Rating: 
Summary: Alians in the back yard
Review: This is certainly one effective 'just say no' ad; if you do drugs, you'll end up publishing trash like this. This has to be the hardest Stephen King book I have ever tried to read (maybe "Misery" ranks up here too). In "Tommyknockers", Reberta 'Bobbie' Anderson finds a UFO in her back yard, and begins digging it up as it changes her (or she starts 'becoming'). Her friend, Jim Gardner, returns drunk, and tries to dry out, but can't because of the UFO activity. However Gard is immune to 'becoming' because of a metal plate in his head. And then it goes into how it effects the rest of the town (Haven, Maine). Everyone in town start making weird gadets while losing control of their bodies. Anyway, I thought the whole book was overblown, way too wordy; I think it would have been a better short story. The only character I could relate to was the drunk Gardner; and what a role model that is, right. Anyway, I also thought the end was a real let down (I won't give it away for those who may want to read it). Stephen King was high and drunk all the time while this book was being written, and the haphazard and meandering plot was sort of tell-tell sign he was in trouble. I am glad he got his act together for "The Dark Half".
Rating: 
Summary: Not King's Best, but B+
Review: I'll not resummarize a much-summarized plot, but move straight to my opinion.The character development is quite good, with flawed heroes and understandable villains. King has used possession several times in books, as in Desperation, Cujo, and here, but he finds variations. I see similarities between this possession-by-aliens story and the old science-fiction film "5 Million Years to Earth" where a long-dead but not completely-dead spaceship has weird and dangerous effects. Still, King brings the story alive in a new version, and generates lots of tension and creepiness. It also seems that King likes dogs; both here and in The Stand, the faithful dog plays a role. Anyway, I ramble, but I liked The Tommyknockers and, while it's not up there with The Stand or The Green Mile, it's still a good read.
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