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Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King
Not yet published
Expected 21 Apr 26An exploration of Stephen King's writing from the first academic granted full access to King's archives.
A fascinating, first of its kind exploration of Stephen King and his most iconic early books, based on groundbreaking research and interviews with King - all conducted by the first scholar to be given extended access to his private archives.
After Caroline Bicks was named the University of Maine's inaugural Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, she became the first scholar to be granted extended access by King to his private archives, a treasure trove of manuscripts that document the legendary writer's creative process - most of them never before studied or published. The year she spent exploring King's early drafts and hand-written revisions was guided by one question millions of King's enthralled and terrified readers (including her) have asked themselves: What makes Stephen King's writing stick in our heads and haunt us long after we've closed the book?
Bicks focuses on five of his most iconic early works - The Shining, Carrie, Pet Sematary, 'Salem's Lot, and Night Shift--to reveal how he crafted his language, storylines, and characters to cast his enduring literary spells. While tracking King's margin notes and editorial changes, she discovered scenes and alternative endings that never made it to print, but that King is allowing her to publish now. The book also includes interviews Bicks had with King along the way that reveal new insights into his writing process and personal history.
Part literary master class, part biography, part memoir and investigation into our deepest anxieties, Monsters in the Archives - authorized by Stephen King himself - is unlike anything ever published about the master of horror. It chronicles what Bicks found when she set out to unearth how King crafted some of his scariest, most iconic moments. But it's also a story about a grown-up English professor facing her childhood fears and getting to know the man whose monsters helped unleash them.
A fascinating, first of its kind exploration of Stephen King and his most iconic early books, based on groundbreaking research and interviews with King - all conducted by the first scholar to be given extended access to his private archives.
After Caroline Bicks was named the University of Maine's inaugural Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, she became the first scholar to be granted extended access by King to his private archives, a treasure trove of manuscripts that document the legendary writer's creative process - most of them never before studied or published. The year she spent exploring King's early drafts and hand-written revisions was guided by one question millions of King's enthralled and terrified readers (including her) have asked themselves: What makes Stephen King's writing stick in our heads and haunt us long after we've closed the book?
Bicks focuses on five of his most iconic early works - The Shining, Carrie, Pet Sematary, 'Salem's Lot, and Night Shift--to reveal how he crafted his language, storylines, and characters to cast his enduring literary spells. While tracking King's margin notes and editorial changes, she discovered scenes and alternative endings that never made it to print, but that King is allowing her to publish now. The book also includes interviews Bicks had with King along the way that reveal new insights into his writing process and personal history.
Part literary master class, part biography, part memoir and investigation into our deepest anxieties, Monsters in the Archives - authorized by Stephen King himself - is unlike anything ever published about the master of horror. It chronicles what Bicks found when she set out to unearth how King crafted some of his scariest, most iconic moments. But it's also a story about a grown-up English professor facing her childhood fears and getting to know the man whose monsters helped unleash them.
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 21, 2026
7 people are currently reading
4926 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 16, 2025
ARC for review. To be published April 21, 2026.
5 stars
So, this is a five star book for me, but your experience with this is going to depend upon how much you love Stephen King, how much you like really getting down deep into writing and, maybe, how many times you’ve read the featured books. The book is not for everyone.
At first I thought the author had my dream job (except I don’t really want to work and Maine is really cold and I’ve sworn I will never live one centimeter north of where I live right now,) but really she doesn’t because, unlike what you would think, the woman who is the University of Maine’s first Stephen E. King Chair in Literature is actually a Shakespearean. What?!?! OK, I don’t get that at all. I didn’t necessarily expect that she would specialize in horror, but maybe 20th century American authors.
However, the focus here is that as a bonus she got access to King’s archives. Which are kept at his home in Maine (yep, the one with the spider fence.) She got to correspond with him by email and he even came to speak to her two classes on campus and, naturally was kind and charming both to her classes and to her. This lead her to write this book where she looks at the various drafts of CARRIE, THE SHINING, PET SEMATARY, “SALEM’S LOT, and NIGHT SHIFT to examine King’s writing and revising process in the early days of his authorship.
I could write pages about all the interesting things that are here, but, honestly, you’ll know if this book is for you or not. If you are a super fan, you will probably like it. This delves into King’s writing, his word choices, etc, and I happen to think he is an incredibly underrated writer, for any genre, so I found it fascinating. However, it’s likely going to be too “in the weeds” for the casual fan.
5 stars
So, this is a five star book for me, but your experience with this is going to depend upon how much you love Stephen King, how much you like really getting down deep into writing and, maybe, how many times you’ve read the featured books. The book is not for everyone.
At first I thought the author had my dream job (except I don’t really want to work and Maine is really cold and I’ve sworn I will never live one centimeter north of where I live right now,) but really she doesn’t because, unlike what you would think, the woman who is the University of Maine’s first Stephen E. King Chair in Literature is actually a Shakespearean. What?!?! OK, I don’t get that at all. I didn’t necessarily expect that she would specialize in horror, but maybe 20th century American authors.
However, the focus here is that as a bonus she got access to King’s archives. Which are kept at his home in Maine (yep, the one with the spider fence.) She got to correspond with him by email and he even came to speak to her two classes on campus and, naturally was kind and charming both to her classes and to her. This lead her to write this book where she looks at the various drafts of CARRIE, THE SHINING, PET SEMATARY, “SALEM’S LOT, and NIGHT SHIFT to examine King’s writing and revising process in the early days of his authorship.
I could write pages about all the interesting things that are here, but, honestly, you’ll know if this book is for you or not. If you are a super fan, you will probably like it. This delves into King’s writing, his word choices, etc, and I happen to think he is an incredibly underrated writer, for any genre, so I found it fascinating. However, it’s likely going to be too “in the weeds” for the casual fan.
December 2, 2025
If you are a Stephen King fan and have not yet read his absolutely brilliant On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, then you are missing out. In fact, if you even have an inkling of an interest in writing, his book is amazing.
This new book, very much along similar lines, is by a professor who did a deep dive in Stephen King's work and archives while she held the chair in his name at the University of Maine. Bicks is a very likeable teacher, and she guides the reader through multiple evolutions of some of King's greatest works. Surprisingly, her area of academic expertise is Shakespeare, and she draws quite a few parallels between King's work and Shakespeare's. I found it fascinating how King drafted a book one way and changed it into something more harrowing by actually doing less. He often started works with a lot more blood and gore than he ended them with. Bicks is a very capable guide and had access to many of his original drafts. She weaves in some biography and some of her own story as she educates the reader.
