Link to The Jaunt By Stephen King

Link to The Jaunt By Stephen King

This short story is my introduction to Stephen King, and I cannot say that I am impressed. I know that he is not known for his science fiction, rather he is known for his horror stories. But seeing as I am only interested in science fiction these days, I chose to start here. This is a story about the invention of teleportation, which saves humanity from its looming destruction. The process of the invention is interesting enough, even if it lack scientific details. We hear a myth at the climax of the story which is then proved by the ending. The first time this idea is introduced it is interesting, but it steals the ending away from the story. Who cares to hear the same idea twice? And the same idea presented without further development. No explanation as to why this is the effect of the teleportation. No ideas to further explore. Just one cool simple idea. And to be a better science fiction, it needs to leave the reader with a new theory. One that sparks our imagination and leaves us thinking about the details of the story. Not just an idea that says if you are curious, you will die. And that is why I don’ like the story. It leaves nothing for the curious reader. A nothing so long as I think. Sorry Stephen King. I’m sure you have much better work than this.