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Low Men In Yellow Coats
Lo stesso giorno in cui Bobby Garfield compie undici anni, l'anziano Ted Brautigan si trasferisce nella casa accanto alla sua. Entrambi condividono la passione per la lettura, che presto li lega in un'amicizia vera e sincera. Ma Ted nasconde un segreto legato alle sue facoltà mentali, e affida a Bobby uno strano vigilare sulla presenza degli «uomini bassi in soprabito giallo», pericolosi personaggi disposti a tutto per rintracciare Ted e la cui presenza è rivelata da piccoli annunci di animali scomparsi o lune e stelle disegnate per terra... Questo racconto è già comparso in traduzione italiana con il titolo "Uomini bassi in soprabito giallo" nella raccolta "Cuori in Atlantide".
298 pages, Paperback
Published September 4, 2018
6 people are currently reading
871 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,435 books887k followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
June 21, 2016
I read this soon after I finished The Dark Tower series, and found it really satisfying. I was still in that hungry phrase, during which I'd seek out every reference to TDT and read it twice just to put myself back into that universe. The storyline is great, really accurate to how it's positioned to parallel Ted Brautigan in TDT as well. One thing I love about TDT are the parts that intersect with our own world, that eerie, darkly suspenseful feeling of being engaged with that universe. This story was dripping with that, so it scored major points with me.
December 21, 2018
Occhi a cuoricino per questo racconto che adesso mi porterà a comprare l'intera raccolta da cui è tratto.
"Low men in yellow coats" - titolo inglese di "Uomini bassi in soprabito giallo" - parla della strana e improbabile amicizia tra Bobby e Ted.
Bobby è un bambino con un'infanzia difficile, costretto a vivere con una madre che non gli vuole bene e a cercare conforto in se stesso. Quando incontra Ted, ci fa subito amicizia, per poi scoprire che l'uomo che il suo nuovo vicino di casa è in realtà perseguitato da uomini bassi in soprabito giallo.
Non vi dirò di più, ma vorrei sottolineare degli aspetti che mi sono piaciuti tantissimo.
Molte volte ignoriamo, siamo stupidi davanti all'evidenza e fingiamo di non vedere qualcosa che è proprio sotto ai nostri occhi. Ciò ci porta a conseguenze che possono essere disastrose. Un bambino riesce a vedere molto di più di ciò che riesce a vedere un adulto, questo è assodato. Ho adorato il modo che aveva Bobby di osservare la vita e soprattutto il suo rapporto con Carol, un tesoro di ragazzina.
Ted è rimasto un personaggio misterioso per tutto il racconto, ma di fatto l'unico che abbia saputo davvero come aiutare Bobby.
Mi sono piaciuti moltissimo i protagonisti del racconto, come anche lo stile in cui è stata raccontata la storia. Adoro i racconti lunghi di Stephen King, quasi più di molti romanzi che ho letto. Posso dirlo? Ormai l'ho detto...
"Low men in yellow coats" - titolo inglese di "Uomini bassi in soprabito giallo" - parla della strana e improbabile amicizia tra Bobby e Ted.
Bobby è un bambino con un'infanzia difficile, costretto a vivere con una madre che non gli vuole bene e a cercare conforto in se stesso. Quando incontra Ted, ci fa subito amicizia, per poi scoprire che l'uomo che il suo nuovo vicino di casa è in realtà perseguitato da uomini bassi in soprabito giallo.
Non vi dirò di più, ma vorrei sottolineare degli aspetti che mi sono piaciuti tantissimo.
Molte volte ignoriamo, siamo stupidi davanti all'evidenza e fingiamo di non vedere qualcosa che è proprio sotto ai nostri occhi. Ciò ci porta a conseguenze che possono essere disastrose. Un bambino riesce a vedere molto di più di ciò che riesce a vedere un adulto, questo è assodato. Ho adorato il modo che aveva Bobby di osservare la vita e soprattutto il suo rapporto con Carol, un tesoro di ragazzina.
Ted è rimasto un personaggio misterioso per tutto il racconto, ma di fatto l'unico che abbia saputo davvero come aiutare Bobby.
