The Dark Half By Stephen King

 

The Dark Half

By Stephen King

 Thad Beaumont is a writer who built his success from crime books published under the pen name of George Stark after mediocre success writing literary fiction under his own name. But the time has come for Beaumont to take back his career doing work he wants to do, not just work he knows will bring in the cash. So, he kills off his pen name after a fan finds out the connection and before it can be leaked to the media.

When Thad was little he suffered seizures and it was found that he had consumed a twin in the womb, a twin who was regenerating and growing in Thad's brain. An operation removed the problem, until George came back. George, essentially Thad's twin in every way but looks and attitude, feels cheated and wants what he thinks is coming to him.

George Stark refuses to die. After a mock burial service for People magazine, Stark rises from the pseudo grave and goes on a killing spree, knocking off everyone involved in his demise. Stark works his way to Thad with the goal of making Thad write him back to life, as Stark is decaying steadily, even though he is technically a ghost in physical form. The ultimate goal is to take over Thad's existence, switching places and making Thad suffer the deterioration of death.

The Dark Half was the first book published after Stephen King got sober and it clearly delas with a writer's fears, as well as his addictions. This is a book that mirror's King's own life: his addictions, his publication ups and downs, and his worries about his family life. King killed off his own pen name, Richard Bachman. What if Bachman came back to life and was angry about being killed off? What if King's own wife couldn't stand who he was after all of his troubles with addiction? What if King's career failed? All of these demons are explored in The Dark Half. This is a book about a writer whose working in his career, a King trope that actually dissects what it means to be a working writer instead of a writer trying to write amidst other influences. It's a book about the creative process and all of the darkness and depth of a writer's life, in this case fictionalized into a much darker story, but dealing with personal demons nonetheless.

I found the story to not be as compelling for me as other King books, but it was an interesting premise. It had a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde feel, and indeed King referenced that story in calling the two main characters Dr. Beaumont and Mr. Stark, in an offhand joke and homage. The story is definitely one of horror, with grotesquery galore. It just didn't have my attention as much as some others. I'm giving it 3.5 stars.

Some connections to other King works: the story takes place partly in Castle Rock, referenced in previous King novels and stories; and references to Sheriff Bannerman from The Dead Zone and Cujo, after his death.