I really enjoyed reading this. If not for having to read a PDF on the NetGalley app, I’d have read it a lot more quickly!

This book was already on my wishlist (and I’m definitely still buying it!) but what I hadn’t realised is that it’s an updated version of a previously published book, released in time for King’s 75th birthday. Fine by me as I hadn’t read the earlier version.

‘A Complete Exploration of His Work, Life, and Influences’ is the subtitle, which is not inaccurate, but I’d say that concerning life and influences it’s not especially in-depth; you’d perhaps learn more about these areas from Danse Macabre and On Writing. Also, read all this with the caveat that I’ve already read every Stephen King book and know a lot about him so there was perhaps less for me to learn. Regarding his work, however, there is at least a few paragraphs on every book, as well as information about adaptations and other projects.

There’s a good balance here between an overview and something more in-depth. If I could ask for more, it would be more from King personally – the anecdotes gathered from previous interviews about particular works were very interesting. In fact, it would be nice to hear from other people who’ve worked with King on books or adaptations and learn about their experiences and what King means to them. Perhaps what struck me most on reading this was just how innovative King has been throughout his publishing career. As I mentioned, most of it was not new information, but to see it a laid out together was eye-opening: experimenting with a serial novel (and as a result having six simultaneous NY Times bestsellers), having two books published by two different publishers on the same day (one as Bachman), being among the first to embrace e-books, writing stories exclusively for e-readers and audio, releasing work online through an honour system, numerous collaborations, and that’s not even mentioning the range of his work – novels, novellas, short stories, poems, screenplays, graphic novels…

I can’t wait to get a physical copy to have a proper look at the photos and study the appendices – I’m currently rereading chronologically but I think I need to start on the adaptations too!

King fans will not be disappointed with this book; if I have to call something a disappointment, it would be the cover – I don’t like it, it has quite a homemade feel to it. Finally, caveat emptor (yes, that is a Needful Things reference, thanks for noticing): there are MAJOR spoilers if you haven’t read all the books!

I loved reading about one of my favorite authors! I understand that this is an updated and expanded version of the author's earlier work Stephen King Illustrated Companion which I haven't read. There were so many things I didn't know that I had so much fun finding out!

What made the book fun? Vincent provides a great deal of information about the circumstances that influenced certain books and how and where they were written. Also, what was happening in King's life during the period he was writing a particular book.

There were also interesting details about King's life before becoming a famous author, as well as during his life as an author. It provided information on the diffent genres King has explored such as poetry and non-fiction. It shows how many of the monsters in the book were extrapolated from something that was happening in his life. Some of the other things King became involved in like the rock and roll band, promoting various new technologies, and the radio station were of interest as well.

King's writing has been amazingly prolific and he's still writing. This book is timed to be published just prior to King's 75th birthday. King has written a huge number of books and has, in book book, achieved legendary status.

The pictures and inserts in the book were relevant and provided insight into the books. The only thing I didn't like was that some of the colors in the book make parts of it difficult to read - hard on the eyes - like the red background with black text and the black background with white text - it just kind of strobes and made my eyes hurt. Great biographical book thought and I'm glad I got the chance to read it.

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – becker & mayer through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on September 13, 2022.

Whether you are newcomer or a lifelong fan of Stephen King this book is for you. This covers upto and including the most recent release of his current book Fairytale. Many know that Mr. King started to really get noticed in the mid 1970's but did you know that he was actually writing in the 1950's and 1960's with some minor success? This covers most if not all of Mr. Kings writings be it short stories or full-length novels. Each book or story is described on how King came up with the idea and what the story is about but not giving the full story away. It is amazing how these ideas come to him with sometimes being really brief and it may take a few years before the story comes to fruition and how his intent was a 12-page story, and it turns into a 500-page book or when he says he had to see where the story went or took him. It is like he is only the receptacle to put the story on paper. Did you know he wrote under a pen name? You will also see he has had or has a few other endeavors that he has pursued besides being just an author and I might say a very successful one I mean can you imagine you primarily being credited with developing a genre? He also covers the accident that happened that nearly took his life twice. Apparently, this skill has passed to his sons also. Overall, this is a great book for shelf so give it a read especially if you are a Stephen King fan.

Stephen King has an amazing career that spans over decades, starting when he was just a young boy. He has a massive following due to his ability to write horror like no one else. You will be immersed in his timeline with interesting tidbits and behind the scenes details.

I’ve been a big follower of Stephen King for most of my life. I also had the opportunity to meet him briefly when I was a teenager, which helped foster my love for his books. Given the opportunity to read this book, got me very excited. The author Bev Vincent really knows how to engage you, the reader to want to dive deeper and deeper as it is very well written.

