Science of Stephen King: From "Carrie" to "Cell", the Terrifying Truth Behind the Horror Master's Fiction, The

Stephen King's continued success at churning out tales of spine-chilling horror relies on his ability to begin with everyday characters and ordinary situ ations. The terror is implied, which makes the ensuing tale all the scarier. Gresh and Weinberg plumb King's greatest works, booking for the ways in which science could be used to explain some of the bizarre circumstances in which his characters eventually find themselves. Starting with Carrie, a story about a misfit teenage girl who goes on a rampage at her school prom, the authors explain research into paranormal phenomena, including the heroine's power of telekinesis. The authors also look at the possibility of alien invasions, such as those in King's Tommyknockers and Tracks stories, biological warfare, artificial intelligence, and time travel. Referring not only to King's works but also to those of other masters of suspense and horror, the authors provide a unique look at the scientific side of what scares us most.