Stephen King has cited Richard Matheson as one of his early influences. Many of Matheson’s fantasy, science fiction and horror stories have been adapted to film or television. He wrote the screenplay for the first film directed by Stephen Spielberg, Duel, which brought Spielberg to the attention of the producers of Jaws, which really launched his career. Spielberg has said that if Jaws had failed in some way (the filming was beset with difficulties) his career would have been over.

Matheson also wrote for television and film. He wrote 16 episodes of The Twilight Zone, a very imaginative science fiction and fantasy television anthologies series.

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author of many works of fiction and non-fiction including The Handmaid’s Tale which was made into the successful TV series of the same name.

Happy Endings