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Cover of Insomnia by Stephen King

Insomnia

Stephen King

  • 719 pages · about 12 hours
  • First published 1994
  • 58 editions
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1 About this book

Insomnia is a 1994 horror/fantasy novel by American writer Stephen King. It follows retired widower Ralph Roberts whose increasing insomnia allows him to perceive auras and other hidden things, leading him to join a conflict between the forces of the Purpose and the Random. Like It and Dreamcatcher, the story is set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine. It includes connections to other Stephen King stories, particularly his novel series The Dark Tower.

  • Thrillers
  • Horror
  • Fantasy
  • People with disabilities
  • Maine

2 What to expect

A long Stephen King novel with an unusual hero: a retired widower whose worsening insomnia lets him see auras and beings no one else can. It begins as a quiet, realistic study of aging and grief in the town of Derry and becomes a metaphysical fantasy tied to the Dark Tower books, against a background of violent conflict over abortion. It is slow to start and very long, and domestic violence is among its subjects.

Good for readers who want: Stephen King fantasy, an elderly hero, and a slow-burning story.

3 About Stephen King

Born 1947

Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror fiction and has also explored other genres, among them suspense, crime, science-fiction, fantasy, and mystery. In a career spanning six decades, he has written approximately 200 short stories, most of which have been published in collections.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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