#03: 3 Black Cats From, “Pet Semetary” – Stephen King Stephen’ King would be a headliner on this list solely on the basis of his prolific output. He has produced bestsellers and cult favorites under his own name as well as his pseudonym, Richard Bachman. But he stands out even more because of his excellent talents as a literary mixmaster. Like a disc jockey with top notch “skilz,” he can weave different horror genres and styles into novels with compelling new takes on old themes. Out of the others on this list, perhaps only Poe can approach him in this ability. Although “‘Salem’s Lot” is my favorite King horror novel, “Pet Semetary” fascinates me the most, because it is about so much. It’s not about good animals going bad: for that, you should read “Cujo.” It’s not about demonic possession: “Children of the Corn,” from the Nightshift anthology, examines that. It’s not about cursed real estate: “The Shining” is his signature story on that topic. And it’s not about homicidal zombies; instead, read “Cell.” And yet, it’s about all of those themes. Overall, with “Pet Semetary,” King taps into a larger and older genre and the stern warning it illustrates: don’t mess with religious cultures you don’t understand, and at the very least, don’t disrepect them. From this scenario comes a host of stories about angry mummies, rowdy zombies, crazy cults, and potent mojos. King has a signature style that involves cross-referencing names, characters, or scenes from his other books in his latest work. He also frequently names characters after actual sci-fi writers who have inspired him throughout his career. One of his favorites is Richard Matheson. You may not recognize the name, but you’ve definitely seen his work. Matheson has written screen plays for TV series such as The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Some of his novels, like “The Legend of Hell House,” have become popular cult movies. One was remade into a movie three times; “The Last Man on Earth,” “Omega Man,” and “I Am Legend.” Matheson’s best known work connects to today’s theme quite well. Entitled “Prey,” it first appeared in Playboy magazine. With all the other interesting er, articles, it may have been easy to miss. But its appearance on TV in 1975 as part of the Trilogy of Terror was unforgettable. It was the story about Amelia, a woman who fights off the vicious attacks of a knife-weilding Zuni warrior doll who comes to life after she loses the charm that protects her from it. Definitely cutting edge entertainment. (Sorry. I couldn’t let that one go.) Matheson’s influence is evident in other sci-fi works. Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files, featured a character called Richard Matheson in several of the TV show’s episodes. In 2006, Richard Christian Matheson, the author’s son, collaborated with Stephen King to bring his anthology, “Nightmare and Dreamscapes,” to the small screen as an HBO miniseries. BTW: “The Jewel of Seven Stars,” Bram Stoker’s homage to the mummy genre, is once again available in print. The original ending, which censors forced him to rewrite, has been restored. “Props” to Sams3D (iron fence), 3dCafe (headstones), Baument (rubble), and anyone I may have missed. Selections from the same shelf: “The Sleeper in the Sands,” Tom Holland “The Wicker Man,” David Pinner, Anthony Shaffer “The Serpent and the Rainbow,” Wade Davis