NEWS -
Promo of ep. 3
Mare Winningham is moving Under the Dome
Read more here.
Dutch Doctor Sleep
Tonight's the Night...
Read the review here.
New teaser
Rules Under the Dome
King on Sunday Morning
Fore more, head over to CBS site and if you want to read the transcript you can do so here.
Today's topic
Read King’s letter here and my review here.
Preview of King on CBS Sunday Morning
The piece features an interview with Anthony Mason filmed in Bridgton, Maine (the inspiration for Chester's Mill) and a walk around the set of Under The Dome On CBS. Here is a preview.
King about differences in TV series
For those of you out there in Constant Reader Land who are feeling miffed because the TV version of Under the Dome varies considerably from the book version, here’s a little story.
Near the end of his life, and long after his greatest novels were written, James M. Cain agreed to be interviewed by a student reporter who covered culture and the arts for his college newspaper. This young man began his time with Cain by bemoaning how Hollywood had changed books such as The Postman Always Rings Twice and Double Indemnity. Before he could properly get into his rant, the old man interrupted him by pointing to a shelf of books behind his desk. “The movies didn’t change them a bit, son,” he said. “They’re all right up there. Every word is the same as when I wrote them.”
I feel the same way about Under the Dome. If you loved the book when you first read it, it’s still there for your perusal. But that doesn’t mean the TV series is bad, because it’s not. In fact, it’s very good. And, if you look closely, you’ll see that most of my characters are still there, although some have been combined and others have changed jobs. That’s also true of the big stuff, like the supermarket riot, the reason for all that propane storage, and the book’s thematic concerns with diminishing resources.
Many of the changes wrought by Brian K. Vaughan and his team of writers have been of necessity, and I approved of them wholeheartedly. Some have been occasioned by their plan to keep the Dome in place over Chester’s Mill for months instead of little more than a week, as is the case in the book. Other story modifications are slotting into place because the writers have completely re-imagined the source of the Dome.
That such a re-imagining had to take place was my only serious concern when the series was still in the planning stages, and that concern was purely practical. If the solution to the mystery were the same on TV as in the book, everyone would know it in short order, which would spoil a lot of the fun (besides, plenty of readers didn’t like my solution, anyway). By the same token, it would spoil things if you guys knew the arcs of the characters in advance. Some who die in the book—Angie, for instance—live in the TV version of Chester’s Mill…at least for awhile. And some who live in the book may not be as lucky during the run of the show. Just sayin’.
Listen, I’ve always been a situational writer. My idea of what to do with a plot is to shoot it before it can breed. It’s true that when I start a story, I usually have a general idea of where it’s going to finish up, but in many cases I end up in a different place entirely (for instance, I fully expected Ben Mears to die at the end of ’Salem’s Lot, and Susannah Dean was supposed to pop off at the end of Song of Susannah). “The book is the boss,” Alfred Bester used to say, and what that means to me is the situation is the boss. If you play fair with the characters—and let them play their parts according to their strengths and weaknesses—you can never go wrong. It’s impossible.
There’s only one element of my novel that absolutely had to be the same in the novel and the show, and that’s the Dome itself. It’s best to think of that novel and what you’re seeing week-to-week on CBS as a case of fraternal twins. Both started in the same creative womb, but you will be able to tell them apart. Or, if you’re of a sci-fi bent, think of them as alternate versions of the same reality.
As for me, I’m enjoying the chance to watch that alternate reality play out; I still think there’s no place like Dome.
As for you, Constant Reader, feel free to take the original down from your bookshelf anytime you want. Nothing between the covers has changed a bit.
Comic Con will be Under the Dome
SUNDAY, JULY 21:
UNDER THE DOME
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
Hashtag: #DomeSDCC
The dome has descended upon Chester’s Mill and there is no way in or no way out! Get a sneak peek of what’s in store for the town and its residents as they become sealed off from the rest of the world in this summer’s critically acclaimed series based on the bestselling book by Stephen King, from Amblin Television. Stars Dean Norris (Breaking Bad), Mike Vogel (Bates Motel) and Rachelle Lefevre (Twilight) will be joined by executive producers Brian K. Vaughan (Lost) and Neal Baer (Law & Order: SVU). Norris, Vogel and Lefevre will participate in an exclusive autograph signing following the panel at the CBS Interactive Booth at 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM on the convention floor.
Doctor Sleep endpapers
The Dark Man winner is...
1. What is the release date for The Dark Man?
- July 30, 2013
2. On facebook I posted this question “How would you like to win a copy of The Dark Man?” from what facebook page did I share the cover? (you might have to scroll down a bit for this one...)
- Lilja Says
3. How expensive is the most expensive edition of The Dark Man?
- $1750
The winner and lucky owner to be of a copy of the slipcased Trade Hardcover of The Dark Man when it’s released from Cemetery Dance is Casey R. Kelly! Congratulations!
Haven goes to Comic-Con
Under the Dome panel
The Illustrated Stephen King Movie Trivia Book
Under the Dome episode 2
Pre-order Under the Dome
Limited Under the Dome
Tribute to Richard Matheson
June 25th, 2013 12:26:18 pm
We've lost one of the giants of the fantasy and horror genres. From THE BEARDLESS WARRIORS,
his brilliant (and largely unread) World War II novel, to THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN and
all the wonderful TWILIGHT ZONE scripts and stories, Matheson fired the imaginations of three
generations of writers. Without his I AM LEGEND, there would have been no NIGHT OF THE
LIVING DEAD; without NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, there would have been no WALKING DEAD,
28 DAYS LATER, or WORLD WAR Z. Matheson wrote the script for Steven Spielberg's
extraordinary film, DUEL, and created one of the most brain-freezingly frightening haunted
house novels of the 20th century in HELL HOUSE. He fired my imagination by placing his
horrors not in European castles and Lovecraftian universes, but in American scenes I knew
and could relate to. "I want to do that," I thought. "I must do that." Matheson showed the
way. In addition to that, he was a gentleman who was always willing to give a young writer
a hand up. I will miss his kindness and erudition. He lived a full life, raised a fine family,
and gave us unforgettable stories, novels, TV shows, and movies. That's good. Nevertheless,
I mourn his loss. A uniquely American voice has been silenced.
Stephen King
Under the Dome news
Interview with Jolene Purdy
Exclusive Q&A with Under the Dome’s Kevin Sizemore
Here is an extended teaser for episode 2.
Under the Dome; as good as expected?
Teaser for episode 2
Haven ep. 4.08 Guest Role Being Cast
Under the Dome - Wilmington Premiere
Casting news for Good Marriage
It has been revealed that Theo Stockman (pictured below) is part of the cast, playing the son in the family the story revolves around. According to THR, he’s “a man who made a name for himself in the advertising world and is enjoying his newfound success.” Stockman has appeared on a number of TV shows, including 30 Rock, CSI and Nurse Jackie. He’s also known for his Broadway work, including his appearance in American Idiot.