I was a large propulsions systems mechanic on military ships for a decade before becoming a senior engineer for ships and submarines so my relationship with machines is tight and healthy. Because of this experience, I’ve also seen what happens when things go terribly wrong. It almost never ends well for anyone in close proximity to the unauthorized disassembly.
Agree with this take, it did descend into hokey territory. What I got from this as a learning point for me was the dialogue: the back and forth between characters. Even though there's quite a few characters for such a short piece, each voice was distinctive.
I think the technology running amok is scarier. This is early King where he picks an exotic machine and then has to give us a cliched horror reason for it running amok. By the time of Christine, he became such a better writer. He chose the most ubiquitous of devices and I son't think we ever find out how Christine becomes possessed or if we do it's not that important.
I totally agree. I’ve come to know King from later works where he was perfectly happy to leave the reader with mystery. These stories (also written for magazines) are definitely from a younger writer. Still good, and I still enjoy the ride. But man...he got so much better. I’ve never read Christine. Do you like it?
I know! I had to double check to make sure it wasn’t in the movie but not the book, but it is indeed. So disturbing. I can’t imagine refrigerators without magnetic strips. The idea that you could close yourself in and never get out is terrifying!
I don’t have this fear around big old machines that we can’t turn off exactly. I enjoyed the Steven King though and your explanation of it. It’s the possibilities of autonomous AI controlled machine that we really can’t turn off that haunt my dreams.
I was a large propulsions systems mechanic on military ships for a decade before becoming a senior engineer for ships and submarines so my relationship with machines is tight and healthy. Because of this experience, I’ve also seen what happens when things go terribly wrong. It almost never ends well for anyone in close proximity to the unauthorized disassembly.
Urgh, yeah, I can't/don't want to imagine. Somehow, blunt trauma/mangle trauma etc is especially horrific.
Agree with this take, it did descend into hokey territory. What I got from this as a learning point for me was the dialogue: the back and forth between characters. Even though there's quite a few characters for such a short piece, each voice was distinctive.
Absolutely. And I liked the characters. King tends to be good at that. Making me love people.
King's definitely very good at that 👍
I think the technology running amok is scarier. This is early King where he picks an exotic machine and then has to give us a cliched horror reason for it running amok. By the time of Christine, he became such a better writer. He chose the most ubiquitous of devices and I son't think we ever find out how Christine becomes possessed or if we do it's not that important.
Thanks Shaina. I love your King posts!
I totally agree. I’ve come to know King from later works where he was perfectly happy to leave the reader with mystery. These stories (also written for magazines) are definitely from a younger writer. Still good, and I still enjoy the ride. But man...he got so much better. I’ve never read Christine. Do you like it?
One of my favorites. And one of the better movie versions too.
Another great post, thanks Shaina.
I'd forgotten about the Patrick scene in IT! Hard to believe that getting stuck inside a fridge/freezer was a very real thing at one time.
I know! I had to double check to make sure it wasn’t in the movie but not the book, but it is indeed. So disturbing. I can’t imagine refrigerators without magnetic strips. The idea that you could close yourself in and never get out is terrifying!
I don’t have this fear around big old machines that we can’t turn off exactly. I enjoyed the Steven King though and your explanation of it. It’s the possibilities of autonomous AI controlled machine that we really can’t turn off that haunt my dreams.
Absolutely. AI has taken the place of the industrial and even nuclear monsters from post WWII.
I’ve never watched them but I read they’re along the lines of Hellraiser. Should be a gore fest given the content. Perfect for spooky season.