R. L. Stine Explained

R. L. Stine
Pseudonym:Jovial Bob Stine
Eric Affabee
Birth Name:Robert Lawrence Stine
Birth Date:8 October 1943
Birth Place:Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Children:1
Education:Ohio State University (BA)
Signature:R.L. Stine signature.svg
Signature Alt:R. L. Stine

Robert Lawrence Stine (; born October 8, 1943), known by his pen name R.L. Stine, is an American novelist. He is the writer of Goosebumps, a horror fiction novel series which has sold over 400 million copies globally in 35 languages, becoming the second-best-selling book series in history.[1] The series spawned a media franchise including two television series, a video game series, a comic series, and two feature films. Stine has been referred to as the "Stephen King of children's literature".[2]

Stine wrote the teenage horror fiction series Fear Street, which has sold over 80 million copies and has been adapted into a trilogy of films.[3] His other horror fiction novel series include Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, Nightmare Hour, and The Nightmare Room. He has also written dozens of humor books for children, under the alias Jovial Bob Stine.

Early life

Stine was born on October 8, 1943[4] in Columbus, Ohio,[5] the son of Lewis Stine, a shipping clerk, and Anne Feinstein. He grew up in Bexley, Ohio.[6] [7] [8] He comes from a Jewish family. Stine began writing at age nine, when he found a typewriter in his attic, subsequently beginning to type stories and joke books.[9] Stine said that he remembered reading the Tales from the Crypt comic books when he was young and credited them as one of his inspirations. He graduated from Ohio State University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in English.[10] While at OSU, Stine edited humor magazine The Sundial for three years.[4] He later moved to New York City to pursue his career as a writer.[6]

Career

Stine wrote dozens of humor books for children under the name Jovial Bob Stine and created the humor magazine Bananas.[6] Bananas was written for teenagers and published by Scholastic Press for 72 issues between 1975 and 1984, plus various "Yearbooks" and paperback books. Stine was editor and responsible for much of the writing (other contributors included writers Robert Leighton, Suzanne Lord and Jane Samuels and artists Sam Viviano, Samuel B. Whitehead, Bob K. Taylor, Bryan Hendrix, Bill Basso, and Howard Cruse). Recurring features included "Hey – Lighten Up!", "It Never Fails!", "Phone Calls", "Joe" (a comic strip by John Holmstrom), "Phil Fly", "Don't You Wish...", "Doctor Duck", "The Teens of Ferret High", "First Date" (a comic strip by Alyse Newman), and "Ask Doctor Si N. Tific".

In 1986, Stine wrote his first horror novel, called Blind Date.[11] He followed with many other novels, including The Babysitter, Beach House, Hit and Run, and The Girlfriend.[6] He was also the co-creator and head writer for the Nickelodeon children's television series Eureeka's Castle,[12] original episodes of which aired as part of the Nick Jr. programming block during the 1989–1995 seasons.

In 1989, Stine started writing Fear Street books.[13] Before launching the Goosebumps series, Stine authored three humorous science fiction books in the Space Cadets series titled Jerks in Training, Bozos on Patrol, and Losers in Space.[14] In 1992, Stine and Parachute Press went on to launch Goosebumps.[6]

Also produced was a Goosebumps TV series that ran for four seasons from 1995 to 1998[15] and three video games; Escape from HorrorLand, Attack of the Mutant[16] and Goosebumps HorrorLand.[17] In 1995, Stine's first novel targeted at adults, called Superstitious, was published.[18] He has since published three other adult-oriented novels: The Sitter, Eye Candy,[10] and Red Rain.

In the first decade of the 21st century, Stine worked on installments of five different book series, Mostly Ghostly, Rotten School, Fear Street, The Nightmare Room, Goosebumps Horrorland and the stand-alone novels Dangerous Girls (2003) and The Taste of Night (2004). Also, a direct-to-DVD movie . Starring Emily Osment, the film was released by Universal Home Entertainment on September 4, 2007[19] and was successful enough to spawn a spin-off, anthology, TV series R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour.

In 2014, Stine brought the Fear Street books back with his novel Party Games . The release of the Fear Street novel Give Me a K-I-L-L took place in 2017 . Jack Black portrayed a fictionalized version of Stine in the 2015 film Goosebumps, while Stine himself made a cameo appearance in the film, playing a teacher named "Mr. Black".[20] In the film's sequel, (2018), Stine had another cameo, as Principal Harrison, while Black reprised his role as Stine in several scenes. A Fear Street trilogy of films was released by Netflix in 2021.

