Stephen Edwin King is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Called the "
King of Horror", his books have sold more than 350 million copies as of 2006, and many have been adapted into films, television series, miniseries, and comic books. He has also written approximately 200 short stories, most of which have been published in book collections. His debut,
Carrie, was published in 1974, and was followed by
'Salem's Lot,
The Shining,
The Stand and
The Dead Zone.
Different Seasons, a collection of four novellas, was his first major departure from the horror genre. The novellas provided the basis for the films
Stand by Me,
The Shawshank Redemption and
Apt Pupil. Among the films adapted from King's novels are
Carrie,
Christine,
The Shining,
The Dead Zone,
Misery,
Dolores Claiborne,
The Green Mile and
It. He has published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman and has co-written works with other authors, notably his friend Peter Straub and sons Joe Hill and Owen King. He has also written nonfiction, notably
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.