Discover the Ultimate Stephen King Book Order Guide
Introduction
Stephen King is one of the most prolific authors of our time, with over 60 novels and hundreds of short stories to his name. His works have been published in more than 40 languages, with several adaptations for film and television. But with such an extensive body of work, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That's where our ultimate Stephen King book order guide comes in. In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive list of King's books, along with tips for navigating his vast universe.King's Genre
One of the reasons for King's enduring popularity is his ability to write across multiple genres. While he is predominantly known for horror, he has also written science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and crime fiction. However, even within the horror genre, his works can vary widely. Some are psychological thrillers, while others feature supernatural elements. It's important to understand the kind of story you're looking for before diving into one of his books.The Horror Classics
When people think of Stephen King, they often think of his classic horror novels. These include:Title | Publication Date | Genre |
---|---|---|
The Shining | 1977 | Psychological horror |
Carrie | 1974 | Supernatural horror |
It | 1986 | Supernatural horror |
The Stand | 1978 | Post-apocalyptic horror |
Salem's Lot | 1975 | Vampire horror |
Pet Sematary | 1983 | Supernatural horror |
The Dark Tower Series
King's seven-book magnum opus, The Dark Tower series, is a unique blend of genres, including western, fantasy, and horror. It follows the journey of Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, as he tries to reach the eponymous tower in a quest to save all of existence. The series consists of:Title | Publication Date | Genre |
---|---|---|
The Gunslinger | 1982 | Dark fantasy |
The Drawing of the Three | 1987 | Dark fantasy |
The Waste Lands | 1991 | Dark fantasy |
Wizard and Glass | 1997 | Dark fantasy |
Wolves of the Calla | 2003 | Dark fantasy |
Song of Susannah | 2004 | Dark fantasy |
The Dark Tower | 2004 | Dark fantasy |
The Richard Bachman Books
Did you know that King has published under a pseudonym? In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he wrote five novels under the name Richard Bachman to test whether his popularity was due to his writing talent or just because he was already famous. The books are:Title | Publication Date | Genre |
---|---|---|
Rage | 1977 | Young adult thriller |
The Long Walk | 1979 | Science fiction thriller |
Roadwork | 1981 | Drama |
The Running Man | 1982 | Dystopian thriller |
Thinner | 1984 | Horror |
The Bill Hodges Trilogy
King's most recent series, the Bill Hodges trilogy, is a departure from his usual horror fare. It consists of three crime novels:Title | Publication Date | Genre |
---|---|---|
Mr. Mercedes | 2014 | Crime fiction |
Finders Keepers | 2015 | Crime fiction |
End of Watch | 2016 | Crime fiction |
How to Approach King's Works
Now that you know the various types of books that King has written, it's important to figure out how to navigate his extensive body of work. Here are some tips:Start with the Classics
If you're new to King's writing, it's a good idea to start with one of his classic horror novels, such as The Shining or Carrie. These books are representative of his signature style, and will give you a sense of whether you enjoy his writing or not.Try a Short Story Collection
If you're not sure you want to commit to a full novel, try one of King's many short story collections. These often showcase a range of genres and themes, and can be a great way to get a taste of King's writing without investing too much time.Consider Your Mood
As mentioned earlier, King's works vary widely in terms of genre and tone. Make sure you're in the right mind space before diving into one of his books. If you're feeling particularly anxious or stressed, for instance, you may want to stay away from some of his more unsettling tales.Conclusion
Stephen King is an icon in the literary world, and for good reason. His works are accessible, entertaining, and often thought-provoking. With our ultimate Stephen King book order guide, you can discover your next favorite read, whether it's a classic horror novel or a gripping crime thriller. Remember to approach his works with an open mind and an eye for your preferred genre, and you're sure to find something you'll love.Thank you for taking the time to read through our article about the Ultimate Stephen King Book Order Guide. We hope that you have found this guide to be helpful as you navigate your way through his extensive collection of books.
As a renowned writer of horror and suspense, Stephen King has captivated audiences around the world with his imaginative and spine-tingling stories. With over 60 books to his name, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. Our guide has been created to help make this process simpler, so you can fully immerse yourself in King's world.
Whether you are a hardcore fan or just starting to explore his works, we believe that the guide we have provided will enrich your experience of reading Stephen King's books. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read our article. We hope that this guide brings you closer to Stephen King's captivating and unforgettable stories!
People also ask about Discover the Ultimate Stephen King Book Order Guide:
- What is the best Stephen King book to start with?
- What is the chronological order of the Stephen King books?
- Carrie
- Salem's Lot
- The Shining
- The Stand
- Night Shift (short story collection)
- The Dead Zone
- Firestarter
- Cujo
- The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
- Christine
- Pet Sematary
- The Talisman
- Thinner
- It
- The Eyes of the Dragon
- The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
- Misery
- The Tommyknockers
- The Dark Half
- The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands
- Needful Things
- Gerald's Game
- Dolores Claiborne
- The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
- Insomnia
- Rose Madder
- The Green Mile
- Desperation
- The Regulators
- Bag of Bones
- The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
- The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla
- From a Buick 8
- The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
- The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower
- Black House
- Everything's Eventual (short story collection)
- The Colorado Kid
- Cell
- Lisey's Story
- Duma Key
- Under the Dome
- Full Dark, No Stars (short story collection)
- 11/22/63
- Joyland
- Doctor Sleep
- Mr. Mercedes
- Revival
- Finders Keepers
- The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (short story collection)
- End of Watch
- Sleeping Beauties (co-authored with Owen King)
- The Outsider
- If It Bleeds (short story collection)
- The Institute
- If It Bleeds (novella)
- Later
- What are some of Stephen King's most popular books?
- The Shining
- It
- The Stand
- Pet Sematary
- Misery
- Salem's Lot
- The Green Mile
- The Dark Tower series
- What is the Dark Tower series?
- What Stephen King book was turned into a movie?
- The Shining
- Carrie
- Misery
- It
- The Green Mile
- Pet Sematary
- Salem's Lot
- The Dark Tower
- Doctor Sleep
The best Stephen King book to start with is Carrie. It was his first published novel and it's a great introduction to his writing style and themes.
The chronological order of the Stephen King books is:
Some of Stephen King's most popular books include:
The Dark Tower series is a set of eight books (one of which is a novella) that follow the adventures of Roland Deschain, a gunslinger on a quest to reach the Dark Tower and save all of existence.
Many of Stephen King's books have been turned into movies, including: