With Firestarter releasing soon, many of us here at Geeks WorldWide have been discussing what our favorite pieces by Stephen King are. Not everyone can partake in this discussion – for various reasons. A major point by many is: “I want to read his works, but have no clue where to start”.
Now I have the great fortune of having a mother who is a MAJOR Stephen King fan, and have access to her full-on King Library. Books from his Richard Bachman days, collaborations, and even his short stories appearing in compilations and the magazine “Cemetery Dance”. However, one day, my mother surprised me with a used copy of “Nightmares & Dreamscapes”.
Why This Book?
King’s books can be daunting. It took me years to finally sit down and read “It” as a whole – well worth the wait, may I add. However, if his stand-alone novels feel daunting, then I recommend “Nightmares & Dreamscapes”. It’s a book you can pick up at any time. without forgetting the story, or feeling the need to power through hundreds of pages. Take it one story at a time, one bite-sized look into what Stephen King can create.
Am I biased? Oh, absolutely. I’ve been reading his works since I was a mere tot. Did I always understand what I was reading? No. Now I do, of course, but King has been a staple in my household, and on my reading lists. His works aren’t for everyone, but if you want to try, and see what all the fuss is, short stories are ALWAYS the way to go. Personally, this is how I got into Edgar Allen Poe. I started out with prose, and shorter works, before I found myself wanting to take a gander at his longer works.
If Stephen King intrigues you, start off small. Trying to take in his longer works from the start will more likely scare you off, than make you a fan. So, I recommend “Nightmares & Dreamscapes”. Twenty, bite-sized story options for you to try out the Maine Master of Terror, for yourself.