Stephen King: Danse macabre (2010, Gallery)
459 pages
English language
Published July 15, 2010 by Gallery.
The author addresses the topic of what makes horror horrifying and what makes terror terrifying. King delivers one colorful observation after another about the great stories, books and films that comprise of the horror genre--from Frankenstein and Dracula to The exorcist, The twilight zone and Earth vs. The flying saucers.
King schreibt über Horror, wie nur King es kann: schlampig recherchiert, lustlos redigiert – aber dabei seltsam sympathisch. Das Merkwürdigste daran ist, dass er offenbar ganz genau weiß, wie Horror funktioniert und nicht funktioniert: und sich trotzdem in seinen eigenen Büchern einen Dreck darum schert.
Quick impressions: Overall, it is a good but not great book. If you are a hardcore horror fan, you have probably read this already, and if not, what are you waiting for? If you want to learn about the horror genre, this is a good selection, but keep in mind it is like being in a series of college lectures with a professor who drones a bit too much at times (King mentions he does teach some college courses). Still, if you want a good overview of the genre, this is worth the effort.
(Full review on my blog later)
Really loved part about literature but movie part difficult to read
If you are at all interested in horror movies and books from 1950 to 1980, if you are interested in the mythic underpinnings of the horror genre, or if you just enjoy good, rational and reasonable analysis, this is the book for you. King's literary "voice" is, as always, easy to relate to and even easier to understand. The book does not, however, rely entirely on King's own analysis, as he includes the writings of others and even from the authors in many cases. I've read dozens of books about the horror genre, but this is the one that first got me interested in what made it all work in the first place.
