Late last night and the night before, Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers, knocking at the door. I want to go out, don't know if I can, 'cause I'm so afraid of the Tommyknocker man 
 So that's a little creepy. Ever heard that childhood poem? I had not. Nor have I read much of H.P. Lovecraft, the horror author who influenced King's writing of The Tommyknockers. King has said that his idea for the novel was based from "The Colour Out of Space", a short story by Lovecraft. Tommyknockers is not the only novel written by King, or many an author for that matter, that owe a debt to the man from the past. 
 Strange things happen (a very Stephen King statement if there ever was one) after Bobbi Thompson starts digging up her backyard. After tripping over, then touching a piece of metal, buried in the ground back there, she becomes consumed with unearthing the thing that seems to have no end. Whatever it is, it's big, and really King doesn't try to hide what it might be. He pretty much tells the reader right off. What he does hide is just why and how it has taken control of people's lives. Oh yeah, and most importantly, what's the end game. This is interesting, sometimes fun and a little wacky. Once again, things happen that personally I could not have thought up (that's why I read folks). People do some of the craziest things here. At this point, I was reminded of books like The Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Puppet Masters. But King's take on the theme is unique, never a copy. 
 Like many of his books, subtly or not, King touches on the certain things affecting our world, whether it is war, or guns, or whatever. Here in The Tommyknockers, it is Nuclear Power. Is it good? Is it bad? The Chernobyl crisis had just occurred in Russia. Add to that the partial nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island in 1979. It was on his mind, and shaped the story. Is that why the color green is used here? I don't know, but green is everywhere. 
 The lowdown: Quite a number of fans have said that The Tommyknockers is among their least favorite King novels. Me, I liked it. It not his best and King uses up a lot of pages before the story gets to really rockin'. I found the final 150 pages to be an absolute thrill ride. From the point that Gard walks into the Tommyknocker shed to the last page was simply outstanding, and I experienced so many feelings for this character nicknamed Gard. 
 One of last thing. King has not-so-subtly hidden a load of "easter eggs" throughout the story. I can't recall another book of King's that has cross-referenced so many of his other works, and personal likes. Oh, and a buddy-read increases the fun of the egg hunt, as well as the terror of the dig. QED folks. 
 Shout out and a thanks to my buddies in the Eclectic Club!