Which Stephen King novel dialogue inspired the title of Gardner's DIF?
Silhouette Man
The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,845MI6 Agent
Ever since I read the passage quoted below from John Gardner's website shortly after it "went live" in about March 2002 I have been wondering which actual Stephen King novel dialogue passage it was that inspired the title of John Gardner's Death is Forever (1992). Perhaps a Stephen King fan here would be able to tell me which novel of his features a passage of dialogue with "death is forever" in it?
Of course, Death is Forever itself acknowledges in a quote at the beginning of the novel that its title is taken from the end paragraph of Ian Fleming's Diamonds Are Forever (1956), so this rather muddies the waters on this topic.
Nonetheless, I assume the title was inspired (as Mr Gardner noted on his website in 2002) by "some dialogue in a Stephen King book." The question is - which Stephen King book? All I have to go on is the fact that it was obviously one that was published prior to 1992. Hopefully a major Stephen King fan out there can help solve this mystery. I realise that Mr King was a highly prolific author of course and that it will not be easy to track this down! Thanks in advance!
The relevant passage from John Gardner's website - The BOND page:
I have always believed that the editor who begins a session with the words, "I'm not happy with the title," has nothing to say about the book. Many reviewers said that my titles were poor. Little did they know what I'd saved them from because publishers almost to a man (or woman) wanted title changes and the Americans in particular suggested the most appalling new titles: I recall such wonders as Oh No, Mr. Bond! And Bond Fights Back. Those two finally became, after many protests on my part, the dreadful No Deals Mr. Bond while my original title for Icebreaker was instantly turned down only to be picked up again a month later after turkey after turkey had to be rejected. My former agent is convinced to this day that he was responsible for Death is Forever, which was actually taken from some dialogue in a Stephen King book. I tried to explain it to him but he still claimed that he was the one. I can't think why because it isn't a very sophisticated title. Peter Janson-Smith came up with two of the titles, though by now I've forgotten which, and somewhere I have the original lengthy list of quite abominable titles suggested by publishers.
Quoted from: http://www.john-gardner.com/bond - accessed 20 March 2018.
Of course, Death is Forever itself acknowledges in a quote at the beginning of the novel that its title is taken from the end paragraph of Ian Fleming's Diamonds Are Forever (1956), so this rather muddies the waters on this topic.
Nonetheless, I assume the title was inspired (as Mr Gardner noted on his website in 2002) by "some dialogue in a Stephen King book." The question is - which Stephen King book? All I have to go on is the fact that it was obviously one that was published prior to 1992. Hopefully a major Stephen King fan out there can help solve this mystery. I realise that Mr King was a highly prolific author of course and that it will not be easy to track this down! Thanks in advance!
The relevant passage from John Gardner's website - The BOND page:
I have always believed that the editor who begins a session with the words, "I'm not happy with the title," has nothing to say about the book. Many reviewers said that my titles were poor. Little did they know what I'd saved them from because publishers almost to a man (or woman) wanted title changes and the Americans in particular suggested the most appalling new titles: I recall such wonders as Oh No, Mr. Bond! And Bond Fights Back. Those two finally became, after many protests on my part, the dreadful No Deals Mr. Bond while my original title for Icebreaker was instantly turned down only to be picked up again a month later after turkey after turkey had to be rejected. My former agent is convinced to this day that he was responsible for Death is Forever, which was actually taken from some dialogue in a Stephen King book. I tried to explain it to him but he still claimed that he was the one. I can't think why because it isn't a very sophisticated title. Peter Janson-Smith came up with two of the titles, though by now I've forgotten which, and somewhere I have the original lengthy list of quite abominable titles suggested by publishers.
Quoted from: http://www.john-gardner.com/bond - accessed 20 March 2018.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Comments
Yes, I realised that, Barbel. Mr King certainly is prolific!
I was just asking on the off-chance that someone out there would know the answer. Or, at the very least, someone might notice the dialogue in a re-read or first reading of a Stephen King novel. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say! -{
I have a few of Mr King's books but have sadly never read any of them as yet. I'm not a big horror fan really (although I would love to read the detective series beginning with Mr Mercedes at some point as it sounds a very interesting concept for a story).
I don't recognise the line SM but occasionally re-read the earlier ones do will keep an eye out.
And while Eddie might get what he wanted somewhere down the line, Jake Chambers never would. Because dead was the gift that kept on giving. Dead, like diamonds, was forever.
Chapter Two of Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower VI):
BUT Song of Susannah was published on... 2004!
Damn, for a minute I thought you'd found it there, ggl007!
That's the best offering yet though and no doubt Mr King reused the phrase from his earlier novel. He may even have used it more than twice. As Mr Gardner noted, it is a rather generic phrase. Who knows?!
Thank you for all of your help so far, ggl007.
It's much appreciated!
If we would had the exact book, it would be easy to search it.