Hello, Welcome to the Stephen King FAQ. I have been unable to post this for some time since I lost my internet access back in Dec and I have just now regained it. There are a few changes to the FAQ and a lot of additions. However, it is far from complete. I am still working on section 8, and I have many improvements in mind. If you happen to know a piece of information that is missing or if you spot an error please let me know. Thanks Date: 6 Apr 1995 17:32:44 GMT From: crooks@nmia.com (Barbara Crooks) Organization: New Mexico Internet Access Newsgroups: alt.books.stephen-king
Personal info: Mother: Nellie Ruth Pillsbury Father: Donald King Brother: David King, adopted in 1945, born 1945 DOB: Sept 21, 1947 POB: Portland, Maine Wife: Tabitha Spruce DOM: 1971
1. Father left when he was two for a pack of cigarettes and was never seen
again.
2. Family moved around a lot
3. King first posted to the alt.books.stephen.king group on 6 Oct 94 from
Cornell University.
That post is quoted here.
From: SK79 (Stephen King) Newsgroups: alt.books.stephen-king Subject: stephen king Followup-To: alt.books.stephen-king Date: 6 Oct 1994 18:20:30 GMT Organization: Cornell University Lines: 19 Sender: sk79@cornell.edu (Verified) Message-ID: <SK79-061094141809@128.253.68.148 NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.253.68.148 Someone wondered if I ever get into these electronic bulletin boards. I gota peek into this one while preparing to do a speaking gig at Cornell University, in Ithaca, on October 6th, 1994. I haven't been in Colorado buying Slurpies at any 7-11s lately, but I was in a Christie's in Hoosick, New York yesterday. The new book is INSOMNIA, and that's what I'm promoting. I'm glad so many people liked Frank's version of SHAWSHANK, and I hope to see many of you on my tour...if the Harley doesn't break down...or if I don't break down. The question that occurs is whether or not the people reading this will believe I'm me. It really is, but if I put in something only I would know in order to prove it, everybody would know it. It's the only catch, Catch-22. In closing, the big cahunas and cahunettes here at Cornell want me to tell you that I don't have an account or an electronic postbox here. In fact, I don't really know what the f- - - I'm doing. Oh, I think I DO know how to prove I'm me. First, the next book is called ROSE MADDER —June of 1995 from Viking. Second, it will be Eddie, not Roland, who saves the party of travellers from Blaine the Mono. Joe Bob sez "Check it out." Check ya on the flip-flop, Stephen King
1. First was "I Was a Teenage Grave Robber" in Comics Review in 1967
2. Books
Carrie Viking Press 1974 'Salems Lot Doubleday 1975 *Rage Doubleday 1977 The Shining Doubleday 1977 Night Shift Doubleday 1978 The Stand Doubleday 1978 *The Long Walk New American Library 1979 The Dead Zone Viking Press 1979 Firestarter Viking Press 1980 *Roadwork New American Library 1981 Cujo Viking Press 1981 Danse Macabre Berkley 1981 Creepshow New American Library 1982 The Running Man New American Library 1982 % The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger New American Library 1982 Different Seasons Viking Press 1982 Christine Viking Press 1983 Pet Sematary Doubleday 1983 ** The Talisman Viking/Putnam's Sons 1984 Thinner New American Library 1984 Cycle of the Werewolf New American Library 1985 Skeleton Crew Putnam 1985 It Viking Press 1986 The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three New American Library 1987 The Eyes of the Dragon Viking Press 1987 Misery Viking Press 1987 The TommyKnockers Putnam's Sons 1987 *** Nightmares in the Sky Viking Press 1988 The Dark Half Viking Press 1989 The Stand: The Complete & Uncut Edition Doubleday 1990 Four Past Midnight Viking Press 1990 Needful Things Viking Press 1991 The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands NAL 1992 Delores Claiborne Viking 1992 Gerald's Game Viking 1993 Nightmares and Dreamscapes Viking 1993 Insomnia Viking 1994
Note: All publication dates are for hardback editions * Published under Bachman ** With Peter Straub *** Photagraphs by f-stop Fitzgerald % This book has been published many times both as magazine stories and as a limited edition, the edition listed here is the mass production publication that most people will be able to find.
