Stephen King. Hearts in Suspension. Ed. Jim Bishop. With Michael Alpert, David Bright, Keith Carreiro et al. Orono, Maine: University of Maine Press, 2016.
The Bizarre World of the Stephen King Fan
Once before I wrote about my passion for the books of the one whom we fans refer to as 'Big Steve.' I don't want to repeat all that here, but I would like to touch on that paradoxical question of 'how much is too much?'
I don't mean that I'm planning to lie in wait for him, engineer a car-crash, and cart him off like Annie Wilkes in Misery ('I'm your number-one fan'). Nothing creepy like that. I just mean that there are - or should be - certain logistical limits on what can be regarded as a legitimate piece of King-iana, and what is mere associated driftwood.
What, for example, are we to make of the book above? Is it a legitimate part of the canon, or is it simply an attempt to cash in on his fame and delude poor collectors such as myself?
One must start off with some clear criteria. For the moment, let's accept the objectivity of Wikipedia's continually updated and scrutinished Stephen King Bibliography page. They state there very clearly [as of the original date of this post, in October 2019]:
King has published 83 novels, including seven under the pen name Richard Bachman, and five non-fiction books.So what are they? And - more to the point - do I have copies of them all?
Well, for a start, according to the chronological list below, which I've checked against theirs, the Master has written 61 novels, not 83. They list the revised, 1990 version of The Stand (1978) as a separate entry, and I include the novel-in-screenplay-form Storm of the Century (1999) as a novel rather than in their grab-bag 'Others' category, but otherwise we appear to be essentially in agreement.
Do they actually mean by '83 works of fiction' when they say '83 novels'? If one adds the ten authorised story collections, plus a number of the other fiction publications listed in their 'Others' section, I suppose that one might get there eventually:
- Creepshow. Illustrated by Bernie Wrightson (graphic novel: 1982)
- Six Stories (1997)
- Blood and Smoke (audiobook: 1999)
- The Plant (unfinished web-novel: 2000)
- [with Scott Snyder]: American Vampire I. Illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque (graphic novel: 2011)
- Ghost Brothers of Darkland County (libretto: 2013)
- [as 'Beryl Evans']: Charlie the Choo-Choo. Illustrated by Ned Dameron (2016)
King's official website, StephenKing.com, arranges his works alphabetically rather than chronologically, so cross-referencing with that can be problematic. Nevertheless, I can find no essential discrepancies with the list below - except that all six parts of The Green Mile, together with the collected version, are listed there separately, which might bring us closer to that magic number 83.
Or perhaps it was just a misprint and will be gone tomorrow [which did indeed prove to be the case - Ed.]
Of course there are many, many books about him I don't have, but that's a whole other issue. The only substantive work by him I think I am now lacking is Faithful, an exchange of letters between King and Stewart O'Nan during the 2004 Red Sox season.
I wish I could say that I have no intention of adding so obviously ephemeral a piece to my collection, but I'm afraid I would be lying if I did ... It does seem to be the only real stand-alone piece of non-fiction don't have - for the moment, at least ...
Stewart O'Nan
Is quite a boring man.
If it weren't for Stephen King
No-one would buy the poxy thing ...
[23/11/19]
Books I own are marked in bold:
- Carrie. London: New English Library, 1974.
- Carrie. 1974. New York: Doubleday, 1974.
- Salem's Lot. 1975. London: New English Library, 1976.
- Salem's Lot: Illustrated Edition. 1975. Photographs by Jerry N. Uelsmann. 2004. Introduction by the Author. 2005. Hodder & Stoughton. London: Hodder Headline, 2008.
- The Shining. 1977. London: New English Library, 1982.
- [as ‘Richard Bachman’] Rage. 1977. Included in: The Bachman Books: Rage; The Long Walk; Roadwork; The Running Man. 1985. London: New English Library, 1987.
- The Stand. 1978. London: New English Library, 1979.
- The Stand: The Complete and Uncut Edition. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1990.
- [as ‘Richard Bachman’] The Long Walk. 1979. Included in: The Bachman Books: Rage; The Long Walk; Roadwork; The Running Man. 1985. London: New English Library, 1987.
- The Dead Zone. 1979. London: Futura, 1986.
- Firestarter. 1980. London: Futura, 1981.
