Gwendy's Button Box (The Button Box, #1)

by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar

[Quirky Cat]

Gwendy’s Button Box is a novella written by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar. I’m curious to see if this one fits into Stephen King’s universe, and if it does what that implies for it. If you’re looking for a quick Stephen King read (which I don’t blame you for, some of his novels can be quite intimidating in size) then this might be a good one for you.



Gwendy’s Button Box is an exploration on the idea of what would happen if a (trustworthy) person was given access to the mythical ‘button.’ You know the one where you press it to end the world, or eliminate a country, or something else along those lines. It’s the sort of question one sees pop up during ethical and moral debates sometimes.
In the case of this book, Gwendy (cute name, I know) receives a magical box from a stranger (don’t worry; they cover the whole thing about taking gifts from strangers). It dispenses chocolates (which sate her appetite for other junk foods) and joins from the levers, but the buttons? They do something different. All she has to do is think of a place (or person), push the button, and well…you know the rest.
I love the debate that is occurring throughout the novella; is Gwendy abusing her powers by not using them, or is she doing the right thing? Is there a limit to this power, and if so, does that mean there are events that nobody is capable of changing? In the end we’re left with the obvious conclusion, but it’s still an interesting debate nonetheless.
Fans of Stephen King will be thrilled to note that Gwendy’s Button Box is set in a very familiar town; Castle Rock, Maine. For those unaware, Castle Rock is the setting for many of Stephen King’s novels and short stories, making this a very comfortable location for himself and his fans.


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