The Eyes of the Dragon Stephen King Book Review
Stephen King is one of the most well-known horror authors on the planet. He'southward thrilled and terrified readers with his stories for years, making their own worst nightmares come to life. Many of his works accept had major film and idiot box adaptations.
But, what nigh Stephen King himself? Where does his inspiration come from? We've gathered the most tantalizing facts virtually Stephen Rex and his writing, and some of them are exactly what you'd expect from the master of horror!
King's Debut
After sending out query after query only to receive rejection messages fourth dimension and again, King had his first novel, Carrie, finally accustomed by publishers. It tells the story of a bullied teen who has telekinetic abilities who uses her powers to get revenge.
King received an advance of simply $ii,500 but later went on to earn upwards of $400,000 for the paperback rights. Since and so, there take been two film adaptations of the debut novel. The first starred Sissy Spacek, while the newer release featured Chloe Grace Mortez in the leading function of Carrie.
He's Used Pen Names
King used a pseudonym, Richard Bachmann, to publish some of his piece of work. He did this in part because publishers were reluctant to release more than than one book by a given author per year, only also because he wanted to run into if he could duplicate his publishing success.
A bookstore owner from Washington actually ousted the author as King. He didn't seem to mind, though, as he connected to experiment with different writing styles using the name. In that location's speculation that he's used other names in the past also, simply it'due south unclear if everyone positively identified them or non.
Lots of Cameos
Stephen King is known for making small cameos in many of his film adaptations. He actually has 22 different film appearances on his resume. One classic example is in the original Pet Semetary, when King played the role of a minister.
More than recently, we King appeared on the big screen again in Information technology: Chapter two. He was the owner of the store where a master grapheme's babyhood bike ended up. It would seem that King has no plans to settle down when it comes to being actively involved in the entertainment industry, and we're all glad for information technology!
Not a Nicholson Fan
Stephen King may have approved of most of the picture adaptations of his work, but that was certainly non the case when it came to The Shining. In item, he did not like the casting choices made. While fans adored Stanley Kubrick's work on the moving picture, Rex was less than impressed.
He stated that he didn't sympathize the hype surrounding the pic. He besides said that he wasn't a fan of the way Jack Nicholson portrayed Jack Torrance. He wanted the grapheme to show a "slow descent into madness" instead of existence so "maniacal."
His Favorite Work
Everybody has a favorite when it comes to the works of Stephen Rex. His favorite, nevertheless, is one of his bestsellers: Salem's Lot. The story is centered on a character who returns home to discover that the residents of a minor town are becoming vampires.
Salem's Lot was fabricated into a goggle box mini-series in 1979 and again in 2004, and there are rumors that a movie adaptation of the novel is currently in the works. Should they prove true, fans volition certainly be excited!
Pennywise Was Originally a Troll
One of Stephen Male monarch'south most well-known novels is the hit Information technology. When he originally came upwards with the concept, Pennywise was a troll living under a bridge who preyed on unsuspecting children.
Later some consideration, King decided that Pennywise as a clown was much scarier. Fans are certainly glad that the archetype horror character was changed, every bit a troll just doesn't accept the same power as the horrific Pennywise. However, King did leave some references to the troll thought in the final slice.
He Doesn't Call back Writing Cujo
Nearly fans of Stephen Male monarch are aware of his by struggles with drugs and alcohol. His substance abuse problems were so bad that he has no memory of writing the striking novel Cujo. King was on an booze- and coke-fueled binge and doesn't recollect a single word of the popular story.
He'due south expressed regret that he doesn't remember the process of writing the piece. However, information technology does go to show that even at his worst, Rex tin can still produce pretty amazing stories. That'due south quite impressive!
A Real Haunted Prison
Castle Rock is another adaptation of King'south piece of work. The boondocks in the series is the site of the Shawshank State Prison. Many of the scenes were filmed in the Westward Virginia Country Penitentiary in Moundsville, and the real penitentiary is said to be one of the about haunted places in America.
Before information technology was closed down, the prison house housed some truly horrendous prisoners. 85 executions took identify there among other horrors similar rape, murder and many suicides. People travel from all over to walk through the alleged haunted site, making it a perfect filming location.
Advice to Writers
Stephen King wrote a volume called On Writing that has been used in creative writing classes around the country. In the volume, he discussed his writing procedure and how he adult his craft over time. He admitted that the journey wasn't an easy one.
Some of his all-time advice for writers is to constantly read and write. Practice does make perfect, and given the number of books he's written, it's certainly how Male monarch himself found success. There's certainly nobody better to give writing advice.
Too Graphic for the Pic
If you lot've never read the novel, It, you're likely unaware of a scene so graphic and controversial that it didn't make it into the motion-picture show. It took place after the famous Loser's Gild defeated Pennywise, at which point they all engaged in group sex. It's understandable that this scene would be cutting from a movie featuring young kids!
