Cycle of the Werewolf

Cycle of the Werewolf

First edition cover
Author Stephen King
Illustrator Bernie Wrightson
Country United States
Language English
Genre Gothic, horror
Publisher Land of Enchantment
Publication date
November 1983
Media type Print (Hardcover)
Pages 127 pp.
ISBN 978-0-9603828-2-8

Cycle of the Werewolf is a short horror novel by Stephen King, featuring illustrations by comic book artist Bernie Wrightson.[1] Each chapter is a short story unto itself. It tells the story of a werewolf haunting a small town as the moon turns full once every month. It was published as a limited edition hardcover in 1983 by Land of Enchantment, and in 1985 as a mass-market trade paperback by Signet.

The book is dedicated to the author Davis Grubb: "In memory of Davis Grubb, and all the voices of Glory."

Characters

The Coslaw Family

The Werewolf

Lowe has not been a werewolf his entire life, nor has he been a werewolf since he first arrived in Tarker’s Mills. In fact, he has no idea about how he became a werewolf, but he suspects that it has something to do with some flowers he picked at a cemetery on Sunshine Hill months prior to his first transformation. He went to put them in vases at the church vestry but they turned black and died before he could finish the relatively quick job. He has no reason to pinpoint this event as the beginning of his curse, but he believes that this was the beginning of the events. As the werewolf, he serves as the primary antagonist of the novella.

Lowe comes to realize that he is the werewolf after having awaken with fresh blood on his finger nails and (to his horror) mouth. He also discovers clothes that are missing and sometimes finds scratches and bruises which appear to have come from running through the woods. The dream in May serves as a further omen to his curse, but he does not fully realize his curse until July 5, when he awakens with his left eye blasted out. After Halloween, he began getting anonymous letters from someone who knows his secret, suspecting that it is the person whom he attacked in July and failed to kill; the person who blasted his left eye out. In November, he acknowledges that he is the werewolf and decides that he cannot risk going out in the woods, as he could be killed by the group of vigilantes who had taken to the woods that month.

To avoid the vigilantes, he travels to Portland where he kills Tarker’s Mills resident Milt Sturmfuller outside a cheap motel. After returning home he decides to find out who he attacked in July, and kill that person. Marty eventually signs his name to the last letter he sends in December, shortly before the next full moon. Lowe is killed by Marty on New Year’s Eve.

The Victims

Synopsis

1985 paperback cover

The story is set in the fictional small town of Tarker's Mills, Maine. Each chapter is a month on the calendar. A werewolf is viciously killing people and animals at each full moon, and the otherwise normal town is living in fear. The protagonist of the story is Marty Coslaw, an eleven-year-old boy in a wheelchair. The story goes back and forth from the terrifying incidents to Marty's youthful day-to-day life and how the horror affects him.

The werewolf's first victim is a drunk railroad worker. Next, a woman in her bedroom contemplating suicide, followed by a hitchhiker, an abusive husband, one of Marty's friends in the city park, a pack of hogs at a local farm, a sheriff's deputy while he sits in his car, and finally the owner of a diner.

In July, the town's Independence Day fireworks have been cancelled. This is very upsetting to Marty, who has been looking forward to them all year. Because he feels bad for him, Marty's uncle Al brings him fireworks, warning Marty to set them off really late so that his mother will not find out. While outside enjoying his own private Independence Day celebration, the werewolf attacks Marty, who manages to put out the monster's left eye with a package of black cat firecrackers. The werewolf escapes and the police ignore the report because they are looking for a human murderer, not a werewolf. As the summer continues, the bloodshed occurs again every full moon.

Fall comes and so does Halloween. To celebrate, Marty goes trick-or-treating. While out, he sees the Reverend Lowe wearing an eyepatch, although Lowe does not recognize Marty, whose face is covered by a Yoda mask. Marty, whose family is Catholic, does not attend Rev. Lowe's church which is why he did not work out the werewolf's identity sooner.

Over the next few weeks, Marty sends the pastor anonymous letters asking why he does not kill himself and end the terror. In December, he sends the last letter—signed with his name. Unbeknownst to Reverend Lowe, Marty has convinced his somewhat reluctant uncle to have two silver bullets made and to come spend New Year's Eve (which falls on the full moon) with him and his sister. Right before midnight, the werewolf breaks into the house to kill Marty. Marty shoots the werewolf twice with the silver bullets. After the wolf dies, it changes back into Reverend Lowe, much to the shock of everyone present.

Background

The novella started out as a calendar[1] by Zavista with illustrations by renowned comic book artist Bernie Wrightson. Each month would feature a drawing by Wrightson complete with a short vignette by King. King found the size of the vignettes, which were both small and extremely limited, to be a problem. King proceeded with a short novel and had it published by Land of Enchantment in 1983, complete with Wrightson’s illustrations.[2]

In the Author's Notes at the back of the novella, King admits to taking liberties with the lunar cycle. For example, if there was a full moon on New Year's Day, there would not be another one on Valentine's Day, but these dates are widely recognised in January and February. He explains was done to focus the relevant months more clearly in the readers' minds

Film adaptation

The novel was adapted into a film, Silver Bullet, in 1985,[3] starring Corey Haim as Marty, Everett McGill as Reverend Lowe, Gary Busey as Marty’s Uncle, Megan Follows as Marty’s sister, Terry O'Quinn as the local sheriff, Kent Broadhurst as Brady's father, and James Gammon as Arnie Westrum. The movie received mixed reviews and was a bomb at the domestic box office, though it was more successful internationally. It has since achieved cult status in the US, after appearing on television regularly.

References

  1. 1 2 George Beahm (1998). Stephen King from A to Z: An Encyclopedia of His Life and Work. p. 109. ISBN 0836269144.
  2. HorrorKing.com
  3. Stephen J. Spignesi (2003). The Essential Stephen King. p. 209. ISBN 156414710X.

External links

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