A Writer's Biography, Volume I, Part 6: Stephen is Still The King

Photo by Kelly Brito on Unsplash

Last weekend, I happened to catch the new film version of IT at my local theater, at the suggestion of my daughter, who happens to be into horror more than a little bit. I have to say it was of a higher quality than the 1990 miniseries. After the movie, over dinner, we wound up having a lively discussion regarding why they moved the plot setting 30 years ahead of the original book (cheaper and more readily available 1980's items than 1950's items nowadays) and how the plot progressed fairly closely to the original text. I was surprised...

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... that the filmmakers decided to split the story into two. But with that decision made, it made far more sense to me that they decided to focus on the Losers' adventures as kids rather than going back and forth between teen and adult adventures. It made for a far more coherent plot line, all things considered.

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As we watched the film, I kept thinking back to the prominence that King has had in my …