Thursday, September 29, 2011

UR by Stephen King

After last night's post about the new members of the Kindle family, I figured what better way to follow up than a story that would scare the bejesus out of me? Of course Stephen King stories rarely scare me - nor do the movies, for that matter. Most times, I'm not even sure if I like his writing.

In UR, Wesley Smith decides to buy a Kindle after breaking up with his girlfriend - or rather, her walking out of his life. He purchases a couple of titles before exploring the Experimental option on the Main Menu. The usual stuff appears, but it's the UR Functions that catch his attention. Soon after, Wesley discovers several novels from writers like Hemingway that were never published and some that came to being after his death. Soon, realization sets in - this e-reader taps into alternate realities, providing its owner with archive newspapers from other URs and ultimately, future newspaper editions of the Wesley's UR.

The story's a great read, using a popular science fiction device with a hint of stories like The Queer Story of Brownlow's Newspaper and stories like it - which is the one about the reader gets future obituaries only to die of a heart attack when he receives his? It's clear, though, that Stephen King has a some beef against technology. Which is cool, considering a man who keeps writing about all the messed up ways things can kill us. For another Stephen King hates technology read, pick up Cell, which deals with cell phones turning their users into - you guess it - zombies. Cell is also available for Kindle, go figure. Or check out the Kindle Single, Mile 81. Until next time, keep on huntin'.

Stephen King on Kindle
 

1 comment:

  1. I've always had the same issue - lack of knowing how I really feel about Steven King and his writing. It's baffling... Pretty smart to be the first one to hack one out about the Kindle, though.

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