# Stephen King

> American novelist and writer (born 1947)

**Wikidata**: [Q39829](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39829)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/stephen-king

## Summary

Stephen King, born September 21, 1947, in Portland [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15], is a United States citizen . He works as a television producer, science fiction writer, actor, columnist, screenwriter, and journalist [16][17][18][19]. His parents were Donald Edwin King and Nellie Pillsbury [20][20], and he has three children: Joe Hill, Owen King, and Naomi King [21].King attended Lisbon High School, the University of Maine, Hampden Academy, and Lisbon Falls High School [22]. Since 1971, he has been employed by Hampden Academy [22]. His literary works span genres including horror literature, fantasy, science fiction, drama, epistolary fiction, and Gothic literature . He has received numerous awards, including the National Book Award, Edgar Awards, Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire for Best Essay, and multiple Bram Stoker Awards [23][24][25][26].Among his notable works are *Carrie*, *'Salem's Lot*, *The Shining*, *The Stand*, *Misery*, and *It* .

## Summary
Stephen King is an American novelist and writer born in 1947, celebrated for his extensive contributions to horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. He is the author of numerous best-selling works, including *Carrie*, *The Shining*, *It*, and *The Dark Tower* series, many of which have become cultural landmarks through film and television adaptations. Beyond his primary identity as a novelist, King is also a screenwriter, columnist, television producer, actor, and musician.

## Biography
- **Born**: September 21, 1947
- **Nationality**: American (United States)
- **Education**: University of Maine
- **Known for**: Horror literature, science fiction, fantasy novels, and short stories
- **Employer(s)**: University of Maine
- **Field(s)**: Literature, film production, journalism, education

## Contributions
Stephen King has published a vast array of literary works beginning with his debut novel, *Carrie* (1974). He followed this with notable titles such as *'Salem's Lot* (1975), *The Shining* (1977), *The Stand* (1978), and *The Dead Zone* (1979). Throughout the 1980s, he produced *Firestarter* (1980), *Cujo* (1981), *Christine* (1983), *Pet Sematary* (1983), *It* (1986), and *Misery* (1987). His later works include *Needful Things* (1991), *Dolores Claiborne* (1992), *Insomnia* (1994), *The Green Mile* (1996), *Bag of Bones* (1998), *Dreamcatcher* (2001), *Cell* (2006), and *Doctor Sleep* (2013).

King is also the author of the epic fantasy series *The Dark Tower*, which began in 1970 and concluded with the publication of the seventh volume in 2004. He has collaborated with other authors, most notably Peter Straub on *The Talisman* (1984) and *Black House* (2001). Under the pen name Richard Bachman, which he began using in 1977, he published several works including *The Regulators*.

In addition to novels, King has contributed to other media and genres. He wrote the novella *The Mist* (1980) and *Cycle of the Werewolf*. He created the television film *Trucks* (1997) and has been involved in numerous adaptations of his work, such as the miniseries *The Shining* (1997), *The Langoliers* (1995), *Rose Red* (2002), and *Stephen King's Desperation* (2006). He is a member of the charity rock band The Rock Bottom Remainders, formed in 1992.

King has created a complex multiverse of fictional settings and characters, including the towns of Derry, Castle Rock, and Jerusalem's Lot. His iconic characters include Pennywise the Dancing Clown, Jack Torrance, Annie Wilkes, Randall Flagg, and Roland Deschain.

## FAQs
**What are some of Stephen King's most famous books?**
Some of his most famous books include *Carrie* (1974), *The Shining* (1977), *The Stand* (1978), *It* (1986), *Misery* (1987), and *The Green Mile* (1996).

**Has Stephen King written under any pseudonyms?**
Yes, Stephen King has written under the pen name Richard Bachman, a name he began using in 1977.

**What genres does Stephen King write in?**
Stephen King writes across multiple genres, including horror, science fiction, fantasy, thriller, detective fiction, drama, Gothic literature, and post-apocalyptic fiction.

**Is Stephen King involved in music?**
Yes, Stephen King is a member of the Rock Bottom Remainders, a charity rock band that was formed in 1992.

**What awards has Stephen King received?**
He has received numerous awards, including the National Book Award, the National Medal of Arts, the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement, and the O. Henry Award.

## Why They Matter
Stephen King is a central figure in contemporary literature, particularly in the horror and fantasy genres. His works have revitalized horror fiction for a modern audience, often blending supernatural elements with psychological realism and social commentary. His creation of a shared multiverse—connecting disparate novels through characters, locations, and themes—has influenced the way series fiction is constructed. King's impact extends beyond literature; his prolific output has provided source material for a vast number of successful films and television shows, shaping popular culture's visual landscape. He has also paved the way for the commercial and critical respectability of genre fiction, receiving major literary awards such as the National Medal of Arts.

