What do you think?
Rate this book
The Science of
The Science of Stephen King: The Truth Behind Pennywise, Jack Torrance, Carrie, Cujo, and More Iconic Characters from the Master of Horror
Uncover the theories behind the Master of Horror's macabre It , The Shining , Carrie , Cujo , Misery , Pet Semetary , and so much more!
Gothic media moguls Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence, authors of The Science of Monsters and The Science of Women in Horror , and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy , present a guide to the Stephen King stories and characters we all know and love. Through interviews, literary and film analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, The Science of Stephen King delves into the uniquely horrific Stephen King universe to uncover the science behind the legendary novels that have become an integral part of modern pop culture, answering such questions Join Kelly and Meg as they learn if we all really do float down here!
Gothic media moguls Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence, authors of The Science of Monsters and The Science of Women in Horror , and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy , present a guide to the Stephen King stories and characters we all know and love. Through interviews, literary and film analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, The Science of Stephen King delves into the uniquely horrific Stephen King universe to uncover the science behind the legendary novels that have become an integral part of modern pop culture, answering such questions Join Kelly and Meg as they learn if we all really do float down here!
264 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2020
187 people are currently reading
1125 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
October 19, 2020
Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence, who have previously explored The Science of Monsters and The Science of Women in Horror turn their attention to the King of Horror for their latest book. In The Science of Stephen King, the authors explore the real-world scientific phenomenon that have either inspired or have helped support the various themes, stories, and elements from the last 50 years of King's far-ranging career.
Suitably enough, Hafdahl and Florence start right at the beginning, with King's 1974 debut, Carrie. Rather than try to lend scientific credence to the supernatural abilities of this book's titular lead, the authors instead examine the various components that surround 16-year-old Carrie White, like the psychological damager suffered by the victims of bullying and religious extremism, as well the thematic use of menstruation and blood throughout the book. Because Carrie's first period plays such an important role in the story, the author's exploration of the societal and cultural regard of this biological milestone in a young woman's life reaches back to the creation of the lunar calendar and the first commercially available pads and tampon in 1929. Personally, I was shocked to learn that such mass-produced monthly necessities were only a fairly recent development, which, I suppose, just goes to show you how heavily dominated industries are by men - even those of women's hygiene products!
Over the course of the subsequent chapters, the authors lay out what becomes familiar groundwork for successive King novels, devoting a few pages to each carefully selected title and exploring it through a scientific lens, supported by either research or interviews they've conducted with members of the scientific community. Such topics of discovery include the science of alcohol abuse (The Shining), addiction (The Drawing of the Three), grief (Lisey's Story), the soul (Needful Things), and time travel (11/22/63), to name but a few.
Rather than diving into the deep end on any one of these subjects, Hafdahl and Florence instead take a cursory look at each of these aspects. The Science of Stephen King ends up being more of a collection of precis's rather than a fully realized thesis on his work at large. Nearly any one of the themes discussed in just one of the 30 novels studied here would be enough to fill an entire book on their own, and the authors aren't hurting for a lack of resources, that's for sure. Credit to them, then, for being able to simplify and streamline their discussions so throughly in their summaries of the science behind King's biggest works.
Unfortunately, there were a few times where the author's interests outside of the scientific took root in the book and caused a few issues for me. In their discussion of 2001's Dreamcatcher, for instance, Hafdahl and Florence spend nearly half of the already-short chapter interviewing screenwriter Kara Lee Corthron about her work adapting Caroline Kepnes's Joe Goldberg series for Netflix's You. This discussion is tangentially connected by the simplicity that King has himself adapted several of his own works for film...but, strangely enough, not Dreamcatcher! (That screenplay's credit goes to William Goldman and Lawrence Kasdan.) This interview and its focus on an adaptation of a work by another author altogether is an odd diversion that Hafdahl and Florence attempt to steer toward King by noting the influence of The Shining on a season two episode of You, but it's a bit of a fumbled recovery.
Their discussion on the science behind From a Buick 8 is similarly disrupted by a somewhat lengthy (again, given the short page count devoted to each book) exploration of James Dean's cursed Spyder, that car's own haunted legacy, and the body count it racked up after the actor's death. While this accounting of a (supposedly) real-life cursed car and the unusual accidents attributed to it are supremely interesting, this urban legend is hardly what I would consider scientific.
While there is plenty of interesting honest-to-god science explored here, some of my favorite material in the book related to King's own life and how his personal experiences played a role in shaping his many narratives - and, in the case of his marriage to Tabitha, who saved the manuscript of Carrie from the garbage, his career. The authors do a great job in providing the context within King's own life, and his battles against himself and his addictions, that helped give rise to so many of his books like IT and The Tommyknockers. Similarly, it's hard to ignore how much a long-lasting impact King's own brush with death had on his creativity, following his being struck by a van in the summer of 1999. Accidents similar to King's play out several times in works like the TV miniseries Kingdom Hospital and one of the latter The Dark Tower novels, and provided the impetus for Lisey's Story and Duma Key.
The Science of Stephen King provides enough interesting talking points to satisfy casual Constant Readers, but hardcore King junkies may find themselves disappointed by the superficiality and brief surveys of these author's analyses. More than once, I found myself wishing for a bit more depth on any given topic, but the set of footnotes and resources at book's end should certainly help open up a number of doors for readers seeking deeper scrutinies.
Suitably enough, Hafdahl and Florence start right at the beginning, with King's 1974 debut, Carrie. Rather than try to lend scientific credence to the supernatural abilities of this book's titular lead, the authors instead examine the various components that surround 16-year-old Carrie White, like the psychological damager suffered by the victims of bullying and religious extremism, as well the thematic use of menstruation and blood throughout the book. Because Carrie's first period plays such an important role in the story, the author's exploration of the societal and cultural regard of this biological milestone in a young woman's life reaches back to the creation of the lunar calendar and the first commercially available pads and tampon in 1929. Personally, I was shocked to learn that such mass-produced monthly necessities were only a fairly recent development, which, I suppose, just goes to show you how heavily dominated industries are by men - even those of women's hygiene products!
Over the course of the subsequent chapters, the authors lay out what becomes familiar groundwork for successive King novels, devoting a few pages to each carefully selected title and exploring it through a scientific lens, supported by either research or interviews they've conducted with members of the scientific community. Such topics of discovery include the science of alcohol abuse (The Shining), addiction (The Drawing of the Three), grief (Lisey's Story), the soul (Needful Things), and time travel (11/22/63), to name but a few.
Rather than diving into the deep end on any one of these subjects, Hafdahl and Florence instead take a cursory look at each of these aspects. The Science of Stephen King ends up being more of a collection of precis's rather than a fully realized thesis on his work at large. Nearly any one of the themes discussed in just one of the 30 novels studied here would be enough to fill an entire book on their own, and the authors aren't hurting for a lack of resources, that's for sure. Credit to them, then, for being able to simplify and streamline their discussions so throughly in their summaries of the science behind King's biggest works.
Unfortunately, there were a few times where the author's interests outside of the scientific took root in the book and caused a few issues for me. In their discussion of 2001's Dreamcatcher, for instance, Hafdahl and Florence spend nearly half of the already-short chapter interviewing screenwriter Kara Lee Corthron about her work adapting Caroline Kepnes's Joe Goldberg series for Netflix's You. This discussion is tangentially connected by the simplicity that King has himself adapted several of his own works for film...but, strangely enough, not Dreamcatcher! (That screenplay's credit goes to William Goldman and Lawrence Kasdan.) This interview and its focus on an adaptation of a work by another author altogether is an odd diversion that Hafdahl and Florence attempt to steer toward King by noting the influence of The Shining on a season two episode of You, but it's a bit of a fumbled recovery.
