It’s a rare treat when fans of an artist are given a look behind the curtain. Art is often best enjoyed without full context of what the artists exact intentions and process were behind a given piece, but after decades have passed, what could be more fun than going back and learning more about a book, movie, or TV show that truly matters to you?
Stephen King fans were given just that kind of rare treat earlier this year when Caroline Bicks published Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King. Bicks serves as the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine, a role that led to her connecting with King himself and bringing him in to talk with students at his alma mater. Their initial conversations gave way to a project that became Monsters in the Archive.
Primarily a scholar of William Shakespeare, Bicks is used to diving deep into a text, conducting literary analysis, and truly interrogating what a piece of art means. With Monsters in the Archive, Bicks turned her academic rigor toward some of King’s most iconic early works, including The Shining, Carrie, Pet Sematary, ‘Salem’s Lot, and Night Shift. Bicks was given access to various versions and drafts of each work, and she uses her scholarly eye to analyze what King changed, reframed, and kept exactly the same across various drafts of his work. The resulting book is a truly exhilarating way for King fans to go back and see some of his most iconic villains, settings, and descriptions in a new light.
Carefully considered and full of unique insights, Caroline Bicks’ book Monsters in the Archive is a remarkable reminder that true art is made with intention and takes hard work, and that Stephen King has written a lot of incredible stories.
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