- [as ‘Richard Bachman’] Roadwork. 1981. Included in: The Bachman Books: Rage; The Long Walk; Roadwork; The Running Man. 1985. London: New English Library, 1987.
- Cujo. 1981. London: Futura, 1982.
- [as ‘Richard Bachman’] The Running Man. 1982. Included in: The Bachman Books: Rage; The Long Walk; Roadwork; The Running Man. 1985. London: New English Library, 1987.
- The Gunslinger. The Dark Tower, 1. 1982. Illustrated by Michael Whelan. London: Sphere Books, 1988.
- The Gunslinger. The Dark Tower, 1. 1982. Rev. ed. New English Library. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2003.
- Christine. 1983. London: New English Library, 1984.
- Pet Sematary. 1983. London: New English Library, 1985.
- Cycle of the Werewolf. Illustrated by Berni Wrightson. 1983. London: New English Library, 1985.
- [with Peter Straub] The Talisman. Talisman, 1. 1984. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1985.
- The Eyes of the Dragon. Illustrated by David Palladini. 1984. London: Guild Publishing, 1987.
- [as ‘Richard Bachman’] Thinner. 1984. London: New English Library, 1986.
- It. 1986. London: New English Library, 1987.
- The Drawing of the Three. The Dark Tower, 2. 1987. Illustrated by Phil Hale. London: Sphere Books, 1989.
- Misery. 1987. London: New English Library, 1988.
- The Tommyknockers. 1987. London: Guild Publishing, 1988.
- The Dark Half. 1989. London: New English Library, 1990.
- The Waste Lands. The Dark Tower, 3. Illustrated by Ned Dameron. London: Sphere Books, 1991.
- Needful Things. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1991.
- Gerald's Game. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1992.
- Dolores Claiborne. London: BCA, 1992.
- Insomnia. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1994.
- Rose Madder. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1995.
- The Green Mile: A Novel in Six Parts. 1996. A Plume Book. New York: Penguin Books USA Inc., 1997.
- The Green Mile.
- The Two Dead Girls. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1996.
- The Mouse on the Mile. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1996.
- Coffey's Hands. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1996.
- The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1996.
- Night Journey. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1996.
- Coffey on the Mile. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1996.
- The Green Mile. 6 vols. A Signet Giftpack:
- The Two Dead Girls. New York: Dutton Signet, 1996.
- The Mouse on the Mile. New York: Dutton Signet, 1996.
- Coffey's Hands. New York: Dutton Signet, 1996.
- The Bad Death of Eduard Delacroix. New York: Dutton Signet, 1996.
- Night Journey. New York: Dutton Signet, 1996.
- Coffey on the Mile. New York: Dutton Signet, 1996.
- The Green Mile.
- Desperation. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1996.
- [as ‘Richard Bachman’] The Regulators. 1996. London: New English Library, 1997.
- Wizard and Glass. The Dark Tower, 4. Illustrated by Dave McKean. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1997.
- Bag of Bones. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1998.
- Storm of the Century. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
- The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1999.
- [The Plant: parts one-to-six of a novel in progress. Bangor, Maine: Philtrum Press, 2000.]
- Dreamcatcher. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2001.
- [with Peter Straub] Black House. Talisman, 2. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2001.
- From a Buick 8. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2002.
- Wolves of the Calla. The Dark Tower, 5. Illustrated by Bernie Wrightson. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2003.
- Song of Susannah. The Dark Tower, 6. Illustrated by Darrel Anderson. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2004.
- The Dark Tower. The Dark Tower, 7. Illustrated by Michael Whelan. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2004.
- The Colorado Kid. A Hard Case Crime Book. New York: Dorchester Publishing Co., 2005.
- Cell. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2006.
- Lisey's Story. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2006.
- [as ‘Richard Bachman’] Blaze. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2007.
- Duma Key. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2008.
- Under the Dome. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2009.
- 11/22/63. Scribner. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2011.
- The Wind through the Keyhole: A Dark Tower Novel. Illustrated by Jae Lee. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2012.
- Joyland. A Hard Case Crime Book. London: Titan Books, 2013.
- Doctor Sleep: A Novel. Scribner. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2013.
- Mr Mercedes: A Novel. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2014.
- Revival. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2014.
- Finders Keepers: A Novel. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2015.
- End of Watch: A Novel. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2016.