Their discussion on the science behind From a Buick 8 is similarly disrupted by a somewhat lengthy (again, given the short page count devoted to each book) exploration of James Dean's cursed Spyder, that car's own haunted legacy, and the body count it racked up after the actor's death. While this accounting of a (supposedly) real-life cursed car and the unusual accidents attributed to it are supremely interesting, this urban legend is hardly what I would consider scientific.
While there is plenty of interesting honest-to-god science explored here, some of my favorite material in the book related to King's own life and how his personal experiences played a role in shaping his many narratives - and, in the case of his marriage to Tabitha, who saved the manuscript of Carrie from the garbage, his career. The authors do a great job in providing the context within King's own life, and his battles against himself and his addictions, that helped give rise to so many of his books like IT and The Tommyknockers. Similarly, it's hard to ignore how much a long-lasting impact King's own brush with death had on his creativity, following his being struck by a van in the summer of 1999. Accidents similar to King's play out several times in works like the TV miniseries Kingdom Hospital and one of the latter The Dark Tower novels, and provided the impetus for Lisey's Story and Duma Key.
The Science of Stephen King provides enough interesting talking points to satisfy casual Constant Readers, but hardcore King junkies may find themselves disappointed by the superficiality and brief surveys of these author's analyses. More than once, I found myself wishing for a bit more depth on any given topic, but the set of footnotes and resources at book's end should certainly help open up a number of doors for readers seeking deeper scrutinies.
August 31, 2021
This has been such a useful tool to me as a reader who is new to Stephen King. I am still working my way through, but it's slow going because I'm reading the books, then referring to their corresponding chapters in this book.
I love the research and insight provided and it's really enhanced my enjoyment and understanding of Stephen King's books and his characters motivations.
I love the research and insight provided and it's really enhanced my enjoyment and understanding of Stephen King's books and his characters motivations.
October 28, 2020
I consider myself a baby Stephen King fan, but I do think I have earned the label of #ConstantReader . I started reading his books a little over two years ago. In that time, I have read at least one King book a month. Prior to that, I had only read Hearts in Atlantis.
Meg Hafdahl sent me a copy of her newest book The Science of Stephen King that she co-wrote with her podcast co-host, Kelly Florence! Meg and Kelly co-host the podcast, Horror Rewind.
The Science of Stephen King features 30 of King's books and separates them into their prospective decades. I asked Meg if I should skip the chapters about books where I haven't read them yet and she advised that they contain spoilers, so I should. Of the 30 books features, I have read 18 of the books. Technically I haven't read the entire book, but I did read the 18 chapters that correlate to those books.
Meg and Kelly chose different scientific topics that these King books feature and cover them at a high level using research, interviews, and personal anecdotes. From menstruation in Carrie to reanimation in Pet Sematary and time travel in 11/22/63, Meg and Kelly use non-fiction to discuss these fictional books.
The Science of Stephen King is a fun addition to any King library. I look forward to reading the rest of the chapters as I continue my King reading with the #KeeperOfKing crew.
Meg Hafdahl sent me a copy of her newest book The Science of Stephen King that she co-wrote with her podcast co-host, Kelly Florence! Meg and Kelly co-host the podcast, Horror Rewind.
The Science of Stephen King features 30 of King's books and separates them into their prospective decades. I asked Meg if I should skip the chapters about books where I haven't read them yet and she advised that they contain spoilers, so I should. Of the 30 books features, I have read 18 of the books. Technically I haven't read the entire book, but I did read the 18 chapters that correlate to those books.
Meg and Kelly chose different scientific topics that these King books feature and cover them at a high level using research, interviews, and personal anecdotes. From menstruation in Carrie to reanimation in Pet Sematary and time travel in 11/22/63, Meg and Kelly use non-fiction to discuss these fictional books.
The Science of Stephen King is a fun addition to any King library. I look forward to reading the rest of the chapters as I continue my King reading with the #KeeperOfKing crew.
March 20, 2022
I was so super disappointed with this - particularly because I'd build it up in my mind, the timing of it arriving just as I kicked back into collecting and reading King again...
But this is piss-weak analysis and a collection of tenuous links. Almost comical at times. Watch as they interview an animal expert about how dogs used to be wolves then mention the novel Carrie. Laugh as they place Gwendy's Button Box in completely the wrong decade section for no real reason. And wince as they mention that King has adapted some of his books into screenplays, though had no responsibility for Dreamcatcher. And then interview some other scriptwriter (the TV show "YOU") about scriptwriting. You know, just because. A fucking joke all up. Ludicrous.
But this is piss-weak analysis and a collection of tenuous links. Almost comical at times. Watch as they interview an animal expert about how dogs used to be wolves then mention the novel Carrie. Laugh as they place Gwendy's Button Box in completely the wrong decade section for no real reason. And wince as they mention that King has adapted some of his books into screenplays, though had no responsibility for Dreamcatcher. And then interview some other scriptwriter (the TV show "YOU") about scriptwriting. You know, just because. A fucking joke all up. Ludicrous.
April 19, 2021
Disorganized collection of "stuff" loosely tied together by King stories
I really wanted to like this, but in the end, it is a collection of random half-presented information with little organization or depth. The authors do not present clear themes or direction - one often makes one's way through an entire segment before identifying what it is or why it is present. The facts themselves are shallow and often poorly thought out, as when we are breathlessly presented with the amazing fact that physicians actually have some idea of what a pandemic might actually look like! (The authors being apparently unaware of epidemiology as a profession).
Despite my affection for King's work, this was one of the rare books I did not finish. One star for quality, a second added because based on the writing, I assume this was written by two teen or preteen friends and I applaud the effort.
I really wanted to like this, but in the end, it is a collection of random half-presented information with little organization or depth. The authors do not present clear themes or direction - one often makes one's way through an entire segment before identifying what it is or why it is present. The facts themselves are shallow and often poorly thought out, as when we are breathlessly presented with the amazing fact that physicians actually have some idea of what a pandemic might actually look like! (The authors being apparently unaware of epidemiology as a profession).
Despite my affection for King's work, this was one of the rare books I did not finish. One star for quality, a second added because based on the writing, I assume this was written by two teen or preteen friends and I applaud the effort.
November 8, 2020
Time taken to read - < 4 days
Pages - 264
Publisher - Skyhorse
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Gothic media moguls Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence, authors of The Science of Monsters and The Science of Women in Horror, and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy, present a guide to the Stephen King stories and characters we all know and love. Through interviews, literary and film analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, The Science of Stephen King delves into the uniquely horrific Stephen King universe to uncover the science behind the legendary novels that have become an integral part of modern pop culture, answering such questions as:
What is the science behind time travel and parallel universes like in The Dark Tower series and 11/22/63?
How does lack of sleep affect the human body like in Insomnia?
Is it possible for horrific creatures to exist like in Nightshift?
What is the science behind curses and legends like in Dreamcatcher and Thinner?
Join Kelly and Meg as they learn if we all really do float down here!
