Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I think this is the perfect epilogue for the book.
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Official Stephen King Publication Countdown - 39. Doctor Sleep, 38. Delores Claiborne (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter turnjose7
- Start date
60. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
2000
Non-fiction
0/5
This is the only non-fiction book to break into the top 100. As noted in the first few posts of the thread, King has published several non-fiction books but really has two main non-fiction works: this and Danse Macabre. The latter is an exploration of the concept of horror and why people enjoy it. It’s definitely interesting, but unless one has a really extensive knowledge of the genre including being familiar with essentially every horror novel ever written and every horror movie ever made, parts of it will probably be lost on the reader.
On Writing is the opposite. It is something that I would imagine almost anyone can appreciate. The content has two major parts. Half of it is about King’s philosophy on and approach to writing, getting into nitty gritty details like his hatred of adverbs. That may sound dull, but he does it in a way that is fascinating. The second part is a mini-autobiography of King’s life.
It is really interesting to see how King’s life has influenced his writing. This is especially true when it comes to one of the most significant events, a near-death experience. For those who don’t know, on June 19, 1999 King was taking a walk near his rural Maine home when he was struck by a van and was nearly killed. He had a prolonged recovery, and the impact of the experience significantly influenced his writing. The tone of his works changed, and the plots of some of his stories even allude to the incident. Reading this can really help one appreciate his works more, especially the final three books of The Dark Tower.
2000
Non-fiction
0/5
This is the only non-fiction book to break into the top 100. As noted in the first few posts of the thread, King has published several non-fiction books but really has two main non-fiction works: this and Danse Macabre. The latter is an exploration of the concept of horror and why people enjoy it. It’s definitely interesting, but unless one has a really extensive knowledge of the genre including being familiar with essentially every horror novel ever written and every horror movie ever made, parts of it will probably be lost on the reader.
On Writing is the opposite. It is something that I would imagine almost anyone can appreciate. The content has two major parts. Half of it is about King’s philosophy on and approach to writing, getting into nitty gritty details like his hatred of adverbs. That may sound dull, but he does it in a way that is fascinating. The second part is a mini-autobiography of King’s life.
It is really interesting to see how King’s life has influenced his writing. This is especially true when it comes to one of the most significant events, a near-death experience. For those who don’t know, on June 19, 1999 King was taking a walk near his rural Maine home when he was struck by a van and was nearly killed. He had a prolonged recovery, and the impact of the experience significantly influenced his writing. The tone of his works changed, and the plots of some of his stories even allude to the incident. Reading this can really help one appreciate his works more, especially the final three books of The Dark Tower.
59. “Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut”
1984
Short story from Skeleton Crew
Fantasy
1/5
- Castle Rock story
The owner of a vacation home in western Maine, obsessed with finding the shortest possible route between two points, seems to defy the laws of physics.
This short story could fly under the radar as it is different from almost everything else in Skeleton Crew, and most of King’s work in general, but I really like it. There isn’t anything remotely scary or suspenseful here. But it’s a really fun modern fairy tale that captures the spirit of rural Maine while leaving the reader with a sense of wonder.
1984
Short story from Skeleton Crew
Fantasy
1/5
- Castle Rock story
The owner of a vacation home in western Maine, obsessed with finding the shortest possible route between two points, seems to defy the laws of physics.
This short story could fly under the radar as it is different from almost everything else in Skeleton Crew, and most of King’s work in general, but I really like it. There isn’t anything remotely scary or suspenseful here. But it’s a really fun modern fairy tale that captures the spirit of rural Maine while leaving the reader with a sense of wonder.
58. The Tommyknockers
1987
Novel
Horror, science fiction
3/5
- Derry/Haven story
Inhabitants of a Maine town begin to change in dramatic ways after a local resident seemingly uncovers a buried spaceship.
This is the other book that I was talking about when I said there were still novels to come with both good and bad parts. Among King’s more widely known works, The Tommyknockers is generally considered one of his weakest novels. King himself has criticized it, indicating that his heavy drug use at the time was negatively affecting his writing abilities. To be sure, the last third of the book has parts that are completely ridiculous. The ending is among the worst stuff I’ve ever read by King. But he also has claimed there is a good novel in there, and I agree. The first 2/3 of the book slowly build in a good way. There are some fantastic early scenes, and I actually think it is one of King’s most effective novels at creating a sense of dread. Unfortunately, the payoff just isn’t there in the end.
1987
Novel
Horror, science fiction
3/5
- Derry/Haven story
Inhabitants of a Maine town begin to change in dramatic ways after a local resident seemingly uncovers a buried spaceship.
This is the other book that I was talking about when I said there were still novels to come with both good and bad parts. Among King’s more widely known works, The Tommyknockers is generally considered one of his weakest novels. King himself has criticized it, indicating that his heavy drug use at the time was negatively affecting his writing abilities. To be sure, the last third of the book has parts that are completely ridiculous. The ending is among the worst stuff I’ve ever read by King. But he also has claimed there is a good novel in there, and I agree. The first 2/3 of the book slowly build in a good way. There are some fantastic early scenes, and I actually think it is one of King’s most effective novels at creating a sense of dread. Unfortunately, the payoff just isn’t there in the end.
