There’s another King in the house. Seriously? First, the father of modern horror and all things best-selling, Stephen Then wife Tabitha hit the scene and showed she was a force to be reckoned with. Joe Hill follows with his own brand (and name, so nobody knew who he was for about a month) and tore up the landscape of horror all over again.
Now it seems there’s one more.
Owen King has now published his first full length novel, DOUBLE FEATURE. And yes, the kid can write. Yet unlike proud papa, he’s no scary Steve or jolting Joe. He’s more like, himself (that and there’s not an alliterative “O” word that makes sense here).
His tale is about as far removed from IT or HEART SHAPED BOX as possible. It’s witty, funny, and a romp through a man’s life as if that life itself were a film.
The next question is, of course, can the guy write? Keep pride in the family?
The answer is a definite yes.
Owen, while subject and genre-wise has little in common with his relatives, shares that strong King sense of narrative. That feeling of kicking up your feet and relaxing while hearing a familiar voice tell you a fine story? It’s present here, in spades.
The tale itself has to do with Sam Dolan, who we meet as a young college student. He mortgages everything to produce his first film – which turns out to be an utter disaster. It also has an x-rated scene with a tree. Nuff said.
So Dolan turns away from the industry and his father, B movie king, Booth Dolan, also king of the fake noses, and nowhere near the award of number one father or husband.
He winds up a shell of himself making wedding videos while feeling the last embers of his vision burn out as he meanders through life and his family relations, mostly positive with his half-sister.
What ensues is a decades spanning adventure in the life of Dolan while he attempts to salvage himself while not accepting the good things. It’s akin to sailing a beautiful yacht but aiming at every sandbar, reef, iceberg, and white whale.
No, again, this isn’t horror but you’ll likely find yourself not caring one bit as the newest publishing member of the King family pulls you in and spins this fine yarn about life, and how it can be, even if it’s not a great life.
Now we just have to wait and see if Steve’s daughter Naomi puts out her first book. Or his grandkids.
- THE BEST OF ROD SERLING’S TWILIGHT ZONE - April 11, 2015
- BLIND RAGE - April 11, 2015
- Black Static #44-45 - April 11, 2015
- The Halloween Children - February 12, 2015
- Darkness Ad Infinitum - November 24, 2014
- Fear City - October 5, 2014
- The Boneyard - July 24, 2014
- Double Feature: A Novel - July 24, 2014
- Never Alone - July 24, 2014
- Blind Vengence - July 24, 2014
