In an interview with EW, Stephen King said one of his hesitations about doing a sequel to the Shining is that "most sequels really suck." He gives only two exceptions: Huckleberry Finn and the Godfather II.
Do you agree? I'm not sure I do. I think sometimes a story is better as it continues because the writer is in familiar territory and is working to their strengths.
Here are a few sequels that did not suck:
1. The Drawing of the Three, Stephen King(I have not read Talisman or Blackhouse)
2. Odyssey, Holmer (The Illiad)
3. World Without End, Ken Follett (Pillars of the Earth)
4. The Empire Strikes Back, Glut/Lucas (Star Wars)
5. Piercing The Darkness, Frank Peretti (This Present Darkness)
6. Return of Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes)
7. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games)
8. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter)
9. Patriot Games, Tom Clancy (The Hunt For Red October)
10. Leaving Cold Sassy Tree, Olive Anne Burns (Cold Sassy Tree)
11. The Two Towers, Tolkien (The Fellowship Of The Ring)
Many famous writers have actually resisted the temptation to go back and write sequels. Charles Dickens and John Steinbeck to name two. I also notice that John Grisham also does not do a lot of sequels.
I think King may feel some pain when it comes to sequels, since his own works have had to endure the likes of Return to Salem's Lot, Firestarter II and all those dreadful Children of the Corn movies.
George Beahm once said that Eyes of the Dragon deserved a sequel.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
1. What is your favorite sequel?
2. What Stephen King book would you like him to write a sequel to?