My Review
Ha I am a complete muppet, the SCIENCE of Stephen King and I didn't tipple there would be science in it lmao. I just saw Stephen King and was immediately interested. I have loved Stephen King and horror since I stumbled across him as a kid (I know I know). So Hafdahl and Florence have created a book that looks into some of our best King stories and looked into some of the science behind the heart of some of these books.
For example, IT we all know is a killer who takes the shape of whatever the children most fear but often, whilst toying with the losers club it takes the shape of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. This section offers a wee bit on the book itself and looks into coulrophobia and the history of clowns and why something that is meant to make us smile brings fear to so many. This is what the authors have done, they break the book down into decades, 1970s to 2010s. We get a bit of history on the main man himself and then a look at (some of) the books from those years. What the story is about, each chapter is titled but if you haven't read that story you will find a spoiler or two as they examine and chat about the story, the central theme and history/science around that topic.
I won't go into every story but Cujo, they obvs talk about the story itself, then look at the history of dogs and their relationships with humans, rabies and snippets of King's personal battles along his career.
Throughout the book we also get wee snippets of facts, information, titbits scattered throughout the pages, relevant to whatever that chapter is discussing. Whilst I was expecting the book to be something very different (I thought it was going to be in depth study/facts about the books/characters) I really enjoyed it. Information and facts about King I didn't know, facts/information/science and history relevant to each of the stories selected - like really interesting stuff from periods of history that I want to read more into. We have a very morbid history in some places do us humans and I am interested to read more. 4/5 for me, first time reading these guys works, they have other books I would be interested in checking out. If you are a fan of Master King, his works and some shady history of humanity you will absolutely enjoy this book, a keeper for me!
Pages - 264
Publisher - Skyhorse
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Gothic media moguls Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence, authors of The Science of Monsters and The Science of Women in Horror, and co-hosts of the Horror Rewind podcast called “the best horror film podcast out there” by Film Daddy, present a guide to the Stephen King stories and characters we all know and love. Through interviews, literary and film analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, The Science of Stephen King delves into the uniquely horrific Stephen King universe to uncover the science behind the legendary novels that have become an integral part of modern pop culture, answering such questions as:
What is the science behind time travel and parallel universes like in The Dark Tower series and 11/22/63?
How does lack of sleep affect the human body like in Insomnia?
Is it possible for horrific creatures to exist like in Nightshift?
What is the science behind curses and legends like in Dreamcatcher and Thinner?
Join Kelly and Meg as they learn if we all really do float down here!
My Review
Ha I am a complete muppet, the SCIENCE of Stephen King and I didn't tipple there would be science in it lmao. I just saw Stephen King and was immediately interested. I have loved Stephen King and horror since I stumbled across him as a kid (I know I know). So Hafdahl and Florence have created a book that looks into some of our best King stories and looked into some of the science behind the heart of some of these books.
For example, IT we all know is a killer who takes the shape of whatever the children most fear but often, whilst toying with the losers club it takes the shape of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. This section offers a wee bit on the book itself and looks into coulrophobia and the history of clowns and why something that is meant to make us smile brings fear to so many. This is what the authors have done, they break the book down into decades, 1970s to 2010s. We get a bit of history on the main man himself and then a look at (some of) the books from those years. What the story is about, each chapter is titled but if you haven't read that story you will find a spoiler or two as they examine and chat about the story, the central theme and history/science around that topic.
I won't go into every story but Cujo, they obvs talk about the story itself, then look at the history of dogs and their relationships with humans, rabies and snippets of King's personal battles along his career.
Throughout the book we also get wee snippets of facts, information, titbits scattered throughout the pages, relevant to whatever that chapter is discussing. Whilst I was expecting the book to be something very different (I thought it was going to be in depth study/facts about the books/characters) I really enjoyed it. Information and facts about King I didn't know, facts/information/science and history relevant to each of the stories selected - like really interesting stuff from periods of history that I want to read more into. We have a very morbid history in some places do us humans and I am interested to read more. 4/5 for me, first time reading these guys works, they have other books I would be interested in checking out. If you are a fan of Master King, his works and some shady history of humanity you will absolutely enjoy this book, a keeper for me!
March 3, 2023
This audiobook was great.
I enjoyed every moment, as I felt the authors have done their research. It was easy for me to follow along even though I haven't all of King's novels. I liked how all the questions were taken seriously by the author. Even the ones that are more metaphysical than from natural sciences.
I felt that the science behind was a bit too superficial for my taste, hence my 3 stars.
I enjoyed every moment, as I felt the authors have done their research. It was easy for me to follow along even though I haven't all of King's novels. I liked how all the questions were taken seriously by the author. Even the ones that are more metaphysical than from natural sciences.
I felt that the science behind was a bit too superficial for my taste, hence my 3 stars.
May 5, 2021
As a long-time lover of Stephen King, this book was so interesting! I love how they took specific aspects of the books and researched them from a real-life perspective. Good, quick read!
November 9, 2025
This was such an original topic for a book: analyzing the scientific aspect of a selection of Stephen King books. I was familiar with most, but there were some I had not heard of; however, the authors give a brief synopsis of each book along with the science behind it, so you get an idea of what it's about. I had actually added a few to my "to read" list based on the analysis from the authors, as they piqued my interest quite a bit!
November 13, 2020
Fun read. At 1st I thought it was almost debunking some of the things in Kings books, but as I kept going I realized it was doing just as the title stated, providing the science behind the stories. Not proving things right or wrong persay, but just giving more food for thought. Plus it makes you want to go back and reread some good books!
November 11, 2020
This would be my first book by Meg and Kelly. Let me tell you this will most certainly not be my last. Like many others who try to hold the title I am another one of Steven King's "biggest fans". It was to my surprise how much I actually didn't know about him. Meg and Kelly dive right in by touching on some of Stephen Kings top hits. They go in depth explaining why King wrote what he wrote, story behind the story if you will. Showcasing just what makes the King of Horror tick. From substance abuse to struggling with recovery, you get to learn it all. I am sure we have all thought, at a different time or another, what it would feel like to be inside the masterminds head. Meg and Kelly do that for you in this book.
My favorite part of this book is when you learn about the Bachman books and why Rage was removed from publication. I literally went on a crazy google search trying to grab myself a copy and I found one. I just HAD TO read it. You get to learn a lot of things you most likely would never have known if you had not read this book. I am trying to be as discreate as possible to not give too much away but to intrigue you enough to pick yourself up a copy. You will EASILY read this in a day or two. Excellent read by two great authors.
Thank you Meg and Kelly
My favorite part of this book is when you learn about the Bachman books and why Rage was removed from publication. I literally went on a crazy google search trying to grab myself a copy and I found one. I just HAD TO read it. You get to learn a lot of things you most likely would never have known if you had not read this book. I am trying to be as discreate as possible to not give too much away but to intrigue you enough to pick yourself up a copy. You will EASILY read this in a day or two. Excellent read by two great authors.
Thank you Meg and Kelly
January 1, 2024
Pretty cool information regarding the background of his ideas
December 13, 2020
My unpopular take on Stephen King is his work took a dive after he sobered up, then made a slow climb back to something approaching its earlier quality. This is a take not shared by these writers: they devote equal enthusiasm and attention to It and Needful Things, and I found that rewarding. Writers Hafdahl and Florence are a little too liberal with their definition of “science” when discussing the novels they’ve chosen (they literally go from “there’s no evidence of success in government attempts to engineer telekinesis to “And now we’re going to talk to a clairvoyant!”) and at times, I found myself scratching my head over their conclusions when fact checking some of King’s plot points. For example, when discussing 11/22/63, the writers sow doubt about the “Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone” theory by citing a 2018 study pointing out that Kennedy’s head motion is consistent with a bullet impact from the rear...exactly in keeping with Oswald’s position and a refutation of the shooter-from-the-front conspiracy theory.
