Why Stephen King Holds The Title of The Greatest Living Author?

Even if you haven't delved into the vast world of literature, chances are you've encountered the impact of Stephen King – a literary giant whose stories have transcended pages to become Hollywood blockbusters like ‘The Shining,' ‘Misery’, ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘It’. At 73, King remains a prolific writer, with his works continuously adapted for the screen. What keeps filmmakers coming back to King's Library? What makes his stories eternally captivating?

While King is renowned for his mastery of horror, his storytelling isn't just about inducing fear. Beyond spine-chilling tales, works like ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, ‘The Green Mile’ and ‘The Body’ (adapted into ‘Stand By Me’) reveal King's ability to craft heartfelt narratives that inspire hope. Some of his short stories venture beyond horror, showcasing King's versatility.

Dipping into fantasy and crime genres, King's creations like ‘The Eyes of the Dragon’ and ‘The Dark Tower’ series offer captivating twists on fantasy, blending elements of Western, science fiction, horror, and more. In recent times, King has ventured into mystery crime with novels like ‘The Outsider’ and the ‘Mr. Mercedes’ trilogy, seamlessly blends crime with supernatural and horror elements, proving his storytelling prowess goes beyond the horror realm.

Beyond King's imaginative narratives, the real magic lies in his character creation. He's given literature some of its most unforgettable figures like Pennywise, Jack Torrence, and Annie Wilkes. King's characters have a unique power – they can both terrify and resonate with readers.

Pennywise and Annie evoke fear with their chilling depictions, while Jack Torrence taps into a different kind of fear. He represents real-world struggles, a product of his actions, making him a more relatable and thus, a more terrifying character.

Through his characters, King explores various facets of life – pain, suffering, hope, and wonder. His portrayal of human nature, thoughts, and emotions surpasses that of any other writer. When delving into works like ‘Pet Sematary’ and ‘The Shining’, King's exploration of pain and suffering, grappling with death or addiction, is unparalleled. In ‘Pet Sematary’, the protagonist coping with the loss of a child feels painfully realistic, mirroring how a parent might react.

What's fascinating is King's interconnected universe. While he doesn't often pen sequels, his stories are subtly linked. Whether it's the fictional towns of Castle Rock or Derry, references to events from other novels, or characters making surprise appearances, King has been weaving a shared universe in his books long before Marvel and DC attempted it.

The unexpected ties between ‘The Outsider’ and the ‘Mr. Mercedes’ trilogy, or the appearances of Pennywise in works like ‘Dreamcatcher’ and ‘11/22/63’, showcase King's unparalleled ability to connect his literary realms.

– Farheen Ali