Carrie United Artists 1976
'Sal's Lot CBS 1979
The Shining Warner Brothers 1980
Creepshow Laurel Show, Inc 1982
Cujo Warner Communications 1983
The Dead Zone Paramount Pictures 1983
Christine Columbia Pictures 1983
The Woman in the Room Video Cassette 1983
Children of the Corn New World Pictures 1984
Firestarter Universal Pictures 1984
Cat's Eye United Artists 1985
Silver Bullet Paramount 1985
The Boogeyman(dual tape) video Cassette 1986
Word Processor of the Gods Laurel Entertaiment 1985
for "Tales from the Dark Side"
Maximum Overdrive MGM/UA 1986
Stand by Me Columbia Pictures 1986
Gramma CBS "Twilight Zone" 1986
Creepshow 2 New World Pictures 1987
The Last Rung on the Ladder Video Cassette 1987
The Lownmower Man Video Cassette 1987
Sorry, Right Number Tales from the Darkside 1987
The Running Man Taft Entertainment Pict 1987
Pet Semetary Paramount 1989
Tales From the Darkside:
The Movie 1990
Stephen King's "GraveyardShift" 1990
Misery 1990
Stephen King's It 1990
The Golden Years
The TommyKnockers
The Sleepwalkers
Sometimes They Come Back
The Dark Half Castle Rock 1993
Needful Things Castle Rock 1993
The Stand CBS 1994
Shawshank Redemption 1994
Dolores Clayborn 1995
The Mangler 1995
The Langoliers 1995*
*These are soon to be released movies
Movies Not Based on King Adaptaions, but using his title or characters
Return to 'Salem's Lot
The Lawnmower Man
Children of the Corn II
Pet Semetary II
The Running Man
Castle Rock 1. A Lake 100 miles southwes of West De Pere, Wisconsin 2. A Newsletter on Stephen King first issued in Jan 1985 through Dec 1989 3. A town in main used in many of his books Personal Fears 10. Fear for someone else 9. Fear of others (paranoia) 8. Fear of death 7. Fear of insects (especially spiders, flies, and beetles) 6. Fear of closed-in places 5. Fear of rats 4. Fear of snakes 3. Fear of deformity 2. Fear of squishy things 1. Fear of the dark
(1) Carrie, Viking Press (1974) - The story of a teenage girl with telekenetic powers who is pushed beyond human limits, as she unleashed her frightening power upon a small New England town. Main Characters: Rita Desjardin - the gym teacher who came to Carrie's defense Chris Hargensen - plotted the pigs' blood shower as revenge for being punished for the shower incedent with Carrie Billy Nolan - Chris Hargensen's boyfriend who rigged the buckets of pigs' blood Tommy Ross - Sue Snell's boyfriend. He took Carrie to the prom. He was knocked out when the buckets of pigs' blood fell and died in the fire. Sue Snell - one of Carrie's classmates who participated in the shower incedent. She later felt bad about what she did and convinced her boyfriend Tommy Ross to take Carrie to the prom. Bad Idea! Carietta (Carrie) White - girl with telekentic abilities who snaps when buckets of pigs' blood are dumped on her at the class prom Margaret White - Carrie's mother.
1. one of the teachers at Carries school is Edwin King and King's full name is Stephen Edwin King 2. Prom Night toll was 440 Dead and 18 missing (2) 'Salems Lot, Doubleday (1975) - A vampire sets up shop in the small New England town of Salems Lots (Jeruslem's Lot). Main Characters: Kurt Barlow - Antiques expert. Vampire. Danny Glick - one of the kids turned into a vampire Hubie Marsten - owner of the Marsten House that Kurt Barlow eventually bought Ben Mears - the writer who discovered the truth about Jeruselms Lot Susan Norton - Love interest of Ben Mears Mark Petrie - young boy who helps Ben Mears distroy the Vampires
1. One of the characters in the book was Judy Overlook (3) Rage, Doubleday (1977) - One of the Bachman books. (4) The Shining, Doubleday (1977) - A family finds the true meaning of horror while working as winter caretakers at the Overlook Hotel. Main Characters: Dick Hollaron - The cook at the overlook, a friend of Danny Torrence who came back to help when things went really wrong. He to had the "shine". He was also mentioned in "It". Tony - Danny's invisible playmate who made the word "redrum" famous Danny (Daniel Anthony) Torrence - The five year old with the "Shine". Wendy Torrence - Danny's mother Jack Torrence - Danny's father, a failed writer who succumb evil in the Overlook Hotel
