In a unique instance of truth being stranger than fiction, early one morning in 1991, Eric Keene of San Antonio, Texas, broke into the King's Bangor home. He threatened Tabitha King with a "detonator"—actually cardboard with some calculator parts—and stormed his way into the attic office, where he insisted that Stephen King help him write a book. Later, Keene pled not guilty by reason of insanity.

The Kings have installed various security devices; they also have another home and a cabin which locations are not publicly known.

While this happened four years after Misery, King has obviously had much experience with the perils of fandom.

While some would assert that breakins, mob scenes, and riots are the natural consequence of success, King seems to believe that success tends to bring out the madness in others. In this psychological novel, King examines the pathology...