Inispirations - THE MIST

I'm sharing some of the books, films, and TV shows that inspired Rule of Extinction, both to provide  recommendations and to give readers a sense of what to expect.

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One of my favorite Stephen King stories is The Mist, which is about a small group of everyday people trapped in a supermarket when a monster-filled mist rolls into town. I love the relatability of the story. These are ordinary people in an extraordinary situation. They aren't soldiers or specialists.

For me, that kind of scenario sparks the imagination, and makes it easy to ask the question, "What would you do?"

The Mist was a huge inspiration for my first book, The Dinosaur Four, and aspects of The Mist influenced Rule of Extinction.

Much of The Mist takes place in a supermarket, a location that's immediately relatable. I set The Dinosaur Four in a cafe for just that reason.

In The Mist, as with so many great horror stories, the other people are just as dangerous as the monsters. A religious fanatic convinces the crowd that end times have come and demands a blood sacrifice. Rule of Extinction features a similar subplot, and it pushes the book's antagonist over the edge.

The Mist is top shelf post-apocalyptic horror and classic King. It's highly recommended in several formats.


The Mist (a novella) is available in the collection Skeleton Crew. 

Frank Darabont’s film adaptation makes an unforgettable change that kicks you in the guts.

My favorite version is a dramatized audio adaptation. I listened to that sucker endlessly as a kid.