This book was just SO damn good!

I haven't enjoyed a King book to such an extent in a very long time. In fact, I firmly believe that it may have just managed to crack into my top 10 King books. That's precisely how outstanding it was!

It's evident that this is a reference to King writing as Bachman, and that aspect makes it all the more spine-chilling and captivating. You simply can't resist being drawn in, and you find yourself constantly wondering which half will emerge victorious in the ultimate battle!

Moreover, the imagery presented in this book is truly phenomenal. I had the distinct feeling that I was witnessing a terrifyingly creepy and exquisitely detailed movie unfold right before my eyes, within the confines of my own mind. It was an experience like no other, leaving me completely enthralled and eager to explore more of King's works.

When someone unearthed the fact that literary writer Thad Beaumont was also the crime writer George Stark and attempted to blackmail him, Beaumont and his wife made a crucial decision. They chose to go public and take matters into their own hands by killing off George Stark. However, what they didn't anticipate was that the pseudonym would develop a life of its own and begin a terrifying spree of killing people associated with Thad. The question now loomed large: could anything possibly stop him?

I had read this book sometime in that distant and hazy dawn of time before the existence of Goodreads. Given that we had a trip to Maine approaching, I made the choice to revisit it.

The Dark Half is truly an underappreciated gem. Thad Beaumont had a parasitic twin surgically removed from inside his skull when he was just 12 years old. Ever since then, he has achieved great acclaim as a literary writer and has also found success as a blockbuster crime writer under the alias of George Stark. But when Thad decides to kill off Stark, things take a horrifying turn as Stark embarks on a murderous rampage.

This is one of those rare books where the main character, Thad, is actually the least captivating. Alan Pangborn, on the other hand, is an excellent viewpoint character and far more interesting than Thad. He is a small town sheriff who is trying his best to do his job despite the chaos and crazy events that are unfolding around him.

Essentially, The Dark Half can be seen as Parker chasing down Donald Westlake. Since I have read all 23 Parker books written by Richard Stark since my first encounter with this novel, the reread was an incredibly enriching experience. I was able to notice the influence of Richard Stark in the chapters featuring George Stark. Additionally, I greatly enjoyed the reference to Creepshow, although I may need to double-check the timeline to determine which one actually preceded the other. "Call me Billie, everyone does!"

Apart from the rather eerie business involving the sparrows and Stark's disintegration, The Dark Half is predominantly a crime book. It doesn't suffer from the excessive verbosity that plagues some of King's other works, and for once, the ending didn't disappoint. George Stark was a truly chilling villain, and since I had forgotten the ending, I was completely on the edge of my seat, wondering if Thad would survive or not. I would rate this book four out of five stars.

It's not King's best book, but it's not his worst either. In fact, it's a surprisingly well blend of horror and satire. The story manages to create an atmosphere of genuine terror while also injecting doses of dark humor. King has always been a master at crafting vivid and engaging characters, and this book is no exception. The characters are complex and relatable, which makes their experiences all the more terrifying. The horror elements are truly spine-chilling, with King's ability to describe the most gruesome and disturbing scenes in great detail. However, the satire adds a unique layer to the story, making it not just a simple horror tale but also a commentary on society and human nature. Overall, while it may not be King's magnum opus, it's still a highly enjoyable and engaging read that fans of horror and satire alike will appreciate.

I love Stephen King with a passion. However, I must mark The Dark Half as a miss for me.

I have noticed that since the 2000s, King's writing has matured significantly. He has moved away from mainly writing horror (I'm referring to his works in the 80s like Gerald's Game and The Regulators, which at that time made me grow tired of him) to more densely portrayed character studies. Although he sometimes places these characters in horrifying predicaments. At times, his character building is truly exquisite. But at other times, it takes a backseat to the story (as seen in the silly cartoon characters wreaking havoc in Under the Dome). And yet, at other times, it works magically (such as in 11/23/63 or Full Dark, No Stars, or even earlier masterpieces like The Stand or It). In other words, he's hit or miss.

The Dark Half belongs beside Under the Dome as books that simply didn't work for me. I found the characters in The Dark Half uninteresting, and quite frankly, the story was just as unappealing. I gave this book more than enough of a chance, but by 60% in, when I still didn't care, I felt no guilt in dropping it. Saturday morning, which is my ultimate reading time, is approaching, and to have something that is less than inspiring waiting for me is mildly depressing. But this is all about my personal experience.

