End of Story? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Danny Torrance

In 'The Shining', Danny Torrance is the young son of the main character Jack Torrance, who becomes the seasonal caretaker of the remote Overlook Hotel. Danny possesses an ability known as 'the shining', which allows him to see into the bloody past of the hotel, as well as communicate with fellow 'shiner' Dick Hallorann. In 'Doctor Sleep', Danny is grown up and his psychic powers are repressed by his alcoholism. However, when he decides to become sober, his abilities start to return.

The picture clue shows some fast-flowing water, or a 'torrent', suggesting Danny's surname.

Answer: Robert Bloch

The original novel 'Psycho' was published in 1959, just one year before the release of the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name. Bloch's sequel was initially supposed to be used as the basis for the film sequel, but after the studio decided they didn't like it an entirely different storyline was constructed. Robert Bloch wrote more than 30 novels and many more short stories in a career that lasted more than 50 years.

The picture clue shows some lego blocks, a hint at the name of Robert Bloch.

Answer: Her translator

Johanna Spyri published 'Heidi' in 1881, and the book was originally written in the German language. Charles Tritten was her translator into both French and English, two of the more than 50 languages into which the book has now been translated. In addition to 'Heidi Grows Up', Tritten wrote three further sequels to the original book.

The picture clue shows an Enigma machine, used to 'translate' from plain text to enciphered text - I told you some of the clues were tangential!

Answer: Dracula

'Dracula' was written by Bram Stoker and originally published in 1897. More than a hundred years later, the sequel that nobody needed, entitled 'Dracula the Un-dead' was cowritten by Ian Holt and Stoker's great grand-nephew Dacre Stoker. The novel features many of the same characters as the original, and Bram Stoker himself even makes an appearance.

The picture clue shows a clove of garlic, one of the best ways to repel a vampire.

Answer: Scarlet

The estate from Barrie's original novel was left to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London in 1929. In 2004 the hospital allowed authors to submit an outline for a sequel, with Geraldine McCaughrean winning the commission. 'Peter Pan in Scarlet' was released in late 2006, with a radio adaptation appearing on BBC Radio 4 soon after.

The photo clue shows a scarlet pimpernel, a flower found natively in Europe, West Asia and North Africa.

Answer: Rosemary's Baby

Despite only releasing seven novels over the course of more than 40 years, Ira Levin has remained in the popular consciousness thanks to many of his books being adapted into films. His sequel to 'Rosemary's Baby', entitled 'Son of Rosemary', was his final novel before his death in 2007.

The photo clue shows a group of piglets, also known as a farrow. Mia Farrow was the star of the 1968 film version of Levin's 'Rosemary's Baby'.

Answer: Witches

A significant departure from the work for which he was previously best known, 'The Witches of Eastwick' depicts a group of women who become a coven of witches after being deserted by their husbands. The novel is often thought to be highly pro-feminist and critical of the patriarchal establishment, though the fact that the women are portrayed as witches raises some questions about that.

The photo clue shows some broomsticks, the traditional mode of transport for many witches.

Answer: Joseph Heller

'Closing Time' is Joseph Heller's sequel to his best known work 'Catch-22'. The book follows many of the same characters from the original, notably Yossarian and Milo Minderbinder. 'Closing Time' was the final novel that Heller published in his lifetime, though 'Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man' was released posthumously in 2000.

The picture clue shows a baseball glove, a useful tool for a game of catch.

Answer: Summer

Although he may be best known for science fiction works such as 'Fahrenheit 451' and 'The Martian Chronicles', both 'Dandelion Wine' and 'Farewell Summer' are based on the author's childhood in Illinois. 'Dandelion Wine' was first published in 1957, whilst 'Farewell Summer' was released in 2006, a whopping 49 years later. Although it is very different thematically, Bradbury's fantasy-horror 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' also draws on his experiences growing up in the Midwest.

The picture clue shows a calculator which could (if you are feeling liberal) be termed a 'summer'.

Answer: Upton Sinclair

Although 59 years separate the publication of Upton Sinclair's 'King Coal' and the sequel 'The Coal War', they were written in relatively quick succession. The reason for the huge gap is that the publisher rejected the sequel when Sinclair submitted it. It was finally published in 1976, some eight years after the author's death. Both novels portray the poor working conditions and maltreatment of employees in the coal industry in the United States.

The photo clue depicts a jungle scene. Sinclair is best-known for his novel 'The Jungle' about the meat packing industry in Chicago in the early 20th Century.