“The latest edition of this textbook suitable for the undergraduate or advanced high school student collects critical essays examining King’s fiction. The bulk of the text consists of two general perspectives: King’s relationship with the culture in which he writes, and a closer reading of selected works. The reader will find essays ranging from a piece comparing King’s work to that of Eliot, to an essay by the horror director, Clive Barker. The book concludes with a lengthy Resources section, which includes a full list of King’s work, a chronology of his life, and a bibliography.”