57. Cujo
1981
Novel
Horror
3/5
- Castle Rock story
A rabid dog terrorizes the people of Castle County.
Not a lot to say about this one. It is one of King’s more famous works and I think everyone has a good sense of what it is about. It’s a solid story, reasonably scary, but lacking anything to really make it stand out as one of his best works. Maybe the most important thing about it is that it is the first of his novels to take place primarily in Castle Rock (the town was seen in The Dead Zone but wasn’t the primary setting for that book). Its events are also referenced in more stories than probably any of his other books: The Body, The Dark Half, Pet Sematary, and a number of others all make direct reference to it.
Maybe an interesting bit of trivia: the dog was named after Willie Wolfe, one of the perpetrators of the Patty Hearst kidnapping (a subject for which King seems to have endless fascination).
1981
Novel
Horror
3/5
- Castle Rock story
A rabid dog terrorizes the people of Castle County.
Not a lot to say about this one. It is one of King’s more famous works and I think everyone has a good sense of what it is about. It’s a solid story, reasonably scary, but lacking anything to really make it stand out as one of his best works. Maybe the most important thing about it is that it is the first of his novels to take place primarily in Castle Rock (the town was seen in The Dead Zone but wasn’t the primary setting for that book). Its events are also referenced in more stories than probably any of his other books: The Body, The Dark Half, Pet Sematary, and a number of others all make direct reference to it.
Maybe an interesting bit of trivia: the dog was named after Willie Wolfe, one of the perpetrators of the Patty Hearst kidnapping (a subject for which King seems to have endless fascination).
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I found this book fascinating. I'm not a lit major or anything, and don't know how widely accepted some of King's opinions are among the literati, but it was an easy read even for me that made sense. I think it's essential for King fans.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I didn't hate this one as much as many King fans did. Maybe that's because I was......um...... ingesting a lot of the same things Kings was at the time
It's a wild ride, though I agree that it gets pretty silly at times.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I would have had this higher if I made this list. One of King's best traits - to me - is that he can come up with these single-concept ideas that smash. This is the novel version of a bottle episode on TV. The problem with it is - again, to me - that the book is too damned long. This should've been a novella or short story.
zamboni
Footballguy
Agreed - could have been shorter but definitely terrifying. The movie adaptation with the kid from Who’s The Boss was terrible in comparison.
timschochet
Footballguy
Cujo is IMO your first major error in ranking. It’s a top 20 King story, possibly top 10. I don’t think it needed to be shorter either because the characters are all interesting and add to the suspense. Also no one has mentioned yet the shock ending- this isn’t a case of everybody lives happily ever after. I thought that gives the story added depth as well.
Wanted to add that in 3 King novels- Cujo, The Stand, and Gerald’s Game- he offers narrative from the perspective and mind of a dog. He’s very good at it; in all instances it comes off as believable.
Wanted to add that in 3 King novels- Cujo, The Stand, and Gerald’s Game- he offers narrative from the perspective and mind of a dog. He’s very good at it; in all instances it comes off as believable.
Others as well. Under the Dome comes to mind. Yeah it's impressive; it should come across as silly but it doesn't.
I’m going to take a break until tomorrow morning before posting any more entries, but I thought now would be a good time to say a little bit about The Dark Tower for those who aren’t as familiar with King. Several upcoming entries are important in the Dark Tower storyline so it probably would be helpful for people to know what that means.
King has long had an idea for an epic story combining elements of fantasy and western, inspired by Robert Browning’s poem “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came” along with The Lord of the Rings and Clint Eastwoods “Man with No Name” films. He started writing the story in 1970, before he had ever published a novel, and over the next dozen years published excerpts in various magazines. The first full novel in the series, The Gunslinger, was published as a limited edition in 1982. Over the years King alternated between setting the story aside and being called to finish it. Eventually, the accident I mentioned in the On Writing entry changed the direction of the story and spurred its completion, with the final three volumes all being written and published over the course of a few years.
King’s official website refers to it as his magnum opus. The series proper is about 4,250 pages and consists of seven core novels, one side novel, and a novella. But the series features connections to multiple other King stories and many of his stories include elements that relate to the series. In a sense, all of King’s works are part of a larger Dark Tower story. The series explains why many of his works feature similar elements but with slight inconsistencies and why so much weird and scary stuff seems to happen in small towns in Maine.
Opinions will vary about the best way to approach the series and what other works are critical to read to understand it. Here is the approach I would recommend:
The Stand --> ‘Salem’s Lot --> DT1: The Gunslinger --> (The Eyes of the Dragon) --> DT2: The Drawing of the Three --> DT3: The Wastelands --> Insomnia --> DT4: Wizard and Glass --> (“Little Sisters of Eluria” from Everything’s Eventual) --> “Everything’s Eventual” from Everything's Eventual --> Hearts in Atlantis --> (The Talisman/Black House) --> DT5: Wolves of the Calla --> DT6: Song of Susannah --> DT7: The Dark Tower --> (Wind Through the Keyhole: A Dark Tower Story)
The stuff in parentheses are nice supplements that tie into the story but aren’t essential to understanding the main plot so you could technically skip them. Everything else you should probably read, or else parts of the main plot will be pretty confusing. ‘Salem’s Lot is the weird one because within the story itself there is nothing that makes it seem like a Dark Tower work, but you absolutely need it to understand books 5-7. So, you should read it, but it alternatively could be done after Hearts in Atlantis even though chronologically it’s much earlier.
