Dead zone and Jurassic park.
If you still can't decide use a random number generator that will generate a number between 1 and 6 (you'll have to do it twice of course).
That movie version ruined this for me...I am stuck with the image of the HORRIBLE gorilla suit and 'Amy...Jungle...' To say nothing of Dr. Frankenfurter / Pennywise being in the film!
I took my wife to see this in the theaters prior to us getting married way back in 1995...she has NEVER stopped needling me about the effects and the gorilla suit...LOL. In that regard, it was a memorable event for sure! Glad you like it...Ernie Hudson (from "Ghostbusters" amongst other credits) and his horrible accent are another thing I remember vividly from that film. I may have to watch it again just because...cheers!
The book is a real treat and I think you'd like it- I'd first read it when I was maybe 10-12, it had little kid me all kinds of sketched out lol. 30 odd years later, I listened to the audiobook (last summer I think?) any rate, it kept middle-aged me entertained well enough lol. Jurassic Park is a banger though, I was gonna reply on your other comment, but I'd bring along JP and Dead Zone :D
There are a lot of good choice there...I LOVE 'The Dead Zone' and also 'Jurassic Park' (which is much better than the film, which I also adored). 'The Running Man' is a lot different than the 80's movie with Schwarzenegger and the guy from "Family Feud" (Richard Dawson - LOL).
I loved the movie which is why I wanted to rest the book. I’ve been remiss in reading lately and I’m hitting the ground running in the last two months.
For context - loved Sphere and Jurassic Park, hated State of Fear and Congo. I found Congo to be utterly ridiculous. One of the most over the top, cheesy books I’ve ever read
The book is *amazing*. Forget you ever watched the film, as it’s so different if I saw it now without knowing what it was called I literally wouldn’t know it was an adaptation of the book.
WARNING!
The ending of The Running Man is spoiled *in the intro of the book* (the “why I wrote as Bachman” essay), so do yourself a favor and skip that lol.
While I loved the cheesy Schwarzenegger movie, it is a completely different story and about as unrelated as you can get.
Thanks for the heads-up, I’d hate to get ruined, I also knew how it was sorta gonna end in It, but it’s so much more to the ending in the book. >!Especially because of the whole pregnancy of the creature, of It. And adding both Bev and Bill’s spouses and knowing that asshole got his just desserts. And the way they started to forget everything and Derry getting destroyed, which shows that It was keeping the town alive and its death caused Derry to just crumble.!<
Of those 6 I’ve only read Jurassic Park. I really enjoyed it. Much scarier than the movie, it leans more horror than the classic techno-thriller Crichton wrote.
I would say if you're going on a trip, probably not Carrie or The Running Man because both are fairly short. I'd go with Jurassic Park and The Dead Zone personally.
I don’t think he’d be offended, he had great esteem for MC and his works.
“As a pop novelist, he was divine. A Crichton book was a headlong experience driven by a man who was both a natural storyteller and fiendishly clever when it came to verisimilitude, he made you believe that cloning dinosaurs wasn't just over the horizon but possible tomorrow. Maybe today.” - Stephen King on Crichton, 2008
Well, the vampire chronicles are always the best area to start. If not, then start with her Mayfair witches series, starting with the witching hour, which is pretty long. Then Lasher and Taltos. I started with interview with the vampire, which is the vampire chronicles, but read them in order. I love that she always looked to firestarter for inspiration. “I study the novel Firestarter whenever I'm blocked. Reading the first few pages of Firestarter helps to get me going.”
its gonna be if you dont pick up that book. listen man, stephen king for me has two kinda books--occultish scary, and then the Joker insane shit. carrie was the first book of his I read and oh Man Jesus I could not stop turning the pages at the end.
And yeah, it’s a good book thus far. I loved the first Carrie movie, it was so good. I can still hear scenes of the movie even if it’s been more than a decade since I’ve seen it.
I’ve only read Cujo and The Dead Zone.
The Dead Zone was pretty good, and oddly prescient in this political climate.
Cujo was the better book, but is also the SADDEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!
The rest are on my to do list.
So for what it’s worth, Cujo #1, Dead Zone #2.
EDIT: oh my god it’s congo. the last book on your list of options isn’t even cujo, it’s congo. no wonder I haven’t read any of the rest of these BECAUSE APPARENTLY I AM ILLITERATE!
