In 'The Shining', the haunted Overlook Hotel is a source of terror for Danny, the young boy. The ghosts in the hotel try to possess him and drive him mad. They use hallucinations and disturbing visions to terrify him, like the creepy twins or the elevator full of blood.
In 'It', Pennywise uses fear. It appears as what each kid fears the most. For example, it might show up as a leper to a kid who is afraid of disease, or a giant spider to someone with arachnophobia. By taking these forms, it terrifies the kids and makes them vulnerable to its attacks.
One recurring character is Pennywise the Clown from 'It'. He is a terrifying and malevolent entity that preys on the children of Derry. Another is Roland Deschain from 'The Dark Tower' series. He is a gunslinger on a quest. And there's also Carrie White from 'Carrie', a girl with telekinetic powers who is often bullied and then takes revenge.
Yes, libraries are a legal way. As I mentioned before, you can borrow physical or digital copies from there. Additionally, if Stephen King himself decides to release a short story or a novel for free on his official website, that's another legal source.
Randall Flagg is a major recurring character. He embodies pure evil in King's works. In 'The Stand', his actions drive much of the conflict between good and evil. He's a powerful and manipulative figure. Pennywise the Dancing Clown is another. Its significance lies in its ability to tap into the deepest fears of the characters and readers alike. It lurks in the sewers of Derry, representing the hidden terrors that can exist in a small town. Father Callahan also recurs. He is a complex character, a priest who has his own struggles with faith and the supernatural, adding a layer of religious and moral exploration to the stories.
He often sets his stories in places with diverse populations. By doing this, he can explore how different races interact and how racism can disrupt these interactions. He might show how a person of a certain race is marginalized in a community, or how racial stereotypes are perpetuated. His detailed descriptions of these situations make the readers understand the complexity of racism and how it can be deeply ingrained in society.
One way is to search on dedicated fanfiction websites. For example, Archive of Our Own (AO3) has a vast collection. Just type 'Stephen King's It fanfiction' in the search bar and you'll get a list of relevant works. Another option could be to join fan communities on platforms like Reddit. There are often threads where fans share and discuss their favorite It fanfictions.
One common repeated character type in Stephen King novels is the ordinary person thrust into extraordinary and often terrifying situations. For example, in 'It', the characters like Bill, Beverly, and the rest of the Losers' Club are repeatedly shown as normal kids facing the abnormal horror of Pennywise. Their normalcy, with all their fears, hopes, and insecurities, is repeated throughout the story as they keep coming back to fight the evil that haunts their town.
One of the most recurring characters is Randall Flagg. He appears in multiple novels, often as a malevolent force. For example, in 'The Stand', he represents chaos and evil, leading a group against the forces of good. Another is Pennywise the Dancing Clown from 'It'. This terrifying character haunts the town of Derry, preying on the fears of children. There's also Father Callahan, who first shows up in 'Salem's Lot' and then has a role in other works as well.
Repeated characters can create a sense of familiarity and connection for the reader. In Stephen King novels, when we see a character like Jack Torrance in 'The Shining' repeatedly struggle with his inner demons and the external horror of the Overlook Hotel, we become more and more invested in his fate. His repeated actions and reactions make him a complex and relatable figure.
Family relationships are also a connection. Some characters are related, and this family bond is tested by the supernatural events in the stories. In 'Carrie', Carrie's relationship with her mother is a key part of the horror. Her mother's extreme religious beliefs and abuse towards Carrie are intertwined with Carrie's emerging telekinetic powers.
Some of Stephen King's novels in 2019 include 'The Institute'. It's a thrilling story that follows a group of children with special abilities who are held in a mysterious institute. The book is filled with King's signature elements of horror, mystery, and complex characters.