Stephen King needs no introduction. The King of fantasy and Horror writings himself has written, in fact still writing, the best of his works. Each one of his novels is a classic and received amazingly well with the audiences. Check out his works below starting with BEST ONES,
1. The Shining
A classic introduction to King’s work, centre staging Jack Torrance’s fight against alcoholism as he surrenders to Ghosts of Overlook Hotel. Inspiration was taken from King’s own stay at the Overlook Hotel fighting his own alcoholism.
2. Salem’s Lot
King’s second best work as per my ‘bests’. Story of a man returning back to his spooky hometown, taken over by Vampires. A gorgeously woven, and not “just another haunted tale”.
3. The Dead zone
King’s first hardcover bestseller which established him as a fine writer. Drifting away from his normal horror concepts, this one’s more on the science-fiction and time leaps dimensions. Playing his protagonist is the one who can learn anyone’s pasts and futures just by a touch of his hands. Setting out to use his psychic ability to handle his situation, is the story.
4. The Long Walk, 1979
King has his work of imagination in this gripping novel. Set in an alternative history wherein Germany won the 2nd World War and made North America, a Fascist country. A modern walking contest in which contestants have to follow strictest rules or die, with emerging a hero who fights back against the slanted social norms.
5. Different seasons, 1982
A dramatic collection of four novellas, Rita Haywarth and the Shawshak redemption, Apt Pupil, The Body, and The Breathing method, all exploring the horror genre in its own distinct way, linking with each other and describing pertinently the four seasons.
6. Pet Sematary, 1983
You might know this version of King’s horrific composes in the film adaptation under the same name but the novel is just more than undead cats and other pets. It is about the grief that is attached to it and exploring the deep worries that parents have for their children. Nevertheless, it is a brutal spine chilling tale.
7. It, 1986
Often described as the most iconic works of the 1980s, It, re-examines the horrors of childhood, of fears and dreams which every child burdened themselves through their lives. The shapeshifting entity that resurfaces every 27 years to lure the children towards their bad destiny, gives a glimpse of the fears that every child usually frightens by. Even more terrifying is the clown which it hides as.
8. Dolores Claiborne, 1992
Second in a row, feminist novel by King after Gerald’s Game. Narrating the story of an abuse victim, who is in feud with her boss, a vicious old woman and the sympathy that King generates for her and the women like her.
9. The Dark Tower,1978-2012
The series is quite a struggle shown of Roland Deschain who must counter the Man in Black across a vast desert in one surrendered world. Traveling between the different worlds, making friends and restoring his life and everybody in it, with some engaging series action, the series is non-linear, and that’s the essence of it.
10. Revival, 2014
The tale of the relationship between a man and a boy, the faith healer and his assistant, Revival is King’s one of critically acclaimed writings. Over-shining with cosmic horrors, still a fun and one of King’s enjoyable delivers.
11. The Stand
The stand remains to be King’s most popular works and the lengthiest one. Initially, came up in a shortened version in 1978, and finally released in 1990, the uncut and 400-page extra version. The novel is an affair regarding a flu-epidemic outbreak as a result of biological warfare, wiping out max of earth’s population. It gets King’s favorite character, an entity that enjoys universe hopping, Randall Flagg, re-appearing after “Man in Black” of The Dark Tower.
SHORT STORY COLLECTION
12. Danse Macabre, 1981
A classic collection of horror essays exploring the different strings right from modern 20th-century writings to Gothic literary works and long-extinct comic publishers, even the mid-century dramas. It is the fine illumination to horror writing, a guide that shaped King’s views.
13. The Jaunt
A sci-fi short story by King that became a cult classic. About the futuristic family who prepare “The Jaunt”, a journey through space involving a complicated time-warp.
14. The Man in the black suit
A winner of World Fantasy and O. Henry Award which has most of King’s favorite elements- The Man in Black, encounter between man and boy and cosmic horrors of all kinds. The story backgrounds a happenstance between a boy and devil in the guise of a gentleman.
15. Jerusalem’s lot
You can find this short story in Night Shift(below), which is a prequel to Salem’s Lot, of Vampires and gothic horrors.
16. Lisey’s story
A romanticized psychic horror genre, having a woman writer grieving over her dead husband and dealing with his dark secrets and the demons that haunt her.
THE NOVELS THAT WERE BORN
17. On writing: A Memoir of the Craft, 2000
Such a writer as he is needs a memoir of his own. King included his life as a writer, his struggles and the lessons he learned which helped him to reach the zenith. Coupling his autobiography with deep wisdom on the very art of writing is what he has been critically acclaimed. The part where he gives his writing advices, is what he is being praised for, the most.
18. Misery
Paul Sheldon, a historical romance writer, crashes his car in a snowstorm with his legs shattered finds himself in captivity of a psychotic fan, Annie Wilkis a former nurse who is forcing Paul to bring dead Misery, heroine of his books, back to life, in his new book. King’s fantasy in this, is way above applaud able.
19. The Outsider
Stephen King writes what he is best at, touching both his general genres, crime, and horror. The arrest of a Baseball coach charged with murder and mutilating 11-year-old boy, open trails of clues and mysteries, and a quest to prove him innocent, eventually revealing some gruesome horrors.
20. Carrie
King’s first published novel and the most frequently banned books in schools of America, Carrie is about Carrie White, a bullied high school girl and how she uses her telekinetic power to avenge those who bother her. In the process, she causes one of the worst disasters in her town. The book received many film adaptations and opened King’s ultimate success doors.
21. The Green Mile
King has his characters with peculiar supernatural powers in his books, another being The Green Mile. About a death row supervisor and one of the inmate, who parades an interesting power to heal and empathetic ability.
22. Cujo
King has his inspiration going with his own encounter with a Saint Bernard in a garage where King apparently came for his motorcycle. A novel which King claims to not remember writing it at all as he was high on his cocaine addiction, yet won the British Fantasy Award, 1982. Cujo is about a rabid dog who killed four individuals in the fantasy town of Castle Rock, Maine.
23. The Mist
The story has everything, deadly creatures, supernatural beliefs, killings and spine chilling horrors at its best. After a thunderstorm, the fictional town of Bridgton is covered in thick mist with absolutely zero visibility, shielding horrific creatures who are out on the kill.
24. Christine
An automobile possessed with supernatural powers, thunders the town leading to a group of teens on the lookout and solve the mystery.