While not quite as amazing in terms of analysis as A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life or King's aforementioned memoir, I do think readers who enjoyed either of those books would find a lot to like here! It did make me really want to re-visit some of King's work. I was a fan when I was much younger, and I think Bicks may make me a fan again. In fact, I think it would be cool to read the King novel and then read the corresponding chapter by Bicks. I may do that!!
This new book, very much along similar lines, is by a professor who did a deep dive in Stephen King's work and archives while she held the chair in his name at the University of Maine. Bicks is a very likeable teacher, and she guides the reader through multiple evolutions of some of King's greatest works. Surprisingly, her area of academic expertise is Shakespeare, and she draws quite a few parallels between King's work and Shakespeare's. I found it fascinating how King drafted a book one way and changed it into something more harrowing by actually doing less. He often started works with a lot more blood and gore than he ended them with. Bicks is a very capable guide and had access to many of his original drafts. She weaves in some biography and some of her own story as she educates the reader.
While not quite as amazing in terms of analysis as A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life or King's aforementioned memoir, I do think readers who enjoyed either of those books would find a lot to like here! It did make me really want to re-visit some of King's work. I was a fan when I was much younger, and I think Bicks may make me a fan again. In fact, I think it would be cool to read the King novel and then read the corresponding chapter by Bicks. I may do that!!
Want to read
October 31, 2025ARC received! Thank you, Hogarth!!!
Read
January 9, 2026So often we find ourselves wanting to pick the brain of our favorite author. Wishing we could be a fly on the wall in their creative process wondering how they bring the stories and characters to life.
In Monsters in the Archives, Caroline Bicks succeeds at just that in spending a year in the personal archives of Stephen King’s early and most iconic works, pulling back the curtain on the king of horror’s brain.
The author takes us through an exploration of King’s early and most iconic novels, Carrie, Salems Lot, The Shining, Night Shift, and Pet Sematary.
Bick’s passion and enthusiasm for uncovering these stories were evident through the pages. The recounting of her own experiences with these stories made me realize even more why I love this genre so much. A good horror story holds onto you for life and does not let go, though the impact can mean something different at new stages of life.
Seeing photocopies of King’s original manuscripts complete with notes from him and the editors in the margins was incredibly fascinating. Even the smallest changes in verbiage or the removal of a single word in a scene had the power to completely transform the tone and impact of the story.
Every readers experience with this book will be different. If you’re already a fan of these stories it will be like revisiting where or who you were when you read them for the first time. If you’re new to these stories, this can be a guidebook (with spoilers) into the SK universe letting you choose which novel you’d like to dive into first.
I highly recommend this book to any horror lover or anyone who has ever had an interest on how an author creates especially at a time when true human creativity and talent is being threatened more than ever.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
In Monsters in the Archives, Caroline Bicks succeeds at just that in spending a year in the personal archives of Stephen King’s early and most iconic works, pulling back the curtain on the king of horror’s brain.
The author takes us through an exploration of King’s early and most iconic novels, Carrie, Salems Lot, The Shining, Night Shift, and Pet Sematary.
Bick’s passion and enthusiasm for uncovering these stories were evident through the pages. The recounting of her own experiences with these stories made me realize even more why I love this genre so much. A good horror story holds onto you for life and does not let go, though the impact can mean something different at new stages of life.
Seeing photocopies of King’s original manuscripts complete with notes from him and the editors in the margins was incredibly fascinating. Even the smallest changes in verbiage or the removal of a single word in a scene had the power to completely transform the tone and impact of the story.
Every readers experience with this book will be different. If you’re already a fan of these stories it will be like revisiting where or who you were when you read them for the first time. If you’re new to these stories, this can be a guidebook (with spoilers) into the SK universe letting you choose which novel you’d like to dive into first.
I highly recommend this book to any horror lover or anyone who has ever had an interest on how an author creates especially at a time when true human creativity and talent is being threatened more than ever.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
January 4, 2026
I grew up both enamoured and terrified of the worlds that Stephen King creates. In fact, one of my clearest (and fondest) memories of a childhood birthday involved him, after a dinner for my 10th birthday.
My mum (a longtime King fan) and I were walking home and cut through a park as the snow softly fell on the already existing 3+ ft of it. She said it reminded her of a book called “The Shining” and I insisted she explained why. So, barely above a whisper, she told me the story that unfolds in King’s novel as the falling snow around the park and our apartment laid a similar scene to that of the Overlook Hotel. It was the first time I remember feeling the thrill of being scared yet overwhelmingly curious. As a young scaredy cat who could barely watch or read Harry Potter, this newfound sense of curiosity that outweighed fear was a formative moment that I’ll never forget.
All that to say, I love King, so I was over the moon to receive an ARC of this book 18 years (and many of his books) after my first discovery of him. Caroline Bicks does an amazing job of combing through King’s archives and published works and highlighting how interconnected each story is to each other and to King himself. The inclusion of sneak peak copies of King’s original drafts also delighted the horror nerd in me, and it was fascinating to see how differently some of these iconic stories could have been but also how clear King’s vision usually was off the jump.
Written and researched like a true academic, Monsters in the Archive: My Year of Fear with Stephen King is thorough and thought provoking, but has a personal touch to it that makes it not only palatable, but devour-able.
I’m so glad I got to start off the year with this book and am so grateful to Hogarth and Caroline Bicks for trusting me with an ARC. I look forward to its release so I can have a copy on my shelf to pass along to my King-loving mum who started it all for me.
My mum (a longtime King fan) and I were walking home and cut through a park as the snow softly fell on the already existing 3+ ft of it. She said it reminded her of a book called “The Shining” and I insisted she explained why. So, barely above a whisper, she told me the story that unfolds in King’s novel as the falling snow around the park and our apartment laid a similar scene to that of the Overlook Hotel. It was the first time I remember feeling the thrill of being scared yet overwhelmingly curious. As a young scaredy cat who could barely watch or read Harry Potter, this newfound sense of curiosity that outweighed fear was a formative moment that I’ll never forget.
All that to say, I love King, so I was over the moon to receive an ARC of this book 18 years (and many of his books) after my first discovery of him. Caroline Bicks does an amazing job of combing through King’s archives and published works and highlighting how interconnected each story is to each other and to King himself. The inclusion of sneak peak copies of King’s original drafts also delighted the horror nerd in me, and it was fascinating to see how differently some of these iconic stories could have been but also how clear King’s vision usually was off the jump.