King has long had an idea for an epic story combining elements of fantasy and western, inspired by Robert Browning’s poem “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came” along with The Lord of the Rings and Clint Eastwoods “Man with No Name” films. He started writing the story in 1970, before he had ever published a novel, and over the next dozen years published excerpts in various magazines. The first full novel in the series, The Gunslinger, was published as a limited edition in 1982. Over the years King alternated between setting the story aside and being called to finish it. Eventually, the accident I mentioned in the On Writing entry changed the direction of the story and spurred its completion, with the final three volumes all being written and published over the course of a few years.
King’s official website refers to it as his magnum opus. The series proper is about 4,250 pages and consists of seven core novels, one side novel, and a novella. But the series features connections to multiple other King stories and many of his stories include elements that relate to the series. In a sense, all of King’s works are part of a larger Dark Tower story. The series explains why many of his works feature similar elements but with slight inconsistencies and why so much weird and scary stuff seems to happen in small towns in Maine.
Opinions will vary about the best way to approach the series and what other works are critical to read to understand it. Here is the approach I would recommend:
The Stand --> ‘Salem’s Lot --> DT1: The Gunslinger --> (The Eyes of the Dragon) --> DT2: The Drawing of the Three --> DT3: The Wastelands --> Insomnia --> DT4: Wizard and Glass --> (“Little Sisters of Eluria” from Everything’s Eventual) --> “Everything’s Eventual” from Everything's Eventual --> Hearts in Atlantis --> (The Talisman/Black House) --> DT5: Wolves of the Calla --> DT6: Song of Susannah --> DT7: The Dark Tower --> (Wind Through the Keyhole: A Dark Tower Story)
The stuff in parentheses are nice supplements that tie into the story but aren’t essential to understanding the main plot so you could technically skip them. Everything else you should probably read, or else parts of the main plot will be pretty confusing. ‘Salem’s Lot is the weird one because within the story itself there is nothing that makes it seem like a Dark Tower work, but you absolutely need it to understand books 5-7. So, you should read it, but it alternatively could be done after Hearts in Atlantis even though chronologically it’s much earlier.
56. The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
2004
Novel
Dark fantasy, horror, western
2/5
- Dark Tower story
“I think telling stories is like pushing something. Pushing against uncreation itself, maybe.”
"We spread the time as we can, but in the end the world takes it all back."
“Always Roland; and in the end, after the others had fallen, murdered away one by one in these bloody motions, Roland would remain.”
In the penultimate Dark Tower story, Roland and his companions race to find Susannah Dean before the impending birth of her child. Important secrets are unveiled about the baby, a surprise guest character makes an appearance, and in a shocking coda, a twist is revealed which threatens to unravel the entire Stephen King universe.
This is the first of the core Dark Tower novels to appear on the list. One thing that is important for rating the books in the series is realizing that the tone changes substantially throughout. Each book seemingly gets a little more bizarre which some readers may really like, and some might see as a negative.
While Song of Susannah is the lowest rated of the core novels for me and considered the weakest by many readers, it is still a great, great book. There are some absolutely beautiful passages in it, and it is crucial for the overall story. Maybe the biggest issue is something you would never expect someone to say about a King novel: it’s too short. A ton happens in this book, but it is far shorter than any of the other Dark Tower novels aside from The Gunslinger. The result is that the pace of this one seems almost frantic, making it easy to reach the end and not appreciate everything that happened.
The other issue is that while Susannah Dean has some cool aspects as a character, she isn’t strong enough to be the lead. Some of her scenes with Mia do get a little tedious. Fortunately, there are enough parallel storylines to keep things interesting. So, it may be the lowest rated Dark Tower book for me, but it is still a worthwhile part of the epic.
2004
Novel
Dark fantasy, horror, western
2/5
- Dark Tower story
“I think telling stories is like pushing something. Pushing against uncreation itself, maybe.”
"We spread the time as we can, but in the end the world takes it all back."
“Always Roland; and in the end, after the others had fallen, murdered away one by one in these bloody motions, Roland would remain.”
In the penultimate Dark Tower story, Roland and his companions race to find Susannah Dean before the impending birth of her child. Important secrets are unveiled about the baby, a surprise guest character makes an appearance, and in a shocking coda, a twist is revealed which threatens to unravel the entire Stephen King universe.
This is the first of the core Dark Tower novels to appear on the list. One thing that is important for rating the books in the series is realizing that the tone changes substantially throughout. Each book seemingly gets a little more bizarre which some readers may really like, and some might see as a negative.
While Song of Susannah is the lowest rated of the core novels for me and considered the weakest by many readers, it is still a great, great book. There are some absolutely beautiful passages in it, and it is crucial for the overall story. Maybe the biggest issue is something you would never expect someone to say about a King novel: it’s too short. A ton happens in this book, but it is far shorter than any of the other Dark Tower novels aside from The Gunslinger. The result is that the pace of this one seems almost frantic, making it easy to reach the end and not appreciate everything that happened.
