propaganda never do." Pity Stephen King did not listen to his own advise when writing this book, which I still consider to be the weakest of his career.
Bobbi Anderson literally stumbles over a flying saucer while walking in the woods on her expansive Maine property. She feels compelled to start digging it up and nearly dies trying to do so before she is confronted, and eventually aided, by her old poet friend, James Gardner ("Gard"). Gard is on the run from his drunken past in which he cannot stop spouting anti-nuclear power propaganda even at posh cocktail parties, but he is also immune to the mind-changing properties of the alien ship because of a steel plate in his head.
The book mixes some Science Fiction elements in with a claustrophobic small-town horror story. There are characters a-plenty and some of them are very likable or sympathetic. The problem here is the preponderance of propaganda that King throws our way, making it very obvious that he is in the anti-nuke crowd--the crowd which consistently makes lots of noise while failing to offer any workable alternatives (sorry, solar and wind power still don't count 20 years later).
The small-town subject matter is not a new one for King, but he has done it far better than he does here. If you really need to read a book critiquing and satirizing the dynamics of small-town New England, try Needful Things, It, or Under the Dome.
Also, I caught a bit of the made-for-TV movie airing just after finishing reading this book. I honestly thought it could not be worse than the book...I was wrong!
Honestly, it wasn't that bad. When you consider that Stephen King was abusing substances as he wrote this, the fact that he was able to use a comparative element within the main character is profound. Most people with a problem wouldn't admit it to themselves, much less create a strong main character who admits such a fault and yet is still able to overcome it. Yes, many parts of this book could've been changed or even left out entirely, but it was decidedly not a failure. Your review is not even remotely helpful, as it contains absolutely nothing that anyone who already read the book doesn't know for themselves. Next time, try a little genuine insight.
ReplyDeleteWe have a difference of opinion...I've read this book twice and I believe that "Yes, it is that bad." Good or bad fiction isn't dependent on whether the author was abusing substances at the time; it's not graded on a scale.
DeleteAlso, I think you've missed the point of this missive. This is not a "review" so much as a recommendation based on my own opinions. It is not meant to delve into the deep content of the book, so much as to give a general Thumbs Up or Down for those who haven't read the book and may want an opinion on something new to read.
But, hey...glad you enjoyed the book and that you took the time to write. Next time, feel free to post under your real name and try to avoid personal attacks.