Favorite Short Story Writer: Stephen King

My favorite Stephen King short stories are "The Jaunt" (1987) and "Strawberry Spring" (1978), though "In the Deathroom" (2002) is a close third. His short stories helped launch his career as one of the most noteworthy modern American novelists and have become an inspiration for Hollywood. Of course, it stands to reason that the man who received the National Book Foundation's 2003 award for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters would have written a few good stories in his day! From modest beginnings during his days as a struggling English teacher and laundromat employee in the early 1970s King has become one of the world's bestselling novelists. His work has entertained millions, both in print and in adaptations for the silver screen.

While other prominent authors have written good short stories which I have enjoyed, such as Dean Koontz and, more recently, John Grisham, Stephen King retains his prominence atop the genre. Personally, I find his work superior to even the legends of yesteryear, such as H.P. Lovecraft. Even Edgar Allen Poe is deficient in regard to what I consider King's greatest strength, both in his novels and in his short stories: Character development.

I like Stephen King's characters. They seem more relatable than those of other modern authors, including those whose novels outsell his own. Because I identify more with King's characters than those of other writers, his stories seem more intense and more pertinent to me.

His characters have changed over time, both in his stories and his novels, with his characters becoming more white-collar and economically comfortable as King's own socioeconomic status evolved with each additional bestseller. He has been able to craft excellent stories around all of these characters, both young and old, both rich and poor, both man and woman.

King's evolving background and all of its various turmoils also make him, in my opinion, a more able writer. He has dealt with many common struggles during his adult years and has been able to use such turmoil in crafting his characters. In most stories you feel that you can truly, deeply identify with many of the characters' inner struggles. "Lunch at the Gotham Cafe" (1996), for example, presented a particularly strong character to me with whom I could relate. Many of the characters, even independent of the stories themselves, are memorable to me.

So, if you're looking to burn through some short stories, start yourself off right with some classic Stephen King - he's been on top of that genre for good reason. And, fortunately for us fans, he's still writing: His latest book, with four novellas (longer short stories), has recently been published. Full Dark, No Stars (2010) came out last fall to positive reviews.

Even if you're not a horror or sci-fi fan, his stories are good because of the rich, complex, and relatable characters. Pick up one of his several books of short stories and read some today - I guarantee you'll find it worth your while!


SOURCES:

http://www.stephenking.com/library/short_story/

http://www.nationalbook.org/nbaacceptspeech_sking.html

King, S. (2000). On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft. New York: Scribner

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/nov/05/full-dark-stephen-king-review