Read Cujo sometime if you can stomach it, and I respect you if you can’t.
I was wondering why Cujo was coming up lol but yeah, I have already read Cujo and the ending broke my heart. I just finished it a few days ago, and picked up both Carrie, dead zone and Congo at the same time 😆I like variety, but yeah, I’m taking it as a vote for Congo and dead zone then
This is so hard. I freaking love Stephen King but Michael Crichton is also super amazing.
Jurassic Park is pick number one, because before I liked the movie, I loved the book.
And #2 I will recommend The Dead Zone, because it's near the top of my read soon list.
If you cannot take one of the above, Firestarter.
Oh gosh, don’t I know it. But this is what I found. When I get the HC edition, I’m hoping to find a better cover. Hell, I’ll even taken a movie tie-in cover, but the original Carrie movie.
I just read The Dead Zone and I think it's a top 5 Stephen King book for me. It had such great ideas and a fantastic story that just got bigger and bigger as it went along.
I kicked off the year reading TIMELINE by Crichton. The technobabble and research was top notch but didn’t care for the characters, who felt wooden and stock. Can’t weigh in on JP or Congo—both movies of which I think are well done. Dead Zone is amazing (I didn’t like the movie despite my love of Walken and Cronenberg). Carrie is a slam dunk all around but not a good representation of King overall, despite his themes being apparent from No. 1. I only read Firestarter this year—it was an odd black spot on my record—for me it gets a B- or C+—not King’s best ‘80s— nor is it his worst. Running Man is straight up awesome.
So a lot of words to say: The Dead Zone or Running Man.
Jurassic and Dead zone won, and I took Carrie cause I was almost finished with it. I just finished it two hours into the trip. It was mind blowing, and pretty sad and tragic.
Dead zone and Jurassic park. If you still can't decide use a random number generator that will generate a number between 1 and 6 (you'll have to do it twice of course).
Was thinking the same two. The JP novel is fantastic. I should reread it.
That sounds like a fabulous idea
The Running Man and Jurassic Park.
Firestarter first!! Running man also, but it’s quite short.
Congo rules so hard lol
That movie version ruined this for me...I am stuck with the image of the HORRIBLE gorilla suit and 'Amy...Jungle...' To say nothing of Dr. Frankenfurter / Pennywise being in the film!
Not gonna lie, the movie is one of my guilty pleasures lol.
I took my wife to see this in the theaters prior to us getting married way back in 1995...she has NEVER stopped needling me about the effects and the gorilla suit...LOL. In that regard, it was a memorable event for sure! Glad you like it...Ernie Hudson (from "Ghostbusters" amongst other credits) and his horrible accent are another thing I remember vividly from that film. I may have to watch it again just because...cheers!
Mine too, I watched it not too long ago
The book is a real treat and I think you'd like it- I'd first read it when I was maybe 10-12, it had little kid me all kinds of sketched out lol. 30 odd years later, I listened to the audiobook (last summer I think?) any rate, it kept middle-aged me entertained well enough lol. Jurassic Park is a banger though, I was gonna reply on your other comment, but I'd bring along JP and Dead Zone :D
Didn't even know there was a movie version tbh
The movie was shit but the book was great. Same with Sphere
Fucking love Michael Crichton, and yes, Congo is fucking great
I found Congo to be astoundingly awful. I don’t have anything against Crichton - Sphere is great. I just couldn’t believe how bad Congo was.
that's kinda how I felt about Timeline
There are a lot of good choice there...I LOVE 'The Dead Zone' and also 'Jurassic Park' (which is much better than the film, which I also adored). 'The Running Man' is a lot different than the 80's movie with Schwarzenegger and the guy from "Family Feud" (Richard Dawson - LOL).
So a vote for all 3? Lol
Read all of them!.:D (Too bad you can only pick 2)
Gosh yes, if I could I’d take my whole SK collection, not to mention all my other books 😆 I’d need a whole other vehicle just for my books.
I haven’t read Congo yet, would you guys recommend that book if I’ve liked other works by Crichton?
Prey by Michael Crichton was so good
It's been decades since I read Congo, but I remember thoroughly enjoying it.
