10 Times Stephen King Books Cleverly Reference His Own Stories & Adaptations

Most of Stephen King's books are connected to one another, and many of them cleverly reference the horror icon's other stories in passing. Larger ties between narratives are easy to follow, like the fact that Randall Flagg appears in multiple stories or that locations like Castle Rock crop up over and over. However, King's self-referential nods to his other works are fun to pick up on, especially for readers familiar with his backlist. These Easter eggs are entertaining, even when they have little to no bearing on the overall plot.

King's self-references come in all shapes and sizes, with the author mentioning his own books and their adaptations, name-dropping characters and places from other stories, and even inserting himself into his narrative. It's a testament to King's career that he's able to do this, with his stories being so recognizable that these inclusions barely warrant a second glance. In the cases where King references characters or incidents from other books, he subtly suggests they're in the same universe. And his nods to his actual books and adaptations make his stories feel grounded in the real world.

10 The Dark Tower Turns Stephen King Into A Character

It Recognizes His Role As Roland's Creator

Perhaps King's best self-referential nod takes place in The Dark Tower, where he turns himself into a character in his own fictional universe. This isn't as minor as most of the other references on this list, and it isn't the only time he alludes to his career in this series. However, it's probably his most fitting acknowledgment of it. After all, The Dark Tower is the story that connects everything in King's universe, and it's also one of his greatest works to date. If there's any story that should recognize King as a creator, it's this one.

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And it does precisely that, with Song of Susannah introducing King as a writer and Roland Deschain's creator. The fact that King the character pens stories about Roland in a book that King the author is writing makes this one of King's most meta references. Some may find King's introduction of himself a bit jarring in The Dark Tower, but it's surprising how well it works within the context of the narrative. It's sort of similar to creators appearing in movie adaptations of their works.

9 Dreamcatcher Gives A Nod To Pennywise & The Losers Club

It's One Of Many Stephen King Books To Reference It

Dreamcatcher is among King's most underrated books, and like many of his works, it contains a nod to It. During Dreamcatcher, Mr. Gray comes across a memorial for the Losers Club, and someone has written on it with red graffiti. The graffiti reads "Pennywise Lives," suggesting that Dreamcatcher could be set in the same universe as the 1986 novel. Dreamcatcher's Pennywise reference has certainly stirred up theories about whether there's a connection. However, King never actually elaborates on it further.

Even if King didn't intend this Easter egg to be that deep, it does make an intriguing addition to Dreamcatcher. It raises the possibility that Pennywise is still around after the events of It, a theory some readers dredge up whenever King drops a hint like this one. The author will probably never address such references, but they're fun to speculate on all the same.

8 Stephen King Calls Out The Shining Movie In The Drawing Of The Three

Eddie Dean Mentions It While Looking Through The Western Sea Doors

The second Dark Tower book, The Drawing of the Three, references Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of The Shining through the character Eddie Dean. When Eddie opens the Western Sea Doors, he likens the view through Odetta's to the "moving point-of-view shots" that exist in movies. He gives a few examples, and one of them is The Shining. This is treated as a standard pop culture reference, as Eddie also compares what he sees to Halloween and Star Wars.

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It's especially interesting that The Shining movie exists in King's fictional universe, as the author has been vocal about his criticisms of Kubrick's adaptation. Of course, it's still one of the best-known movies based on King's work, and it's a classic in its own right. So Eddie is right to mention it alongside projects like Halloween and Star Wars, dropping a fun Easter egg for King fans as he does.

7 The Tommyknockers Takes Its Shining Reference A Step Further

The Book Mentions Jack Nicholson's Performance

While The Drawing of the Three's reference to The Shining movie is brief, The Tommyknockers takes it a step further. While in Bobbi's workshop, Gardener notes that the key to the shed is nowhere to be found. He then wonders if he should "grab Bobbi's ax and make like Jack Nicholson in The Shining" to get inside of it. This is a comical enough reference on its own, but Gardener also reimagines Nicholson's famous line from the film, turning "Heeeeeere’s Johnny!" into "Heeeeeere’s GARDENER!"

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King clearly has fun leaving behind Easter eggs like this, and this isn't the only one that appears in The Tommyknockers. As CBR notes, Tommy Jacobs hallucinates and sees a clown that's clearly supposed to be Pennywise while he's in Derry. The book also mentions the Arrowhead Project from The Mist, so there's plenty to pick up on in The Tommyknockers.

6 Carrie Is A Book The Dead Zone's Characters Know About

Stephen King's First Novel Gets Recognition

The Shining and It get a lot of love in King's other books, but a reference to Carrie also crops up in one of them: The Dead Zone. When Patty Strachan claims Johnny lit a building on fire using his psychic powers, she says it's "like in that book Carrie." Just as King's other novels make adaptations of his books in-universe realities, The Dead Zone confirms that King's first book exists within its narrative. And given the fact that King has a few stories about characters with psychic abilities, it's fitting to draw such a comparison.

