The Lawnmower Man

Infobox short story |
name = The Lawnmower Man
author = Stephen King
country = United States
language = English
genre = Horror, Science fiction short story
publication_type = Periodical
published_in = "Cavalier"
publisher =
media_type = Print (Magazine, Paperback)
pub_date = 1975
preceded_by =
followed_by =

The Lawnmower Man is a short story by Stephen King, published in 1978 in the compilation "Night Shift".

It was first published in "Cavalier" in 1975.

Tag Line

"I've mowed a lot of lawns to get here!"

Plot summary

Harold Parkette hires "Pastoral Greenery and Outdoor Services Inc." to cut his lawn. Conversing with the serviceman who arrives to do the job, Parkette is unsettled to hear him use the expression, "by Circe." The lawnmower man eventually deploys an "aged red power mower" which autonomously mows the lawn while he crawls in its trail on all fours, naked, devouring the grass. The lawnmower then chases after a mole, chopping it up, before returning to its track. The lawnmower man eats the shredded mole. It emerges that the lawnmower man is working for the god Pan. At this point, Parkette tries to call the police. The lawnmower man notices this, and directs the mower into the house, chewing up the carpet and a coffee table. Parkette tries to escape, but the mower catches up with him on the lawn and runs him over like the mole earlier. The story ends as the police discover Parkette's entrails behind the house in a birdbath.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

*"The Lawnmower Man" - A movie of the same name starring Jeff Fahey and Pierce Brosnan was released in 1992 by New Line Cinema. King was so disappointed with its departure from his story that he sued to have his name removed from any association with it. This was followed by "".

*"The Lawnmower Man" - Much more faithful to King's story than the 1992 film, this twelve-minute Dollar Baby short film was written by future professional screenwriter and New Line production executive Michael De Luca ("In the Mouth of Madness") and directed by Jim Gonis.