Overview

A fascinating, first-of-its-kind exploration of Stephen King and his most iconic early books, based on groundbreaking research and interviews with King—all conducted by the first scholar to be given extended access to his private archives “A treat for fans of Stephen King.”—Paul Tremblay “A master class in craft—and a peek behind the curtain.”—Stephen Graham Jones “Illuminating and original.”—Amy Tan “It will be treasured by admirers of King’s novels and is a must read for anyone curious about how great books get written.”—James Shapiro, Professor of English, Columbia University A LIT HUB MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR After Caroline Bicks was named the University of Maineʼs inaugural Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, she became the first scholar to be granted extended access by King to his private archives, a treasure trove of manuscripts that document the legendary writerʼs creative process—most of them never before studied or published. The year she spent exploring King’s early drafts and hand-written revisions was guided by one question millions of Kingʼs enthralled and terrified readers (including her) have asked themselves: What makes Stephen King’s writing stick in our heads and haunt us long after we’ve closed the book? Bicks focuses on five of his most iconic early works—The Shining, Carrie, Pet Sematary, ʼSalemʼs Lot, and Night Shift—to reveal how he crafted his language, story lines, and characters to cast his enduring literary spells. While tracking King’s margin notes and editorial changes, she discovered scenes and alternative endings that never made it to print but that King is allowing her to publish now. The book also includes interviews Bicks had with King along the way that reveal new insights into his writing process and personal history. Part literary master class, part biography, part memoir and investigation into our deepest anxieties, Monsters in the Archives—authorized by Stephen King himself—is unlike anything ever published about the master of horror. It chronicles what Bicks found when she set out to unearth how King crafted some of his scariest, most iconic moments. But it’s also a story about a grown-up English professor facing her childhood fears and getting to know the man whose monsters helped unleash them.

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Reviews

“These word-by-word comparisons of different stages of these canonical stories are a master class in craft—and a peek behind the curtain. Thank you, Caroline Bicks.”—Stephen Graham Jones “Caroline Bicks has penned an affable, compulsively readable mix of memoir, biography, and heady analysis of Stephen King’s iconic early works enhanced by access to early drafts and notes. Monsters in the Archives is a treat for fans of Stephen King as well as anyone who ever wanted more of a peek behind the curtain at the great and terrible authorial Oz.”—Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of Horror Movie and A Head Full of Ghosts “Illuminating and original, Monsters in the Archives takes us deep into Stephen King’s private papers to show us how he crafted some of his most iconic, haunting books and took possession of so many of our imaginations.”—Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club “A personable, fascinating look at the creative process, one that soundly showcases King’s lifelong attention to craft and Bicks’s own belief in the power of facing one’s monsters.”—Keith Rosson, author of Fever House and Coffin Moon “Literary scholars dream of having access to the drafts and notes of a major writer, then talking with the author about decisions, great and small, that inform the work. Caroline Bicks, who gets this rare chance, makes the most of it, offering a deeply engaging account of her discoveries in Stephen King’s archives. It will be treasured by admirers of his novels and is a must-read for anyone curious about how great books get written.”—James Shapiro, Professor of English, Columbia University “If you ever were afraid to go down into the basement after encountering a Stephen King story, Monsters in the Archives is for you: a massively enjoyable, fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of his previously unseen literary archive, with Caroline Bicks as your savvy guide. This is indispensable reading for any fan of King’s work—and who isn’t one of those?”—Elizabeth Hand, author of A Haunting on the Hill and Wylding Hall

“Illuminating and original, Monsters in the Archives takes us deep into Stephen King’s private papers to show us how he crafted some of his most iconic, haunting books and took possession of so many of our imaginations.”—Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club

