Steven King slams Twilight

[mandragora]

Well, I would debate his opinion that Rowling is a "terrific writer" - she was quite good in the earlier books, but after a time it went downhill. IMO. Then again, I don't think King is a "terrific writer" either.

But while I have a few issues with Rowling's latest books, I'll have to give her that: I don't recall her throwing a colleaque under the bus like that, and I doubt she ever will. Yes, he's entitled to his opinion, but there's still such a thing as tact.

 

[JNG]

You'd be challenged to find any real writers who'd disagree with him.

 

[Stevil2001]

Of course, depending of your definition of "real", most would put King in the same bucket as Meyer, too.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Someone asking to get hit by a car again.

One probably driven by teenage girls.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Of course, depending of your definition of "real", most would put King in the same bucket as Meyer, too.

Depending on your definition of any word, you can can find anyone to agree with anything.

No matter what we think about Stephen King and his legacy as an author in the history of American literature, it's hard to deny that he's a very skilled writer. He knows things like characterization, suspense, structure, dialogue, plot, exposition, etc. You know, the basics. His point was that Meyer does not. And no, I don't think that most writers would put Stephen King in the same bucket as Stephenie Meyer.

 

[Kelso]

That's tame. Call me when Harlan Ellison weighs in.

Someone asking to get hit by a car again.

One probably driven by teenage girls.

You're assuming that Twilight fans are old enough to drive.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Oh I don't know, but just coming out now to criticize someone else's work. This author isn't competing against him.

Dean Koontz is, who also gets a slagging...

 

[Praetor]

Well, the man does have an ego, that's for certain, and in some ways it might be a bit impolite to say what he said. And some of his more recent work has been rather repetitive. That said, it's his opinion, and since it's Stephen King, given how prolific and successful he's been, his opinion definitely counts for something and I happen to agree, except I would argue with just how good a writer J.K. Rowling actually is.

If Rowling really wrote those books. There, I said it.

 

[shanejayell]

Anyway, in honor of Meyer and King, I will now do that voodoo that I do so well and send this to SF&F. Wheee-ooooo.

Whoops, wasn't sure where to post it.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

I'm not a fan of Stephen King books. However I do have to concede the man does know his craft. Technically his writing and characterization and sense of plot is very solid.

 

[Sci]

Well, I would debate his opinion that Rowling is a "terrific writer" - she was quite good in the earlier books, but after a time it went downhill. IMO. Then again, I don't think King is a "terrific writer" either.

I think Rowling's earlier books weren't all that well-written, and that her style and voice matured a great deal as the HP books went on.

 

[JoeZhang]

Thank god for the "unprofessional" - professional seems to have become a code word for people being mealy mouthed.

I'm much rather read someone's honest views than yet another interview where someone says "well it's not my type of material but..."

You might as well go and work in a call centre if you are an artist who doesn't speak their mind - what the fuck is the point otherwise?

 

[Praetor]

Thank god for the "unprofessional" - professional seems to have become a code word for people being mealy mouthed.

I'm much rather read someone's honest views than yet another interview where someone says "well it's not my type of material but..."

You might as well go and work in a call centre if you are an artist who doesn't speak their mind - what the fuck is the point otherwise?

QFT. We reach.

 

[Norrin Radd]

He must really hate her books, because he's not normally outspoken like this.

 

[John Picard]

Wow, that was incredibly professional of him.

He was asked his opinion and he gave it. It's not as if he completely ripped into her; he merely stated he didn't believe that she was a good writer but that she came up with a compelling story. There's nothing unprofessional about that in the slightest.

Exactly. If you don't want something, you dont ask for it. You also cant expect everything you want to turn out the way you want it to.

And what would you rather he of done? Lie? And if he did, is that anymore professional than the truth that was told in this case?

The problem is that in the last 20 years people have been trained to be concerned about someone's feelings. People can no longer handle criticism -- constructive or otherwise.

 

[Starbreaker]

Riot in the streets! Burn your copies of Salem's Lot!!!

 

[trekkerguy]

Woohoohoohoo! Take it to 'em Mr. King.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I agree with him on all points. Meyer sucks, Rowling rocks, Koontz sucks sometimes!

 

[Mike Farley]

I guess a 'salem's Lot/Twilight crossover is out of the picture then, huh?

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Hell hath no fury like a Twilight fangirl scorned.

I dare not even imagine what is being said about Mr. King on Twilight message boards right now!

I imagine they are saying he is old and also a poo poo head.

As for King, I respect his comments a hell of a lot more than I would if he gave a deflective statement like "I haven't read it," or "people say she's great."