Category: Other Reviews

“The Reploids” by Stephen King Review

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A mysterious man named Edward Paladin shows up in place of Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, but all is not what it seems. A subsequent investigation by detectives Richard Cheyney and Pete Jacoby finds strange items in his possession, hinting that he may not be from our reality.

To be honest this story might be the most gruesome Stephen King story ever. There is a lots of rapes and weird stuff. Which may be very triggering for some readers. So be warned about these parts of these stories.

This story have a lots of compelling elements kindly said, and the whole police investigation which takes place in this story is very strange and confusing.

To be fully honest with everyone this story feels like nothing but a rough first draft. I’m not trashing the whole story, Stephen King or anyone else here. I’m just saying what impressions this story gave me. 

There are some parts of this story which is hard to understand, and there were a lots of parts where i need to google stuff which was in this story. 

The ending itself is bad, like really bad. The whole story feels like it is ending in mid story and it feels like it should be more to it than it actually was.

The whole story is sort of too graphic when at least comes to me and my opinion.

I give this story 2 / 5

“I Am the Doorway” by Stephen King Review

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The story relates a disabled former astronaut’s account of the terrifying change he undergoes after being exposed to an extraterrestrial mutagen, during a space mission to Venus 

Stephen King does a good job at these short stories but as a die hard Stephen King fan I need to say that he does a much better at the longer novels he writes than the short stories. 

Every time Stephen King writes a sci-fi its either hit or miss and nothing in between these two. I personally don’t am a big fan of Sci-fi genre so maybe thats why this story didn’t work with me. But I still think that it was a good read, and it wont hurt to read it. 

The whole story is told in the first-person narration which definitely sets the tone the story much more. And the fact that this story involves a cosmic space entity and reading it from the first-person narration is very interesting. It isn’t that scary as you might think it is but there definitely something eerie to it.

Descriptions in this story are so good that it makes you see the whole picture in your mind or at least it did that for me. 

The whole story wasn’t the greatest short story I’ve read but it was a good one. It is definitely worth reading, because the plot is good, descriptions are good as well as details and most characters. 

There aren’t a lots of characters in this one, but it is good. As we know quality matters not quantity. So the story needs to get points for doing that.

I give this story 3 /5

“The Raven” By Edgar Allan Poe Review

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92At midnight, the poem’s speaker hears a tapping on his door. When he opens the window, a raven flies in. … The speaker asks the raven if he’ll ever see his lost lover, Lenore, again, and the raven once again cries, “Nevermore.”

So the famous “Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe. This book or whatever you want to call it is really worth reading.

The story behind this story is amazing. More or less this whole poem is a masterpiece and it doesn’t surprise me why Edgar Allan Poe is so fucking huge legend. Because if he rest of his work is just as amazing and unique as this one, then he deserves it.

This whole poem are boring at times, but its fun.

The writing style is very impressive. Its like typical 1800s writing style.  Its very moody and good.

I give this one 4 / 5

“The Haunted Palace” by Edgar Allan Poe Review

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The poem serves as an allegory about a king “in the olden time long ago” who is afraid of evil forces that threaten him and his palace, foreshadowing impending doom. The poem takes a marked change in tone towards the second to last stanza.

The plot is great as always when it comes to work of Edgar Allan Poe. However there are some plot holes in poem. I mean I don’t expect a poem to be written as a book but come on. How did the inhabitants of the palace die? Murder ? Sickness ? Were are the answers ? 

You will enjoy it, and you will enjoy even more the second time when you read it. If you are like me, you will appreciated it a lot.

The ending is memorable and great. The ending have definitely a creepy vibe to it, which every horror fan will appreciated. 

It is very short as a poem should be, the language is surprisingly easy. I said “surprisingly” because you know it was written in 1839 and since then the English language have changed a lot. 

This poem is disturbing, as you may have guessed. But it is what makes it fun in the Edgar Allan Poe’s work. However now on days it is a typical haunted house story in a poem format

The poem is creepy in every possibly beautiful way. At least it was for me. 

The writing style was something to talk about. It was amazing when it comes to the fact that this was a poem. 

It is important to say that this poem is an excellent example of Edgar Allan Poe’s masterful use of allegory. And it really shows how a brilliant writer Edgar Allan Poe was, but it also shows why Edgar Allan Poe is so huge legend in the storytelling field now.

The rhythm of this poem fits very well with the story which is told in it. 

This poem also have a lots of references to mythology which I at least appreciated.

However this poem might sound like a scene of heaven being taken over by something demonic. 

