Stephen Kingexcels at writing both horror and sci-fi stories, buttwo of his most abrupt book endings confirm a harsh reality about combining these genres. King is called the “King of Horror” for good reason, and so many of his books have become classics in the category. He’s also made a name for himself in other spaces, including fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian fiction. Many of his books blend these genres with horror, delivering unique narratives that stand out as quintessentially King.
But while he’s one of the most prolific horror writers of all time,King has a bit of an ending problem, and it’s something readers have pointed out for years.King’s best book endingsare a reminder of why his work is so beloved. However, many ofKing’s books also leave readers wanting more, either unraveling too quickly or failing to live up to the rest of the story. This is true for two of King’s sci-fi/horror mash-ups, and the biggest faults with their endings highlight a challenge of blending these two genres — even if they otherwise work well together.
The Endings Of The Tommyknockers & Dreamcatcher Are Too Abrupt After All Their Setup
Stephen King’s Alien Stories Needed Stronger Resolutions
The TommyknockersandDreamcatcherare alien stories that see King venturing into sci-fi and horror territory, and both books have pretty underwhelming endings.King himself dislikesThe Tommyknockers,something he admitted more than two decades after the book’s release. But while the 1987 novel isn’t among King’s best works, it still has some interesting moving parts. Unfortunately, they don’t come together in a satisfying way. The ending of the book feels rushed and sudden, with King dedicating little time to Haven’s and Gard’s fates.
10 Horror Authors To Read If You Love Stephen King
Stephen King is a legend of the horror genre, but luckily, there are plenty of other amazing horror authors that King lovers can check out as well.
Between Gard and the FBI, the threatThe Tommyknockers’spacecraft poses to the rest of the world is successfully eliminated. However, it feels like the problem plaguing Haven is tied up too quickly and neatly.It’s one ofThe Tommyknockers’biggest shortcomings, and it’s the type of ending that also hurtsDreamcatcher. Dreamcatcher’s final showdown between the Greys and the book’s main characters also unfolds fairly fast, and the problem of the alien species is once again resolved through a couple of explosive acts.
BothThe TommyknockersandDreamcatcheralso leave questions about characters' fates open-ended, and they don’t explain major twists or the lore behind the aliens as well as they should.
BothThe TommyknockersandDreamcatcheralso leave questions about characters' fates open-ended, and they don’t explain major twists or the lore behind the aliens as well as they should. This sort of ambiguity works well for horror, but it doesn’t quite land when it comes to sci-fi stories. And this brings up a harsh reality about blending those two genres: striking the right balance can be challenging.
Both Stephen King Books Confirm A Harsh Reality About Sci-Fi/Horror Mash-Ups
Sci-Fi Demands A Different Approach
Perhaps it’s not surprising that two of King’s attempts to mesh sci-fi and horror fail to stick the landing, as these genres require different approaches. While there are plenty ofbooks that successfully blend sci-fi and horror, there’s no denying that sci-fi tends to require more explanation and closure. Abrupt endings like those ofThe TommyknockersandDreamcatcherare more common within the horror category, which often leaves things open to interpretation and strives to go out with a bang.
Stephen King’s Best Human Villain Perfectly Captures Why His Horror Books Work So Well
Stephen King’s best human villain perfectly demonstrates why his horror books work so well, capturing a haunting reality about the capacity for evil.
By contrast, sci-fi stories have a tendency to explain things and offer closure — and the aftermath of incidents like alien invasions usually proves more complicated than wiping them out in one fell swoop. Of course,King doesn’t write many sequels, so perhaps he didn’t want to overcomplicate things inThe TommyknockersorDreamcatcher. It does feel like something is missing from their conclusions, though, landing them amongStephen King’s weaker stories. Perhaps leaning further into their sci-fi roots would have improved things.
Stephen King
Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for The Dark Tower series, The Stand, IT, The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Misery, the Bill Hodges trilogy, and more.
