Title: Carrie / ‘Salem’s Lot / The Shining
Author: Stephen King
First published January 1, 1983
1096 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780517219027 (ISBN10: 0517219026)
Rating: 4.57
Overview
Stephen King’s The Dark Man has enthralled readers for more than four decades. In this new edition, acclaimed illustrator John Doe brings King’s words to life with more than 70 full-page illustrations that capture the horror and mystery of the Dark Man.
As King’s poem asks, “where was this man going? What had he seen and done?” Doe’s haunting illustrations offer a glimpse into the mind of one of King’s greatest villains.
This edition is a true marriage of words and art, creating a unique reading experience that will stay with readers long after the final page. Discover the secrets and terror of the Dark Man in this chilling new edition.
About the Author
Stephen Edwin King was born in 1947 to Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. When Stephen was just two years old, his father left the family, and he and his older brother were raised by his mother.
They spent part of their childhood in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Stratford, Connecticut before settling in Durham, Maine, when Stephen was 11 years old. His mother had to care for her aging parents, and other family members provided a small house and financial support.
After his grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility.
Stephen attended grammar school in Durham and graduated from Lisbon Falls High School in 1966. While at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper and was active in student politics, supporting the anti-war movement.
He graduated in 1970 with a degree in English and qualified to teach high school. However, he was deemed unfit for military service due to health issues.
In 1971, Stephen married Tabitha Spruce, whom he had met while working at the university library, and they struggled financially as he was unable to find a teaching job. He worked as a laborer, and they relied on her student loans and his occasional short story sales to make ends meet.
Stephen’s first professional short story sale was in 1967, and he continued to sell stories to men’s magazines during the early years of his marriage. In 1971, he began teaching English at Hampden Academy and continued to write in his free time.
Editoral Review
Stephen King is a master of horror, and some of his most iconic works include the novels Carrie, ‘Salem’s Lot, and The Shining. King’s writing style is known for its dark, suspenseful, and sometimes violent themes.
These novels explore the human psyche and the darker aspects of the supernatural. Carrie is King’s debut novel, published in 1974.
The plot centers on a teenage girl with telekinetic powers who is relentlessly bullied at school. As her powers grow, they lead to destruction, violence, and ultimately, tragedy.
King’s portrayal of teenage angst, isolation, and the consequences of unchecked power delivers a gripping story that feels both supernatural and relatable. ‘Salem’s Lot is a vampire novel that was published in 1975.
The plot follows a writer named Ben Mears who returns to his hometown and discovers that the residents are being turned into vampires. King’s masterful use of suspense and horror makes the reader feel like they are a part of the story, as the novel’s eerie atmosphere and chilling plot become increasingly more gruesome.
The Shining was published in 1977 and is regarded as one of King’s most iconic works. The plot follows Jack Torrance, a struggling writer who takes a job as a winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel.
As the months go by, Jack’s sanity begins to unravel, and the hotel’s dark secrets are slowly revealed. The novel’s themes of isolation, addiction, and the overpowering force of evil are weaved together with impeccable pacing and masterful character development.
King’s works have had a significant cultural impact, inspiring numerous films, TV shows, and adaptations across various other media. His writing has explored themes of mental illness, addiction, racism, and sexism, making him a prominent voice in contemporary horror and suspense.
Overall, Carrie, ‘Salem’s Lot, and The Shining are must-reads for horror and suspense fans. King’s writing style is rich in detail, atmosphere, and memorable characters that will stay with the reader long after they have closed the book.
Though some of the themes explored may be considered confronting, King’s works offer a gripping and insightful view of human nature and the darker aspects of the supernatural.
