The Constant Writer

In Praise Of Stephen King

59 novels, 29,999 pages, 5,989,800 words (ish). That’s just a portion of the works of Stephen King that also includes short stories, novellas and myriad of other collections and written works. We fans have certainly earned our moniker of Constant Reader. My foray into the twisty maze of Mr. King’s mind was anointed upon me by my older brother when he passed his copy of Carrie to me. I was WAY too young, for perspective purposes, too young to have up close and personal experience of what unleashes Carries powers. But it was then that I stumbled headlong into the wondrous discovery that books could offer up worlds beyond my wildest imagination. No matter that I was a child then and not remotely so now, Stephen King still renders those worlds with each book he writes. I owe him a debt that I couldn’t hope to ever repay. For 40+ years, through first love, impetuous marriage, necessary divorce, career depths and heights, friendships lost and found and countless of life’s aches and pains I have never not been reading a book. They have been my constant companion, my teacher, my tour guide and at risk of sparking your ire, my religion. I can preach my thoughts and feelings on a book as the most riveting or fervent priest or prophet.

“I try to create sympathy for my characters, then I turn the monsters lose.” No better quote could sum up each encounter in a Stephen King book than this, written by the master himself. He is peerless in describing a character’s inner mind fuckery, after all, that is where true horror lies. If you insist on classifying him as a horror writer, its foundation is born of that which we heap upon ourselves. Alone in the dark and the quiet.

I can claim with pride that I have read every work he has published, but I do not love them all equally. So, for you I will share my favourites, with a quote from within each.

And remember this as you crack the spine of one of his books, you are in the presence of a cunning and terrifying genius.

10 Stephen King Treasures

1. The Stand

“That wasn’t any act of God. That was an act of pure human fuckery.”

2. The Shining

“Monsters are real, ghosts are too. They live inside of us, and sometimes, they win.”

3. Salem’s Lot

“Small towns have long memories and pass their horrors down ceremonially from generation to generation.”

4. Dead Zone

“Precognition. Telepathy. Bullshit! Eat my dong you extra sensory turkey.”

5. Misery

“I am your number one fan.”