Written and researched like a true academic, Monsters in the Archive: My Year of Fear with Stephen King is thorough and thought provoking, but has a personal touch to it that makes it not only palatable, but devour-able.
I’m so glad I got to start off the year with this book and am so grateful to Hogarth and Caroline Bicks for trusting me with an ARC. I look forward to its release so I can have a copy on my shelf to pass along to my King-loving mum who started it all for me.
November 18, 2025
Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King
by Caroline Bicks pulls back the curtain on
Stephen King
's writing in ways we have not yet been able to see. This is thanks to her rare access to King's private archives including drafts and notes. As someone who grew up only a short walk from King's Bangor home, I couldn't wait to dive into this book and was captivated from cover to cover.
After Bicks was named the University of Maine's inaugural Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, she became the first scholar to be granted extended access by King to his private archives, a treasure trove of manuscripts that document the legendary writerʼs creative process—most of them never before studied or published. The year she spent exploring King’s early drafts and hand-written revisions was guided by one question millions of Kingʼs enthralled and terrified readers (including her) have asked themselves: What makes King’s writing stick in our heads and haunt us long after we’ve closed the book?
Not only do I love a great King book, but I also have a personal, well geographical connection to his work that made it easier to want to sink myself into Monsters in the Archives . When I first moved to Bangor at age ten, I lived just five minutes from the front gate of King's iconic West Broadway home. By age 14, I moved to Orrington, finding myself only a couple miles from the house where Pet Sematary was written. Now, working at Orono Brewing just a stone's throw from the University of Maine, I still feel surrounded by the places that shaped King's stories. In a way, his bibliography has always been right there in my backyard.
While other books may have explored King's overall career, his later works, or even their film adaptations, Bicks narrows the focus to five of his earlier and more iconic stories: Pet Sematary , The Shinning , Night Shift , 'Salem's Lot , and Carrie . Bicks examines their multiple drafts, comparing versions to show us what changed and how each of them took their shape on the way to publication. Seeing this evolution of storylines, characters, settings, and themes from first draft to publication is truly fascinating.
Monsters in the Archives includes some photo copies of King's original manuscripts with notes in the margins, editorial changes and more to give us a complete picture. These pages included alternate endings, change in locations, and other details that never made it to the final publication versions. Bick's conversations with King about why he made the choices he did added even more of a behind-the-scenes and authentic feel to the book.
Reading Monsters in the Archives felt like an incredible journey back to King's early days at the University of Maine, when he was putting together his "King's Garbage Truck" column and starting to find his iconic voice. But this book isn't just about how his stories were created, it also shows a glimpse into what inspired Bicks to seek King's permission and help in the first place. This fully King authorized book allowed me to learn a bit more about the creation of some of my favorite stores as well as getting to know Bicks a bit along the way.
This book not only showed the level of dedication King took in crafting a story, but also the sheer challenge of writing a novel in the first place. The number of changes each book went through from first idea to publication is staggering. After reading the alternate versions and seeing the revisions, I am grateful for the choices King ultimately made, because the finished and polished stories are the best possible versions.
Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks is an outstanding deep dive into five of Stephen King’s most iconic early works. Bicks reveals the level of dedication and hard work that goes into each of King's books and includes notes, edits and changes that King made along the way by including copies of the original material. This book is a must-read for fans of King, especially those of Pet Sematary, The Shinning, Night Shift, 'Salem's Lot, and Carrie.
Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King hits bookstores everywhere on April 21, 2026 from Hogarth. The audiobook is available for preorder via Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Monsters in the Archives from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
After Bicks was named the University of Maine's inaugural Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, she became the first scholar to be granted extended access by King to his private archives, a treasure trove of manuscripts that document the legendary writerʼs creative process—most of them never before studied or published. The year she spent exploring King’s early drafts and hand-written revisions was guided by one question millions of Kingʼs enthralled and terrified readers (including her) have asked themselves: What makes King’s writing stick in our heads and haunt us long after we’ve closed the book?
Not only do I love a great King book, but I also have a personal, well geographical connection to his work that made it easier to want to sink myself into Monsters in the Archives . When I first moved to Bangor at age ten, I lived just five minutes from the front gate of King's iconic West Broadway home. By age 14, I moved to Orrington, finding myself only a couple miles from the house where Pet Sematary was written. Now, working at Orono Brewing just a stone's throw from the University of Maine, I still feel surrounded by the places that shaped King's stories. In a way, his bibliography has always been right there in my backyard.
While other books may have explored King's overall career, his later works, or even their film adaptations, Bicks narrows the focus to five of his earlier and more iconic stories: Pet Sematary , The Shinning , Night Shift , 'Salem's Lot , and Carrie . Bicks examines their multiple drafts, comparing versions to show us what changed and how each of them took their shape on the way to publication. Seeing this evolution of storylines, characters, settings, and themes from first draft to publication is truly fascinating.
Monsters in the Archives includes some photo copies of King's original manuscripts with notes in the margins, editorial changes and more to give us a complete picture. These pages included alternate endings, change in locations, and other details that never made it to the final publication versions. Bick's conversations with King about why he made the choices he did added even more of a behind-the-scenes and authentic feel to the book.
Reading Monsters in the Archives felt like an incredible journey back to King's early days at the University of Maine, when he was putting together his "King's Garbage Truck" column and starting to find his iconic voice. But this book isn't just about how his stories were created, it also shows a glimpse into what inspired Bicks to seek King's permission and help in the first place. This fully King authorized book allowed me to learn a bit more about the creation of some of my favorite stores as well as getting to know Bicks a bit along the way.
This book not only showed the level of dedication King took in crafting a story, but also the sheer challenge of writing a novel in the first place. The number of changes each book went through from first idea to publication is staggering. After reading the alternate versions and seeing the revisions, I am grateful for the choices King ultimately made, because the finished and polished stories are the best possible versions.
Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks is an outstanding deep dive into five of Stephen King’s most iconic early works. Bicks reveals the level of dedication and hard work that goes into each of King's books and includes notes, edits and changes that King made along the way by including copies of the original material. This book is a must-read for fans of King, especially those of Pet Sematary, The Shinning, Night Shift, 'Salem's Lot, and Carrie.
Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King hits bookstores everywhere on April 21, 2026 from Hogarth. The audiobook is available for preorder via Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Monsters in the Archives from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
November 4, 2025
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll say that Stephen King is my favorite author by far. So a book that delves into the early drafts of some of his most famous books is like catnip to me. The changes he made from draft to draft from the subtitle to the substantial are fascinating and seem obvious in hindsight, as a writer myself I know it takes time for a story to decide what it wants to be. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to King fans as well as writers in general, a pleasure from cover to cover.
