2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of Stephen King's first novel Carrie in April 1974. In this title, the author examines how King's writing was affected by the accident that nearly killed him in 1999 and how his battles with alcohol and addiction to medication have been reflected in his stories.

2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of Stephen King’s first novel Carrie in April 1974. Rescued from the rubbish by his wife Tabitha, the novel launched the Maine schoolteacher on a prolific and extraordinarily successful career. His name has become synonymous with horror and suspense through over fifty works, including The Dark Tower, a retelling of Byron’s Childe Harold to the Dark Tower Came. Simpson traces the writer’s life from his difficult childhood – his father went out to the shops and never came back – through his initial books under the pseudonym Richard Bachman to the success of Carrie, Salem’s Lot and The Shining in the 1970s, and beyond. He examines how King’s writing was affected by the accident that nearly killed him in 1999 and how his battles with alcohol and addiction to medication have been reflected in his stories. The guide will also take a look at the very many adaptation’s of King’s work in movies, on television and radio, and in comic books.

Introduction: The Making of a King -- The Early Years -- The Seventies: Publish or Perish -- The Eighties: The King of Horror -- The Nineties- Upping the Ante -- Chapter 1: Maine Born and Bred -- Durham -- Lisbon Falls -- Hermon -- North Windham -- Bridgton -- Orrington -- The University of Maine at Orono -- Old Town -- Chapter 2: Bangor - Stephen's Kingdome -- The William Arnold House -- The Shawn Trevor Mansfield Baseball Complex -- WZON -- Stephen King's Office -- Philtrum Press -- Betts Bookstore -- The Bangor Public Library -- The Bangor Auditorium -- The Hoyt's Cinema -- The Bangor International Airport -- Chapter 3: Charity Begins at Home-The King's Philanthropy -- Chapter 4: Fictional Maine Haunts -- Jerusalem's Lot -- Haven -- Derry -- Castle Rock -- Chapter 5: Terra Incognita-The Road West -- Estes Park, Colorado -- Gatlin Nebraska -- Rock and Roll Heaven, Oregon -- Desperation, Nevada -- Chapter 6: Silver Screams: Making Movies in Stephen King's Maine.

“The Stephen King companion to end all Stephen King companions . . . An indispensable insider’s guide” to his influences, stories, adaptations, and more (Publishers Weekly). The Stephen King Universe is a vast expanse of grotesque horror, dark magic, and fearsome wonder. Conjured from on man’s imagination, it is an ever-expanding kingdom of twisting, dark pathways—a place where one might easily get lost without guidance. The Complete Stephen King Universe is the only definitive reference work that examines all of Stephen King’s novels, short stories, motion pictures, miniseries, and teleplays, and deciphers the threads that connect all of his work. This ultimate resource includes in-depth story analyses, character breakdowns, little-known facts, and startling revelations on how the plots, themes, characters, and conflicts intertwine.

The definitive illustrated guide to the more than 50 films, plays, and computer games adapted from the work of Stephen King. Lavishly illustrated with 200 rare posters, movie stills, and book covers, it includes excerpts from a one-on-one personal interview with King.

This unique work of popular criticism of the stories and characters of author Stephen King embraces and explains the entire body of his work. The authors also demonstrate King's impact on popular culture and include a chronology of his life and career.

The Complete Concordance is an entertaining and incredibly useful guide to Stephen King’s epic Dark Tower series by Robin Furth and features a foreword by Stephen King himself. The Dark Tower series is the backbone of Stephen King's legendary career. Eight books and more than three thousand pages make up this bestselling fantasy epic. The Complete Concordance covers books I-VII and The Wind Through the Keyhole and is the definitive encyclopedic reference book that provides readers with everything they need to navigate their way through the series. With hundreds of characters, Mid-World geography, High Speech lexicon, and extensive cross-references, this comprehensive handbook is essential for any Dark Tower fan. Includes: -A Foreword from Stephen King -Characters and Genealogies -Magical Objects and Forces -Mid-World and Our World Places -Portals and Magical Places -Mid-, End-, and Our World Maps -Timeline for the Dark Tower Series -Mid-World Dialects -Mid-World Rhymes, Songs, and Prayers -Political and Cultural References -References to Stephen King’s Own Work