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Every book Sean Fennessey recommended on podcasts
Sean Fennessey engages in literary and cultural discussions on The Book Review podcast, demonstrating a deep appreciation for horror fiction, publishing history, and the evolution of prominent authors. During his podcast appearance, Fennessey focused extensively on the career and bibliography of Stephen King. He evaluated alternative trajectories for King's early publishing success, considering how the literary landscape might have shifted if Carrie had not become a massive hit, and noting that subsequent works like 'Salem's Lot and The Shining likely would have followed regardless. Fennessey also explored King's work under his Richard Bachman pseudonym, bringing an old, heavily creased paperback copy of The Bachman Books to the conversation. He discussed individual Bachman titles including Thinner and Rage, a school shooting novel that is now difficult to obtain due to the author's wishes. Additionally, Fennessey noted that Misery was originally intended for publication under the Bachman pseudonym before King's identity was discovered, and he contrasted these pseudonymous releases with massive independent novels like The Stand to illustrate the deliberate boundaries King maintained within his expansive bibliography.
Books recommended by Sean Fennessey
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'Salem's Lot
'Salem's Lot by Stephen King is a chilling vampire horror novel that follows a writer returning to his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot, only to discover that the community is being systematically overtaken by vampires.
Discussed“Maybe Salem's Lot would have come. Maybe The Shining would have come. Maybe something would have happened in the aftermath of that that also would have worked.”
Where to get it
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Carrie
Carrie by Stephen King is a classic horror novel about a bullied teenage girl who discovers she possesses telekinetic powers.
Discussed“So, even if Carrie hadn't hit, I'm not so sure he wouldn't have made it as a a bigger author and there might have been another adaptation. Maybe Salem's Lot would have come. Maybe The Shining would have come.”
Where to get it
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Misery
Misery by Stephen King is a psychological thriller about a famous author held captive by an obsessive fan.
Discussed“and then thinner interestingly misery was written to be a Bachman book and that would have been released as a Bachman book had he not had his pseudonym blown up”
Where to get it
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Rage
Rage by Stephen King is a controversial thriller originally published under the author's Richard Bachman pseudonym.
Discussed“Thinner was a Bachman book. Okay. It's rage which was never made into a movie in which Stephen King has actually this is the school shooting book he it's possible that is not easily able to yes get these days because actually don't want that book in the world”
Where to get it
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The Bachman Books (Long Walk / Rage / Roadwork / Running Man)
Discussed“That Well, we can talk about that book because that is a Richard Bachman book. You can see here I wrote my paperback of the Bachman books from when I was 13 years old. It is incredibly creased.”
Where to get it
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The Shining
The Shining by Stephen King is a classic horror novel about a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic who takes a winter caretaker job at an isolated, haunted mountain hotel with his family.
Discussed“Maybe Salem's Lot would have come. Maybe The Shining would have come. Maybe something would have happened in the aftermath of that that also would have worked.”
Where to get it
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The Stand
The Stand by Stephen King is an epic post-apocalyptic horror novel that chronicles the devastation of human civilization by a weaponized influenza strain and the subsequent battle between survivors aligned with forces of good and evil.
Discussed“He was not considering publishing the stand under the Bachman. Absolutely not. Absolutely not.”
Where to get it
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Thinner
Discussed“Thinner was a Bachman book. Okay. It's rage which was never made into a movie in which Stephen King has actually this is the school shooting book he it's possible that is not easily able to yes get these days because actually don't want that book in the world the long walk the running man and road work which has”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen King Isn't Always Scary (with Sean Fennessey) | The Book Review | 2025-10-17 | 8 |
Other mentions (5: passing, ad reads, own books)
“He went from carry and Salem slot to the Shining and it was the confluence of King in the movies and King on the paperback spinner racks that led to his dominance certainly of 80s culture.”
“He went from carry and Salem slot to the Shining and it was the confluence of King in the movies and King on the paperback spinner racks that led to his dominance certainly of 80s culture.”
“the long walk the running man and road work which has never been made into a movie”
“the long walk the running man and road work which has never been made into a movie”
“the long walk the running man and road work which has never been made into a movie”