The Pet Sematary is a horror novel by Stephen King, published in 1983. The novel tells the story of Louis Creed, a doctor who moves with his family to a new home in Maine. Nearby, there is a pet cemetery where the local children bury their deceased pets. When Louis's cat Church is killed by a car, he buries it in the pet cemetery, and the cat returns to life, but is now a twisted and evil creature.

What is The Pet Sematary?

The Setting

The novel is set in the fictional town of Ludlow, Maine. The town is surrounded by woods and fields, and there is a river that runs through it. The Creeds' new home is located on a hill overlooking the town. The pet cemetery is located in the woods near the Creeds' house.

The Characters

Louis Creed is the protagonist of the novel. He is a doctor who moves to Ludlow with his wife Rachel and their two children, Ellie and Gage. Louis is a good man, but he is also flawed. He is often driven by his emotions, and he is willing to do anything to save his loved ones, even if it means breaking the rules.

Rachel Creed is Louis's wife. She is a strong and independent woman, but she is also struggling with her own demons. She is haunted by the death of her sister Zelda, who died of spinal meningitis when she was a child.

Ellie and Gage are Louis and Rachel's children. Ellie is a sweet and innocent girl, while Gage is a mischievous and adventurous boy. Both children are unaware of the dark secrets that surround their new home.

The Plot

The novel begins with the Creeds moving into their new home. Shortly after they arrive, Ellie's cat Church is killed by a car. Louis buries Church in the pet cemetery, and the cat returns to life. However, the cat is now a twisted and evil creature, and it begins to terrorize the Creed family.

Louis soon discovers that the pet cemetery is not what it seems. It is a place of dark magic, and anyone who is buried there will return to life, but they will be changed for the worse. Louis must find a way to stop the evil that is coming from the pet cemetery before it destroys his family.

The Themes

The Pet Sematary explores a number of themes, including death, grief, and the dangers of trying to control nature. Louis's attempts to bring back his loved ones from the dead lead to disastrous consequences, and he eventually learns that some things are better left alone.