What really sparked his interest in psychic abilities?

[Gerald]

I understand that he always was a horrorfan and got first introduced to it by Lovecraft, but what was it specifically about psychic abilities that he devoted so many books to it?
I don't know if this was a big part of the horrormarket when he started out already or that he was one of the first to target it so specifically.
All the early books are about someone having special powers, and then using those powers to overcome obstacles or stay alive - what was it about this theme that fascinated him so strongly initially?

It seems such a basic question that maybe it was discussed before or I'm overlooking something, but I'm really not quite sure whether he discussed this indepth at some point. Usually the dicussions seem to be about other themes in the novels than the psychic abilities.

Was there some specific writer or book or event that caused his interest in them? Did he talk to or visit institutions that investigate such phenomena?

 

[blunthead]

I understand that he always was a horrorfan and got first introduced to it by Lovecraft, but what was it specifically about psychic abilities that he devoted so many books to it?
I don't know if this was a big part of the horrormarket when he started out already or that he was one of the first to target it so specifically.
All the early books are about someone having special powers, and then using those powers to overcome obstacles or stay alive - what was it about this theme that fascinated him so strongly initially?

It seems such a basic question that maybe it was discussed before or I'm overlooking something, but I'm really not quite sure whether he discussed this indepth at some point. Usually the dicussions seem to be about other themes in the novels than the psychic abilities.

Was there some specific writer or book or event that caused his interest in them? Did he talk to or visit institutions that investigate such phenomena?

I don't think a majority of sK's stories' themes are of psychic abilities, even a majority of the "early ones". Which ones do you consider in such a list?

 

[Kurben]

I don't think a majority of sK's stories' themes are of psychic abilities, even a majority of the "early ones". Which ones do you consider in such a list?

I guess, Carrie, Firestarter, Dead Zone, The Shining would qualify. They are all about persons that have some sort of ability not everyone has.

 

[blunthead]

I guess, Carrie, Firestarter, Dead Zone, The Shining would qualify. They are all about persons that have some sort of ability not everyone has.

Most of sK's early stories did not have the psychic theme, and the remaining ones still don't; that's my point.

I think the OP is wondering what sK's fascination with "psychic abilities" is about. Probably only sK can say, though I presume the idea works well per the kinds of stories that occur to him.

 

[mal]

I knew that.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Most of sK's early stories did not have the psychic theme, and the remaining ones still don't; that's my point.

I think the OP is wondering what sK's fascination with "psychic abilities" is about. Probably only sK can say, though I presume the idea works well per the kinds of stories that occur to him.

....I have to agree with Kurben here Frank, yes-quite a few of his early books had some type of psy or wild talent...Kurben mentioned four obvious ones...I would toss in The Stand & The Talisman as well....plus, look at the time these were written...there was a media fueled fascination with psychic abilities back then...I can remember the craze....

 

[jchanic]

....I have to agree with Kurben here Frank, yes-quite a few of his early books had some type of psy or wild talent...Kurben mentioned four obvious ones...I would toss in The Stand & The Talisman as well....plus, look at the time these were written...there was a media fueled fascination with psychic abilities back then...I can remember the craze....

Remember "Miss Cleo", the psychic with all the tv ads, back then?

John

 

[GNTLGNT]

Remember "Miss Cleo", the psychic with all the tv ads, back then?

John

...oh lord yes.....

 

[Kurben]

Most of sK's early stories did not have the psychic theme, and the remaining ones still don't; that's my point.

I think the OP is wondering what sK's fascination with "psychic abilities" is about. Probably only sK can say, though I presume the idea works well per the kinds of stories that occur to him.

Correct. I was only trying to list the ones i thought he meant

 

[Sigmund]

Good Saturday.

Some times young people are in a world of hurt and they don't have a lot of power/ they are powerless (physical strength, money, authority etc.,). They are at the mercy of adults/the world that can be mean, scary, endless. Wouldn't it be just grand to have a *power* above and beyond what others have? A power all your own? A power bigger than any one person's? Yay!

Sometimes a character needs a paranormal ability.

