The best stephen king novels 12 mustread stephen king books. A guide to his horror, his history, and his legacy vox. I have noticed several big ideas that recur in stephen king s works. A similar movie with starring arnold schwarzenegger as ben richards brings out the theoretical message in the book. Feb 25, 2018 the fundamental theme of it, as with many of stephen kings works, is comingofage as teens and setting aside the childhood past to move into the adult future which in the second side of the book becomes dealing with the past as an adult and no. Taken together, these ideas provide a worldview that i find very compelling, which is probably why i enjoy king s writing so much. The writing process at the novel s start, paul sheldon, bestselling author of the misery series, completes his first nonmisery novel, fast cars. This theme of time deepens and confuses the shining.
Another big theme is overcoming childhood fears, which is. How does stephen king reveal the major themes throughout the body. With the institute, king leans into the theme of great events happening with the smallest of decisions as well as the worldchanging power of togetherness. I think that the theme of the book is to not always believe that people are always who they say. All the stories are a great read and, as always, the book is so much better than the film, especially the running man. The shining is a novel published in 1977 by stephen king, a wellknown american author.
In bringing out these themeswith a few scares along the wayare where kings. Cujo by stephen king presentation by danielle allison characterization conflict plot structure the author used the methods of appearance and action to describe the characters in this story. Like most of stephen king s books, carrie is filled with gore, including deaths by electricity, fire, and one telekinetic heart attack. Stephen king has also written doctor sleep which is the shining book two. For my book i chose to read the body by stephen king. What is the theme of blockade billy by stephen king. His books have sold more than 350 million copies, 1 and many of them have been adapted into feature films, television movies and comic books. Stephen king s 1987 novel misery, which is about a crazed fan who kidnaps her favorite author and tortures him into writing a novel, has a number of themes, including the dynamic between fan and. The collection is very dark, with running themes and motifs like retribution, repentance, murder, violence against women and the shattering of families. Best of stephen king 142 books goodreads share book.
The story follows the experiences of seven children as they are terrorized by an evil entity that exploits the fears of its victims to disguise itself while hunting its prey. Hes a big guy, clocking in north of 240 pounds, but lately the bathroom scale has been telling him something different. Sixteenyearold carrie white is a lonely ugly duckling, an outcast at home and at school. The theme is basically how to write, or more specifically, how stephen king writes and what works for. Partially because of the characters, but also because of the subtext and themes. A definitive ranking of every stephen king novel ever. By juxtaposing the novels present 1975 setting with the other important times at the overlook, most notably a 1945 masquerade ball, stephen king creates a temporally uncertain world. Above all else though, its a story about childhood connection. Stephen kings first published novel, carrie, is a parable of adolescence. Judging this book by its coveryes, we do that sometimeswe realize carrie will be a little more violent than your average nice guy takes shy, awkward girl to the prom story. Stephen king, american novelist and shortstory writer whose books were credited with reviving the horror fiction genre in the late 20th century.
It was his 18th novel, and the th novel written under his own name. Its shorter than some of his other books and the writing is so well put together. Please note that this answer does contain spoilers for many king books. That is why beverlys period matters, and the racially charged moments matter. King, stephen 1992 the sun dog the penguin group, new york, new york. In childhood, its about sharing, forming groups and doing stuff together, feeling wanted and liked, feeling like you have a bond of things in common. In his books king explored almost every terrorproducing theme imaginable, from vampires, rabid dogs, deranged killers, and a pyromaniac to ghosts, extrasensory perception and telekinesis, biological warfare, and even a malevolent automobile. If i was tasked to suggest one novel for someone to understand why stephen king is regarded so highly, pet sematary would be that book. May 22, 2018 stephen king, the socalled king of horror, has published more than 50 bestselling titles over the past 44 years. His books have sold more than 350 million copies, many of which have been adapted into films, television series, miniseries, and comic books.
Stephen king, one of the masters of american horror fiction, has an oeuvre of close to 100 books, which includes some of the most genredefining, bestselling titles in all of literature. Common themes in the works of stephen king shannon turlington. The mist, stephen king the mist is a horror novel by the american author stephen king, in which the small town of bridgton, maine is suddenly enveloped in an unnatural mist that conceals otherworldly monsters. Think king said as much in a documentary on the stand by me dvd. The institute might be stephen kings scariest novel yet.