Mi sono piaciuti moltissimo i protagonisti del racconto, come anche lo stile in cui è stata raccontata la storia. Adoro i racconti lunghi di Stephen King, quasi più di molti romanzi che ho letto. Posso dirlo? Ormai l'ho detto...
January 11, 2016
Really, this novella is so difficult to categorize. I didn't quite know what to make of it in terms of themes when I started reading it and I don't quite know it now that I finished it. There were so many things I expected to be, and King always defied my expectations when I finaly began to feel that I can put my finger around it. For starters, I didn't expect it at all to be so fragmented - so many seemingly unimportant and unrelated things happen that you can hardly keep track of the main narrative, and the narrative itself flows at a vastly changing pace. Sometimes, there are a couple of pages which seem like a lecture on literature (and literature surely takes up a huge portion of "Low Men"), and then, suddenly, before you know it, things get in motion, childhood days are over and the Low Men are, out of the blue, more than a premonition; they are real.
Just as there were so many things I expected this story to be, the story itself turned out to be much more than I expected. I didn't expect it to affect and engage me so much on an emotional level. At first, I was largely indifferent towards Bobby Garfield and thought him just another Stephen King kid character who serves as a convenient plot advancer. As I read on, he and Ted grew on me so much. I didn't expect it to be such a powerful coming of age story - the last few pages are literally dripping with painful melancholy of loss and regret. I didn't expect it to be about the power of literature, friendship, mother-son relationship and all the things in between. King really knows how to capture the magic of growing up and the inevitable tragedy of leaving all those childhood memories behind as life turns out to be much less than you wanted it to be. I didn't expect it to be such a sugestive clinic in human nature, seeing Bobby succumb to his fears and abandoning Ted at a crucial, breaking point of his life. Long story short, I didn't expect it to be so good, captivating and yet so complex to even talk about at the same time. It may not be great literature, but it is a great story in itself.
Don't go reading books you know nothing about beforehand with a bunch of expectations. They may get shattered and you may end up the fool to pick up the pieces and write up an incoherent review out of that.
Just as there were so many things I expected this story to be, the story itself turned out to be much more than I expected. I didn't expect it to affect and engage me so much on an emotional level. At first, I was largely indifferent towards Bobby Garfield and thought him just another Stephen King kid character who serves as a convenient plot advancer. As I read on, he and Ted grew on me so much. I didn't expect it to be such a powerful coming of age story - the last few pages are literally dripping with painful melancholy of loss and regret. I didn't expect it to be about the power of literature, friendship, mother-son relationship and all the things in between. King really knows how to capture the magic of growing up and the inevitable tragedy of leaving all those childhood memories behind as life turns out to be much less than you wanted it to be. I didn't expect it to be such a sugestive clinic in human nature, seeing Bobby succumb to his fears and abandoning Ted at a crucial, breaking point of his life. Long story short, I didn't expect it to be so good, captivating and yet so complex to even talk about at the same time. It may not be great literature, but it is a great story in itself.
Don't go reading books you know nothing about beforehand with a bunch of expectations. They may get shattered and you may end up the fool to pick up the pieces and write up an incoherent review out of that.
January 2, 2019
Sonlara qədər qorxulu heç nə baş vermir, amma indi nəsə olacaq hissi də adamı tərk eləmir. Deyirsən ki, indi.. bax indi.. vse.. amma heç nə olmur. Elə bu gərginlik nəyə desən dəyər. Kingin bütün əsərlərindəki kimi burada da personajlardan biri digər əsər ilə əlaqəlidir. Amma kitab natamam deyil, rahatlıqla bu hissə ilə bitirmək olar. #birnəfəsə
September 19, 2025
Storia alla King, sempre bello rileggerla.
June 8, 2015
King said , "If you don't have the time to read, you don't have time or tools to write". If you wonder what he might have meant by that saying, you should read this novella. It was a great entertainer from start to end. I really wanted to punch Liz in the face but she got more than what she deserves from a bunch of "Low Men". Ted was the star of the show. Cant' wait to see the movie adaptation staring Anthony Hopkins as Ted.
