Reviews
'This book represents a significant contribution to the study of Stephen King and his work and should prove itself useful. Such intelligent critical interest applied to any author of science fiction or fantasy is especially welcome, ?-Extrapolation, '. . . reigning King guru Tony Magistrale has pulled off something of a coup, publishing in close proximity one of the best book-length studies and the best essay collection devoted to King's fiction.'-Necrofile, "This book represents a significant contribution to the study of Stephen King and his work and should prove itself useful. Such intelligent critical interest applied to any author of science fiction or fantasy is especially welcome," Extrapolation, "With three respected studies of Stephen King already published, Tony Magistrale has become the strongest voice among those who argue the respectability of King's fiction. In this volume he has selected the best essays from the vast body of recent King scholarship to support his contention that King is not only one of America's most popular writers, but he is also one of its best. The essays argue collectively that King's works are deeply influenced by the mainstream traditions of 19th- and 20th-century American and European fiction and are a commentary illustrative of the major political and social tensions shaping contemporary American life. They argue further, with limited success, that King's works rely on a rich literary tradition that includes such respected genres as the gothic and classical Greek tragedy. Remarkably effective in this argument are G. Weller's "The Masks of the Godden," E. Casebeer's "The Three Genres of The Stand," and R. Curran's "Complex, Archetype, and Primal Fear.""- Choice, 'With three respected studies of Stephen King already published, Tony Magistrale has become the strongest voice among those who argue the respectability of King's fiction. In this volume he has selected the best essays from the vast body of recent King scholarship to support his contention that King is not only one of America's most popular writers, but he is also one of its best. The essays argue collectively that King's works are deeply influenced by the mainstream traditions of 19th- and 20th-century American and European fiction and are a commentary illustrative of the major political and social tensions shaping contemporary American life. They argue further, with limited success, that King's works rely on a rich literary tradition that includes such respected genres as the gothic and classical Greek tragedy. Remarkably effective in this argument are G. Weller's "The Masks of the Godden," E. Casebeer's "The Three Genres of The Stand," and R. Curran's "Complex, Archetype, and Primal Fear."?-Choice, ." . . reigning King guru Tony Magistrale has pulled off something of a coup, publishing in close proximity one of the best book-length studies and the best essay collection devoted to King's fiction."-Necrofile, "This book represents a significant contribution to the study of Stephen King and his work and should prove itself useful. Such intelligent critical interest applied to any author of science fiction or fantasy is especially welcome,"- Extrapolation, "With three respected studies of Stephen King already published, Tony Magistrale has become the strongest voice among those who argue the respectability of King's fiction. In this volume he has selected the best essays from the vast body of recent King scholarship to support his contention that King is not only one of America's most popular writers, but he is also one of its best. The essays argue collectively that King's works are deeply influenced by the mainstream traditions of 19th- and 20th-century American and European fiction and are a commentary illustrative of the major political and social tensions shaping contemporary American life. They argue further, with limited success, that King's works rely on a rich literary tradition that includes such respected genres as the gothic and classical Greek tragedy. Remarkably effective in this argument are G. Weller's "The Masks of the Godden," E. Casebeer's "The Three Genres of The Stand," and R. Curran's "Complex, Archetype, and Primal Fear.""-Choice, ". . . reigning King guru Tony Magistrale has pulled off something of a coup, publishing in close proximity one of the best book-length studies and the best essay collection devoted to King's fiction."- Necrofile, ". . . reigning King guru Tony Magistrale has pulled off something of a coup, publishing in close proximity one of the best book-length studies and the best essay collection devoted to King's fiction." Necrofile, "This book represents a significant contribution to the study of Stephen King and his work and should prove itself useful. Such intelligent critical interest applied to any author of science fiction or fantasy is especially welcome,"-Extrapolation
Table of Content
Foreword by Joseph A. Citro Chronology Defining King's Horrorscape: An Introduction by Tony Magistrale The Masks of the Goddess: The Unfolding of the Female Archetype in Stephen King's CARRIE by Greg Weller Partners in the DANSE: Women in Stephen King's Fiction by Mary Pharr Complex, Archetype, and Primal Fear: King's Use of Fairy Tales in THE SHINING by Ronald T. Curran The Three Genres of THE STAND by Edwin F. Casebeer Some Ways of Reading THE DEAD ZONE by Michael N. Stanton Fear and Pity: Tragic Horror in King's PET SEMATARY by Leonard Mustazza The Mythic Journey in "The Body" by Arthur W. Biddle "Everybody Pays . . . Even for Things They Didn't Do": Stephen King's Pay-out in the Bachman Novels by James F. Smith Science, Politics, and the Epic Imagination: THE TALISMAN by Tony Magistrale A Clockwork Evil: Guilt and Coincidence in "The Monkey" by Gene Doty Playing the Heavy: Weight, Appetite, and Embodiment in Three Novels by Stephen King by Bernadette Bosky Riddle Game: Stephen King's Metafictive Dialogue by Jeanne Campbell Reesman Stephen King Reading William Faulkner: Memory, Desire, and Time in the Making of IT by Mary Jane Dickerson "The Face of Mr. Flip": Homophobia in the Horror of Stephen King by Douglas Keesey Reading, Writing and Interpreting: Stephen King's MISERY by Lauri Berkenkamp A Stephen King Bibliography Index
