Stephen King's Revival

[Scott]

Spoilers ahead!

Very early in his published writing Stephen King dipped into Lovecraft land once or twice. Jerusalem's Lot, and 'Salem's Lot mention the grimoire De Vermis Mysteriis, which Lovecraft borrowed from Robert Bloch. King brings it back for Revival, and also gives a glimpse into a worldview straight out of the Cthulhu mythos, where man is insignificant, life is hopeless, useless, and there are great, elder beings existing just beyond a thin veil. Of course it is Stephen King, and he crams a Lovecraft short story into a 405 page novel. But the story moves, and pulls you along. The writing style reminds me of his older stories, where he is a much better story teller than a writer. Overall I really liked it. Maybe more to come, I have to run.

[geneweigel]

doomsdaygames.proboards.com/thread/1137/revival-stephen-king

I was bugging on this post the other day but then today I had to double check if it was dejavu or not.

[Scott]

Did you end up reading it? Most of the book isn't horror, but I like the story. I've seen it compared to Frankenstein several times, but only because Herbert West - Reanimator was inspired by Frankenstein, and Revival seems much closer in form to Reanimator than Frankenstein.

[geneweigel]

No, I put it off. Maybe when I get a break in the Spring.

I haven't read HERBERT WEST - REANIMATOR (1922) since before the 1985 movie. I recall thinking it was not like the book but as I mentioned many times priorly I loathe Stuart Gordon's film takes on Lovecraft.

[GRWelsh]

Yes, I started a thread when I read REVIVAL about a year ago and then I forgot to follow up and post my thoughts on it. I thought the same thing as Scott -- REVIVAL made me think of King's early Lovecraftian story "Jerusalem's Lot." Overall it was an enjoyable read; good but not great. The most memorable part was the view of the "other side." I would have liked more of that!

[geneweigel]

Geez, I just read REANIMATOR again. I think the serial format of repeating the story so far undermines some of the really hideous parts.

Also, its amazing at how many get riled by Lovecraft's "racist" narration when the narrators are always involved in disgusting evil. For example, the narrator, West's associate, is just as responsible for a small child being eaten by one of West's ghouls and he just keeps on helping West all the way to Europe and back afterwards.

[Scott]

I read that Lovecraft was not happy about the serialization requirements.