Unfortunately, King never directly expands on Carrie's speculations about what would happen if other kids with psychic powers emerged. And although Firestarter has a similar premise, it misses its chance for a great Carrie connection. The Dead Zone at least acknowledges that such powers are alike, even if it doesn't explore that in a serious way.

5 Mr. Mercedes' References The TV Movie It

The Killer's Clown Mask Resembles Pennywise

Mr. Mercedes is another King book that contains a reference to It, but the 2014 novel specifically calls out the TV movie. Mr. Mercedes sees retired detective Bill Hodges trying to track down a killer, and the killer dons a clown mask that bears a striking resemblance to Pennywise. Another character points this out to Hodges, asking him, "You ever see that TV movie about the clown in the sewer?" Hodges admits he hasn't, but upon watching it, he confirms that the killer's disguise is reminiscent of King's best villain.

This conversation reveals that It is a work of fiction in the world of Mr. Mercedes, just like The Shining is still a classic movie in The Drawing of the Three and The Tommyknockers. That likely means that It and Mr. Mercedes aren't set in the same universe, but it's always cool to see that King's works exist inside his other stories. And having a new villain call back to Pennywise adds a layer of fear when introducing the newcomer.

4 Radar Is Compared To Cujo In Stephen King's Fairy Tale

Cujo The Movie Exists In The 2022 Novel

Another King adaptation that receives a nod from one of his books is Cujo. King's 2022 novel, Fairy Tale, draws a comparison to Cujo's titular St. Bernard when introducing another dog named Radar. King's initial description of Mr. Bowditch's "monster dog" feels reminiscent of how Cujo is depicted, and King goes on to make that connection. Of course, in terms of the actual narrative, Radar isn't similar to Cujo. But King still takes a moment to reference the adaptation of his 1981 novel.

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Brief Easter eggs like this one are self-referential and fun to catch, even if they don't amount to much in the grand scheme of King's multiverse. It's interesting to see how Fairy Tale flips the script of Cujo on its head, too, introducing a similar character appearance-wise but envisioning a much different path for them.

3 Misery Mentions The Fate Of The Overlook Hotel

Annie Wilkes References Jack Torrance (But Not By Name)

While many of King's references to his own stories discuss them as works of fiction, Misery mentions the events of The Shining, confirming some form of the story occurred in the same universe. While talking about Andrew Pomeroy, Annie Wilkes states that he was headed to Sidewinder to sketch the remains of an "old hotel." She goes on to reveal that this hotel is the Overlook — the same one from The Shining — and that it burned down because of the caretaker.

Annie seems to be referencing Jack Torrance here, even if it's not by name. It's a cool Easter egg for fans of The Shining, who can fill in the gaps of Annie's story as she's talking. Misery's connection to The Shining is an exciting example of King being self-referential, as he doesn't directly name the story he's referring to. Readers will only catch it if they're familiar with The Shining.

2 Insomnia Nods To Pennywise Living In Derry's Sewer System

The Book's Setting Makes It Ideal For It References

Like It, Insomnia takes place in the fictional town of Derry — and that makes it an ideal place for King to drop references to the 1986 novel. There are numerous allusions to It throughout Insomnia, but one of the most subtle ones reminds readers of Pennywise's use of the sewer system. When Ed's ring falls into the sewer grate, King writes, "In Derry, things that disappear into the sewer system have a way — an often unpleasant one — of turning up."

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Pennywise uses Derry's sewers to move around town and draw his victims to him, so it's fitting that another book set in Derry mentions their sinister history. There are also references to characters and events from It scattered throughout Insomnia, and there's even an appearance from Mike Hanlon. Those looking for connections between King's works should definitely pick up the 1994 novel.

1 Pet Sematary Reminds Us Jerusalem's Lot Isn't "Pleasant"

The Name Alone Makes Rachel Uneasy

Another minor King reference in one of his own books appears in Pet Sematary, when Rachel Creed is on the road to Ludlow. While she's driving, Rachel spots a sign for Jerusalem's Lot — better known as 'Salem's Lot — and notes that it's "not a pleasant name, for some reason." Rachel doesn't realize that it's where the events of 'Salem's Lot take place, but those familiar with King's 1975 vampire story will pick up on the nod to it.

And Rachel is right that Jerusalem's Lot is an unnerving town, even if her instincts don't clue her in on the reasons for that. Pet Sematary also mentions the Cujo incident, though it doesn't name the "big old St. Bernard" in question. Avid readers of Stephen King's books will know exactly what the characters are referring to, though, giving them a sense of satisfaction at noticing another one of his Easter eggs.

Source: CBR

Stephen King

Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for Creepshow and Sleepwalkers.

Birthdate September 21, 1947

Birthplace Portland, Maine, USA

Height 6 feet 4 inches

Professions Author , Screenwriter , Producer , Director , Actor