George Stark was born in 1975 and died in 1988.

He wasn't a very nice guy. At least that's what is written on his gravestone.

Good or evil, whatever he was, he is dead and buried now.

However, the truth is far stranger. He never was alive in the first place. He is just a pseudonym, a mere figment of an author's imagination.

Created as a character in a fictional story, George Stark was supposed to remain within the pages of that book. But now, for some unknown reason, he is back.

Undead, nastier than ever and very, very angry. He has somehow escaped the bounds of fiction and has entered the real world.

What will he do now that he is free? Will he seek revenge on those who created him? Or will he simply wreak havoc and destruction wherever he goes?

The world is about to find out, and it may not be prepared for the horror that is George Stark.

таке
вже ближче до закінчення стало цікавіше. However, the previous part was not really great - there were too many unnecessary details, just pouring from empty to empty. That's why I gave such an evaluation.

As the end is approaching, it has become more interesting. But the earlier part had a lot of redundant details that didn't add much value. It seemed like a lot of filler without a clear purpose.

This made the overall experience a bit underwhelming. Maybe if those details had been more relevant or if there had been a better flow, the evaluation would have been different. However, as it stands, the article could benefit from some refinement and a more focused approach.

The blurb presents it briefly, neatly, and perfectly summarized - but I think a lot of Stephen King's personal touch is in there, as in many of his books. However, often I don't even want to know how much...

Stephen King published several books under the pseudonym Richard Bachmann between 1977 and 1985. When it was revealed that "King" was behind it, Bachmann was promptly given a diagnosis of Pseudonym-Cancer and a grave was dug for him.

The sales figures of Bachmann's works skyrocketed after that.

The protagonist, Thad Beaumont, has a similar experience and there are many parallels. Let's hope they sprang from the imagination of our master of horror mysteries because I found that this story had an eerie undertone from the beginning that lasted until the end.

With the prologue, the author sets in motion so many disturbing ideas, which he constantly reinforces with small details in between. He did this quite ingeniously! Basically, one knows what is coming and even though the Beaumonts celebrate the burial of the pseudonym Georg Stark with a smile, it quickly becomes clear after the first murder victim that this "dark half" cannot be buried so easily.

I found it consistently excitingly implemented. This rebellion and the will to live of the fictional George Stark, who literally steps over corpses for it, was described in every gruesome detail. That Thad himself, however, becomes a suspect in the eyes of the police forces him to act and he suspects who is behind it, even though it seems completely unbelievable. A lonely fight, it seems, without hope of being able to oppose such an unnatural adversary.

Alan Pangborn is currently the sheriff in Castle Rock (a favorite setting of King's stories) and a character who also appears in other books. A very likeable man who is not easily fooled but still stands by his convictions, even if they seem crazy.

In the middle, there was a small slump, but it didn't last long and was then replaced by the rising tension towards the showdown.

An eerie horror builds up to cruel brutality and the typical disgusting details that vividly illustrated this unstoppable metamorphosis. I also found the end perfect for a horror novel xD

Weltenwanderer

I Promised you a review :)

First of all, with any Stephen King book, the reader must understand that they will be traumatized to some extent, and it will be nearly impossible to put the book down until the end. This is both the best and worst conundrum. The book has the classic King vibe, a malevolent haunting story featuring a protagonist who is a writer, similar to The Shining and Misery, both of which I highly recommend.

Thad, the protagonist, was a struggling writer until he decided to use a new pseudonym, George Stack. Suddenly, his sales and life picked up. The new books were bestsellers, grittier, and kind of disturbing, but the public loved them. After two years, he tried to bury George Stack and go back to his own work, but he soon discovered that the coffin wouldn't close.

The sparrows are flying again... King has the ability to make the reader question whether what they are reading is real or could happen. This is true horror in my eyes. I love scaring myself, and King manages to take my fears to a whole new level. The idea of people giving themselves ultra-egos and welcoming another persona to appear cool or better may seem fun, but after reading this, I was freaked out by the whole concept.

I can only imagine what the author himself felt after this idea got into his head, especially since he writes under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. This book was a wild ride, with one of the most gruesome scenes (as expected from Stephen King). I highly recommend it.

