“Same shit, different day, he thinks, but now the joy is gone and the sadness is back, the sadness that feels like something deserved, the price of some not-quite-forgotten betrayal.”

American novelist and short story writer of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Stephen King is best known for his horror fiction, which often explores psychological depth and darkly human themes. His prolific output includes iconic works like *Carrie*, *The Shining*, and *It*, blending supernatural terror with vivid character studies.