Danse Macabre

Amazon.com Review In the fall of 1978 (between The Stand and The Dead Zone), Stephen King taught a course at the University of Maine on "Themes in Supernatural Literature." As he writes in the foreword to this book, he was nervous at the prospect of "spending a lot of time in front of a lot of people talking about a subject in which I had previously only felt my way instinctively, like a blind man." The course apparently went well, and as with most teaching experiences, it was as instructive, if not more so, to the teacher as it was to the students. Thanks to a suggestion from his former editor at Doubleday, King decided to write Danse Macabre as a personal record of the thoughts about horror that he developed and refined as a result of that course. The outcome is an utterly charming book that reads as if King were sitting right there with you, shooting the breeze. He starts on October 4, 1957, when he was 10 years old, watching a Saturday matinee of Earth vs. the Flying Saucers. Just as the saucers were mounting their attack on "Our Nation's Capital," the movie was suddenly turned off. The manager of the theater walked out onto the stage and announced, "The Russians have put a space satellite into orbit around the earth. They call it ... Spootnik." That's how the whole book goes: one simple, yet surprisingly pertinent, anecdote or observation after another. King covers the gamut of horror as he'd experienced it at that point in 1978 (a period of about 30 years): folk tales, literature, radio, good movies, junk movies, and the "glass teat". It's colorful, funny, and nostalgic--and also strikingly intelligent. --Fiona Webster Product Description Tour of the whole horror genre in books, film, radio, and TV by the most popluar writer in the genre today. From AudioFile The recording of this classic (the opening has been updated) gives insight into the mind of one of the world's most popular storytellers. Narrator William Dufris affects a relaxed tone as King expounds on the state of the horror fiction in 1978. King's study of radio, television, movies, and books links his point of view with those of other practitioners such as Richard Matheson and Harlan Ellison. King pulls back the curtain on craftsmen who not only influenced his writing but also continue to dominate the genre. DANSE MACABRE is a map to the hills and valleys of the mind that brought us CARRIE, THE STAND, and most recently UNDER THE DOME. With his clarity and directness, Dufris makes a perfect guide to this imaginative territory. R.O. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine Review The indisputable king of horror TIME One of the few horror writers who can truly make the flesh creep SUNDAY EXPRESS From Publishers Weekly King's 1987 disquisition on the nature, quality, and substance of the horror genre from 1950 to 1980 gains new life as an audiobook, and listeners will enjoy (and enjoy disagreeing with) King's conclusions and seeing which ones have held up. A new introduction features King revisiting his book and recent horror narratives. William Dufris narrates with a clear, easygoing tone that works well with King's playful and enthusiastic prose. Dufris keeps up with King's shifting tone and even attempts the occasional goofy impersonation when King's writing suggests it, such as the devious laugh of the Crypt Keeper. Though its breadth can be overwhelming, the book becomes a delight to listen to in the hands of Dufris's skillful performance—and listeners will leave with an extensive list of must-see and must-read material. A Berkley paperback. (Feb.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Danse Macabre CHAPTER IOctober 4, 1957,and an Invitation to Dance For me, the terror—the real terror, as opposed to whatever demons and boogeys which might have been living in my own mind—began on an afternoon in Octobe