bachmankingoverdrive

[bachmankingoverdrive]

We're going to be doing a little speed round today with From A Buick 8. Published in 2002 I'll be using my Hardcover Scribner ISBN 0-7432-1137-5

There is a ton of vague things going on in this book that feel familiar, but not much that can be considered concrete evidence. This book centres around a "car" that is clearly not actually a car. It's heavily implied that this is one of the vehicles driven by the "Low Men" as seen in the Hearts in Atlantis story Low Men in Yellow Coats. It also contains creatures that sound like they've been ripped straight from The Mist. Once I revisit that short story I may add a connection if I find enough solid parallels.

The one piece that I will be adding from this book is a reference to someone reading a copy of Inside View. This is found on page 25, in the first 'Then' chapter.

I have full intentions to return to this post at a later date and update it as I unearth new details.

Long Days, and Pleasant Nights,

Vir

[bachmankingoverdrive]

Today we'll be taking a look at the Gwendy's series. I absolutely adore this trilogy.

Originally published in 2017, Gwendy's Button Box was actually cowritten by King and Richard Chizmar. I'll be using my Gallery Books Trade Paperback (2017) ISBN 978-1-5011-8829-9

This series is set in Castle Rock and is peppered front to back with Mr. Richard Farris.... RF... aka Mr. Randall Flagg. First introducing himself in Chapter One, page 11.

Gwendy and her use of the titular Button Box is the direct cause of both the Jonestown Massacre* (Chaper 11, page 73) and the collapse of the Suicide Stairs. This event is mentioned in other recent books that are based in Castle Rock such as Elevation. Chapter 22, page 121

The second book in the trilogy was written solely by Richard Chizmar, and was published in 2019. It will be included in my list because... well I want to, and I think that it just makes sense in the scheme of every other Castle Rock book. I'll be using my Gallery Books trade Paperback (2020) ISBN 978-1-9821-3972-8

Just one single heap of a paragraph has all the Castle Rock references a person could want, Frank Dodd (Dead Zone), Cujo, and the fire from Needful Things. Chapter 28, Page 70

Lastly we've got Final Task, again cowritten by Chizmar and King. Published 2022. I'll be using my Cemetary Dance Trade Hardcover (2022) ISBN 978-1-58767-801-1

Starting off strong with the Dark Tower sneaky references. The TET Corporation and the Many Flags space station. Chapter One and Two, pages 7-10

Next we've got Pennywise (Chapter 17, page 113), and a reference to the Black Spot incident from the 1930's (Chapter 7, page 43)

We've also got confirmation that while in the hands of another person, the Button Box caused COVID. Which will connect Holly, and I'm sure others in the future. (Chapter 13, page 83)

And lastly we've got the introduction of the "Low men" and what I will be calling, the "Low cars". These connect us to the Dark Tower, Hearts in Atlantis, From a Buick 8. (Chapter 22, page 172)

This trilogy has so much going on and is so interconnected, I know that I have missed many conections. I will be revisiting this in the future and will definitely update this when I do.

Long Days and Pleasant Nights,

Vir

*This event has many connections, including one that I am hesitant to include. Which is 11/22/63 as the altering of the past has not stopped this event from happening, but has worsened it. The death toll mentioned in the alternate future being significantly higher than before.

[bachmankingoverdrive]

ELEVATION

For my second book to string in the connections, I've chosen Elevation. Published in 2018, it's been met with a fair amount of split opinions. Personally I enjoyed this quick read, I would describe it as a whimsical take on Thinner. Less hellbent revenge, less answers, more accepting that things just happen. Unlike Thinner, this man isn't losing weight... he's losing mass.

I'll be using page numbers from my 2019 Scribner Paperback ISBN 978-1-9821-0232-6

Starting off strong we've got two references in one sentence. The tabloid paper Inside View, and The Night Flier from his titular short story. Found in Capter One, page 28.

Next up, another two on the same page. This book does take place in Castle Rock, so some of these won't be a big surprise. First we've got a band who rename themselves for an event as "Pennywise and the Clowns"

And almost immediately we get a mention of an event from Gwendy's Button Box. The collapse of the Suicide Stairs. These are both found on page 64 in Chapter 3.

