After their father abandoned the family, young Stephen King and his brother often had to fend for themselves as their mother juggled several jobs. They moved frequently, from one town to another, sometimes living without indoor plumbing. To pass the time, Stephen began to make up stories. What began as entertainment became a passion and, combined with his fierce resolve, willingness to work, and vivid imagination, started King on a path to celebrity and wealth beyond his wildest dreams. King changed the face of horror fiction, making popular what was once considered a gimmick. His first book, Carrie, which told the story of an outcast high school student a recurrent theme in his work sold millions of copies, inaugurating a string of such successes. During one year, he had six books hit the best-seller list. Despite all the accolades and awards, King never forgot his roots and has donated millions of dollars to make other people's lives better, paying special attention to the communities of his youth. He has also fought against censorship and literary elitism. Dark Dreams: The Story of Stephen King tells the true-life rags-to-riches story of a man who holds his principles as firmly as the imaginations of his readers.