Storm of the Century

by Stephen King

Book Overview

#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King presents an original screenplay and major television event set in Maine's remote Little Tall Island.They're calling it the Storm of the Century, and it's coming hard. The residents of Little Tall Island have seen their share of nasty Maine Nor'easters, but this one is different. Not only is it packing hurricane-force winds and up to five feet of snow, it's bringing something worse. Something even the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 067103264X
• ISBN13: 9780671032647
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Why did I get a screen play book?

I have no idea why I received the screenplay of this book? I apparently am not the only one and this makes me sad!

Did not realize this story was in screenplay format

Just received this screenplay, not a book. Written in screenplay form so very difficult to carry a general theme. Would like to know if the same story is in a book format?

Really good book.

I really enjoyed this book . I finished It in about a week . Definitely a page turner after each page I wanted to know more and more . I recommend reading this book.

Excellent book!

I am really into true crimes and it was fascinating!

Love it!

Love it!

King at his best

I absolutely loved the mini series, so much that I bought the DVD and watch it again, every now and then. The book, written as a screenplay, is almost better, if for no other reason than King's side comments. He is brutally honest with a dry, biting wit and a morbid sense of humor. Here he uses his unique world view to tell the story of the New England coastal island of Little Tall, the same setting for another of his stories. The island is cut off from the mainland by a blizzard, just as a stranger comes to visit with a terrible request... Like all of King's best stories, the supernatural is not the true focus, human nature is. The islanders are forced into a heart-breaking choice that just may cost them their souls, and it is the process of making this decision and it's cost that is the true story. King is a master at writing true-to-life people in terrible, terrifying circumstance, and he doesn't fail here. It's not just a good-vs-evil story, but a tale of what lengths people will go to in order to save what they hold dear, what they do when all choices come with a price too high to pay. In my opinion, this is one of King's best works.

Master of horror strikes again in Storm of Century....

Stephen King's "Storm of the Century" screenplay is further proof, if anyone doubts it, that he's not only adept at writing a horror story that gives one the creeps, but that he is not limited to writing in one format.Most novelists are content with sticking to one literary branch, letting other writers adapt their work to screenplay form. Tom Clancy and John Grisham sell the film rights to producers such as Mace Neufeld and screenwriters (Donald Stewart and John Milius, for instance) rework their basic plots into adapted screenplays. King, too, has allowed others to adapt his works for Hollywood, but he has also learned the demanding format of the screenplay and written quite a few (Creepshow, Silver Bullet, and The Stand, just to name a few).For the ABC-TV miniseries "Storm of the Century," King conjured up one of his darkest tales yet. As a severe winter storm of unprecedented fury approaches Maine's Little Tall Island, Martha Clarendon is murdered in an unspeakably violent manner. But instead of fleeing the scene of the crime as most killers do, Andre Linoge parks himself on his victim's easy chair and waits, his silver-wolf-head's cane in his hands, for the authorities to pick him up.But with Linoge's arrest, Little Tall Island's woes do not end; they are only beginning. For Linoge is one of those not-quite-human fiends Stephen King often creates to create havoc in small Maine communities like Little Tall Island, Derry, Jerusalem's Lot, and Castle Rock. He can destroy people simply by revealing their darkest secrets and manipulating them from afar. And by the time the Storm of the Century passes, the citizens of Little Tall Island will be horrified when they discover the meaning of Linoge's simple request: "Give me what I want, and I'll go away."The introduction to this published screenplay of "Storm of the Century" allows King to explain why he sometimes writes original teleplays rather than starting by writing a novel then adapting it. He also reveals why he sells his miniseries to a broadcast network with its stricter Standards and Practices staff (censors) instead of the more liberal cable networks (HBO, Showtime), and much more.I saw the original miniseries when it aired a few years back, and I am sure (okay, I know for a fact) that there is a DVD version of "Storm of the Century." This book reminded me of how effective the three-part "Novel for Television" was, and it is a fascinating read.

King's new horrors grab your attention and don't let go!

I have never been a fan of King's literature or horror at all for that matter. But when I was exposed to the fierce imagination of this renowned author, I had no choice but to stare in awe at the brilliantly composed work called Storm of the Century. It leaves readers asking themselves, "Can I read any further? Can I withstand the suspense and thrill?" I can't hear the song "I'm a Little Teapot" without a shudder and the memory of suspenseful scenes rushing into my head. Excellent.

Great book. Dunno why people had problems with it

What's wrong with you people this book (and the miniseries on TV) was great! SK (Stephen King) explained why the ending was the way it was (read the book or see the movie and you'll understand). SK said that people are usually told in movies and books that if you do the right thing everything will be OK. Good ALWAYS prevails when doing the right thing....and on and on. But what would happen if doing the right thing didn't always make it OK? What if you had to give one to save the rest and have to lose someone close to you? SK wanted to show people that he didn't believe that in real life good isn't always the triumphant one. That's what makes it realistic and realism is what makes it scary. I don't know what's wrong with this book being a screenplay. It's the same damn thing. And I just loved Linoge repeating "Born in Sin,Come on In."

after all these years , King has still got it

Storm of the century is possibly the best book I have ever read. I could not put it down,and I haven't even read all of it yet. Andre Linoge has to be the most terrifying villian because there is nothing scarier than someone who knows all your secrets, the kind of things you would take to your grave. The ending was a complete shock. I was expecting all the townspeople to get rid of the villian somehow but they didn't and that made it more real because more often than not evil does triumph and that my friends is reality. It wasn't like a horror story either, it was more like a nightmare, the kind of thing that if it happened would be your worst fears become reality. I recomend this book to anyone who doesn't mind being scared, at least once and a while. After all these years, Stephen King has still got it.