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View Poll Results: Which one do you Prefer?

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  • Desperation

    89 67.42%
  • The Regulators

    43 32.58%
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Thread: Desperation Vs The Regulators

  1. #26
    Owner Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by Darkthoughts View Post
    Thanks for the link RF!! I'll buy Regulators when I get paid this week and then maybe re-read Desperation.
    I would send you my paperback, but postage to the UK is silly for a non collectible book.

  2. #27
    Roont Matt will become famous soon enough Matt will become famous soon enough Matt's Avatar

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    I am a Desperation man personally. Although, the more I think about them the harder time I have remembering them. Like so many others in here, I may have to do a re read.
    The kindness of close friends is like a warm blanket

  3. #28
    Constant Reader Darkthoughts has a spectacular aura about Darkthoughts has a spectacular aura about Darkthoughts has a spectacular aura about Darkthoughts's Avatar

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    No worries RF - picked it up second hand for 50p at the weekend

    And now I can compare, I have to say that Regulators is my favourite of the two. I appreciate Desperation more now that I've read Regulators, but I loved the Audrey/Seth stuff (reminded me a little of Lisey's Story - which I also love) and preferred the angle and setting of this story. I liked the incarnations of the characters better in this one too.

  4. #29
    Gojo fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by Darkthoughts View Post
    No worries RF - picked it up second hand for 50p at the weekend

    And now I can compare, I have to say that Regulators is my favourite of the two. I appreciate Desperation more now that I've read Regulators, but I loved the Audrey/Seth stuff (reminded me a little of Lisey's Story - which I also love) and preferred the angle and setting of this story. I liked the incarnations of the characters better in this one too.
    Really? I always felt that the incarnations of the characters in the regulators were a bit hollow compared to those of Desperation.

  5. #30
    The Decoy Hannah has a spectacular aura about Hannah has a spectacular aura about Hannah has a spectacular aura about Hannah's Avatar

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    I'm going to say Desperation. It had more heart.

    And I'm partial to Tak.
    A true firewasp ninja would never wear such a ridiculous sweater.

    There's logic in nonsense.

    Give me all the bacon and eggs you have.

  6. #31
    Gojo fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito seldom gets put on hold fernandito's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by Hannah View Post
    I'm going to say Desperation. It had more heart.

    And I'm partial to Tak.
    Tak is my favorite SK villian.

    "I see holes like eyes"

  7. #32
    Gunslinger Apprentice sullivan19 is on a distinguished road sullivan19's Avatar

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    Desperation all day. Collie was so much better in this book.

  8. #33
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    I agree with that wholeheartedly.
    A true firewasp ninja would never wear such a ridiculous sweater.

    There's logic in nonsense.

    Give me all the bacon and eggs you have.

  9. #34
    Sleep Controller ZoNeSeeK is on a distinguished road ZoNeSeeK's Avatar

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    I dunno, I read desperation a couple of times before even knowing about its twin book so was pretty excited about the Regulators. Probably because of the originality and difference in the regulators id have to say that thats probably marginally in front of Desperation. The way Tak was done was a little more left of centre and insidious, instead of being this big ol baddie down a dark scary hole which is a little cliche.
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  10. #35
    Constant Reader Darkthoughts has a spectacular aura about Darkthoughts has a spectacular aura about Darkthoughts has a spectacular aura about Darkthoughts's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by sullivan19 View Post
    Desperation all day. Collie was so much better in this book.
    See, I think you're all a bit more sadistic than me All the stuff with Collie at the start of Desperation put me off the rest of the story.

  11. #36
    Demon of the Prim Cutter has a spectacular aura about Cutter has a spectacular aura about Cutter's Avatar

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    The funny thing is the start of Desperation just grabbed me and scared the crap out of me. I think it's because one always has a fear of the police. You drive past one on the road, you hit the breaks even if your going the speed limit, etcetera. So the bad cop idea just fed my fears. I remember reading about the first 4 chapters the first night, and the next day was "this is great" this is what I always wanted a bad cop, who you thought you could trust but was crazy. I'm pretty sure I was telling people at work how great the start of this book was that first day.

    After that, I thought it was classic King in the sense of It or Pet Sematary or any of another number of his novels. It was just classic King: good storytelling, good character development, and a encounter with the supernatural as the bad guy, he creates his own mythology with Tak, and on and on.

    I liked Regulators because I thought he took some risks with this novel, he didn't stick to his regular form of storytelling. But that was the attraction. it's only one one street, and one day, there is not a lot of variety with the novel, but he makes it work. My big beef, though, was no character development. It took me about half way through the book before I really who knew who was who.

    Anyway, my vote goes to Desperation. I thought it was classic King!

  12. #37
    Ubersnob Frunobulax is on a distinguished road Frunobulax's Avatar

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    I read Regulators first then Desperation...and I liked Regulators more. I'm just a Bachman fan, what can I say??
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  13. #38
    Constant Reader Darkthoughts has a spectacular aura about Darkthoughts has a spectacular aura about Darkthoughts has a spectacular aura about Darkthoughts's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by gguthrie View Post
    The funny thing is the start of Desperation just grabbed me and scared the crap out of me. I think it's because one always has a fear of the police. You drive past one on the road, you hit the breaks even if your going the speed limit, etcetera. So the bad cop idea just fed my fears. I remember reading about the first 4 chapters the first night, and the next day was "this is great" this is what I always wanted a bad cop, who you thought you could trust but was crazy. I'm pretty sure I was telling people at work how great the start of this book was that first day.
    I love the way you put that, its an excellent point. Its 50% of the reason it was so scary, to me, the other 50% being what happened to Pie...as I said in another thread, since I had kids stuff like that just freaks me out (kinda weird when you're a King fan, I know ) the way things happened in Regulators was as tense, but not so intense if you see what I mean.

