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Stephen King is widely regarded as one of the greatest authors of our time and is known for his bestsellers, which have captivated readers for decades. However, his journey wasn’t always smooth sailing like many famous figures. In the early stages of his career, King faced a moment that wasn’t easy for him to accept. He found himself in the shadow of another legendary author, whose fame and success appeared to overshadow his own.
This made him feel like he wasn’t getting the recognition he deserved. But instead of letting this hinder him, King persevered and would go on to prove just how much he could achieve.
How did Stephen King cope with feeling overshadowed by Tom Clancy?
Stephen King, widely known for writing iconic horror and thrillernovels likeCarrie, The Shining,andIt, is a name that has become synonymous with bestselling books. With millions of copies sold worldwide, it’s hard to imagine that King once struggled to find his footing in the publishing world.
However, the path to his legendary status wasn’t always smooth, especially when it came to competing with one particular author who overshadowed him early in his career.
In an open interview withRolling Stonein 2014, King shared a surprising bit of insight about a time when he felt like he was in someone else’s shadow. This legendary author wasn’t just a fellow writer – it was Tom Clancy, the man behindThe Hunt for Red Octoberand other military thrillers.
King, who was trying to establish his place in the world of literature, was aware that Clancy, who was also with Penguin Publishing at the time, had a much more significant influence within the company. According to the author’s longtime agent, Chuck Verrill, it was clear that King was considered“the second banana”to Clancy in the publishing world, a position that King found difficult to accept.
Verrill further explained“He was seen as the second banana… He didn’t like that.”The idea of being seen as less important, especially to someone like Clancy, didn’t sit well with King, who was still making his mark as a new voice in fiction. Despite these early challenges, Stephen King did not let this sense of competition hold him back.
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Over the years, he built a career that has resulted in over 350 million books sold worldwide, making him one of the most successful and influential writers of all time. While authors like John Grisham and E.L. James may currently have more sales than King, it’s not something that bothers him anymore. Today, King is not focused on trying to outdo others and is content with his success and the impact he’s had on literature.
Is Stephen King right to call for canceling the Oscars this year?
Stephen Kinghas joined the growing list of public figures urging the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to reconsider hosting the Oscars amidst the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. In a postshared on Bluesky, the social media platform King adoptedafter leaving X, the author made his stance clear:
Not voting in the Oscars this year. IMHO they should cancel them. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire.
The comments quickly sparked a lively discussion online, with King doubling down on his position in a follow-up post:
I hear what you guys are saying about the Oscars, and how they’re a celebration of life, and the show must go on, blah-blah-blah, so-on-and-so-forth. It all makes a degree of sense, but to me it still feels like Nero fiddling while Rome burns. Or in this case, wearing fancy clothes while LA burns.
Despite King’s strong opinion, the Academy appears to have no plans to cancel the event. As reported byThe Hollywood Reporter,the 2025 Oscars are still set to take place on March 2, with preparations well underway. Supporters of keeping the Oscars on schedule argue that the event could serve as a powerful platform to raise awareness and funds for wildfire relief efforts.
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Hollywood has a history of rallying around noble causes, and many believe the awards ceremony could bring attention to the tragedy in a meaningful way.
Sakshi Singh
Articles Published :1436
Sakshi Singh has written over 1,300 entertainment articles, mostly about Netflix shows and reality TV. She’s spent the last two years covering everything from surprise engagements to shocking eliminations and previously wrote for Essentially Sports in their Netflix Junkie division. A self-proclaimed reality TV addict, Sakshi has watched all 48 seasons of Survivor and never misses a new dating or competition series. She loves watching how strangers meet, fall in love, team up, or betray each other - it’s the mix of strategy and drama that keeps her hooked. When she’s not glued to a reality show, she’s usually watching a crime thriller or tracking the next big streaming hit.
