Stephen King - The Plant

Description: The original version of The Plant was given out as 'Christmas cards' for 3 years to friends of King. It was self-published by King's own Philtrum Press and limited to only 200 signed and numbered copies and 26 signed and lettered copies of each. Part 1 was 32 pages, Part 2, 36 pages, and Part 3, 56 pages.

King recently decided to re-release The Plant as an Internet download, which he has plans on finishing in the future, with a total cost around $7, but it was downloaded using an honesty system - people could pay before they downloaded via creditcard, or promise to send in the $ as a cheque at a later stage.

Written as a collection of letters, memo's, newspaper articles and similar, it is about Carlos Detwieiller, a writer from Rhode Island who was looking at getting his "True Tales of Demon Infestations" book published. When Zeneth House publisher John Kenton was interested, Carlos sent the whole manuscript, including pictures of what looked like a real human sacrifice.

As you would expect, these pictures upset Kenton, so he reported it to the police. It turns out the man that was "Sacrificed" was really alive and well, living in Detweiller's apartment. Detweiller vows revenge on Kenton, and soon after a mysterious Roberta Solrac, who sends Kenton a plant.

The following is a list from the original Plant. See here for the updated character lists.

Published: Philtrum Press, 1983, 1984, 1986, Then re-released after being substantially rewritten and expanded in 2000/2001 on the Internet.

