History Literature / TheShining

Aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic Jack Torrance has taken a job as winter caretaker for the illustrious Overlook Hotel in the Rocky Mountains, during the months when it snows too much for guests to visit. In spite of the hotel's grisly backstory, Jack really needs the job; since losing his previous teaching position for assaulting a student, money is tight and his already-strained marriage is on the rocks. His wife Wendy, who still remembers Jack breaking their son Danny's arm while trying to spank him in a drunken rage one night, has been contemplating getting a divorce. Meanwhile, five-year-old Danny has been [[PsychicPowers having strange visions and keeps knowing things he shouldn't know]].

Aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic Jack Torrance has taken a job as winter caretaker for the illustrious Overlook Hotel in the Rocky Mountains, during the months when it snows too much for guests to visit. In spite of the hotel's grisly backstory, Jack really needs the job; since losing his previous teaching position for assaulting a student, money is tight and his already-strained marriage is on the rocks. His wife Wendy, who still remembers when Jack broke their son Danny's arm while trying to spank him in a drunken rage one night, has been contemplating getting a divorce. Meanwhile, five-year-old Danny has been [[PsychicPowers having strange visions and keeps knowing things he shouldn't know]].

A 1977 horror novel by Creator/StephenKing. His third published novel, it was his first to become a bestseller as a hardcover, and established King as a preeminent author in the horror genre.

But Jack is optimistic, and a little desperate, for this new job to work out. The isolation will give his marriage a chance to mend and give him time to write that play he's always wanted to write. Too bad the [[GeniusLoci hotel]] has other plans for him and his family.

In 1980, it was loosely adapted into a [[Film/TheShining feature film]] directed by Creator/StanleyKubrick and starring Creator/JackNicholson. Though quite different from the original, the film has become a classic in its own right. Still, Stephen King was irritated at the changes (while remaining lukewarm-to-positive about the film overall), and it was more faithfully remade as a 1997 {{miniseries}} starring Creator/StevenWeber and Creator/RebeccaDeMornay. It was met with overwhelmingly positive critical reception upon release, but has become increasingly scrutinized over the years (partly for perhaps being ''too'' faithful to the source material) and is nowadays regarded by both fans and critics as being inferior to the 1980 film.

Jack Torrance has taken a job as winter caretaker of the illustrious Overlook Hotel in the Rocky Mountains, during the months when it snows too much for guests to visit. In spite of the hotel's grisly backstory, Jack really needs this job; after having lost his teaching position for assaulting a student, finances are tight and his already-strained marriage is on the rocks. His wife Wendy, who still remembers when Jack broke their son Danny's arm after getting drunk one night and trying to spank him, has been contemplating getting a divorce. Five-year-old Danny, meanwhile, has been experiencing [[PsychicPowers strange visions and keeps knowing things he shouldn't know]].

