The use of the unknown is another key factor. In stories like 'The End of the Whole Mess', he presents a situation that is beyond the understanding of the characters and the readers. We don't know what will come of the experiment gone wrong, and this lack of knowledge creates a long - lasting sense of suspense throughout the story.
One of the most terrifying stories is probably 'The Langoliers'. The idea of time being eaten away by these strange creatures is really spooky.
He often uses the unknown. For example, in many stories, there are strange creatures or phenomena that are not fully explained at first. This makes the readers keep guessing and creates suspense.
Through the use of the confined setting. Paul is trapped in Annie's house, which creates an immediate sense of claustrophobia and danger. The reader constantly wonders how he will escape from this limited and hostile environment.
He uses the element of the unknown. The identity of the real perpetrator is a mystery for a long time. Also, he builds suspense through the characters' reactions. As they start to suspect something is not right, it makes the reader wonder too. And the slow revelation of the supernatural aspects adds to the suspense.
He uses the isolation of the setting. Paul is trapped in Annie's house in a remote location. There's no easy way for him to get help, which immediately creates a sense of danger and suspense.
In the Castle Rock sequence, King is a master at creating suspense. He starts with a seemingly normal small - town setting, but then slowly introduces elements that are off - kilter. The way he describes the environment, like the dark alleys or the abandoned buildings in Castle Rock, makes the reader feel uneasy. He also plays with the readers' emotions by making them care about the characters, and then putting those characters in increasingly dangerous and mysterious situations. For instance, in some stories, a character might start to notice strange things happening around them, like objects moving on their own. As the character tries to figure out what's going on, the reader is right there with them, feeling the growing sense of dread.
He uses vivid descriptions. For example, when describing strange settings or creepy characters, it makes you feel like you're there. In 'The Little Green God of Agony', the description of the pain - transfer device is so detailed that it immediately creates an air of mystery and suspense.
Many of the stories in 'Nightmares and Dreamscapes' are great because of their character development. The characters are often complex and relatable. They face extraordinary situations that test their limits. This makes the reader more engaged as they can see a bit of themselves in these characters.
The character of Greg Stillson also adds to the suspense. His rise to power and the sense of danger he poses are gradually revealed. King doesn't fully expose Stillson's true nature all at once. We keep learning more about his potential for evil as the story progresses, which makes us wonder what will happen when he and Johnny finally face off.
Stephen King often uses the unknown to create suspense in his detective novels. He might introduce a mysterious character or a strange event at the start. For example, in 'The Outsider', the initial crime scene is so baffling that it immediately hooks the reader. It makes you wonder how on earth such a thing could have happened.