October 24, 2018
I read this because of the tie-in to the Dark Tower world. I was intrigued by the low men, and actually craved more of them. Ted and Bobby shared some moments together, including farts in a post-hot dog casserole evening. Liz is a piece of work, to say the least. Great writing, per Sai King's style, and the story developed and concluded well. For me, I wish I had more low men and more Ted as a breaker. Granted, more is explained in book 7 of the Dark tower.
April 10, 2020
4.5
I tried reading the entire collection of stories who am I kidding? I only wanted to read this one. It's the best out of them all in Hearts in Atlantis. Really REALLY enjoyed it.
I tried reading the entire collection of stories who am I kidding? I only wanted to read this one. It's the best out of them all in Hearts in Atlantis. Really REALLY enjoyed it.
November 16, 2022
4.0 stars. It's really quite amazing how many of these other stories by King are tied into the Dark Tower series in one way or another. Some are more explicit in their references (Insomnia for example), some much less so (IT). This one falls into the camp of 'directly tied in', as it mentions the Gunslinger, the Tower, Roses, the Beam, The Crimson King, and all that good stuff.
The reason I bring this up is because it's hard to determine how much I'd like some of these if I wasn't reading them specifically as a part of a giant Dark Tower extended read-through. Maybe one day I'll go through them again in a more random order, and update based on a less influenced point of view.
As it stands, this not only added to the overall experience of going through all these books - but I feel it was an enjoyable read on it's own too. King writes kids so friggen well, and friendships just as much so. This had just enough of that kind of stuff, mixed with some weird-ass King shit, that I was interested the whole way through despite the fact that not a whole lot really happens plot-wise.
I'm aware that this is intended to be the first part of the whole 'Hearts in Atlantis' experience, and one day I'll read that whole thing cover to cover and see how it all comes together. For now, I'll be moving along the Path of the Beam once more.
The reason I bring this up is because it's hard to determine how much I'd like some of these if I wasn't reading them specifically as a part of a giant Dark Tower extended read-through. Maybe one day I'll go through them again in a more random order, and update based on a less influenced point of view.
As it stands, this not only added to the overall experience of going through all these books - but I feel it was an enjoyable read on it's own too. King writes kids so friggen well, and friendships just as much so. This had just enough of that kind of stuff, mixed with some weird-ass King shit, that I was interested the whole way through despite the fact that not a whole lot really happens plot-wise.
I'm aware that this is intended to be the first part of the whole 'Hearts in Atlantis' experience, and one day I'll read that whole thing cover to cover and see how it all comes together. For now, I'll be moving along the Path of the Beam once more.
September 6, 2023
Stephen Kings berättlser om att växa upp är de som griper tag om mig, allra mest av hans böcker. Vänskapen mellan Ted och Boddy är så hjärtevärmande och äkta. Berättelsen är starkt knuten till det mörka tornet-serien, vilket får vissa element att kännas en aning underliga om man endast läser denna novellen.
Trots det kan historien läsas och upplevas som självstående då den behandlar högst mänskliga teman som kärlek, nostalgi och rädsla. Att växa upp, växa ihop och att växa isär.
Trots det kan historien läsas och upplevas som självstående då den behandlar högst mänskliga teman som kärlek, nostalgi och rädsla. Att växa upp, växa ihop och att växa isär.
April 19, 2025
10/10
This book just worked on every level of the tower for me. This is a top 5 Stephen King story for me. I will have to get to the rest of the Hearts in Atlantis collection at some point. Otherwise, it is off to Everything’s Eventual before DT 7!
This book just worked on every level of the tower for me. This is a top 5 Stephen King story for me. I will have to get to the rest of the Hearts in Atlantis collection at some point. Otherwise, it is off to Everything’s Eventual before DT 7!
December 29, 2018
inizio molto lento, finale a precipizio
August 20, 2022
I feel the need to rate this separately from the collection it is bound in, as it is fully deserving of a 5 star rating. A brilliant story on its own, but one that makes me appreciate the Dark Tower even more.
