If all you know about Stephen King is that he is a writer of horror fiction, chances are you don't know much about him. There is actually much more to King than that. Stephen King is a master of constructing literary scenes that evoke the '50s and '60s filled with the sort of music and props that, for baby boomers at least, bring back all the memories of childhood. You know, things like Schwinn bicycles, Ferris wheels, corner-drug-store soda shops and convertibles, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy.
If you are interested in being a better writer, King has written just the book for you. In his book, "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft," King relates his own journey as an aspiring writer and what it takes to be good at word craft. The book is captivating, but if you are the kind of person who has already written King off as evil, or if you don't approve of fiction in general because it is just made up stories, then you have already read more of this article than you need to and can walk away now. I most likely don't have anything of interest to say to you.
For those who can appreciate what it takes to create a believable world, peopled with realistic characters who face common, everyday issues just like you and me, I could not recommend any writer to you more than Stephen King. After all, he is not a consistent, best-selling author for no reason. And, not surprising for those who have read him, many of his works have been made into movies. This includes my favorite movie of all time, "The Shawshank Redemption," with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. Then there is also "The Green Mile," starring Tom Hanks, as well as the beautifully-touching movie, "Hearts in Atlantis," with Robert Duvall. Folks, I literally love these movies and would recommend them to anyone interested in getting into a captivating story. Plus, they are all icons of 20th-century Americana.
While it is true that Stephen King writes horror stories, it is also true that he writes some of the best detective fiction on the market. I'm thinking in particular of a trilogy of detective books featuring a character by the name of Bill Hodges. Each of these books can be read independently or in sequence. They are well-constructed and, while King almost always incorporates some aspects of the supernatural into his works, he does so in a way that is not only believable but also seems natural to the story line.
In his novel, "11/22/63," the story of JFK's assassination, King employs the concept of time travel, an idea which, like humanoid robots, has held a fascination for me over the years. The thought of going back in time in order to try and change the future seems to fire our imaginations, maybe because most of us would change some things in our own pasts if we could.
I want to say that I am not a fan of horror stories and have read very little down that line. I am thankful, however, that I didn't write Stephen King off as merely an author of horror novels. He is more than that and deserves a good look from a larger group of readers than those who read such fare. King is a truly-gifted American writer. A good place to start reading his non-horror fiction would be, Hearts in Atlantis. This is a collection of Vietnam-era stories and novellas. I recommend you give it a try, especially if you are a baby boomer who has ever made a mistake.
Sam Byrnes is a Gentry-area resident and weekly contributor to the Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 09/28/2016