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll say that Stephen King is my favorite author by far. So a book that delves into the early drafts of some of his most famous books is like catnip to me. The changes he made from draft to draft from the subtitle to the substantial are fascinating and seem obvious in hindsight, as a writer myself I know it takes time for a story to decide what it wants to be. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to King fans as well as writers in general, a pleasure from cover to cover.
Want to read
October 31, 2025OMG!! I'm SO excited to read this! One of my most anticipated 2026 reads! I can't wait to dig into Stephen King's worlds!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
January 13, 2026
The works of Stephen King have always been magical to me, and this analysis was an excellent way to add to it. The author does a deep dive, with extensive research on only a fraction of King’s work and gives new meaning to many of the stories. Using source material, including excerpts from first drafts, it’s clear that King has honed his craft. The author does a great job at tying in personal anecdotes of how the stories made her feel on first read as a teen and shows how these stories remain a part of her.
The use of archive material, with notations and all was great to see because people who don’t write may not think of all the revisions even the King would make. Learning about how many words he changed that would alter the whole feeling of a story was interesting.
At times, in the latter half, it seemed like more of a play by play of the stories but the analysis was worth it.
This is a really cool read if you’re a fan of Stephen King like myself. You get a glimpse into his process and the struggles he had while becoming the writer he is today.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this copy to review.
The use of archive material, with notations and all was great to see because people who don’t write may not think of all the revisions even the King would make. Learning about how many words he changed that would alter the whole feeling of a story was interesting.
At times, in the latter half, it seemed like more of a play by play of the stories but the analysis was worth it.
This is a really cool read if you’re a fan of Stephen King like myself. You get a glimpse into his process and the struggles he had while becoming the writer he is today.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this copy to review.
Want to read
January 2, 2026Stephen King is my all time favorite author. I can't wait to read more about his books.
November 9, 2025
I wasn't sure what I would find in the pages of this book as I haven't read anything like it before. I ended up loving it. The author gets permission from Stephen King to access the archives of his works and takes us on a journey examining some of King's most popular books and how they changed from first draft to final. Drafts of Pet Sematary, The Shining, Night Shift, Salem's Lot and Carrie were explored. Interviews with King are also included in each chapter.
I really liked seeing how the books changed over time. I hadn't read a few of these books in such a long time it kind of felt like I was learning all about them for the first time. I think this is a must read for any King fan.
Thank you NetGalley for the copy of this book.
I really liked seeing how the books changed over time. I hadn't read a few of these books in such a long time it kind of felt like I was learning all about them for the first time. I think this is a must read for any King fan.
Thank you NetGalley for the copy of this book.
December 6, 2025
Reading Monsters in the Archives felt like being invited right into the room with Caroline Bicks while she dug through King’s drafts and personal notes. Early on, you can feel how much this opportunity means to her, and that energy pulls you along with her.
The book’s structure walks through five of King’s novels, The Shining, Pet Sematary, Night Shift, Salem’s Lot, and Carrie. Getting to see how scenes changed across versions and how the language tightened draft by draft is the kind of thing that feels made for fans or anyone who cares about writing. It reminded me of On Writing in the way the personal parts of King’s life rise to the surface.
What surprised me most was how personal it all feels. Bicks brings her own reactions, both from when she read these books as a kid and now as an adult with full access to the archives. The mix of her voice, the historical context, and King’s own reflections gives the whole book an intimate, behind the scenes feeling.
For someone who has read King for years, this was exactly the kind of deep dive I wanted. It is full of those small discoveries and insights that make you feel like you are seeing these stories in a new light.
ARC provided by Random House and Hogarth through NetGalley. All opinions my own.
The book’s structure walks through five of King’s novels, The Shining, Pet Sematary, Night Shift, Salem’s Lot, and Carrie. Getting to see how scenes changed across versions and how the language tightened draft by draft is the kind of thing that feels made for fans or anyone who cares about writing. It reminded me of On Writing in the way the personal parts of King’s life rise to the surface.
What surprised me most was how personal it all feels. Bicks brings her own reactions, both from when she read these books as a kid and now as an adult with full access to the archives. The mix of her voice, the historical context, and King’s own reflections gives the whole book an intimate, behind the scenes feeling.
For someone who has read King for years, this was exactly the kind of deep dive I wanted. It is full of those small discoveries and insights that make you feel like you are seeing these stories in a new light.
ARC provided by Random House and Hogarth through NetGalley. All opinions my own.
January 24, 2026
Rounded up from 4.5. Enjoyed the ARC. Definitely check it out if you are a King Fan. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5
It looks like I'm an unpopular opinion here, so take this with a grain of salt. however, I was pretty disappointed with "Monsters in the Archives," which was one of my most highly anticipated nonfictions of the year.
I really enjoy Stephen King and loved his memoir "On Writing." I was curious to hear Caroline Bicks' insights into King and his work after gaining access to his archives, original drafts, and brain through interviews.
Unfortunately this just felt really surface-level and repetitive. Bicks would present paragraphs of quotes, as well as scans of the original drafts, to highlight small word changes from draft to draft, and then write additional paragraphs highlighting the significance of those word changes. I love writing and this was interesting for the first chapter or so, but then it just felt like reading a novel-length, rudimentary high school English essay. "King does this," "Seen here," "Which matters because,"
I honestly think the book was weakened in some ways by her access to King, as she often lays out metaphors and analyses that King goes on to essentially say she's overthinking? I am all for literary analysis and I am the last person to say that "sometimes the curtains are just blue," but somehow the U of Maine's Stephen King Chair of Literature accidentally makes that argument pretty well.
I also wish she had focused on some other things beyond these small word changes/characterization changes. Perhaps I'm just jealous of her access, but there seemed to be some missed opportunities. In one section she alludes to an editor/early reader of a draft leaving notes for King about his characterization and use of gender roles that King didn't agree with and she just... doesn't expand on that. That sounds way more interesting than most of what was in here!!
I almost think this could've made for a better coffee table book, if we got more high-quality images of the early drafts/archives, with the handwritten notes from editors, and some lighter annotations from Bicks. Anyone who picks this up obviously is going to love King and writing... I wanted to do a little of the analysis digging myself.
It looks like I'm an unpopular opinion here, so take this with a grain of salt. however, I was pretty disappointed with "Monsters in the Archives," which was one of my most highly anticipated nonfictions of the year.
