"Spine-tingling fiction at its best." --Grand Rapids Press

Stephen King's second novel, 'SALEM'S LOT., is the story of a mundane town under siege from the forces of darkness. Considered one of the most terrifying vampire novels ever written, it cunningly probes the shadows of the human heart--and the insular evils of small-town America.

No one writes a long novel alone, and I would like to take a moment of your time to thank some of the peopie who helped with this one: G. Everett McCutcheon, of Hampden Academy for his practical suggestions and encouragement; Dr. John Pearson, of Old Town, Maine, medical examiner of Penobscot County and member in good standing of that most excellent medical specialty, general practice; Father Renald Hallee, of St. John's Catholic Church in Bangor, Maine. And of course my wife, whose criticism is as tough and unflinching as ever.

Although the towns surrounding 'salem's Lot are very real, 'salem's Lot exists wholly in the author's imagination, and any resemblance between the people who live there and people who live in the real world is coincidental and unintended.

Author's Note

Introduction

Prologue

PART I

The Marsten House

PARTII

The Emperor of Ice Cream

PART III

The Deserted Village

Epilogue