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Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King
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Expected 21 Apr 26A 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 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.
"Illuminating and original, Monsters in the Archives takes us deep into Stephen King's private papers to show us how he crafted some of his most iconic, haunting books and took possession of so many of our imaginations."
-Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club
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 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.
"Illuminating and original, Monsters in the Archives takes us deep into Stephen King's private papers to show us how he crafted some of his most iconic, haunting books and took possession of so many of our imaginations."
-Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club
- GenresNonfictionHorror
Audible Audio
Expected publication April 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 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!!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
November 14, 2025
Monsters in the Archives hit me in a way I didn’t expect. I picked it up thinking I’d get some cool behind-the-scenes information about Stephen King’s early books—and that’s definitely here—but what really stayed with me was Caroline Bicks herself. There’s something grounding and honest about the way she approaches King’s work: not as a distant scholar, but as someone who grew up being thrilled and terrified by his stories, just like the rest of us.
Reading this felt like being invited along on her journey—walking into King’s private archives with equal parts excitement and nerves, revisiting the books that once kept her awake at night, and slowly piecing together what gives his writing its strange, lasting grip. The insights she draws out are smart and illuminating; they feel earned, human, and sometimes even tender.
Watching Bicks confront the stories that shaped her truly makes the book shine. It reminded me why I fell in love with King’s work as a kid, and why some stories stay with us long after we turn the last page.
Many thanks to Edelweiss and Hogarth Publishing for providing an ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
Reading this felt like being invited along on her journey—walking into King’s private archives with equal parts excitement and nerves, revisiting the books that once kept her awake at night, and slowly piecing together what gives his writing its strange, lasting grip. The insights she draws out are smart and illuminating; they feel earned, human, and sometimes even tender.
Watching Bicks confront the stories that shaped her truly makes the book shine. It reminded me why I fell in love with King’s work as a kid, and why some stories stay with us long after we turn the last page.
Many thanks to Edelweiss and Hogarth Publishing for providing an ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
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.
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.
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.
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.
October 11, 2025
Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC!
This was really well done! It got a little slow at certain parts with the breakdowns, and I wish it had referred back to more conversations with King himself, but I think it really illuminated a lot of King's thought processes in the writing of his books. It was neat to see the scans of all the different versions of his books as well, as I'm assuming he's a pretty secretive guy. What a dream to get to see the archives, and to get to know the man himself! Pretty neat over all.
This was really well done! It got a little slow at certain parts with the breakdowns, and I wish it had referred back to more conversations with King himself, but I think it really illuminated a lot of King's thought processes in the writing of his books. It was neat to see the scans of all the different versions of his books as well, as I'm assuming he's a pretty secretive guy. What a dream to get to see the archives, and to get to know the man himself! Pretty neat over all.
November 28, 2025
What made this book unique was getting to see of what happens in the background of Kings writing. The thinking process. The author adding some of her story and what lead her to that point also was brillant. It made the book more personable and more easy to read. I loved be allowed to see the actual copy of the edits to his works as well as some personal stories of King that inspired his stories.
To those who love King's book will highly enjoy this look into some of his most famous works.
To those who love King's book will highly enjoy this look into some of his most famous works.
October 23, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I love Stephen King, but I don’t love him as much as this author does. This was much more focused on, like, the specific language and words King chose that differed from draft to draft. Super minute details that I just didn’t care about. Well-written and with some interesting quotes from King, just too dry for me.
I love Stephen King, but I don’t love him as much as this author does. This was much more focused on, like, the specific language and words King chose that differed from draft to draft. Super minute details that I just didn’t care about. Well-written and with some interesting quotes from King, just too dry for me.
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