The other issue is that while Susannah Dean has some cool aspects as a character, she isn’t strong enough to be the lead. Some of her scenes with Mia do get a little tedious. Fortunately, there are enough parallel storylines to keep things interesting. So, it may be the lowest rated Dark Tower book for me, but it is still a worthwhile part of the epic.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I think the best way to view the Dark Tower books these days is to think of each of them as "chapters" in the overall story. In that light, Susannah is underrated as a chapter. Part of the vitriol against it comes from being there in real time as the books were released and the rise of nerd culture on the internet in the early '00s. There were some uglier aspects to this book's reactions that I won't get into here.
I'm still not sure of how the Susannah/Mia connection works, but I think this is a really good part of the story. I think King was speed-writing at this point because he had almost died a couple of years earlier and really wanted to have these last three chapters be his eulogy if he didn't live past the story.
55. The Little Sisters of Eluria
1998
Novella from Everything’s Eventual
Dark fantasy, horror
3/5
- Dark Tower story
Following a battle, Roland Deschain is nursed back to health by a group of women who hide a dark secret.
Chronologically, this story is set just before The Gunslinger. It’s a cool story that has some creepy elements and that provides background to some things that are mentioned in later Dark Tower books and in Black House. Ultimately, though, it isn’t actually super important to the larger Dark Tower narrative.
1998
Novella from Everything’s Eventual
Dark fantasy, horror
3/5
- Dark Tower story
Following a battle, Roland Deschain is nursed back to health by a group of women who hide a dark secret.
Chronologically, this story is set just before The Gunslinger. It’s a cool story that has some creepy elements and that provides background to some things that are mentioned in later Dark Tower books and in Black House. Ultimately, though, it isn’t actually super important to the larger Dark Tower narrative.
54. Black House
2001
Novel
Horror, dark fantasy
3/5
- Dark Tower story
A lauded detective is forced out of early retirement when children in a small town start to disappear, only to turn up as victims of ghastly horrors.
This is the sequel to The Talisman and the second book in what is planned as the “Jack Sawyer” trilogy. Like its predecessor, it was co-written with Peter Straub. I think my opinion is in the minority, but I like this one a lot better. There is a better balance of real vs. supernatural, there is an amazing cast of side-characters, and as always, King creates the small-town atmosphere so well. Importantly, this book also has much closer ties to The Dark Tower and while not crucial to understanding the plot of that series, it certainly helps.
2001
Novel
Horror, dark fantasy
3/5
- Dark Tower story
A lauded detective is forced out of early retirement when children in a small town start to disappear, only to turn up as victims of ghastly horrors.
This is the sequel to The Talisman and the second book in what is planned as the “Jack Sawyer” trilogy. Like its predecessor, it was co-written with Peter Straub. I think my opinion is in the minority, but I like this one a lot better. There is a better balance of real vs. supernatural, there is an amazing cast of side-characters, and as always, King creates the small-town atmosphere so well. Importantly, this book also has much closer ties to The Dark Tower and while not crucial to understanding the plot of that series, it certainly helps.
Snotbubbles
Footballguy
This is exactly how I remember The Tommyknockers, was building up to a good story and then blah.
53. “Blind Willie”
1997
Short story from Hearts in Atlantis
Magical realism, dark fantasy
2/5
- Randall Flagg story
A Vietnam veteran intermittently experiences blindness and panhandles in New York City, seeking atonement for past actions.
Of the stories in Hearts in Atlantis, this one seems the most detached from the larger narrative. However, it does give important insights into some of the other characters who have a more prominent role in the collection, as well as King’s feeling about the Vietnam War. It’s a really fascinating story, with one interesting element being that through most of the story it is difficult to tell if Willie is feigning blindness, or if there are times when it is a true affliction. The reader also learns that there are perhaps more sinister forces influencing some of the tragedy in the larger story.
1997
Short story from Hearts in Atlantis
Magical realism, dark fantasy
2/5
- Randall Flagg story
A Vietnam veteran intermittently experiences blindness and panhandles in New York City, seeking atonement for past actions.
Of the stories in Hearts in Atlantis, this one seems the most detached from the larger narrative. However, it does give important insights into some of the other characters who have a more prominent role in the collection, as well as King’s feeling about the Vietnam War. It’s a really fascinating story, with one interesting element being that through most of the story it is difficult to tell if Willie is feigning blindness, or if there are times when it is a true affliction. The reader also learns that there are perhaps more sinister forces influencing some of the tragedy in the larger story.
52. Gerald’s Game
1992
Novel
Psychological horror, suspense
4/5
Jessie Burlingame becomes stuck handcuffed to a bed in a remote location with little hope for rescue when her husband dies suddenly. As she goes to extremes to try to find a way to escape, she encounters new terrors, both in her cabin and in memories from her past.
As previously mentioned in the countdown, this is one of a trio of early 1990’s novels primarily focused on female protagonists. All three feature elements of physical or sexual abuse, though this is probably the tamest of the three in that respect. Nevertheless, it has some absolutely terrifying sequences. The scene in which she first feels like there is another presence watching her in the cabin will definitely keep you up at night.