August 7, 2016
"Mali ludzie w żółtych płaszczach" to opowieść o chłopcu, który zaprzyjaźnił się ze starszym mężczyzną, obdarzonym zdolnością jasnowidzenia. Mężczyzna zamieszkuje na drugim piętrze domu, w którym mieszka chłopiec z samotnie wychowującą go matką. Wszystko wskazuje na to, że ukrywa się przed podejrzanym osobnikami z innego wymiaru ( nawiązanie do "Mrocznej Wieży"). Chłopiec wyparuje w okolicy dziwnych znaków pozostawionych przez nieznajomych i czyta Tedowi codzienną gazetę, dzięki czemu może zarobić na upragniony rower. Ted mimochodem wprowadza go w fascynujący świat książek.
Na podstawie tej powieści powstał o wiele lepszy film "Kraina wiecznego szczęścia" ( scenariusz oczyszczono z niepotrzebnych wątków i zmodyfikowano w niektórych miejscach fabułę).
Na podstawie tej powieści powstał o wiele lepszy film "Kraina wiecznego szczęścia" ( scenariusz oczyszczono z niepotrzebnych wątków i zmodyfikowano w niektórych miejscach fabułę).
September 22, 2017
A very good 'shorter' story by Stephen King (I read it in a short story collection, but it's definitely the longest story in there). There were a bunch of references to the Gunslinger series, which I LOVED. The story isn't so much horror as it is suspense, magic, belief and friendship. Truly touching and definitely one of King's lesser-known stories out there. I hope - maybe - there'll be some sort of sequel to this story because a lot of questions remain unanswered...
June 7, 2014
Tied directly to the Dark Tower Universe. This short Story appears in "Hearts in Atlantis"
March 5, 2015
Якщо це єдиний пріквел до "Темної вежі", то він взагалі нічого не пояснює
August 4, 2015
⭐️3 1/2 Stars⭐️
September 17, 2015
A fun story but I like the movie better. Impossible I know.
December 15, 2016
Snuck in this short story. Wonderful. You want a gateway book to Mr. King? Here it is. Damn fine writing, damn fine story!
April 19, 2025
From 'Hearts in Atlantis'. Just very good. Experience the story yourself!
October 24, 2022
This is an example of King at his very best. Not only is he writing through the eyes of an eleven year old boy, but he is writing about The Dark Tower, breakers and Can-Ka No Rey in a very roundabout way. In such a roundabout way that those who have never read any of DT can still enjoy this story, but for those of us who have? It's heartbreaking on a much, much deeper level. I can't express how much admiration I have for the skill required to write in this way. It's almost like an ongoing in-joke, but so much more masterful. And not funny.
Bobby Garfield is eleven, with a widowed skin-flint of a mother, but also good friends. This is about a new friend he makes in an old bachelor who moves into his apartment house. Like so many of King's best characters, Bobby is a reader. Readers have more empathy and tend to mature in different ways than non-readers and this makes the perfect canvas for compelling characters.
The relationship between Bobby and Ted is beautifully written. There is always, even though often unjustified, some trepidation surrounding a single man making friends with children. That's just the world we live in, sad but true. Liz, Bobby's mom, is immediately suspicious of Ted. King shows us this, and writes some foreboding scenes and comments that allow the reader to worry about this possibility. I say "this possibility," but what do I really mean? Something bad. Something inappropriate. Something hurtful. The feeling he invokes is just those broad brush strokes. A feeling doesn't require detail.
Speaking of broad brush strokes, that's another genius display of writing in this book. Because Bobby is eleven, we are given glimpses into events that he is simply unable to grasp or understand, King writes them in such a way that we the reader know just what is happening despite Bobby's confusion. As an adult and a mother, I found Bobby's confusion surrounding these things a mercy. No one wants an eleven year old boy to know these things. He will. Eventually. But not yet. Not yet.
The things that happen to Bobby during his brief relationship with Ted change him. He is not given a pat happy ending and I think this took bravery on the part of King. Some things really do change us, and often those changes are not for the better. Bobby eventually straightens up and flies right, but having that rough patch is realistic and honest. Bobby's relationship with his mother is at the heart of this. King shows us how easy it is to dislike someone we can't help loving and just how much that can hurt.
I happened to be reading this simultaneously with listening to the end of The Dark Tower on audio. I've read and listened many, many times before, but because I was also reading Ted's escape (albeit brief) story at the same time, it hurt so much more. As a reader, I love Ted Brautigan. I hope to meet him the clearing some day.
