It shouldn't matter, although I have read that the chosen order often lends itself to which story the person preferred.
I personally read Desperation first then The Regulators - no particular reason that I remember although it was many years ago. I did like Desperation better.
Like GoodFairies said, I don't think it matters which order you read them. They both kind of blend into each other.
If it makes any difference though, The Regulators was a Richard Bauchman book, so written before Desperation. When they were released, The Regulators came out 1st.
They may have been released on the same day, lol. It's been so long that I can't remember. I do know my Regulators book says "Richard Bachman" as the author though, so I guess I just assumed that was written back when he was using that pen name, so that's how I put it on the shelf.
I agree they are mirror images of one another, so order of reading doesn't matter.
On a side note, for some reason I haven't been able to get into "under the dome". I know once I'm about half way in, it will go quick, but, it's been a struggle to even want to pick it up (which NEVER happens with SK books for me).
Gotcha! I'm going to have to give Under the Dome more time. I love all of his books (especially the early ones), so not sure what the problem is
I've been having to work a lot lately though, so I don't think my concentration has been focused enough on the book. I need to look at it like a relaxation tool
Personally, I would read The Regulators first. imo, it is more surreal and harder to follow. If I had read Desperation first (which is the better of the two, again imo) I don't think I would have made it through The Regulators.
On a side note, for some reason I haven't been able to get into "under the dome". I know once I'm about half way in, it will go quick, but, it's been a struggle to even want to pick it up (which NEVER happens with SK books for me).
I try to use SK's own advice there. One of the lines in Hearts in Atlantis was something to the effect of- Read a book's first 50 pages, if it isn't giving more than it is taking by that point, put it down and move on. For some reason, that notion stuck with me. I quit Lisey's Story for that reason.