Works / Novels

Needful Things

Released

October 1991

Available Format(s)

Hardcover / Paperback / Audio / Movie / DVD

Publisher

Viking Press

Leland Gaunt opens a new shop in Castle Rock called Needful Things. Anyone who enters his store finds the object of his or her lifelong dreams and desires: a prized baseball card, a healing amulet. In addition to a token payment, Gaunt requests that each person perform a little "deed," usually a seemingly innocent prank played on someone else from town. These practical jokes cascade out of control and soon the entire town is doing battle with itself. Only Sheriff Alan Pangborn suspects that Gaunt is behind the population's increasingly violent behavior.

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From the Flap

With a demonic blend of malice and affection, Stephen King says goodbye to the town he put on the map -- Castle Rock, Maine . . . where Polly Chalmers runs You Sew and Sew and Sheriff Alan Pangborn is in charge of keeping the peace. It's a small town, and Stephen King fans might think they know its secrets pretty well; they've been here before.

Leland Gaunt is a stranger -- and he calls his shop Needful Things. Eleven-year-old Brain Rusk is his first customer, and Brian finds just what he wants most in all the world; a '56 Sandy Koufax baseball card. By the end of the week, Mr. Gaunt's business is fairly booming, and why not? At Needful Things, there's something for everyone.

And, of course, there is always a price. For Leland Gaunt, the pleasure of doing business lies chiefly in seeing how much people will pay for their most secret dreams and desires. And as Leland Gaunt always points out, at Needful Things, the prices are high indeed. Does that stop people from buying? Has it ever?

For Alan and Polly, this one week in autumn will be an awful test -- a test of will, desire, and pain. Above all, it will be a test of their ability to grasp the true nature of their enemy. They may have a chance . . . But maybe not, because, as Mr. Gaunt knows, almost everything is for sale: love, hope, even the human soul.

With the potent storytelling authority that millions of readers have come to prize, Stephen King delivers an Out Town with a vengeance, an inimitable farewell to a place his fiction has often and long called home.

Inspiration

I guess I was one of the few people in the United States who thought the eighties were really funny. It was a decade in which people decided, for awhile, at least, that greed was good and that hypocrisy was simply another tool for getting along. It was the last hurrah for cigarettes, unsafe sex, and all sorts of drugs. It was the final corruption of the Love and Peace Generation--The Big Cop-out--and I thought it was a case of having to laugh. It was either that, or cry. I was thinking about all this one night while driving home from a basketball game, and my thoughts centered on Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, of the PTL Club. It occurred to me that in the eighties, everything had come with a price tag, that the decade quite literally was the sale of the century. The final items up on the block had been honor, integrity, self-respect, and innocence. By the time I got home that night, I had decided to turn the eighties into a small-town curio shop called Needful Things and see what happened. I told myself to keep it light and surreal; that if I just kept in mind the Bakkers' doghouse, which had been equipped with heaters and running water, I would be okay. And that's what I did. The book didn't review well. Either a lot of critics didn't get the joke or didn't appreciate it. The readers liked it, though, and that's what matters to me.

Characters

Show List

Name

Description

Cujo

The dog who went rabid

Garfield

Cat of Myra Evans

Raider

Nettie Cobbs dog

Smokey

Castle Rock Trout

Tammy Faye

George T Nelson's pet parakeet

?, Felicia

Took the Photo of Lester Pratt and Judy Libby

?, Irvina

Kid at school

?, Sarah

Aunt of Polly Chalmers

?, Timmy (Too-Tall)

Driver for the Flying Corson Brothers

Bannerman, George

Retired sheriff

Bates, Norville

Short order cook at Yor Best Diner.

Beaufort, Henry

Owner & Bartender of the Mellow Tiger bar.

Beaulieu, Donna

Best Friend of Erin McAvoy

Beaumont, Thaddeus (Thad)

Mentioned by Alan Pangborn.

Bellingham, ?

Boy Brian Rusk's age

Bissette, Antonia

Died of a broken neck

Bissonette, Ricky

Worked at Sonny's Sunoco

Bonsaint, Mr.

Husband of Stephanie

Bonsaint, Stephanie

Part of the Ash Street Bridge Club

Bradford, Deke

Public Works boss.

Brigham, John

Local priest

Brigham, Sheila

Sheriff's dispatcher

Brooks, ?

State Police officer

Burgermeyer, Phil

In Church fight

Burgmeyer, Helen

Had a seizure through the night

Camber, Charity

Wife of Joe Camber

Camber, Joe

Owner of Cujo

Catlin, Jimmy

Computer whiz who went to school with Al Pangborn

Chalmers, Evelyn (Aunt Evvie)

Great Aunt of Polly

Chalmers, Kelton

Deceased son of Polly Chalmers.

Chalmers, Lorraine

Mother of Polly.

Chalmers, Newton

Father of Polly Chalmers

Chalmers, Patricia (Polly)

Runs "You Sew and Sew" in Castle Rock. Girlfriend of Alan Pangborn.

