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311. Kings of King: Stephen King’s It (1990)

🕑 Added 2020-08-17 13:41:23 +0000 UTC

Comments

Scriptmonkeys

While King’s bully trope is a thing—Carrie’s existence is predicated on it. King claims Carrie was a composite of two girls who were bullied at his school and while he may not have participated, he also didn’t stop it. Perhaps the shame of that has led him to have many stories where bullies get a comeuppance? Carrie gives that to all of them. Salem’s Lot also had a bully, with little backstory, save that his mother encouraged it by bragging about his impressive size. Ace Merrill, the bully from Stand By Me had little explanation for his behavior, though the reader learns more about him in Needful Things. All of which is to say, given your discussion, in the book Henry does get chapters that explains his behavior. He is kind of like what would have happened to Teddy Duchamp had his father not been taken to an asylum. Henry’s father was a physically and psychologically abusive alcoholic with PTSD that included psychotic breaks. The father focused his hatred primarily on the single black family, the Hansons, that lived in Derry and told Henry that they were responsible for their failure of a farm and all their miseries. After poisoning Mike’s dog (Mr. Chips), Henry received genuine paternal affection and was also allowed to share a beer. Lesson learned. Admittedly, the presence of an extra-dimensional evil clown entity that encourages and feeds off fear and suffering didn’t help.

maryjanefoxie

He also wrote the first of the American Vampire comic series (I'm pretty sure).

S.Cole

One of my favourite books!

Jennifer B

Looks like I'm 11 hours too late to mention Salem's Lot. I'd love it if you guys did The Green Mile at some point.

Liam Thompson

Which also ties into some short stories and the sweeping lore-trap that is the Dark Tower. Also he wrote a short story where vampires are flying a small plane, like a Cessna.

Small Beans

Correct! Immediately after recording the episode we looked it up and that is indeed when King wrote about vampires. One of his first stories as well! Good catch!