MESSAGE BOARD Share your best wishes for his quick recovery

Web posted on: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 5:36:22 PM

Central Maine Medical Center spokesman Randall Dustin told CNN that the surgery, which began late Wednesday morning to repair King's hip joint socket, was "taking a little longer than anticipated." Dustin said that was not an indication that there was a problem.

King spent seven hours in surgery Monday to mend his shattered leg.

Dr. Larry Hopperstead, chief of trauma surgery at Central Maine Medical Center, earlier said he believes King should be able to return to everyday activities within the year, including "walking and typing."

He said it will be several weeks before King can walk with an assistance device and about nine months until he's able to walk normally.

Besides multiple fractures of his right leg, King suffered a collapsed lung, two broken ribs and a scalp laceration.

King is still getting plenty of calls and e-mails from well-wishers since Saturday's accident, which happened while he walked along a rural road near his summer home in Lovell, Gill said.

The driver who hit King, Bryan Smith, said he lost control after being distracted by his dog, which was loose inside the minivan. Smith was not speeding and was not charged with any violations, authorities said.

Master of horror fiction

King's prolific works -- horror novels, short stories and novellas -- have earned him the title "Master of Horror." A number of his novels have been turned into major films, including "Carrie," "The Shining," "Misery" and "Dolores Claiborne."

Three novellas from the book "Different Seasons" were also major films -- "Apt Pupil," "The Body" -- titled "Stand by Me" on the screen -- and "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption," filmed as "The Shawshank Redemption."

King's books have been translated into 33 languages and published in more than 35 countries. There are more than 300 million copies of his novels in publication.

King has also written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.