Chambers, Chris

Once terrorized by Ace Merrill

Chung, Martin D.

Chief legal council for San Francisco Department of Child Welfare

Clooney, ?

Broke the Jerzyck's window playing baseball

Clutterbuck, Andy

Police officer in Castle Rock. Husband of Melissa

Clutterbuck, Melissa

Town Treasurer. Wife of Andy

Cobb, Albion

Husband of Nettie.

Cobb, Netitia (Nettie)

House keeper for Polly Chalmers.

Constatine, Mr.

Pharmacist at LaVerdiere's super drug

Copeland, Nat

In jail with Ace Merrill.

Corson, Dave

Firearms and drug dealer. Brother of Mike

Corson, Mike

Firearms and drug dealer. Brother of Dave

Crompton, George

Cop who drank at the Blue Door Bar

Cross, Harry

Cop who drank at the Blue Door Bar

Dawson, Stanley

Friend of Brian Rusk

Delkey, Kevin

Friend of Sean Rusk

DeLois, ?

Boy Brian Rusk's age

DeWeese, Mrs.

Teacher

Dodd, Frank

Castle Rock Police officer

Dodd, Mrs.

Mother of Slopey Dodd

Dodd, Slopey

In school with Brian Rusk.

Dorfman, Carl

Roommate of Al Pangborn

Doyon, Peter

Friend of Hugh Priest

Drake, Rosalie

Works with Polly Chalmers

Duchamp, Teddy

Once terrorized by Ace Merrill

Dugas, Bobby

Works at the Public Works Department

Dunham, Lucille

Waitress at Nan's Diner

Edwards, Steve

Friend of Lester Pratt

Emerson, Mr.

Bought a gun at Needful Things

Evans, Chuck

Husband of Myra

Evans, Mrs.

Nurse at the Northern Cumberland Hospital

Evans, Myra Josephine

Best friend of Cora Rusk.

Fortin, Charlie

Drinks in the Mellow Tiger bar

Frankel, Donny

In school with Brian Rusk

Frankel, Everett

Physicians assistant working with Dr Van Allen.

Frazier, Steve

Former Castle Rock Head Selectman

Friedman, David

Ballistics expert for State Police

Fullerton, Bill

Second Selectman of Castle Rock, and the town barber

Gagnon, Timmy

Owner of Riverside BBQ Delish

Gamache, Homer

Beaten to death with his artificial arm near Homeland Cemetery

Garson, Scott

Castle Rock barber

Gaunt, Leland

Proprietor of Needful Things

Gavineaux, June

Wife of a dairy farmer.

Gendron, Albert

Dentist in Castle Rock

Gendron, Henry

Husband of Yvette

Gendron, Yvette

Wife of Henry.

Hanlon, Jay

One of the Hanlon twins

Harper, Norman

In the Baptist church. Friend of Reverend Rose

Haverhill, Mrs.

Lived next door to the Jerzyck's.

Hemphill, Don

On the Republican State Committee

Hemphill, Wanda

Wife of Don Hemphill

Hendrie, Miss

Nurse at the Northern Cumberland Hospital

Higgins, Naomi Sarah

Maiden name of Naomi Peebles

Hopewell, Mark

Real Estate agent

Horton, Mike

Journalist from Norway's "Journal-Register"

Jackett, Sonny

Mechanic

Jerzyck, Peter Michael

Husband of Wilma. Real estate agent

Jerzyck, Wilma Wadlowski

The woman who Brian Rusk had to upset

Jessup, Naomi

In the Church

Jewett, Frank M.

Principal

Johnstone, Deborah

In the Baptist church

Keeton, Bill

Uncle of Danforth, and Brother of Ronald.

Keeton, Danforth (Buster)

Castle Rock Head Selectman

Keeton, Myrtle

Wife of Danforth

Keeton, Ronald

Father of Danforth Keeton.

Killingsworth, Reverend Tom

Methodist Minister

Lachance, Gordon (Gordie)

Was picked on by Ace Merrill

LaPointe, John

Police officer in Castle Rock

Laurence, Shirley

Danforth Keeton's secretary

Lawes, ?

One of the Lawes Boys

Lawless, Mona

Teacher. Friend of Sally Rutcliffe

Libby, Judy

In a photo with Lester Pratt. His ex-girlfriend

Longman, Henrietta

Owned and operated the Beauty Rest

Lutjens, Irene

Friend of Sally Rutcliffe

MacFarland, Bill

Friend of Lester Pratt

Marchant, Billy

Student at School

Martin, Albert

Lawyer husband of Cynthia Martin.

Martin, Cynthia Rose

Part of the Ash Street Bridge Club

Martin, Nonie

In school with Brian Rusk

McAvoy, Erin

8th Grader who saw "dirty" books in Jewett's office.

McDonald, John D.

