"Don't **** the people over for too long," A journey through the past with Stephen King.
I’ve been batting around the idea of writing a diary like this for several books now. You see, I’ve been working my way through an extended reading list for The Dark Tower that includes over 40 books. While the series itself falls firmly in the sci-fi/fantasy category, the list includes a huge amount of King’s other work and most of that work so far has been modern fiction set between about 1950 and 1985. I’m an older millennial myself so it’s been interesting to look back into a world I literally just missed. King tends to write about fictional people, not current (past) events, so I generally only get glimpses and I was a solid few books in before I started to extract the leanings of a diary.
I think it was while reading The Talisman (1984) when that first happened. The main character encountered a person who’s...
...parents, born-again Christians who fell down on their knees in the living room whenever anyone on The 700 Club began to say a prayer.
I thought to myself, “My God, that crazy goat Robertson has been at this longer than I’ve been alive and I’m pushing 40.” I was alive in 1984 but I looked it up and that rickety shit show has been rolling along since 1966. Fifty one fucking years…
What strikes me about this and other things as I take these trips across America and back through time are the things that have changed that shouldn’t have, the things that haven’t changed that probably should have, and the things everyone knew then and they still know now but often pretend not to. This brings me to the title of my diary. It’s from a book that has, so far, been King’s most politically involved book in my journey: The Dead Zone (1979). In this passage the characters Johnny Smith and Roger Chatsworth are discussing candidates for an election. There is a sitting candidate (Fisher) and a third major character from the book who is running for office as an independent, Stillson. We the reader happen to already know that Stillson is a dangerous psychopath. Johnny and Roger don’t.
“You saw him,“ Roger said, gesturing at the TV set. “The man is a clown. He goes charging around the speaking platform like that at every rally. Throws his helmet into the crowd — I’d guess he’s gone through a hundred of them by now — and gives out hot dogs. He’s a clown, so what? Maybe people need a little comic relief from time to time. We’re running our of oil, the inflation is slowly but surely getting out of control, the average guy’s tax load has never been heavier, and we’re apparently getting ready to elect a fuzzy-minded Georgia cracker president of the United States.” [Rodger is a Republican]
[...]
“[Harrison] never went against the party line in his life
[...]
His speeches have all the excitement of the copy in the National Plumbers Wholesale Catalogue. People don’t know all those things, but they can sense them sometimes. The idea that Harrison Fisher is doing anything for his constituency is just plain ridiculous.”
“So the answer is to elect a loony?”
Chatsworth smiled indulgently. “Sometimes these loonies turn out doing a pretty good job. Look at Bella Abzug. There’s a damn fine set of brains under those crazy hats. But even if Stillson turns out to be as crazy in Washington as he is down in Ridgeway, he’s only renting the seat for two years. They’ll turn him out in ‘78 and put in someone who understands the lesson.”
“The lesson?”
Rodger stood up. “Don’t fuck the people over for too long,” he said, “That’s the lesson. Adam Clayton Powell found out. Agnew and Nixon did, too. Just… don’t fuck the people for too long.”
Other than Nixon I didn’t know any of those names. I looked them up, learned some things, but that’s not what the diary is about. The diary is about the lesson and about Stillson. He’s not a harmless clown. I’m not far enough into the book to know how it’s all going to turn out but a little later Johnny has found out just how incredibly dangerous of a person Stillson really is. He’s talking to another person Ngo, an immigrant (to explain his speaking style), who also seems to understand:
“I am thinking that this Stillson is like a bad tiger with its taste for human meat. I think a trap should be made for him, and I think he should be falling into it. And if he still lives, I think he should be beaten to death.”
[…]
“No,” Johnny said. “But to suggest he should be killed...”
“Politically killed,” Ngo said smiling. “I am only suggesting he should be politically killed.”
“And if he can’t be politically killed?”
Ngo smiled at Johnny. He unfolded his index finger, cocked his thumb, and then snapped it down. “Bam,” he said softly. “Bam, bam, bam.”
“No,” Johnny said, surprised at the hoarseness in his own voice “That’s never an answer. Never.”
“No? I thought it was an answer you Americans used quite often.”
[...]
No. Killing only sows more dragon’s teeth. I believe that. I believe it with all my heart.
