Elements of King Plots Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Dead Zone

In the 1979 novel "The Dead Zone", we follow Johnny Smith as he awakens from a five-year long coma. He now has powers of clairvoyance and precognition triggered by touching objects. His tale is woven in with those of a rising politician and a serial killer. Occasionally some of the information flow is blocked. Johnny Smith believes this is caused by a permanently damaged area of his brain, which he calls 'the dead zone'.

The novel was adapted for a 1983 film and a TV series (2002-2007) although each uses a different definition for 'the dead zone'.

Answer: It

In King's 1986 horror novel "It", we first encounter this being in the form of Pennywise the dancing clown. It however appears to its victims in different forms, depending on their fears. The book is in two parts separated by 27 years and the same 'losers' are involved on both occasions. It has been adapted for TV, film (2017) and there is a sequel.

Answer: The Shining

Another horror novel, "The Shining" (1977) is based on Stephen King's personal experiences of alcoholism and a visit to the Stanley Hotel of Estes Park, Colorado in 1974. Struggling writer and alcoholic Jack Torrance takes a winter caretaker job at the hotel, bringing his family with him. The supernatural influences at the hotel affect Jack's sanity.

The 1997 TV miniseries was filmed at the Stanley Hotel. The 1980 film adaptation, however, was filmed mostly in the UK. King wrote a 2013 sequel ("Doctor Sleep") which was adapted for film in 2019.

Answer: The Gunslinger

The full name for this dark-fantasy novel is "The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger". First in the series, it was first published as a fix-up novel in 1982, combining five previously-published short stories. King subsequently revised the novel in 2003, adding the subtitle "RESUMPTION".

It is set in an alien world, although there are some common elements to our own. It follows Roland Deschain of Gilead, the last gunslinger, on a quest to hunt down 'the man in black'. It was inspired by Robert Browning's 1885 poem "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came".

Answer: Misery

"Misery" (1987) is a psychological horror novel. Writer Paul Sheldon has developed a fan following for his historical romance novels featuring Misery Chastain. He wants to move on but falls victim to one of his adoring Misery Chastain fans. There are echoes of Scheherazade (narrator of "The One Thousand and One Nights") in this.

He intended to publish it under his Richard Bachman pen name; however, the link to him was uncovered before publishing so he used his own name. The 1990 film adaptation saw Kathy Bates win an Oscar for her role as the fan, one of the few in the horror genre.

Answer: Firestarter

The 1980 science fiction horror novel "Firestarter" has a secretive government agency called Shop wanting to get their hands on a young girl called Charlie McGee with pyrokinetic powers. Her father sees this as a bad idea. A chase ensues with evasion helped by her father's drug-induced powers.

The novel won several awards, has two film adaptations (1984 and 2022) and 2002 TV miniseries sequel.

Answer: 'Salem's Lot

Based in the fictional town of Jerusalem's Lot, with an abbreviation used for the book title, the 1975 horror novel "'Salem's Lot" sees writer Ben Mears return to his home town after a 25-year period of writer's block. He soon discovers the town has a vampire problem and sets about trying to do something about it. King also uses the town as a setting in the short stories "Jerusalem's Lot" and "One for the Road", which appear in the 1978 "Night Shift" collection.

The novel has been adapted for TV (1979 and 2004) and film (2024).

Answer: 11/22/63

The title of the 2011 science fiction novel "11/22/63" is a reference to the date on which President John F Kennedy was assassinated. The novel explores what might happen where a time traveller, teacher Jake Epping, attempts to stop the assassination.

The novel is populated with a mix of fictional and real characters. King wrote two endings to the book, putting the abandoned one on his website in 2012. There was a TV series based on the book made in 2016.

Answer: The Green Mile

Originally published as a serial, "The Green Mile" (1996) is told by Paul Edgecombe some 64 years after working as a supervisor at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. The novel is named after the colour of the linoleum outside the death row cells. One death row inmate, John Coffey, has healing powers which play a significant role in the film.

A 1999 film adaptation was made, earning four Oscar nominations, with the timeline changed by three years to allow the inclusion of the film "Top Hat" (1935). Viewing the film is Coffey's last request and acts as a prompt for Edgecombe to tell the story 64 years later, although it does not appear in the book version.

Answer: Pet Sematary

A retelling of the 1922 horror short story "The Monkey's Paw", this 1983 horror novel "Pet Sematary" (which echoes a misspelt sign) sees Louis Creed and family move to a house with a busy highway in front. The cemetery has a lot of road kill from the highway with an ancient indigenous section at the back.

This is where the resurrection comes in, but not all is as it seems. The book has spawned two film adaptations (1989 and 2019) and a prequel "Pet Sematary: Bloodlines" (2023) as well as a 1997 radio adaptation.

Answer: The Running Man

This novel was written under the Richard Bachman pen name, one of seven books King wrote using the pseudonym. These tend to be darker-themed books. In the case of "The Running Man", first published in 1982, the setting is a dystopian United States where the protagonist takes part in a reality show called "The Running Man" in which contestants can earn money in various ways whilst being pursued by a team of hitman.

A loose film adaptation was released in 1987 with a truer version being filmed in 2024.

Answer: Christine

The object in question is a 1958 Plymouth Fury which its owner calls Christine. The book is the 1983 horror novel "Christine" by Stephen King. It turns out that the car is possessive and has a malign influence on many of those people connected with it. An unusual feature of this car is that it can repair itself. The novel was first adapted for film in 1983.

Answer: Carrie

King's debut novel, "Carrie" (1974) was reportedly rescued from the trash bin by his wife Tabitha who saw promise in the story. The book went on to be a best seller, particularly after the success of the 1976 film adaptation. The story revolves around high school student Carrie White who gets picked on for being different.

She is pranked by one of the school bullies on prom night and decides to take revenge. Having telekinetic powers helps.

Answer: The Stand

This novel marks the first appearance of the Randall Flagg character, a sorcerer leaning to the dark side. He appears in at least nine King novels usually with the initials 'R. F.'. "The Stand" (1979) is a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy where the accidental release of a weaponised influenza virus causes a deadly pandemic.

The novel then follows some of the survivors. Adaptation for film has proved problematic, however two TV miniseries were produced in 1994 and 2020.

Answer: Cujo

The name of the 1981 horror novel "Cujo" is the name of the rabid Saint Bernard dog at the centre of the story. Like Stephen King at the time, the protagonist Donna Trenton owns a failing Ford Pinto, which leads to her encounter with the dog. A film adaptation followed in 1983.

The dog Cujo is mentioned in several other King novels. The novella "Rattlesnakes", part of the 2024 collection "You Like It Darker", is described as a sequel.