Writer

McEntire, Reba

Drinks in the Mellow Tiger bar

McGinley, Brion

School Geography teacher

McMillan, Sandra

Part time police Dispatcher

Mellon, Fred

Baptist Deacon

Merrill, John (Ace)

Childhood boyfriend of Myra Evans. Came back to town to work at Needful Things.

Merrill, Reginald Marion (Pop)

Used to run The Emporium Galorium, a junkshop. Uncle of Ace Merrill.

Meyers, Sally

In school with Brian Rusk

Miller, Barbara (Babs)

Part of the Ash Street Bridge Club

Milliken, Len

In church fight

Milliken, Miss

Bought a gun from Gaunt

Mislaburski, Jillian

Next door neighbor of the Jerzyck's

Morin, Ducky

Supplier of drugs to Ace Merrill

Morris, Trooper

State Trooper

Morrison, ?

State Police Officer

Myers, Rose Ellen

Friend of Lucille Dunham

Neadeau, Butch

Castle Rock Overseer of County and Social Services

Nelson, George T.

Gay Woodshop teacher

O'Neal, Father

Castle Rock priest

Palin, John

Vet in South Portland

Pangborn, Al

Son of Alan and Annie

Pangborn, Alan J.

Sheriff. Boyfriend of Polly Chalmers

Pangborn, Annie

Wife of Alan. Died

Pangborn, Todd

Son of Alan. Died

Partridge, Lenny

Oldest man in Castle Rock.

Payton, Henry

Head of Oxford Barracks

Peebles, Naomi Sarah

Wife of Sam Peebles

Peebles, Sam

Owner of the store where Needful Things opened.

Pelletier, Francine

Part of the Ash Street Bridge Club

Perlmutter, John L.

Deputy director of San Francisco Department of Child Welfare

Pervier, Gary

Killed by Cujo

Pollard, ?

Neighbor of Nettie Cobb

Potter, Howard

Friend of Albert Martin.

Potter, Lenore

Bought Howdy Doodie puppet

Potter, Mr.

Husband of Lenore. Boss of Mr Bonsaint

Pratt, Lester Ivanhoe

Fiancee of Sally Rutcliffe. School physical education teacher

Price, Joe

State Policeman

Priest, Hugh Albert

Works for the Public Works department.

Priest, Natalie

Best friend of Darlene Vickery

Pulaski, Frieda

Friend of Wilma Jerzyck. Wife of Jake

Pulaski, Jake

Friend of Pete Jerzyck. Husband of Frieda

Ramage, Nancy

Head Nurse at Castle Rock Family Practice

Ratcliffe, Sally

Brian Rusk's speech therapy teacher.

Ridgewick, Henry

Father of Norris

Ridgewick, Norris

Castle Rock Sheriff

Ridgewick, Phil

Brother of Henry

Roberts, Nan

Owner of Nan's luncheonette

Rose, William

Castle Rock Reverend

Rossignoi, Meade

Threw up on Gendron

Rubin, Fred

Friend of George T Nelson

Rusk, Brian

Gaunt's first customer

Rusk, Cora

Mother of Brian

Rusk, Mr.

Father of Brian.

Rusk, Sean

Brother of Brian

Ryan, Dr. Henry

State chief medical examiner

Samuels, Harry

Only mortician in Castle Rock and Castle Rock Selectman

Sayers, Bill

Worked at Western Auto

Scopes, Dr.

Neurologist from Portland

Seguin, Brian

Boy who asked Sandy Koufax to sign his baseball card, which was sold to Brian Rusk by Gaunt

Sheehan, Paul (Duke)

Ex- boyfriend of Polly Chalmers

Skillins, Irma

Principal of Junction City High School

Smith, Johnny

Discovered the identity of Frank Dodd

Sparrows, The

Thought about by Alan Pangborn (

St. Clare, Ariadne

Full time secretary for council selectmen

Stark, George

Character in Alan Pangborn's dream.

Tanner, Alice

School secretary

Tessio, Vern (Penny)

Once terrorized by Ace Merrill

Thomas, Seaton (Seat)

Police officer in Castle Rock

Tierney, Tim

State Attorney General

Treblehorn, ?

Old man whose land was given to Pop Merrill as payment for a loan

Tremayne, Vic

Friend of Lester Pratt

Trenton, Donna

Attacked by Cujo. Mother of Tad

Trenton, Theodore (Tad)

Son of Donna

Tucker, Preston

Owner of Tuckers Automobiles.

Tupper, William (Billy)

Cleaner at the Mellow Tiger bar

Van Allen, Ray

The only family doctor in Castle Rock

Vickery, Darlene

8th Grader who saw "dirty" books in Jewett's office.

Vigue, Betsy

Daughters of Isabella Activities chairwoman

Warburton, Eddie

Head custodian of Municipal building

Whitman, Charles

Eagle Scout who climbed to the top of the Texas tower and killed over 24 people

Williams, Amanda (Mandy)

One of the Board of Selectmen of Castle Rock. Friend of Myrtle Keeton

Williams, Tansy

Daughter of Amanda Williams

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Needful Things

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