"Above him was a half moon and what seemed like a trillion stars. To match the trillion pebbles, just as mysterious, that we walk over everyday, he thought. Mystery above, mystery below."

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The excerpt above may well be taken as a motto of Stephen King's fiction which are known for taking readers to a world full of mystery and wonder, horror and fantasy, one that is unreal yet quite like the world around us. Elevation, his latest offering, remains within the perimeters of this niche that King has created for himself, yet is slightly different.

At around 150 pages, this novella does not lose momentum from start till end. It makes for the perfect pick if you are looking for a first taste of King's fictional world. Veering somewhat from what King has offered till now with the shadowy world of monsters and supernatural figures, the element of uncanny in this book comes from a weird phenomenon that's not just mysterious and thrilling, but also everday and somewhat funny.

Scott Carey, King's protagonist, suddenly starts fearing the weighing scale he keeps in his bathroom, because it displays the a very different realit. The scale shows that he's losing weight every day, while his outer appearance remains unchanged. Sounds like every modern fashionista's conundrum, eh? With Carey's stomach bulging over his belt and tall, healthy physique, nobody could ever guess by looking at him that he was becoming lighter by several pounds by the day. There is more to the mystery. Carey weighs the same both when he's wearing a heap of clothes and exercising with weights, and when he's completely naked. Moreover, even as he loses 'weight', Carey feels perfectly healthy and energetic. What explains this strange phenomenon?

But it's only when Carey stops trying to understand his condition that he gradually makes his peace with it, thinking to himself that this was what everything ultimately led to – elevation.

King's delicate, emotional treatment of this story of extraordinary findings, elevates the novel above that of run-of-the-mill supernatural fiction.

Outside of Carey's confusing world, there is an everyday one, going about its humdrum activities. This is a world as prejudiced as the real one, where many still think of same sex-marriage as unhealthy for society, but are willing to resolve their differences by sitting down over a hearty meal and a long chat.

After a significant while, King's signature locale – Castle Rock, Maine – which has been the imaginary setting of more than a dozen of his works, reappears in Elevation. There are also nuances of the current political situation in America, about which King is very vocal on social media. In summation – a lucid, engaging and quick read.

ElevationStephen KingHachette 160 PagesRs 499