But at most other points, their work is engaging and entertaining. They give numbers concerning how many people fear clowns; they go through the history of wannabe vampires, subliminal messaging and time travel, although, regarding the latter, they take too much time to come to the conclusion “It’s not likely.” They’re enthusiastic fans, and their enthusiasm is contagious. I wish they’d done The Dead Zone, if only to get further into brain injury and the life of a high school teacher (I understand Forence’s father was a teacher in the 70s), but their span of discussion is more than sufficient for the King fan.
But at most other points, their work is engaging and entertaining. They give numbers concerning how many people fear clowns; they go through the history of wannabe vampires, subliminal messaging and time travel, although, regarding the latter, they take too much time to come to the conclusion “It’s not likely.” They’re enthusiastic fans, and their enthusiasm is contagious. I wish they’d done The Dead Zone, if only to get further into brain injury and the life of a high school teacher (I understand Forence’s father was a teacher in the 70s), but their span of discussion is more than sufficient for the King fan.
September 5, 2020
I found this book very, interesting. It takes an in-depth look at the scientific phenomena behind the horrors in Stephen King’s work. It begins with his first novel Carrie and then continues book by book with it’s examination of the science and psychology behind Stephen King’s writing. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a long time “constant reader”, or anyone looking to get into Stephen King’s work and not knowing where to start.
Read
August 21, 2023I would give this a negative one star if it were possible. Badly written. No depth to any of the chapters. A complete waste of time.
November 22, 2020
A series of essays and interviews that bounce off themes from Stephen King’s oeuvre. This can comfortably be consumed in small bites over a long period of time, as each entry stands on its own. Each segment would comfortably make an episode of a podcast, a format with which the authors are quite familiar.
November 22, 2020
Disclaimer: I received a copy of The Science of Stephen King from authors Hafdahl and Florence in exchange for honest reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Following the release of their non-fiction novels, The Science of Women in Horror and The Science of Monsters, Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence have taken a deep dive into the world of Stephen King in their newest release, The Science of Stephen King. With nearly fifty years of material to delve into, there is plenty to keep King's #ConstantReaders entertained.
Divided by decade from the 197os release of Carrie through the present day release of The Institute, Hafdahl and Florence selected thirty of King's best known titles to cover. While this should go without saying, there are spoilers for the books contained in the chapters, so skip the books you haven't read.
Each chapter shares interviews with experts in their field as well as experiences related to a novel in King's oeuvre: the significance of blood in Carrie, the dangers of biological warfare in The Stand, and the increase of school shootings in relation to the Bachman book Rage, just to name a few. While they did not seek to prove or disprove any theories, the facts and experiences shared are meant to enhance your King reading experience. Personally, it made me want to re-read books that I have read in the past as well as read ones I haven't gotten to yet.
All in all, this is a great addition to their "The Science of..." series that Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence have been building and is a great companion piece to add to any Constant Readers King collection.
January 13, 2025
The Science of Stephen King: The Truth Behind Pennywise, Jack Torrance, Carrie, Cujo, and More Iconic Characters from the Master of Horror by Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence is a novel that delves into the mind of the famous author Stephen King. Throughout this book, readers who want to know more about the stories will discover the science behind the novels. The Science of Stephen King is riveting and will draw readers in as authors Hafdahl and Florence break down each story one at a time.
The Science of Stephen King catches the eye of readers with a cover that gives a nod to the “King” of horror with a grey cover. This gives the impression of a dreary, cloudy day. The title has author Stephen King’s name with splatters of blood, once again giving a nod to the horror aspect that he is renowned for. Below the title is a stone church with trees flanking it on either side. This cover nicely implies the sense of something sinister and horrific waiting to happen.
The Science of Stephen King unfolds with the two authors Hafdahl and Florence sharing with readers how they came to be introduced to Stephen King. The introduction of The Science of Stephen King helps to set the stage for readers that this novel is going to delve deeper into the imagination of Stephen King, the science, and even the folklore behind the stories that have gripped readers for years.
The Science of Stephen King is broken up into the various eras surrounding his writing. Authors Hafdahl and Florence take readers back to when Stephen King first began writing in the 1970s all the way to the 2010s with his latest novels. Each chapter throughout each section of this novel focuses specifically on a particular novel throughout that particular era of Stephen King’s career as a writer. The Science of Stephen King will reveal to readers little-known facts that will absolutely surprise readers.
One such surprising fact that is revealed in The Science of Stephen King? That one of his most famous stories, Carrie, almost was never “born”! What?! Well, according to authors Hafdahl and Florence, we have Stephen King’s wife, Tabitha King, to thank for the story being saved from the trash! It’s absolutely fascinating how that one particular novel was influenced by an article in a magazine that King picked up at the time.
Each chapter in The Science of Stephen King shows the depths that authors Hafdahl and Florence did their research. Each chapter throughout this book has images and interesting facts that tie into Stephen King’s novels. Just like Stephen King did his research concerning his novels and details, so too did Hafdahl and Florence do their own research to flesh out the knowledge that they have discovered.
Authors Hafdahl and Florence repeatedly showcase the various influences that Stephen King had throughout his life that led to the various stories and worlds that he created.
These influences range from Stephen King’s drug use to accidents that nearly took his life, to a variety of other situations that were either close calls for his family or something that he himself discovered. Readers who are fascinated with the thought process behind Stephen King’s works will absolutely devour this book. They might even jump to a particular chapter to delve into a favorite story before going back and exploring the rest of the chapters.
It’s fascinating how authors Hafdahl and Florence also interview a variety of individuals in various fields. Each person that they interview helps to bring new insight into some of the subjects and topics that Stephen King either struggled with himself or touched on in his books. Each of these interviewees brings unique information and knowledge to the book that will truly impress readers and push them to explore more.
Throughout The Science of Stephen King, readers will discover fascinating historical references. Some went on to play a major part in Stephen King’s novels, while others are just tidbits of information that authors Hafdahl and Florence felt that readers would enjoy discovering.
It is easy to say that it’s truly fascinating to be able to delve deeper into Stephen King’s mind through The Science of Stephen King. Readers get to gain insight into how he came up with more than a few of his ideas for his books. It would appear that even years ago author Stephen King was more than little of a visionary. Authors Hafdahl and Florence showcase this by revealing how some of his ideas were before some of the advances in technology came along. Though it’s easy to say that Stephen King enjoys pointing out the dangers of technology and its potential impact on humanity.
Readers who enjoy horror, and Stephen King books, and want to better understand the thought process behind this specific author’s ideas will absolutely enjoy picking up this book. Authors Hafdahl and Florence will absolutely motivate readers to pick up his books by reading The Science of Stephen King. Each Stephen King book that they cover in the chapters will pique readers' interest in either picking up that particular book again or for the first time.
The only downside to some of these chapters is that in some of them, authors Hafdahl and Florence drop spoilers as to how the story ends. It is probable that some readers won’t mind these spoilers. However, if you’re a reader who is looking to pick up a book that you’ve never read by Stephen King, you may want to watch out for the spoilers and try to skip them.