So why am I writing this and where is it going? Well, I’m really interested to see where the story goes. Johnny seems to be a fundamentally good person and he knows, for reasons I won’t spoil, that Stillson is a monster. But he’s a monster that no one really takes seriously even as he stands to win a seat in the House of Representatives. There’s a bit of foreshadowing that Stillson probably isn’t going to stop at a 2 year house seat. Bringing things back to reality, let’s see if anything from this book published in 1979 sounds like what we are facing today.
There’s a madman that nobody took seriously but he getting elected because he knows how to work a crowd. He had an opponent but they were blindsided by his rise. At this point, I have good reason to believe that no trap that is set will end him. He may dodge it, he may walk right into it, but either way he will not be politically killed by it or any other trap I can think of.
King talks about learning the lesson to not fuck the people over for too long. To me it seems he’s saying that, when the incumbent party doesn’t help the people for long enough they will be thrown out to teach them a lesson. Unfortunately for the people, they didn’t just throw out the incumbent for a clown. They threw him out for a psychopath and they won’t know that until it’s too late. To me, King seems to be highlighting the danger of a broken system where the only option that voters have to force their politicians to actively work on the people’s behalf is to occasionally toss them out for a crazy person. What happens if that crazy person is actually dangerous? God I hope 1979 Stephen King has an answer for that in the next couple hundred pages…
One final note. Johnny at one point in the book has an extended hospital stay with brain scans, physical therapy, etc… This basically bankrupts him and his parents, indebting them for life to medical bills because it costs him, brace for it now... about $200 a day. I adjusted for inflation and that comes out to about $661.00/day in 2016 dollars. Actual average cost of a night in the hospital today: $4,293 Like I said earlier, it’s interesting to see what’s changed for the worse and what hasn’t changed for the better.
Comments
Thank you so much for writing this
and including the link to the extended reading list for his other books that fit into this series.
I have read almost all of them and more than once. And after they came out on audible, I listened to them. Again. I didn't like Suzanna and I wish he told us why it's important to read it. Do you know?
The Dark Tower was the first book I quit reading in my life. I don't remember how many times I tried reading it, but I finally finished it when his second book came out.
I don't remember reading The Dead Zone, but I remember the movie. Christopher Walkin,was the "dead" man? I will have to get this book now.
I have close to 1,000 audio books and I could probably get through my list faster if I didn't listen to them more than once.
I enjoy the way you go from the fictional character to voting in a total loon (Trump) so that the system resets.
And here I thought this essay was going to be about the Dark Tower series.
The first
King book I read was It This book took two weeks to read and I slept with the bathroom light on the whole time.
I loved the longer version of The Stand. And the only book that I hated was The Tommyknockers. The green light description made me physically ill. Plus I didn't care for the experiments on the beagle. I had just gotten my first one.
Do you read a lot of sci-fi fantasy type books? If so then what is your favorite series?
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
@snoopydawg I'm doing them mostly by
I'm doing them mostly by audiobook as well. My public library has a way to connect and download an audiobook to your phone. Then I can listen when I drive or walk or do whatever as long as it doesn't take much constant focus. This is my first step into reading Stephen King and so far here's what I've read in more or less the order I've read them:
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger, The Stand, The Eyes of the Dragon, The Talisman, Salem's Lot, It (my favorite so far followed by Salem's Lot),The Mist, The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three, and now The Dead Zone.
I've got a long way to go before I get to The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah but on the page I linked he mentions it in conjunction with a number of other works. He says it shares themes with It and The Reploids (which I would have read by now if I could find it). He also connects it with The Colorado Kid but that may be more of a backwards connection in that Susannah is said to explain it and not the other way around. I'm afraid I can't be much help there
I do like a lot of sci-fi/fantasy. For years my first suggestion for sci-fi has always been Dune by Frank Herbert. I think I've owned about 5 copies in my life because when you loan it to someone they have a tendency to not give it back. I have a similar problem with Flogging Molly CD's. The first book is by far the best, the next two are decent, I didn't feel a desire to keep going after the 4th. For fantasy it depends a lot on what you want and if you are willing to pick up a series that is unfinished. If you are, I would recommend Brandon Sanderson's The Way of Kings. If you want a shorter and more complete series you can grab the first Mistborn trilogy by the same author. It's pretty self contained but supposedly all of Sanderson's books will eventually connect in subtle ways like King's works do. If you want something light and quick that will tug at your heart then LLyod Alexander has a lovely little series called The Chronicles of Prydain. If you want something more involved then I have a personal soft spot for Terry Brooks's Shannara books. If you've read all those or want a different setting I'd be more than happy to keep recommending
"...they are not just groups of donors anymore. They are often the kinds of donors that are called super-pacs. No conscience, no empathy. We can talk about why they ended up that way, but first, we have to bring them to heel."
