Stephen King

Cut the blue wire or the red one? What do you think?

TRAD WIFE, Sarah Langan: The best horror novel of 2026. Hands down.

THE QUEEN OF BAD INFLUENCES, by Jim Shepard: Excellent short stories, many dealing with disasters: the great hurricane of 1935, the Johnstown flood, the "Big Burn" of 1910 in Idaho, the sinking of the Lusitania. You'll love these.

If you've read YESTERYEAR (Caro Clair Burke), you should read TRAD WIFE (Sarah Langan). Two interesting looks at the same phenomenon. They complement each other.

A new book, OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE (T3), is published today. It's the final book of the Talisman trilogy, co-written with my old buddy, Peter Straub. Thank you for your attention in this matter.

IF we take it back. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Remember Kamala!

Reading has become an endangered species. Which is half the problem with American political life. Maybe more than half. If you can't read, you can't think. Then you can fall for anything. The idea, for instance, that the truth is fake news.

YESTERYEAR, Caro Claire Burke: Funny and sharp enough to draw blood from both sexes. This book is going to be around for a long time. It's a feminist CATCH-22.

Can't believe I made it to 79. I mean, holy cow!

Cool idea! What if someone who could hear (and sometimes see) the dead fell into a city's water supply and decomposed? And after drinking the water, EVERYONE could do it? MY SAD DEAD (Netflix. September 24). My old amigo Pablo Larrain directed.

I paid $5.50/gal for 93 octane. $50 to fill the tank. It's all that idiot Trump's fault.

If you think you know her story, you're dead wrong. Carrie, a new series from Mike Flanagan, based on my novel arrives October 7 on Prime Video.

There's a movie coming on Shudder in October called THE CYCLE. I don't usually pump for horror movies (unless they are mine, haha), but this is special. Put it on your calendar.

Molly, aka the Thing of Evil, is getting on in years, but she's still a good pal.

Trump wouldn't go to sleep at meetings if he didn't stay up all night texting silly AI shit. I don't think he wants to be President at all. It turns out it's...gasp!...actual WORK!!

Ouch!

Inciting a coup against your own country is the very definition of TREASON, full stop. There should be a law that prevents traitors from running for office.

JANSPLAINING is an interesting book blog. This lady takes no shit, which is sort of exhilarating. She takes on the ever-popular blurb-o-mat, pointing out such words as "propulsive," "epic," (which means long), and my favorite "luminous"--which means not much really happens in this book.

Canada Dry®️ Ginger Ale was created in Toronto, 🇨🇦 in 1904 by pharmacist John J. McLaughlin. He was inspired by the dry, sparkling champagne of Europe to create a more refined ginger beverage. "The Champagne of Ginger Ales" was coined "dry," mirroring wine industry lingo for a less sugary finish.

Survey says the most popular soft drink in Maine is Canada Dry Ginger Ale. First, it's not dry, it's wet. Second of all, the Maine drink is Moxie. Everybody knows that. I don't drink it myself, because it tastes really weird.

Reading THAT'S ANOTHER FINE MESS blog? You should. It's good.

Molly, aka the Thing of Evil, bites her favorite DJT, and reminds you ALWAYS COOK YOUR SALMON IN THE MICROWAVE with oil and lemon juice. 3 minutes per filet! Delicious!

STEVE'S RECIPE FOR PERFECT MICROWAVE BACON: 4 slices wrapped in paper towels. Cook like you cook popcorn, only you can't listen for popping. Set TIME COOK for 4 minutes. Stop after 2. Check. Microwaves vary. Mine does crispy (not burned) 4 in 4 minutes. MOLLY THE THING OF EVIL APPROVED THIS RECIPE

Tonight Trump will re-litigate the 2020 election. Why? In support of his SAVE act, which is actually a Voter Suppression Act. This is a Hail Mary effort to keep his corrupt power grab from being swamped by a blue wave in November.

Most cops are good and helpful, but ICE more and more seems like the American Gestapo.

CAPE FEAR: I'm rooting for Max Cady.

Nobody is vandalizing the Reflecting Pool, and Trump knows it. This is a visible example of his corruption--a no-bid contract to some crony followed by sky-high cost overruns, and shoddy construction to boot. Classic Trump: I didn't fuck up, it was my enemies.

Hey, Constant Readers: Emmy voting is in full swing, but the window closes 6/22 Check out this video of clips and what the critics are raving about. The cast & crew did a spectacular job bringing the old town to life. (And yes, it's scary as hell.) Don't forget to vote! 🎈 #WelcomeToDerry

WIDOW'S BAY is good. MAXIMUM PLEASURE GUARANTEED is even better. It's like Hitchcock came back to do it one more time. And Tatiana Maslany is so good. The play of emotions on her face is pretty incredible. She goes from comic to terror in an instant.

Tune in on Thursday at 4pm EDT for two excerpts from OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE, the long-awaited conclusion to THE TALISMAN Trilogy. Steve says, check it out. youtu.be/6DV_jGLlD5s

People change.

I voted for Platner.

Here's your reminder of what that moment was:

I loved it. Nicolas Cage was cast perfectly.

SPIDER-NOIR: The New York Times calls it a washout, and adds DOA. It's much better than that. A lovingly created caricature of film noir that's mesmerizing in its carefully created look (Dutch angles aplenty) and snappy dialogue. It's heartfelt and fun, the last thing from DOA.

A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE, by Jordan Harper: If you like horror/suspense/mystery, with a hanging that parallels the Jeffery Epstein "suicide," pick this barn-burner up now. The only book that equals it for sheer terror is THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.

Netflix, not nedflix. Nedflix is only for no-goodniks.

THE BOROUGHS (Netflix): An absolute delight. Bonus: I believe, because it's Ndetflix, you can watch all the episodes. It's actually worth it.

I don't know a Trumper who gets his/her news anywhere but on Fox News (some pay no attention to any news at all). Anything else, they're like kids with their fingers in their ears: "Wah-wah-wah, I can't HEEEAR you!"

What else can you do? As the old adage says, "In a democracy, a nation gets the government it deserves."

The Trump administration's out-front corruption at first amazed me, then horrified me. Now, to misquote Elvis Costello, "I used to be disgusted, now I'm just amused."

Trump on Trump: "Low IQ" "Loser" "Dirtbag" "Scuzzball" "Idiot" "Jackass"

Don't point that thing at me unless you mean to play it.

I thought you said LITTLE DEBBIE and now i want zebra cakes

I enjoy Freida McFadden. I read all the HOUSEMAID books and have moved on to DEAR DEBBIE. The books are engrossing and her sense of humor is sharp and dark. Vengeance comes with a twist and is satisfying.

Trump's bored with being president. "I didn't know I'd have to work."

LORD OF THE FLIES (Netflix): I had my doubts, but it captures all the horror and mystery of the novel. It's not like anything you have seen.

THE ORACLE'S DAUGHTER, by Harrison Hill: This story about the rise and fall of an evangelical cult is terrifying and all true. I couldn't put it down. It would make a hell of a movie.

Under 1000 days left in the Trump regime. We're getting there.

Patton Oswalt is going to read the third book in the Talisman trilogy. OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE will be out in October. I'm totally stoked that he agreed to do it. Spoiler alert: There's a character in the book who's a stand-up comedian. His name is...Payton Orville. Coincidence? I think not.