> > (BTW, I don't hate Stephen King. I just haven't read anything by him that I liked. Although I
> > did like the movie versions of Stand by Me and Christine as well as the television version of
> > The Shining.)
>
> Have you read _Different Seasons_? It's a collection of short novels, including the book versions of 'Stand by Me' and 'The Shawshank Redemption'.

My wife has that book. I may go ahead and read that collection (I really liked the movie versions of Shawshank and Stand By Me. Haven't seen Apt Pupil.) From what my wife has said, it sounds like Stephen King is a stronger short story writer than he is a novel writer. Or that my tastes, King-wise, would favor the short stories and novellas.

> And it's good.
>
> Paul

I might check that out after my current book run. Currently, I'm reading Mary Stewart's _Merlin Trilogy_ and despite my reluctance to embrace fantasy series I'm enjoying the novel. (I'm also reading _Beginning Active Server Pages_, but that's a different type of reading material.)

Slated next is _Cruel as the Grave_ by Sharon Kay Penman, one of my favorite authors. It's the second in a mystery series set in twelfth century England. Not as thick as her earlier historical fiction novels, but the first book shows good movement from cover to cover. Penman has failed to bore me.

After that, I think I will go for _Different Seasons_.

-Faux "and we've moved into another book recommendation thread" Pas