Horror author Stephen King took a turn in the time-travel genre with his new novel, “11/22/63.” According to a National Public Radio report, King’s new book tells the story of a fictional high school English teacher who goes back in time to try and stop the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The master of horror told the radio service that dealing in history, with its limits and guidelines, was a new experience for him.
“There are so many actual happenings,” King told NPR reporter Audie Cornish. “A lot of the characters in ‘11/22’ are real people. That was the challenge, but it was also the fun of the book.”
The book is set in King’s hometown of Lisbon Falls, Maine, and stars teacher Jake Epping. Epping’s friend Al runs a local diner that is centered on a rift in time called “the rabbit hole.” By entering the rabbit hole, one is transported back to the Lisbon Falls of September 9, 1958.
King explained that Al used the rabbit hole only to buy groceries for a time, but then “gets the idea that he could actually go in the past, live in the past for five years and save John Kennedy from being assassinated in Dallas.”
The grocery store owner is able to live in the past for four years before developing cancer, which is when he brings his friend Jake in on the idea. Al convinces Jake of the truth, sets him up with money from the 1950s and lets him go.
NPR reported that King first had the idea to write “11/22/63” back in 1971, but held off on the idea because he felt it the time wasn’t right for the project.
“I think that the wounds were a little bit too fresh then,” King said. “I’m glad that I waited.”