I LOVE Mistborn
I have listened to it at least 5 times. Sazaid is my favorite character in the books. I have tried to listen to The Way of Kings more than once and I just can't get interested in it, but I'm going to keep trying.
Yep. Done the Shannara books. Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series is another favorite of mine. They are better read than listened to because the narrators are different for each book and my pet peeve with this is that the other narrators don't bother to listen to how previous ones pronounce names or how they speak.
Loved the Robert Jordan books up to the 7th one then it seemed like an unending series that wasn't ever going to end or get to the point.
Read Game of Thrones before the series was even thought of. Stopped at 4 because after the red wedding, the next book introduced new characters and again, I had no idea where he was going with the story.
I finally quit relistening to the Rhyra chronicles after I read all 3 trilogies 3 times. Michael Sullivan wrote those.
I think you and I could go on all night, so let's take this to pm, okay?
Yes my library also has audio books and I listen to them on my iPod. I walk twice a day, including during the winter and I listen to my books then. I joined audible in 2005 when iPods first came out. I can't believe that Apple discontinued them. Including the little shuffle. Just gone one day.
I'm listening to Jim Butcher's Furies series. He wrote the Dresden files which I'm sure I've relistened to 5 times.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
The Way of Kings is finished
All 3 books are out and I think that's all of them. I'll look and let you know. You are right. Oathbringer is being released in November. The first book would cost $44 if you are a member and $63 if you aren't.
Audible is a great deal. 2 books a month for $23. Some of the books they sale would cost much more if you bought them through iTunes.
Heh, when I looked for them on audible, my review is on my page and I wrote "I don't get it"
Tell me what you like about them. The other reviews are 5 stars and I'm the only one who doesn't get them
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
two of King's best stories involve absolutely nothing
supernatural or otherworldly: the novellas, The Body and Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. both became very good movies (The Body is the source for Stand By Me.)
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.
snoopy,
If you’re looking for sci-fi/fantasy recommendations, check out Brecht’s last diary and the responding recommendations. There's plenty there to chose from.
Thanks Janis
What day was it published? I keep missing a few of the diaries I used to follow.
WAYR? What type books interest you? I'm open to all most any type especially if they are detailed.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
The title of the diary is Books Go Boom! — Brandon Sanderson's
Mistborn Trilogy’ & other favorite Fantasy and SF Series
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/9/22/1699222/-Books-Go-Boom-Brando...
About books that interest me ...
My interest in Fantasy/ Sci-Fi is very recent, and I can't say if it will last. But, I am reading one that was recommended by DrLori at DKos - Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and it is charming.
Thanks for the link
This is another book that I can't get interested in. And they made a tv series about it and even that didn't interest me. What did you like about it?
You might enjoy Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series. This is one of my favorite series. Or for light fun reading, the Fablehaven series is quite good. This is supposed to be young adult books, but like the Harry Potter series, they start out fun and different, but each book gets deeper. This is another series that I will keep reading.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
I’m only partially (one third) through reading the book,
but what I find charming so far are its characters (especially Stephen and Jonathan and Miss Wintertowne); and its positioning of the place of magic in the ‘bigger picture’ of things. Plus, I think the quality of writing is good. I will at some point check out the “Mistborn Trilogy” because of your and Brecht’s recommendations. Thank you.
I think I'm going to need more years to live
I have added so many new books to my need to read list I don't think I'm going to live long enough to finish it. Maybe if I quit relistening to them I'll finish it. This is another side effect from my tbi that I can read the same book or watch a movie and it's like the first time I've done it. No complaints though, it's a good thing.
Brecht has such a wonderful way with words I felt that I was reading a book instead of a diary. The way that he described Mistborn put me in the room with Vin.
Let me know if you do read it. Brandon has written a few sequels to it, but they are 300 years in the future. Good, but not quite the same connection with the characters as in Mistborn.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
I will let you know, snoopy.
Everything experienced for the first time, over and again, must be a blessing.