I give this poem 5 / 5

“Graveyard Shift” by Stephen King Review

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A young drifter named Hall has been working at a decrepit textile mill in a small town in Maine when his boss, a cruel taskmaster, recruits him and others to assist with a massive cleaning effort. The basement of the old mill has been abandoned for decades, and over the years, a monumental infestation of rats has taken hold.

If you don’t like rates, then maybe don’t pick up this story because it involves a lots of rates in it. 

This short story is pretty much a creepy read which takes place in an old mill. This story isn’t that unique, because in the end it is a basic horror story which isn’t that good as most novels written by Stephen King.

This story is enjoyable to read, but I would recommend to read it off you didn’t read all novels by Stephen King. Because in the end this story is nothing more than modern interpretation of “The Rats in the Walls” but written by Stephen King instead of H. P. Lovecraft.

This story really shows that some authors should stick with the longer novels and don’t write short stories and unfortunately Stephen King is one of them. Because the whole story lacks context to it and more depth into it, the whole story is sort of like a skeleton of a story without organs, meat, muscle, nerves etc. 

This whole story isn’t necessarily creepy and intense, but it still is a horror story in that it’s about things you don’t ever want to experience. Just as mutated rats. It’s more unpleasant than anything else.

The whole story is pretty too basic, all it is for the most part is people cleaning an old, abandoned basement and then something happens and shit foes down hill.

The ending could be much better than it actually was, but too late to change it now. The whole ending is more or less feels like squeamish than terrified. It implies what happens next to the men, which was a great ending but so horrid.

I give this story 3 / 5

“Bon-Bon” by Edgar Allan Poe Review

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The whole story follows Pierre Bon-Bon, who believes himself a profound philosopher, and his encounter with the Devil.

This story is one of the best comic stories written by Edgar Allan Poe. Its important to mention that this story are featuring a verbal interchange between the Devil and a restaurateur who is the main character named Pierre Bon-Bon renowned for his omelets who also believes himself a profound philosopher.

One of the parts of this story is that it satirizes a whole list of classical philosophers including Plato and Aristotle, all of which the Devil has claimed to have eaten their souls.

This story is quite far from the typical and good stories written Edgar Allan Poe, which means that some people might not like it. 

The main character which of course is Pierre Bon-Bon is somehow interesting. Pierre Bon-Bon is equal parts carnal and intellectual. 

The descriptions and details in this story are pretty good. They are so good that they might freak you out because of how good they are. 

This concept of this story is interesting, however Edgar Allan Poe writing style makes it almost interminable to get through. This story really shows that Edgar Allan Poe has a tendency to ramble throughout his writing, needlessly prolonging the dull parts, which in turn leaves hardly any time for the more entertaining aspects within the book.

However this story doesn’t fail to turn the expression “food for thoughts” into “thoughts for food”. However the whole story is another  Edgar Allan Poe story where the Devil makes a grand appearance. 

The narratorial voice was excellent. The plot was comical, which was the intent. But these things are the basic things which makes a story / book good. We need much more to give a story / book 5 stars or even 4. 

I give this story 3 / 5

“Never Bet the Devil Your Head” by Edgar Allan Poe Review

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This story is a clear attack on transcendentalism, which the narrator calls a “disease” afflicting Toby Dammit. The narrator, in fact, sends the bill for Dammit’s funeral expenses to the transcendentalists, who refuse to pay because of their disbelief in evil.

Let me start this review by saying that the main character’s name is the most brilliant name Ive ever heard in my entire life. The main character is named Toby Dammit, the name have blown me away its so good.

The whole story is written in response to the criticism that Edgar Allan Poe was facing regarding his work at the time of writing this story. So this story comes across more or less as “F You” to the people who were trashing him at the time.

In this story Edgar Allan Poe disapproved of transcendentalism together with giving us his believes about all fiction and that it should have a moral in it. Which of corse will not work for some of you.

This story is far from Edgar Allan Poe’s best work but it is still a relatively good, quick and enjoyable read which will give you some Edgar Allan Poe vibe in it.

However the plot might be boring or less interesting for some people because the whole story is about Toby Dammit fighting the devil inside of his head which can more or less translate to Toby Dammit fighting the negativity, overthinking and pessimistic thoughts in his head. However this story is written by Edgar Allan Poe, and nothing is that simple when it comes to Edgar Allan Poe.

I need to give this story points for having some funny moments in it which will make some people laugh. The funny moments are funny because of the sarcasm in it.

The points needs also to be given to this book for showing us that the the GOAT of gothic genre can also be funny and not just the grim and depressed dude. 

