# Stephen King's new book "Under The Dome" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2009, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013 "2009-11-10T05:29:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/41 "2009-11-15T17:45:36Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I read that review, too. That guy needs to have a restraining order against him saying that he can not come within fifty yards of a thesaurus. For those of you who haven’t read the review, here’s the opening sentence: > I have an unquenchable urge to beat the reviewer senseless with a copy of _The Elements of Style_. > > As to King’s book, I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t been a huge fan with most of his more recent stuff, but this one seems to be more “epic” in that it has a large cast of characters and many story arcs. He’s very good at that. That reviewer wouldn’t be **Dean Koontz** at his day job, would it? 😉 I do like Koontz a lot. I’ve really enjoyed his “Odd” stories". On to the subject; My copy of King’s book is waiting for me at B&N. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/42 "2009-11-15T18:05:05Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I read that review, too. That guy needs to have a restraining order against him saying that he can not come within fifty yards of a thesaurus. My wife and I joke that there is a secret program run by the dictionary industry that pays writers to throw in pointlessly obscure words; the “Five Dollar Words” program. I’ll be reading something out loud to her, run across one of them, and one or the other of us will say “$5!”. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/43 "2009-11-15T18:26:32Z")
Unfortunately, I do not have money to buy books right now, but I did reserve it at my local library. “Only” 44th in line! But it’s a 7-day “Bestseller’s Express” and there are a good dozen copies in the system, so… maybe a month? Maybe sooner, you never know. ---
**Author:** ![With\_Rye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@With\_Rye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/With_Rye)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/44 "2009-11-16T10:18:21Z")
I just finished; the 1000+ pages really flew by. Very entertaining. I was first motivated to read on to find out why the dome was there and all the mysteries behind that, then somewhere in the middle I didn’t care so much about that anymore as much as what would happen to the characters. That’s always a good sign. The cast of characters reminded me a lot of those in _The Stand_ and _Cell_; every dystopia or post-apocalyptic band of good guys needs a tech-savvy 13-year-old to come up with bright ideas and get a pat on the head from the less technical middle-aged everyman lead characters. I didn’t like the ending and it’s abrupt, but I didn’t really mind at that point as the characters have gone through their arcs and I enjoyed the ride. It’s aliens. Lame. ---
**Author:** ![Smitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Smitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smitty)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/45 "2009-11-16T15:55:33Z")
I was a little disappointed by the ending as well, but for another reason. A huge explosion and damn near everyone dies? All the plotting, and scheming and intrigue was for nothing? It just felt like I came all this way and was dragged into all these plot threads, and for what? None of them amounted to anything because everyone got cooked. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/46 "2009-11-16T16:30:29Z")
I’m halfway through - and I’m _not_ clicking those spoilers. :: wiillll not cliiick :: I didn’t get a damn thing done this weekend, either. It’s almost lunchtime, and I can read for another hour. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/47 "2009-11-16T17:10:36Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I’m a member of the Stephen King Library, so they’ll be shipping me the book in the next few weeks or so. There’s a _Stephen King Library?_ What happens if you allow a book to become overdue? “Oh, there are _late_ fees,” the Librarian murmured, her eyes flinty and focused slightly to one side of where **Ivylass** stood. “Yes, there are…_fees._ And they definitely involve your being…_late._” ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/48 "2009-11-16T20:24:14Z")
:: shiver:: ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/49 "2009-11-18T01:26:07Z")
> [@Smitty](#): > > I was a little disappointed by the ending as well, but for another reason. > > A huge explosion and damn near everyone dies? All the plotting, and scheming and intrigue was for nothing? It just felt like I came all this way and was dragged into all these plot threads, and for what? None of them amounted to anything because everyone got cooked. I kinda thought that it worked out perfectly since everyone in the town were simply ants under a magnifying glass, literally, to the aliens and that none of the plotting, planning or intrigue mattered at all. The fact that the violence and death was so random, regardless of characters being good or bad (Libby’s dog, Andi being shot after getting clean, Aiadin, Caro, etc) added to the fact that everything was meaningless. I thought it worked out well in the end and I’m usually disappointed with King’s book endings for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/50 "2009-11-18T02:07:49Z")