King explained in interviews that he wrote the scene with a theme of "coming of age" in mind. That makes a certain kind of sense, just the scene still causes controversy even amidst fans, and it's understandable that it didn't make it onto the silver screen.
He Was Striking past a Van in 1999
While taking a walk in June of 1999, Stephen Rex was hit past a van later the driver became distracted by a dog moving around in the back seat. The accident left King with broken bones in his ribs, legs and hip. He besides suffered a punctured lung and lacerations.
After the accident, King actually bought the van to allegedly "smash it with a sledgehammer." In truth, it was his lawyers that purchased it so that nobody could turn a profit from the accident past selling the vehicle. The van was crushed at a scrapyard.
Familiar Faces
It seems that some actors really enjoy existence in King's work, as many have appeared in multiple adaptations. Thomas Jane, for case, has appeared in The Mist, Dreamcatcher and 1922. Other actors such as John Cusack, Kathy Bates and other famous actors have appeared in multiple Stephen Rex works, and many say they would love to do so again.
Stephen King writes deep and complex characters, so information technology's no wonder that many actors are eager to take on those roles. They provide actors with a chance to evidence their interim range in stories that audiences are likely to enjoy.
Book Signings Only
Stephen King is not a fan of being a celebrity. If y'all approach him on the street, it'due south highly unlikely that you will go yourself an autograph. He simply gives out autographs to fans when on official tours.
So, if yous spot Mr. King at a local buffet in Maine, it would be best to expect until a book signing to become your easily on an autograph. For being such a household name, he doesn't necessarily adore the limelight that comes along with the gig. And hey, we tin can all respect that!
Writing Runs in the Family unit
Stephen isn't the but writer in his family. Ane of his sons, Joseph Male monarch, has published successful novels and short stories under the pen proper name Joe Hill. His novel Horns was adapted into a motion picture starring Daniel Radcliffe, while the comic book serial Locke and Key was made into a Netflix series.
Stephen'southward wife Tabitha is an acclaimed author of mystery novels. His other son, Owen King, has published diverse curt stories, a standalone novel and Sleeping Beauties, which he wrote alongside his father.
Childhood Trauma
As a child, Stephen King witnessed his friend being killed by a railroad train. He has no retentiveness of the incident, but many speculate that the experience was inspiration for some of his darker work. King has never verified that theory.
After the incident, King walked back habitation where his female parent said he was silent and appeared to exist in stupor. It wasn't until later that she learned of the death of his friend and that Stephen had likely witnessed the entire tragedy. He was only four at the time of the incident.
He Makes Depository financial institution
Many writers may be starving artists, but Stephen Male monarch doesn't exactly fall into that category. With and then many hit novels and TV and pic adaptations, Rex has an estimated net worth of $400 million. Even though he'due south had some flops, it'due south done null to boring his cyberspace worth.
King owns multiple properties and vehicles and is i of the highest-paid authors in the globe. Since he'south been able to produce hit afterwards hit, information technology isn't too surprising that he has fabricated a skillful amount of bank over the years.
H.P Lovecraft Inspired Him
Every bit a kid, King discovered a paperback copy of one of H.P. Lovecraft'south curt story collections in the attic of his childhood domicile. "Now that time has given us some perspective on his work," said Rex years subsequently, "I think it is beyond doubt that H. P. Lovecraft has even so to be surpassed as the twentieth century's greatest practitioner of the archetype horror tale."
Nigh of H.P. Lovecraft's stories autumn under the larger umbrella of the Cthulhu Mythos, a shared universe where unfathomable monsters and deities lurk just beyond the perception of humankind. Information technology'southward no wonder that King is a fan.
Lots of Rejection
When Stephen King was first starting out, he used his rejection letters as a "fuel" of sorts. Instead of becoming angry and tossing them out, King nailed the messages to the wall. He received so many rejection letters early on on that he had to replace the nail with a camping stake.
Rex shared this anecdote in On Writing has inspired many other would-be authors to do the same. Mustering that kind of conclusion is no easy feat, simply it certainly paid off for King. His success in the writing earth is nearly unmatched.
He Writes to Rock Music
Many writers mind to music while they write, and each ane has their own preferences. Stephen King'south is for rock music. Given his style of writing and the blazon of content he writes, information technology makes sense that he would find the most inspiration in classic rock.
Some of his favorites include Air-conditioning/DC and The Ramones. Stephen King's son, writer Joe Hill, also wrote a book most an aging rock star who purchases a haunted suite. Information technology seems they take more in common than just writing.
He Owns a Radio Station
Along with his wife, Male monarch owns a radio station. Information technology'south a mainstream stone radio station (of grade) located in Brewer, Maine. WKIT is part of the Zone Corporation, which is also owned by Tabitha and Stephen.
The station is quite pop in the area and is advertised as being owned by the chief of horror himself, likely drawing in more than fans. It's also one of the few remaining locally-endemic radio stations in the country.
