I just finished reading “All That You Love Will Be Carried Away,” by Stephen King, and I was impressed. Every aspect of the story and its telling is nuanced and controlled. The process could almost be called mechanical were the story itself not so very human: new information is hinted at, almost buried in other details, then later elaborated on like waves building as they approach the shore.
Take the very first paragraph as an example. It consists of 11 lines, and the first ten describe the Motel 6 in which the story is set. It also talks about how it is snowing, and how the weather might–or might not–worsen. The last line, almost a throwaway line, says that if the weather gets so bad the interstate is closed, Alfie Zimmer will not care. That is the first time the main character is mentioned, and of course it immediately causes you to wonder why he would not care. The explanation (his intent to commit suicide) is not immediate. It comes much later–page five, in fact.
This technique is used throughout the story. It makes Stephen King feel like a post-modern magician who wants to draw your attention to his attempts at misdirection. The knowledge that there is something left unsaid, a lingering question yet to be answered, keeps you interested and on your toes. Creating such interest by raising flags in the reader’s mind is more necessary in this story than in most, as most of the action is not action at all. The story is not about plot plot plot; instead, it is all about “closing in on that quality of empty amplification” that characterizes the Midwest in the Winter, and also Mr. Zimmer’s state of mind.
I checked the date of publication, and it looks like the story came out in 1998. Stephen King was involved in a terrible car accident in 1999–a van plowed into him while he walked by the side of the road. I thought while reading the story that perhaps the accident had something to do with the subject matter and how things play out, but clearly that is not the case. It was a good theory while it lasted
Find a copy of this short story and give it a read. It has a lot to offer both readers and writers. I’m inspired by it and more than a little humbled. Stephen King may have written a few sloppy stories and novels in his day, but this is not one of them.
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I just read two of King’s early works, published under his pseudonym of Bachman, “Rage” and “The Long Walk”. I’ve got to say, I was impressed - King has surely written some rubbish in his time, but for all that the guy has astonishing talent when he’s at his best.
I would recommend The Bachman Books, the collections that includes those two, to anyone (and that’s without having the read the last two books!).