Stephen King

Happynoj · #1 01-15-2010, 02:16 PM

For some reason, I have never read any Stephen King novels, but I want to. Where should I start? Where should I go from there?

ugly_bassplayer · #2 01-15-2010, 02:21 PM

I liked Thinner.

coolrunner989 · #3 01-15-2010, 02:21 PM

I've read the Stand, the Shining, and the Dark Tower series. Can't go wrong with any of them IMO.

taquitos43 · #4 01-15-2010, 02:27 PM

If you don't mind starting with big books, I liked The Stand and It. If you prefer brief reading try one of his short story books such as Four Past Midnight.

Dave Siff · #5 01-15-2010, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugly_bassplayer

I liked Thinner.

+1. His shorter stories are really great. Four Past Midnight is a nice compilation of those. For a longer read, It is my favorite of his.
I just got his new novel as a gift, looking forward to digging in.

VJP · #6 01-15-2010, 02:34 PM

I liked Salems Lot. Creepy. The movie versions are all dreadful.

IotaNet · #7 01-15-2010, 02:36 PM

IMO, the best place to start is with his first short story collection, "The Night Shift." Excellent King from when he was young & hungry -- the stories are compact and accessible and it's a good way to sample King at your leisure.

Check out this link: http://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-St...3591383&sr=8-1

geeza · #8 01-15-2010, 02:39 PM

His books of short stories are all good. "The Stand" is probably his best novel, IMHO.

drteeth · #9 01-15-2010, 02:41 PM

+ 1 for the short stories, the Dark Tower series, the stand, the shining, IT.

I do suggest you stick with his older stuff, IMO his new work has gotten a bit stale. but IMO, and YMMV. Disregarding that, he's a fantastic storyteller who'll keep you turning pages night after night (I think I have 20 stephen king books). The guys above are right about the short stories.

**baba** · #10 01-15-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IotaNet

IMO, the best place to start is with his first short story collection, "The Night Shift." Excellent King from when he was young & hungry -- the stories are compact and accessible and it's a good way to sample King at your leisure.

Check out this link: http://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-St...3591383&sr=8-1

I agree. One of his short story collections is a good place to start. Obviously, the Stand and Dark Tower series are his epics, but I think the short stories are a better starting point.

For the record, Christine was the first one I read. It must have been about 82 or 83.

MatticusMania · #11 01-15-2010, 02:57 PM

I started reading Misery when I was 16, but onyl got about half way through when I had to take it back to the library. I'm currently reading The Stand and I'm loving it.

MonetBass · #12 01-15-2010, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IotaNet

IMO, the best place to start is with his first short story collection, "The Night Shift." Excellent King from when he was young & hungry -- the stories are compact and accessible and it's a good way to sample King at your leisure.

Agreed. Check out "Skeleton Crew" as well. ("The Mist" is SO much better than the movie, and one of the few stories that completely freaked me out while I read it.)

As novels go, Insomnia is one of my favorites. That's a nice springboard into the Dark Tower series. (After you read them, you'll understand why.) Rose Madder is also one of my favorites.

Darkstrike · #13 01-15-2010, 03:13 PM

Firestarter and The Eyes Of The Dragon(still one of my fave books ever) are both great reads.

smeet · #14 01-15-2010, 03:19 PM

I agree with a few of the posters. King is an OK novelist and a GREAT short-story writer.

As I remember, "The Body" (made into the movie "Stand By Me") was one of my favorites.

drteeth · #15 01-15-2010, 03:21 PM

And let's not forget the Shawshank Redemption.

DudeistMonk · #16 01-15-2010, 03:22 PM

I read Pet Cemetery, Misery, Part of Salems lot, The Stand and The First Dark Tower.

Pet Cemetery is the kind of classic horror stuff that got him his start.

Salem's Lot put me to sleep (although I read it when I was much younger so I dunno)

The Stand was my favorite but its over 1,000 pages

Misery was great, but the movie with Cathy Bates is almost as good.

The Gunslinger (dark tower one) was cool, but very epic/fantasy like...not typical King.

nataku · #17 01-15-2010, 03:45 PM

I haven't read all of his stuff, but my favorites are Cell, The Stand, The Dark Tower series, and The Mist. Any short story compilation would be a great place to start.

Kink Rimson · #18 01-15-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happynoj

For some reason, I have never read any Stephen King novels, but I want to. Where should I start? Where should I go from there?

I too prefer his shorter works. If you're into your horror, look out for Danse Macabre, King's delvings into the roots and cultural threads of the genre.

kdef77 · #19 01-15-2010, 04:37 PM

Start with The Stand. Then move on to the Dark Tower Series.

Truktek2 · #20 01-15-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IotaNet

IMO, the best place to start is with his first short story collection, "The Night Shift." Excellent King from when he was young & hungry -- the stories are compact and accessible and it's a good way to sample King at your leisure.

Check out this link: http://www.amazon.com/Night-Shift-St...3591383&sr=8-1

+1. I also enjoyed Pet Semetary