The Most Film Adaptations
Stephen King holds a globe record for the most film adaptations. Estimates vary, just they number at least in the dozens, and while other stories by king take been made into television series, comic books, radio dramas and more than.
King is on his way to 300 writer credits for feature-length films on IMDB. He besides has a habit of letting new directors adapt his work for the deal toll of a unmarried dollar. The catch is that films made under such deals can't be commercially distributed or fabricated available online.
Fear of Flight
Surprisingly, Stephen King has a powerful fearfulness of flying. It's hard to believe that the master of horror would have such an ordinary phobia. While he'south willing to fly when he absolutely has to, he doesn't relish the occasion. When Male monarch was younger, he collection his motorcycle to volume signings no matter how far away they were.
"The difference is," King explained, "if your auto breaks downwards, you pull over into the breakdown lane. If you're at 40,000 feet and your plane has trouble, you die." It's hard to argue with that logic.
Favorite Shows
Like the rest of us, Stephen King has his favorite goggle box series. Some of them include Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and The Americans. He besides stated that he was a fan of Sons of Chaos. Presently, he was given the gamble to make a surprise cameo on the popular series!
He played the role of a "clean-upwardly" guy who arrives at law-breaking scenes to help characters dispose of a body. It seemed similar a fitting role for everybody's favorite primary of horror. Many viewers didn't even recognize him initially.
His Books Never Go Out of Print
Unlike many other authors, the works of Stephen Rex about never get out of print. This is why you tin observe and then many different covers on even older works by Stephen King. They are always being printed because they are e'er selling more copies. Considering of this, early editions of Rex'south work are coveted past fans and sometimes even worth decent coin.
King too created his own publishing business firm, Philtrum press, for work he either didn't think would find mainstream success or that had special significance. Don't expect to find a re-create of anything by Philtrum at your local bookstore, yet — all works published nether the characterization had extremely small press runs of only a couple thousand or then.
An Intervention
In the '80s, King'southward drinking and cocaine use became so bad that his family unit staged an intervention for him, during which his wife Tabitha collected all his drug paraphernalia and dumped it in the living room in front end of friends and family. She fifty-fifty threatened to divorce him.
Luckily, King realized he had a problem and needed to become better, and he did. While he'd been agape that his work would endure while sober, King released some of his most notable work after breaking the habit, including The Green Mile and The Daughter Who Loved Tom Gordon.
An Entire Universe
The Nighttime Tower series includes the novels that Stephen King says tie all his other works together. Similar to other cinematic universes like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Conjuring Universe, all of the stories accept place in the same universe — or at least, series of universes.
Continued works often include references to the principal villains of the series, the Crimson Rex and his servant, Randall Flagg. Others mention the hero, the Gunslinger. Books with indisputable connections to King'southward greater universe include 'Salem's Lot, Hearts in Atlantis, The Stand and more.
A Fear of 13
On top of a fear of flight, Male monarch also has a more superstitious fearfulness: triskaidekaphobia, or the fright of the number 13. It'south certainly odd, but then over again, considering the importance of the number 19 in The Dark Tower, maybe King just has an intense relationship with numbers.
When writing, King refuses to stop when he gets to the 13th page, and he even avoids multiples of the number. Peradventure it'due south just a habit, or peradventure it really is a 18-carat fear. Any the case, if it keeps King speeding through his next novel, information technology's not entirely a bad thing.
He Banned His Own Book
Rage was a book that Stephen Male monarch wrote way back in the '70s nether the name Richard Bachman. The story followed a troubled teenager who brought a gun to school and killed his teachers. Actual schoolhouse shootings didn't start cropping upwards until the '80s and '90s, and so publishers allow it go to print.
Later on several schoolhouse shooters were connected to the volume, including a senior in loftier school who took 30 classmates earnest and told authorities that the volume was i of his sources of inspiration for the deed, King had it pulled from publication. He also wrote an anti-gun violence essay in 2013 titled Guns and has been an outspoken gun command advocate since.
Flopped Musicals
While most of King's work was successful and well-received, it's no secret that he's had a few flops likewise. Beyond bad movies similar Maximum Overdrive — his ain endeavour at directing a picture show — King too wrote a few musicals that flopped.
Ghosts starred Michael Jackson and came out in 1996. Information technology was not critically well-received. He also did a musical with John Mellencamp titled Ghost Brothers of Darkland County in 2013 that faded into obscurity almost equally soon as it came out.
350 One thousand thousand Copies
Male monarch has sold over 350 million copies of his books, making him not only one of the virtually successful horror writers, merely i of the most accomplished writers ever, menses. His work has been professionally translated into 3,354 languages.
Male monarch is also one of the fastest writers around, producing virtually 2,000 words every day. With that kind of output, he no doubtfulness has quite a few more novels and short stories in him. Hats off to you, Mr. Rex!
Source: https://www.smarter.com/people/weird-facts-stephen-king?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740011%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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