?, Eddie	Lawyer cousin of Riddley Walker
?, Olympia	Aunt of Riddley Walker
?, Susan	Aunt who gave John Kenton a diary
Ableson, Norman	Orderly at Oak Cove. Killed by Major Hecksler
Anderson , Toby	Ruth Tanaka's fiancée
Andrews, V C	Author mentioned in passing
Barfield, Tina	The owner of the Central Falls House of Flowers. She employed Carlos Detweiller
Barker, Olive	Author of the Windhover series of books that were published by Zenith House. She suffered a stroke, but could still write
Carlyle, ?	Writer mentioned in passing
DeGaulle, Charles	Mentioned in passing
Detweiller, Carlos	He sent his book , 'True Tales of Demon Infestations', to Zenith House in the hope of getting it published. He was arrested because of the disturbing photographs included with the manuscript, but they were determined to be fakes when the "victim' was seen alive and well. Began writing to Zenith House as Roberta Solrac. Sent Zenith the ivy, to Zenith Houise. Worked for Tina Barfield at the Central House of Flowers
Earhart, Amelia	According to Carlos Detweiller she went missing as a result of 'demons'
Enders, Harlow	Chief Comptroller in New York for Apex Corporation, the owners of Zenith House. Told the staff at Zenith that they would continue to be employed for another year, at which time there was to be 'a total review of Zenith's overall position in the market'
Faulkner, William	Author mentioned in passing
Fields, W C	Mentioned by Roger Wade
Fonda, Jane	Ruth Tanaka had her workout video
Ford, Arthur P	A State Police Lieutenant on Hecksler's trail after he escaped from the Oak Cove Asylum
Foster, Jody	Actress mentioned in passing
Garfunkel, Art	Member of the group Simon and Garfunkel. John Kenton liked listening to them
Gaye, Marvin	Singer mentioned in passing
Gear, Richard	Name mentioned in a letter from Detweiller to John Kenton. It should be Richard Gere
Gelb, William	Zenith House editor described as an 'Ivy League Tie-Wearing devil'
Ginelli, Richard	Owner of the Four Fathers Bar
Hammer, Bill	Worked as an editor for Zenith House until he was chased by Anthony Hecksler after rejecting his work
Hecht, Ben	Playwright mentioned in passing
Hecksler, Anthony R	A retired Major General who served in Europe before being captured by the Germans in late 1944. Author of 'Twenty Psychic Garden Flowers', which was rejected by Zenith House's Herb Porter. Committed to Oak Cove Asylum after stabbing a bus driver. Escaped, killing 3 people in the process, before faking his death at the Shady Rest Mortuary Crematorium. He was 72 when he escaped
Iverson, Barton	Central Falls Police Chief who, after investigating Carlos Detweiller's photographs, said they had been faked
J Geils Band, The	Band mentioned in passing
Jackson, Sandra	An editor at Zenith House, who was having an affair with Riddley Walker
Keen, Norville	Lived in the same building as Carlos Detweiller, he was the subject in the 'sacrifice' pictures enclosed with Detweiller's manuscript. He was seen alive by Riley, a police officer, during the investigation into the photographs
Kenton, ?	Unmarried sister of John Kenton, she lives with her mother
Kenton, John Edward	Editor at Zenith House. He rejected Carlos Detweiller's manuscript and contacted the police about the photographs it contained. His fiancée, Ruth Tanaka, left him for Toby Anderson. He was writing a novel titled 'Maymonth', but he later destroyed it.
Kenton, Mr	Father of John and three daughters
Kenton, Mrs	Mother of John and three daughters
LaScorbia, Anthony K L	Author of 'Rats from Hell', 'Scorpions from Hell', 'Wasps from Hell' and 'Flies from Hell', all published by Zenith House
Lawrence, D H	Author mentioned in passing
Leekstodder, Hubert D	Co-owner of the Shady Rest Mortuary who was killed by Anthony Hecksler and then incinerated in the mortuary's oven. He was on Heckler's grudge list
Leekstodder, Mr	Son of Hubert, married
Leekstodder, Mrs	Daughter-in-law of the Hubert Leekstodder and his wife. She raised the alarm when her husband's parents were incinerated at the Shady Rest Mortuary
Leekstodder, Mrs	Wife of Hubert Leekstodder. She was murdered by Anthony Hecksler and then incinerated in the mortuary's oven. She was on Hecksler's grudge list
Lincoln, Abraham	President of the Unites States
Lovecraft, H P	Author of the 'Necronomicon' mentioned by Carlos Detweiller
Ludlum, Robert	Author mentioned in passing
MacArthur, Douglas	The lighter he gave to Anthony Hecksler was used to start the fire in the Shady Rest Mortuary
Marksland, Rodney	Police Lieutenant from Long Island that investigated the murders at the Shady Rest Mortuary
Mencken, H L	Mentioned by John Kenton
Milton, John	Writer mentioned in passing
Mitty, Walter	Character mentioned in passing
Moors, Ellen K	Doctor in charge of Anthony Hecksler's case at the Oak Cove Asylum
Newman, Paul	Actor in 'Cool Hand Luke'
Nixon, Richard	Carlos Detweiller said he was infected with 'tulpa'
O'Connor, Flannery	Said that a good book distributor is hard to find
Payne, Joe	Mentioned in passing
Penbroke, Alicia	Nurse at the Oak Cove Asylum who was killed by Anthony Hecksler during his escape
Perkins, Maxwell	Mentioned in passing
Piet, John	Orderly at the Oak Cove Asylum who was killed by Anthony Hecksler during his escape
Porter, Herb	Editor at Zenith House who used to sniff Sandra Jackson's chair. Anthony Hecksler called him the 'Designated Jew'
Riley, ?	Police officer sent to the House of Flowers by Barton Iverson
Rogers, Rosemary	Author mentioned by John Kenton
Roth, Philip	Author mentioned in passing
Runyon, Damon	Writer mentioned by John Kenton
Saul, John	Author mentioned by John Kenton
Savini, Tom	Special effects expert mentioned in passing. He was said to be extremely good
Schneur, Herman T	Bus driver in Albany who was attacked by Anthony Hecksler. He survived
Shakespeare, William	Writer mentioned in passing
Simon, Paul	Member of the group Simon and Garfunkel that John Kenton liked listening to
Solrac, Roberta	Sent John Kenton letters and the ivy plant named 'Zenith'. It is thought that this is actually Carlos Detweiller. A fan of the LaScorbia novels published by Zenith House
Tanaka, Ruth	Fiancee of John Kenton, but she dumped him and became engaged to Toby Anderson
Tyndale, ?	Police Sergeant who checked the photos in Carlos Detweiller's book
Wade, Mrs	Roger Wade had three ex-wives
Wade, Mrs	Roger Wade had three ex-wives
Wade, Mrs	Roger Wade had three ex-wives
Wade, Roger	Editor in chief at Zenith House. He had been a teacher, and was married and divorced three times
Walker, Deidre	Sister of Riddley and Floyd, daughter of Fortuna Walker. One of Riddley's fantasies was for her to put a diaper on him and then he urinates in it
Walker, Floyd	Brother of Riddley and Deirdre, son of Fortuna Walker
Walker, Fortuna	Mother of Riddley, Deidre and Floyd Walker. Died of a heart attack aged 62
Walker, Riddley Pearson	He delivered mail, and worked as a janitor at Zenith House. It was his decision to keep "Zenith" the ivy when it arrived, even tho he was told to destroy it. He was having an affair with Sandra Jackson and was secretly writing a book. Son of Fortuna, brother of Deidre and Floyd Walker
Wayne, John	Actor in the movie 'Wake of the Red Witch'
Westmoreland, William	A General who spoke to Hecksler in Vietnam
Wilson, Gahan	Husband of Nancy Wilson. Owned the house in Connecticut where Ruth Tanaka met Roger Wade
Wilson, Nancy	Wife of Gahan Wilson. Owned the house in Connecticut where Ruth Tanaka met Roger Wade
Wolfe, Thomas	Author mentioned by John Kenton
Zenith	The plant Roberta Solrac sent John Kenton. The name was on a small plastic tag attached to the plant. Said to be a Common Ivy, but there is no such plant