The Science of Stephen King is a highly informative book that delves deep into the science and folklore behind Stephen King’s novels. This book is broken down into the various eras throughout King’s career with each chapter giving readers insight into each specific story he’s written. Authors Hafdahl and Florence have written an engaging novel that will reignite interest in Stephen King’s story and remind them as to why he is indeed deemed the “King of Horror.”
Readers looking for a book to delve deeper into the psyche of Stephen King will want to grab a copy of The Science of Stephen King by authors Hafdahl and Florence. It is informative and will have readers reflecting on the stories that they have read and the impact that these stories have had on them. This book does have some spoilers for those who haven’t read the entire King catalog, but it is still worth checking out because there is much that you’ll discover!
Pros:
Engaging
Informative
Page-turner
Easy to follow and understand
Has just the right amount of humor
Cons:
Contains spoilers for some of Stephen King’s books
The Science of Stephen King catches the eye of readers with a cover that gives a nod to the “King” of horror with a grey cover. This gives the impression of a dreary, cloudy day. The title has author Stephen King’s name with splatters of blood, once again giving a nod to the horror aspect that he is renowned for. Below the title is a stone church with trees flanking it on either side. This cover nicely implies the sense of something sinister and horrific waiting to happen.
The Science of Stephen King unfolds with the two authors Hafdahl and Florence sharing with readers how they came to be introduced to Stephen King. The introduction of The Science of Stephen King helps to set the stage for readers that this novel is going to delve deeper into the imagination of Stephen King, the science, and even the folklore behind the stories that have gripped readers for years.
The Science of Stephen King is broken up into the various eras surrounding his writing. Authors Hafdahl and Florence take readers back to when Stephen King first began writing in the 1970s all the way to the 2010s with his latest novels. Each chapter throughout each section of this novel focuses specifically on a particular novel throughout that particular era of Stephen King’s career as a writer. The Science of Stephen King will reveal to readers little-known facts that will absolutely surprise readers.
One such surprising fact that is revealed in The Science of Stephen King? That one of his most famous stories, Carrie, almost was never “born”! What?! Well, according to authors Hafdahl and Florence, we have Stephen King’s wife, Tabitha King, to thank for the story being saved from the trash! It’s absolutely fascinating how that one particular novel was influenced by an article in a magazine that King picked up at the time.
Each chapter in The Science of Stephen King shows the depths that authors Hafdahl and Florence did their research. Each chapter throughout this book has images and interesting facts that tie into Stephen King’s novels. Just like Stephen King did his research concerning his novels and details, so too did Hafdahl and Florence do their own research to flesh out the knowledge that they have discovered.
Authors Hafdahl and Florence repeatedly showcase the various influences that Stephen King had throughout his life that led to the various stories and worlds that he created.
These influences range from Stephen King’s drug use to accidents that nearly took his life, to a variety of other situations that were either close calls for his family or something that he himself discovered. Readers who are fascinated with the thought process behind Stephen King’s works will absolutely devour this book. They might even jump to a particular chapter to delve into a favorite story before going back and exploring the rest of the chapters.
It’s fascinating how authors Hafdahl and Florence also interview a variety of individuals in various fields. Each person that they interview helps to bring new insight into some of the subjects and topics that Stephen King either struggled with himself or touched on in his books. Each of these interviewees brings unique information and knowledge to the book that will truly impress readers and push them to explore more.
Throughout The Science of Stephen King, readers will discover fascinating historical references. Some went on to play a major part in Stephen King’s novels, while others are just tidbits of information that authors Hafdahl and Florence felt that readers would enjoy discovering.
It is easy to say that it’s truly fascinating to be able to delve deeper into Stephen King’s mind through The Science of Stephen King. Readers get to gain insight into how he came up with more than a few of his ideas for his books. It would appear that even years ago author Stephen King was more than little of a visionary. Authors Hafdahl and Florence showcase this by revealing how some of his ideas were before some of the advances in technology came along. Though it’s easy to say that Stephen King enjoys pointing out the dangers of technology and its potential impact on humanity.
Readers who enjoy horror, and Stephen King books, and want to better understand the thought process behind this specific author’s ideas will absolutely enjoy picking up this book. Authors Hafdahl and Florence will absolutely motivate readers to pick up his books by reading The Science of Stephen King. Each Stephen King book that they cover in the chapters will pique readers' interest in either picking up that particular book again or for the first time.
The only downside to some of these chapters is that in some of them, authors Hafdahl and Florence drop spoilers as to how the story ends. It is probable that some readers won’t mind these spoilers. However, if you’re a reader who is looking to pick up a book that you’ve never read by Stephen King, you may want to watch out for the spoilers and try to skip them.
The Science of Stephen King is a highly informative book that delves deep into the science and folklore behind Stephen King’s novels. This book is broken down into the various eras throughout King’s career with each chapter giving readers insight into each specific story he’s written. Authors Hafdahl and Florence have written an engaging novel that will reignite interest in Stephen King’s story and remind them as to why he is indeed deemed the “King of Horror.”
Readers looking for a book to delve deeper into the psyche of Stephen King will want to grab a copy of The Science of Stephen King by authors Hafdahl and Florence. It is informative and will have readers reflecting on the stories that they have read and the impact that these stories have had on them. This book does have some spoilers for those who haven’t read the entire King catalog, but it is still worth checking out because there is much that you’ll discover!
Pros:
Engaging
Informative
Page-turner
Easy to follow and understand
Has just the right amount of humor
Cons:
Contains spoilers for some of Stephen King’s books
September 23, 2020
The Science of Stephen King is a thorough look into each of King's works (organized in chronological order) and the science and background behind the themes in each one. This is an incredibly fascinating read - perfect (obviously) for Constant Readers, but also a great choice for anyone interested in history and horror in general. If you're working your way through reading King's novels, I would highly suggest keeping this on your shelf for reference after you've finished each one.
Thank you to the authors for sending me a digital copy of this book!
Thank you to the authors for sending me a digital copy of this book!
January 8, 2022
Enjoyable and informative.
This delves into various areas of science, studies, and statistics as it relates to what Stephen King has written about in his long career.
I particularly liked learning about what prompted King to write some of his stories.
I only wish it could have been longer/more in depth.
I’ll even forgive the authors for writing that Michael Myers is the one with the hockey mask!
This delves into various areas of science, studies, and statistics as it relates to what Stephen King has written about in his long career.
I particularly liked learning about what prompted King to write some of his stories.
I only wish it could have been longer/more in depth.
I’ll even forgive the authors for writing that Michael Myers is the one with the hockey mask!
October 4, 2020
I have been highly anticipating The Science of Stephen King for quite some time. Not only am I a fan of Stephen King's work, I am also a fan of the other books in this particular series that includes The Science of Monsters. Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence dig into the different truths that are illuminated in Stephen King’s stories through interviews and library/internet research.
The interviews that they conducted brought more life and understanding to King’s stories. Since King’s characters to be very psychologically astute, It is no surprise that a handful of interviews were by different forms of therapists—a crisis therapist was interviewed to discuss addictions related to The Shining a grief counselor provided insight for Lisey’s Story and an art therapist provided insights for for Duma Key. To illuminate the truths behind King’s more supernatural themes people who claim to have expertise in more paranormal fields were interviewed for the themes in Insomnia, an aura photographer was interviewed and a psychic talked about their journey for The Institute. I do have the bias that while I find the kinds of topics that people who claim to have expertise in the supernatural to be quite fascinating, the part of my brain that likes things like logic, evidence and the scientific method tends to be cynical when more supernatural topics are portrayed as truth. As a result, I really appreciated that the authors utilized the approach of sharing parts of the interviews verbatim that helped humanize the truths instead of just uplifting these as straight facts. It made it easier for a cynic to read and enjoy.
