The Plant: Zenith Rising

Published: 2000

The Plant: Zenith Rising (2000) is the print collection of the serialized online novel The Plant, gathering the six installments King released before suspending the project. This limited edition hardcover, published through King's own Philtrum Press, contains all existing material from the unfinished work. The narrative follows the employees of struggling small publisher Zenith House after they receive a manuscript submission from Carlos Detweiller, accompanied by photographs of impossible plant growths. After rejection, Detweiller sends the publisher a small potted plant that begins to grow at an alarming rate, creating a Faustian arrangement where it brings success to the publishing house in exchange for occasional human sacrifices. The story unfolds through letters, memos, and journal entries from various staff members as they debate the moral implications of their arrangement with the increasingly sentient plant. The limited print edition became a collector's item, as the story remains unfinished and King has not returned to the project since 2000. Critics noted the novel's dark humor and publishing industry satire, though most viewed it as a minor experimental work rather than a significant addition to King's canon. The epistolary format allows King to develop multiple distinct voices among the publishing house staff, showcasing his skill with characterization even in an unconventional format. King has occasionally mentioned possibly finishing the novel, though no concrete plans have materialized. For readers, Zenith Rising represents an interesting fragment in King's bibliography, demonstrating his willingness to experiment with both publishing formats and narrative structures. The story's themes of temptation and compromise in the face of success connect it to other King works exploring Faustian bargains, while its publishing industry setting reflects King's career-long interest in the creation and dissemination of fiction.

Themes

• Publishing industry
• Faustian bargains
• Greed
• Sacrifice
• Corporate morality

Adaptations

Collector Notes

Limited edition print collection of the unfinished online serial novel. Contains all six installments released in 2000 before King suspended the project. A rare collector's item with a small print run.