Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot is a horror novel which was released in 1975 by Doubleday Publishing. The novel tells the story of an island community in Maine which is overrun by vampires after a new arrival makes his home there. It also deals with themes of religious fanaticism, family issues and grief.
The novel is set in a small town in Maine, Salem’s Lot that is described as a ‘sleepy little village untouched by time’. The town’s main attraction is the Marsten House, an old abandoned mansion in the woods. Word reaches the town that a rich stranger from Europe is looking to buy the Marsten House, and so arrives Mr. Barlow. Although the locals are initially skeptical of the newcomer, they soon welcome him as a member of the community.
At the same time as Barlow’s arrival, two young boys, Mark Petrie and Danny Glick, begin to experience strange events. They witness strange activities and phenomena such as a creature with red eyes that stand at the windows of their homes. Mark’s father and a doctor, Jimmy Cody, investigate the phenomena, eventually leading them to the Marsten House.
In the Marsten House, Barlow is revealed to be a vampire and he has created an entire cult of vampires that are breeding amongst themselves. Some of the residents of Salem’s Lot soon become victims of the vampires, including the local schoolteacher and Jimmy’s ex-wife.
The vampire cult’s spread through the town is made easier by Pastor Kilton, a fanatical religious zealot who believes that the vampires are actually angels sent by God. He subsequently joins forces with Barlow and helps carry out his plans. Jimmy, Mark, and the other remaining townspeople team up to fight the vampires and eventually they manage to defeat the cult by destroying the Marsten House.
Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot is an example of horror at its finest. The novel is a classic example of a vampire novel, with themes of religious fanaticism, family issues and grief. The novel tells a compelling story of good versus evil, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It is also an interesting exploration of how fear and superstition can influence a community and how one bad influence can make a huge difference. It is a must-read for horror book fans.