Even though I found the interviews fascinating, I do not want to discount how brilliant the facts that are illuminated from more conventional library/internet research were for bringing the truths behind Stephen King to life either. This was how I learned that coulrophobia is the fear of clowns during the discussion of “It” and more about the history of phone technology during the chapter on “Cell.” But it does not feel like a dry academic study as everything is presented in a fun, very accessible way that is enough to entice your appetite to pursue topics of interest in more depth.
Each chapter is easy to read as an interesting standalone essay and the book is structured by each decade that King has written in. This structure makes the book very accessible to read. People who are fans of Stephen King will definitely enjoy the insights in this book and people who have yet to enjoy King’s works will be intrigued to read his work to see how these topics are explored in his stories. As for me, it makes me realize that even though I love the work of Stephen King that I have read there are a lot more of his stories that I still need to read. I now have even more insight on some of the stories that I want to read. When it comes to my taste in non-fiction I really love books that make me want to dive further into other topics and new pieces of literature and I am obsessed with horror fiction, so this book definitely is definitely the sort of book that I NEED to have on my shelf.
Thank you to the authors for an advanced copy of this delightful book!
I am also publishing this review on my blog: http://glamorousbookgal.blogspot.com/...
The interviews that they conducted brought more life and understanding to King’s stories. Since King’s characters to be very psychologically astute, It is no surprise that a handful of interviews were by different forms of therapists—a crisis therapist was interviewed to discuss addictions related to The Shining a grief counselor provided insight for Lisey’s Story and an art therapist provided insights for for Duma Key. To illuminate the truths behind King’s more supernatural themes people who claim to have expertise in more paranormal fields were interviewed for the themes in Insomnia, an aura photographer was interviewed and a psychic talked about their journey for The Institute. I do have the bias that while I find the kinds of topics that people who claim to have expertise in the supernatural to be quite fascinating, the part of my brain that likes things like logic, evidence and the scientific method tends to be cynical when more supernatural topics are portrayed as truth. As a result, I really appreciated that the authors utilized the approach of sharing parts of the interviews verbatim that helped humanize the truths instead of just uplifting these as straight facts. It made it easier for a cynic to read and enjoy.
Even though I found the interviews fascinating, I do not want to discount how brilliant the facts that are illuminated from more conventional library/internet research were for bringing the truths behind Stephen King to life either. This was how I learned that coulrophobia is the fear of clowns during the discussion of “It” and more about the history of phone technology during the chapter on “Cell.” But it does not feel like a dry academic study as everything is presented in a fun, very accessible way that is enough to entice your appetite to pursue topics of interest in more depth.
Each chapter is easy to read as an interesting standalone essay and the book is structured by each decade that King has written in. This structure makes the book very accessible to read. People who are fans of Stephen King will definitely enjoy the insights in this book and people who have yet to enjoy King’s works will be intrigued to read his work to see how these topics are explored in his stories. As for me, it makes me realize that even though I love the work of Stephen King that I have read there are a lot more of his stories that I still need to read. I now have even more insight on some of the stories that I want to read. When it comes to my taste in non-fiction I really love books that make me want to dive further into other topics and new pieces of literature and I am obsessed with horror fiction, so this book definitely is definitely the sort of book that I NEED to have on my shelf.
Thank you to the authors for an advanced copy of this delightful book!
I am also publishing this review on my blog: http://glamorousbookgal.blogspot.com/...
November 30, 2020
Review originally published at: https://lomeraniel.com/book-review-th...
This was an interesting and definitely different read to the ones I am used to. Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence explore several of Stephen King’s works and try to elaborate on diverse aspects explored in them about diverse subjects like alcoholism, clowns, auras, or aliens. To me, the most exciting parts were the ones about King’s life and the process of writing, but about this, I think On Writing goes deeper into the subject.
I found some of the topics quite interesting but I have to say that I would not consider most of them as science, so in my opinion, the title of this book is a bit misleading. I would describe the book as a collection of trivia and curiosities with some relevancy across some of King’s books. I enjoyed learning about some random facts and folklore that I wouldn’t have stumbled upon otherwise. There are also several interviews about several of the subjects. It is an eclectic book, as it touches many topics but they are all discussed quite superficially. I wish the facts would have been selected to include only the scientific ones, as the title suggests, but I agree that Stephen King has written about many mystic and esoteric phenomena, and while I may enjoy those in a fiction story, an interview with someone who can see auras, for instance, throws me off somehow.
Another thing to take into account before diving into this book is that it contains spoilers, so I would recommend reading the books it mentions beforehand. While revealing the ending or an important development in some of the books may seem necessary, I think this could have been avoided in many cases, or at least I think a note should have been included about this at the beginning of the book.
The book is narrated by Joe Hempel, Melissa Moran, Anneliese Rennie, and Tanya Eby, who bring the various interviews and interviewees to life by giving the reader the same feeling as watching a documentary. They did an amazing job at this, creating dynamism and delivering the text in a light and enthusiastic way. The audio production is spotless.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This was an interesting and definitely different read to the ones I am used to. Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence explore several of Stephen King’s works and try to elaborate on diverse aspects explored in them about diverse subjects like alcoholism, clowns, auras, or aliens. To me, the most exciting parts were the ones about King’s life and the process of writing, but about this, I think On Writing goes deeper into the subject.
I found some of the topics quite interesting but I have to say that I would not consider most of them as science, so in my opinion, the title of this book is a bit misleading. I would describe the book as a collection of trivia and curiosities with some relevancy across some of King’s books. I enjoyed learning about some random facts and folklore that I wouldn’t have stumbled upon otherwise. There are also several interviews about several of the subjects. It is an eclectic book, as it touches many topics but they are all discussed quite superficially. I wish the facts would have been selected to include only the scientific ones, as the title suggests, but I agree that Stephen King has written about many mystic and esoteric phenomena, and while I may enjoy those in a fiction story, an interview with someone who can see auras, for instance, throws me off somehow.
Another thing to take into account before diving into this book is that it contains spoilers, so I would recommend reading the books it mentions beforehand. While revealing the ending or an important development in some of the books may seem necessary, I think this could have been avoided in many cases, or at least I think a note should have been included about this at the beginning of the book.
The book is narrated by Joe Hempel, Melissa Moran, Anneliese Rennie, and Tanya Eby, who bring the various interviews and interviewees to life by giving the reader the same feeling as watching a documentary. They did an amazing job at this, creating dynamism and delivering the text in a light and enthusiastic way. The audio production is spotless.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 22, 2024
Recensione a cura della pagina instagram Pagine_e_inchiostro:
🌟🌟🌟,5
La scienza di Stephen King é un saggio che indaga i fenomeni principali che si nascondono dietro ai mondi letterari del celebre autore.
Attraverso analisi letterarie, approfondimenti cinematografici, interviste e curiosi aneddoti, questa guida si pone come obiettivo quello di aprire le porte alla comprensione del caleidoscopico universo di King, maestro del genere horror (e non solo), che é stato capace di incantare diverse generazioni.
