A novella by author Stephen King and published in 2018, Elevation is about a middle-aged web page designer and resident of Castle Rock named Scott Carey, who faces an unusual affliction: he is steadily and irreversibly losing weight while his external appearance remains unchanged. While trying to come to terms with the mysterious disease, he also tries to aid a lesbian couple who suffer from the townspeople's prejudice.
Elevation provides examples of:
- An Aesop: Can't we all just get along?
- Also another, involving a recurring theme in King's works: sometimes bad things just happen to good people.
- Bittersweet Ending: The townspeople accept Deirdre and Missy, and their restaurant becomes a success... but Scott is doomed.
- Defrosting the Ice Queen: Deirdre.
- End of an Era: Scott believes that in the age of online shopping, traditional supermarkets and department stores are getting increasingly obsolete.
- Face Death with Dignity: Scott in the end.
- Happily Married: Dr Bob Ellis and Myra. Also Deirdre and Missy.
- Heteronormative Crusader: Castle Rock is full of people none too happy about some lesbians moving in.
- Jerkass: Many of the Castle Rock residents, but especially the man who personally insults Deirdre and Missy.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Scott's mysterious affliction could either be something genuinely supernatural, or a previously undiscovered scientific phenomenon.
- Nice Guy: Scott's obviously a thoroughly decent person.
- No Antagonist
- Riddle for the Ages: Just why exactly is Scott getting continuously lighter?