JMO

 

[skimom2]

Horror on small scale is the most terrifying--it makes you feel unsettled and violated. That's why so many, many horror stories are set in small towns; most set in big cities have the bulk of their action on a small scale, i.e., a single apartment building, or room, or elevator, a sewer (claustrophobic), etc. There isn't anything closer to you or on a smaller scale than your own mind (or the minds of others), so psychological horror, including 'wild talents' is a great jumping off point if you want to freak someone out.

 

[blunthead]

....I have to agree with Kurben here Frank, yes-quite a few of his early books had some type of psy or wild talent...Kurben mentioned four obvious ones...I would toss in The Stand & The Talisman as well....plus, look at the time these were written...there was a media fueled fascination with psychic abilities back then...I can remember the craze....

Well, the question made me curious so I looked at the Library part of the main page here and listed everything in chronological order of publication. It looked to me like a relative few of the early stories involved characters with special or psychic abilities, and, though I'm by no means an sK expert, I think he still includes characters with special abilities. So, I wondered if it just seems that there were more of them early on. I remember the psychic abilities craze, too, and I presume that sK started it with Carrie, but I stand to be corrected.

 

[morgan]

I understand that he always was a horrorfan and got first introduced to it by Lovecraft, but what was it specifically about psychic abilities that he devoted so many books to it?
I don't know if this was a big part of the horrormarket when he started out already or that he was one of the first to target it so specifically.
All the early books are about someone having special powers, and then using those powers to overcome obstacles or stay alive - what was it about this theme that fascinated him so strongly initially?

It seems such a basic question that maybe it was discussed before or I'm overlooking something, but I'm really not quite sure whether he discussed this indepth at some point. Usually the dicussions seem to be about other themes in the novels than the psychic abilities.

Was there some specific writer or book or event that caused his interest in them? Did he talk to or visit institutions that investigate such phenomena?

I was reading SK's intro to a Carrie paperback the other day (from around 1999). He talked about reading an article in Life magazine (I think it was) before he wrote Carrie, about a girl and possible telekinesis. He started asking himself a lot of "what ifs" and thought about two unfortunate girls he knew growing up and "what if" they would've had special abilities, if their lives would have turned out differently. Just one example.

 

[not_nadine]

I was reading SK's intro to a Carrie paperback the other day (from around 1999). He talked about reading an article in Life magazine (I think it was) before he wrote Carrie, about a girl and possible telekinesis. He started asking himself a lot of "what ifs" and thought about two unfortunate girls he knew growing up and "what if" they would've had special abilities, if their lives would have turned out differently. Just one example.

Yes, and both of those girls died young.

 

[asoul]

Was there some specific writer or book or event that caused his interest in them?

Maybe Project MKUltra?

 

[Maskins]

I think it might just be that having indivduals have powers, particularly those related to their mind, is a great way of creating drama. The theme is often everyday people having to assume these powers and decide how to use them in a real world. Sometimes they can be used for good (The Dead Zone), sometimes that person cannot control them (Carrie) and they get used for bad. It provides an interested parrellel to the superhero figure who readily accepts their role and uses their power to be righteous. Mr. Kings characters are flawed and real and combine that special powers and you often get a great combo.

 

[FlakeNoir]

I think it might be the Peter Pan effect. Maybe Stephen just wasn't ready to grow up, who didn't think of/or want some kind of special power when they were kids?

 

[Kurben]

I think it might be the Peter Pan effect. Maybe Stephen just wasn't ready to grow up, who didn't think of/or want some kind of special power when they were kids?

I STILL havent grown up.....

 

[Gerald]

I guess, Carrie, Firestarter, Dead Zone, The Shining would qualify. They are all about persons that have some sort of ability not everyone has.

Yes, I meant those. I should have mentioned the titles. In the short stories not so much, only 'I know what you need' comes to mind.

But what GNTLGNT says helps, there was a media craze about it at the time, so that may have sparked both King's interest and the interest in King by the public.

Thanks everyone, btw, some great posts! I think indeed he combined the idea of psychic abilities with (young) people who are powerless (he says a lot of his books and stories are two ideas coming together) and that has great appeal to a lot of people who can identify.