“A master class in craft—and a peek behind the curtain.”—Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter “A compulsively readable mix of memoir, biography, and heady analysis of Stephen King’s iconic early works enhanced by access to early drafts and notes . . . a treat for fans of Stephen King.”—Paul Tremblay, author of Horror Movie “Illuminating and original, Monsters in the Archives takes us deep into Stephen King’s private papers to show us how he crafted some of his most iconic, haunting books and took possession of so many of our imaginations.”—Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club “Shows us how the king of horror built his crown.”—Literary Hub “A spooky stroll through the haunted hallways of Stephen King’s mind.”—Kirkus Reviews “A fascinating insider’s look at King’s process and themes . . . This isn’t just for horror buffs, but for anyone curious about archival research, literature, and writers’ lives.”—Shelf Awareness “A massively enjoyable, fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of [King’s] previously unseen literary archive, this is indispensable reading for any fan of King’s work—and who isn’t one of those?”—Elizabeth Hand, author of A Haunting on the Hill “A personable, fascinating look at the creative process, one that soundly showcases King’s lifelong attention to craft and Bicks’s own belief in the power of facing one’s monsters.”—Keith Rosson, author of Fever House “This deeply engaging account of [Bicks’s] discoveries in Stephen King’s archives will be treasured by admirers of his novels and is a must-read for anyone curious about how great books get written.”—James Shapiro, professor of English, Columbia University “As vital and illuminating a glimpse into a master craftsman’s processes as King’s own On Writing.”—Nat Cassidy, author of Mary “Not only a gift to King’s fans but also a remarkable journey inside the creative process of a master storyteller.”—Booklist “Horror fans and writing aficionados—and those who are both—will all find moments of delight.”—Stanford Magazine

“A master class in craft—and a peek behind the curtain.”—Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter “A compulsively readable mix of memoir, biography, and heady analysis of Stephen King’s iconic early works enhanced by access to early drafts and notes . . . a treat for fans of Stephen King.”—Paul Tremblay, author of Horror Movie “Illuminating and original, Monsters in the Archives takes us deep into Stephen King’s private papers to show us how he crafted some of his most iconic, haunting books and took possession of so many of our imaginations.”—Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club “Shows us how the king of horror built his crown.”—Literary Hub “A spooky stroll through the haunted hallways of Stephen King’s mind.”—Kirkus Reviews “A massively enjoyable, fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of [King’s] previously unseen literary archive, this is indispensable reading for any fan of King’s work—and who isn’t one of those?”—Elizabeth Hand, author of A Haunting on the Hill “A personable, fascinating look at the creative process, one that soundly showcases King’s lifelong attention to craft and Bicks’s own belief in the power of facing one’s monsters.”—Keith Rosson, author of Fever House “This deeply engaging account of [Bicks’s] discoveries in Stephen King’s archives will be treasured by admirers of his novels and is a must-read for anyone curious about how great books get written.”—James Shapiro, professor of English, Columbia University “As vital and illuminating a glimpse into a master craftsman’s processes as King’s own On Writing.”—Nat Cassidy, author of Mary “Not only a gift to King’s fans but also a remarkable journey inside the creative process of a master storyteller.”—Booklist

“Caroline Bicks has penned an affable, compulsively readable mix of memoir, biography, and heady analysis of Stephen King’s iconic early works enhanced by access to early drafts and notes. Monsters in the Archives is a treat for fans of Stephen King as well as anyone who ever wanted more of a peek behind the curtain at the great and terrible authorial Oz.”—Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of Horror Movie and A Head Full of Ghosts “Illuminating and original, Monsters in the Archives takes us deep into Stephen King’s private papers to show us how he crafted some of his most iconic, haunting books and took possession of so many of our imaginations.”—Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club

Author Information

Caroline Bicks is the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine, where she teaches courses in Shakespeare, early modern culture, and horror fiction. She is the author of Cognition and Girlhood in Shakespeare’s World and Midwiving Subjects in Shakespeare’s England; co-author of Shakespeare Not Stirred: Cocktails for Your Everyday Dramas; and co-host of the Everyday Shakespeare podcast. Her essays and humor pieces have appeared in the Modern Love column of the New York Times, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and the show Afterbirth. She lives in Blue Hill, Maine, with her family.

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