I just read 11/22/63 for the first time, and being an avid fan of IT, something struck me right away, namely that the 1958 Derry that Jake Epping
cannot be identical to the 1958 Derry portrayed in IT with regard to the sequence of events presented in the latter novel.
Points in case:
1) From Jake's conversation in the Derry Town House Bar:
In IT, however, It dragged
into the sewers, where the Losers later passed by
in 1958, only to pass it by again in 1985. Thus in that timeline
could not possibly have been discovered in August or September 1958.
2) From the same conversation:
In IT on the other hand,
. And this was trumpeted by the Derry News. So how could someone living in Derry and reading the newspapers during the summer of 1958 fail to at least mention the officially touted explanation for the murders? Oh, and in IT the town newspaper is only ever identified as the Derry News, not the Derry Daily News as in 11/22/63, although this might simply be an oversight.
3) This suggests that in this continuity, Bowers was never
and that he and his bully buddies met another fate than that described in IT. This seems to be hinted at also at the beginning of the Derry episode. On his arrival at the outskirts of Derry, following Route 7, Jake drives past "several produce stands" and
Both Bowers' and Hanlon's farms were located along Route 7 after the point it turned into Witcham road/street. While not conclusive, it would seem that in this continuity there is still a farmer named Bowers around to sell produce at the roadside. Yet in IT, Butch Bowers
, and by September 1958, Henry
. No other Bowers than father and son are mentioned in IT. The woman beating the dog is moreover clearly not Butch Bowers' girlfriend Rena Davenport, who is described in IT as being "fat, forty, and usually filthy".
Given the themes of 11/22/63, I suspect the inconsistencies between that novel and IT are intentional, rather than the result of King not going back to check what he wrote in IT.
Besides 11/22/63, the continuity in Dreamcatcher seems to be at odds with that of IT on at least one point - if we are not to believe that Mike Hanlon commissioned the statue vandalized with the
graffiti before
but neglected to mention in it his diary, as reproduced in the epilogue to IT. I am sure there are more inconsistencies to be found both here and in Insomnia.
Any more examples or reflections?
travels back in time to
Points in case:
1) From Jake's conversation in the Derry Town House Bar:
"We had a bad summer here, my friend. Local folks keep it as quiet as they can - even the newspaper doesn't play it up - but there was some nasty work. Murders. Half a dozen at least. Found one down in the Barrens just recently. Patrick Hockstetter, his name was. All decayed."
In IT, however, It dragged
the dying Patrick
his corpse
Patrick's corpse
2) From the same conversation:
"There's people who say it was some vag who's since moved on [who was the killer]. Other folks say he was a local who dressed up like a clown to keep from being recognized."
In IT on the other hand,
Henry Bowers, after having found his way out of the sewers, was arrested for several of the child murders and believed to be responsible for the rest
3) This suggests that in this continuity, Bowers was never
framed by It for the murders
"As I passed the last of them, BOWERS ROADSIDE PRODUCE, a large mongrel raced out from behind several heaped baskets of tomatoes and chased me, drooling and snapping at the Sunliner's rear tires. It looked like a misbegotten bulldog. Before I lost sight at it, I saw a scrawny woman in overalls approach it and begin beating it with a piece of board."
Both Bowers' and Hanlon's farms were located along Route 7 after the point it turned into Witcham road/street. While not conclusive, it would seem that in this continuity there is still a farmer named Bowers around to sell produce at the roadside. Yet in IT, Butch Bowers
was killed by his son Henry with the switchblade given to him by Pennywise
was already locked up
Given the themes of 11/22/63, I suspect the inconsistencies between that novel and IT are intentional, rather than the result of King not going back to check what he wrote in IT.
Besides 11/22/63, the continuity in Dreamcatcher seems to be at odds with that of IT on at least one point - if we are not to believe that Mike Hanlon commissioned the statue vandalized with the
"Pennywise Lives"
forgetting about the other Losers and the whole thing
Any more examples or reflections?