NEW YORK — Stephen King doesn't have the literaryreputation of Philip Roth or Arthur Miller, but now all threeauthors have something in common: an honorary National Book Awardfor lifetime achievement.
King, brand-name writer, master of the horror story and e-bookpioneer, is receiving this year's medal for DistinguishedContributions to American Letters. The prize, worth $10,000, wasannounced Monday by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofitorganization that sponsors the awards.
''This is probably the most exciting thing to happen to me in mycareer as a writer since the sale of my first book in 1973,'' Kingsaid in a statement issued by the foundation.
''I'll return the cash award to the National Book Foundation forthe support of their many educational and literary outreachprograms for children and youth across the country; the Medal Iwill keep and treasure for the rest of my life.''
King, who turns 56 next Sunday, will be presented the award atthe annual National Book Awards ceremony, on Nov. 19.
Among the world's most famous authors, he has both enjoyed thebenefits and endured the biases of being a ''genre'' writer. He isa beloved, even iconic storyteller among the general public, whomhe has memorably terrified in ''Carrie,'' ''The Shining'' and otherbest sellers.
But he has never been a contender for any of the major literaryprizes, including the National Book Award. His biggest honor beforeMonday was an O. Henry prize in 1996 for the short story ''The Manin the Black Suit,'' originally published in The New Yorker.
''I'm pleased that they're giving it to him,'' says RayBradbury, author of such science fiction classics as ''The MartianChronicles'' and recipient in 2000 of the honorary medal from thebook foundation. ''I don't think they should exclude any specialgenre, or they'd have to eliminate Edgar Allan Poe, wouldn'tthey?''
King has written dozens of books and even defenders acknowledgethat not all are worth reading. But they praise him as an exciting,essential writer with a deep feeling for the American psyche.
''I think he's a force for good in the world,'' says MichaelChabon, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel ''The AmazingAdventures of Kavalier & Clay.''
''People like writers to stay in the boxes. The 20th century wassupposedly about breaking down those barriers between high art andpopular culture and yet it still feels like there's some kind oftransgression when Stephen King gets a National Book Awardmedal.''
Established in 1988, the honorary award cites not only literarymerit, but ''a lifetime of service.'' The Maine-based writer hasprovided scholarships for the state's high school students, andmade numerous charitable contributions through a foundation he runswith his wife, Tabitha.
He was an early advocate of e-books, and caused a sensation in2000 when his 66-page e-story, ''Riding the Bullet,'' received morethan 400,000 orders in the first 24 hours after it was madeavailable online.
He also shares one quality with many literary writers: a dislikeof corporate-controlled publishing. In the current issue ofEntertainment Weekly, for which he is a featured columnist, Kingcelebrates a novel available only in audio form, Ron McLarty's''The Memory of Running,'' and attacks publishers for not signingit up.
''Publishing houses, once proudly independent, are today littlemore than corporate wampum heads, their cultural clout all butgone,'' writes King, who is published by Simon & Schuster, adivision of Viacom Inc.
McLarty has since received several offers and should have anagreement soon, said his agent, Jeff Kleinman.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
