The boys in the basement

**JellybeanJay** · May 2nd, 2011

Bag of Bones is my absolute favorite SK work and I am in the middle of a long overdue re-read. I have noticed that the phrase "the boys in the basement" is used quite often when Mike Noonan is carrying on a conversation with himself. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this and if it is referring to another novel. The phrase sounds familiar but I just can't place it.

Thanks!

**Moderator** · May 2nd, 2011

Steve uses that in On Writing, too.

**omm poppa mow mow** · May 2nd, 2011

The irony is that "the boys in the basement" have a kind of vision you wouldn't think possible, not in the basement, down low like that. Could be, too, that this is another way of saying that while some have a pipeline the sub-conscious, there are those who have a pipeline to the sub-sub-conscious...and that is from Sai King, elsewhere, though I forget the source. Maybe It?

**JellybeanJay** · May 2nd, 2011

Originally Posted by Moderator

Steve uses that in On Writing, too.

Does On Writing explain what the reference means?

**GNTLGNT** · May 3rd, 2011

It's his euphemism for his muse...

**Moderator** · May 3rd, 2011

Originally Posted by JellybeanJay

Does On Writing explain what the reference means?

I'd have to search to find the exact passage but the short answer is yes, it does and Scott has it right--it's about his muse.

**Spideyman** · May 3rd, 2011

“The boys in the basement are they guys who actually do my heavy lifting. They're the muses. And we have a picture of muses as being very ethereal creatures, but I think they are nonunion labor. They are hard working guys with Camels rolled up in the sleeves of their shirts.” (Lisa McRee, Kevin Newman, Stephen King's "Bag of Bones", ABC Good Morning America, 23 Sep 1998.)

**JellybeanJay** · May 3rd, 2011

I have seen that phrase quite often in Bag of Bones and was wondering if it had special meaning. Thank you for clearing that up! Just wondering if the reference show up in any other works other than On Writing?

**ginapenn** · May 5th, 2011

Gotta love that basement guy! I picture my muse as being an old, crotchety, English woman with too many cats and doilies. She's grumpy but brilliant.

**JohnDalglish** · May 5th, 2011

Hi,

Personally I've got a slut in the attic!

Long days and pleasant nights

Pee Ess -I think the story 'Stationary Bike' in JAS is relevant to this thread, as 'Ballad of a Flexible Bullet' to some extent.