I Am the Doorway
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| Author | Stephen King |
|---|---|
| Country |  USA |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Horror, Science fiction short story |
| Released in | Night Shift |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Media Type | Print (Paperback) |
| Released | 1978 |
I Am the Doorway is a short horror/sci-fi story by Stephen King, published in his Night Shift collection. It was adapted into a "Dollar Baby" by a 15 year-old boy.[citation needed]
[edit] Plot summary
This story is a crippled ex-astronaut's account of the terrifying change he undergoes after being exposed to an alien mutagen during a space mission to Venus (similar to cancelled Manned Venus Flyby). The change takes the form of numerous tiny eyes that cover his hands. These eyes act as the titular "doorway" for an alien intelligence, allowing it to see into our world, which the man perceives it fears and hates intensely.
Soon, the alien presence is not only able to see through this doorway, but take control the man's shattered body, using him to commit terrible murders. In a desperate attempt to maintain his humanity, he douses his hands in kerosene and incinerates them, only to find out that once the doorway has opened, it cannot be so easily closed - now, there are eyes on his chest. He manages to make the alien presence go away for nearly seven years. After it came back, he planned to kill himself with a shotgun.