Raggruppati per decadi, dal 1970 fino al 2017, vengono vagliati tutti i principali racconti e romanzi del Re, per spiegare le teorie scientifiche e le statistiche sociali che si annidano tra i macabri e meravigliosi scenari da lui costruiti. Dalle statistiche sulla coulrofobia ispirata ad IT, ai viaggi nel tempo in 22/11/‘63, fino alle sparatorie nelle scuole di Ossessione, i grandi temi dell’autore fanno da spunto ad una grande ricerca pluritematica, tra ipotesi e certezze.
Le autrici si concentrano su diversi personaggi e diversi aspetti delle opere, da quelli più improbabili (horror e metafisici) a quelli realmente esistenti (rapporti umani ed esperienze personali), per cercarne un riscontro autentico nella realtà, raggiungendo una prospettiva quasi scientifica. Nelle opere del Re c’è molto da vagliare, molto da cui farsi ispirare, perché “oltre ai nostri mondi ne esistono anche altri”.
La scienza di Stephen King é una guida consigliata agli amanti del Re: a chi ha letto molto dell’autore e a chi può farsi facilmente coinvolgere dall’entusiasmo delle due autrici e fan che l’hanno reato. Si rivelerà invece più caotico (e anche decisamente spoileroso) per chi dell’autore avesse letto poco, poiché un lettore impreparato potrebbe non cogliere alcuni riferimenti specifici.
Inizialmente é una lettura che crea spaesamento, toccando tante tematiche e rimbalzando tra le divagazioni più disparate. Ma molto presto il libro diventa un gioco divertente e un pozzo di nozioni in cui perdersi.
Per tutti, consigliato un eventuale podcast o audiolibro, che sarà senza dubbio un ascolto fluido e scoppiettante, rispetto ad una lettura più didattica e impegnativa.
🌟🌟🌟,5
La scienza di Stephen King é un saggio che indaga i fenomeni principali che si nascondono dietro ai mondi letterari del celebre autore.
Attraverso analisi letterarie, approfondimenti cinematografici, interviste e curiosi aneddoti, questa guida si pone come obiettivo quello di aprire le porte alla comprensione del caleidoscopico universo di King, maestro del genere horror (e non solo), che é stato capace di incantare diverse generazioni.
Raggruppati per decadi, dal 1970 fino al 2017, vengono vagliati tutti i principali racconti e romanzi del Re, per spiegare le teorie scientifiche e le statistiche sociali che si annidano tra i macabri e meravigliosi scenari da lui costruiti. Dalle statistiche sulla coulrofobia ispirata ad IT, ai viaggi nel tempo in 22/11/‘63, fino alle sparatorie nelle scuole di Ossessione, i grandi temi dell’autore fanno da spunto ad una grande ricerca pluritematica, tra ipotesi e certezze.
Le autrici si concentrano su diversi personaggi e diversi aspetti delle opere, da quelli più improbabili (horror e metafisici) a quelli realmente esistenti (rapporti umani ed esperienze personali), per cercarne un riscontro autentico nella realtà, raggiungendo una prospettiva quasi scientifica. Nelle opere del Re c’è molto da vagliare, molto da cui farsi ispirare, perché “oltre ai nostri mondi ne esistono anche altri”.
La scienza di Stephen King é una guida consigliata agli amanti del Re: a chi ha letto molto dell’autore e a chi può farsi facilmente coinvolgere dall’entusiasmo delle due autrici e fan che l’hanno reato. Si rivelerà invece più caotico (e anche decisamente spoileroso) per chi dell’autore avesse letto poco, poiché un lettore impreparato potrebbe non cogliere alcuni riferimenti specifici.
Inizialmente é una lettura che crea spaesamento, toccando tante tematiche e rimbalzando tra le divagazioni più disparate. Ma molto presto il libro diventa un gioco divertente e un pozzo di nozioni in cui perdersi.
Per tutti, consigliato un eventuale podcast o audiolibro, che sarà senza dubbio un ascolto fluido e scoppiettante, rispetto ad una lettura più didattica e impegnativa.
August 15, 2023
This book sounded interesting from the title and was obtained cheaply so I decided to give it a try. It is organised into decades of production of Stephen King's works and within that, a chapter per book. At the beginning of his career it covers the iconic ones such as his first published novel, Carrie, plus Salem's Lot, The Shining, The Stand etc. As it goes forward in time, naturally it is far more selective and mentions some works in passing or not at all.
Each chapter considers the 'science' behind the book's theme, sometimes not actual science at all as when it covers urban legends and the like. Various interviews are featured although sometimes they aren't really connected to King's work at all such as one with a person connected with a TV series I'd never heard of. The interviews conclude by asking the person which is their favourite King work.
There are a few snippets here and there regarding where King got the inspiration for particular works. I knew the story of how his wife Tabitha fished out the partly written draft of 'Carrie' from the rubbish bin and persuaded him to carry on with it, but other things were new to me. It was especially interesting to read that King had written 'The Tommyknockers' while in the throes of cocaine addiction and thought it was a bad book. Interesting, because it was the first of his books that I didn't like.
The book is a fairly superficial skating through the scientific background of the books - for example, it only talks about monorails when considering the Dark Tower sequence - and for me lacked sufficient material about the author or how he wrote the stories. I suppose it isn't meant to do that from the title, but ultimately it is a quick read and for me just an 'OK' 2 stars.
Each chapter considers the 'science' behind the book's theme, sometimes not actual science at all as when it covers urban legends and the like. Various interviews are featured although sometimes they aren't really connected to King's work at all such as one with a person connected with a TV series I'd never heard of. The interviews conclude by asking the person which is their favourite King work.
There are a few snippets here and there regarding where King got the inspiration for particular works. I knew the story of how his wife Tabitha fished out the partly written draft of 'Carrie' from the rubbish bin and persuaded him to carry on with it, but other things were new to me. It was especially interesting to read that King had written 'The Tommyknockers' while in the throes of cocaine addiction and thought it was a bad book. Interesting, because it was the first of his books that I didn't like.
The book is a fairly superficial skating through the scientific background of the books - for example, it only talks about monorails when considering the Dark Tower sequence - and for me lacked sufficient material about the author or how he wrote the stories. I suppose it isn't meant to do that from the title, but ultimately it is a quick read and for me just an 'OK' 2 stars.
March 5, 2021
This book was fairly shallow (containing mostly general-knowledge content that ought to be familiar to adult readers), contained a few major factual errors & misrepresentations, padded chapters with long interview transcripts with non-experts, & could use an editing pass.
It failed to touch on some obvious sciency topics -- especially those involving math, however tangentially. The chapter on The Stand didn't go into how infectious Captain Trips would need to be, or how poorly the epidemic would need to be managed, to have the effect described, or how the false recovery might affect infectiousness, even though there are well-understood formulae for calculating this. The chapter on Grey Matter spent several pages to say "beer is made from yeast" and didn't touch on exponential growth at all. The chapter on It was entirely about colurophobia, and did not mention hibernation, the life cycle of cicadas, how hormones affect the taste and texture of meat, amphibious predators in nature that hunt on land, or literally any of the dozens of other science-themed topics that tie in tightly with that book.
There was a heavy use of color stock photos, often only very tangentially related to the subject matter, that when printed in black and white became quite muddy - a problem when, for instance, they contained small text.
I received this book for free, & from the front matter, it seems like these authors have done some high quality work. I may read some of it in the future. This particular book's content, however, would have disappointed me even had I seen it on a listicle website. I can only assume that it was rushed & that the pandemic interfered with its composition.