- [with Richard Chizmar] Gwendy's Button Box. Gwendy's Button Box Trilogy, 1. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2017.
- [with Owen King] Sleeping Beauties. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2017.
- The Outsider: A Novel. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2018.
- Elevation. Illustrated by Mark Edward Geyer. Scribner. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2018.
- The Institute. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2019.
- Later. A Hard Case Crime Book. London: Titan Books, 2021.
- Billy Summers. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2021.
- [with Richard Chizmar] Gwendy's Final Task. Gwendy's Button Box Trilogy, 3. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2022.
- Fairy Tale: A Novel. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2022.
- Holly: A Novel. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2023.
- Night Shift. Introduction by John D. MacDonald. 1978. London: New English Library, 1979.
- Jerusalem's Lot (unpublished)
- Graveyard Shift (1970)
- Night Surf (1969)
- I Am the Doorway (1971)
- The Mangler (1972)
- The Boogeyman (1973)
- Gray Matter (1973)
- Battleground (1972)
- Trucks (1973)
- Sometimes They Come Back (1974)
- Strawberry Spring (1968)
- The Ledge (1976)
- The Lawnmower Man (1975)
- Quitters, Inc. (unpublished)
- I Know What You Need (1976)
- Children of the Corn (1977)
- The Last Rung on the Ladder (unpublished)
- The Man Who Loved Flowers (1977)
- One for the Road (1977)
- The Woman in the Room (unpublished)
- Night Shift. Introduction by John D. MacDonald. 1978. London: BCA, 1991.
- Different Seasons. 1982. London: Futura, 1984.
- Hope Springs Eternal: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (unpublished)
- Summer of Corruption: Apt Pupil (unpublished)
- Fall From Innocence: The Body (unpublished)
- A Winter's Tale: The Breathing Method (unpublished)
- Skeleton Crew. 1985. London: Futura, 1986.
- The Mist (1980)
- Here There Be Tygers (1968)
- The Monkey (1980)
- Cain Rose Up (1968)
- Mrs. Todd's Shortcut (1984)
- The Jaunt (1981)
- The Wedding Gig (1980)
- Paranoid: A Chant (unpublished)
- The Raft (1982)
- Word Processor of the Gods (1983)
- The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands (1981)
- Beachworld (1984)
- The Reaper's Image (1969)
- Nona (1978)
- For Owen (unpublished)
- Survivor Type (1982)
- Uncle Otto's Truck (1983)
- Morning Deliveries (Milkman #1) (unpublished)
- Big Wheels: A Tale of the Laundry Game (Milkman #2) (1980)
- Gramma (1984)
- The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet (1984)
- The Reach (1981)
- Four Past Midnight. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1990.
- The Langoliers (unpublished)
- Secret Window, Secret Garden (unpublished)
- The Library Policeman (unpublished)
- The Sun Dog (unpublished)
- Nightmares and Dreamscapes. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1993.
- Dolan's Cadillac (1985)
- The End of the Whole Mess (1986)
- Suffer the Little Children (1972)
- The Night Flier (1988)
- Popsy (1987)
- It Grows on You (1973)
- Chattery Teeth (1992)
- Dedication (1988)
- The Moving Finger (1990)
- Sneakers (1988)
- You Know They Got a Hell of a Band (1992)
- Home Delivery (1989)
- Rainy Season 1989)
- My Pretty Pony (1989)
- Sorry, Right Number (unpublished)
- The Ten O'Clock People (unpublished)
- Crouch End (1980)
- The House on Maple Street (unpublished)
- The Fifth Quarter (1972)
- The Doctor's Case (1987)
- Umney's Last Case (unpublished)
- Head Down (1990)
- Brooklyn August (1971)
- The Beggar and the Diamond (unpublished)
- Hearts in Atlantis. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1999.
- Low Men in Yellow Coats (unpublished)
- Hearts in Atlantis (unpublished)
- Blind Willie (1994)
- Why We're in Vietnam (unpublished)
- Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling (unpublished)
- Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2002.
- Autopsy Room Four (1997)
- The Man in the Black Suit (1994)
- All That You Love Will Be Carried Away (2001)
- The Death of Jack Hamilton (2001)
- In the Deathroom (1999)
- The Little Sisters of Eluria (1998)
- Everything's Eventual (1997)
- L. T.'s Theory of Pets (1997)
- The Road Virus Heads North (1999)
- Lunch at the Gotham Café (1995)
- That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French (1998)
- 1408 (1999)
- Riding the Bullet (2000)
- Luckey Quarter (1995)
- Just After Sunset. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2008.
