Nataliya's Reviews > The Tommyknockers

You think this is the book where King began to lose it?

I don’t think King ever lost it. He just went off the rails for a moment. I love that he himself in an interview stated that this was an objectively bad book 😂

Nataliya, I must have been fifteen when I read this. I had not read anything like this before. It was so damn filthy and scary! It must have been the first few King books that I read in my life.

Hmmm, I came to it also young (I’m guessing 17-19 or so), but with quite a few King books under my belt already, so I had some of his best works to compare this one to. I recall that King said he was so out of his mind on drugs that this was the result.

I see, OK. I think the Bachman books were my first introduction to King. I literally remember nothing about this book except for the fact that the main male character lost a fortune in gambling.

Back then, I used to think King was a more important, honest and filthier writer than Mario Puzo :)

Cbj wrote: "Back then, I used to think King was a more important, honest and filthier writer than Mario Puzo :)"

Just back then???

Cbj wrote: "I see, OK. I think the Bachman books were my first introduction to King. I literally remember nothing about this book except for the fact that the main male character lost a fortune in gambling."

I did not care much for any of his Bachman books. They seemed meaner and has less of that trademark King character and setting exploration.

King wrote some real stinkers back in the 80's, this just one of them.

I think it’s probably the worst of his. But he also wrote his best works in the 80s as well — “IT” immediately comes to mind.

Read it young too, recall I really liked it to begin with then it became, as Cbj said above "do damn filthy and scary'.
Interesting to read here that king thought there was a good book in there somewhere and I think so too so 20 something yr old me probably wouldn't have given it a one although nowadays me might if I was to reread it.

Nataliya wrote: "I think it’s probably the worst of his. But he also wrote his best works in the 80s as well — “IT” immediately comes to mind."

I didn't say he didn't write any half decent books in the 80's, just that there were a few that were rubbish. The Regulators is another.

Lisa wrote: "Read it young too, recall I really liked it to begin with then it became, as Cbj said above "do damn filthy and scary'.
Interesting to read here that king thought there was a good book in there som..."

I remember being really confused when I read it as a young adult — I loved the other books by King, and this one just felt like it was done by a different author. I was almost tempted to reread it just to see if my assessment of it changes, and then I reread that interview instead and figured that if King himself agrees that it’s not good, I’ll trust my initial impression.

Paul wrote: "Nataliya wrote: "I think it’s probably the worst of his. But he also wrote his best works in the 80s as well — “IT” immediately comes to mind."

I didn't say he didn't write any half decent books i..."

I am just surprised that he attributed the horribleness of this one to drugs and alcohol abuse, but yet at around the same time still wrote some of his best works.

The Regulators was awful as well, and I hated its companion novel, Desperation, as well. When he writes stinkers, they are indeed awful. It’s a good thing that his good books significantly outnumber the stinkers.

I honestly think he needs a good editor, one that can stand up to him. There’s more than one of his books that could be halved in size without losing the plot.

I agree with the comments of both you ladies.
King HAS written more good books than bad. AND he could do with a good editor.
Perhaps his popularity has worked against him in some instances?

I wouldn't rate it a one -- probably a two or three -- but like Dreamcatcher, this is really a mess compared to most of his other books.

Monique wrote: "I honestly think he needs a good editor, one that can stand up to him. There’s more than one of his books that could be halved in size without losing the plot."

So true. That said, I often enjoy his asides - the side stories he had in “IT”, for instance, were really great although they were at least novella-sized each - but yes, trimming the excess would have helped streamline his later offerings a bit.

Paul wrote: "I agree with the comments of both you ladies.
King HAS written more good books than bad. AND he could do with a good editor.
Perhaps his popularity has worked against him in some instances?"

I assume there’s a point where editors back off because who can argue with intimidatingly huge success story?

Kevin wrote: "I wouldn't rate it a one -- probably a two or three -- but like Dreamcatcher, this is really a mess compared to most of his other books."

I preferred Dreamcatcher to this one, although it was also subpar. For me though the ugly trio of King’s stinkers is this one, Desperation and The Regulators.

Those other two were definitely below his standard, although I don't think Desperation was bad enough to be in the Tommyknockers category.

Kevin wrote: "Those other two were definitely below his standard, although I don't think Desperation was bad enough to be in the Tommyknockers category."

I don’t even remember what “Desperation” was about; I just remember absolutely hating it. Maybe someday I’ll reread it to see what my beef with it was, but that would take some book desperation on my end :)

LOL. Desperation was a sociopathic Bachmann rewrite of The Regulators, with most of the same characters but a completely different story.

Ah, your favorite King. Doing a reread? :)

Hmmmmm. I guess I need to do a re-read. Maybe I was on something, just like Stevie, when I read it decades ago and gave it 5 stars. ;)

Kevin wrote: "LOL. Desperation was a sociopathic Bachmann rewrite of The Regulators, with most of the same characters but a completely different story."

Haha, I remember that those two books tell basically the same story from different angles, but I just cannot recall what the story actually was. Merciful memory fade.

David wrote: "Hmmmmm. I guess I need to do a re-read. Maybe I was on something, just like Stevie, when I read it decades ago and gave it 5 stars. ;)"

If you do, keep me updated! I am not brave enough to experience this again 😆

Dennis wrote: "Ah, your favorite King. Doing a reread? :)"

Hahaha, not if you paid me. (Well, actually, it would depend on the price).

I figured it was time to reflect my thoughts — well, mostly Stephen King’s thoughts — officially.

Nataliya wrote: "Dennis wrote: "Ah, your favorite King. Doing a reread? :)"

Hahaha, not if you paid me. (Well, actually, it would depend on the price)."

Lol. I'll save you the time (and me the money). Even the average rating of my GR friends is pretty low for this one. I guess you are right, Uncle Stevie and you.

Dennis wrote: "Nataliya wrote: "Dennis wrote: "Ah, your favorite King. Doing a reread? :)"

Hahaha, not if you paid me. (Well, actually, it would depend on the price)."

Lol. I'll save you the time (and me the mo..."

I like being in agreement with Uncle Stevie :)

Thanks, Nataliya, for the great review and the link to King's interview, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Michelle wrote: "Thanks, Nataliya, for the great review and the link to King's interview, which I thoroughly enjoyed!"

You are welcome! That is a good interview indeed, very interesting to read.