1. King got the inspiration to write The Shining when he visited the Stanley Hotel in Colorado. They visited on closind day and there was only one American Express sales from left. American Express was the only card King had with him. King jokes that The Shining would not have been written if there hadn't been that sales from. 2. Room 217 - Where the old lady (Mrs. Massey) killed herself. Danny sees her getting out of the bathtub 3. Room 300 - The presidential suite 4. The Masked Ball - Was to celebrate the grand opening of the Overlook Hotel, August 29. 1945 (5) Night Shift, Doubleday (1978) - a collection of short stories. Battleground The Boogeyman Children of the Corn Graveyard Shift Gray Matter I am the Doorway I Know What You Need Jerusalem's Lot The Last Rung on the Ladder The Lawnmower Man The Man Who Loved Flowers The Mangler Night Surf One for the Road Quitters,Inc Sometimes They Come Back Strawberry Spring Trucks (6)The Stand, Doubleday (1978) - After a plague is accidentally released upon the world the few survivors are divided btween the forces of good and evil to determine who will rebuild the world. Main Characters Randall Flagg - the personification of evil also known as The Walking Dude, RF, Ahaz, The Dark Man,The Man with No Face, Anubis, Astaroth, Richard Fry, Ramsey Forrest, Robert Franq, John the Conqueror, The Midnight Rambler, Nyarlohotep, Old Creeping Judas, R'yelah, Seti, he can also be found in several other King works like The Dark Tower series. Nick Andros - a deaf-mute who becomes a charter member of the ad hoc committee in the Free Zone. Glen Bateman - a sixtyish assistant professor of sociology who met up with Stu Redman, a charter member of the Free Zone ad hoc committee, and he traveled to Las Vegas to fu Mother Abagail's final instructions. Kojak (Big Steve) - Glen Bateman's dog Rita Blakemore - Met Larry Underwood in Central Park, they traveled together until she died. Ralph Brentner - Fortish man who picked up Nick and Tom on their way out of Kansas, became part of the final company who went to Las Vegas to confront Flagg Charles D. Campion - the government employee who fled from the biological testing site when Project Blue fell apart and hit the gas pumps at Hapscomb's Texaco. Nadine Cross - Woman Larry Underwood met at a New England Farmhouse. Flagg eventually chose her as his wife, and she heated him out of a son by jumping out of a window in Las Vegas. Tom Cullen - retarded man Nick met on Main street in May, OK. He was sent as a spy to Las Vegas. He saves Stu Redmans life. Donald Merwin Elbert (Trashcan Man) - He liked to set fires. One of Flagg's men who brought the atomic bomb to Las Vegas Richard (Dick) Ellis - The veterinarian who was part of Nick Andros's company that went ot Mother Abagail's. Judge Richard Farris - 70 year old man who joined Larry Underwood's group. He was one of 3 spies sent to Las Vegas Mother Abagail Freemantle - the 108 year old black woman who summoned the good guys through dreams Frannie (Frances Rebecca) Goldsmith - Travelled with Harold, met and married Stu and had the first baby in the Free Zone which managed to survive after the plague Lloyd Henreid - Became Flagg's right hand man in Las Vegas Harold Emery Lauder - Traveled to the Free Zone with Stu and Frannie. He eventually gave into the powers of darkness and blew up Nick Andors's house. Julie Lawry - the 16 year old girl Nick met in the drugstore, she wound up in Las Vegas and identified Tom as one of the spies from the Free Zone to Flagg. Stu Redman - Became the marshall of the Free Zone, married Frannie and was the only survivor from the journey to Las Vegas. Larry Underwood - a singer-songwriter who becomes one of the charter members of the Free Zone ad hoc committee, and makes the journey to Las Vegas.
