Earlier this year, Stephen King incurred the wrath of legions of Twilight fans when he made some critical comments about Stephenie Meyer. Mr. King -- THE bestselling author of the 20th century -- has sold an estimated 350 million books over 35 years. His influence on our popular culture is incalculable. In an interview with USA Today, when asked about his influences, and in turn, whom he believes he has influenced, the subject turned to J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer, about whom King said: “Both Rowling and Meyer, they're speaking directly to young people. The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can't write worth a darn. She's not very good."

Now before I stir up another onslaught of hate from Twilighters and Twi-Hards, let's sharpen the context of Mr. King's (unfortunately blunt) statement. In the same interview he went on to discuss popular writers who were not always very good with language, but could still spin a good yarn. Meyer has admitted this herself. What I believe Mr. King is trying to say here is ... there is a big difference between WRITERS and STORYTELLERS, and that just because one's literary prowess is found wanting, it doesn't mean they can't tell compelling stories. This is an important distinction. Also in this interview, he used the words 'thrilling' and 'exciting' to describe the forbidden-young-love appeal of Twilight. Pretty harsh, huh?

I've read only the first two Twilight books (reviews are here and here), and while I did enjoy them, I continually asked myself why I was enjoying them. It wasn't because they were written by someone with a grand mastery of the English language (readers of Twilight won't need a dictionary nearby), however, they were oddly compelling. I can agree with Mr. King in that ... what Stephenie Meyer lacks in literary grace, she makes up for with interesting characters and a compelling plot. Put The Twilight Saga in a nutshell and you get: outcast teenage girl falls in love with the ultimate bad-boy-with-a-heart-of-gold. Throw in a supernatural element, danger at every turn, and two lead characters, Bella and Edward, capable of reminding even long-in-the-tooth (pun intended) readers what it was like to be a teenager in love, and you have a recipe for success. As I stated in one of my reviews, these books are good trashy fun. (And Twilighters, please don't read anything disparaging about the word “trashy” -- even Bram Stoker's Dracula had its trashy moments.)

Now ... I told you all that to tell you this:

Stephen King is my favorite writer -- has been since I was a teenager -- and the vicious hate that many Twi-Hards spewed after Mr. King's too-curt remark was often ... blood chilling (not to mention nearly illiterate at times). All this, because of a misunderstanding. In the interest of diplomacy, and defending someone I hold dear, I would like to recommend a few of Steve's books to Twilight fans, just to offer a literary taste of someone who is both popular and has an excellent grasp of language (that said, even Mr. King once referred to his own writings as the “literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries”). Here goes.

TOP TEN KING BOOKS FOR TWILIGHT FANS (in three categories):

ADOLESCENCE

CARRIE (1974) The story of misfit high-school girl, Carrie White, who gradually discovers that she has telekinetic powers. Repressed by a domineering, ultra-religious mother and tormented by her peers at school, her efforts to fit in lead to a dramatic confrontation during the senior prom.  This cautionary tale warned us about incidents like the Columbine tragedy 25 years before the fact. It also offers some keen insight on high school, teen life, and other horrors. King's first book.

FIRESTARTER (1980) The Department of Scientific Intelligence (aka "The Shop") never anticipated that two participants in their research program would marry and have a child. Charlie McGee inherited pyrokinetic powers from her parents, who had been given a low-grade hallucinogen called "Lot Six" while at college. Now the government is trying to capture young Charlie and harness her powerful firestarting skills as a weapon. Not King's best, but still quite good -- like an action-packed version of Carrie.

CHRISTINE (1983) Cast of characters: Arnie Cunningham, a bookish and bullied high school senior; Dennis Guilder, his friend and sometimes protector; Leigh Cabot, the new girl in school, won by Arnie ... but wanted by Dennis as well. Just another lovers' triangle, you say? Not quite. There's a fourth here, the second lady, the dark lady. "Cars are girls," Leigh Cabot says, and the dark force in Stephen King's new novel is a 1958 Plymouth named Christine. Moves at a clip -- one of King's most riveting page-turners. Also a nice, if heartbreaking, love story.

