Most Stephen KingThe books are connected to each other, and many of them cleverly reference the horror icon’s other stories in passing. Larger ties between the narratives are easy to follow, like the fact that Randall Flagg appears in multiple stories or that locations like Castle Rock keep popping up. However, King’s self-referential nods to his other works are fun to understand, especially for readers familiar with his list of antecedents. These Easter eggs are fun even when they have little to no bearing on the overall plot.
King’s self-references come in all shapes and sizeswith the author citing his own books and their adaptations, citing characters and places from other stories, and even inserting himself into their narrative. It’s a testament to King’s career that he’s able to do this, with his stories being so recognizable that these inclusions barely merit a second look. In cases where King references characters or incidents from other books, he subtly suggests that they are in the same universe. And his references to real books and adaptations make his stories feel grounded in the real world.
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The Dark Tower turns Stephen King into a character
Recognizes his role as Roland’s creator
Perhaps King’s best self-referential nod comes in The Dark Tower, where he becomes a character in his own fictional universe. This isn’t as minor as most of the other references on this list, and it’s not the only time he alludes to his career in this series. However, it is probably his most apt acknowledgment of this. In the end, The Dark Tower is the story that connects everything in King’s universe and is also one of his greatest works to date. If there’s any story that should recognize King as the creator, it’s this one.
And it does exactly that, with Susannah’s Song featuring King as writer and creator of Roland Deschain. The fact that King, the character, tells stories about Roland in a book that King, the author, is writing makes this one of King’s most meta references. Some may find King’s presentation a bit shocking The Dark Tower, but it’s surprising how well it works in the context of the narrative. It’s more or less similar to the creators who appear in film adaptations of their works.
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Dreamcatcher nods to Pennywise and The Losers Club
It is one of many Stephen King books to reference it
Dreamcatcher is among King’s most underrated books, and like many of his works, it contains a tribute to This. During Dreamcatcher, Gray comes across a memorial to the Losers Club, and someone has written on it in red graffiti. The graffiti says “Pennywise lives“, suggesting that Dreamcatcher could be set in the same universe as the 1986 novel. DreamcatcherThe Pennywise reference has certainly sparked theories about whether there is a connection. However, King never elaborates on this further.
The author will probably never address such references, but they’re fun to speculate about nonetheless.
Even though King didn’t intend for this Easter egg to be this deep, It’s an intriguing addition Dreamcatcher. This raises the possibility that Pennywise is still around after the events of This, a theory that some readers dig up whenever King drops a hint like this. The author will probably never address such references, but they’re fun to speculate about nonetheless.
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Stephen King highlights the brilliant film in the drawing of the three
Eddie Dean mentions this while looking through the western sea gates
The second Dark Tower book, The Drawing of the Threereferences Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of The Shining through the character Eddie Dean. When Eddie opens the Western Sea Doors, he compares the view through Odetta to the “moving point of view photos“that exist in films. He gives some examples, and one of them is The Shining. This is treated as a standard pop culture reference, as Eddie also compares what he sees to Halloween and Star Wars.
It is especially interesting that The Shining The film exists in King’s fictional universe, as the author has been outspoken about his criticisms of Kubrick’s adaptation. Of course, it’s still one of the best-known films based on King’s work and is a classic in its own right. So Eddie is right to mention this along with projects like Halloween and Star Wars, throwing in a fun Easter egg for King fans as he goes.
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The Tommyknockers takes their brilliant reference a step further
The book mentions Jack Nicholson’s performance
While The Drawing of the Threereference of The Shining the film is brief, The Tommyknockers takes a step forward. While in Bobbi’s workshop, Gardener notes that the key to the shed is nowhere to be found. He then wonders if he should”take Bobbi’s ax and do like Jack Nicholson in The Shining“to get into this. This is a pretty comical reference in and of itself, but Gardener also reimagines Nicholson’s famous line from the film, transforming”Heeeeeere it’s Johnny!” in “Heeeeere GARDENER!“
King clearly has fun leaving behind Easter eggs like this, and This is not the only one that appears in The Tommyknockers. As CBR notes, Tommy Jacobs hallucinates and sees a clown that is clearly supposed to be Pennywise while he is in Derry. The book also mentions Project Arrowhead The fogso there’s a lot to learn The Tommyknockers.
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Carrie is a book that the Dead Zone characters know
Stephen King’s First Novel Gets Recognition
The Shining and This I get a lot of love from King’s other books, but a reference to Carrie also appears in one of them: The dead zone. When Patty Strachan claims that Johnny burned down a building using his psychic powers, she says it’s “like in that book Carrie.” Just as King’s other novels adapt the realities of the universe of his books, The dead zone confirms that King’s first book exists within his narrative. And given the fact that King has a few stories about characters with psychic abilities, it’s appropriate to make such a comparison.
