🕯️ Supernatural −33%

Elevation

✍️ Stephen King
Reader Score
4.3
(5 reviews)
$14.00 $21.00 Save $7.00 (33%)
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A man loses weight mysteriously while his clothes stay heavy in Stephen King's Castle Rock tale.

Stephen King, a legendary master storyteller, returns to the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. This 160-page novel focuses on Scott Carey, who experiences a strange physical phenomenon where he loses mass but his garments do not change weight. He shares this burden with Doctor Bob Ellis rather than seeking medical intervention. The narrative intertwines Scott’s personal mystery with local social dynamics. A lesbian couple attempts to open a restaurant in town, facing significant opposition from residents who hold prejudices against them. Scott’s own biases shift as he observes their struggle. The plot involves the annual foot race and the development of unlikely alliances among neighbors. King uses this setting to examine how communal bonds form through shared adversity and personal revelation.

Key Themes
mysterious affliction Castle Rock Maine prejudice acceptance
Literary Context

This work sits within the tradition of American gothic fiction set in the imaginary place of Castle Rock, Maine. Published by Scribner Book Company in 2019, it draws on King’s established lore of this fictional location to explore contemporary social tensions through a supernatural lens.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Joe Hill's modern ghost stories · Dean Koontz's psychological thrillers · Gothic social horror
🕯️
Supernatural
🏛 Scribner Book Company 📅 2019 📖 160 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781982102326

📝 Description: Elevation

Scott Carey lives in Castle Rock, Maine, a setting familiar to fans of Stephen King’s iconic fiction. He is a legendary master storyteller whose latest work presents a riveting and eerie narrative about a man with a mysterious affliction. Scott does not look different, yet he steadily loses weight while his clothes remain unchanged regardless of how heavy they are. He refuses medical testing and shares his secret only with Doctor Bob Ellis. The story unfolds in a small town where Scott faces an escalating conflict with the lesbians next door. Their dog regularly defecates on his lawn, creating tension between the neighbors. One woman is friendly while the other remains cold as ice. They are launching a new restaurant that the community rejects due to prejudice against gay married couples. The people of Castle Rock want no part of this venture. As Scott understands the prejudices faced by his neighbors, including his own, he attempts to help. Unlikely alliances form during the annual foot race. The mystery of Scott’s condition brings out the best in residents who have previously indulged in their worst traits. This moving story shows how a small town unites around a man whose strange physical changes challenge social norms and personal biases in unexpected ways.

💎 Our verdict on Elevation

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
This book succeeds as a character-driven study rather than a traditional gore-fest, making it ideal for those seeking psychological depth over visceral shock. However, readers expecting classic Castle Rock horror tropes or extensive supernatural lore may find the pace deliberate and the focus on social dynamics less thrilling. It is not suited for those who demand relentless action or unresolved ambiguity without thematic payoff. The narrative relies heavily on interpersonal tension and subtle shifts in perspective, which might feel slow to fans of high-octane thriller narratives.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate Stephen King’s ability to blend the eerie with the deeply human will find this novella compelling. It offers a unique exploration of prejudice, community dynamics, and personal revelation through the lens of a bizarre physical mystery. Those interested in how small-town social structures fracture and reform under pressure will gain insight from the narrative. The story provides emotional resonance by examining how shared adversity can bridge divides between neighbors who previously held significant biases against one another.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —
⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5
★★★★★
Readers craving King’s character-driven tales of small-town mystery will find this compelling. If you prefer fast-paced gore or high fantasy, look elsewhere. This is a quiet, emotional journey for those who appreciate nuanced social commentary woven into supernatural fiction.

Reader rating

4.3
Based on 5 reviews
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A
Amanda B.
June 30, 2026

This has been on my wishlist for months. The dread is in the pacing, not in gore, which is exactly how I like it. It is the kind of horror that rewards reading with the lights on. Well worth it.

S
Steven D.
January 29, 2026
Decent

This has been on my wishlist for months. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. Print is comfortable for late-night reading. Gorier than the description lets on, if that matters to you. Good, with the caveats above.

P
Paul D.
December 14, 2025

A friend from my book club recommended it. There's real craft in how much is left unsaid. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. Gorier than the description lets on, if that matters to you.

R
Ruth E.
September 4, 2025
Exactly as described

Finished it over a stormy weekend, which helped. The setting is practically a character, and a hostile one. There's real craft in how much is left unsaid. Five stars from me.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Not in the traditional sense. The 'horror' is metaphorical, focusing on social anxiety and mystery rather than jump scares or gore.
No. While the setting is familiar, this story stands perfectly on its own as a self-contained narrative about community and identity.

📖 Who should read this

Readers craving King’s character-driven tales of small-town mystery will find this compelling. If you prefer fast-paced gore or high fantasy, look elsewhere. This is a quiet, emotional journey for those who appreciate nuanced social commentary woven into supernatural fiction.

📜 Historical context

Stephen King anchors this narrative in Castle Rock, his recurring fictional Maine hub, bridging classic horror tropes with contemporary social discourse. While earlier works often relied on visceral monsters, this piece utilizes speculative elements to explore community prejudice and acceptance. It reflects a shift toward using the supernatural as a lens for examining human empathy, aligning with modern horror’s focus on psychological and societal fears rather than mere physical threat.

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