Stephen King 'Under the Dome' -- Exclusive Interview

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 27th 2009 07:51AM

Stephen King is back and ready to make your hair stand on end with 'Under the Dome,' a complex novel about society and humanity with that signature King touch. PopEater is proud to exclusively premiere an interview in which King discusses 'Dome.' "There's a saying that people have in Alcoholics Anonymous, which is 'You're only as sick as your secrets.' Some of the people in this book are pretty sick indeed, and let's put it this way, I think readers are going to be engaged, but I don't think they're going to be totally surprised by some of the things people are holding back because we have them in our own lives," King says in the interview. Watch It After the Jump!

"I saw it as a chance to write about the serious ecological problems that we face in the world today. I don't want to get real heavy about this ... but the fact is we all live under the dome. We have this little blue world we've all seen from outer space, and it appears that's all there is," King says in the interview.

Explaining how the book came to fruition, King says he tried to write 'Dome' in 1976, but that it got put on the back burner until three years later -- but even then, King wasn't ready. "It's kind of like a baseball player saying 'I missed a really fat pitch and I'd really like to have another chance.'"

During a plane trip to Australia three years ago, King got that fat pitch, and the inspiration to revisit the 'Dome' concept returned.

"The image that caught my mind was the idea of these people giving a press conference to the outside world ... and from what you see there's nothing between them and the cameras until somebody reaches out and knocks on, you know, thin air," King explains.

Buy It: Stephen King's 'Under the Dome'

The acclaimed author of more than 50 books says it "was great to be working on a big canvas again," explaining that he ultimately writes "two kinds of books. I do books that are like murals, they're big and they're populated with all kinds of characters, and then [I] do the close-up books like 'Misery.' ... If you're going to write a book that people are going to love ... you just can't phone it in."

The world and the environment was a key factor for King's inspiration, the author says. "I saw it as a chance to write about the serious ecological problems that we face in the world today. I don't want to get real heavy about this ... but the fact is we all live under the dome. We have this little blue world we've all seen from outer space, and it appears that's all there is," he says.

Get info on Stephen King's upcoming comic book project, 'American Vampire' @ ComicsAlliance.

Tags: misery, stephen king, StephenKing, under the dome, UnderTheDome

Comments

(93)

Tuesday 27 October

By JoSmiles

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Mr.King is a master of the written word. He is able to tell a story in a way that worms under your skin and lays down roots in your brain. He can entertain and scare the hell out of you at the same time. He can assault your senses with his vivid imagery, and yet defy you to put the book down and return to normal life. I have enjoyed many of his books -- most of them, staying with me for years. The Stand, Misery, The Shining -- all of his "block busters," Yes. I found them compelling. But the little girl who got lost in the woods -- that little book packed a lifetime of nightmares to come. Mr. King -- you know your craft, and you do it well.

By tig

King is great, I love his books, most of them. Never could get into the gunslinger series, too fantastical, but the rest of his books rock! Some one said Dean Koontz? is a good horror writer? Sorry, but not for me, I did like several of his books but he goes way too far with the adjectives. I hope they find a way to keep King alive for a long time, or at least his head.

By hi

Vote down Vote up Report this

King and Koontz do different things in different ways. I love Koontz's large vocabulary since its quite educational, and I also love that his stories have a heavy theme involving love and that the thriller/horror aspects could ALMOST be considered an aside in some pieces. also, he has very good premises with strong plausible backgrounds and its always clear that he's done his research.
King on the other hand, is a very entertaining author. He's great with stream-of-consciousness and lending a 'catchy' air to his work.

By Tim

King should grow his mustache back. He looks great with the big thick bushy stache.

By deerhunter

read the gunslinger series. perfect example of 'over-writing'. first 3 books GREAT, last couple not so much. seemed like he was in a rush to complete the project

By mustache

King should grow his mustache back. He looks great with the huge bushy stache.

By Snow

I've always loved S. King, but I have to agree some of his older books were better. I'm looking for some good psychological thriller books. Any ideas, you guy?

By Richard

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I dont care what anyone says King is one of the greatest suspense writers ever and Lord of the Rings can suck The Dark Towers nutz

By bellagrlxitalia

one note about the aol writers, they suck and they actually have college degrees? lol they need to use freelancers get alil fresh outlooks.

i loveeeeeeeee stephen king. and alot of what he writes that is strange is really true about mainers LOL hes awesome

By Tiffany

You know, I've never read one of King's novels. My father loves them but somehow I've never taken the time to pick one up. If being consitered for someone who's reader's preference is typically towards fantasy and/or adventure do you think it would be a good read? And seeing how I tend right off an author as having the potential for decent reading material if i don't like the first book I read would this book be the one to start with?

By katowjo9

I suggest trying the Dark Tower series, the first being "The Gunslinger." It's pretty much a Western fantasy novel and very the series is wonderful.

Friday 30 October

By Julie

I recommend you start with any of the collections of short stories. They will give you a good sense of King's various styles, without the huge time commitment. Some of the novels that I have really enjoyed... Salem's Lot, Fire Starter, The Stand, IT (that one scared the bejeebers out of me!), The Green Mile, Duma Key. There are many others that are really good, but this should be a good start. One of the things I really like about King is that he likes to experiment with different genres and different ways to deliver his stories. As a result, there are some of his books that I really have not liked, however, I still read every thing of his that I can get my hands on, because he is so great at what he does. I like ALMOST everything of his that I have read.

By Raymond

I consider Steven King, (and this may get more than a few laughs of derision) one of the great contemporary authors of my lifetime. (I'm 45) My Love for him goes back to Salems Lot and explodes with his classic The Stand. King has been broaching subject matters not considered decades before they became considered. To label him as horror writer is to miss his true talent which is the art of magicly and hauntingly describing a moment in time, or to capture a deep poinent feeling we all have felt. Steven King can transport me to a time and place and keep me there quicker than almost any author I follow. I look forward to reading this book. Another thing I appreciate is that he has hinted that he has a belief in Global Warming, but is respectful enough to as he says "not go real heavy on this" I am tired of people trying to shove their beliefs down my throat and I can respect a person who has his beliefs but does not feel the need to convince me that they are correct. For anyone who has somehow missed the artform of Steven King I reccomend any of his works, but a top five would be The Stand, IT, Liseys Story, The Talisman & Black House (both co-written with Peter Straub.

By rann948

I agree with those that object to his use of bad language. Thousands of great writers over the centuries managed to write great works without resorting to the shock value of filthy language. Great writers know that the story is in the mind, and if you aren't intelligent enough to "fill in the blanks" then you shouldn't be reading, you should be watching videos so you can get an exact, word by word, translation.

For every reader who is "attracted" to filth, there are a hundred who are put off. Cha-ching.

By Sharon

Stephen King is one of the best writers I know. He makes the unbelievable, believable. His writing has changed with the times, yet keeps with his original writing of good against evil.

To all you people that say you don't like King's newer work, give Duma Key a try. It's amazing, I couldn't put it down for the life of me.

By Ashley

The Dark Tower series is a masterpiece, nothing compares to it!

By Dot

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Every time I see Steven King my blood boils. I used to be a faithful reader until I hear him say that "kids who know how to read, go to college, all the rest who do not know how to read, join the armed forces" I lost respect for him that day.

By Tonya411

The Duma Key, Cell, and Blaze are three of his more recent books... excellent in my opinion!! I've read The Stand from start to finish 4 times. Sure, a few books may not appeal to your liking, but that doesn't hold true for everyone! I can't WAIT to get my hands on this new book! I will probably read it in one sitting! I grew up on Stephen King, my mom is a fan. We never tire of his work!!