Elevation: A Novel

Elevation is a 2018 novel by Stephen King, who has authored more than 50 bestselling books and is read worldwide. Considered much lighter than King’s usual work, Elevation blends the supernatural with aspects of his usual works with a poignant yet uplifting story about friendship, overcoming prejudice, rising above life’s burdens, and facing the inevitability of death.

The novel follows protagonist Scott Carey as he navigates a mysterious and seemingly terminal medical condition that inspires him to make the most of his remaining life and to help his community overcome their differences.

Despite containing few horror elements more typical of King’s other work, Elevation won the Goodreads Choice Award for Horror in 2018.

This guide refers to an e-book edition of the text published in 2018 by Scribner.

Content Warning: The source text depicts sexism, ageism, sizeism, and anti-lesbian biases and slurs.

Plot Summary

Scott Carey, a middle-aged web designer and recent divorcé living in Castle Rock, Maine, visits his friend Bob Ellis, a retired physician. Scott reveals he’s been steadily losing weight, but not body mass, so he looks exactly the same. When Bob’s scale shows that Scott weighs the same no matter what he’s wearing or holding, they realize Scott is experiencing something that defies the known laws of medicine and physics.