Russell Dorr, PA-C, (left) with Stephen King at Dorr's daughter's wedding in 1997. Courtesy of Russell Dorr
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One day in 1974, not long after his graduation from Dartmouth's physician assistant certificate program, Russell Dorr, PA-C, was at work at a hospital in Bridgton, Maine. The day had begun like any other, with a long list of patients to see. Dorr noted that two of the day's patients had listed their occupation as author. He didn't think it particularly unusual -- "Family practice seems to be like bananas, they come in bunches," he says.
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But while one of the patients was writing a children's book, the other was a budding young author named Stephen King. King's novel Carrie had just been released, and Salem's Lot was about to be published. Dorr and King chatted about the author's books at this early encounter, and over time they continued to build a relationship as King returned for follow-up visits to his PA.
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But while one of the patients was writing a children's book, the other was a budding young author named Stephen King. King's novel Carrie had just been released, and Salem's Lot was about to be published. Dorr and King chatted about the author's books at this early encounter, and over time they continued to build a relationship as King returned for follow-up visits to his PA.
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Then one day, King asked Dorr if he would read through a book he was working on and assess the accuracy of the medical and scientific scenarios in it.
Then one day, King asked Dorr if he would read through a book he was working on and assess the accuracy of the medical and scientific scenarios in it.
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"I don't have time to read fiction!" Dorr replied. In addition to working at the hospital, Dorr was pursuing a bachelor's degree at the University of Maine, which required weeknight classes and a 2-hour round-trip drive. But King persisted, and eventually Dorr invited the author to speak at his class on American writers. "He was gracious enough to come, so I thought I had better read one of his books," Dorr recalls. The PA picked up Salem's Lot and became hooked.
"I don't have time to read fiction!" Dorr replied. In addition to working at the hospital, Dorr was pursuing a bachelor's degree at the University of Maine, which required weeknight classes and a 2-hour round-trip drive. But King persisted, and eventually Dorr invited the author to speak at his class on American writers. "He was gracious enough to come, so I thought I had better read one of his books," Dorr recalls. The PA picked up Salem's Lot and became hooked.
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Early on, Dorr consulted on The Stand, in which a rapidly mutating virus kills most of the world's population. "Steve gave me the concept of this virus, which was going to mutate with time, and of course he wanted this shred of reality interwoven with fiction," Dorr says. Subsequent manuscripts would come to Dorr fully written, about one a year. "I would read it and put in corrections or suggestions on how he could do it differently," Dorr says.
Early on, Dorr consulted on The Stand, in which a rapidly mutating virus kills most of the world's population. "Steve gave me the concept of this virus, which was going to mutate with time, and of course he wanted this shred of reality interwoven with fiction," Dorr says. Subsequent manuscripts would come to Dorr fully written, about one a year. "I would read it and put in corrections or suggestions on how he could do it differently," Dorr says.
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Now more than 30 years later, Dorr still edits and consults on King's books, including Under the Dome, which was released Nov. 10, 2009. Dorr took on a new and much more demanding role for this latest novel, in which a town is sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Instead of having him read a complete manuscript, King tapped Dorr's expertise during the writing process.
Now more than 30 years later, Dorr still edits and consults on King's books, including Under the Dome, which was released Nov. 10, 2009. Dorr took on a new and much more demanding role for this latest novel, in which a town is sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Instead of having him read a complete manuscript, King tapped Dorr's expertise during the writing process.
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"I had a lot of research to do ahead of time," Dorr says. "It changed from my being given a 400- or 500-page manuscript and reading through it, to being given a rough outline of his idea in the book, and then doing research in anticipation of information that he would need -- but then holding onto it until he asked for it."
"I had a lot of research to do ahead of time," Dorr says. "It changed from my being given a 400- or 500-page manuscript and reading through it, to being given a rough outline of his idea in the book, and then doing research in anticipation of information that he would need -- but then holding onto it until he asked for it."
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Among Dorr's research topics for Under the Dome were meteorology and atmospheric conditions, how to build an artificial swamp, how to make crystal methamphetamine and how to replenish oxygen -- including exploring NASA's historic research on the possibility of deep space probes carrying onboard greenhouses to provide photosynthesized oxygen.
Among Dorr's research topics for Under the Dome were meteorology and atmospheric conditions, how to build an artificial swamp, how to make crystal methamphetamine and how to replenish oxygen -- including exploring NASA's historic research on the possibility of deep space probes carrying onboard greenhouses to provide photosynthesized oxygen.
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As King wrote, Dorr eagerly awaited weekly e-mails of 50 pages at a time. "I would go into it and pore over it, and sometimes very little if anything needed to be done, and sometimes there were quite a bit of changes that needed to be done," he says. Dorr had worked with King on the 1,000-plus-page book since July 2007.
As King wrote, Dorr eagerly awaited weekly e-mails of 50 pages at a time. "I would go into it and pore over it, and sometimes very little if anything needed to be done, and sometimes there were quite a bit of changes that needed to be done," he says. Dorr had worked with King on the 1,000-plus-page book since July 2007.
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In addition to providing medical and scientific expertise for Under the Dome, Russell Dorr answered questions about PAs, since King has written into the book a PA character, one whose name might have a familiar ring: Rusty Everett.
In addition to providing medical and scientific expertise for Under the Dome, Russell Dorr answered questions about PAs, since King has written into the book a PA character, one whose name might have a familiar ring: Rusty Everett.
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With a knowing laugh, Dorr says the character is "a compilation of a lot of people," then goes on to describe the character's exploits in the first person. "The things that he has the PA doing in the book are all things that I told him how you could do it," he says. "There's a character who gets her nose busted, and I [as Rusty Everett] tell him how to reduce that fracture, and how to reduce dislocated fingers and shoulders, and [how to treat] soft tissue injuries," Dorr says.
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With a knowing laugh, Dorr says the character is "a compilation of a lot of people," then goes on to describe the character's exploits in the first person. "The things that he has the PA doing in the book are all things that I told him how you could do it," he says. "There's a character who gets her nose busted, and I [as Rusty Everett] tell him how to reduce that fracture, and how to reduce dislocated fingers and shoulders, and [how to treat] soft tissue injuries," Dorr says.
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Rusty Everett isn't King's first homage to Dorr. The author dedicated the 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption to Dorr and his wife, Florence. At the time, Dorr was considering moving out of Maine, and King's dedication helped him decide to do so. "My wife read the story, and she said, 'He dedicated this to you because you're the prisoner in this story, and he's telling you it's time to get out of Maine.'"
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Dorr, who now lives in Merrimack, N.H., and works in family practice at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua, says he's already deep into research for King's next novel. "I'm just champing at the bit and ready to go on this one," Dorr says.
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But no, he won't share any plot secrets.
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Dorr, who now lives in Merrimack, N.H., and works in family practice at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua, says he's already deep into research for King's next novel. "I'm just champing at the bit and ready to go on this one," Dorr says.
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But no, he won't share any plot secrets.
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Terri Schaefer is senior associate editor of ADVANCE for Physician Assistants. Reach her at tschaefer@advanceweb.com.
Terri Schaefer is senior associate editor of ADVANCE for Physician Assistants. Reach her at tschaefer@advanceweb.com.
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