Finally we come to the last reference I found, the events of Cujo. Sheriff Bannerman's death was at the hands (paws) of the dreaded dog. Found on page 89 in Chapter 4.

This is a story I intend to return to once I've read more of the Castle Rock based books, I know that I've absolutely missed some here. But that's all part of the fun, isn't it?

Thank you again for staying with me for this long. Long days and pleasant nights.

Vir.

[bachmankingoverdrive]

THINNER

To begin, we'll start out somewhere simple, somewhere familiar to many of us. Thinner was written under Stephen King's most well known pseudonym, Richard Bachman. Published in November 1984, it was unlike three of the four previous Bachman novels because it was not written prior to Carrie (1974) as stated in On Writing (2000).

While I'm not here to review or critique these books, it does need to be stated that some of the subject matter has not aged well. Be aware of the dated depictions of the overweight, the racial caricatures of the "Gypsy" people and the Roma culture. So please read this book with a grain of salt and take a moment to learn about the cultural standards of the 80's.

I've got two connnections in Thinner for you. I will be providing the page number for the 1985 Signet Paperback ISBN 0-451-16134-3

The first being very early in the book in Chapter 3, page 32.

- IT didn't come out until 1986, but this is a very clear tease to Pennywise and things to come.

- The next connection is a fun one. Stephen King, referencing himself, by name. Not once, but twice in one page. This may seem silly too even mention, but as the threads connect, you'll see that King existing in his own books is important to note.

The following is found in Chapter 13 on page 113.

Which brings us to our very first ropes to follow.

Thank you for your time, and once again. Long days, and pleasant nights,

Vir

[bachmankingoverdrive]

The Introduction

I honestly cannot recall the first piece of Stephen King media I was exposed to, whether it was Stand By Me, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, or something else. But I can tell you that my prepubescent mind latched onto these classics before even knowing they were based on books. Let alone by the same author. Carrie was the first movie I watched fully knowing that it was based on Stephen King's work. Sitting on a couch, eating supper on an old TV tray at a friend's house. Due to the nudity and themes of religion, religious trauma and abuse, I never would have been allowed to watch it in my own house. Soon after I became a horror nut, as did many my age. The Grudge, Saw, Final Destination, The Hills Have Eyes (remake) all heavy hitters before high school graduation.

But that was then, and this is now. In my 30's I've returned to reading (in middle and high school I was a bookworm with an obsession for the Hannibal series). I've made efforts to broaden my tastes in genre, mediums, inclusivity, and subject matter. Before ever picking up a King book I'd seen (at least) 13 movie adaptations of varying quality. The first book I decided to try, with encouragement by more than one friend, was The Stand. I stampeded through the first third, and shelved it for years, bookmark still in it. I then succesfully read The Long Walk and was hooked. Soon after I consumed Thinner, Needful Things, It, and Eyes of the Dragon. That's when the first alarm bell went off... where had I seen that name before?

Randall Flagg.

With this blog I aim to tread ground that isn't unfamiliar to some reading this, but I'm putting in the leg work to cite my sources. I'm creating my own physical conspiracy board in my garage. It's four feet tall and six feet long, and I'm praying it's big enough. But I've got the power of the internet behind me to help make some of these connections, as well as an amazing local book club. Unfortunately anonymous reddit contributors rarely share where they spot the Easter eggs, so I've been banging my head against the wall trying to prove legitimacy for every claim. My pain is your gain, please enjoy my descent into madness not dissimilar to the one in N.

I will only be making posts regarding books and short stories that I have read. No, a specific location (Derry, Castle Rock) does not constitute a direct connection between books (with exception of a few specific instances that will be explained). There will need to be either a mention of events, characters, items, quotes, or otherwise to create a firm connection. I'm planning to bring up some theories that I feel have enough evidence to merit consideration (please reach out if I accidentally miscredit someone, I'm not particularly savvy in this way). At this point in time I own nearly all of King's fiction books and read nearly 30, in addition to the 47 adaptations and counting that I've watched. Revisions and updates will be made as I read further and find more common threads.

Thank you for your patience and diligence in making it this far. Fingers crossed that I will make it worthwhile.

Vir.