It was during the popular culture association conference in april, and i was stuck in bed in my hotel room which was charmingly located above the entrance to the parking garage down for the count with the conference crud. In other words, not only has stephen king written some genius novels and short stories, novellas, essays, and works of criticism, but hes written a lot of them51 novels. Not exactly themes that one expects to find a horror novel. May 15, 2012 the crimson king, representative of the random. His latest, the outsider, explores the idea of being in two places at the. If you are unfamiliar with the book or have only seen the recently released film with no. Without a moments hesitation he went with liseys story, a 2006 novel about a woman coping with. There have also been alleged stage productions of rage as well as several parody stage versions of the shining. In our recent interview with stephen king, we asked the author to name the best book he ever wrote. The strange sadness of stephen kings it the american writers. Stephen king, his books, and their origins at lisner audiotorium duration. Iirc, part of his motivation to find the body is his obsession with his brothers death.
Stephen king is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. A list of stephen king s novels, organized alphabetically. Misery is perhaps the most thematically satisfying of kings novels, both rich and unified, as interwoven issues are explored by direct action and by a wealth of metaphorical imagery. Every theme, flatout terrifying moment, and character is 100% stephen king working at the height of his powers. Full dark, no stars is king s latest quartet of long stories. The book was released by viking on september 15, 1986. Heres some background on the mainebased writer and a bibliography, featuring details about some of his most notable works. I was asked to answer a question on quora about the common themes in stephen king s works. This essay started life as a collection of notes i made on every stephen king book a few years back, when i was rereading them all. Common themes in the works of stephen king shannon. This story is about more than just four boys going on an adventure its about them becoming closer to each other and learning. His recent work includes the institute, elevation, the outsider, sleeping beauties cowritten with his son owen king, and the bill hodges trilogy. Stephen kings legacy as a bestselling horrorpsychological fiction writer is.
Stephen king is writing about the art of writing in this book. What is the theme of stephen kings book it answers. The primary theme of this novel, one popular with writers of horror, is that evil or pain remains even when its object is long dead. In his awardwinning 1981 collection of essays on horror, danse macabre, king names three emotions that belong to. Its surprising that stephen king didnt even want to publish this book. A connective universea mythos, if you will, such as both h. The following is a complete list of books published by stephen king, an american author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. Oct 10, 2018 carrie faces ruthless abuse from her religious mother and bullying from high school classmates, and the book introduces us to two of kings most prominent themes. Carrie faces ruthless abuse from her religious mother and bullying from high school classmates, and the book introduces us to two of king s most prominent themes. How it chapter two handles the lgbtq themes of stephen. But adult friendships are about trust, reliance and being willing to support one another and fight for one another. A list of stephen king s novels, organized oldest to newest.
Stephen king, the socalled king of horror, has published more than 50 bestselling titles over the past 44 years. With it, paul hopes to earn respect for more serious work 30. By juxtaposing the novel s present 1975 setting with the other important times at the overlook, most notably a 1945 masquerade ball, stephen king creates a temporally uncertain world. The theme of ancient evil is a common one in the works of stephen king, and so too is the idea that children can often be the key to unleashing it. The following are the seven major themes that seem consistent across kings body of work. It is a 1986 horror novel by american author stephen king.
Discussion of themes and motifs in stephen king s misery. Stephen kings books are all connected to each other, and it. Jan 12, 2018 stephen king is a literary icon, a status hes achieved by a defining a genre. Owen king is an accomplished author in his own right, and their collaboration reflects positively on both. Taken together, these ideas provide a worldview that i find very compelling, which is probably why i enjoy kings writing so much. Time runs according to a twisted logic which lets the dead mingle with the living. With over 60 novels published, there are no shortage of great titles to choose from. Stephen king on the outsider and where he gets his story. The stand and the dark tower series are kings epics about this ongoing battle, but the theme recurs in many other books, especially desperation, the eyes of the dragon, insomnia, it, low men in yellow coats, needful things, and the talisman. Writing and addiction in stephen kings misery book riot.
This study guide consists of approximately 90 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen. Stephen king this study guide consists of approximately 90 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of. Since the book s publication kings story has been adapted several times. The book summarizes kings previous themes and characters, who themselves look backward and inward, regress and take stock. How it chapter two handles the lgbtq themes of stephen king s novel. Friendship is a big theme in the novel and film for that matter. It by stephen king analysis by horror author ashley. This story take place in the town of castle rock, oregon. Stephen kings writing spans more than 40 years and more than 60 books, and while. Sleeping beauties is an ambitious work that combines some ageold stephen king themes with a distinctly scifi premise.
Her mother, a religious fanatic, associates carrie with her own sin. Big driver is the story of a woman out for revenge on her rapist. I was asked to answer a question on quora about the common themes in stephen kings works. The losers club become such great friends over a period of time, to the point where they band together in their fight against evil. Analysis of stephen kings novels literary theory and.
