Books

New York: Signet Books - New American Library, 1985. Stated First Signet Printing, April, 1985; number-line beginning w/3. Beautifully signed by Stephen King at title page: "For Michael - with best wishes, Stephen King, 2/23/89." Rare vintage signature. Black glossy pictorial wraps w/bold, raised silver titles, light shelf, edge, corner wear. Cover features image of werewolf splashed in red. Heavy stock coated pages near fine; no writing. Bind fine. Illustrations by Bernie Wrightson include dramatic, richly colored full-page plates throughout - many not seen in the Land of Enchantment edition - along w/chiaroscuro (high contrast) two-page spreads in black & white greeting reader at beginning of each chapter, arranged by months of the year. Finally, partial-page b&w images fuel the intensity. Wrightson's imagery is sure to thrill. Terror began in January - by the light of the full moon... When the full moon shines, a paralyzing fear descends on the isolated Maine…

In Stephen King's "The Shining," published in 1977, Jack Torrance, a recovering alcoholic and struggling writer, accepts a job as the winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. Jack sees this as an opportunity to reconnect with his family—his wife Wendy and their young son Danny, who possesses psychic abilities known as "the shining." As winter descends and the hotel becomes snowbound, strange and eerie events begin to unfold. Danny, sensitive to the hotel's dark history and its supernatural influences, starts experiencing visions of the hotel's disturbing past. He communicates telepathically with the cook, Dick Hallorann, who also possesses the shining and warns Danny of the dangers lurking within the hotel. As the isolation and malevolent forces of the Overlook take hold, Jack's mental stability begins to crumble. Influenced by the hotel's sinister spirits and haunted by his own demons, he becomes increasingly erratic and violent. The malevolent entities within the hotel exploit Jack's vulnerabilities, leading to his descent into madness. Danny's psychic abilities intensify, allowing him to see the horrors hidden within the hotel and foresee the danger posed by his father. With Wendy increasingly worried about Jack's erratic behavior, Danny and his mother attempt to escape the hotel's grasp while evading Jack, who has become a terrifying and dangerous threat. Throughout the novel, King masterfully portrays the psychological horror of isolation, addiction, and the disintegration of the family unit. He explores themes of supernatural malevolence, the impact of past traumas, and the struggle against inner darkness. "The Shining" is celebrated for its atmospheric tension, vivid characterization, and the haunting portrayal of a family unraveling in the face of supernatural evil. The novel has captivated readers for decades, earning its place as a cornerstone in the horror genre and solidifying Stephen King's reputation as a master storyteller of chilling and psychologically gripping tales.

Look for the gutter code 'R49' found on page 447 of the original first edition hardcover, indicating a print date of December 1976, which coincides with the January 1977 release date. Jacket illustration by Dave Christensen and the jacket typography is by Al Nagy.