## Notable For
- Authoring over 60 novels and hundreds of short stories.
- Creating the *Dark Tower* series, a magnum opus connecting many of his other works.
- Writing *Carrie* (1974), his first published novel.
- Using the pseudonym Richard Bachman.
- Winning the National Book Award and the National Medal of Arts.
- Creating iconic villains such as Pennywise (*It*) and Randall Flagg (*The Stand*).
- Founding member of the charity rock band Rock Bottom Remainders.
- Developing fictional Maine towns like Castle Rock and Derry that serve as settings for multiple stories.
- Receiving the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement.
- Influencing a generation of writers including Clive Barker, Nnedi Okorafor, and Mariana Enriquez.

## Body
### Literary Career and Major Works
Stephen King's work period began in 1959, but his professional breakthrough occurred with the publication of *Carrie* in 1974. This success was followed by a rapid succession of novels that defined his early career, including *'Salem's Lot* (1975), *The Shining* (1977), *The Stand* (1978), and *The Dead Zone* (1979). The 1980s marked a period of high productivity with the release of *Firestarter* (1980), *Cujo* (1981), *Christine* (1983), *Pet Sematary* (1983), *It* (1986), and *Misery* (1987).

In the 1990s, King continued to dominate bestseller lists with *The Talisman* (1984, co-written with Peter Straub), *Needful Things* (1991), *Dolores Claiborne* (1992), *Insomnia* (1994), *Rose Madder* (1995), *The Green Mile* (1996), and *Desperation* (1996). He also published *The Regulators* under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman. His work in the 21st century includes *Dreamcatcher* (2001), *Black House* (2001, with Peter Straub), *From a Buick 8*, *Cell* (2006), *The Colorado Kid* (2005), *Joyland* (2013), and *Doctor Sleep* (2013).

### The Dark Tower Series
One of King's most ambitious projects is *The Dark Tower* series, a blend of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. The series' inception dates to 1970. The narrative follows the gunslinger Roland Deschain and spans eight books (though the source lists seven specific volumes in the detailed knowledge: *The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass* (1997), *The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla* (2003), *The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah* (2004), and *The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower* (2004)). This series serves as the linchpin for his multiverse, connecting characters and themes from his other works.

### Genres and Styles
King's writing spans a wide variety of genres. He is a master of horror literature and Gothic literature, often incorporating elements of science fiction, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic fiction. He has also written thrillers, detective fiction, and drama. His work *Carrie* utilizes an epistolary format. He is recognized as a science fiction writer and a novelist, but his roles also extend to screenwriter, journalist, columnist, teacher, and actor.

### Characters and Settings
King has populated his fiction with memorable characters and settings. Key fictional locations include Derry (the setting of *It*), Castle Rock, and Jerusalem's Lot (from *'Salem's Lot*). He created the Shawshank State Prison. Notable characters he created include Carrie White, Father Callahan, Richie Tozier, Annie Wilkes, Eddie Dean, Beverly Marsh, Susannah Dean, Danny Torrance, Jack Torrance, Georgie Denbrough, Bill Denbrough, and the Crimson King. His antagonists, such as Pennywise the Dancing Clown and Randall Flagg, are iconic in popular culture.

### Adaptations and Other Media
King's work has been extensively adapted for film and television. Notable adaptations include the 1990 miniseries of *It*, the 1994 miniseries of *The Stand*, the 1997 miniseries of *The Shining*, and *The Langoliers* (1995). He wrote the teleplay for *Trucks* (1997) and *Rose Red* (2002). He is also the creator of the anthology series *Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King*.

### Affiliations and Personal Life
King is affiliated with the University of Maine, where he received his education. He is a member of the Writers Guild of America, East. He is also a musician in the Rock Bottom Remainders, a charity rock band formed in 1992.

### Influences and Legacy
King's work is influenced by literary giants such as Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and John D. MacDonald. In turn, he has influenced contemporary writers like Clive Barker, Lee Child, Nnedi Okorafor, Mariana Enriquez, and Charles Soule. His contributions to literature have been recognized with awards such as the National Book Award, the National Medal of Arts, the O. Henry Award, the Edgar Awards, the Bram Stoker Awards (including the Award for Novel and Lifetime Achievement), the Hugo Award for Best Related Work, the Shirley Jackson Award, the Hammett Prize, and the Locus Award for Best Horror Novel.

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