Photo used with permission by photographer Tyler Liston, Assistant Store Manager of the Peoria Barnes & Noble.

Stephen King is Having a Heck of a Year

2017 appears to be a banner year for Stephen King and his fans. The author is going through a bit of a rediscovery process in Hollywood, which multiple works of his either having been adapted or slated to be adapted to television or film in the next year or so.  He also has new written material coming out soon. Here’s a quick rundown of all 2017 things King for new and seasoned fans alike.

Television/Movies

The Mist. This SpikeTV series is based on King’s novella of the same name and is its second film adaptation. This series focuses on the individuals trapped by a deadly mist and how they live out their lives from one moment to the next, not knowing if anything remains of the outside world. The series just wrapped up on television so is not yet available on DVD.

The Dark Tower. This is a complicated adaptation. It’s named after the entirety of King’s magnum opus, starting with book 1 – The Gunslinger. But, this film adaptation isn’t a true re-creation of the series or a prequel. It’s a sort of sequel, following Roland of Gilead and Jake Chambers as they fight to stop the Man in Black from destroying the eponymous tower and the universe. A dvd release date is set for October of this year.

It. This movie that adapts of one of King’s most popular works opens tomorrow in movie theaters. Like The Mist, it is based on a book by the same name and is a second film adaptation after a two-part television mini-series from 1990. It follows a group of bullied teens taking action after they discover that a monster is hunting them one by one.

Mr. Mercedes. This adaptation is a television show currently in the middle of its first season and available through local cable providers. It’s based on King’s novel by the same name and follows retired detective Bill Hodges as he tries to find a murderer who uses a Mercedes as his weapon of choice.

Gerald’s Game. This movie adaptation of King’s book also comes out in theaters this month – on September 29th. Jessie and her husband Gerald try to add a little something extra to their marriage, and Jessie unexpectedly finds herself fighting for survival.

Books

Gwendy’s Button Box. King released this title in May of this year, co-authored by Richard T. Chizmar. This short novel takes place in Castle Rock, in the summer of 1974, when Gwendy’s daily routine is interrupted by a man dressed all in black.

Sleeping Beauties. To be released on September 26th, King has authored this book with his son, Owen King. Women all over the world are falling asleep and not waking up. With the exception of a lone woman, men are left to their own devices in this strange, new world.

The Outsider. This title will be released sometime in 2018, and very little is known about it. King was quoted by USA Today as saying, “There’s a lot of things I want to say about [this book], but I can’t. It’s too cool to talk about right now. All I can say is it won’t be out in 2017 because I’ve got enough going on.” No kidding.

Post by Carey Gibbons, Reference Specialist

About #FDL

Welcome to #FDL! #FDL is a twice weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and East Peoria. Twice a week, library staff will make posts that highlight some aspect of library life and relate it to you – our readers. Have you ever wanted to know which Dewey number represented a certain topic? Are you looking for book recommendations based on your favorite television show or television recommendations based on your favorite book? Have you ever wondered about the secret details of librarian life? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then #FDL is for you. We look forward to writing posts that are informative and entertaining and hope that you enjoy getting better acquainted with Fondulac District Library.