* OracularUrchin: Part of Danny's Shining is the ability of limited precognition, which he receives through visions of his "imaginary friend" Tony [[spoiler: who is either Danny himself from the future, or a secondary personality Danny's mind created to help him cope with his powers]]. Danny was even born with a caul, a thin membrane covering his face that is considered to be an omen of second sight in folk myth. It's hinted at to just be a coincidence though, if an eerie one.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The book takes the classic horror story problem of ''Why don't the characters ''leave'' when they're still able to do so?'' and gives some understandable reasons for why the family can't just flee the hotel when things start to get scary. It's not just the Overlook's remote location and the bad weather keeping them there; Jack is deathly afraid of unemployment and this caretaker job is his very ''last'' chance, since he had to call in several favours just to get the job. Yes, he's already under the control of the hotel, but his fear of living in poverty and trying to support his family on either a SoulSuckingRetailJob or food stamps and church handouts is a very real and understandable one. At one point Jack starts working out how the family could logistically leave the Overlook before spring, and reckons he and Wendy would have to sell their wedding rings just to get enough money to make it to Wendy's mother's house in California. He then grimly realizes their marriage would not survive living there, as his mother-in-law hates him and Wendy would become an emotional wreck from being under her mother's thumb. There really is ''nowhere'' else for them to go, so braving out the creepy surroundings until spring arrives and they can depart as planned, without burning their last bridge, truly does seem to be the best option.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The book takes the classic horror story problem of ''Why don't the characters ''leave'' when they're still able to do so?'' and gives some understandable reasons for why the family can't just flee the hotel when things start to get scary. It's not just the Overlook's remote location and the bad weather keeping them there; Jack is deathly afraid of unemployment, he's already burned several bridges and this caretaker job is his very ''last'' chance, since he had to call in several favours just to get the job. Yes, he's already under the control of the hotel, but his fear of living in poverty and trying to support his family on either a SoulSuckingRetailJob or food stamps and church handouts is a very real and understandable one. At one point Jack starts working out how the family could logistically leave the Overlook before spring, and reckons he and Wendy would have to sell their wedding rings just to get enough money to make it to Wendy's mother's house in California. He then grimly realizes their marriage would not survive living there, as his mother-in-law hates him and Wendy would become an emotional wreck from being under her mother's thumb. There really is ''nowhere'' else for them to go, so braving out the creepy surroundings until spring truly does seem to be the best option.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The book takes the classic horror story problem of ''Why don't the characters ''leave'' when they're still able to do so?'' and gives some understandable reasons for why the family can't just flee the hotel when things start to get scary. It's not just the Overlook's remote location and the bad weather keeping them there; Jack is deathly afraid of unemployment and this caretaker job is his very ''last'' chance, since he had to call in several favours just to get the job. Yes, he's already under the control of the hotel, but his fear of living in poverty and trying to survive on either a SoulSuckingRetailJob or food stamps and church handouts is a very real and understandable one. At one point Jack starts working out how the family could logistically leave the Overlook before spring, and realizes he and Wendy would have to sell their wedding rings just to get enough money to make it to Wendy's mother's house in California. He then grimly realizes their marriage would not survive living there, as his mother-in-law hates him and Wendy would become an emotional wreck from being under her mother's thumb. There really is ''nowhere'' else for them to go, so braving out the creepy surroundings until spring truly does seem to be the best option.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The book takes the classic horror story problem of ''Why don't the characters ''leave'' when they're still able to do so?'' and gives some understandable reasons for why the family can't just flee the hotel when things start to get scary. It's not just the Overlook's remote location and the bad weather keeping them there; Jack is deathly afraid of unemployment and this caretaker job is his very ''last'' chance, since he had to call in several favours just to get the job. Yes, he's already under the control of the hotel, but his fear of living in poverty and trying to survive on either a SoulSuckingRetailJob or food stamps and church handouts is a very real and understandable one. At one point he starts figuring out how the family could logistically leave the Overlook before spring, and realizes he and Wendy would have to sell their wedding rings just to get enough money to make it to Wendy's mother's house in California. He then grimly realizes their marriage would not survive living there, as his mother-in-law hates him, and Wendy would become an emotional wreck from being under her mother's thumb. There really is ''nowhere'' else for them to go, so braving out the creepy surroundings until spring truly does seem to be the best option.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The book takes the classic horror story problem of ''Why don't the characters ''leave'' when they're still able to do so?'' and gives some understandable reasons for why the family ''can't'' just flee the hotel when things start to get scary. It's not just the Overlook's remote location and the bad weather keeping them there; Jack is deathly afraid of unemployment and this caretaker job is his very ''last'' chance, since he had to call in several favours just to get the job. Yes, he's already under the control of the hotel, but his fear of living in poverty and trying to survive on either a SoulSuckingRetailJob or food stamps and church handouts is a very real and understandable one. At one point he starts figuring out how the family could logistically leave the Overlook before spring, and realizes he and Wendy would have to sell their wedding rings just to get enough money to make it to Wendy's mother's house in California. He then grimly realizes their marriage would not survive living there, as his mother-in-law hates him, and Wendy would become an emotional wreck from being under her mother's thumb. There really is ''nowhere'' else for them to go, so braving out the creepy surroundings until spring truly does seem to be the best option.

* DropTheHammer: Jack's WeaponOfChoice in the novel and miniseries is a roque mallet.

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Jack is temporarily returned to normal by his psychic son, Danny. Realizing what the hotel has done to him, Jack tells Danny that he loves him and tells him to escape while he still can.]] In the miniseries [[spoiler: Jack regains control one last time to ensure the hotel goes boom]].

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: In the miniseries only, [[spoiler: Jack returns to normal one last time and lets his family escape to deal with the hotel himself. He and the hotel were killed in the explosion of the boiler. He reappears as a ghost one last time in the ending.]]

