[jalisco555]

This is extremely sad news. I haven't been a King reader since I burned out on his books in the 80's but everything I've ever heard about him indicates that he is a really nice guy.

[Jonathon Spectre]

And Bill Clinton continues to live and see... no justice in this world at all...

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

I just hope he finishes the Dark Tower series! Okay, that's a bit selfish. I really do wish him the best.

[Young Werther]

The ocular implant is being developed by the same crew that developed the cocklear implant. May 9 2002 Drudget report linked to a report regarding six subjects, some of whom have macular degeneration, as having regained some rudimentary sight.

Maybe Stephen King can "pull a Rush" and become "bionic" as well.

[Argus]

King is a good guy who's never let celebrity go to his head. It's a shame the bad breaks he's had here, and getting hit by that truck. At his best he's a much better writer than he's often given credit for, too.

[Inspectorette]

My dad developed Macular Degeneration when he was in his late sixties; it usually happens when a person is quite a bit older than Stephen King is. I don't think it's something that comes on suddenly, it develops slowly over a period of time. The person retains peripheral vision, but gradually loses the ability to see straight ahead. I think there are some therapies available that don't actually cure the condition, but that can slow down the progress.

[Rocko]

Awful news, but it probably won't stop him! Good luck, Steve!

[dead]

From yesterday’s NY Post:

Innocence lost

A SLIMMER, gray-whiskered Stephen King was showing off his black sense of humor at The New Yorker's spring book party at the Altman Building the other night. King, who was nearly killed three years ago while walking along a Maine road, was chatting up the likes of Salman Rushdie, Art Spiegelman and Nora Ephron when an inebriated fan told him, "Seeing 'The Shining' when I was 8 ruined my childhood." Flashing a satanic grin, the horror master replied, "Good! That's exactly what I was going for."

[BluesDuke]

Any man who is a Boston Red Sox fan can't be all that bad. Aside from which, I am convinced that, when all is said and done, his acknowledge masterworks will be deemed a tossup between The Green Mile and his novella, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. Meanwhile, I wish him well, even knowing that not even blindness would necessarily stop him. (It sure didn't kill James Thurber, and extremely weak eyesight was no hindrance to Aldous Huxley, either...)

[SamAdams76]

That's a shame to hear. Stephen King helped turn me into an avid reader. I cut my teeth on his novels in high school back in the 1970s and never stopped reading since. He's a good guy and a New Englander to the bone. I was hoping he'd buy the Red Sox when they were up for sale last year as he would have been the perfect owner. But I'm sure he'll find some way around his handicap and keep writing books anyhow - should he desire to do so.

[vance]

Bad things happen to all the wrong people it seems at times.

[Talkwire]

Take your Lutein and Carotenoids.

[Lazamataz]

:o(

Prayers going out to the man.

[cgk]

Good man, great writer. God speed, Mr. King.

[RandallFlagg]

YAAHHHHHH!!!

That Sucks!

All my best, Stephen..

[sox_the_cat]

Unfortunately, he's a big-time liberal democrat. He is unique, there is a pitcher from Bangor, Matt Kinney, who pitches for the twins, that King will go to some of the games he pitches in. He was recently in Tampa to see Matt pitch and Tampa hasn't won since. He built a nice little baseball stadium for the kids in a public park that is basically in his back yard. That's too bad about the mac. degen., maybe he'll see the Sox win the Series before anything bad happens.

[jumpstartme]

Sad news indeed. But, his attitude couldn't be better.

[Preech1]

Ironic that this shows up on Free Republic...you see, I live in the Bangor Maine area, and the last time I ran into Stephen King was at a "Pro-Bush" Rally the Day after Thanksgiving in 2000, during the election recount mess. A Freeper type occasion if ever there was one...we were all out in front of the BAngor Mall with signs and things and King drove by, literally coming up on the sidewalk to intimidate and frighten (quite successfully) us...Ah, the fond memories.