IT is a 1986 horror novel by American author Stephen King It was his 22nd book and his 17th novel written under his own name The story follows the experiences of seven children as they are terrorized by an evil entity that exploits the fears of its victims to disguise itself while hunting its prey It primarily appears in the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown to attract its preferred prey of young children < span>< p> The novel is told through narratives alternating between two periods and is largely told in the third person omniscient mode < span> The first narrative takes place in 1958 when the children are first terrorized by It The second narrative takes place in 1985 when the now adults return to Derry to face It once again < p> The novel has been praised for its complex characters its suspenseful plot and its exploration of the themes of childhood trauma and fear It has also been criticized for its violence and its length < p> IT has been adapted for the screen twice The first adaptation was a 1990 miniseries and the second adaptation was a two part film released in 2017 and 2019 < p> Here are some additional details about the book:< p>