Gerald’s Game was originally intended to be published in a 2-part collection with Delores Claiborne. While they were eventually separated, they remain linked not just by their themes, but by partially taking place on the same date during a night that there is a total eclipse over Maine and by visions that the two women share.
1992
Novel
Psychological horror, suspense
4/5
Jessie Burlingame becomes stuck handcuffed to a bed in a remote location with little hope for rescue when her husband dies suddenly. As she goes to extremes to try to find a way to escape, she encounters new terrors, both in her cabin and in memories from her past.
As previously mentioned in the countdown, this is one of a trio of early 1990’s novels primarily focused on female protagonists. All three feature elements of physical or sexual abuse, though this is probably the tamest of the three in that respect. Nevertheless, it has some absolutely terrifying sequences. The scene in which she first feels like there is another presence watching her in the cabin will definitely keep you up at night.
Gerald’s Game was originally intended to be published in a 2-part collection with Delores Claiborne. While they were eventually separated, they remain linked not just by their themes, but by partially taking place on the same date during a night that there is a total eclipse over Maine and by visions that the two women share.
51. “The Man in the Black Suit”
1994
Short story from Everything’s Eventual
Horror
4/5
- Castle Rock story
An elderly man recalls a time when, as a young boy, he came face-to-face with the devil.
This is the most unsettling story in Everything’s Eventual and ultimately one of King’s most disturbing overall. A child is forced to endure all kinds of traumatic experiences, some real and some imagined. Ultimately, the story is about how our fears when we are young stick with us as we grow old.
The story is also kind of a background story for Castle Rock, taking place in adjacent Motton before the events of stories like The Dead Zone and Cujo, and showing us that evil has long been drawn to this area.
1994
Short story from Everything’s Eventual
Horror
4/5
- Castle Rock story
An elderly man recalls a time when, as a young boy, he came face-to-face with the devil.
This is the most unsettling story in Everything’s Eventual and ultimately one of King’s most disturbing overall. A child is forced to endure all kinds of traumatic experiences, some real and some imagined. Ultimately, the story is about how our fears when we are young stick with us as we grow old.
The story is also kind of a background story for Castle Rock, taking place in adjacent Motton before the events of stories like The Dead Zone and Cujo, and showing us that evil has long been drawn to this area.
50. The Wind Through the Keyhole: A Dark Tower Novel
2012
Novel
Dark Fantasy
2/5
- Dark Tower story
- Randall Flagg story
A young boy embarks on a dangerous journey in an attempt to save his mother’s sight.
A nested tale, The Wind Through the Keyhole is a story within a story within a story. The outer frame tells of a small part of the journey of Roland and his ka-tet toward the Dark Tower, taking place between books 4 and 5. Within this is a short tale about Roland’s early days as a gunslinger. This part is cool because we get to know Jamie De Curry, a character previously referenced but not seen. The main tale is a fairy tale about young Tim Ross and his mother, but with elements that imply it has some basis in actual All-World history. The blurring between fiction and reality is obviously a theme that King explores in the later Dark Tower books.
Ultimately, this story really isn’t all that important to the larger Dark Tower narrative. But it is a fun book and the way King weaves the different tales together is pretty clever.
2012
Novel
Dark Fantasy
2/5
- Dark Tower story
- Randall Flagg story
A young boy embarks on a dangerous journey in an attempt to save his mother’s sight.
A nested tale, The Wind Through the Keyhole is a story within a story within a story. The outer frame tells of a small part of the journey of Roland and his ka-tet toward the Dark Tower, taking place between books 4 and 5. Within this is a short tale about Roland’s early days as a gunslinger. This part is cool because we get to know Jamie De Curry, a character previously referenced but not seen. The main tale is a fairy tale about young Tim Ross and his mother, but with elements that imply it has some basis in actual All-World history. The blurring between fiction and reality is obviously a theme that King explores in the later Dark Tower books.
Ultimately, this story really isn’t all that important to the larger Dark Tower narrative. But it is a fun book and the way King weaves the different tales together is pretty clever.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
I noticed that you had this one last in your recommended reading order for the Dark Tower stories/books. I'm pretty sure I know why you did that - between book 4 and this one, that's a long gap for readers without much happening in the story's "present". I wonder how it would play on re-read, though. I last re-read the DT books immediately after Keyhole, so I didn't include this book.
Anyway, I found it really enjoyable.
Yes that is the main reason, though I seem to also recall thinking there are some small details in Wind that would be spoilers for later books in the series. I can't remember exactly what.
49. “Nona”
1978
Short story from Skeleton Crew
Horror
3/5
- Castle Rock story
A prisoner who is contemplating suicide recounts how one night, aimlessly hitchhiking across Maine, he is seduced by a beautiful woman who convinces him to commit grisly murders.
Definitely one of King’s creepier stories, this one is perfectly paced and draws you into the narrator’s obsession with Nona. Maybe the best thing about it is that at the end you truly don’t know whether something supernatural has occurred or the narrator is just insane.
