It sold 303,000 copies in its first year and King raked in the money, having recently dictated his payment schedule like few authors could. Written in the 80s while King was hooked on coke and booze, it was the epitome an era when nobody was telling King to tone it down. Somehow during the writing, Christine evolved from a short story into King’s longest novel to date apart from The Stand. Whimsically wishing that the odometer could run backwards and revive his car, King thought it would make a great short story. The idea began gestating back in 1978 when King’s Pinto, which he bought with the advance from Carrie, was reaching its death. Several vintage cars had been featured in his books, but in his return to pure horror King dedicated an entire novel to the subject, and in particular to an evil 1958 Plymouth Fury. Part and parcel with that theme is King’s love of cars. Christine is awash in 50s nostalgia, a running theme of King’s work. That meant that King fans had gone since 1981’s Cujo without a proper dose of horror. So slick back your hair, throw on that letterman jacket, and crank up Chuck Berry as we go cruising in Christine! The NovelĬhristine came out in April 1983 (and is the only first-edition King novel I own, if you’re wondering.) In 1982 he had released his final original Bachman novel, his first Dark Tower novel, and the aforementioned novella collection. We get back on the road as we cover another one of King’s famous and definitive takes on a haunted object.

Last time, we wrapped up the final adapted work from King’s novella collection Different Seasons. Welcome back to the Stephen King Book to Screen Series.

Christine stephen king review