In 2019, Stine appeared on an episode of the children's TV series Arthur. In "Fright Night", which aired in the 23rd season of the show, Stine voices Bob Baxter, the uncle of main character Buster Baxter. In the episode, Bob is shown to moonlight as a writer of scary stories, alluding to his real-life career as the author of the Goosebumps series.[21]

Awards and recognition

According to Forbes List of the 40 best-paid Entertainers of 1996–97, Stine placed 36th with an income of $41 million for the fiscal year.[22] His books have sold over 400 million copies worldwide as of 2008,[23] landing on many bestseller lists. In three consecutive years during the 1990s, USA Today named Stine as America's number one best-selling author.[24]

Among the awards he has received are the 2002 Champion of Reading Award from the Free Public Library of Philadelphia (that award's first year), the Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Award for Best Book-Mystery/Horror (three-time recipient) and the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (also received three times). In 1995, Stine was listed on People Weeklys "Most Intriguing People" annual list,[25] and in 2003, the Guinness Book of World Records named Stine as the best-selling children's book series author of all time. He won the Thriller Writers of America Silver Bullet Award in 2007, and the Horror Writers Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.[26] His stories have even inspired R. L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse, 4D movie-based attractions at SeaWorld (San Antonio and San Diego) and Busch Gardens (Williamsburg and Tampa).[27]

In 2017, Stine was awarded the Inkpot Award.[28]

Personal life

On June 22, 1969, Stine married Jane Waldhorn, an editor and writer[10] who later co-founded Parachute Press in 1983.[29] The couple's only child, Matthew (born June 7, 1980),[10] works in the music industry.[30]

Works

Original series

Goosebumps

Goosebumps (original series)
Tales to Give You Goosebumps Anthologies
Give Yourself Goosebumps
Give Yourself Goosebumps: Special Edition
Goosebumps Presents
Goosebumps Series 2000
Goosebumps HorrorLand
Goosebumps HorrorLand: Hall of Horrors
Goosebumps Most Wanted
Goosebumps Most Wanted: Special Edition
Goosebumps SlappyWorld

Fear Street

  1. The New Girl (1989)
  2. The Surprise Party (1989)
  3. The Overnight (1989)
  4. Missing (1990)
  5. The Wrong Number (1990)
  6. The Sleepwalker (1990)
  7. Haunted (1990)
  8. Halloween Party (1990)
  9. The Stepsister (1990)
  10. Ski Weekend (1991)
  11. The Fire Game (1991)
  12. Lights Out (1991)
  13. The Secret Bedroom (1991)
  14. The Knife (1991)
  15. The Prom Queen (1992)
  16. First Date (1992)
  17. The Best Friend (1992)
  18. The Cheater (1993)
  19. Sunburn (1993)
  20. The New Boy (1994)
  21. The Dare (1994)
  22. Bad Dreams (1994)
  23. Double Date (1994)
  24. The Thrill Club (1994)
  25. One Evil Summer (1994)
  26. The Mind Reader (1994)
  27. Wrong Number 2 (1995)
  28. Truth or Dare (1995)
  29. Dead End (1995)
  30. Final Grade (1995)
  31. Switched (1995)
  32. College Weekend (1995)
  33. The Stepsister 2 (1995)
  34. What Holly Heard (1996)
  35. The Face (1996)
  36. Secret Admirer (1996)
  37. The Perfect Date (1996)
  38. The Confession (1996)
  39. The Boy Next Door (1996)
  40. Night Games (1996)
  41. Runaway (1997)
  42. Killer's Kiss (1997)
  43. All-Night Party (1997)
  44. The Rich Girl (1997)
  45. Cat (1997)
  46. Fear Hall: The Beginning (1997)
  47. Fear Hall: The Conclusion (1997)
  48. Who Killed The Homecoming Queen? (1997)
  49. Into The Dark (1997)
  50. Best Friend 2 (1997)
  51. Trapped (1997)[31]
New Fear Street
  1. The Stepbrother (1998)
  2. Camp Out (1998)
  3. Scream, Jennifer, Scream! (1998)
  4. The Bad Girl (1998)
Fear Street Super Chiller
  1. Party Summer (1991)
  2. Silent Night (1991)
  3. Goodnight Kiss (1992)
  4. Broken Hearts (1993)
  5. Silent Night 2 (1993)
  6. The Dead Lifeguard (1994)
  7. Cheerleaders: The New Evil (1994)
  8. Bad Moonlight (1995)
  9. The New Year's Party (1995)
  10. Goodnight Kiss 2 (1996)
  11. Silent Night 3 (1996)
  12. High Tide (1997)
  13. Cheerleaders: The Evil Lives! (1998)
Cheerleaders
  1. The First Evil (1992)
  2. The Second Evil (1992)
  3. The Third Evil (1992)
  4. The New Evil (1994) *FS: Super Chiller*
  5. The Evil Lives! (1998) *FS: Super Chiller*
The Fear Street Saga Trilogy
  1. The Betrayal (1993)
  2. The Secret (1993)
  3. The Burning (1993)
99 Fear Street: The House of Evil
  1. The First Horror (1994)
  2. The Second Horror (1994)
  3. The Third Horror (1994)
Cataluna Chronicles
  1. The Evil Moon (1995)
  2. The Dark Secret (1995)
  3. The Deadly Fire (1995)
Fear Park
  1. The First Scream (1996)
  2. The Loudest Scream (1996)
  3. The Last Scream (1996)
Fear Street Sagas
  1. A New Fear (1996)
  2. House of Whispers (1996)
  3. Forbidden Secrets (1996)
  4. The Sign of Fear (1996)
  5. The Hidden Evil (1997)
  6. Daughters of Silence (1997)
  7. Children of Fear (1997)
  8. Dance of Death (1997)
  9. Heart of the Hunter (1997)
  10. The Awakening Evil (1997)
  11. Circle of Fire (1998)
  12. Chamber of Fear (1998)
  13. Faces of Terror (1998)
  14. One Last Kiss (1998)
  15. Door of Death (1998)
  16. The Hand of Power (1999)
Fear Street Seniors
  1. Let's Party (1998)
  2. In Too Deep (1998)
  3. The Thirst (1998)
  4. No Answer (1998)
  5. Last Chance (1998)
  6. The Gift (1998)
  7. Fight Team, Fight (1998)
  8. Sweetheart, Evil Heart (1998)
  9. Spring Break (1999)
  10. Wicked (1999)
  11. The Prom Date (1999)
  12. Graduation Day (1999)
Fear Street Nights
  1. Moonlight Secrets (2005)
  2. Midnight Games (2005)
  3. Darkest Dawn (2005)