The original version did not include it, but the Skeleton Crew version of this story makes an early mention of important King character Ace Merrill.
1978
Short story from Skeleton Crew
Horror
3/5
- Castle Rock story
A prisoner who is contemplating suicide recounts how one night, aimlessly hitchhiking across Maine, he is seduced by a beautiful woman who convinces him to commit grisly murders.
Definitely one of King’s creepier stories, this one is perfectly paced and draws you into the narrator’s obsession with Nona. Maybe the best thing about it is that at the end you truly don’t know whether something supernatural has occurred or the narrator is just insane.
The original version did not include it, but the Skeleton Crew version of this story makes an early mention of important King character Ace Merrill.
48. Desperation
1996
Novel
Horror
3/5
A police officer kidnaps travelers in a desolate area of Nevada and brings them to a mining town where everyone else is seemingly dead.
As previously mentioned, this novel is the “twinner” of The Regulators. While there are a lot of supernatural elements here, this book feels more realistic and grittier than its companion novel. It is also scarier. Atypical for a book by Stephen King, there are a lot of religious themes in this one, with religion being painted in a generally positive light. There are also peripheral Dark Tower ties.
1996
Novel
Horror
3/5
A police officer kidnaps travelers in a desolate area of Nevada and brings them to a mining town where everyone else is seemingly dead.
As previously mentioned, this novel is the “twinner” of The Regulators. While there are a lot of supernatural elements here, this book feels more realistic and grittier than its companion novel. It is also scarier. Atypical for a book by Stephen King, there are a lot of religious themes in this one, with religion being painted in a generally positive light. There are also peripheral Dark Tower ties.
47. Thinner
1984
Novel
Horror
3/5
- Richard Bachman book
A man is cursed by a gypsy to uncontrollably lose weight until he is wasting away to nothing.
There was a decent amount of discussion about Thinner in the Top Books of All Time thread and a lot of people spoke very highly of it. I definitely understand why. I obviously like it a lot (it is the second highest rated Bachman book for me, and we are in the top 50), though I don’t think I am quite as much of a fan as some. The concept is really cool and there are some terrific scenes. But Billy Halleck is not a likable protagonist and I’m also not sure that I find the character of Richie Ginelli very believable. Definitely still a great book, there are simply others I like better.
1984
Novel
Horror
3/5
- Richard Bachman book
A man is cursed by a gypsy to uncontrollably lose weight until he is wasting away to nothing.
There was a decent amount of discussion about Thinner in the Top Books of All Time thread and a lot of people spoke very highly of it. I definitely understand why. I obviously like it a lot (it is the second highest rated Bachman book for me, and we are in the top 50), though I don’t think I am quite as much of a fan as some. The concept is really cool and there are some terrific scenes. But Billy Halleck is not a likable protagonist and I’m also not sure that I find the character of Richie Ginelli very believable. Definitely still a great book, there are simply others I like better.
46. The Mist
1980
Novella from Skeleton Crew
Horror
3/5
When a mysterious fog envelops a small Maine town, those who try to leave the local grocery store encounter awful horrors, matched only by the psychological terror that develops within the store.
This often appears high on lists of King’s greatest short stories and novellas. It is definitely a cool concept, and the interaction of the grocery store patrons is a highlight. Amongst King’s most popular stories, though, I think this one is very slightly overrated. I feel like there was some missed opportunity to develop the dynamic of the customers even more, and I think the horrors of the mist itself could have been expanded. Ultimately, the thing that knocks this one down a little bit for me is that the movie adaptation had a much better ending.
1980
Novella from Skeleton Crew
Horror
3/5
When a mysterious fog envelops a small Maine town, those who try to leave the local grocery store encounter awful horrors, matched only by the psychological terror that develops within the store.
This often appears high on lists of King’s greatest short stories and novellas. It is definitely a cool concept, and the interaction of the grocery store patrons is a highlight. Amongst King’s most popular stories, though, I think this one is very slightly overrated. I feel like there was some missed opportunity to develop the dynamic of the customers even more, and I think the horrors of the mist itself could have been expanded. Ultimately, the thing that knocks this one down a little bit for me is that the movie adaptation had a much better ending.
45. The Eyes of the Dragon
1984
Novel
Fantasy
1/5
- Randall Flagg story
- Dark Tower story
In the Kingdom of Delain, the sorcerer Flagg frames a young prince for murder.
This was the first story I ever read by Stephen King, I think when I was about 11 or 12. When I re-read it a couple of years ago, I found that I still loved it. Written for his children, the story very much has the feeling of a fairy tale, but it still contains more adult elements.
Obviously, Flagg is a big connection to King’s other work, and this is the novel in which he has his second biggest role, behind only The Stand. While not technically part of The Dark Tower, The Eyes of the Dragon clearly takes place in the same world since The Little Sisters of Eluria establishes Delain as being part of In-World. Roland mentions meeting Thomas and Dennis as they chase Flagg and also mentions one of his ancestors going to Garland to slay a dragon but the dragon already having been slain. We can also speculate on Rhiannon of the Cöos being related to Rhea of the Cöos.
If someone new to King is looking for a way to ease into his work, this could be a good place to start. Either way, it should probably be read by anyone tackling The Dark Tower.
