On This Day: The Sophomore Story, Salem's Lot

The genre of horror in literature is (roughly) only two centuries old. Compared to other manners of literature---such as fantasy, romance, or tragedy---this is hardly any time at all. The conception of what we call horror today can be traced back, in part, to the 1818 publication of the novel Frankenstein by a 19-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (McRobert). This wasn't necessarily the first ever work of horror, but it certainly revolutionized the genre and arguably birthed literary Science Fiction.

One of the more popular visual depictions of the fictional scientist Victor Frankenstein's monster. Retrieved from 200 Years of Frankenstein - Duke University Science & Society.

A century and a half following this so-called revolution, refinement came in the form of prolific writer and horror-lit legend Stephen King's literary debut, Carrie. Published in 1974, Carrie was virtually an immediate success, his third bestselling novel to date following only The Shining and The Stand (McLoughlin). Understandably, then, after such a nominal breakthrough and with the eyes of developing fans watching, King was under pressure to release a novel that would be able to proceed his debut.

50 years ago today, October 17th, 1975, King's second novel and bestseller was published: 'Salem's Lot. The narrative remains a masterful blend of vampiric revival, horror juxtaposed with small-town comforts, and commentary on social concerns within conservative communities. This is a work that should be read by all horror fans, but then again, I would argue that all of King's work should be read by horror fans.

Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot. Retrieved from Salem's Lot - Stephen King.

'Salem's Lot is unique, however, in its striking ability to emulate a familiar American town. The story's setting---a small New England town called Jerusalem's Lot, shortened to 'Salem's Lot by locals---is a town you have heard of. It is one you have driven through, perhaps, or one you may have visited, and its inhabitants are people you know. This acquaintanceship King is able to draw out from readers makes the evil that follows all the more shocking.

His vampires are creatures of vice. They are embodiments of pure human flaw; a warning of how we can change when our morality begins to crumble. Jerusalem's Lot is a quiet town with the values you may expect to find in such a place. Suggestions of sexuality, homoromanticism, and foreign disregard for the careful fabric of a fragile community all come to Jerusalem's Lot in the form of Dracula-esque monsters. Townspeople who are morally bankrupt are predisposed to vampirism, suggesting that evil preys on such individuals.

Thumbnail of the trailer to a 2024 adaptation of 'Salem's Lot. Retrieved from Salem's Lot (2024) - Videos | ScreenRant.

Half a century after its initial publication, 'Salem's Lot has continued to be referenced in popular media, cementing its vast cultural influence. The emotional honesty which can be found even among mystical forces is the novel's lifeblood, and it's a tool King uses in his works frequently. The true horror lies within our recognition of the narrative's conspicuous proximity to us, and it's the very same mechanism that has, and will continue to, maintain the immortality of King's work.

Works Cited

McLoughlin, Danny. “Stephen King Statistics – WordsRated.” Wordsrated, 19 Oct. 2022, wordsrated.com/stephen-king-statistics/.

McRobert, Neil. “Why ‘Carrie’ Is Still Scary as Shit.” Esquire, 5 Apr. 2024, www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a60387960/carrie-anniversary-stephen-king/.