Stephen King is widely regarded a master of the horror genre, having written classics such as Carrie (1974), The Shining (1977), and Cujo (1981). Many of King’s works have been adapted into successful films and TV shows, including Misery (1990) and The Shawshank Redemption (1994). King is a beloved literary and cultural touchstone with legions of fans.

King’s horror fiction focuses on evoking real, everyday fears. In King’s work, the supernatural and the grotesque is always propped up by real life phobias and deeply existential concerns. The Shining, for instance, draws on the primal fear that a father, who is supposed to be a protector, may turn on his own family. In Cujo, a beloved pet St. Bernard similarly becomes a killer. Though King’s main characters are often driven by supernatural forces, their flaws and challenges are typically relatable. For example, the protagonist of The Tommyknockers (1987) is an author suffering from writer’s block and alcohol use disorder. Likewise, in Duma Key, protagonist Edgar is haunted by the loss of his health, marriage, and right arm before he becomes a conduit for the otherworldly. King captures Edgar’s rage at his powerlessness over his body and merges it with the supernatural horror he experiences.