The Dark Half

The protagonist of King's ``top-notch'' novel is literary novelist Thad Beaumont, whose greatest success has come with three gory thrillers written under the pseudonym George Stark. Beaumont is threatened by a blackmailer who may reveal Stark's identity; Beaumont kills off Stark instead; and Stark goes on a murderous rampage. ``Wondrously frightening . . . among the best of his voluminous work,'' maintained PW. (Oct.)