Thank you for reading :)
Kenyan Library Blog

Thad Beaumont is an author residing in the town of Ludlow, Maine. He is also a recovering alcoholic.

Thad's own literary works have not achieved significant success. However, under the pseudonym "George Stark", he pens highly successful crime novels that center around a psychopathic killer named Alexis Machine.

When the truth about Thad's authorship of Stark's novels is revealed to the public, he and his wife, Elizabeth, come up with a plan. They decide to stage a mock burial for his alter ego at the local cemetery. This event is even featured in a People magazine article.

The epitaph on Stark's grave sums it up perfectly: "Not A Very Nice Guy." This whole situation brings a new level of complexity to Thad's life and career, as he now has to deal with the consequences of his dual identities being exposed.

It remains to be seen how Thad will navigate this new reality and what will become of his writing career moving forward.

I thought the story was overall pretty entertaining. It had its moments that really grabbed my attention and kept me engaged. However, I did notice that the pacing lagged at times. There were certain parts where it felt like the story was dragging on a bit too much, and it made it a bit difficult to stay fully invested.

Despite that, it wasn't my favorite King read. I've read some of his other works that I found to be more captivating and thrilling. But still, I'm glad I picked this one up. It's interesting to explore different books by an author, even if they don't all turn out to be absolute favorites.

What's more, hardly anyone talks about this particular story. It seems to be a bit of an overlooked gem. Maybe it's because it doesn't have the same level of popularity as some of his more famous works. But I think it's worth giving a chance, especially if you're a fan of King's writing and want to discover something new.

Overall, while it had its flaws, I still enjoyed reading this story and would recommend it to others who are looking for a different kind of King experience.

Audiobook – Narrated by Grove Gardner – Excellent narration.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audio. Gardner is truly an outstanding narrator. The voice he赋予 to “George Stark, that high-toned son of a bitch from Oxford, Mississippi” was nothing short of perfect! It added an extra layer of authenticity and excitement to the story.

***

Ebook:

This was yet another of King’s books that I didn't have much regard for the first time I read it. However, I didn't feel the need to destroy it like I did with The Tommyknockers after that initial reading. Even so, I never really had the urge to read it again. But! Doing a King re-read means exactly that…re-reading ALL his books.

I'm glad I did. Although it still doesn't rank anywhere near the top of my King favourites, I definitely enjoyed it a great deal more than I did the first time.

CONNECTIONS:

CastleRock

Ludlow (Pet Semetery, Insomnia)

Gates Falls (Rage, Gramma, Graveyard Shift, Bag Of Bones, Mrs Todd's Shortcut)

Stackpole Road (Rage, Pet Sematary, Nona, Revival)

Stackpole Church Road (Lisey’s Story)

Endsville (Needful Things) is mentioned in relation to George Stark. “We call this store Endsville,” the voice said, “because it’s the place where all goods and services terminate.”

Bergenfield - Thad Beaumont was born and raised in the Ridgeway section of Bergenfield, New Jersey. Stephen King’s paperback publisher, Signet Books, is also located in Bergenfield, New Jersey.

Alan Pangborn (Needful Things, Bag of Bones)

Jack Rangely, the fictional character created by George Stark, shares his surname with the town of Rangely where Dick Halloran, Wendy and Danny Torrance (The Shining) went after the boiler exploded and destroyed the Overlook Hotel.

Patricia (Polly) Chalmers (Bag of Bones, The Sun Dog, Needful Things)

Deke Bradford (Needful Things)

Sheila Brigham, Police Dispatcher (Needful Things)

Danforth “Buster” Keeton (Needful Things, The Sundog)

Wilhemina Burks “Just call me Billie, everyone does.”
Wilma Northrup (The Crate) "call me Billie, dear everyone does!"

Charlie Fortin (Needful Things)

Homer Gamache (Needful Things)

Andy Clutterbuck (The Sun Dog, Needful Things, It Grows On You, Lisey’s Story)

Sonny Jackett (The Sun Dog, Needful Things)

Albert “Fuzzy” Martin shares his nickname with Norman “Fuzzy”Bracowicz (The Body)

John LaPointe (Needful Things, Gerald’s Game)

Annie Pangborn (Needful Things)

Henry Payton (Needful Things)

Norris Ridgewick (Bag of Bones, The Sun Dog, Gerald’s Game, Needful Things)

George Stark (Bag of Bones, Needful Things)

Thomas Seaton (Needful Things)

Ray Van Allen (Needful Things)

Rawlie DeLesseps is a colleague of Thad Beaumont’s. Beaumont describes him as 'Chief grammarian and amateur folklorist.' – Rawlie shares his surname with Andy DeLesseps (IT) A Union Ringleader who disappeared in 1905.