1. Flagg at one time tells his men that Anubis is another of his names, Anubis was an Egyptian god of Mortuarey, circa 2700 BC - 400 ad. Anbus is a son of Re and either Nephthys or Isis. He takes the form of a black dog or jackal with ears pricked and long tail hanging. He was sometimes known as the claimer of hearts. 2. Flagg at one time tells his men that Ahaz is another of his names. Ahaz reigned 735-715 BC as the 12th king of Judah. Judah was attacked early in his reign by King Pekah of Isreal and King Rezin of Syria, who attempted to force Ahaz into a coalition against Assyria. Additional incursions were made into Judaean territory by the Edomites, to who Ahaz was forced to give up the important city of Elath (now Aqaba, Jordan). Ahaz asked help of the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III, who drove out the invaders but in return exacted tribute from Judah. Ahaz mad various changes in the temple service and paid homage to the Assyrian gods. He was denounced for infidelity to Jehovah by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah, who opposed the alliance with Assyria. 3. When Larry is taken into custody in Utah he tells Flagg's men that Astaroth is another of his names. Astaroth is a plural from of the name Astoreth and used as a collective anem for godesses. Astyoreth is the Palestinian and Philistine Fertility and war goddess, circa 1200 bc - 200 bc. She was adopted, typically, as goddess of both love and war. She is usually depicted waring a horned headdress. 4. When Larry was taken into custody in Utah he tells Flagg's men that Nyarlathotep is another of Flagg's names. Nyarlathotep is a god of the Cthulhu Mythos created by H.P. Lovecraft. He is said to take on the appearance of a tall dark man. He is the crawling chaos, and a messenger of the gods. His progress across the face of the land is followed by riot, war, mass murder, suicide and insanity. (7) The Long Walk, New American Library (1979) - one of the Bachman books. (8) The Dead Zone, Viking Press (1979) - After being in a coma for almost 5 years as the result of an autoaccident , Johnny Smith awakens with a strang power, after touching someone he can see their life, past, present and future. After shaking the hand of a politition he see's a very dark future. Main Characters: George Bannerman - The Castle Rock sheriff Sarah Bracknell - Johnny's girlfriend Frank Dodd - a deputy in Castle Rock who turned out to be the Castle Rock Strangler Sonny Elliman - Greg Stillson's right hand man Walter Hazlett - the man Sarah married when Johnny didn't come out of the coma John Smith - the man who came out of the coma after 5 years with his precognitive gift, a man with a mission. Greg Stillson - the maniaal presidential candidate who would one day distroy the world, if not stopped.
1. The first novel to take place in Castle Rock, Maine.
2. The book Carie is mentioned
3. Frank Doddkilled 7 women from 1970 to 1975
(9) Firestarter, Viking Press (1980) - Two young people meet and fall in love
during an experiment that give them psycic powers. Their offspring has
the ability to start fires with her mind and The Shop wants her!
Main Characters:
Captain (Cap) Hollister - Head of the Shop, who wanted to use
Charlie's talents to influence world leaders
Andrew McGee - Charlie's father, took part in an experiment which gave
him the limited ability to influence people with his mind.
Charlie (Charlene Roberta) McGee - The Firestarter
Vicky Tomlinson McGee - Charlie's Mother, took part in an experiment
which gives her telekenetic abilities.
John Rainbird - Shop operative and assassin. He was to bring Charlie
in for the Shop.
1. Lot Six was the experimenatal chemical compound injected into twelve college students in an an experiment. It was supposed to be a mild hallucinogenic but actually enhanced psycic powers. 2. The Lot Six Twelve - the twelve people who took part in the experiment, 2 died during the test, two went hopelessle insane, one died in an auto accident (suicide), One leaped form the roof of the the Cleveland Post Office, three others committed suicide, one worked for Telemyne Corp, and that left 2, Andie and his wife. (10) Roadwork, New American Library (1981) - One of the Bachman books. (11) Cujo, Viking Press (1981) - Another Castle Rock novel, where the monster in the closet turns out to be a rabid dog. It's a great example of bad things happen to good people, when Donna and Tad are trapped in a broken down Pinto with the rabid Cujo keeping them at bay. Major Characters: Joe Chamber - the mechanic who owned Cujo. He owned the garage on the outskirts of Castle Rock where Donna and Tad were trapped. Cujo - a large St. Bernard who contracted rabies from a bat and attacked the car where Donna and Tad were trapped. Donna Trenton - Was trapped in a broken down Pinto along with her son by Cujo. Tad Trenton - Donna's son, who thought that Cujo was the monster from his closet out to get him. Vic Trenton - Donna's husband.