I really enjoy Stephen King and loved his memoir "On Writing." I was curious to hear Caroline Bicks' insights into King and his work after gaining access to his archives, original drafts, and brain through interviews.
Unfortunately this just felt really surface-level and repetitive. Bicks would present paragraphs of quotes, as well as scans of the original drafts, to highlight small word changes from draft to draft, and then write additional paragraphs highlighting the significance of those word changes. I love writing and this was interesting for the first chapter or so, but then it just felt like reading a novel-length, rudimentary high school English essay. "King does this," "Seen here," "Which matters because,"
I honestly think the book was weakened in some ways by her access to King, as she often lays out metaphors and analyses that King goes on to essentially say she's overthinking? I am all for literary analysis and I am the last person to say that "sometimes the curtains are just blue," but somehow the U of Maine's Stephen King Chair of Literature accidentally makes that argument pretty well.
I also wish she had focused on some other things beyond these small word changes/characterization changes. Perhaps I'm just jealous of her access, but there seemed to be some missed opportunities. In one section she alludes to an editor/early reader of a draft leaving notes for King about his characterization and use of gender roles that King didn't agree with and she just... doesn't expand on that. That sounds way more interesting than most of what was in here!!
I almost think this could've made for a better coffee table book, if we got more high-quality images of the early drafts/archives, with the handwritten notes from editors, and some lighter annotations from Bicks. Anyone who picks this up obviously is going to love King and writing... I wanted to do a little of the analysis digging myself.
November 14, 2025
Monsters In The Archives: My Year Of Fear With Stephen King
Author: Caroline Bicks
Published by Random House Hogarth
I’ve been a Constant Reader of Stephen King for the last 40+ years and I love his work. Caroline Bicks was able to spend a year in the King Archives and what she produced is an in-depth look at several of his works: Pet Sematary, The Shining, Night Shift, and Carrie.
What Constant Reader could resist a look into the King archives? Not this one! Being able to read parts of his old transcripts was a dream come true. Learning more about his process and seeing the development and birth of Carrie White (and other beloved characters) was fascinating.
Not only is it an immense joy to see parts of King’s manuscripts, but Dr. Bicks gets me thinking about King’s writing in a different way. Stephen King isn’t “just a horror writer,” as he has been often described; he is a wordsmith who calls upon all of our senses to deepen the pleasure of reading. Mr. King carefully crafts language in written and spoken form to touch and tantalize us.
I appreciate her reframing of King’s writing as more than horror, it’s an exploration of trauma and a discussion on how many of us have been helped to process our own traumas through King’s writing (whether we were aware of it or not).
Dr. Bicks’ viewing of Carrie through a feminist lens and through a Shakespearean lens is thought-provoking and shows me depths of his work that I was not conscious of previously. She leads us to consider how differently these classics sit with us at our first read as kids and now as adults rereading them through older eyes and different experiences.
Whether you come to Monsters In The Archives to see parts of his manuscripts or with loftier goals in mind, this book may leave you changed. Every Constant Reader will want a copy of this book in their collection.
My deepest gratitude goes to Random House for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my review.
Author: Caroline Bicks
Published by Random House Hogarth
I’ve been a Constant Reader of Stephen King for the last 40+ years and I love his work. Caroline Bicks was able to spend a year in the King Archives and what she produced is an in-depth look at several of his works: Pet Sematary, The Shining, Night Shift, and Carrie.
What Constant Reader could resist a look into the King archives? Not this one! Being able to read parts of his old transcripts was a dream come true. Learning more about his process and seeing the development and birth of Carrie White (and other beloved characters) was fascinating.
Not only is it an immense joy to see parts of King’s manuscripts, but Dr. Bicks gets me thinking about King’s writing in a different way. Stephen King isn’t “just a horror writer,” as he has been often described; he is a wordsmith who calls upon all of our senses to deepen the pleasure of reading. Mr. King carefully crafts language in written and spoken form to touch and tantalize us.
I appreciate her reframing of King’s writing as more than horror, it’s an exploration of trauma and a discussion on how many of us have been helped to process our own traumas through King’s writing (whether we were aware of it or not).
Dr. Bicks’ viewing of Carrie through a feminist lens and through a Shakespearean lens is thought-provoking and shows me depths of his work that I was not conscious of previously. She leads us to consider how differently these classics sit with us at our first read as kids and now as adults rereading them through older eyes and different experiences.
Whether you come to Monsters In The Archives to see parts of his manuscripts or with loftier goals in mind, this book may leave you changed. Every Constant Reader will want a copy of this book in their collection.
My deepest gratitude goes to Random House for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my review.
December 19, 2025
(ARC - out 04/21/26 via Hogarth) This one is for the Stephen King fans, the word nerds, and those who like non-fiction that blend memoir with literary history. The author of this, a Shakespeare scholar, earns the position of Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine and becomes interested in writing a book that explores her own history with five of King’s earliest (and most well-known) works and the effect those novels have had on horror readers and writers through the decades following their release. The novels Bicks focuses on are Pet Semetery, The Shining, Salem’s Lot, Carrie, and Night Shift - all well known at this point. Bicks is writing this with the consent and collaboration of King and his wife - she is given access to their archives and has occasional conversations with him as well. Coming to the book with that understanding makes clear why Bicks isn’t necessarily interrogating any of the aspects of King’s writing that can be unpleasant to read - namely the way he wrote women in these novels (specifically Salem’s Lot). She’s more interested in how King writes and how his writing has shaped the horror genre. And I should say, King seems like a gem. Someone without pretension or snobbery, who remains interested in engaging with people about writing and horror. He’s supportive of his former university and of his community in countless ways. It’s no wonder that Caroline Bicks writes glowingly of him. And it is interesting to see the thought process behind this man who has been churning out famous horror novels for decades. It’s interesting just from a reader perspective, but I imagine it would also be engaging for writers. I really liked this! An interesting premise with a killer execution (pun intended).
February 14, 2026
Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King by Caroline Bicks
Publisher: Random House
Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King blends memoir with literary analysis. In this book, Caroline Bicks, who holds the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine, reflects on her academic background in classical English while immersing herself in the early fiction of Stephen King. During a sabbatical year, she revisits five works in particular—Pet Sematary, The Shining, Night Shift, ’Salem’s Lot, and Carrie—examining King’s writing process, narrative structure, and use of fear as a literary device. The book moves between personal reflection and close reading, offering a sustained exploration of King’s early career and the craft behind his horror fiction. Bicks also addresses King’s near-mythic presence on campus, where he maintains a J.D. Salinger–esque reputation: widely known, yet rarely seen.
