Definitely at the bottom of King’s canon.

This book has the best and the worst of King. The characterization, what makes King, King, is as crisp and fascinating as always. The relationship between the four friends with themselves and with Duddits, the insanity of Kurtz, the inner turmoil of Underhill, the development of Mr. Gray, all superbly entertaining to read.

But the story really gets away from him in the end. I feel like it went on about a hundred more pages than it needed to.

Overall, not a bad book at all, just low on the list for me when considering the entire King library.

6 gore encrusted shit weasels out of 10

This is my first reread of this book since it came out. That’s almost 30 years ago. I enjoyed it so much more the second time around. The concepts of God and faith are ideas that Stephen King writes about often. This story, a tale of strangers bought together by an ancient demonic being from another dimension, or a different level of the tower if you will,  and their struggle to defeat it with the help (help?!!) of God and those who chooses to use, is one of his best in that area. Before my reread, I had it rated pretty low in the list of King’s books but now I place it in possibly the top 10…definitely the top 15. 

God IS cruel…God is also love…

9 excused early from school passes out of 10.

A study in what King does best…create characters so real they feel like they could stumble off the page. Trisha and her indomitable spirit is so well written.

A good, quick, compelling read.

8.5 save opportunities out of 10

Enjoyed much more on the reread, but still low on the pantheon of King novels. A cool experience, the tying in of the separate stories and characters. Remains a must read because of Low Men in Yellow Coats.

7 missing pet posters out of 10

Not the strongest of 90s King, both Dolores Claiborne and Gerald’s Game deal with similar themes in better stories.

6.5 blood dripping bull horns out of 10