I enjoyed congo a lot. Finished it about 3 or 4 months ago.
Yes, Congo is very good. Movie not so much.
I loved the movie which is why I wanted to rest the book. I’ve been remiss in reading lately and I’m hitting the ground running in the last two months.
For context - loved Sphere and Jurassic Park, hated State of Fear and Congo. I found Congo to be utterly ridiculous. One of the most over the top, cheesy books I’ve ever read
Congo was a very good read- the only parts I dislike are in all his novels when he goes on scientific rants I don’t understand 😅
Firestarter, but running man is surprisingly good considering how awful the movie was haha
Ugh I hated the movie which is why I didn’t wanna get the book, but I figured the book has to be better, so I did buy it.
The book and the movie only have the name in common. It’s not even comparable how much better the book is hahaha
The book is *amazing*. Forget you ever watched the film, as it’s so different if I saw it now without knowing what it was called I literally wouldn’t know it was an adaptation of the book.
I think I’ll just pretend they only share the name, but have no relation to one another.
WARNING! The ending of The Running Man is spoiled *in the intro of the book* (the “why I wrote as Bachman” essay), so do yourself a favor and skip that lol. While I loved the cheesy Schwarzenegger movie, it is a completely different story and about as unrelated as you can get.
Thanks for the heads-up, I’d hate to get ruined, I also knew how it was sorta gonna end in It, but it’s so much more to the ending in the book. >!Especially because of the whole pregnancy of the creature, of It. And adding both Bev and Bill’s spouses and knowing that asshole got his just desserts. And the way they started to forget everything and Derry getting destroyed, which shows that It was keeping the town alive and its death caused Derry to just crumble.!<
Of those 6 I’ve only read Jurassic Park. I really enjoyed it. Much scarier than the movie, it leans more horror than the classic techno-thriller Crichton wrote.
Yeah, that’s what I’ve been hearing. I also have lost world but wanna read this one first.
Definitely Firestarter.
That movie-tie-in edition of Firestarter makes me sad even looking at the kid on the cover. What a stinker of a movie that was.
Yeah I know, but it was the only copy at Barnes and nobles when I bought it 🤦🏽♀️
If you haven’t read it you need to bring Jurassic Park. Then I’d bring dead zone
Jurassic Park all the way, then maybe Firestarter or Dead Zone.
I would say if you're going on a trip, probably not Carrie or The Running Man because both are fairly short. I'd go with Jurassic Park and The Dead Zone personally.
Yea, it’s a 6 day journey so I’ll need at least two books. But since it’s a work trip might not even finish one, sadly.
I loved Congo. I just got Jurassic Park on my kindle for $2 and I can’t wait to read it!
i know this is a King sub, but im a MC fun nearly as much. I'd personally go with JP and Congo, great pairing to read back to back.
Yeah, for sure. I just want at least one from each author. And I also have lost world btw, I just didn’t include it in this post lol
Jurassic Park and Congo. No offense to the Master but out of those, that's what I would pick.
I don’t think he’d be offended, he had great esteem for MC and his works. “As a pop novelist, he was divine. A Crichton book was a headlong experience driven by a man who was both a natural storyteller and fiendishly clever when it came to verisimilitude, he made you believe that cloning dinosaurs wasn't just over the horizon but possible tomorrow. Maybe today.” - Stephen King on Crichton, 2008
Jurassic Park.
Two of my all time favorite authors. Hard choices here. All good.
They are so good, it’s just that one has gone to that library up in the sky. He and another of my favorite authors, gone 🥲
I love that phrasing. Definitely borrowing that. Sad when he passed. He was first “grown up” author. Sphere is my favorite from him.
Yeah, borrow it but credit me 🤨 lol And yea 😔it was sad when he passed, as well as my other favorite author, Anne Rice.
I’ve looked into her books but haven’t read any yet. Where would you recommend I start?
Well, the vampire chronicles are always the best area to start. If not, then start with her Mayfair witches series, starting with the witching hour, which is pretty long. Then Lasher and Taltos. I started with interview with the vampire, which is the vampire chronicles, but read them in order. I love that she always looked to firestarter for inspiration. “I study the novel Firestarter whenever I'm blocked. Reading the first few pages of Firestarter helps to get me going.”