Bobby Garfield is eleven, with a widowed skin-flint of a mother, but also good friends. This is about a new friend he makes in an old bachelor who moves into his apartment house. Like so many of King's best characters, Bobby is a reader. Readers have more empathy and tend to mature in different ways than non-readers and this makes the perfect canvas for compelling characters.
The relationship between Bobby and Ted is beautifully written. There is always, even though often unjustified, some trepidation surrounding a single man making friends with children. That's just the world we live in, sad but true. Liz, Bobby's mom, is immediately suspicious of Ted. King shows us this, and writes some foreboding scenes and comments that allow the reader to worry about this possibility. I say "this possibility," but what do I really mean? Something bad. Something inappropriate. Something hurtful. The feeling he invokes is just those broad brush strokes. A feeling doesn't require detail.
Speaking of broad brush strokes, that's another genius display of writing in this book. Because Bobby is eleven, we are given glimpses into events that he is simply unable to grasp or understand, King writes them in such a way that we the reader know just what is happening despite Bobby's confusion. As an adult and a mother, I found Bobby's confusion surrounding these things a mercy. No one wants an eleven year old boy to know these things. He will. Eventually. But not yet. Not yet.
The things that happen to Bobby during his brief relationship with Ted change him. He is not given a pat happy ending and I think this took bravery on the part of King. Some things really do change us, and often those changes are not for the better. Bobby eventually straightens up and flies right, but having that rough patch is realistic and honest. Bobby's relationship with his mother is at the heart of this. King shows us how easy it is to dislike someone we can't help loving and just how much that can hurt.
I happened to be reading this simultaneously with listening to the end of The Dark Tower on audio. I've read and listened many, many times before, but because I was also reading Ted's escape (albeit brief) story at the same time, it hurt so much more. As a reader, I love Ted Brautigan. I hope to meet him the clearing some day.
February 13, 2025
Well THAT was a jagged pill to swallow! I’m reading this story as part of my journey to the Tower, and was not really expecting much from it, but by the end I completely forgot about that ever elusive Tower and was totally caught up in what must be the most jarringly painful coming-of-age stories I’ve ever read. All the joy and pain that stems from Bobby’s failed relationships in his life stems from his father being absent on his life, I believe. His strained relationship with his mother, his attachment to Ted, and his subsequent downward spiral when the only positive male figure in his life gets taken away, is damn near heartbreaking! The death of innocence is on full display here, complete with friendships being outgrown to the loss of one’s first love.
All of this is what I’m taking away from this book, and I haven’t even said one thing about those low men in yellow coats. Ted was quite an eclectic character, and I love that he spurred Bobby to read more thought-provoking books - books that stayed with him for all the years and had a profound impact on him. I feel the first instance of Bobby “growing up” was him reading Lord of the Flies and the various viewpoints it gave him. The special powers he has, and periodically pass on to Bobby, is interesting and remind me of “the touch” that Alain and Jake have (IYKYK).
The links to the Tower and everything mentioned about the Breakers, the Beams and the Crimson King were cool and a all, and it brought me back to why I was reading it, but they were more peripheral to the Book of Bobby Garfield, which will be staying with me for a while.
All of this is what I’m taking away from this book, and I haven’t even said one thing about those low men in yellow coats. Ted was quite an eclectic character, and I love that he spurred Bobby to read more thought-provoking books - books that stayed with him for all the years and had a profound impact on him. I feel the first instance of Bobby “growing up” was him reading Lord of the Flies and the various viewpoints it gave him. The special powers he has, and periodically pass on to Bobby, is interesting and remind me of “the touch” that Alain and Jake have (IYKYK).
The links to the Tower and everything mentioned about the Breakers, the Beams and the Crimson King were cool and a all, and it brought me back to why I was reading it, but they were more peripheral to the Book of Bobby Garfield, which will be staying with me for a while.
April 27, 2024
I borrowed an audio version of “Hearts in Atlantis” from Libby and listened to 10 hours of it before realizing that what I was actually listening to was this story and the other 10 hours are “Hearts in Atlantis.”