THE TALISMAN (1984) Twelve-year-old Jack Sawyer embarks on an epic quest-a walk from the seacoast of New Hampshire to the California coast-to find the talisman that will save his dying mother's life. Jack's journey takes him into the Territories, a parallel medieval universe, where most people from his own universe have analogs called "twinners." The queen of the Territories, Jack's mother's twinner, is also dying. Co-written with Peter Straub, this book is more fantasy then horror, but still packs a narrative punch -- epically entertaining.

IT (1986) A promise made twenty-eight years ago calls seven adults to reunite in Derry, Maine, where as teenagers they battled an evil creature that preyed on the city's children. Unsure that their Losers Club had vanquished the creature all those years ago, the seven had vowed to return to Derry if IT should ever reappear. Now, children are being murdered again and their repressed memories of that summer return as they prepare to do battle with the monster lurking in Derry's sewers once more. One of the best damn books I've ever read -- highest recommendation.

VAMPIRES

‘SALEM'S LOT (1975) Author Ben Mears returns to ‘Salem's Lot to write a book about a house that has haunted him since childhood only to find his isolated hometown infested with vampires. While the vampires claim more victims, Mears convinces a small group of believers to combat the undead. King's second book, and one of his best -- reads like Dracula meets Our Town. Twilight fans should find this bloody entertaining. Also, those who rooted for Bella Swan to become a vampire in Twilight should find what happens to Susan Norton, the "love interest" in this story, of great interest.

THE BEST OF THE REST

THE SHINING (1977) Jack Torrance, his wife Wendy, and their young son Danny move into the Overlook Hotel, where Jack has been hired as the winter caretaker. Cut off from civilization for months, Jack hopes to battle alcoholism and uncontrolled rage while writing a play. Evil forces residing in the Overlook – which has a long and violent history – covet young Danny for his precognitive powers and exploit Jack's weaknesses to try to claim the boy. King's third book, one of his best -- highest recommendation. If you are only familiar with the movie and miniseries versions, this book is much better than both.

THE STAND (1978) One man escapes from a biological weapon facility after an accident, carrying with him the deadly virus known as Captain Tripps, a rapidly mutating flu that -- in the ensuing weeks -- wipes out most of the world's population. In the aftermath, survivors choose between following an elderly black woman to Boulder or the dark man, Randall Flagg, who has set up his command post in Las Vegas. The two factions prepare for a confrontation between the forces of good and evil. King's fourth novel, and (again) one of his best -- highest recommendation. Action, romance, thrills ... The Stand has it all.

THE DEAD ZONE (1983) Waking up from a five-year coma after a car accident, former schoolteacher Johnny Smith discovers that he can see people's futures and pasts when he touches them. Many consider his talent a gift; Johnny feels cursed. His fiancee married another man during his coma and people clamor for him to solve their problems. When Johnny has a disturbing vision after he shakes the hand of an ambitious and amoral politician, he must decide if he should take drastic action to change the future. Both chilling and heartbreakingly romantic -- one of King's best.

MISERY (1987) Novelist Paul Sheldon has plans to make the difficult transition from writing historical romances featuring heroine Misery Chastain to publishing literary fiction. Annie Wilkes, Sheldon's number one fan, rescues the author from the scene of a car accident. The former nurse takes care of him in her remote house, but becomes irate when she discovers that the author has killed Misery off in his latest book. Annie keeps Sheldon prisoner while forcing him to write a book that brings Misery back to life. Fascinating and relentless -- impossible to put down.

So, in fine, for years I've obsessively read Stephen King's novels with a fervor not unlike a die hard Twi-Hard -- but that didn't keep me from picking up Stephenie Meyer's Twilight to see what all the hubbub was about. And I'm glad I did -- I get the appeal. Contrary to internet stereotype, Twilight's fans are NOT all Robert Pattinson-obsessed teenage girls who refuse to read any books other than the Twilight series, and who spit whenever Stephen King's name is mentioned. However, part of this demographic does resemble this unfortunately caricatured description (sorry), and it is to these select few that I am trying to do a little peace work and damage repair for Uncle Stevie.  I mean no disrespect.  If I can get any of these to pick up one of these wonderful books, my work will not be in vein ... I mean vain.

Happy reading -- mwah ha ha ha!