Stephen King is not only a famously prolific writer, but he's known as the modern master of horror. For 50 years, Stephen King has been producing masterpieces of the macabre. It's no wonder there have been heated debates over which Stephen King books are the best of the best.
For our list below, we chose from among King's published novels and rounded up our top 10 favorites. This list is in no particular order, (although we numbered the list for ease of scrolling). So, no compilations, novellas, or short stories. Also, note that this list represents top Stephen King novels, not the most obscure. So, if you're already familiar with this work in 2024, you can probably guess what made the cut. Many of these books also made our ranked list of the best Stephen King movies, too.
TL;DR – These are the Best Stephen King Books to Read:
1. Carrie
King struck gold starting with his very first novel, Carrie. The titular character is immediately recognizable to most readers as most of us went to school with someone like her. The themes of ostracism and bullying continue to resonate as much now as they did when the novel was published in 1974. Unlike some of the other books on this list, Carrie is a brisk read and makes a great introduction to King's writing style. It's no surprise this novel was turned into a movie version, Carrie in 1976.
2. Christine
If Carrie is one side of the proverbial coin, then Christine is the other. A beat-up 1958 Plymouth Fury catches the eye of high school outcast Arnie Cunningham, and after purchasing it, he becomes obsessed with restoring it. Unfortunately for him, the car is possessed by evil, and he becomes its pawn. The book critiques car culture, bullying, and masculine self-image and is another title from King that remains incredibly relevant.
3. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
While the latter half of The Dark Tower book series – and the Dark Tower Movie – missed the mark for some fans, no one can deny it started with a bang. The first book in the multi-decade epic, The Gunslinger, is a western at heart, much more so than the following volumes. Our introduction to Roland Deschain and Mid-World is a short gritty tale full of heartache and death, which snakes its tendrils throughout King's other works.
4. It
It is just a bit shorter than The Stand, but it’s essentially two books. Just like the recent It movies, part one deals with a group of children as they try to deal with an entity preying on the citizens of Derry, Maine. The second half finds them reuniting as adults to take It (otherwise known as Pennywise) down for good. The book drives home the horrors the kids faced in a way the films didn't quite have time to and is lauded as one of the best horror novels of all time.
5. Misery
They say misery loves company, and Annie Wilkes proves that in spades. King was somehow prescient about toxic fandoms because when Wilkes finds her favorite novelist, Paul Sheldon," after a car accident and nurses him back to health, she begins to demand that he start writing the books to her liking. Unfortunately for him, she uses a hammer instead of mean tweets. The movie is an absolute classic, but the source material is definitely worth a read as well.
6. The Shining
As with It, The Shining takes readers deeper than The Shining film ever could. It's evident that Jack Torrance is somewhat of a King self-insert if you know his history of addiction. As a result, the novel is a bit more sympathetic to him, making the end result much more tragic. It also drives home the isolation and the growing madness Jack feels, which makes his inevitable rampage that much scarier.
7. The Stand
A plague devastates the world in The Stand, and two societies form in the post-apocalyptic aftermath. This 1,000-page tome traces humanity's fate from the virus outbreak to the conclusion of a fight between good and evil. The Stand is an excellent read, but like many books this size, there are some pacing issues. However, it's worth slogging through the few meandering sections as it has a very satisfying ending.
8. Pet Sematary
Pet Sematary follows the Creed family, who relocate from Boston to Maine. While settling into their new home, they stumble on a mysterious burial ground in the woods. When they discover it has the power to bring dead animals back to life, they become entangled with an unspeakable evil they'll wish they had never crossed. It's a difficult read for animal lovers, but an outstanding slow burn of a thriller that'll keep you equal parts terrified and engaged to the end.
9. The Mist
In The Mist, a group of small town locals find themselves trapped together inside a busy grocery store when a thick fog rolls in. Attempts to leave during the mysterious storm are met with terrifying attacks and confusing disappearances. This novella is a quick but exciting read that'll have you thinking twice about what could lie in the fog – lest there be dangerous predators looking to snack on human beings. If you haven't read this one yet, it's worth it, even if you've already seen the movie adaptation! For those who haven't read the novel or seen the movie, let me ask you; what lies within the mysterious mist, and how will anyone ever make it out alive?
10. The Green Mile
The Green Mile is widely considered one of King's masterpieces, though it's less of a horror tale than the rest of the books on this list. It follows death row supervisor Paul Edgecombe as he interacts with an inmate named John Coffey. Coffey has been placed on death row for a crime he may not have committed, and he displays powerful, otherworldly healing abilities. If you still haven't seen this movie or read the book, be warned; this thriller is a tearjerker that'll leave you contemplating the meaning of life far beyond you reach its shocking conclusion.
Stephen King FAQs
How many Stephen King books are there?
There are 64 total novels (and more than 200 short stories) by Stephen King to-date.
How many Stephen King adaptations are there?
There are 51 total Stephen King Movies and 28 TV adaptations at this moment in time. Currently, there are three movies planned and one TV series in the works. However, there haven't been any details or updates since production was announced for each title:
- The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (Movie)
- Hearts (Movie)
- Sleeping Beauties (AMC TV series)
- Suffer the Little Children (Movie)
Can we expect a sequel to Salem's Lot?
"Actually, I'm hoping to write a sequel to almost all of my novels and you will find those in Wolves of the Calla, Song of Susannah, and The Dark Tower—really in the whole Dark Tower sequence. You'll find out a lot of what happened in 'Salem's Lot for one thing and one character in particular - I'm not going to tell you which one. This is in no way an advertisement for The Dark Tower books, but it is my way of saying that The Dark Tower books finishes up a lot of business from the other books." - StephenKing.com
New and Upcoming Stephen King Books
Stephen King is never done writing. A new book, You Like It Darker will feature 12 short stories, many of which have never been published. You can expect this book to arrive on May 21, 2024, but you can pre-order it now on Amazon and other booksellers:
Pre-Order 'You Like It Darker'
Brittany Vincent is a freelance video game and entertainment writer for IGN, covering anime, thrillers, and more.