1. Frank Dodd the Castle Rock Strangler from The Dead Zone was mentioned in the book, along with John Smith. (12) Danse Macabre, Berkley (1981) - A non-fiction piece dealing with the fantastic and horror in boo, fil, and TV. (13) Creepshow, New American Library (1982) - Consists of 5 stories comprising a total of 424 individual comic strip panels. Father's Day The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill The Crate Something to Tide You Over They're Creeping Up On You (14) The Running Man, New American Library (1982) - one of the Bachman books (15) The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger, New American Library (1982) - The story of the Gunslinger, Roland. This series of books has many twists and turns and even has an FAQ of it's own, which is perhaps the best place to find out more specific information. Main Characters: Jake Chambers - The boy Roland met at the Way Station he was killed in the other world when pushed in front of a Cadillac. He fell into an abyss when Roland chose to pursue the Man in Black reather than rescue him. Cort - Roland's teacher in Tull The Man in Black - the man that Roland pursued, (presumed to be Randall Flagg from the The Stand), Walter, The Prophet of Doom, the voice of Jeremiah. Roland knew that the Man in Black was somehow tied up with his quest for the Dark Tower but could not identify in what way . Maerlyn - the Ageless Stranger. The Man in Black's master. Roland - the last Gunslinger The First - the first of the three that Roland had to draw together. A demon called heroin had infested him. The Second - the second of the three, she would come on wheels The Third - the third of the three. He would come in chains.
1. Please see the "Dark Tower FAQ" for threads and interesting side notes, for they are too numerous to mention here. (16) Different Seasons, Viking Press (1982) - A collection of 4 stories. Hope Springs Eternal: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption Summer of Corruption: Apt Pupil Fall From Innocence: The Body A Winter's Tale: The Breathing Method (17) Christine, Viking Press (1983) - Evil inhabits a 1958 red Plymouth Fury and the teenage boy who eventually buys it. Can his friend save him from the evil that is Christine. Main Characters: Leigh Cabot - Arnie's girlfriend. Christine - a 1958 red Plymouth Fury, with a taste for death. Arnie Cunningham - the nerd who was seduced and distroyed by Christine Will Darnelll - owned Darnell's Used Auto Parts where Arnie stored and worked on Christine Dennis Guilder - Arnie's friend Roland D. LeBay - the man who sold Christine to Arnie (18) Pet Sematary, Doubleday (1983) - The Pet Sematary is more than just a place to bury your pets, especially for one horrified family. After Louis Creed discovered that beyond the Pet Sematary you could bury your dead until they came home the next day, how could he resist it when his little son was killed. Main Characters: Stanley (stanny) Bouchard - the man who told about the secret Micmac burial ground. Church - the Creed's 5 year-old cat. Louis buries him in the secret burial ground and he comes back. Gage Creed - Louis's son, who is killed by a truck, Louis eventually buries him in the secret burial ground Louis Creed - the man who can't resist the secret behind the Pet Sematary. Rachel Creed - Louis's wife and another visitor to the secret burial ground
1. King wrote Pet Sematary while living in a rental home in Orrington, Maine which had a pet sematary behind the house. 2. Cujo was mentioned in the book as the St. Bernard who went rabid downstate (19) The Talisman, Viking/Putnam's Sons (1984) - (20) Thinner, New American Library (1984) - (21) Cycle of the Werewolf, New American Library (1985) - (22) Skeleton Crew, Putnam (1985) - A collection of short stories. The Ballad of the Fexible Bullet Beachworld Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman #2) Cain Rose Up Gramma Here There by Tygers The Jaunt The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands The Mist The Monkey Morning Deliveries (Miklman #1) Mrs. Todd s Shortcut Nona Paranoid: A Chant The Raft The Reach The Reaper's Image Survivor Type Uncle Otto'd Truck The Wedding Gig Word Processor of the Gods (23) It, Viking Press (1986) - (24) The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three, New American Library (1987) - (25) The Eyes of the Dragon, Viking Press (1987) (26) Misery, Viking Press (1987) (27) The TommyKnockers, Putnam's Sons (1987) (28) Nightmares in the Sky, Viking Press (1988) (29) The Dark Half, Viking Press (1989) (30) The Stand: The Complete & Uncut Edition, Doubleday (1990) (31) Four Past Midnight, Viking Press (1990) - A Book with 4 stories. The Langoliers The Library Policeman Secret Window, Secret Garden The Sun Dog (32) Needful Things, Viking Press (1991) (33) The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands, NAL (1992) (34) Delores Claiborne, Viking (1992) (35) Gerald's Game, Viking (1993) (36) Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Viking (1993) - A collection of short stories. Brooklyn August Chattery Teeth Crouch End Dedication The Doctor's Case Dolan's Cadalic The End of the Whole Mess The Fifty Quarter It Grows on You Head Down Home Delivery The House on Maple Street The Moving Finger My Pretty Pony The Night Flier Popsy Rainy Season Sneakers Sorry, Right Number Suffer the Little Children The Ten O'Clock People Umney's Last Case You Know They Got a Hell of a Band (37) Insomnia, Viking (1994)
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