I’ll probably finish tonight. I’m not happy. Haven’t been happy for a few hundred pages. I think it’s the characterization (shallow) coupled with the expository, unnatural dialogue. And after the revelation that (apparently) the aliens who are responsible for the dome are _children_ just playing around? (_Star Trek_ (TOS) did it better). I’m really not happy. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/51 "2009-11-18T07:01:53Z")
On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d give this book a “meh”. I didn’t **dislike** it, I mean it was no _Dreamcatcher_, but I never really got into it. I can’t even really put my finger on why. ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/52 "2009-11-18T08:01:39Z")
> [@](#): > > There’s a Stephen King Library? > > What happens if you allow a book to become overdue? They send the Library Police after you of course!!! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/53 "2009-11-18T22:47:36Z")
PROTEST!!! Primary flight training in a _Seneca?_ A _twin-engine?_ WHY do authors/writers do this? Yes, yes, it’s _technically_ legal to have one’s initial training in a twin but it’s _so damn expensive!_ Haven’t these guys heard of the venerable Cessna 172? The Piper Cherokee line? Even a Beechcraft Sundowner? But _other than that_ I’m having a very good time (so far). ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/54 "2009-11-18T22:57:09Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > PROTEST!!! > > Primary flight training in a _Seneca?_ A _twin-engine?_ > > WHY do authors/writers do this? Yes, yes, it’s _technically_ legal to have one’s initial training in a twin but it’s _so damn expensive!_ > > Haven’t these guys heard of the venerable Cessna 172? The Piper Cherokee line? Even a Beechcraft Sundowner? That’s a good one. Also, King frequently mentions one of the cops carrying a Beretta Taurus. A gun-oriented friend of mine assures me that’s like claiming that you drive a Ford Pontiac. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/55 "2009-11-19T00:54:31Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > PROTEST!!! > > Primary flight training in a _Seneca?_ A _twin-engine?_ > > WHY do authors/writers do this? Yes, yes, it’s _technically_ legal to have one’s initial training in a twin but it’s _so damn expensive!_ > > Haven’t these guys heard of the venerable Cessna 172? The Piper Cherokee line? Even a Beechcraft Sundowner? > > But _other than that_ I’m having a very good time (so far). I _have_ heard of happily spoiled wives with happily rich husbands, which is how she’s described. Isn’t it? Given the choice, what would you go for? Anyway, I don’t look for common sense in King’s stories. Now that I’ve opened my big mouth, I gotta go back and re-read that part. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/56 "2009-11-19T15:24:17Z")
I’m about 3/4 through, and the only complaint I have (as usual) is the dialogue. What 13 yr old uses “foxy” to describe a hot babe? Other than that kind of thing, the story is moving along nicely, and is intriguing! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/57 "2009-11-19T16:08:12Z")
I got it…I haven’t read the thread. It really sucks you in from the get-go, doesn’t it? I’m also glad for the cast of characters at the beginning, because things are going so fast I’m losing track of who is who. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/58 "2009-11-19T19:00:45Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I got it…I haven’t read the thread. It really sucks you in from the get-go, doesn’t it? I’m also glad for the cast of characters at the beginning, because things are going so fast I’m losing track of who is who. I kind of like the map, too. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/59 "2009-11-20T15:05:49Z")
I wouldn’t call it his worst, but it wasn’t good, was it? [spoiler] I’m not a fan of (for lack of a better word) “weirdness”, and I knew as soon as someone said “leatherheads” we were heading for Weirdland. Of course, once you’ve posited that an impermeable dome has imprisoned a small town, you’ve written yourself into a hell of a corner already. Also, as Auntie Pam said, there were too many characters, not enough characterization. I read most of it in one sitting, then had to put it aside for a day or two before the final push, and when I came back, I barely remembered some of the people. And it didn’t matter, because they were toast anyway. I was glad he finally wrote a good character with my name (Julia). Before this, I think the only Julie in his work was Julie Lawry from The Stand, the crazy bitch Nick Andros ran across in that drugstore. So, last week I was really happy to have a new King book, and I spent some enjoyable hours reading it. Now, I can put it on the shelf with the others and probably never touch it again. For the love of his early work, I will buy everything the man publishes until the day he dies, but I don’t think he’s written anything really great since…The Green Mile?[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013/60 "2009-11-20T16:24:01Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I wouldn’t call it his worst, but it wasn’t good, was it? No, mostly because of the poor characterization. Even when a plot is cockamamie (_Dreamcatchers_) the characters are usually enough to carry the story and I’ll be satisfied. No one really knows what’s in King’s head, but I think that he just wanted to get this book out of his head and onto paper. Like when you put everything else aside to chase a pesky fly. Sometimes you should just get dinner on the table and forget the stupid fly. It’ll die, sooner or later. The only thing he got right was the pacing – the story never flagged. I wish he would have put more thought into it though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-kings-new-book-under-the-dome/517013.md?page=4)