His books gained their effect from realistic detail, forceful plotting, and kings ability to involve and scare the reader. The writing style of stephen king freelancewriting. Then it morphed into an answer to a question on quora. Five unsettling books like the outsider hidden gems book. Technically, stephen king s 1986 novel it is a book. With ghosts, visions and psychological horror, the shining by stephen king is a very good horror story, i would say one of his best, right up there with the likes of salems lot which is another sk novel that i recommend if you enjoy horror. In the battle of good and evil, good may prevailbut never before evil has caused a whole lot of mayhem. Loss of innocence, abuse, and the battle between good and evil are woven into his stories. Stephen king has spent half a century scaring us, but his legacy is so.
Carrie study guide contains a biography of stephen king, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. It was his 22nd book, and his 17th novel written under his own name. Stephen king is one of the most prolific authors alive, known for writing horror, fantasy, and psychological thrillers. Theres craziness in spades and plenty of alcohol and even a carnival, king being perhaps the most accomplished coulrophobe at work today.
The sun dog by stephen king 1204 words 123 help me. Parts of his childhood were spent in fort wayne, indiana, where his fathers. As the author of more than 60 globally bestselling books, the mind behind 50 of the scariest scary movies, and both a national medal of honor and national book foundation medal recipient, its an undisputed fact that stephen king is a master of horror fiction. Carrie was stephen kings first novel, published in 1974, with a printrun of 30,000. By studying the writing style of stephen king, both professional and nonprofessional writers can learn a great deal about writing extraordinarily popular literature. Without a moments hesitation he went with liseys story, a 2006 novel. After his father left them when stephen was two, he and his older brother, david, were raised by his mother. The people who read the misery novels, mostly women like annie wilkes, pauls selfproclaimed number one fan 6, have no concern.
In his later fiction, exemplified by dolores claiborne. But as a physical object, it shares a number of characteristics with a cinder block. Sep 01, 2017 technically, stephen kings 1986 novel it is a book. Stephen kings protagonists have been hunted by all sorts of malevolent beings, from the demonic clown of it to the fiendish cowboy randall flagg in the. It was one of the best selling novels in the united states of that year and is now considered a modern masterpiece of the horror genre in literature. Evil, and despite this being a zillionth book on the subject by stephen king, i believe he managed to find a fresh voice and bring something new to the table with the outsider. Stephen king is the undisputed master of horror but does he get the respect he. Jun 19, 2019 i read stephen kings misery for the first time this year. Stephen edwin king was born the second son of donald and nellie ruth pillsbury king. Stephen king wrote it decades ago, and the story the book conveys is still relevant.
The morning after a violent thunderstorm, a thick, unnatural mist quickly spreads across the small town of bridgton, maine, reducing. He was very descriptive to help the reader understand, imagine and visualize the situation. Most of the book takes place around the main characters neighborhood and the store in which the camera was bought. These are themes that are an integral part of king s writing. This novel is about four young boys taking a journey to find a body somewhere in the woods that is at the county line. Analysis of stephen kings novels literary theory and criticism. I believe mortality and grief are also central themes, especially in the case of gordie. Stephen edwin king born september 21, 1947 is an american author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, and fantasy novels. Sleeping beauties is no take your kid to work project on stephen kings behalf. List of adaptations of works by stephen king wikipedia.
Reading stephen kings it is an exhausting way to spend a. Nov 05, 2014 in our recent interview with stephen king, we asked the author to name the best book he ever wrote. The horror of stephen king doesnt lie with the external but with the internal. Sep 12, 2017 stephen kings writing spans more than 40 years and more than 60 books, and while the content of his fiction varies widely, lying underneath it is a picture of the contemporary world that his. Jan 28, 2012 i have noticed several big ideas that recur in stephen kings works. King frequently embellishes his themes by using a metaphor, a literary device. Lovecraft and stephen king, and, to a lesser extent, dean koontz, bentley little, and even douglas preston and lincoln child have created through the use of recurring settings, characters, themes. He was renowned for using supernatural events in many of his stories making them a mixture of horror, gloom, and fantasy. Sep 09, 2017 the themes in stephens kings it posted by mg mason creative september 9, 2017 march 18, 2020 leave a comment on the themes in stephens kings it spoiler alert. Stephen kings new novel the institute mines familiar. Stephen king is best known for his horror novels, which he is known for publishing at. I have read everything that king has written, and i have noticed several big ideas that recur in his works.