I appreciated the depth of her analysis and the way she treats these novels with seriousness and care. Her breakdown of how King builds emotional tension before the horror unfolds was one of the strongest aspects of the book for me. At times, the level of analysis can feel intense, and for that reason I would suggest this book primarily to readers who are already somewhat familiar with his early work. I have only read one of the five books she discusses, but because of this book, I now want to go back and read the other four.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing an advance copy.
Publisher: Random House
Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King blends memoir with literary analysis. In this book, Caroline Bicks, who holds the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine, reflects on her academic background in classical English while immersing herself in the early fiction of Stephen King. During a sabbatical year, she revisits five works in particular—Pet Sematary, The Shining, Night Shift, ’Salem’s Lot, and Carrie—examining King’s writing process, narrative structure, and use of fear as a literary device. The book moves between personal reflection and close reading, offering a sustained exploration of King’s early career and the craft behind his horror fiction. Bicks also addresses King’s near-mythic presence on campus, where he maintains a J.D. Salinger–esque reputation: widely known, yet rarely seen.
I appreciated the depth of her analysis and the way she treats these novels with seriousness and care. Her breakdown of how King builds emotional tension before the horror unfolds was one of the strongest aspects of the book for me. At times, the level of analysis can feel intense, and for that reason I would suggest this book primarily to readers who are already somewhat familiar with his early work. I have only read one of the five books she discusses, but because of this book, I now want to go back and read the other four.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing an advance copy.
November 22, 2025
As a years long admirer of Stephen King's work, I eagerly devoured this exploration of his iconic early books.
Caroline Bicks was named the University of Maine's inaugural Stephen E King Chair in Literature, and Stephen King granted her extended access to his private archives.
I'll admit that I felt some salivary jealousy of that privilege. But I digress.
In her analysis, Bicks notes the development and various thematic and plot changes she found in books including The Shining, 'Salem's Lot, and Carrie. She details some of the often near-comical discussions between Stephen King and his editorial staff. In both grave and eloquent detail, King notes that through the purge of the written word, he fights against his own nightmares.
Bicks describes how she often needed breaks in her work to recover from the emotional intensity of her research. Otherwise, poring over those Stephen King's notes and editorial development could overwhelm her sense.
I loved her detailed dive into Stephen King's work and his process. King is often under-appreciated for his writing prowess, his attention to detail, his love of language itself.
In reading about her months exploring Stephen King’s archive, I feel like I have an even greater appreciation for Stephen King as a writer, artist, and person.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House | Hogarth for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Caroline Bicks was named the University of Maine's inaugural Stephen E King Chair in Literature, and Stephen King granted her extended access to his private archives.
I'll admit that I felt some salivary jealousy of that privilege. But I digress.
In her analysis, Bicks notes the development and various thematic and plot changes she found in books including The Shining, 'Salem's Lot, and Carrie. She details some of the often near-comical discussions between Stephen King and his editorial staff. In both grave and eloquent detail, King notes that through the purge of the written word, he fights against his own nightmares.
Bicks describes how she often needed breaks in her work to recover from the emotional intensity of her research. Otherwise, poring over those Stephen King's notes and editorial development could overwhelm her sense.
I loved her detailed dive into Stephen King's work and his process. King is often under-appreciated for his writing prowess, his attention to detail, his love of language itself.
In reading about her months exploring Stephen King’s archive, I feel like I have an even greater appreciation for Stephen King as a writer, artist, and person.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House | Hogarth for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What an absolute treasure for devoted Stephen King readers! But be warned: it contains major spoilers for The Shining, Carrie, Pet Sematary, 'Salem's Lot, and stories from Night Shift. If you haven’t read those yet, consider this your sign to do so first.
Caroline Bicks, the inaugural Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine, is uniquely positioned to write this deep dive into King’s creative process. Drawing from archival materials, drafts, and alternate endings (including fascinating excerpted variations), Bicks offers rare insight into how these iconic works evolved from initial concept to final publication.
What makes this book especially compelling is its blend of scholarship and personal reflection. Bicks not only analyzes King’s influences (ranging from Shakespearean plays to real life nightmares and personal tragedies) but also shares her own reactions to studying the archives and meeting King himself. The result is both intellectually rich and warmly human.
If you’ve ever wondered what specific fears, tragedies, or literary inspirations shaped King’s most enduring works, this book delivers those answers in detail. For serious King fans, literary scholars, or anyone fascinated by the mechanics of horror storytelling, this is essential reading.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Caroline Bicks for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Caroline Bicks, the inaugural Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine, is uniquely positioned to write this deep dive into King’s creative process. Drawing from archival materials, drafts, and alternate endings (including fascinating excerpted variations), Bicks offers rare insight into how these iconic works evolved from initial concept to final publication.
What makes this book especially compelling is its blend of scholarship and personal reflection. Bicks not only analyzes King’s influences (ranging from Shakespearean plays to real life nightmares and personal tragedies) but also shares her own reactions to studying the archives and meeting King himself. The result is both intellectually rich and warmly human.
If you’ve ever wondered what specific fears, tragedies, or literary inspirations shaped King’s most enduring works, this book delivers those answers in detail. For serious King fans, literary scholars, or anyone fascinated by the mechanics of horror storytelling, this is essential reading.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Caroline Bicks for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
November 22, 2025
This was definitely not my normal ARC read. I usually stick with fiction but when this one was sent to me I figured why not. After all Stephen King is in the title.
This was a thoughtful and evocative examination of the authors year spent examining the King archives. The author gives us some literary criticism in the form of a memoir that provides a glimpse into cultural history. So it definitely blends the genres.
What I enjoyed: Bicks writing is engaging and makes literary analysis more accessible for the everyday reader. This in no way felt like an academic read though it could have easily gone that way. It actually felt more like an opinionated reading companion for some of Kings most famous novels. Sometimes the memoir segments overshadow the literary criticism. This made it feel like a more a personal narrative which is not necessarily a bad thing if you prefer that. But if you are wanting more direct literary criticism you may be disappointed. Also the shift from academic observation to memoir writing can feel abrupt at times and it does through the pacing off a bit.
Overall this was well written and interesting read. I think big fans of Stephen King will truly enjoy this read.
This was a thoughtful and evocative examination of the authors year spent examining the King archives. The author gives us some literary criticism in the form of a memoir that provides a glimpse into cultural history. So it definitely blends the genres.