Stephen King is about to celebrate his 75th birthday on September 21st , what a great tribute and celebration this read is to his life’s work. What’s amazing still is Stephen King isn’t done writing yet. Yes, in the past he’s talked retirement but for now we can rejoice that the king of horror still has more to give us.

I highly recommend this book to everyone!

This is a biographical study of the master of horror, Stephen King. The book focuses on King's works, with information about his life when he wrote the particular novels and stories.

There are lots of great photos of King and his family, alongside photos of drafts and early editions of his books.

Vincent has written a good biography. If you're a fan of Stephen King, you'll like this. If you're a super-fan, there's little in here that you won't already know, but it's a well-written book about Stephen King... And you're a Constant Reader... So read it!

Many thanks to Bev Vincent, NetGalley, and Quarto Publishing Group for this copy.

*** I have received and read an e – ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***

It’s September, which means spooky season is upon us. Between that and Stephen King’s 75th birthday, this book falls neatly on the calendar with a September release date.

As this book is an updated version of a previous release, I’ll only focus on this 2022 version.

While not a fan of some of the text/font choices (white or red on a black background), the overall setup of the book is nice. Everything is gathered into decades and flows well.

King has released so many works, Vincent has done an admirable job or collecting, organizing, and summing up the best parts of each.

A perfect companion for any Stephen King fan. The author covers Mr. King from the beginning until the present. There are so many wonderful photos in the book. It's worth reading just for those however there are so many interesting stories about the novels, his life and career.

I have been a constant reader since the 1980's and have devoured all of the novels and short stories that I could get my hands on. This book gives so much info on the books that I will probably go back and re-read many of them again that I haven't. Except Cujo. I can never read that again.

Lovely book. Will be perfect as a coffee table book.

A must-have for any die-hard King fan. Melding extraordinary photos with well-written narrative, this book painstakingly paints the compelling chronology of King’s career. A very insightful homage.

Stephen King? King Stephen, more like! The American author was born in Portland, Maine in 1947 and so is very nearly 75 now.
He's been churning out short stories (often longer than most people's novels) and novels (very often huge) for about fifty years now and shows no sign of stopping. Most of them could be defined as horror, others could be defined as science fiction, fantasy or psychological thrillers. Many have been made into memorable films.
Perhaps you know some of them? Carrie, his first, was about a teenage girl whose mum is a religious maniac and who can burn things (or people) when she gets angry. The 1976 film version remains truly horrifying. What else? Salem's Lot is about a town which gets overrun by vampires. The novel It (a big one) - It is literally the name of the book is about a sort of malevolent supernatural clown who torments a group of friends over a period of thirty years. The Stand (another very long one) is about an apocalyptic plague which ravages the world. Christine is about a killer car who comes to possess its owner. The Shining is about an alcoholic caretaker who tries to murder his entire family after he becomes possessed by the evil spirit of the hotel he is working in (it makes sense when you read it). Misery is about an author who becomes the prisoner of an obsessive fan.
You get the idea anyway. There are lots and lots of books. King's own life - already detailed to some extent in his own fine memoir, On Writing - is itself pretty interesting. He's had lots of drug and alcohol problems over the years and was very nearly killed in a serious road accident just over twenty years ago. In short, this is a good biography.

If you’re a Stephen King fan then you will enjoy this book, it details the beginning of his literary journey, the struggles he faced along the way and about discusses his influences.

The book has photographs dotted throughout which enhances the read and makes the book feel more personal instead of just a standard biography.

As a constant reader, I am always looking for some information on one of my favorite authors. There was little new here for an avid fan. I have even made the trek to his Maine home that is described in the opening. This is more of a companion and a quick overview of some of King’s most important moments. Of course, I will buy a copy of this book. I think it is a collectable for the fans and an introduction for the newbies.

I really dislike the choice of font and the colours, which made it very difficult to read on a digital device. I've read a lot of Stephen King's books and enjoyed them all, but I wouldn't call myself a die hard fan. This was a detailed and informative book but it wasn't really for a casual reader like me.

Stephen King
by Bev Vincent
Pub Date: September 13, 2022
Fall River Press
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
My son is an avid fan and I believe I will use this as one of his Christmas Presents this year. He will love it!
This book takes a critical look at Stephen King's most iconic works and reads between the lines to uncover the personal influences and demons as reflected in each monster, epidemic, and depraved character. Unseen family photographs and 16 pieces of previously unpublished ephemera - such as handwritten manuscript notes, typed early drafts, lengthy journal entries, and doodles for King's college newspaper - complete this tangible tour. Packed with fascinating biographical details, literary interpretations, and personal memorabilia, The Stephen King Illustrated Companion is a must-have addition to any true fan's library.
5 stars

