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Doctor Sleep

The Shining #2 / 2
by Stephen King
Doctor Sleep (The Shining #2) by Stephen King
  ★ 7.10 / 11
1★2★3★4★15★26★47★38★19★10★

2013 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel. Locus Award nominee 2014.

Stephen King returns to the characters and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy protagonist of The Shining) and the very special twelve-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals.

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless - mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and tween Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the ‘steam’ that children with the ‘shining’ produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant ‘shining’ power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes ‘Doctor Sleep’.

Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan’s own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra’s soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of hyper-devoted readers of The Shining and wildly satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon.

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Standard Shelves
Updated 04/08/2025
Category: Horror, Bram Stoker Award
Release date: September 20, 2013

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Stephen King

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.

Read more ...

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

The Shining

The Shining consists of two books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

The Shining (The Shining #1)
  ★ 8.32 / 34
Doctor Sleep (The Shining #2)
  ★ 7.10 / 11


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