  14. #39
    The Tenant Jean has a brilliant future Jean has a brilliant future Jean has a brilliant future Jean has a brilliant future Jean has a brilliant future Jean has a brilliant future Jean has a brilliant future Jean has a brilliant future Jean has a brilliant future Jean has a brilliant future Jean has a brilliant future Jean's Avatar

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    when one of my students read Desperation, she was very deeply impressed. She said it was a bad book. I asked what she meant; she couldn't really explain, but the point was she liked the book (the way it was written, the plot, the characters, the imagery, the main idea, everything), - and instead of explaining what bad might mean, she just kept repeating, "It's bad, it's dark, all other King books are good, and that one is bad, it feels different, it even tastes different, it is bad!" Desperation is on my Top 5 list (as I discovered, much to my own surprize, answering in that other thread), but I think I understand, empathically if not rationally, what my student meant.

    P.S. When that same student read The Regulators, she just shrugged her shoulders... so did I.

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  15. #40
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jean View Post
    when one of my students read Desperation, she was very deeply impressed. She said it was a bad book. I asked what she meant; she couldn't really explain
    I understand completely. In general all of SK's "baddies" are part of a bigger picture (Crimson King for example) and theres always some element of the white opposing them - but Tak seemed to be this random, chaotic evil that had no counterpart and no point other than to cause misery. Even Flagg isn't so chaotic in that respect.
    I did appreciate the book in the sense that it had a great plot, characters etc - its just I couldn't enjoy it.

    P.S. When that same student read The Regulators, she just shrugged her shoulders... so did I.
    Thats a shame - I guess its "tamer" in the face of Desperation, but I enjoyed the angle of it a whole lot more.

  16. #41
    Roont Brice has much to be proud of Brice has much to be proud of Brice has much to be proud of Brice has much to be proud of Brice has much to be proud of Brice has much to be proud of Brice has much to be proud of Brice has much to be proud of Brice has much to be proud of Brice's Avatar

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    I liked both books although I think I liked Desperation better. I had to read The Regulators a couple times before I could really apprciate it. I believe I read Desperation first.
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  17. #42
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    Quote Originally Posted by Darkthoughts View Post
    I understand completely. In general all of SK's "baddies" are part of a bigger picture (Crimson King for example) and theres always some element of the white opposing them - but Tak seemed to be this random, chaotic evil that had no counterpart and no point other than to cause misery. Even Flagg isn't so chaotic in that respect.
    Exactly. Evil underlying the whole order of things in the universe. As if the fabric itself of creation were made of evil, - with only a few people fighting their desperate fight against it, but these people seem to be suspended, having no solid foundation under their feet, with only the boy flimsily connecting them with the Good, personified as God, who, in His turn, is somewhere far beyond, as if He indeed has forsaken His creation and abandoned it. (it's not called Desperation for nothin', of course)

    Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
    When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)

    bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  18. #43
    One of The Few The Proud CRinVA has much to be proud of CRinVA has much to be proud of CRinVA has much to be proud of CRinVA has much to be proud of CRinVA has much to be proud of CRinVA has much to be proud of CRinVA has much to be proud of CRinVA has much to be proud of CRinVA's Avatar

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    Absolutely Desperation - its longer, more thought provoking.

    The Regulators is great in-you-face kind of stuff though!
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  19. #44
    Ubersnob Frunobulax is on a distinguished road Frunobulax's Avatar

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    I'm in a dying breed...6 votes for Regulators...
    My favorite bands can kick your favorite bands' asses.

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  20. #45
    Sleep Controller ZoNeSeeK is on a distinguished road ZoNeSeeK's Avatar

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    Yeah me too.
    "You can lead a whore to culture but you can't make her think." - Duma Key
    zoneseek@thedarktower.com

  21. #46
    Demon of the Prim Ruki is on a distinguished road

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    yeah but look how cool the people who voted for the regulators are

  22. #47
    Ubersnob Frunobulax is on a distinguished road Frunobulax's Avatar

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    W00t W00t!!
    My favorite bands can kick your favorite bands' asses.

    The horizon is right and motionless like the EKG of a dying woman.

  23. #48
    Roont jhanic has a brilliant future jhanic has a brilliant future jhanic has a brilliant future jhanic has a brilliant future jhanic has a brilliant future jhanic has a brilliant future jhanic has a brilliant future jhanic has a brilliant future jhanic has a brilliant future jhanic has a brilliant future jhanic has a brilliant future jhanic's Avatar

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    For me, it's a close "race". I picked Desperation, mainly because I liked the story better, but Regulators was a VERY close second.

    John

  24. #49
    John F. Kennedy gunslinger19 is on a distinguished road gunslinger19's Avatar

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    I like both of them alot, but as a deciding factor I usually prefer religion and horror to not inter-mingle as much as they did in Desperation.

  25. #50
    Owner Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg is loved more than Jesus Randall Flagg's Avatar

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    Quote Originally Posted by gunslinger19 View Post
    I like both of them alot, but as a deciding factor I usually prefer religion and horror to not inter-mingle as much as they did in Desperation.
    That was actually one reason I preferred Desperation over The Regulators.

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