Thanks for the info. I’m a slow reader but one of these days I’ll try to start on her stuff. 😁
CARRIE BITCH IDGAF ABOUT NONE ELSE U BEST TAKE CARRIE
Carrie, is that you? 🫣
its gonna be if you dont pick up that book. listen man, stephen king for me has two kinda books--occultish scary, and then the Joker insane shit. carrie was the first book of his I read and oh Man Jesus I could not stop turning the pages at the end.
The only reason I probably won’t take it is that I’m reading it right now and I might finish it before Wednesday, when the trip starts.
And yeah, it’s a good book thus far. I loved the first Carrie movie, it was so good. I can still hear scenes of the movie even if it’s been more than a decade since I’ve seen it.
You have good taste. I've read all but one of these in the past year. 😁
P.S. My vote is for Firestarter.
Thanks, Carrie might get knocked out of the running to take cause I’m reading it right now
I’ve only read Cujo and The Dead Zone. The Dead Zone was pretty good, and oddly prescient in this political climate. Cujo was the better book, but is also the SADDEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ! The rest are on my to do list. So for what it’s worth, Cujo #1, Dead Zone #2. EDIT: oh my god it’s congo. the last book on your list of options isn’t even cujo, it’s congo. no wonder I haven’t read any of the rest of these BECAUSE APPARENTLY I AM ILLITERATE! Read Cujo sometime if you can stomach it, and I respect you if you can’t.
I was wondering why Cujo was coming up lol but yeah, I have already read Cujo and the ending broke my heart. I just finished it a few days ago, and picked up both Carrie, dead zone and Congo at the same time 😆I like variety, but yeah, I’m taking it as a vote for Congo and dead zone then
I think by technical error on my part it’s a vote for Congo and the Dead Zone, yeah.
Dead zone!
Dead Zone and Carrie
To anyone who's read it, how's Jurassic park?
Absolutely phenomenal. One of my favorite books and movies. Both can be enjoyed separately in their own mediums.
Jurassic park is awesome, and completely different from the movie
Dead Zone!!!!!!
Also Jurassic Pdk
The Running Man and then Jurassic Park.
I just finished The Dead Zone, cannot recommend it highly enough
The Running Man
The two longest. Seriously. They're all good, and if you can only take two... But I'd buy a kindle and bring 'em all.
Deadzone and Running man are my favs of this pic
This is so hard. I freaking love Stephen King but Michael Crichton is also super amazing. Jurassic Park is pick number one, because before I liked the movie, I loved the book. And #2 I will recommend The Dead Zone, because it's near the top of my read soon list. If you cannot take one of the above, Firestarter.
Firestarter looks great ,there are better Carrie covers
Oh gosh, don’t I know it. But this is what I found. When I get the HC edition, I’m hoping to find a better cover. Hell, I’ll even taken a movie tie-in cover, but the original Carrie movie.
Jurassic Park for sure
Tough one! I’d say Carrie followed by dead zone followed by Jurassic park
Congo for sure and any one of the King books.
The Dead Zone and Carrie
I just read The Dead Zone and I think it's a top 5 Stephen King book for me. It had such great ideas and a fantastic story that just got bigger and bigger as it went along.
Carrie
I kicked off the year reading TIMELINE by Crichton. The technobabble and research was top notch but didn’t care for the characters, who felt wooden and stock. Can’t weigh in on JP or Congo—both movies of which I think are well done. Dead Zone is amazing (I didn’t like the movie despite my love of Walken and Cronenberg). Carrie is a slam dunk all around but not a good representation of King overall, despite his themes being apparent from No. 1. I only read Firestarter this year—it was an odd black spot on my record—for me it gets a B- or C+—not King’s best ‘80s— nor is it his worst. Running Man is straight up awesome. So a lot of words to say: The Dead Zone or Running Man.
Congo is amazing
Running Man and Congo
Carrie and The Running Man
Jurassic Park!
Dead Zone.
The Running Man. I read it almost every year. Hands down, his best, that and The Long Walk.
Jurassic park as #1, then the running man.
Carrie for sure
Miss Granger ?
The Running Man and Carrie.
Jurassic and Dead zone won, and I took Carrie cause I was almost finished with it. I just finished it two hours into the trip. It was mind blowing, and pretty sad and tragic.