Stephen King Fans discussion

Please discuss Blockade Billy here. Mark all spoilers for those reading along. I'm sorry this thread has been put up late this month. I was out of town and got back on June 1st and totally spaced updating our book of the month.

As a diehard baseball fan (SF Giants), I enjoyed Blockade Billy and as usual was impressed with Mr. King's storytelling skills. But I did think that (view spoiler)[Billy showed an unrealistic mix of insight and mental illness. I mean, he's smart enough to murder an entire family and then kill their cows so the neighbors would not hear the cows crying at milking time when there was no one there to milk them, yet, at the same time, he was so suggestible that he took the fans literally when he heard them shouting "kill the umpire." The story and so Billy's personality didn't quite balance for me. (hide spoiler)] Though, again, the presentation of the story was first-rate.

Hi,

I have finished my monthly King read - "Blackade Billy" and have posted my review in the following link for those who are interested:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Have a great first month of summer everyone and best wishes!

Scott.

Scott wrote: "Hi,

I have finished my monthly King read - "Blackade Billy" and have posted my review in the following link for those who are interested:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Have a ..."

Thanks for the commentary and the history, Scott. Well done as usual... inspiring me to rewrite my own review... coming up soon. I do agree with you about Blockade Billy... and maybe rated it a little too highly just because of King's excellent storytelling... didn't care much for the story itself. More to come.

Thank you, Nick. I found myself liking the second story more than the first, but that's me. I can't wait to read your updated review and best wishes.

I also thought Blockade Billy was mostly enjoyable. For me the reason for this is because I do not know anything about Baseball. All I know is what I see in American films. So unfortunately I did not understand it. I also preferred the second story to the first. Both of these stories can also be found in The Bazaar of Bad Dreams

Hey everyone! I just started this and am loving it so far, looking forward to making a big dent tonight and finishing by tomorrow :-)

Michael wrote: "Since this story has been collected, I'm surprised to see us reading the stand-alone version."

It was first published as a stand alone, albeit with Morality included, and we are reading in publication order.

I finished this late last night as I could not put it down! I absolutely loved it and am mad at myself for not reading it sooner. I gave it a perfect 5/5 as my full review is below :-)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

LTJ wrote: "I finished this late last night as I could not put it down! I absolutely loved it and am mad at myself for not reading it sooner. I gave it a perfect 5/5 as my full review is below :-)

https://www..."

Great review! Did your copy include Morality? Have you read that?

@Kandice: Thank you, my friend! It did not, it was just this short story. I haven't read Morality yet but now I will in the future :-D

What about you?

LTJ wrote: "@Kandice: Thank you, my friend! It did not, it was just this short story. I haven't read Morality yet but now I will in the future :-D

What about you?"

Yes, when it was included in Blockade Billy. I actually liked it even more than BB. It makes you feel skeevy just reading it! I think it's also in The Bazaar of Bad Dreams.

Michael wrote: "Kandice wrote: "It was first published as a stand alone, . . . and we are reading in publication order"

I know, but then it was collected, so I'm surprised we're reading the stand-alone version. I..."

If it had been published only as a short story in a publication/magazine, it would not, but because it was given a hardcover treatment by Cemetary Dance, we count is a book.

@Kandice: Ah, very awesome! I vaguely remember reading this in The Bazaar of Bad Dreams since I was on/off reading with several years break in between so I didn't even remember it. LoL times have changed now :-)

Had a hell of a time finding the book with both stories (even though I bought it and it was in my library.) The single-story book--which was there too--kept overriding the other. Ended up having to go back to my old e-book of Bazaar. I should have a reaction in a day or two.

Nick wrote: "Had a hell of a time finding the book with both stories (even though I bought it and it was in my library.) The single-story book--which was there too--kept overriding the other. Ended up having to..."

I too have a couple of editions of this, in addition to Bazaar.

My King shelves seem a bit discombobulated since they are shelved in publication order. It looks like they aren't placed correctly! Kind of drives me crazy.

Morality? Didn't care for it... the characters, the story, and especially the sin. The Minister must know that -- as that eminent theologian, George Carlin, once put it -- if you want to commit a sin, relax... you've already done it. To really commit a sin, you gotta wanna, and wanna is a sin in itself. (view spoiler)[ Paying your life savings to someone to punch a little kid in the face does have sinful overtones but King doesn't really explore them. The story as a whole DOES have sexual complications but King hardly gets into them either. (hide spoiler)] Good basic idea but King could have done better.

This was okay but from the description I expected it to be more of a horror story.