* GivingAwayTheBride: When Wendy can't decide whether she should divorce Jack or not, she keeps thinking about this moment at their wedding. She was given away by her beloved father who died of a heart attack six months later.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The book takes the classic horror story problem of ''Why don't the characters ''leave'' when they're still able to do so?'' and gives some understandable reasons for why the family ''can't'' just flee from the hotel. It's not just the Overlook's remote location and the bad weather; Jack is deathly afraid of unemployment and this caretaker job is his very ''last'' chance, since he had to call in several favours just to get the job. Yes, he's already under the control of the hotel, but his fear of living in poverty and trying to survive on food stamps and church handouts is a very real and understandable one. At one point he starts figuring out how the family could logistically leave the Overlook before spring, and realizes he and Wendy would have to sell their wedding rings just to get enough money to make it to Wendy's mother's house in California. He then grimly realizes their marriage would not survive living there, as his mother-in-law hates him, and Wendy would become an emotional wreck from being under her mother's thumb.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The book takes the classic horror story problem of ''Why don't the characters ''leave'' when they're still able to do so?'' and provides some understandable reasons for why the family ''can't'' just up and leave. Aside from the remoteness of their location and the weather, Jack is deathly afraid of unemployment and his caretaker job at the Overlook is his very ''last'' chance; he had to call in several favours just to get this job. Yes, he's already under the control of the hotel, but his fear of living in poverty and trying to survive on food stamps and church handouts is a very real and understandable one. At one point he starts figuring out how the family could logistically leave the Overlook before spring, and realizes he and Wendy would have to sell their wedding rings just to get enough money to make it to Wendy's mother's house in California. He then grimly realizes their marriage would not survive living there, as his mother-in-law hates him, and Wendy would become an emotional wreck from being under her mother's thumb.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The book takes the simple solution of the family just getting the hell out of the haunted house when there's still a opportunity to do so, and provides some understandable reasons for why they ''can't'' just up and leave. Aside from the remoteness of their location and the weather, Jack is deathly afraid of unemployment and his caretaker job at the Overlook is his very ''last'' chance; he had to call in several favours just to get this job. Yes, he's already under the control of the hotel, but his fear of living in poverty and trying to survive on food stamps and church handouts is a very real and understandable one. At one point he starts figuring out how the family could logistically leave the Overlook before spring, and realizes he and Wendy would have to sell their wedding rings just to get enough money to make it to Wendy's mother's house in California. He then grimly realizes their marriage would not survive living there, as his mother-in-law hates him, and Wendy would become an emotional wreck from being under her mother's thumb.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The book takes the simple solution of the family just getting the hell out of the house when they have the chance, and provides multiple reasons for why they ''can't'' just up and leave. Aside from the remoteness of their location and the weather, Jack is deathly afraid of unemployment and his caretaker job at the Overlook is his very ''last'' chance; he had to call in several favours just to get this job. Yes, he's already under the control of the hotel, but his fear of living in poverty and trying to survive on food stamps and church handouts is a very real and understandable one. At one point he starts figuring out how the family could logistically leave the Overlook before spring, and realizes he and Wendy would have to sell their wedding rings just to get enough money to make it to Wendy's mother's house in California. He then grimly realizes their marriage would not survive living there, as his mother-in-law hates him, and Wendy would become an emotional wreck from being under her mother's thumb.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The book takes the simple solution of the family just getting the hell out of the house when they have the chance, and provides multiple reasons for why they ''can't.'' Aside from the remoteness of their location and the weather, Jack is deathly afraid of unemployment, and his caretaker job at the Overlook is his very ''last'' chance; he had to call in several favours just to get this job. Yes, he's already under the control of the hotel, but his fear of living in poverty and trying to survive on food stamps and church handouts is a very real and understandable one. At one point he starts figuring out how the family could logistically leave the Overlook before spring, and realizes he and Wendy would have to sell their wedding rings just to get enough money to make it to Wendy's mother's house in California. He then grimly realizes their marriage would not survive living there, as his mother-in-law hates him, and Wendy would become an emotional wreck from being under her mother's thumb.

* AdultFear: Jack is soaking in it. One of the biggest of these is unemployment and is in large part why he stays at the Overlook rather than fleeing when he and his family had a chance. Yes, he is already under the control of the hotel, but his fear of living in poverty and trying to survive on food stamps and church handouts is a very real and understandable one.
** At one point, he starts figuring out how they could logistically leave the Overlook before spring, and realizes they'd have to sell their wedding rings just to get enough money to make it to Wendy's mother's house in California. He then grimly realizes their marriage would not survive living there, as his mother-in-law hates him, and Wendy would become an emotional wreck from being under her mother's thumb.

A sequel titled ''Literature/DoctorSleep'' was released in late 2013, and adapted to film in 2019. The film is directed by Mike Flanagan and stars Creator/EwanMcGregor as the now-grown Danny Torrance.

On April 14th, 2020, it was announced that [[https://deadline.com/2020/04/hbo-max-the-shining-offshoot-overlook-j-j-abrams-duster-justice-league-dark-series-bad-robot-latoya-morgan-1202910337/ a spin-off anthology series entitled "Overlook"]] helmed by Creator/JJAbrams would broadcast on Creator/HBOMax at some point in the near future.

* TheBadGuyWins: Averted. King's original plotline had all the characters getting killed after failing to escape, and Danny's spirit ruling them in league with the hotel. But he began to like Danny too much to kill him off, and gradually changed the plot to a happier ending.

* RichesToRags: The Watson family were the original builders of the hotel, but Watsons grandfather (or great-grandfather, Halloran doesnt remember the exact details) ruined himself by pouring his fortune into the unprofitable hotel and didnt get out in time like the later owners did. The family ended up getting taken on as the caretakers of the property.

* ShirleyTemplate: During the InfoDump, it is mentioned that Derwent bought a movie studio that used to have a child star named Little Margery Morris, who "specialized in sweet seven-year-olds who saved marriages and the lives of dogs unjustly accused of killing chickens".