Does one need to read the authors books in order of publishing? Are there trilogy’s or prequels or sequels? I’d like to start reading several of his books.
The dark tower is a series. Those you’ll need to read in order. But while some themes or characters are in other books, you don’t need to read them in any order.
King is my favorite author. All his books have different levels of horror. The early works are better. The short stories are great and a good of way to get into his rhythm. The Stand is my favorite. I hated the Dark Tower series.
Any one that catches your fancy but let me warn you Stephen king starts out slow(for want of a better word) but by the time you get to the end of the story you’ve gotten so into the characters it’s hard to let them go
Carrie, Misery or one of his short stories collection. If you do decide to start with one of the longer books give it time. He is very slow builder but once you get to the climax is always worth it.
?? I just read my very first Stephen King book ever! I read The Outsider and loved it so much I just started Mr. Mercedes right after finishing. I plan on reading more of his works now! Some I’m never going to be able to pick up such as IT or Pet Sematary.
Richard Laymon not yet. I liked Needful Things but not planning to read the other 2. I guess I’m a selective reader. I like Stephen King himself though.
Honest question on Stephen King and Religion (not trying to start any trouble, just want to know lol): I am very open minded and read books across many categories. But going by the movies, it seems every religious person is depicted as insane, a fanatic, and the villain at some level. Are the books like that as well? I wonder if I would enjoy his novels, he is obviously a brilliant writer.
The Green Mile!
The first one I started with was Carrie.
Duma Key.
Misery…or Pet Cemetery…or Salem’s Lot Hard to choose!
Needful Things
I started with a book of his short stories, Four past Midnight. My favorite is Secret window, Secret garden.
Duma Key is one of my favorites as well as The Mist.
Salem’s Lot
I started with Bag of Bones
I would suggest starting with his first, Carrie
That’s a tough choice! My first was Carrie. Still a favorite of mine.
Does one need to read the authors books in order of publishing? Are there trilogy’s or prequels or sequels? I’d like to start reading several of his books.
The dark tower is a series. Those you’ll need to read in order. But while some themes or characters are in other books, you don’t need to read them in any order.
Thanks for replying?
I loved Under the Dome. Not like a “classic” of his but my fav.
His stories are good to get a feel for his writing and not give up if you don’t like one book. Different Seasons is good.
The Green Mile is very good.
The first book I read by him was The Stand. I know, that’s an interesting choice for first read haha.
The Stand.
Cujo, pet semetary or IT. It’s really hard to choose
The Stand
Salem’s Lot or Pet Sematary
i always start with the first one they wrote if i can find it, then see how he progresses in his writing as i read inorder
I believe that was Carrie
The Green Mile
Or you could start with The Lawnmower Man
The green mile!! X
The Stand, or 11/22/63.
Cujo is excellent…my dad was Misery
That was meant to be fav ….wtf autocorrect ?
only read Joyland which I loved and FindersKeepers which was also very good.
Misery is my favorite.
I would suggest Different Seasons, which are 4 novellas, 3 made into movies. The focus is slightly less on horror.
Thinner
Firestarter.
I started with Cujo, but I’d recommend The Shining as your first. It’s really good.
Girl who loved Tom Gordon, Cell, the trailsman series
I loved loved the outsider!!
The easiest read that I have read by Stephen King is The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
The Stephen King story that I was able to “get into” the quickest was Carrie
Watchers by Dean R Koontz… Give King a miss as he is a slow burner 🙂
The Shining!
King is my favorite author. All his books have different levels of horror. The early works are better. The short stories are great and a good of way to get into his rhythm. The Stand is my favorite. I hated the Dark Tower series.
Four Past Midnight – collection of four short stories. It’ll give you a taste of King and you can decide if you like his style or not.
The Shining!
Desperation
Green Mile!?
Carrie
Children of the Corn is a great short story to give you a quick taste
the gunslinger
Carrie
Any one that catches your fancy but let me warn you Stephen king starts out slow(for want of a better word) but by the time you get to the end of the story you’ve gotten so into the characters it’s hard to let them go
The Shining
Needful Things
Pet Sematary
IT
The beginning, Carrie. He changes so much as he grows.. it’s good to read at least some of the older ones first.
This is good advice! I wish I had read from first publication to last to really see his style grow and change ?
I was lucky…I was in high school when Carrie came out.?
Cujo!
Salem’s lot
I don’t read his scary stuff so I only read “On Writing.”
Misery
IT
I never read Stephen King thought about it just don’t want read pet cemetery
Pet Sematary is my fav, I avoided it for years and now it’s one of the best book i’ve read ever.
Just don’t think I could with all the pets I lost
Carrie
The Dome
Carrie, Misery or one of his short stories collection. If you do decide to start with one of the longer books give it time. He is very slow builder but once you get to the climax is always worth it.
Pet Semetary is a great start too
The Stand
Needful Things or The Stand-Don’t read Salem’s Lot till later.
The stand
Carrie, Needful Things also his novella The Body.
The dark half
Any but It or carrie are my favorites
The Stand is my favorite but I am currently re-reading “It” and I am really enjoying it.
If you’re not looking for scary, Hearts in Atlantis is lovely. Also Green Mile! 🙂
Misery
The Shining
Under the Dome, if big books dont scare you!
Pet Cemetary
Other than the darktower series, I loved Insomnia and Duma Key. I’ve read a ton of his books but those are all real stand outs.
pet sematary
Insomia or Salem’s Lot. The first one is a bit fast faced so it’s easy to read.?
Carrie. It’s one of his shorter ones and you’ll know quickly if he’s for you as a reader or not.
i agree with this Carrie is a good starting point.
?? I just read my very first Stephen King book ever! I read The Outsider and loved it so much I just started Mr. Mercedes right after finishing. I plan on reading more of his works now! Some I’m never going to be able to pick up such as IT or Pet Sematary.
Bazaar of Bad Dreams. It’s a collection of stories.
Carrie
The Green Mile
Insomnia
Carrie
Thanks for the suggestions. Carrie seems to have the max number of votes. ?
Definitely Misery
Misery is very slow
Pet Sematary, King at his best.
@Jennifer ..have you read SALEMS LOT
Yes like that too a lot.
Pet’s Sematary is a bit personal for me.
Pet cemetery and salems lot are only the two reasonable books written by him
All the rest are mere waste
I do like the rest that I have read. I guess to each h their own.
Have you read Tommy knockers. .Dark half. ..Gerald game..need full things. .
Jen do you like Richard Leymon?
Richard Laymon not yet. I liked Needful Things but not planning to read the other 2. I guess I’m a selective reader. I like Stephen King himself though.
You like needful things. ..it is a surprise. ..you should try Richard Leymon …if you are a horror fan you will definitely like his books
@Sen Will try him thanks and let you know how it goes.
Are you a horror fan jen
Cellar is a nice book to start
Try Gary bartner the author of Howling
Honest question on Stephen King and Religion (not trying to start any trouble, just want to know lol): I am very open minded and read books across many categories. But going by the movies, it seems every religious person is depicted as insane, a fanatic, and the villain at some level. Are the books like that as well? I wonder if I would enjoy his novels, he is obviously a brilliant writer.
Honestly cannot remember, I don’t think so though. In real life he’s a pretty devout Baptist haha.
Definitely “SALEMS LOT” it is a bit slow until page 115 after that there will be a twist and you won’t be able to put the book down