An exploration of Stephen King and his most iconic early books, based on research and interviews with King—all conducted by the first scholar to be given extended access to his private archives.
A curious, fascinating document. It is almost as much about fandom and the roots of terror as it is about King’s work. Using a winningly self-deprecating tone, Bicks narrates her journey through these scrawled pages with wide-eyed wonder ... Somewhat less successful when Bicks’ sleuthing leads her to make inferences that may not be fully supported ... While Bicks is unable to come up with a unified theory of Stephen King’s works, this is probably for the best ... Part of the joy of Monsters in the Archives is that Caroline Bicks appreciates when to stop and let the work be the work.
Bicks deftly interweaves textual analysis with more general biographical data, gleaned from her conversations with King, both in person and via email ... For those with the patience to follow Bicks’s more erudite detours into Stephen King’s monstrosity, there is much to relish in this highly original book.
When the right scholar finds themselves in an author’s archives, the results can be revelatory ... A thoughtful exploration of King’s first five published books and a compelling examination of King’s command of readers’ emotions.