Thad Beaumont shares his name with Beaumont University (Rose Red), the college at which Dr. Joyce Reardon is a faculty member.

Homeland Cemetery (Needful Things, The Tommyknockers, Gerald’s Game)

Portland Jetport (The Mist, Cujo, Lisey’s Story)

Nan’s Luncheonette (IT, Needful Things, The Sun Dog)

Mellow Tiger (Needful Things, The Body, Cujo, Lisey’s Story, Bag of Bones, Revival) I didn’t get far with this site, as I don’t use Internet Explorer:
http://www.mellowtiger.com

Orinco truck (IT) On Route 7, a chemical-fertilizer truck snores by in a blast of wind. After it passes him, Rich pulls out and heads for Derry again.

Orinco truck (Pet Semetery) Gage Creed was hit and killed on Route 15 by a fast moving Orinco truck.

Also, in 1978, King moved his family to Orrington, Maine so that he could spend a year teaching creative writing at the University of Maine. Their house was on the edge of Route 15, a heavily trafficked road, and King and his wife, Tabitha, were constantly worried that their youngest son might run out into traffic.

Berol Black Beauty pencils, used by George Stark. Paul Sheldon (Misery) used Berol Black Warrior pencils to write “Misery’s Return.”

Fool’s Stuffing – From over his shoulder, Stark said reflectively: 'Down here, that's what happens to squealers. They get turned into fool's stuffing.”

Fool’s Stuffing (Needful Things) “Down here we call these things fool’s stuffing, old hoss,” a voice remarked. It was one Alan knew. It belonged to that high-toned, Toronado-driving son of a bitch George Stark.

“Fool’s Stuffing” is also one of the titles on the soundtrack from the movie The Dark Half.

“The Sparrows Are Flying Again” (Needful Things) “Alan felt his belly try to fold in on itself, but he didn’t move. Instead, prompted by some instinct he made no effort to understand, he put his hands together in front of the station wagon’s left headlight. He crossed them, made a bird-shape, and began to bend his wrists rapidly back and forth.
The sparrows are flying again, Mr. Gaunt, he thought.”

Tak (Desperation, The Regulators) Tak is short for Can-Tak, or big god. “Now he began to hear light tak-tak-tak sounds from overhead, and imagined the sparrows roosting up there on the VW's roof.
Tak-tak-tak is the sound Zoltan makes while walking on the roof of Brown’s dwelling in The Gunslinger.
Tak-tak-tak-tak is the sound the giant bird made on top of the drain pipe as it was trying to get Mike Hanlon (IT)

2.5 stars

“I recognize terror as the finest emotion and so I will try to terrorize the reader. But if I find that I cannot terrify, I will try to horrify, and if I find that I cannot horrify, I'll go for the gross-out. I'm not proud. ”

Well, Sai King, in my view, there is truly nothing to take pride in regarding this book. In my opinion, it leans more towards gore rather than terror, and I frequently found myself feeling bored. There was no solid sense of suspense for me. The violence and gore were decent, yet they lacked a certain punch, and as a result, I was never truly terrified for the characters.

Now, it doesn't assist matters that I didn't have any affection for any of the characters in this book. I didn't actively hate anyone, but I simply couldn't bring myself to care. And when you don't care about the characters in a horror story, it never really manages to become horrific.

The story is somewhat of a jumble, following too many points of view, and it is also quite slow-paced and drawn out. Additionally, King incorporates a trope here (which is evident from the prologue) that further diminished my impression.

What did I like? As always, King's writing voice and prose are a delight to experience. The man is simply a joy to read, even when the book is just average. The general plot is interesting and engaging, and it has a rather satisfying conclusion. The Richard Bachmann backstory to this book adds an extra layer of intrigue. However, it wasn't enough to salvage the book for me. This is not King's worst work, but in my opinion, it is just dreadfully mediocre.