Gwendy's Button Box (Trilogy)

[nixie]

I like King, sometimes he can a bit wordy and his novels can be longer than needed.

Think that's why I like his short novellas, get to the point quicker.

Gwendy's Button box writing nn conjunction with Richard Chizmar, takes us back to Castle Rock. I'm on the second book Gwendy's Feather.

It's an interesting read, the first book gives a young girl control of a magic box, the coloured buttons can blow up different places, the red one let's you choose what or who gets removed. The black one destroy's everything. There are also two levers that dispense treats/ gifts. There are responsibilities and consequences that come with being the box's custodian.


The second book, Gwendy is an adult and the box once again enters her life.

 

[nixie]

Gwendy's Final Task, third book in the trilogy made me cry.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Thanks for the post, nixie! I finished the third of these a week ago, and had been wondering if anyone else had read them.

The third book had tears in my eyes, too. I like Gwendy, quite a bit. I think the first book was easily the best of the three (and as I understand it, had the most direct input from King - story ideas/writing). Chizmar is credited as the sole author of book two, and I honestly thought it was the weakest of the three - though it was still a decent read, and moved the story along well. I think he did a pretty good job writing of Castle Rock (must have been fun - or maybe daunting? - to write in such a well-known universe).

The third book ended the series very nicely, but IMO had a bit too much filler. I honestly think they could have cut a quarter of the text, and made it a sharper read. But I thought the button box idea was a great one, that there were some good, interesting characters in each of the books, and I enjoyed the tie-ins to the overarching King Universe. Not essential reading, for me, but enjoyable, still.

edit: I wonder if there is much other published writing in King's Universe? (Not fan fiction.) I wonder if in 50 years - assuming things go well enough in the world today - people will expand King's Universe, as they do now with Lovecraft? There's a lot to work with, in King's oeuvre. I guess Lovecraft told authors to have at it, in his mythology. Would it take King's approval, or his estate's guardians', for his Universe to be expanded by other authors?

 

[nixie]

I'm very much in agreement CC, first book was the strongest, also to much filler in the third. I also liked Gwendy.

I found myself looking for the references to King's other works.

I think there is a lot to be gained by allowing others to play in his world.

Although if I had the button box, Derry would be tempting.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Although if I had the button box, Derry would be tempting.

Oh yeah - black button!