@janis b Oh yes, I loved
Oh yes, I loved that book. Meteor Blades said it was also the best audiobook reading he has ever listened to. I've only read it.
If you like Jonathan Strange, you would probably love any book by Tim Powers, one of my favorite writers.
"Bi-polar? I'm Bi-winning!!!" -- Charlie Sheen
Some of my favorite Sci-fi series books (not stand alones)
David Brin - The Uplift series
Iain M Banks - his books in The Culture series were incredible (as are most of his books) I remember thinking, "This is a universe I would LOVE to live in, despite it's flaws." while reading it.
And one can never go wrong with Asimov's Foundation series.
That should keep ya busy for a couple days.
I am a voracious reader (average between 3-5 novels a week, about 70% sci-fi/Fantasy.) so if you need more suggestions I probably got a couple more.
"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me
Thank you for your suggestions
I will look to see if the library has these books on audio. I just checked the number of books in my audio library and I have 180 and most of them haven't been listened to yet.
I am currently listening to Jim Butcher's Furies Series. I have forgotten the name of it.
He also wrote the Dresden files and I do hope that he isn't finished with Harry yet.
James Marsters (of Buffy the Vampire Killer fame) narrates these books. He wasn't available to narrate Ghost Story, but when he was, he did it even though another narrator had already done it. Audible has GREAT customer service and when Marsters re-narrated it, they let us download it for free.
They also have a return and no questions asked if you don't like the book you purchased which I have done a few times.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
I enjoy Jim Butcher's work too! Very light, entertaining reads.
If you liked the Dresden Files check out Shayne Silvers The Temple Chronicles. Very similar style and lots of fun.
If you have Kindle Unlimited all 9 of those in that series are available. (I have found a lot of really good unknown authors on Kindle Unlimited and the rate I go through books $9/mo is a bargain for me.)
"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me
I just finished a conversation
about why Trump won. The analysis went this way:
Hillary is inhuman. a monster. A lovecraftian horror. Even people who don't think so feel it. I mentioned the Quadaffi story and the Honduran children story. If you still believe in the American mythos you cannot admit that someone that prominent could be that evil, so you can't react rationally.
But along comes Trump. He comes across like a frat boy at a kegger - mocking Hillary, but about the truth. That you can respond to without threatening your illusions. You can vote for Trump because he is saying what you feel, you know, without having to face the consequences of that realization. You can vote against Hillary because she's a laughing stock, not because she's an omnicidal maniac. You can vote for Trump because he's a joke, and just a joke.
Jokes don't hurt anybody, do they? Well, not compared to lovecraftian horrors, right?
On to Biden since 1973
doh 1304
I don’t know anything about lovecraftian horror, but I do know that Trump is, and is not, a joke who hurts everyone.
You are right
My remark was referring to those who identify with people who hide their cruelty behind a snarky sense of "humor". These people really are poisonous, and if they ever get in power, well Trump shows what happens.
On to Biden since 1973
@doh1304 Alligator Ed made a
Alligator Ed made a similar point about Clinton being on the other side and I responded to that.
Honestly, I don't know that the majority of the public is informed enough to take a stance against Clinton because of things like Honduras or Libya, but I do think they can look at her and ask the question of if this person seems like they are just going to keep fucking them over for another four years.
"...they are not just groups of donors anymore. They are often the kinds of donors that are called super-pacs. No conscience, no empathy. We can talk about why they ended up that way, but first, we have to bring them to heel."
I think hatred of Hillary is for many people visceral.
I knew a woman who looked at a portrait from the 16th century and described the person in the portrait as "catshit". Subtleties of expression, of tone of voice, of choice of wording or subject matter - people can see clues to character and for many people those impressions are obviously right.. You don't have to know about her joking about slut shaming a 12 year old rape victim, or even her "super predators" remark. All you need is to see how she treated that BLM protestor who called her out on the super predators remark. Her response was glaringly condescending and malicious. Personally she makes my muscles tense and my fists clench. I look about for a weapon subconsciously.
On to Biden since 1973
doh1304, pretty convoluted comment, ...redacted parts
I really missed a snark tag from you on this sentence, but as there is none, the best I can do is to think your comment is a joke and yes, that one doesn't hurt me.
Redacted the rest. It's not worth it to even discuss it. Sorry for having responded at all.
https://www.euronews.com/live
I have been wondering how much of what he's doing
is just another part of the scripted play and that everyone he offends is in on it.