Either way, the story was great, as always. Characterized so well with a poignant coming of age/loss of innocence theme. Perhaps one of the most tragic books with that theme I’ve read. I especially enjoyed the parallels between this book and “Lord of the Flies.”
I wish I had known I was listening to the end of the story instead of thinking I was only half way done. I think I would have had a different relationship with the final chapter(s), but that’s alright, it’s given me a lot to think about. The low men in yellow coats, Ted’s history and relationship with these men, their threats against Bobby, all of those details are a little ambiguous. In some ways I like it, in some ways I don’t.
There’s a supernatural aspect and the plot points that derive from those aspects are a little more abstract and ambiguous. I don’t necessarily have an issue with that, even if it did make the story slightly less concrete.
This book made me want to reread “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” because I haven’t read that once since 8th grade and it left a small impression on me, small but profound enough that I thought about that book while listening to this one.
Either way, the story was great, as always. Characterized so well with a poignant coming of age/loss of innocence theme. Perhaps one of the most tragic books with that theme I’ve read. I especially enjoyed the parallels between this book and “Lord of the Flies.”
I wish I had known I was listening to the end of the story instead of thinking I was only half way done. I think I would have had a different relationship with the final chapter(s), but that’s alright, it’s given me a lot to think about. The low men in yellow coats, Ted’s history and relationship with these men, their threats against Bobby, all of those details are a little ambiguous. In some ways I like it, in some ways I don’t.
There’s a supernatural aspect and the plot points that derive from those aspects are a little more abstract and ambiguous. I don’t necessarily have an issue with that, even if it did make the story slightly less concrete.
This book made me want to reread “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” because I haven’t read that once since 8th grade and it left a small impression on me, small but profound enough that I thought about that book while listening to this one.
June 15, 2020
In many of Kings books the subject of transience touches the reader's consciousness, tears his emotions and pours into the soul true human values and ideas that for the average person are irrelevant, often even invisible. However, in this novella, while reading each sentence, page by page I felt and saw how close this content is to King himself. This great power and strength of communication results from the fact that it all flowed from the very personal corners of King's soul.
This story in some way refers to The Dark Tower, but it is not so obvious so that for those who do not know Roland's story it will not be clear why Ted hides from the world, where he came from and who these mysterious gentlemen in coats are.
The beauty of friendship, the power that lies in it, the magic of childhood ... it is all here. The content of this story will remind everyone of their own childhood, while allowing us to re-evaluate things that are able to change our consciousness if it is lost in the fog of reality.
This story in some way refers to The Dark Tower, but it is not so obvious so that for those who do not know Roland's story it will not be clear why Ted hides from the world, where he came from and who these mysterious gentlemen in coats are.
The beauty of friendship, the power that lies in it, the magic of childhood ... it is all here. The content of this story will remind everyone of their own childhood, while allowing us to re-evaluate things that are able to change our consciousness if it is lost in the fog of reality.
January 28, 2024
To think this could have been the final Dark Tower tie-in, given that this was published shortly after Stephen King’s infamous van accident. I had read this novella a very long time back, probably in 2001, prior to watching the Anthony Hopkins movie this was based upon. But having just completed my journey to the Tower, this was a good time to come back and re-read since Brautigan has a prominent role in the seventh book.
I gained a greater appreciation for the story this time, seeing the story at the face value, and then seeing the story for what it means to the overall DT picture.
True to form for a good King story, his strengths lie with his character development and his weaknesses are in the endings (I felt like the book could have ended a few others spots and kind of dragged). The relationships that Bobby has are the real strength to the story. A unique love with Ted, a budding love with Carol, a strained love with his mother and the friendship love with Sully-John really make the pages turn. Moreso than any interaction with any of the Low Men. The plot isn’t the story here, the relationships are.
I gained a greater appreciation for the story this time, seeing the story at the face value, and then seeing the story for what it means to the overall DT picture.
True to form for a good King story, his strengths lie with his character development and his weaknesses are in the endings (I felt like the book could have ended a few others spots and kind of dragged). The relationships that Bobby has are the real strength to the story. A unique love with Ted, a budding love with Carol, a strained love with his mother and the friendship love with Sully-John really make the pages turn. Moreso than any interaction with any of the Low Men. The plot isn’t the story here, the relationships are.
