Stephen King is one of the best known authors of all and famous for his terrifying characters and dark stories. His works have been adapted into major movies and hit TV shows, such Carrie, It, The Shawshank Redemption and The Stand. He has influenced authors and screenwriters and is still a prolific writer into his 80s, but where do you start?
If you are like us and have come to Stephen King later in your life you may find the idea of finding your next King read a daunting task. King has written over 50 novels and countless short stories going back over 40 years and finding the next one to put on your reading list can seem near impossible.
Fear not as we are here to help you make your next King read a great one.
IT
Evil lives in Derry, Maine. Whether in the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, a werewolf, leper or the town residents. IT focuses on a group of children, known as the Loser’s Club, as they face their biggest fears in order to defeat the evil which has taken over the town.
IT was published in 1986 and was the 17th book by King and without a doubt one of his most frightening tales, which will remain with you for a long time after finishing. The book is epic in size but a very personal story of how your fears will haunt you no matter how old you are.
Adaptations
IT has been adapted twice for the screen, firstly in the 90s TV miniseries starring the legendary Tim Curry as Pennywise, and then later into two feature films Directed by Andy Muccetti in 2017 and 2019. Both adaptations have very different but equally scary takes on Pennywise and are both worth your time.
The Stand
Another epic book by King, The Stand tells the story of a worldwide pandemic which is both terrifying and utterly believable in its presentation. The story begins with the start of a deadly pandemic called “Captain Trips,” an advanced biological weapon developed by the US government, is accidentally unleashed in the United States and around the world, killing 99.4% of the world’s population. Those who survived dream of two opposing characters: Randall Flagg, the Dark One, and Mama Abagil, who gets a vision from God. The survivors are divided into two sides, one led by Flagg and one led by Mother Abigail, in preparation for the final battle between good and evil. Adaptations
Adaptations
The Stand after many years of attempted adaptations was finally brought to life in the 2020 TV miniseries on Paramount+. The show received mixed reviews so you are best served by reading the book first.
Night Shift
In addition to writing 1,000-page epics, King was also a prolific writer of short stories. So if you’re looking for something a little lighter, check out Night Shift. The Night Shift is Stephen King’s first collection of short stories, first published in 1978.
In 1980, Night Shift received a Balrog Award for Best Collection and was nominated for a Locus Award and a World Fantasy Award for Best Collection in 1979. Many of King’s most famous short stories are included in this collection.
Twenty! Yes, I said 20 short stories, including some great classics like Trucks, The Bogeyman, Meat Grinder, Graveyard Diversion, and The Ledge.
Adaptations
A must read for constant readers – six four television adaptations and ten short films are the legacy of this outrageously successful collection!
It wasn’t until subsequent readings that I appreciated the creativity and continuity between the books in this collection, especially considering the date it was written.
Salem’s Lot
Salem’s Lot is the story of a small American town overrun by vampires and a group of brave people who come together to fight an ancient evil. The events are centered on Ben Mears, a moderately successful writer who returned to the Lot in order to write a novel based on his early years.
He also hopes to exercise the terrors that haunt him as a child. But as soon as he arrives, a child disappears, then one is brutally killed – and as the list of horrible events begins to grow, he realizes something is wrong really out of town with that comes the realization that they all face terrifying adversaries.
Adaptations
There have been a few adaptations of Salem’s Lot over the years, the most iconic being the 1979 miniseries, which features one the most iconic vampires ever put on screen. A film version was in the works but as of January 2023 the film has no release date.
Fairy Tale
Finally, if you want to jump in on the ending, why not check out King’s latest release, Fairy Tale. Fairy Tale is a dark fantasy novel by American Stephen King and follows Charlie Reade, a young 17-year-old who inherits the keys to a hidden kingdom otherworldly and finds himself leading the battle against the forces of good and evil. Fairy Tale is a unique reimagining of fairy tale blended with classic coming-of-age horror and sci-fi elements, and a great read.
Adaptations
British filmmaker Paul Greengrass has optioned the rights and is set to direct an adaption of Fairy Tale.
