Horror writer Stephen King, lauded by readers but panned by many critics, called for support of other popular fiction authors last night as he received the prestigious Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from the U.S. National Book Foundation.

King has fielded recent criticism from parts of the literary community because of the award. Harold Bloom has been particularly critical of the choice, going as far as writing an editorial decrying the award as an assault on the literary landscape. But King seemed to pay little attention. "I know that he feels that way, but the way he feels isn't necessarily the way everyone feels," said King as he walked a red carpet into the event.

His many defenders include Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon and one of last night's fiction nominees, Marianne Wiggins, author of Evidence Of Things Unseen. T. Coraghessan Boyle, a fiction finalist at the awards for his novel Drop City, also praised King. "He is one of the sweethearts of literature," Boyle said. "He has done so much for other writers."

During his acceptance speech, King said he has no patience "for those who make a point of pride in saying they have never read anything by John Grisham, Tom Clancy, Mary Higgins Clark or any other popular writer."

"What do you think?" King asked. "You get social academic brownie points for deliberately staying out of touch with your own culture?"

Source: The Star [1]