Cycle of the Werewolf

Frequently asked questions

• Is Cycle of the Werewolf connected to other Stephen King stories?

  This novella was originally conceived as a calendar project, with each chapter corresponding to a month of the year. While it stands alone as a complete narrative, its themes of small-town horror and the hidden monstrous within a community resonate with elements found in some of King's other works.

• Is there a movie adaptation of Cycle of the Werewolf?

  Yes, this novella was adapted into the 1985 film 'Silver Bullet.' The film expands on the story and characters, offering a cinematic interpretation of the werewolf attacks in Tarker's Mills.

• Who illustrated Cycle of the Werewolf?

  The novel was illustrated by Bernie Wrightson, best known for his illustrated edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and his co-creation of the DC Comics character Swamp Thing. Wrightson's dense, gothic pen-and-ink illustrations accompany each chapter and are considered an integral part of the book.

• What is the novel's unusual structure?

  The story is told in twelve chapters, one per month of the year, each complete in itself—a vignette of a different victim's encounter with the werewolf during that month's full moon. The narrative gradually focuses on Marty Coslaw, a wheelchair-bound child who becomes the key witness.

• Was Cycle of the Werewolf adapted for film?

  Yes. The 1985 film Silver Bullet was adapted from the novel with a screenplay written by King himself. The title was changed because the plot expanded significantly from the original text. Corey Haim starred as Marty Coslaw, with Gary Busey as his uncle.

• How did this book originate as a calendar project?

  Cycle of the Werewolf was originally commissioned as a 1983 illustrated calendar—twelve short prose pieces by King, one per month, to accompany Wrightson's art. The project grew beyond calendar scale and was published as a standalone illustrated book. Its compressed, monthly structure still reflects its origin.