Stephen_King

American novelist and short-story writer, Stephen King, whose enormously popular horror fiction novels, revived the reading public’s interest in horror fiction, from the 1970s onward. Stephen King's impact on this particular genre, is comparable to J.R.R. Tolkien’s impact, “on mass”, of the reading public’s insatiable interest in the fantasy genre. King revived the modern horror genre with his own unique style, similarly to Tolkien, characterised by his expansive imagination of both characters and storylines. Akin to the masters of storytelling before him, King has used the horror genre as his own branch of artistic expression. More so than any writer of previous generations, King has redefined the horror medium, turning terror into mass appeal during the 1970s and 80s. King’s underlying message in his story telling is such that even in a world full of cynicism, despair and cruelty, it remains possible for individuals to find love and discover unexpected qualities within themself. His characters often conquer their own “demons” and malevolent powers, which have the potential to destroy them. Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine, USA. His father, a merchant seaman, deserted the family in 1950. By the time King was seven he had begun writing stories. After discovering a box of horror and science fiction books in his aunt's home, he discovered his forte. In 1965, his first story was published in “Comics Review”. In 1966, King graduated from high school and in 1970, obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at the University of Maine. “Carrie” is King's first published novel, released in 1974. The story revolves around a shy high-school girl called Carrie, who uses her newly discovered telekinetic powers to exact revenge on those who tease her. King discarded the first three pages of the story in the garbage, after becoming discouraged with his progress of writing about a teenage girl with psychic powers. His wife rescued the manuscript and urged him to finish the work. The paperback version of the novel would go on to sell over one-million copies in the first year of publication. The book was dedicated to his wife, Tabitha: "…This is for Tabby, who got me into it – and then bailed me out of it..." King’s breakthrough novel Salem's Lot (1976), established his reputation as a major horror writer. Some of Stephen King’s famous novels include: The Shining, Christine, The Dark Tower series, The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption. King's horror fiction is characterized by clinical attention to physical detail and emotional states, realistic settings, and an emphasis on contemporary problems e.g. Peer group pressure, adult conflicts in personal relationships. King's wide popularity is attributable to his clever storylines, which typically features the sinister theme of “evil forces” that surreptitiously invade the lives of his unsuspecting characters, who inevitably are overcome by the evil forces and consequently, wreak havoc, ultimately arriving at a resolution. King's personal interest in the demonic and the paranormal is usually reflected in his protagonists’ issues, whose experiences and thoughts serve to reveal psychological complexities and abnormalities. The novel “Carrie,” depicts a socially outcast teenage girl, whose emotional insecurities lead her to take violent revenge on her taunting classmates, through the use of her telekinetic powers. In “The Shining”, malevolent spirits in a remote resort hotel manipulate a recovering alcoholic caretaker into attempting to murder his wife and child. Similarly, a haunted car in the novel “Christine” gains control of an alienated teenage boy. Stephen King’s ability as a writer to emotionally connect the reader to his fictional characters is a testament to his skilful mastery of story telling within the horror genre. Posterity will remember King’s legacy; a master storyteller who inspired, renewed and paved the way for new dimensions to the horror genre, that was once regarded as an inferior medium.