A Fear Street Novel

  1. Party Games (2014)
  2. Don't Stay Up Late (2015)
  3. The Lost Girl (2015)
  4. Can You Keep a Secret? (2016)
  5. The Dead Boyfriend (2016)
  6. Give Me a K-I-L-L (2016)
Return to Fear Street
  1. You May Now Kill The Bride (2018)
  2. The Wrong Girl (2018)
  3. Drop Dead Gorgeous (2018)
Ghosts of Fear Street (not written by R.L. Stine)
  1. Hide and Shriek
  2. Who's Been Sleeping in My Grave?
  3. The Attack of the Aqua Apes
  4. Nightmare in 3-D
  5. Stay Away from the Tree House
  6. Eye of the Fortuneteller
  7. Fright Knight
  8. The Ooze
  9. Revenge of the Shadow People
  10. The Bugman Lives!
  11. The Boy Who Ate Fear Street
  12. Night of the Werecat
  13. How to Be a Vampire
  14. Body Switchers from Outer Space
  15. Fright Christmas
  16. Don't Ever Get Sick at Granny's
  17. House of a Thousand Screams
  18. Camp Fear Ghouls
  19. Three Evil Wishes
  20. Spell of the Screaming Jokers
  21. The Creature from Club Lagoona
  22. Field of Screams
  23. Why I'm Not Afraid of Ghosts
  24. Monster Dog
  25. Halloween Bugs Me!
  26. Go to Your Tomb – Right Now!
  27. Parents from the 13th Dimension
  28. Hide and Shriek II
  29. The Tale of the Blue Monkey
  30. I Was a Sixth-Grade Zombie
  31. Escape of the He-Beast
  32. Caution: Aliens at Work
  33. Attack of the Vampire Worms
  34. Horror Hotel Pt. 1: The Vampire Checks in
  35. Horror Hotel Pt. 2: Ghost in the Guest Room
  36. The Funhouse of Dr. Freek (Unreleased)

Mostly Ghostly

See also: Mostly Ghostly.

Rotten School (2005–2008)

See also: Rotten School.

The Nightmare Room

See also: The Nightmare Room.

The Nightmare Room Thrillogy (2001)

Space Cadets

Hark

Dangerous Girls

Just Beyond (graphic novel series)

Stand-alone novels

Anthologies

Rainy Night Theater Podcast short stories

Short stories (from other anthologies)

Books written under the name Jovial Bob Stine

The Book (1987)

Books written under the name Zachary Blue

Comic books

Contributions to other series

Crosswinds

Twist-a-plot

Find Your Fate

Find Your Fate Junior: Golden Girl

Advanced Dungeons And Dragons Storybook

Wizards, Warriors and You

G.I. Joe: Find Your Fate

G.I. Joe

See also: G.I. Joe.

Horror High

Point Horror

See also: Point Horror.

