I really enjoyed this, more than I expected to. Part of the reason I didn't expect to is because its marketing is a touch suspect: that is, it's not necessarily a Stephen King book, and really only has about fifty-ish pages of new King writing. There's a few interesting pages from his regular University column, King's Garbage Truck, and a reprint (that's about half the book) of his Hearts in Atlantis novella from the book of the same name. And the rest is rounded out with recollections from his peers and a former prof of his.

So, yeah, I wasn't expecting much. But with the focus on the four turbulent years between September 1966 and May 1970 when King attended the University of Maine, as well as the Vietnam war, the marches, the assassinations, Kent State, the music, the drugs... Well, it's a fascinating story, and it becomes real as the various people tell their stories and they intertwine and weave through each others' lives.

I read this in a non-linear order, starting with King's former prof, Jim Bishop's introduction, then skipping right over the King content to his peers, saving Stephen King for the final word. And I must say, it's not a bad way to go through the book.

Of course, Stephen King is the "brand" of the book, and each of his peers' recollections include him, however peripherally. Some take up the task of telling us a lot about the man rather than the times, as does King himself. Yet, still, it's a glimpse of both the man and the times, both filled with hope and despair, both brimming with incredible promise and with so much to lose.

It's a time that was both wonderful and terrible, a time that I can barely remember, only 8 years old when these people were graduating, but through the pages of this book, I was back there for awhile.

( )

To begin, I love Stephen King! And I think only a Stephen King fan, an University of Maine student or alumni, or someone extremely interested in this time period (late 60's-1970) will enjoy this. The essay by King is good, and it is cool to see the four pieces of his old newspaper column, "King's Garbage Truck". The pieces by friends of his are just okay, with lots of repetition of events and remembrances. And the inclusion of King's novella "Hearts in Atlantis" just feels like a way to make this longer and justify the $30 price tag. (the novella comprises almost 40% of the book, so if you've read it before, as I had, you're already close to half way done with this collection!) Still, for me, it was cool to learn about King's college days and read those columns, and I would love to have his "Study, Dammit!!" poster hanging on my wall! ( )