Stephen King's First Published Novel Crossword Clue
Introduction
Stephen King is a world-renowned author, known for his horror and suspense novels. He has written over 60 books, which have sold more than 350 million copies worldwide. However, every writer has to start somewhere, and King's first published novel is a mystery to many. In this article, we'll be discussing the crossword clue that reveals the title of Stephen King's first published novel.
The Crossword Clue
For years, Stephen King fans and puzzle enthusiasts have been trying to solve the crossword clue that reveals the title of King's first published novel. The clue is "Author of 'Carrie' and 'Salem's Lot' (7)." The answer is "Kingdom," which was published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman in 1981.
The Story of Kingdom
Kingdom is a dystopian novel set in a future society where the government controls every aspect of citizens' lives. The story follows a man named Ben Richards, who participates in a deadly game show called "The Running Man" to earn money for his sick daughter's medical treatment. The novel explores themes of corruption, power, and the struggle for freedom.
Kingdom was originally published in 1982, but King wrote it in 1977, before he became a household name. He had already published several short stories and two novels, but he felt that Kingdom was too different from his previous work to be published under his own name. Instead, he used the pseudonym Richard Bachman.
The Bachman Books
Kingdom was not the only novel that King published under the name Richard Bachman. In fact, he wrote five novels under that pseudonym, including "Rage," "The Long Walk," "Roadwork," and "The Running Man." In 1985, a bookstore clerk discovered that Bachman was actually King, and King later confirmed the rumors.
King's decision to use a pseudonym was partly because he wanted to see if his success was due to his writing or his name. He also wanted to publish more books without overwhelming his readers or the market. The Bachman Books have become cult classics and are highly sought after by collectors.
Conclusion
Stephen King's first published novel, Kingdom, was a dystopian thriller that explored themes of power, corruption, and freedom. Published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, it was a departure from King's previous work and proved that he was a versatile writer. The crossword clue that revealed the title of Kingdom has been a mystery to many for years, but now it's no longer a secret.