Alex Weller’s Reviews > Night Shift > Status Update

On October 16, Charles writes to another friend of his, Richard. He wants Richard to contact a historian he's acquainted with and ask him what he knows about a deserted village called Jerusalem's Lot. That must be the deserted town the townsfolk were talking about in the previous letter. But why is it deserted? It's perfectly fine in 1975 (until Kurt Barlow arrives, of course).

Just started reading the first story, "Jerusalem's Lot", a prequel to Stephen King's "'Salem's Lot". On October 2, 1850, Charles Boone writes to his friend Bones, describing his arrival at Chapelwaite, a manor owned by his cousin Stephen that was willed to him. While the manor and estate are pretty creepy, it has a wonderful parlor view, and Charles loves the solitude, hoping to write a novel there. Awesome!

Finished the Foreword. Stephen King ends by thanking his family for their support, his editor for working with him, the people who bought and published his stories, and the readers for buying his books. And now, it's time to start the show. Let's see what King has in store for us!

Stephen King comments that nobody reads an author's preface (aside from the author's family, friends, and representatives) because they wanna just cut to the chase. Steve is ready to start the show, after a few thank-yous.

King states his belief that a horror story must hold the reader spellbound and immerse them in its world. It must have a great, compelling story. This is ... probably something I should work on.

King gives a lengthy observation about how horror fans read horror due to morbid curiosity, how different writers approach different horrors in different ways, and how different types of horror movies satisfied different types of domestic fears about a bunch of stuff. I also liked when he said about horror stories being allegorical. I have an allegorical horror story in the works myself.

Stephen talks about how different things get caught in different peoples' mind-filters; obsessions that end up becoming hobbies, which potentially could end up becoming professions if that person can make enough money off of it. Stephen's obsession is the macabre, so he writes stories about it, and he makes money off of his stories. As for me, there are ... a whole load of weird things that get caught in my filter.

Just started reading the Foreword. Stephen King wants to talk rationally about fear. He is satisfied with his life, job, and family. However, he still makes sure to keep his feet under the covers when he goes to bed because he doesn't want something to reach out from under the bed and grab his ankle in the middle of the night, even though he knows it's not real. Yeah, we all have our weird fears, guy. Even me.

Just started the book and read the introduction. Author John D. MacDonald praises Stephen King as a writer, basically passing the torch to a newer, younger author. It was really pleasant to read, and I'm hoping that someday, a famous author will do that to me. Just gotta get my stories finished first!