Unfortunately, King never directly expands Carriespeculation about what would happen if other children with psychic powers appeared. And although Firestarter has a similar premise, misses the chance for a big Carrie connection. The dead zone at least recognizes that such powers are similareven if you don’t explore it seriously.
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Mr. Mercedes References The TV Movie It
The killer’s clown mask resembles Pennywise
Mr Mercedes is another book by King that contains a reference to This, but the 2014 novel specifically mentions the TV movie. Mr Mercedes sees retired detective Bill Hodges trying to track down a killer, and the killer wears a clown mask that looks a lot like Pennywise. Another character points this out to Hodges, asking him, “Have you ever seen that TV movie about the clown in the sewer?” Hodges admits not, but upon watching, he confirms that the killer’s disguise is reminiscent of King’s best villain.
This conversation reveals that This is a work of fiction in the world of Mr Mercedes, like this The Shining is still a classic film in The Drawing of the Three and The Tommyknockers.
This conversation reveals that This is a work of fiction in the world of Mr Mercedes, like this The Shining is still a classic film in The Drawing of the Three and The Tommyknockers. This probably means that This and Mr Mercedes do not take place in the same universe, but It’s always cool to see King’s works exist within his other stories. And having a new villain calling Pennywise adds a layer of fear when introducing the newcomer.
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Radar is compared to Cujo in Stephen King’s fairy tale
Cujo, the film, exists in the 2022 novel
Another King adaptation that receives approval from one of his books is Whose. King’s 2022 novel, Fairy tale, makes a comparison with Whoseholder São Bernardo by introducing another dog named Radar. King’s initial description of Mr. Bowditch”monster dog“feels reminiscent of how Cujo is portrayed, and King continues to make that connection. Of course, in terms of the actual narrative, Radar is not similar to Cujo. But King still takes a moment to reference the adaptation of his 1981 novel .
Brief Easter eggs like this are self-referential and fun to capture, even if they don’t represent much in the grand scheme of King’s multiverse. It is interesting to see how Fairy tale flip the script Whose Upside Down as well, introducing a similar character in terms of appearance but envisioning a very different path for them.
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Misery mentions the fate of the Overlook Hotel
Annie Wilkes references Jack Torrance (but not by name)
Although many of King’s references to his own stories discuss them as works of fiction, Misery mentions the events of The Shiningconfirming that some form of history occurred in the same universe. When talking about Andrew Pomeroy, Annie Wilkes states that he was going to Sidewinder to sketch the remains of a “old hotel.” She goes on to reveal that this hotel is the Overlook – the same as The Shining – and it caught fire because of the caretaker.
It’s a cool Easter egg for fans of The Enlightened, who can fill in the gaps in Annie’s story as she speaks.
Annie appears to be referring to Jack Torrance hereeven if not by name. It’s a cool Easter egg for fans of The Enlightened, who can fill in the gaps in Annie’s story as she speaks. Miserythe connection of The Shining is an interesting example of King being self-referential, as he doesn’t directly name the story he’s referring to. Readers will only understand if they are familiar with The Shining.
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Insomnia beckons to Pennywise living in Derry’s sewer system
The book’s layout makes it ideal for reference
As This, Insomnia takes place in the fictional city of Derry – and this makes it an ideal place for King to drop references to the 1986 novel. There are numerous allusions to This all over Insomnia, but one of the more subtle ones reminds readers of Pennywise’s use of the sewer system. When Ed’s ring falls into the sewer grate, King writes: “In Derry, things that disappear into the sewer system have a way – often unpleasant – to appear.”
Pennywise uses Derry’s sewers to move around the city and lure his victims to him, so It’s fitting that another book set in Derry mentions its sinister history. There are also references to characters and events from This scattered everywhere Insomniaand there’s even an appearance from Mike Hanlon. Those looking for connections between King’s works should definitely pick up the 1994 novel.
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Pet Sematary reminds us that Jerusalem is not “nice”
The name alone makes Rachel uncomfortable
Another minor reference by King in one of his own books appears in Pet Cemetery, when Rachel Creed is on her way to Ludlow. While she’s driving, Rachel sees a sign for Jerusalem’s Lot – better known as ‘Salem’s Lot – and notes that it is “It’s not a nice name for some reason.” Rachel doesn’t realize that’s where the events of ‘Salem Lot will happen, but those familiar with King’s 1975 vampire story will notice the nod.
And Rachel is right that Jerusalem’s Lot is an unnerving city, even if her instincts don’t tell her why. Pet Cemetery also mentions the Cujo incident, although it does not cite the “big old Saint Bernard“in question. Avid readers of Stephen KingThe books will know exactly what the characters are referring to, giving them a sense of satisfaction as they notice yet another one of their Easter eggs.
Source: CBR