- Willa (2006)
- The Gingerbread Girl (2007)
- Harvey's Dream (2003)
- Rest Stop (2003)
- Stationary Bike (2003)
- The Things They Left Behind (2005)
- Graduation Afternoon (2007)
- N. (unpublished)
- The Cat from Hell (1977)
- The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates (2008)
- Mute (2007)
- Ayana (2007)
- A Very Tight Place (2008)
- Stephen King Goes to the Movies. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2009.
- 1408 (1999)
- The Mangler (1972)
- Low Men in Yellow Coats (1999)
- Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (1982)
- Children of the Corn (1977)
- Full Dark, No Stars. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2010.
- 1922 (unpublished)
- Big Driver (unpublished)
- Fair Extension (unpublished)
- A Good Marriage (unpublished)
- Blockade Billy / Morality. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2010.
- Blockade Billy (unpublished)
- Morality (2009)
- The Bazaar of Bad Dreams. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2015.
- Mile 81 (2011)
- Premium Harmony (2009)
- Batman and Robin Have an Altercation (2012)
- The Dune (2011)
- Bad Little Kid (unpublished)
- A Death (2015)
- The Bone Church (2009)
- Morality (2009)
- Afterlife (2013)
- Ur (2009)
- Herman Wouk Is Still Alive (2011)
- Under the Weather (2011)
- Blockade Billy (2010)
- Mister Yummy (unpublished)
- Tommy 2010)
- The Little Green God of Agony (2011)
- That Bus Is Another World (2014)
- Obits (unpublished)
- Drunken Fireworks (2015)
- Summer Thunder (2013)
- Bishop, Jim, ed. Hearts in Suspension: Essay and Novella by Stephen King; Personal Narratives by Michael Alpert, Jim Bishop, David Bright, Keith Carreiro, Harold Crosby, Sherry Dec, Bruce Holsapple, Frank Kadi, Daina McPherson, Lary Moscowitz, Jim H. Smith & Philip Thompson. 1999. Orono, Maine: University of Maine Press, 2016.
- Five to One, One in Five (2016)
- King's Garbage Truck (1966-69)
- Hearts in Atlantis (1999)
- If it Bleeds. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2020.
- Mr. Harrigan's Phone (unpublished)
- The Life of Chuck (unpublished)
- If It Bleeds (unpublished)
- Rat (unpublished)
- You Like It Darker. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2024.
- Two Talented Bastids (unpublished)
- The Fifth Step (2020)
- Willie the Weirdo (2022)
- Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream (unpublished)
- Finn (2022)
- On Slide Inn Road (2020)
- Red Screen (2021)
- The Turbulence Expert (2018)
- Laurie (2018)
- Rattlesnakes (unpublished)
- The Dreamers (unpublished)
- The Answer Man (unpublished)
- Danse Macabre. London: Macdonald Futura Publishers, 1981.
- Danse Macabre. 1981. New York: Berkley Books, 1984.
- Nightmares in the Sky: Gargoyles and Grotesques. Text: Stephen King / Photographs: F-stop Fitzgerald. Viking Studio Books. New York: Viking Penguin Inc., 1988.
- On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2000.
- Secret Windows: Essays and Fiction on the Craft of Writing. Introduction by Peter Straub. New York: Book-of-the-Month Club, 2000.
- [with Stewart O'Nan] Faithful: Two Die-Hard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season. 2004. Scribner. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005.
- 'Foreword' to Richard Chizmar: Gwendy's Magic Feather. 2019. Gwendy's Button Box Trilogy, 2. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2021.
- [with Bev Vincent] Flight or Fright. London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., 2018.
- Underwood, Tim, & Chuck Miller. Bare Bones: Conversations on Terror with Stephen King. 1988. London: New English Library, 1990.
- Beahm, George, ed. The Stephen King Companion. 1989. London: Macdonald & Co (Publishers) Ltd., 1990.
- Rogak, Lisa. Haunted Heart: The Life and Times of Stephen King. London: JR Books, 2009.
Novels:
Collections:
Non-fiction:
Edited:
Secondary:
•
- category - Occult & Supernatural: Fiction