This is a definite must have the any Stephen King fan from his beginnings in Maine to talk about the boxes made that turned into movies the people that influenced him this is just a book for knowledge and it’s all about Stephen King. I am not big on a biographies but found this one so interesting as it talks about the people that influenced him his wife and much much more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book it is much more than a biography. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

Holy smokes, what an awesome book. I’m a huge King fan. I own all his books in hardback and have read all but 10 of them. I pre-order them when they come out and have read Eyes of the Dragon to my kid. I’m starting him early, of course. I love the Kingcast podcast. The Stand is one of my all-time favorite books. I’ve reviewed Billy Summers, Later, The Colorado Kid, Different Seasons, The Dark Half, The Regulators, The Talisman, Joyland, If It Bleeds, and The Shining And as popular as he is, he’s severely underrated by the critical world. He might not be as “literary” as some, but he’s a master storyteller, no question. This book is not only an overview of his work, but it also offers some insight into who he is as a person. It’s a must read for any fan.

Even though I own this digitally, this book will be one that I own a physical copy of. It’s full of photos, handwritten pages of manuscripts, letters, and various other media. I loved the discussion of each book, but what I really found interesting were the side notes about King’s philanthropy, his love of the Red Sox, his near-fatal accident, and the like. The sidebars provided a lot of information I was unaware of. This book is really a beautiful work, I’m excited to see it in person.

Stephen king is one of my favorite authors.
This book about him had so much great information and the pictures included knocked it out of the park. Well written and so interesting.
If you a fan I would pick this one up.

Thank you to the author,the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book

240 pages

5 stars

OMG! I can’t believe that Mr. King is seventy-five already. But then, since I’ve been reading him his whole writing life and I’m sixty-nine, well..it must be true. I don’t know where the time went.

I cannot rage about this book enough! My only complaint is that it is not available on Kindle and I had a very difficult time reading it on my little phone. Grrr. The pictures are gorgeous! Most of his wonderful books are covered in this little volume. It was a great review. I felt like I was visiting my old friend in real life. Mr. Vincent really nailed the topic in this book.

Another aspect I liked was that Mr. Vincent did not offer a literary opinion on Mr. King’s novels. I must agree, some are better than others, but overall I admire his writing - always have and always will.

Well done Mr. Vincent. This book certainly adds to your fine collection of literature.

I want to thank NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group/becker & mayer! For forwarding to me a copy of this great little book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Received an early access copy of this book today and couldn't put it down! First, a heads up - the style and layout of this book is absolutely incredible and definitely lends itself to a physical copy. My version was an eBook which I read on my laptop, and this is without doubt one that you want to keep coming back to with each double page spread laid out in front of you.

This would be a 'coffee table' book if it wasn't so hard to put down - the chapters follow chronologically through the different phases of King's career, with each one split into sub-sections that cover (in brief for the most part) the inspiration and creative process behind his novels and short stories. It is worth mentioning that King's prefaces - where present - go into more detail than is offered in this book, but this doesn't really retract from the excellent work that has gone into cataloguing his complete body of work in such a beautiful companion format.

Scattered throughout the book are the aptly named 'Interludes', which split up chapters by providing a few pages of information on everything from Castle Rock and Derry to the Rock Bottom Remainders. For the most part, these are thoughtfully placed and flow perfectly when read alongside the chronological reflection on King's work. The guide to rare editions (featuring extra chapters) and short stories that don't feature in collections was a particular highlight, as are the fully updated appendices (including Fairy Tale) at the back of the book.

The one thing that detracts from the overall quality of the book, in my opinion, is the first chapter focusing on King's childhood. Much if not all of the information was covered in 'On Writing' in much more detail and in a more engaging way. That being said, this wouldn't be an 'ultimate companion' if these early influences weren't included, so I'm glad that they remain!

If, like me, you haven't yet read all of the novels, you may appreciate a spoiler warning! For the most part, the writing on each of the novels is best saved for once you have already read them - not least because I did struggle to understand much of what was mentioned when the writer was discussing a book that I haven't yet read.

All in all a wonderful book that I would recommend to any fan of Stephen King, or anyone who would like to explore his work and could use some guidance on where to start. Perfect to read in an afternoon as I did, but no doubt something you will be referring back to for years to come. Trust me - buy this one physically!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto for allowing me to review an early access digital copy of this book.

interesting and detailed look at Stephen king's Career up to date and its more a handbook for dedicated fans , can see this book being a stocking filler

If you have a question to ask re SK then this is the book for you! A more or less chronological offering of his works, interspersed with lots of great extras, news and brilliant photos.

This is an excellent companion book to have to hand either when you are starting your journey with SK, or when you have read everything published. The author certainly knows his stuff, and you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley.