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The Reploids
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1989
3 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,391 books889k followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 11, 2020
On my way through more unknown and obscure Stephen King material I came across this story. It had some compelling elements with the unknown man who regards himself high and mighty appearing in Johnny Carson's studio. The police investigation is very strange and confusing. The whole story reads like a rough first draft (interesting look behind the curtain). I liked the idea with a parallel history though. Maybe interesting for King fans. Otherwise it isn't a must-read!
January 31, 2019
listened to on youtube
June 30, 2021
That was so good. I wish it was longer.
March 23, 2023
Read in Swedish translation, in Svarta syner.
April 11, 2024
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
This story have a lots of compelling elements kindly said, and the whole police investigation which takes place in this story is very strange and confusing.
To be fully honest with everyone this story feels like nothing but a rough first draft. I’m not trashing the whole story, Stephen King or anyone else here. I’m just saying what impressions this story gave me.
There are some parts of this story which is hard to understand, and there were a lots of parts where i need to google stuff which was in this story.
The ending itself is bad, like really bad. The whole story feels like it is ending in mid story and it feels like it should be more to it than it actually was.
The whole story is sort of too graphic when at least comes to me and my opinion.
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
This story have a lots of compelling elements kindly said, and the whole police investigation which takes place in this story is very strange and confusing.
To be fully honest with everyone this story feels like nothing but a rough first draft. I’m not trashing the whole story, Stephen King or anyone else here. I’m just saying what impressions this story gave me.
There are some parts of this story which is hard to understand, and there were a lots of parts where i need to google stuff which was in this story.
The ending itself is bad, like really bad. The whole story feels like it is ending in mid story and it feels like it should be more to it than it actually was.
The whole story is sort of too graphic when at least comes to me and my opinion.
October 21, 2018
I didn’t understand this at all! I had to google what a reploid was and understand it to be some kind of robot living on a parallel universe? Anyway, the story didn’t really have an end, just stopped mid story
August 29, 2019
Oookay?
Then what happened?
Why is it called The Reploids?
How did the switch-a-roo happen?
Guess I know why this has never appeared in any of King's short story collections... it's not up to par w/ his other stories.
Then what happened?
Why is it called The Reploids?
How did the switch-a-roo happen?
Guess I know why this has never appeared in any of King's short story collections... it's not up to par w/ his other stories.
August 3, 2020
Old King short story from 1988. Set on the set of the Johnny Carson show of the time, and it reads like the opening chapter of a book I would very much like to read. From the title, I expected a Body Snatchers pastiche (which it still is), but this is much more WTF than outright horror.
December 12, 2018
Muy buen relato...
Espero poder conseguirlo en físico en algún momento..
Espero poder conseguirlo en físico en algún momento..
December 19, 2018
Like it didn't even exist...
March 28, 2019
This one is SUBLIME. Find it and find out why!
May 5, 2019
I don't want the image of my mama getting raped in the butt and have her tits in the front lawn. So, I can see it. I think that is the mist graphic thing I have heard in a book ever. I don't like it!
June 5, 2019
I needed just a little more and this would have been a great short story.
September 17, 2020
Parece un capítulo de La Dimensión Desconocida
December 6, 2020
Okay...this was a rather weird and confusing book to read. I didn't have the foggiest idea what a Reploid was and that ending was so...not there?
February 5, 2021
A little dated in 2021, but fun story nonetheless.
March 4, 2021
Pretty good, not the best SK short
April 20, 2021
3 out of 5
June 14, 2022
Una lectura que al inicio me pareció curiosa pero según avanzó terminó siendo una más.
July 15, 2024
Not great. Not awful, but nowhere near his best work.
March 25, 2025
Where's Johnny Carson?
He's not on The Tonight Show
...in this universe.
He's not on The Tonight Show
...in this universe.
April 2, 2025
Very The Twilight Zone and a different type of horror. more subtle perhaps. Leaves you thinking about things, especially if you're into the whole Multiverse thing
September 16, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded down. A fun little read.
October 26, 2025
Fuckin shit. Last sentence was a banger, however.
January 13, 2026
Heeeeerrrree’s Johnny
July 30, 2025
Had an interesting premise but lacking in it’s execution. Maybe I’m a little bias bc it’s Stephen King so I’m expecting more but also maybe why it’s at least three stars. It’s a good idea js the ending wasn’t all it for me. Someone may think this is peak storytelling and I wouldn’t oppose, it’s just not my cup of tea.
September 7, 2023
very weird
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews