11/22/63

World Fantasy Award nominee 2012, British Fantasy Award nominee 2012, Locus Award nominee 2012.

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? Stephen King’s heart-stoppingly dramatic new novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassination — a thousand page tour de force.

Following his massively successful novel Under the Dome, King sweeps readers back in time to another moment — a real life moment — when everything went wrong: the JFK assassination. And he introduces readers to a character who has the power to change the course of history.

Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students — a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.

Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane — and insanely possible — mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life — a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

A tribute to a simpler era and a devastating exercise in escalating suspense, 11/22/63 is Stephen King at his epic best.

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Science Fiction Thriller

Release date: November 3, 2011

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Stephen King

Stephen King’s name is synonymous with horror, suspense, and the kind of storytelling that lingers long after the final page is turned. Born in Portland, Maine, in 1947, his love for the macabre began early, drawing inspiration from his small-town upbringing and the creeping unease that would define much of his work. From his first short stories published in magazines to the blockbuster novels that changed the literary landscape, King's journey from aspiring writer to a cultural phenomenon is nothing short of legendary.

King's ability to tap into the darkest corners of the human psyche—where fears, regrets, and hopes collide—has made him a master of not just horror, but of emotional and psychological depth. Whether through the heart-wrenching terror of Carrie, the chilling isolation of The Shining, or the post-apocalyptic dread of The Stand, King’s work taps into universal themes that resonate far beyond genre conventions. His characters are not merely victims of circumstance but complex individuals battling with their own inner demons, making his novels as much about personal conflict as they are about supernatural terror.

His distinctive style blends vivid realism with eerie, often grotesque visions that feel unsettlingly familiar. King’s knack for pacing, his eye for detail, and his understanding of what keeps readers awake at night have earned him the title of "The King of Horror." But horror is just one part of his immense body of work. His genre-defying novels like The Dark Tower series merge fantasy, science fiction, and horror into a sprawling narrative that echoes with themes of fate, destiny, and the nature of storytelling itself.

Throughout his career, King has proven his prowess across all forms of writing—from short stories to epic novels, screenplays, and even non-fiction. His works have been adapted into more than fifty films, series, and miniseries, cementing his place in both literary and cinematic history. King's books have been translated into dozens of languages, and his influence extends far beyond the written page. His ability to blend horror with profound human insight has captivated readers for generations, earning him critical acclaim and a devoted global following.

Even in his more personal works, King’s touch is unmistakable. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft offers a raw and candid look at his journey as a writer, offering insight into both the creative process and the perseverance required to succeed. As he reflects on his life and work, he reminds us that storytelling is both an art and a lifeline, something that has defined his career and continues to shape the horror genre today.

For those who have ventured into his worlds of darkness, danger, and redemption, Stephen King's work offers more than just the thrill of a good scare; it’s an exploration of what it means to be human in the face of the unimaginable. From the shadows of his Maine hometown to the global stage, King’s legacy as a storyteller is unshakable, and his influence on both literature and pop culture remains profound.

Stephen King has written a number of books using the pen name Richard Bachman.

Photo: Shane Leonard