The Complete Stephen King Universe: A Guide to the Worlds of Stephen King [Paperback]

Stanley Wiater (Author), Christopher Golden (Author), Hank Wagner (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 30, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0312324901 | ISBN-13: 978-0312324902 | Edition: Reprint

The myriad worlds and universes King has created are, in reality, one world, one universe. Here is the guide to that universe.
      The Complete Stephen King Universe is the only definitive reference work that examines all of Stephen King's novels, short stories, motion pictures, miniseries, and teleplays, and deciphers the threads that exist in all of his work.  This ultimate resource includes in-depth story analyses, character breakdowns, little-known facts, and startling revelations on how the plots, themes, characters, and conflicts intertwine.
      After discovering The Complete Stephen King Universe, you will never read Stephen King the same way again.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book might be one of the single most important books about Stephen King ever written. . . . Beginning with the premise that all of King's work is intertwined in an intricate weave of overlapping narrative threads, with the world of the Dark Tower as the linchpin around which everything else orbits, Wiater, Golden, and Wagner carefully prove their point, in an entertaining, intriguing, and thoroughly indisputable way."
--Stephen Spignesi, author of The Essential Stephen King
 
"Here is the Stephen King companion to end all Stephen King companions . . . The three authors bring their considerable expertise to a survey of the complete King fictional corpus, grouping novels and tales by setting and theme. An indispensable insider's guide to the influences on King, his plots and characters, TV and film adaptations, and more."
--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Stanley Wiater has been interviewing and writing about Stephen King for more than two decades. The award-winning author or editor of ten books, he is the writer and host of the television series Dark Dreamers.

 

Christopher Golden is the award-winning author of many bestselling books including Waking Nightmares, Of Saints and Shadows, Of Masques and Martyrs, and The Myth Hunters. He has also written books for teens and young adults, including Soulless and Poison Ink, and he is the editor of The New Dead: A Zombie Anthology, published by St. Martin’s Press. His novels have been published in fourteen languages. Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he continues to live with his family.

 

Hank Wagner is a respected critic and journalist. Among the many publications in which his work regularly appears are Cemetery Dance and Mystery Scene.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (May 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312324901
• ISBN-13: 978-0312324902
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #618,406 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for everyone.. August 7, 2007

By Patricia C. Riley

Format:Paperback

This is a great book for everyone interested in Stephen King's works. I have read a great deal of his work, so I imagine that I am one of those that falls under the 'Constant Reader' title, and this book had me noting that I had missed some of the overlaps and complexity of his many books. I look forward to reading his books again, and catching even more, thanks to this book.

However, this is also good for the more casual Stephen King reader, as it guides you through his worlds and his books. The authors give very good analyses of each book and each world, sorting through the myriad of characters and ideas that Stephen King uses (quite deftly, in my opinion).

26 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A few words from Hank Wagner, one of the co-authors of THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE July 27, 2006

By Henry W. Wagner VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

A little background info for those of you who have happened upon this offering. THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE is an updated version of THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE, which was published in May 2001. The CSKU features nine new chapters, which cover King's work from approximately early 2000 through mid 2005. The CSKU discusses all of King's work through that period, including books like DREAMCATCHER, FROM A BUICK 8, the final three installments of the Dark Tower series, and television series such as Rose Red and Kingdom Hospital. Basically, it covers all of King's work through the present day, with the exception of books like THE COLORADO KID, CELL, and the upcoming LISEY'S STORY, and a few short stories such as "The Things They Left Behind", which appeared in the 2005 anthology TRANSGRESSIONS.

Besides the inclusion of the new chapters, the book's been rearranged and revised in many ways, mostly to correct the factual errors and typos that crept up in the first edition. Hopefully, we caught most of the glitches in the new edition; the publishing gremlins that plague all books are a diligent bunch, however, so I expect folks will find some errors in this version as well.

If you should find an error or typo and would like to bring it to my attention, or would just like to discuss the book in general, please feel free to write me at [e-mail]. In the meantime, I hope you're intrigued enough to purchase the book.

Publishers Weekly called the original edition "An indispensable insider's guide to the influences on King, his plots and characters, TV and film adaptations and more..."

The Library Journal said that the SKU "...will appeal to serious King fans...[the STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE] will be an especially useful addition to academic resources on contemporary authors."

My favorite quote came from noted Stephen King scholar Stephen J. Spignesi: "THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE is as important a book as Douglas Winter's seminal STEPHEN KING: THE ART OF DARKNESS, which paved the way for the rest of us, we Chroniclers of the King. THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE is a major contribution to the field of scholarship about King, and King's fans should be grateful that Stan Wiater, Chris Golden, and Hank Wagner - a truly talented and insightful drawing of the three -- have done the kind of work it took to research and write THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE."

Enjoy.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars For all constant readers of Stephen King April 9, 2008

By abuskeletor

Format:Paperback

The Complete Stephen King Universe: A Guide to the Worlds of Stephen King
The perfect book to read for every constant reader, this book examines all of the works of Stephen King (up to the time of publishing) and details the continuity and discrepancies between the worlds Stephen King has created. Truly a must for those which Stephen King refers to as constant reader.