Tag Archives: Stephen King

Supercontext: Shadowland by Peter Straub


This fantasy/horror novel about prep school boys and magical authority came in the middle of the genre paperback boom. We talk about Straub’s concerns when writing it and how he walked the line between horror and “literature,” while responding to the market pressures on his publisher.

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Supercontext: Ray Bradbury, “How To Keep and Feed a Muse”


In this essay, one of America’s most beloved storytellers provides advice on consuming media, thinking critically about it and applying it to your own work. We get real personal while trying to figure out who our respective “muses” are. 

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Supercontext: Stephen King’s The Gunslinger


A novel that took Stephen King 12.5 years to write is now a major franchise. But what was it like when fans (and retailers) were rabid for more? Did King have a “responsibility” to them? And why didn’t he plot his fantasy world… instead of writing it by the seat of his pants? 

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Supercontext: The Shining — All the Way


Together with guest Jack Bennett we compare and contrast all 3 versions of The Shining: Stephen King’s novel, Stanley Kubrick’s film and ABC’s television mini-series. What does this horror tale of alcoholism and domestic violence say about redemption and narcissism?

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Supercontext: M.R. James, Ghost Stories of an Antiquary


In our 2016 holiday episode we look at the forgotten Christmas Eve tradition of telling ghost stories. M.R. James’ work from over a hundred years ago best represents this Victorian trend, so in his honor we bring horror to academia and safe spaces.

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Supercontext: Stranger Things, Season One


Why do we miss the “simplicity” of the 1980s? Stranger Things effortlessly weaves our nostalgia into its narrative. But is too much nostalgia a good thing?

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Supercontext: John Carpenter’s “Apocalypse Trilogy”


Filmmaker John Carpenter describes The Thing, Prince of Darkness, and In the Mouth of Madness as his “Apocalypse Trilogy.” With the expertise of special guest Jack Bennett, we aim to find out why. It may have something to do with cosmic horror, nihilism, misanthropy and the futility of human existence.

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