Garbage Pail Kids

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022-10-21 . Goosebumps Books Statistics – WordsRated . 2024-05-04 . en-US.
  2. Web site: October 26, 2007 . Emily Osment stars in 'R.L. Stine's "The Haunting Hour" . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110708114939/http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20071026%2FLIFE%2F710260303%2F-1%2FNEWS . July 8, 2011 . February 24, 2011 . . mdy-all.
  3. Book: The Teacher's Calendar of Famous Birthdays . 2003 . McGraw Hill Professional . 978-0-07-141230-8 . en.
  4. Web site: Ohio Reading Road Trip. R.L. Stine. February 27, 2011.
  5. Web site: KidsReads.com. The Nightmare Room by R.L. Stine. May 11, 2011. March 7, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120307182951/http://www.kidsreads.com/series/series-nightmare-author.asp. dead.
  6. Web site: About R.L. – For book and school reports . February 27, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131127161436/http://rlstine.com/about/ . November 27, 2013 .
  7. Web site: Stine, R. L. 1943– . encyclopedia.com.
  8. News: Ken. Gordon. R.L. Stine still scaring up kids' stories. November 22, 2014. The Columbus Dispatch. December 9, 2013. March 30, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330055750/https://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2013/12/09/author-still-scaring-up-kids-stories.html. dead.
  9. Web site: MacPherson. Karen. Venture into R.L. Stine's 'HorrorLand' – if you dare!. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 8, 2008. February 27, 2011.
  10. Web site: 2011 Thrillermaster: R.L. Stine. ThrillerFest. February 25, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110717052742/http://www.thrillerfest.com/about/special-guests/. July 17, 2011. mdy-all.
  11. Web site: Rosenberg. Joyce M.. Success gives bookstores Goosebumps. The Albany Herald. October 27, 1996. February 27, 2011.
  12. Conradt. Stacy. The Quick 10: The Not-Very-Scary Former Jobs of 10 Very Scary People. October 14, 2009. Mental floss. November 11, 2012. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100312074828/http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/36998. March 12, 2010.
  13. Book: R.L. Stine . ABDO Publishing Company . Meister, Cari . 2001 . 17 . 1-57765-484-6 . May 15, 2011.
  14. Book: R.L. Stine . Chelsea House Publishers . Marcovitz, Hal . 2005 . 94 . 0-7910-8659-3 . registration . May 15, 2011.
  15. Book: Gunelius, Susan. Harry Potter: The Story of a Global Business Phenomenon. 2008. Palgrave Macmillan. 978-0-230-20323-5. 58 . limited.
  16. Web site: Technical Support – Goosebumps . Scholastic . December 25, 2010.
  17. Web site: Paramchuk . Jeff . Goosebumps HorrorLand . Common Sense Media . January 2, 2009 . January 10, 2011.
  18. Superstitious . . July 15, 1995 . December 7, 2010.
  19. News: Cartoon Network – it's not .... https://archive.today/20130131160303/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1328376181.html?dids=1328376181:1328376181&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+31,+2007&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Cartoon+Network+--+it's+not+...&pqatl=google. dead. January 31, 2013. August 31, 2007. The Washington Post. November 11, 2012.
  20. Web site: Stine . R. L. . .@mdroush Jack Black plays me in the GB movie, now filming in GA. I'm going down to do a cameo next month. . Twitter . May 20, 2014 . May 24, 2014 .
  21. Web site: Smith. Meghan . 'Goosebumps' Author R.L. Stine On Frightening Generations And Voicing A Creepy Character For 'Arthur' . GBH. October 30, 2020. October 30, 2020.
  22. http://www.langston.com/Fun_People/1997/1997AXO.html The 40 best-paid entertainers
  23. Web site: Venture into R.L. Stine's 'HorrorLand' – if you dare!. post-gazette.com. April 8, 2008. May 14, 2011.
  24. Web site: R.L. Stine. Parachute Publishing. February 27, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110204022913/http://parachutepublishing.com/mainpage.html. February 4, 2011.
  25. Web site: Hartman . Liz . BEA 2014: R.L. Stine Is in the House!!! . 2023-07-03 . PublishersWeekly.com . en.
  26. News: Stine, Jones Win Horror Writers Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. February 25, 2014. Publishers Weekly. March 13, 2014.
  27. News: Norton. Wilma. Busch Gardens' new beacon beckons. May 29, 2003. St. Petersburg Times. November 11, 2012.
  28. https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot Inkpot Award
  29. Web site: Books and entertainment kids choose for themselves.. Parachute Press. February 25, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110204022913/http://parachutepublishing.com/mainpage.html. February 4, 2011. mdy-all.
  30. News: Elisabeth Weinberg, Matthew Stine. The New York Times. July 2, 2010. February 25, 2011.
  31. Web site: 2014-08-11 . R.L. Stine . 2021-07-08 . Book Series in Order.