Monsters in the Archives dives deep into Stephen King’s early works

You know that old meme with the angry-looking little kid posed behind the words “Congratulations”; “Happy for you”; “Good”? It was me reading Caroline Bicks Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King. Here’s an excerpt from the synopsis: “After Caroline Bicks was named the University of Maine’s first Stephen E. King Professor of Literature, she became the first scholar to be granted extensive access by King to his private archives, a treasure trove of manuscripts that document the legendary writer’s creative process – many of them never previously studied or published.

You hate seeing someone else living your dream. (I’m kidding). Seriously, this book was an absolute pleasure to read, both as a long-time Stephen King fan and as a writer always fascinated by how the greats approach their craft. Bicks selects first works — Pet Sematary, The Shining, Night Shift, ‘Salem’s Lot And Carrie – comparing edits made to multiple drafts for each and highlighting King’s notes and correspondence with editors who shaped these drafts into the legendary horror stories we know today.

Monsters in the archives makes an insightful companion to King’s On writing: a memoir of the professionand while you don’t have to be a superfan to enjoy it, anyone who East will definitely eat it.