By Matthew J. Barbour
Stephen King is an author who needs no introduction. He is often compared to Edgar Allan Poe or Bram Stoker. However, history may well prove that he surpasses them all. He is a living legend, not only in the field of horror fiction, but in American literature in general.
Critics often complain that his characters and storylines seem a bit dull. Some characters and storylines are similar to one another. King has written more than 50 novels and countless short stories, so it’s hard not to repeat some plots. He has created almost every horror novel imaginable, not to mention his explorations of mystery, science fiction, and fantasy.
Stephen King has written about vampires, mad dogs, ghosts, deadly plagues, bloodthirsty lunatics, and children with super powers. He helped define subgenres such as the “Weird Western” (Gunner) and creepy kids (Children of the Cornfield) He also created genres such as eschatology (Booth) and rampant animals (Cudjoe).
mist is an ode to the cosmic horror of HP Lovecraft. The story takes place in Bridgetown, Maine. After a severe storm, an unnatural fog shrouds the town. David Drayton and his son Billy are trapped in the local supermarket. Through the fog, strange creatures begin to appear. These monsters are not of this world. There are rumors of a government research facility and an “Arrowhead Project” outside of town. Could this be the cause of the alien fog?
To make matters worse, factions begin to emerge in the supermarket. Faced with overwhelming evidence that monsters do exist, the Flat Earth Society buries their heads in the sand. Many commit suicide. While others, mesmerized by Mrs. Carmody, believe the fog is a sign of the end of the world. Salvation will come, but only after a blood sacrifice.
David Drayton wants none of this. He plots his escape from the supermarket and the fog that envelops them. However, to do this, he must face the world and the terror outside.
mist First published in a collection of supernatural horror stories edited by Kirby McCauley, entitled Dark ForcePublished in 1980. Later, the book was included in the Stephen King anthology Skeleton crew It was published in 1986 and as a standalone novella in 2007. In addition to the printed version of the story, it has been adapted into a film and inspired many other media projects.
Most notably, video games half life Originally named Tremor After Project Arrow. Its plot is that scientists tear a hole into another dimension, almost entirely derived from mistThe game even incorporates pterodactyl-like monsters to terrorize grocery stores.
In addition, many other works by Stephen King also quote mistThese include The Dark Tower series. The creatures that inhabit the “todash” space look similar to those depicted in earlier novels. It has been suggested that Project Arrow opened the door to this parallel dimension.
mist A must read for fans of cosmic horror. Perhaps Stephen King’s most underrated story. He goes above and beyond in his homage to HP Lovecraft. That’s why The Mist is often cited as an inspiration by other writers, video game developers, and other media practitioners. This is one of the greatest horror stories ever told.
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score: 5/5