It's sad to be this cynical, but one never knows what's supposed to be reality in this messed up country. This is not my fault though. They have been playing games with us for far too long.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
I think much of what he does is a part of the show.
Unfortunately or fortunately, he doesn't get how much of his audience hates him. I think he is genuinely surprised by some of the backlashes he gets. I think he likes toying with people, watching them get pissed off. He plays the media to perfection.
I think Trump's biggest asset is that he is most likely to continue to fuck everyone over for another four years and do the most to change the system. Blow it up/burn it down. Nothing else will work if we want the system to change. Trump will do both.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
@dkmich
Plus, we hear a lot about various dreadful things he's doing. There would have been media silence on the Clintons, despite their doing much the same things...
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
Neither of them can reach the heights
of Lovecraftian horror of the Bush-Cheney administration. We tend to be historically myopic when judging these things. Bush gave us the blood shed and chaos of the Iraq War, Abu Ghraib, Bagram, black site prisons, extraordinary rendition, Gitmo, The Patriot Act, "legally" and normalized codified state-torture. Trump, as awful as he is, has so far been mostly an ineffective buffoon, issuing dumbass tweets that make fragile people collapse onto their fainting couches.
Strange how we lived through Bush not so long ago and yet we forget so soon about how awful he was.
"Bi-polar? I'm Bi-winning!!!" -- Charlie Sheen
How do you know he writes his own tweets?
And if he does, isn't that enough of a reason to argue he is completely incompetent to be a commander in chief AND the President?
https://www.euronews.com/live
He is incompetent.
Thank God for that small blessing. If Pence were president, the ACA would already be long gone.
"Bi-polar? I'm Bi-winning!!!" -- Charlie Sheen
@Dumbo
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news... but better forewarned than getting that surprise forearm in the throat.
http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/dick-cheney-key-donald-trump-adviser/201...
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
Almost Nostradamus
The Stephen King story as you relate it, omits the other Psychopath running for election, if we are to take this at the presidential level.
My favorite sci-fi authors are the macabre genius Philip K. Dick and Robert Heinlein.
@Alligator Ed Sure. As you can
Sure. As you can probably see from my signature I'm not Clinton's biggest fan but this book is older than the candidacy of Hilary Clinton. I did try to account for it with something I think was very true this past year and seems to have spanned the years since all the way back when the book was written. The average voter looked at Clinton and saw someone promising to keep that train of fucking them over running right along the track and they weren't going to vote for that.
"...they are not just groups of donors anymore. They are often the kinds of donors that are called super-pacs. No conscience, no empathy. We can talk about why they ended up that way, but first, we have to bring them to heel."
Scary interesting when sci-fi turns into sci-fact
King (a surname I share, we were certainly wishers then) reinforced my clown
distrust. Back to Old Yeller and fear of rabies. Now Lyme disease. No time for fear, I have a smoke detector uninstalled. At least there is a fresh battery there. And a wood ladder in the hallway.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Remember Garfield the cat cartoon?
Someone asked him what was his favorite book and he said "Old Yeller" because he liked books that had a happy ending
Ahh, the memories of Garfield. Great sarcasm.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
There are a number of boogeymen
stalking the world today, and I suppose Trump is one of them. But at least he's more clearly visible than many of the others. He attracts a lot of attention that might be better focused elsewhere.
native
Dark Tower series
I thought the first four books of the series were some of King's best.
But the last three were just plain awful. Especially the finale.
I agree with you about the finale
I thought that was a cop out way to end this huge tale and hope that he will rewrite it one day.
My favorite book in the series was the Wasteland because of the train's intelligence.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Best SF/Horror book that I've read in the past year is
The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey. It's even better on audiobook, read by Finty McWilliams, the talented daughter of Dame Judith Dench, whom she sounds like.
Also the sequel, The Boy on the Bridge. I'm hoping for a third, to make it a trilogy.
I don't know how to describe Girl without spoiling it. Goodreads has the following blurb
"Bi-polar? I'm Bi-winning!!!" -- Charlie Sheen
Sounds interesting! Added to my kindle list. :)
Thanks for the tip!
"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me
Actually, today's Las Vegas shooting could have been a
Stephen King novel like "Mr. Mercedes." Out of banality comes terror and horror. King has written about the slow build up to awful violence.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"