The Short Stories of Stephen King

I love Stephen King books and movies; I have nearly every book he’s ever written on my shelf. Along with great novels he also wrote short stories; many of which have been adapted into famous movies.

Short Biography.

Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine, in 1947 to Nellie and Donald King. His parents separated when he was very young and he was raised with his elder brother by his mother.

King attended grammar school graduating in 1966. He attended the University of Maine, and wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper. In 1967 Stephen King’s first short story was published entitled “The Glass Floor;” and this inspired him to keep writing way after his graduation in 1970.

Whilst at college Stephen King met his soon to be wife Tabitha Spruce. The two of them made very little money, and when they married in 1971 they were living purely off of Tabitha’s student loan and Stephen’s wages from his laborer job in an industrial laundry. Even though King was writing, he was yet to make any real money.

In the Autumn of 1971 Stephen King started to teach high school classes at Hampden Academy; he continued writing short stories at the weekends and in the evenings and often sold stories to magazines.

“Night Shift.”

Stephen King’s short stories have been published in widespread collections. One of the first was called the “Night Shift”. Here is a quick list of some of the more famous stories in this anthology.

“The Graveyard Shift.”

A young man looking for work is hired as one of a group of people to clean out the basement of an old mill. The basement however, is inhabited by giant rats who have their own ecosystem to sustain them.
The rats have become bizarre and huge and end up killing the men.

In 1990 Ralph S. Singleton directed the movie with a screenplay written by John Esposito. For me the movie stuck pretty much to the story and it received decent reviews. Being eaten by a rat is not so bad compared to some of the other “King” deaths!

“Children Of The Corn.”

A couple drive through California and stumble across a strange town. The husband decides to explore while the wife waits in the car. Turns out the town is inhabited by murderous teenagers who have killed every adult. The teenagers worship “He Who Lives Behind the Rows,” a demon in charge of the corn, who has told them to sacrifice everyone over the age of eighteen. Of course the vacationing couple meet their end. Is it better than being eaten by rats? Read the story or watch the movie.

In 1984 Fritz Keirsch directed “Children Of The Corn ” with a screenplay written by George Goldsmith.
This was a menacing movie and nearly as frightening as the short story. Isaac, the leader of the teenagers, is especially frightening. The movie was so popular that many sequels were filmed.

“Jerusalem’s Lot.”

Set in the same town as “Salem’s Lot,” this story served as a prequel to the later novel. The story is told through a series of letters written by Charles Boone to his friend “Bones.” They discuss his arrival to the town and to his home, and the strange reception he receives from the people. He then goes on to describe the terrifying occurrences in his house when he discovers the room behind the library.

If you like the undead and unspeakable horror, you’ll love this one.

Before the short stories were gathered together and made into anthologies, Stephen King had to live. He still wasn’t making much and he even had to get rid of his telephone line to save money. During his short story time he had also been working on a novel entitled “Carrie;” this was the first novel to be published and it bought him his financial freedom. He still writes short stories so take a look in the store next time you’re looking for a good short read, they are just as intense and scary as everything else.

Sources:
StephenKing.com
Personal Experience



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