Product Description

Upon its initial publication in 1975, 'SALEM'S LOT, with its 'intended echoes of Dracula', was recognized as a landmark work. The novel has sold millions of copies in various editions. Now, with the addition of fifty pages of material deleted from the 1975 manuscript as well as material that has since been modified by King, an introduction by him, and two short stories related to the events of the novel, this edition represents the text as the author envisioned it. It also features lavishly creepy photographs by acclaimed photographer Jerry Uelsmann, printed interior endpapers, and a stunning page design.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9143 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-04
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 768 pages

Review
‘An incredibly gifted writer’ (Guardian )

‘A writer of excellence...King is one of the most fertile storytellers of the modern novel’ (Sunday Times )

‘Stephen King is one of America’s finest writers’ (Scotsman )

‘One of the great storytellers of our time’ (Guardian )

About the Author
Stephen King has written over 40 books and novellas, including CARRIE, THE STAND, RITA HAYWORTH AND THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (from the collection DIFFERENT SEASONS), BAG OF BONES, ON WRITING, CELL and LISEY'S STORY. He won America’s prestigious National Book Award. He lives with his wife, novelist Tabitha King, in Maine, USA.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic
I picked up Salem's Lot late last year and had it read in four days it hooked me that much. Although I have only read a few of King's novels, of all I have read, this is the best so far and has yet proven a hard one to beat. It truly scared the bejesus out of me, the mention of the 'sucking noises' still puts shivers down my back. This has to be the first book that has truly scared me, something I didn't think would happen.

It's such a shame that both TV adaptions haven't been able to portray the atmosphere (and Barlow) correctly as the book had be on the edge of the seat all the way through. Once again, King manages to make his characters seem real with their hidden pasts and secret desires.

Truly brilliant.

A little vampire romp

Salems Lot - peaceful, beautiful and serene. Or is it? The Marsten House, deserted and run down, has been empty for years but it seems new blood is on its way. Ben Mears grew up in the town and moved away, he finds himself at a crossroads in his life and heads back.
The Marsten House has always been at the back of his mind since he saw, (or thought he saw), the owner of the house swinging from a roof beam all blue and dead! When he sees a light on up there one night as it sits looming over the town he gets the heebie jeebies. Evil calls to evil as the saying goes and he feels this has got to be a bad sign. A dog is found dead in a seemingly ritualistic killing, hung on a fencepost down at the cemetery. A cultured chap who claims that he and his business partner deal in antiques and the likes doesn't really put Ben's mind at rest. Then a child goes missing on his way home with his brother, his brother is out of his mind and of no use as to what's happened.
The search begins...
Ben Mears does a little snooping and breaks into the Marsten House, meanwhile someone else goes missing. Ben Mears sees what he thinks is a child's clothes in the basement of the house but has to flee suddenly.
Once the pace steps up people stop dropping like flies as 'Barlow' gorges on the local population. Each night fewer and fewer people are around and about in the public view, Barlow's army grows stronger.
I really do love this book, the pace and tone are amazing! The ultimate battle against the super strong vampire sees the loss of some of the books main characters but that is King at his best; he makes you fall in love with the people then cruelly snatches them away.
Any King reader of old who hasn't read this book has missed a treat, up there with 'The Stand' and 'It' this is a book that defined him as a master of horror.
Its bite is definitely worse than its bark!

disappointing
I read this a teenager and loved it, despite the fact it scared me to death. Having really enjoyed re-reading It, I also picked this up, but time has not been kind.

Only King's second book, a lot of the writing is stilted, and swings between being too superficial and overly detailed. Much worse, I frankly didn't even find it exciting, let alone scary.

If, like me, you're looking for a bit of nostalga, give this a wide berth. Go for It or The Stand instead.