Related
For any fans of dark fairytale reimaginings, an eight-year-old novel byStephen Kingand his son, Owen King, has the perfect twisting take on a classic that everyone should read.Every Stephen King bookalways has a unique take, each one blending the mundanity of real life with the supernatural or uncanny so well that it can be hard to tell which is which as the horror unfolds.
What truly makes that horror, however, is the deeper themes and ideas Stephen King plays with in each of his stories, making every one truly memorable.
Something King has always done really well in his writing, whether on his own or inKing’s collaboration with other authors, is exploring fundamental themes, includinghow we handle fear, the human condition, and the dark side of human nature.
Those archetypal aspects of his work are everywhere, and that includes his books that explore the dark fantasy genre, which often embrace the structure of fable and myth while updating them with modern sensibilities.King’s 2017 novel,Sleeping Beauties, co-penned with his son Owen, is an underrated example of how King weaves classic fantasy story archetypes into something new.
Dark Fairytale Lovers Can’t Miss Out On Stephen & Owen King’s Sleeping Beauties
Sleeping Beauties Was Released In September 2017
Stephen & Owen King’sSleeping Beautiesis perfect for dark fairytale lovers as its shifting plot and compelling characters add fascinating depth and realism to the original “Sleeping Beauty” narrative.Sleeping Beautiesfollows the residents of the impoverished town of Dooling, a fictional area in Appalachia,as they battle against a mysterious sickness that only seems to affect womenafter an odd murder takes place.
The sickness, dubbed Aurora, is not just isolated to Dooling, though, as women around the world fall into a deep sleep and are wrapped in a strange material.
This 44-year-old Stephen King book, despite getting the prestigious Hugo Award, does not get enough love by the author’s wider audiences.
The narrative follows Clint Norcross, a psychiatrist at the local all-female prison and husband of local sheriff Lila Norcross, but also switches to her and other perspectives throughout the novel.
Unlike otherdark fairytale adaptations, it does not follow the original story of Sleeping Beauty beat for beat, instead favoring Stephen King’s approach to prose and horror story structure.
Even so,Sleeping Beautiesis a great read despite those differences, expanding Stephen King’s collection of themes while also enhancing the original for the modern era.
Sleeping Beauties Is Very Different From The Original Fairytale (But Worth The Read)
Stephen King’s Book Uses The Fairytale To Explore Power Dynamics Today
Sleeping Beautiesmay differ from the original fairytale in many ways, but its examination of gender and power dynamics shifting during sudden societal upheaval makes it a worthy addition to any TBR.
Of course, it’s not perfect; neither Stephen nor Owen King is necessarily familiar with those dynamics on a certain level, and sometimes the clunkiness shows.That said, the book’s feminist themes are poignant and well-executed, a pattern thatStephen King continues with his character Holly Gibney.
Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore.
Ultimately,Sleeping Beautiesshowcases how the scariest part of that fairytale is not the sleeping spell, but those it leaves wide awake.
The women ofSleeping Beautiesare complex individuals who, through this sickness, are able to truly examine themselves and their position in society, each one internalizing those conclusions in her own way.
That leads to so many rich narrative moments, especially as the women who attempt to remain out of Aurora’s clutches grapple with society’s downfall due to mass panic, upending several aspects of traditional gender roles even as the men attempt to enforce them.
Custom image by Simone Ashmoore
Ultimately,Sleeping BeautiesbyStephen Kingand Owen Kingshowcases how the scariest part of that fairytale is not the sleeping spell, but those it leaves wide awake.
