Storm of the Century: An Original Screenplay

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Screenplay for the film

376 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1,1999

About the author

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Stephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.

Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.

He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.

Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.

In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.

Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 99 votes)
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99 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
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Stephen King is a renowned and highly influential author in the world of literature.

He is known for his diverse range of works that span multiple genres, including horror, thriller, and science fiction.

King's writing style is often characterized by its vivid descriptions, engaging storylines, and ability to draw readers in and keep them on the edge of their seats.

In the given statement, "Oggi mi sento in vena di scrittura sperimentale," which means "Today I feel in the mood for experimental writing," it shows that King is constantly evolving and exploring new creative territories.

This willingness to take risks and try new things is one of the reasons why he has remained relevant and successful throughout his career.

We should give him a chance and appreciate the effort he puts into his unique writing style.

His works are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, making him a true master of the written word.
July 15,2025
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I really had no idea what to expect from a story so far from King's style.

First of all, I had a screenplay in my hands.

Second, it was a book that I had never heard of from any other reader, something completely unknown to jump into during the winter session.

Uncle Stephen is, as we all know, my safe haven to land in during every storm, but upon reading the first few pages, I had stated that this was not the usual King: pure action, a real thriller that pulses in the veins, without any psychological aspect.

But, now I know, I was very wrong.

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Little Tall Island, the island of Dolores Claiborne, is about to be hit by the strongest storm in history, the one that chroniclers call the "storm of the century".

The citizens organize themselves to take shelter, but in the midst of those vivid preparations, a terrible event occurs: an elderly woman is killed by an unknown man, a man with a stick with a silver wolf's head at the end.

The assassin does nothing to escape, in fact, he stays to wait for the police.

He wants to be caught because he wants something, but what?

And if this thing that the assassin desperately wants leads to a pact that the islanders must make, an agreement that induces them to dig into the heart of each one, to make each person understand what they are willing to do for their own life and for that of their loved ones?

What would we, in their place, be capable of doing?

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It was the ending that completely surprised me and made me understand the greatness of King.

Because, even in a story where there doesn't seem to be a moral but only a continuous suspense, in the end, Uncle Stephen puts it and gives us the possibility to reflect.

Reflect on man, on the evil and horror that we all have in our souls.

A horror not made simply of vampires, monsters or zombies, but of selfishness and meanness towards our neighbors.

But he is the King, as we know, and a king never lays down his crown.

July 15,2025
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The storm of the century is an outstanding story worth reading.

It is extremely easy to read, and I appreciate the fact that it is written in a play-through form.

However, if you have watched the movie, you have essentially read the book.

I had expected there to be additional scenes in the book that were not in the movie, but unfortunately, that was not the case.

Nonetheless, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

If you have a penchant for adventure books, then you should definitely pick up this book.

It offers an exciting and engaging narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The accompanying image, as shown, provides a visual hint of the story's essence.

Overall, it is a great choice for those seeking an adventurous literary experience.
July 15,2025
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Another very interesting, creepy, disturbing story by Mr Stephen King. I greatly enjoyed it, especially that it's written in an original style, different from the rest of his books.

In the edition I read, Mr King explained how he got the idea of this book. He said that the more he thought of it, the more he saw it as a movie, and that's why he wrote it as a movie script.

That's what caught me at the beginning. It was really interesting to picture the different scenes and characters. I mean, I can usually picture in my head scenes when reading a book, but in this one, the interesting thing was how the author made me focus on certain details that I might have missed.

With every scene, I can imagine from what angle to see it, if I had to focus on a specific character, and it was great! It made me live the story!!

Now, the story itself was great!! The kind of story only Mr King can tell!

Trapped on an island, during the worst storm "the storm of the century", with a murderer of a different kind! He turned himself in to the constable, and yet the killings didn't stop. The residents start to panic when this man, Andre Linoge, starts to tell them their deepest and worst secrets!!

Who is he?? How did he land on the island at such a time?? How did he know all those secrets?? And most importantly, what does he want??

The worst part starts when all he says is "Give me what I want and I'll go away"!!

This is a great book that I enjoyed and really recommend to my friends. It's a thrilling and suspenseful read that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
July 15,2025
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The book that I read was “Storm of the Century” by Stephen King.

In this book, the reader is taken on a journey following a series of events that unfold on Little Tall Island, located off the coast of Maine, during a powerful hurricane. The characters on the island are vividly brought to life.

The book, in and of itself, is quite good. There is a significant amount of character development as the story progresses. Additionally, it has a complex narrative with numerous underlying tones and ideas. However, I wouldn't consider this to be Stephen King's best work, especially when compared to other masterpieces like “The Shining” or “It”. Nevertheless, it is far superior to books such as “Cycle of the Werewolf”.

The main issues I had with the book were that many of the motives seemed miscommunicated or lost within the text. Also, the pacing was inconsistent, alternating between extremely slow and overly fast at different times, which really detracted from the overall reading experience.

I don't hate the book by any means. In fact, it has its redeeming qualities. One such quality is the excellent character development given to the side characters, something that is often overlooked in many books and TV shows.

Still, the pacing problems that are present in this book seem to be a common issue in a lot of Stephen King's works, like “Doctor Sleep” and others. Overall, considering its length of over 300 pages and the amount of filler it contains, I would rate this book a 4/5.
July 15,2025
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One of the best stories of King's is truly remarkable. It has the power to captivate readers and transport them to a different world. The story is filled with vivid characters and exciting plot twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. King's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy for you to get lost in the story. Whether it's a thrilling mystery, a heartwarming romance, or a thought-provoking adventure, King has a story that will appeal to everyone. His ability to create believable and relatable characters is one of the things that makes his stories so great. You can't help but root for the heroes and despise the villains. Overall, one of the best stories of King's is a must-read for anyone who loves a good book.

July 15,2025
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I really enjoyed this a great deal more than I had initially expected!

It was truly a pleasant surprise. The experience was so engaging and captivating that it left me eager to explore further.

Now, my next step is to check out the mini series. I'm looking forward to seeing what it has in store and how it will continue to build on this wonderful experience.

I have a feeling that the mini series will be just as enjoyable, if not more so. It's always exciting to discover something new and interesting, and this has definitely been one of those times.

I can't wait to immerse myself in the world of the mini series and see where it takes me.
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