What I enjoyed: Bicks writing is engaging and makes literary analysis more accessible for the everyday reader. This in no way felt like an academic read though it could have easily gone that way. It actually felt more like an opinionated reading companion for some of Kings most famous novels. Sometimes the memoir segments overshadow the literary criticism. This made it feel like a more a personal narrative which is not necessarily a bad thing if you prefer that. But if you are wanting more direct literary criticism you may be disappointed. Also the shift from academic observation to memoir writing can feel abrupt at times and it does through the pacing off a bit.
Overall this was well written and interesting read. I think big fans of Stephen King will truly enjoy this read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Caroline Bicks, given full access to Stephen King's archives, as well as access to King himself, digs deep and uncovers a lot that King fans are going to love to discover.
Bicks concentrates her search and narrows her efforts to the five King books that she discovered as a young girl: Carrie, Night Shift, Pet Sematary, 'Salem's Lot, and The Shining. I'm a longtime King fan, having first picked up Night Shift when I was 8, which was close to 5 decades ago. I felt like I knew all of the deleted content from these books, all of the discarded thoughts and concepts, but Bicks finds a LOT that I had never known about.
Apart from some startling stuff that King left on the cutting room floor (Carrie as Anti-Christ, complete with horns and a glowing brain, pulling planes down from the sky!), Bicks concentrates on King's language, showing how replacing a word or two can completely change the feel of a sentence, or the story itself. Bicks also reaches out to King himself to get answers to some of her burning questions. King comes across just as nice as I've always heard he was.
Definitely for hardcore King fans, but highly recommended if you're one of them.
Bicks concentrates her search and narrows her efforts to the five King books that she discovered as a young girl: Carrie, Night Shift, Pet Sematary, 'Salem's Lot, and The Shining. I'm a longtime King fan, having first picked up Night Shift when I was 8, which was close to 5 decades ago. I felt like I knew all of the deleted content from these books, all of the discarded thoughts and concepts, but Bicks finds a LOT that I had never known about.
Apart from some startling stuff that King left on the cutting room floor (Carrie as Anti-Christ, complete with horns and a glowing brain, pulling planes down from the sky!), Bicks concentrates on King's language, showing how replacing a word or two can completely change the feel of a sentence, or the story itself. Bicks also reaches out to King himself to get answers to some of her burning questions. King comes across just as nice as I've always heard he was.
Definitely for hardcore King fans, but highly recommended if you're one of them.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As one might expect, this book has a niche audience, one that likely knows that this book is for them. The author is uniquely capable of writing something like this. She is a lifelong King fan, an academic who specializes in King, and someone given the rare opportunity to get a crack into King’s vault of working copies of his books - notes, edits, and all.
Reading through this, there were times I had to pause and say, this is really neat. We only get the final drafts of these works, and to see the evolution from first draft to last can help you to better understand the soul of the book.
One word of caution - do not read this without having first read the handful of books it discusses. I hadn’t read Pet Sematary yet and I had the entire plot spoiled in the span of one paragraph. My own fault - I would expect a book like this to delve into spoiler territory.
4/5 stars, for true Stephen King fans who want to dig deep into his work and get a little peek behind the curtain.
*An uncorrected proof of this book was provided by the publisher at the reviewer’s request in exchange for a fair and uncompromising review.
Reading through this, there were times I had to pause and say, this is really neat. We only get the final drafts of these works, and to see the evolution from first draft to last can help you to better understand the soul of the book.
One word of caution - do not read this without having first read the handful of books it discusses. I hadn’t read Pet Sematary yet and I had the entire plot spoiled in the span of one paragraph. My own fault - I would expect a book like this to delve into spoiler territory.
4/5 stars, for true Stephen King fans who want to dig deep into his work and get a little peek behind the curtain.
*An uncorrected proof of this book was provided by the publisher at the reviewer’s request in exchange for a fair and uncompromising review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
so, i'll start this by saying i'm a huge stephen king fan (obviously) and this was one of my most anticipated releases for this year. so i'm a little disappointed that i didn'y enjoy it as much as i thought i would. i love all of the quotes from king and i found the changes he made to his stories before they were published really interesting. but the in between parts were kinda dry and repetitive and honestly read like i was reading a book report. i might have liked this more if i listened on audio because that's how i listen to all other non-fiction.
also i feel like this goes without saying, but don't read this if you haven't read the books mentioned (unless you don't care about spoilers, then go for it i guess). so pet semetary, the shining, night shift, 'salem's lot, and carrie. all of which are some of my favorite books.
i think if you're a king fan you could still enjoy this (from reading other reviews it seems i'm an outlier with my opinion) or if you're interested in the writing/editing process.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
also i feel like this goes without saying, but don't read this if you haven't read the books mentioned (unless you don't care about spoilers, then go for it i guess). so pet semetary, the shining, night shift, 'salem's lot, and carrie. all of which are some of my favorite books.
i think if you're a king fan you could still enjoy this (from reading other reviews it seems i'm an outlier with my opinion) or if you're interested in the writing/editing process.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a really enjoyable deep dive into Stephen King's work - and I'm not even a huge Stephen King fan, myself, I just love reading about other writers, and this definitely didn't disappoint. The author's knowledge was extensive, and her access to private archives and things we, as readers aren't privy to was a fascinating window into King's work and writing. I read On Writing years ago and it really changed the way I read and write, and this was no different. I love horror in all its forms, and getting this level of insight and analysis was certainly a treat.
I especially loved getting to see copies of drafts with notes - it's so cool to see his process and how his stories evolved. As a writer myself, it sheds a lot of light on how I can improve my own process, and as a reader, it provides more context and life behind the stories. Whether or not you're a diehard Stephen King fan, this book is certainly well worth the time to read, just for a little window of insight into such a prolific and popular author.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I especially loved getting to see copies of drafts with notes - it's so cool to see his process and how his stories evolved. As a writer myself, it sheds a lot of light on how I can improve my own process, and as a reader, it provides more context and life behind the stories. Whether or not you're a diehard Stephen King fan, this book is certainly well worth the time to read, just for a little window of insight into such a prolific and popular author.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
November 17, 2025
I'm not a big fan of Stephen King's novels, but I do admire his knowledge and his work ethic so I was very interested to read a book that explores his process from first draft to finished work.
Caroline Bicks spent a year going through archived material for five of King's books—Pet Sematary, The Shining, Night Shift, 'Salem's Lot, and Carrie—and discusses the difference between drafts, with special attention paid to word choices, includes numerous margin notes and editorial discussions about revisions, and shares some of her discussions with King regarding his works.
Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King is a well written book that gives great insight into King's writing process. I recommend it not only to King's fans, but to anyone who wants a look at how a professional writer works.
Three and a half stars.
Received via NetGalley.
Caroline Bicks spent a year going through archived material for five of King's books—Pet Sematary, The Shining, Night Shift, 'Salem's Lot, and Carrie—and discusses the difference between drafts, with special attention paid to word choices, includes numerous margin notes and editorial discussions about revisions, and shares some of her discussions with King regarding his works.
Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King is a well written book that gives great insight into King's writing process. I recommend it not only to King's fans, but to anyone who wants a look at how a professional writer works.
Three and a half stars.
Received via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NETGALLEY & Hogarth / Random House / Penguin Random House for eARC
Writing Style: 5 - Enjoyable (to the point that I'll read her other works); geeky and humble and humorous and intimate.
Cover: 5 - Badass, retro cover
Enjoyment: 4.5 - An interesting, informative, intimate journey. What an honor for Caroline, and as such, for us, to be given access to King's archives.
eARC Typos: 0-1
A high 4 star rating, honestly. It was a fun ~exclusive~ behind-the-scenes deep-dive and exploration, a unique book in that it's like an assortment of essays but one that reads far more chummily and has an approachable, enjoyable flow. We get insight on King's decisions (as well as those involved on his various teams). I want more, since Bicks only covered four novels and a collection of short-stories. Gimme It and Under the Dome. Give me more authors, period, I really like this approach and treatment.
Writing Style: 5 - Enjoyable (to the point that I'll read her other works); geeky and humble and humorous and intimate.
Cover: 5 - Badass, retro cover
Enjoyment: 4.5 - An interesting, informative, intimate journey. What an honor for Caroline, and as such, for us, to be given access to King's archives.
eARC Typos: 0-1
A high 4 star rating, honestly. It was a fun ~exclusive~ behind-the-scenes deep-dive and exploration, a unique book in that it's like an assortment of essays but one that reads far more chummily and has an approachable, enjoyable flow. We get insight on King's decisions (as well as those involved on his various teams). I want more, since Bicks only covered four novels and a collection of short-stories. Gimme It and Under the Dome. Give me more authors, period, I really like this approach and treatment.
November 21, 2025
I am from Maine and I live about an hour away from Stephen King’s Bangor home and I’m a fan of his work. I recognized many of the places mentioned in this book, so this book was especially interesting to me. This was an interesting read about one person’s journey through the archives at University of Maine in Orono, where King taught a long time ago. It gets into “behind the scenes” of King’s writing process. If you enjoyed his On Writing then I think you’ll enjoy this point of view as well. Bicks has obviously studied King for years and has a great wealth of knowledge into his work. This qualified person having access to one of a kind material gives the reader much to digest. It also gave some insight into things about King’s work that I have never thought about.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Hogarth for the ARC of this book! To be published April 2026:
4.5 stars rounded up
If you are a Stephen King fan, this is the back for you. Monsters in the Archives deeply explores some of King's best and most popular works through Caroline Bicks' access as the University of Maine's inaugural Stephen King Chair in Literature. Bicks' is granted a plethora of many previously unseen archives, early drafts, personal notes, and more from King's collection. Using this access, she explores some of his works even further to figure out what it is about King's writing that continues to stick with readers for years after.
This was a fantastic read. As a horror and King fan, I was very excited to get my hands on this one. I was in awe of just how much I had never seen before that Bicks' was able to closely explore during her year in Maine. She also explores some of her own experiences with these specific stories, showing us how horror affects each reader differently. We also get to see so many cool, new, behind-the-scenes notes, scans, etc that any King fan is bound to appreciate.
Obviously, if you aren't a King fan, then this isn't the book for you. However, if you are a fan, then I highly recommend exploring this one when it comes out.
4.5 stars rounded up
If you are a Stephen King fan, this is the back for you. Monsters in the Archives deeply explores some of King's best and most popular works through Caroline Bicks' access as the University of Maine's inaugural Stephen King Chair in Literature. Bicks' is granted a plethora of many previously unseen archives, early drafts, personal notes, and more from King's collection. Using this access, she explores some of his works even further to figure out what it is about King's writing that continues to stick with readers for years after.
This was a fantastic read. As a horror and King fan, I was very excited to get my hands on this one. I was in awe of just how much I had never seen before that Bicks' was able to closely explore during her year in Maine. She also explores some of her own experiences with these specific stories, showing us how horror affects each reader differently. We also get to see so many cool, new, behind-the-scenes notes, scans, etc that any King fan is bound to appreciate.
Obviously, if you aren't a King fan, then this isn't the book for you. However, if you are a fan, then I highly recommend exploring this one when it comes out.
November 4, 2025
**I received an early copy of this book from Edelweiss**
Whoa. I picked this up and couldn't put it down. Bicks is the Stephen King Chair (I think of English) at the university in Maine where she teaches. She never thought she would actually meet King until he called her out of the blue one day. She was then invited to work in King's archives, and this book was the result. Each chapter goes through King's works and all the revisions that led to the final products. She uses those revisions and final versions to analyze each book and its themes. Absolutely fascinating. I would LOVE to read more of these for King's other works.
Whoa. I picked this up and couldn't put it down. Bicks is the Stephen King Chair (I think of English) at the university in Maine where she teaches. She never thought she would actually meet King until he called her out of the blue one day. She was then invited to work in King's archives, and this book was the result. Each chapter goes through King's works and all the revisions that led to the final products. She uses those revisions and final versions to analyze each book and its themes. Absolutely fascinating. I would LOVE to read more of these for King's other works.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
***Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this upcoming book***
As someone who has read pretty much every single thing Stephen King has written, I was super excited when I saw that a book like this was coming out. It definitely met my expectations and it is an absolute treat for all of the Constant Readers out there.
The author gained unprecedented access to Mr. King's archives and focuses on the creation, revisions and releases of several of his earliest and most iconic works. It was very interesting to see the changes that were made to some of my all time favorite books. Give this one a read!
As someone who has read pretty much every single thing Stephen King has written, I was super excited when I saw that a book like this was coming out. It definitely met my expectations and it is an absolute treat for all of the Constant Readers out there.
The author gained unprecedented access to Mr. King's archives and focuses on the creation, revisions and releases of several of his earliest and most iconic works. It was very interesting to see the changes that were made to some of my all time favorite books. Give this one a read!
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