1984
Novel
Fantasy
1/5
- Randall Flagg story
- Dark Tower story
In the Kingdom of Delain, the sorcerer Flagg frames a young prince for murder.
This was the first story I ever read by Stephen King, I think when I was about 11 or 12. When I re-read it a couple of years ago, I found that I still loved it. Written for his children, the story very much has the feeling of a fairy tale, but it still contains more adult elements.
Obviously, Flagg is a big connection to King’s other work, and this is the novel in which he has his second biggest role, behind only The Stand. While not technically part of The Dark Tower, The Eyes of the Dragon clearly takes place in the same world since The Little Sisters of Eluria establishes Delain as being part of In-World. Roland mentions meeting Thomas and Dennis as they chase Flagg and also mentions one of his ancestors going to Garland to slay a dragon but the dragon already having been slain. We can also speculate on Rhiannon of the Cöos being related to Rhea of the Cöos.
If someone new to King is looking for a way to ease into his work, this could be a good place to start. Either way, it should probably be read by anyone tackling The Dark Tower.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
Totally disagree here.
shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
I know a lot of people do. I think your opinion is actually the more prominent one, but I felt like the short story kind of petered out but the movie ending shocked me.
44. “The Jaunt”
1981
Short story from Skeleton Crew
Science fiction, horror
2/5
A family faces the benefits and dangers of long-range teleportation.
This is a very different story from almost anything else I have ever read by Stephen King. While some of his stories may have small elements of science fiction embedded in a present-day story, this is a full-blown science fiction story set in a distant future. He has one or two other publications like this (“Beachworld” comes to mind) but there aren’t many and this is the best of them. He does, of course, manage to include a terrifying twist.
1981
Short story from Skeleton Crew
Science fiction, horror
2/5
A family faces the benefits and dangers of long-range teleportation.
This is a very different story from almost anything else I have ever read by Stephen King. While some of his stories may have small elements of science fiction embedded in a present-day story, this is a full-blown science fiction story set in a distant future. He has one or two other publications like this (“Beachworld” comes to mind) but there aren’t many and this is the best of them. He does, of course, manage to include a terrifying twist.
43. “The Monkey”
1980
Short story from Skeleton Crew
Horror
3/5
A man tries to escape from a cymbal-banging monkey toy that continually resurfaces in his life and seems to be associated with the untimely death of those around him.
This story surprised me. I expected it to be fairly simple and somewhat boring, but it actually is quite terrifying. On the surface, the monkey itself is scarier than I would have ever expected. But the story also has some depth and the apparent connection between the toy and the guilt the protagonist carries adds a lot. I’ve not seen the movie adaptation that just came out, but if it is anything like the short story it would definitely be worthwhile.
1980
Short story from Skeleton Crew
Horror
3/5
A man tries to escape from a cymbal-banging monkey toy that continually resurfaces in his life and seems to be associated with the untimely death of those around him.
This story surprised me. I expected it to be fairly simple and somewhat boring, but it actually is quite terrifying. On the surface, the monkey itself is scarier than I would have ever expected. But the story also has some depth and the apparent connection between the toy and the guilt the protagonist carries adds a lot. I’ve not seen the movie adaptation that just came out, but if it is anything like the short story it would definitely be worthwhile.
42. “The Night Flier”
1988
Short story from Nightmares and Dreamscapes
Horror
2/5
A tabloid reporter tracks a serial killer who seemingly believes himself to be a vampire as he travels between small airports.
King has a fascination with flying; a number of his stories take place on planes or feature airports as important settings. This is probably one of the better ones. It’s a pretty simple plot but features a lot of suspense. The reporter is Richard Dees, who also makes an appearance in The Dead Zone, and the tabloid Inside View is featured in a lot of King’s works. There are connections to other stories as well but I’ll hold off on calling those out because they could reveal spoilers. I will say that this one does include a really cool image, one of the most enduring images from a King work which is seared into my brain.
1988
Short story from Nightmares and Dreamscapes
Horror
2/5
A tabloid reporter tracks a serial killer who seemingly believes himself to be a vampire as he travels between small airports.
King has a fascination with flying; a number of his stories take place on planes or feature airports as important settings. This is probably one of the better ones. It’s a pretty simple plot but features a lot of suspense. The reporter is Richard Dees, who also makes an appearance in The Dead Zone, and the tabloid Inside View is featured in a lot of King’s works. There are connections to other stories as well but I’ll hold off on calling those out because they could reveal spoilers. I will say that this one does include a really cool image, one of the most enduring images from a King work which is seared into my brain.
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zamboni
Footballguy
Never realized Steve was a closet Disco Duck fan.
bigbottom
Footballguy
The movie ending was truly shocking while the book ending was basically a cliffhanger. A similar situation arises with respect Shawshank where the book ending offers promise and the movie ending offers closure. Ultimately, I ended up liking the Mist movie ending more by a small margin and the Shawshank book ending more by a huge margin.
playin4beer
Footballguy
I live on a small inland lake... there have been a few instances of fog forming halfway across the lake where we can't see anything.. Every, single, time... I think of The Mist... One time, there was even a chainsaw running in the background..
bigbottom
Footballguy
I will never forget that ending as long as I live.
bigbottom
Footballguy
I liked Thinner a lot. It has a great premise with some good twists and turns. And it feels more efficient than most of King’s works, but of course has a trademark King ending.
bigbottom
Footballguy
I read both of these and honestly remember very little about them. That is probably saying something.