I give this story 3 / 5

“Strawberry Spring” by Stephen King Review

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An article in the newspaper causes the narrator to recall a time when he was in college and several students were killed. It was a strawberry spring, a false spring, that brought cool weather and fog at night. The first night of fog ended when a young man tripped over the body of a co-ed.

It’s important to say that this short story isn’t a typical Stephen King story where there is monsters running around and chasing kids. This story is a mystery thriller story about a killer who strikes only when it’s foggy outside during the “Strawberry Spring”.

The whole plot story is pretty good, however the whole idea of a killer who kills people during a special time which in this case is the “Strawberry Spring” isn’t that unique now on days but since this story was published in 1978, it needs to get its points for sort of being unique. 

The ending is probably the best part of this whole story, because it comes with a twist and it sort of makes this whole story so much better than it was. But of course this review is spoiler free. 

The twist at the ending was that great but most of you wont probably see it coming. So there will be a little surprise at the end for some people. 

The whole atmosphere in this story is spooky, moody and it will give you chills. And the descriptions in this story which make it even better than expected. But still story is far as good as the huge novels written by Stephen King as “IT” or “The Shinning”.

Some of these descriptions which Stephen King gives us in this story sort of gives you the vibe of Edgar Allan Poe or H. P. Lovecraft. Because these descriptions in this story have some gothic elements to it which makes you feel that it was written many years before it was actually written. 

It’s important to say that this story isn’t a horror story is more a thriller story. Because it isn’t scary enough to be a horror story but definitely it has some mass hysteria, suspecting each other, and searching for the killer elements which makes this story to a thriller story.

However this story could have been much better if it was a novel than a short story. But again it is personal thing which people will disagree on so it’s up to you on this one. 

I give this story 2 / 5

“The Man in the Black Suit” by Stephen King Review

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Gary, a nine-year-old boy, whose brother has died, not long ago, due to a bee sting. One day, Gary goes out fishing and falls asleep. When he awakens, he’s startled to discover a bee sitting on the edge of his nose.

Another pretty good story from Stephen King, it wasn’t the best thing ever. There were a lots of things in this story which could have been much better but in the end this story was pretty good.

This story is one of the best short stories written by Stephen King have written so far. But as we all know his novels are much better than the short stories. 

This story needs to get points for being short and enjoyable. This story is far from the “average” Stephen King novel because there are a lots of things in this story which could have been better.

Stephen King in this story does a good job in building up the tense atmosphere for the entire story as well as creating an unforgettable & terrifying imagery describing this monster.

The beginning of this story may remind some of you of “IT”, because it involves a young kid, a monster and water. Which some of you may find dark and powerful.

The whole plot was pretty basic, it could be much better if Stephen King would have put much more effort into creating a little bit deeper plot in this story. 

The writing style was pretty good, however it is far from the classic Stephen King style which we can see in his novels. 

It’s important to mention that this whole story have some nostalgic parts in it, which the adults and older folks will appreciate.

The concept of this story is pretty good. But still not much to talk about here. For me this story shows that some authors should stick with the long novels which they are known for.

This story is for the most part about grief and centers around a young boy and his fear of losing his Mom, which most kids relate to.

I give this story 2 / 5

“The Gold Bug” by Edgar Allan Poe Review

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Believing William Legrand to have gone insane following an insect bite, his friend initially decries his quest for gold as the ramblings of a madman. Yet when Legrand’s conviction fails to waiver, they set off on a bizarre journey, accompanied by Jupiter, Legrand’s loyal and equally skeptical servant. What follows is a strange tale of coded messages, hidden treasure, and uncanny prophecy that will both enthrall and baffle even the most perceptive readers.

It wasn’t the best Edgar Allan Poe story which we can find. But it is the best treasure hunting stories ever written. 

The characters here are oh boy. The main character which is William Legrand is actually pretty well written. But his servant is written the most stereotypical black character style which you can possible imagine. We can say that his character didn’t age well.

If you keep in mind that this story was written before Civil War, where slaves and all that were legal. Then you will see that this story is actually pretty good. And you will also see that this story is a pretty fun and enjoyable adventure story.

This story needs to get points for involving treasure maps, ciphers, pirate gold and buried treasure. Which every adventure book fan will more or less appreciate.

This story also needs to get points for the moody and gothic vibe to it which every horror, mystery, adventure fan will appreciate no matter if they are 10 years old or 80 years old.

Edgar Allan Poe manages in this story to make you unsettled describing the most basic aspects of everyday life.

The writing style is brilliant. The writing style in this story is so good that it makes you feel that you are a part of the story which you read. 

I give this story 3 / 5