January 15, 2020
A slow building story with a finish that leaves you with more questions and longing than answers and closure. I read this book as a recommendation before continuing with the Dark Tower series. I'm glad I read. The connection is small and doesn't show itself until the last moments of the book but it does add a layer of interest for reading into the rest of the world. I really enjoyed the spy novel feel that this had to it and that's really what kept me reading it. The characters grow on you and you begin to understand where people are coming from and how their upbringing can influence them as a whole. I would definitely recommend trying this book out. Especially if you plan on reading the Dark Tower.
May 26, 2020
Попри надмірну деталізацію повсякденного життя американців (що мені не дуже подобається у творах цього автора), ця історія вийшла напруженою, цікавою та навіть повчальною. Оскільки я не є шанувальником Кінга, і здається так і не стану (адже на "Серцях Атлантиди" перестав читати збірку, куди входило саме це оповідання), та "Ниці люди в жовтих плащах" були з біса крутими. Концепт сили зчитувати те, що людина знає та літературний серфінг з метою навчити Боббі чомусь цінному - родзинки твору.
На додачу, історія закінчилась тим, що з��чіпає героїв та світ циклу "Темна вежа". Якби не це, то твір міг би з часом "охолонути" і потонути в "пилюці" моєї паямяті. Але ні, він підштовхнув ще ближче до того, щоб таки взятися за magnum opus Короля в найближчому часі.
На додачу, історія закінчилась тим, що з��чіпає героїв та світ циклу "Темна вежа". Якби не це, то твір міг би з часом "охолонути" і потонути в "пилюці" моєї паямяті. Але ні, він підштовхнув ще ближче до того, щоб таки взятися за magnum opus Короля в найближчому часі.
August 5, 2021
Uomini bassi in soprabito giallo. Gli appassionati della Torre Nera sanno di chi si tratta, chi ha letto I vendicatori o Desperation li conosce come can-toi, chi non ha letto libri di King legati alla Torre Nera magari ancora non lo ha incontrati, ma è il momento di scoprirlo, fidatevi. Farlo insieme a Bobby Garfield è una buona idea perché farsi guidare dai bambini in un’opera di King è (quasi) sempre una buona idea. Un’idea che porta in un mare di guai, chiaro.
Ted fa da mentore al piccolo Bobby, prima per quanto riguarda i libri, poi per quanto riguarda gli Uomini bassi e infine per quanto riguarda i poteri fuori dal comune che Ted stesso possiede. Ted il frangitore. Quante cose meravigliose sono nate da questo “piccolo” capolavoro di racconto!
Ted fa da mentore al piccolo Bobby, prima per quanto riguarda i libri, poi per quanto riguarda gli Uomini bassi e infine per quanto riguarda i poteri fuori dal comune che Ted stesso possiede. Ted il frangitore. Quante cose meravigliose sono nate da questo “piccolo” capolavoro di racconto!
March 1, 2025
4.9 ⭐️
All the feelings - Has to be one of kings best novellas/short stories however you want to class it.
Adored this little story, early 60s summer, eternal optimism into tragedy.
On the nose but I enjoyed the literature tie-ins both direct and metaphorical, they were great and well worked.
I recognised shades of the first half of IT - Kings archatypal bullies. Shades of fire starter - fugitive tones Ted is akin to Charlie, and the shop is akin to the yellow men.
Incredible that such a short story evokes so much emotion, from trauma, vulnerability, protection, defensiveness, assault, many relatable aspects so there’s really easy empathy for all the well worked characters.
All the feelings - Has to be one of kings best novellas/short stories however you want to class it.
Adored this little story, early 60s summer, eternal optimism into tragedy.
On the nose but I enjoyed the literature tie-ins both direct and metaphorical, they were great and well worked.
I recognised shades of the first half of IT - Kings archatypal bullies. Shades of fire starter - fugitive tones Ted is akin to Charlie, and the shop is akin to the yellow men.
Incredible that such a short story evokes so much emotion, from trauma, vulnerability, protection, defensiveness, assault, many relatable aspects so there’s really easy empathy for all the well worked characters.
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