It failed to touch on some obvious sciency topics -- especially those involving math, however tangentially. The chapter on The Stand didn't go into how infectious Captain Trips would need to be, or how poorly the epidemic would need to be managed, to have the effect described, or how the false recovery might affect infectiousness, even though there are well-understood formulae for calculating this. The chapter on Grey Matter spent several pages to say "beer is made from yeast" and didn't touch on exponential growth at all. The chapter on It was entirely about colurophobia, and did not mention hibernation, the life cycle of cicadas, how hormones affect the taste and texture of meat, amphibious predators in nature that hunt on land, or literally any of the dozens of other science-themed topics that tie in tightly with that book.
There was a heavy use of color stock photos, often only very tangentially related to the subject matter, that when printed in black and white became quite muddy - a problem when, for instance, they contained small text.
I received this book for free, & from the front matter, it seems like these authors have done some high quality work. I may read some of it in the future. This particular book's content, however, would have disappointed me even had I seen it on a listicle website. I can only assume that it was rushed & that the pandemic interfered with its composition.
October 26, 2020
Did not like this book at all. To me, it had little to do with Stephen King himself and how he looked at his stories. I was under the impression it would explain a lot on the writer himself, how he got his inspiration and did his research. That was in it too, yes, but only so little. It was more on other people explaining on their work and the subjects they worked on that Stephen King has written about.
After the 10th interview with somebody, talking about his or her work and the recurring question what their favorite Stephen King story was (what do I care what book someone I never heard of likes the most) I started to skip entire chapters. If you want to find out more about Stephen King, you can skip this book. There are only a few notes on the writer himself but if you grab all those together you end up with a book of around 5 pages, no more.
I would not call it 'science' either, perhaps for very young persons, but basically every 'science' fact is common knowledge, there even are a few things mentioned as 'fact' which are totally not.
To me, this book felt mostly like some way of 2 people gaining publicity and attention with name-dropping without truly knowing the books of Stephen King.
There were even a few glitches and wrong facts when they discussed some books, which they clearly had not yet read.
Waste of time for me.
After the 10th interview with somebody, talking about his or her work and the recurring question what their favorite Stephen King story was (what do I care what book someone I never heard of likes the most) I started to skip entire chapters. If you want to find out more about Stephen King, you can skip this book. There are only a few notes on the writer himself but if you grab all those together you end up with a book of around 5 pages, no more.
I would not call it 'science' either, perhaps for very young persons, but basically every 'science' fact is common knowledge, there even are a few things mentioned as 'fact' which are totally not.
To me, this book felt mostly like some way of 2 people gaining publicity and attention with name-dropping without truly knowing the books of Stephen King.
There were even a few glitches and wrong facts when they discussed some books, which they clearly had not yet read.
Waste of time for me.
May 2, 2021
“The Science of Stephen King,” by Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence is a wonderful, but brief, synopsis of thirty of King’s book as well as a shallow dive into the science involved in each book. As an example, clowns are discussed in the chapter on IT. Rabies in dogs is discussed in the chapter on Cujo, etc.
Many of the chapters have interviews with specialists in the scientific area under discussion in that chapter, and each chapter has numerous footnotes where the reader can go for further reading on the subject.
My only slight complaint is I wish the authors went into more detail in each chapter and had conducted longer interviews with the specialists. However, I realize if they had done that, the book would be as long as some of King’s longer works.
If you are expecting this book to be a detailed synopsis or summarization of these novels, then you will be disappointed. They go into enough detail so the reader knows the basic premise of the book under discussion, but the bulk of each chapter is the discussion of the scientific aspect of each book. If this book is of interest to you, then you have probably already read these books and do not need a detailed summary of the book.
I really enjoyed the book and thought the authors did a great job with the subject material.
Many of the chapters have interviews with specialists in the scientific area under discussion in that chapter, and each chapter has numerous footnotes where the reader can go for further reading on the subject.
My only slight complaint is I wish the authors went into more detail in each chapter and had conducted longer interviews with the specialists. However, I realize if they had done that, the book would be as long as some of King’s longer works.
If you are expecting this book to be a detailed synopsis or summarization of these novels, then you will be disappointed. They go into enough detail so the reader knows the basic premise of the book under discussion, but the bulk of each chapter is the discussion of the scientific aspect of each book. If this book is of interest to you, then you have probably already read these books and do not need a detailed summary of the book.
I really enjoyed the book and thought the authors did a great job with the subject material.
August 23, 2023
The Science of Stephen King: The Truth Behind Pennywise, Jack Torrance, Carrie, Cujo, and More Iconic Characters from the Master of Horror (Paperback)
by Meg Hafdahl
I am not a Stephen King fan, I have only read The Stand. I do own a number of his books, I thought the idea of this book would show me the nature of the author. I found the research and connections with the bibliography of the author really opened by eyes to his work. I found the political and social commentary that he used in his prolific books very trendy. Yet Stephen King does write about current events in stories that hold up to the years. His stories are built form an idea, sometimes a simple one, but its his characters that this author connected to. She used every resource to explain his books in a thorough nature. She found print sources and even interviews to elaborate each of the books she remarks on.
My opinion of the book is complicated by the publishing problems of this book. The book has texts boxes with a mottled background that make the poignant points hard to read. The book also has numerous pages that are not entirely printed, making the agreements for some of the most famous books fall flat.
by Meg Hafdahl
I am not a Stephen King fan, I have only read The Stand. I do own a number of his books, I thought the idea of this book would show me the nature of the author. I found the research and connections with the bibliography of the author really opened by eyes to his work. I found the political and social commentary that he used in his prolific books very trendy. Yet Stephen King does write about current events in stories that hold up to the years. His stories are built form an idea, sometimes a simple one, but its his characters that this author connected to. She used every resource to explain his books in a thorough nature. She found print sources and even interviews to elaborate each of the books she remarks on.
My opinion of the book is complicated by the publishing problems of this book. The book has texts boxes with a mottled background that make the poignant points hard to read. The book also has numerous pages that are not entirely printed, making the agreements for some of the most famous books fall flat.
November 1, 2020
I have thoroughly enjoyed this latest book by two well qualified horror aficionados. They have drawn me into the horror camp with their several books and novels. In this, their latest book, they skillfully explore several Stephan King books including their genesis. In each chapter they use a primary topic in a Stephan King's book to educate the readers with a deep dive into the science and history of the main topic. The short "tidbits" of information on each page furthered my knowledge of little known facts or factoids, if you will. The book has already incentivised me to view a movie ("Misery") and to soon view "It". I doubt if I would have seen these films had it not been for their book. I recommend this book for anyone who likes Stephan King and/or has an unqualified thirst for knowledge.
August 4, 2021
While I didn't care too much about what the clearly feminist authors had to say about King's other novels, I was very interested in what they had found out about "It." The massive tome could be taken in many different directions regarding fear, the macroverse, interdimensional creatures, and Kind's mythology he has created with his novels. Needless to say, I was incredibly let down by their lack of research and barely getting their feet wet with their sentence of fear and brief history of clowns. They did touch on the jester archetype but only so much for it to be a tease. Had they gone down that road, the horror value of the chapter would have peaked, but no. Had it not been for other chapters and the whole concept of the book, this would have received one star with no explanation. Just goes to show why I stay away from Science and Feminists.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews