While screen adaptations of Stephen King’s work are arriving particularly frequently of late, the man himself remains as busy as ever. His latest novel, The Outsider is due to hit shelves on May 22nd and, looking beyond that, a brand new novella is coming our way in October.
The 144-page story is entitled Elevation, and takes place in King’s often-revisited fictional Maine town of Castle Rock, which also provides the setting for J.J. Abrams upcoming series of the same name.
Revolving around the kind of small-town prejudice common to a number of King’s tales, Elevation is billed as “…a riveting, extraordinarily eerie, and moving story about a man whose mysterious affliction brings a small town together—a timely, upbeat tale about finding common ground despite deep-rooted differences.” Read on for plot details!
“Although Scott Carey doesn’t look any different, he’s been steadily losing weight. There are a couple of other odd things, too. He weighs the same in his clothes and out of them, no matter how heavy they are. Scott doesn’t want to be poked and prodded. He mostly just wants someone else to know, and he trusts Doctor Bob Ellis.
In the small town of Castle Rock, the setting of many of King’s most iconic stories, Scott is engaged in a low grade—but escalating—battle with the lesbians next door whose dog regularly drops his business on Scott’s lawn. One of the women is friendly; the other, cold as ice. Both are trying to launch a new restaurant, but the people of Castle Rock want no part of a gay married couple, and the place is in trouble. When Scott finally understands the prejudices they face – including his own — he tries to help. Unlikely alliances, the annual foot race, and the mystery of Scott’s affliction bring out the best in people who have indulged the worst in themselves and others.”
Elevation will be published on October 30th.
Words: Kevan Farrow (@KevanX)