Frostillicus
Footballguy
I absolutely love this one.
41. Secret Window, Secret Garden
1990
Novella from Four Past Midnight
Horror, thriller
3/5
- Derry story
Mort Rainey is a writer with a successful career until he is confronted by a man who claims Rainey plagiarized one of his stories, starting him on a downward spiral.
The themes of this novella from Four Past Midnight are very similar to The Dark Half. King has a lot of stories featuring writers as the protagonist. These two stories are among the most interesting, giving a rather dark take on the profession. One criticism of Secret Window, Secret Garden is that the ending is probably telegraphed a little more than it is in most of King’s stories, but ultimately that doesn’t matter and doesn’t seem to detract from the joy of reading this one. In fact, King even seems to acknowledge that with a rather humorous passage in which he describes stories in which, even if you know how it is going to end, you want to continue reading to see how you get there.
1990
Novella from Four Past Midnight
Horror, thriller
3/5
- Derry story
Mort Rainey is a writer with a successful career until he is confronted by a man who claims Rainey plagiarized one of his stories, starting him on a downward spiral.
The themes of this novella from Four Past Midnight are very similar to The Dark Half. King has a lot of stories featuring writers as the protagonist. These two stories are among the most interesting, giving a rather dark take on the profession. One criticism of Secret Window, Secret Garden is that the ending is probably telegraphed a little more than it is in most of King’s stories, but ultimately that doesn’t matter and doesn’t seem to detract from the joy of reading this one. In fact, King even seems to acknowledge that with a rather humorous passage in which he describes stories in which, even if you know how it is going to end, you want to continue reading to see how you get there.
40. “Strawberry Spring”
1978
Short story from Night Shift
Psychological horror
2/5
A man who reads about a serial killer is reminded of a frightening time in college when a series of murders occurred during a false spring, creating a chilling atmosphere of fear and paranoia.
The killer in this early King story is referred to only as “Springheel Jack,” a reference to a devilish creature from English folklore. However, there really isn’t anything supernatural about the murders in this psychological thriller. Nevertheless, the atmosphere painted in this story makes it chilling.
1978
Short story from Night Shift
Psychological horror
2/5
A man who reads about a serial killer is reminded of a frightening time in college when a series of murders occurred during a false spring, creating a chilling atmosphere of fear and paranoia.
The killer in this early King story is referred to only as “Springheel Jack,” a reference to a devilish creature from English folklore. However, there really isn’t anything supernatural about the murders in this psychological thriller. Nevertheless, the atmosphere painted in this story makes it chilling.
39. Doctor Sleep
2013
Novel
Horror, dark fantasy
3/5
Danny Torrance fights to protect a powerful young girl from a psychic cult.
The long-awaited sequel to The Shining does justice to the original. The scope of this book is a lot larger than its predecessor, with multiple settings, a larger cast of important characters, and greater demonstrations of supernatural abilities. It also gets a little bizarre and even darkly humorous with the primary antagonists being a convoy of elderly road-trippers cruising the highways in RVs. Nevertheless, it feels like a proper sequel. References to the original are used appropriately and add to the story but never overwhelm it. The development of Danny’s powers over time is well done. It took King more than 25 years to come back to one of his most iconic stories, and the result is one of the best things he has written in the second half of his career.
2013
Novel
Horror, dark fantasy
3/5
Danny Torrance fights to protect a powerful young girl from a psychic cult.
The long-awaited sequel to The Shining does justice to the original. The scope of this book is a lot larger than its predecessor, with multiple settings, a larger cast of important characters, and greater demonstrations of supernatural abilities. It also gets a little bizarre and even darkly humorous with the primary antagonists being a convoy of elderly road-trippers cruising the highways in RVs. Nevertheless, it feels like a proper sequel. References to the original are used appropriately and add to the story but never overwhelm it. The development of Danny’s powers over time is well done. It took King more than 25 years to come back to one of his most iconic stories, and the result is one of the best things he has written in the second half of his career.
38. Delores Claiborne
1992
Novel
Psychological thriller
2/5
While being interrogated by police about the death of her wealthy employer, widow Dolores Claiborne narrates the tale of her life, including the mysterious death of her husband.
Although not as scary as its companion novel Gerald’s Game, this is the superior book. One of the most unique stories by King, the entire novel is a single long monologue with no chapter breaks and written in a local dialect. Through this approach King tells the incredibly interesting story of one of his greatest female characters.
1992
Novel
Psychological thriller
2/5
While being interrogated by police about the death of her wealthy employer, widow Dolores Claiborne narrates the tale of her life, including the mysterious death of her husband.
Although not as scary as its companion novel Gerald’s Game, this is the superior book. One of the most unique stories by King, the entire novel is a single long monologue with no chapter breaks and written in a local dialect. Through this approach King tells the incredibly interesting story of one of his greatest female characters.
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