One of the most successful and prolific authors of the modern age has a new book coming out called ‘Doctor Sleep‘ but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have time to read other writers’ work.  He’s just not likely to care for them!

While promoting his new book, Stephen King spoke to The Guardian and didn’t bite his tongue when asked about some other contemporary books.  He dismissed ‘Twilight‘ as “tweenager porn,” stating “They’re really not about vampires and werewolves. They’re about how the love of a girl can turn a bad boy good.”

But it wasn’t just Stephanie Meyers’ supernatural romance that incurred his wrath.  “I read Twilight and didn’t feel any urge to go on with her. I read The Hunger Games and didn’t feel an urge to go on. It’s not unlike The Running Man, which is about a game where people are actually killed and people are watching: a satire on reality TV.”  Essentially, he feels that Suzanne Collins’ dystopian series ripped off his earlier book, which was made into a movie in the eighties starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“I read Fifty Shades Of Grey and felt no urge to go on. They call it mommy porn, but it’s not really mommy porn. It is highly charged, sexually driven fiction for women who are, say, between 18 and 25. But a golden age of horror? I wouldn’t say it is. I can’t think of any books right now that would be comparable to The Exorcist.”

Even when praising a writer, he manages to squeeze in a jab.  He actually appreciates Donna Tartt but criticizes her work pace.  “She’s dense, she’s allusive. She’s a gorgeous storyteller.  But three books in 30 years? That makes me want to go to that person and grab her by the shoulders and look into her face and say: ‘Do you realize how little time you have in the scheme of things?’ ”

The only writer who manages to escape his ire is ‘Harry Potter’ creator J.K. Rowling, whose first post-Potter book, ‘The Casual Vacancy’ King calls “fabulous.”

King is promoting his 56th novel ‘Doctor Sleep’ whose main character is Danny Torrance, the little boy from ‘The Shining’ now an alcoholic adult.  For the book, King drew upon his past experience as a heavy drinker.

So does King have a point?  Or is he just getting cranky with age?  What do you think?  Comment below!