The short stories found in the book, from authors such as stephen king, robert mccammon, ramsey campbell, and steve rasnic tem among others, were able to feed the overactive mind of this humble reader. Dead famous 2001 is a comedywhodunit novel by ben elton in which ratings for a reality tv show, very similar to big brother, rocket when a housemate is murdered. Stephen kings best books, ranked by readers the delite. Stephen king, the dead zone signed first edition, 15th printing. For two generations of literary thrillseekers, his very name is synonymous with horror. His father donald king was a sea merchant and mother nellie ruth was a housewife. Stephen king biography, books and facts famous authors. It is his seventh novel and the fifth novel under his own name. It was recommended to me by a stephen king fan that caught on to his brilliance as an author before i did. His wife, tabitha king, has published several novels. Throughout his over 40year career as a horror author, stephen king has conjured truly terrifying tales that have become some of his readers worst nightmares. The 10 greatest stephen king horror novels according to goodreads. King is talented and disciplined writer, and the dead zone gives him an ample sandbox for to draw his ideas out. With that many books under his belt, not every one has been a hit but hes got a pretty solid batting average, especially with readers.
Its perhaps a little more lowkey than some of his famous horrors, but its as compulsively readable and, by the end, as affirming as any of the greats in his oeuvre. The dead zone novel the dead zone is a horrorsupernatural thriller novel by stephen king published in 1979. Stephen edwin king is an american author of suspense, horror, scifi and fantasy books. Aug 24, 2015 you may have heard of a writer named stephen king. The first leg of the castle rock tower with the dead zone n. When theres no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth. Stephen king is one of the most prolific authors alive, known for writing horror, fantasy, and psychological thrillers. Stephen king s first book was carrie, published in 1974, and its paperback release came simultaneously with critical acclaim from the movie launched king s career. Stephen king, in full stephen edwin king, born september 21, 1947, portland, maine, u.
Apr 17, 2015 posted on april 17, 2015 by leah this entry was posted in books, horror, stephen king, top 10 and tagged 112263, charles dickens, child abuse, dark tower, dead zone, different seasons, dolores claiborne, domestic abuse, dreamcatcher, eyes of the dragon, gunslingers, hearts in atlantis, insomnia, it, jfk, lee harvey oswald, liseys story. The dead zone is a horror and supernatural thriller novel by stephen king published in 1979. All of master storyteller stephen king s works of fiction. Jan 12, 2018 the stephen king top ten could be argued up and down, but theres little doubt that the shininghis most parodied, most famous, twiceadapted novelis always going to be a contender for the top slot. List of adaptations of works by stephen king wikipedia. Famous for his terrifying prose, king writes horror, supernatural, science fiction, fantasy and, more recently, crime novels. But by some off chance youre a stranger to his writing, weve rounded up 10 of the best, most ghastly horror books written by stephen king his greatest hits, if you willin no particular order. It concerns johnny smith, who is injured in an accident and remains in a coma for nearly five years. One of the most popular writers of contemporary horror, suspense and science fiction, american author stephen king has published over 50 novels. If you dont have time to read, you dont have the time or the tools to write. Basis for the fine 1983 david cronenberg film starring christopher walken and the popular tv series starring anthony michael hall.
In other words, not only has stephen king written some genius novels and short stories, novellas, essays, and works of criticism, but hes written a lot of them51 novels to date, in fact, with number 52 coming up shortly. While writing short stories he supported himself by teaching and working as a. As the author of more than 60 globally bestselling books, the mind behind 50 of the scariest scary movies, and both a national medal of honor and national book foundation medal recipient, its an undisputed fact that stephen king is a master of horror fiction. Some have certainly been better than others, but ultimately, how would they all rank. Mar 31, 2020 if you are confused about which is the best stephen king books you should start with, then you have come to the right place. A man has been found dead off the coast of a certain state in new england, and the only people who have any hint to the cause of death are a forensics student and a staunch local journalist. Her work has appeared regularly in the orlando sentinel. Book has dampstains on front board and edges and shelf wear. He was born on 21st september 1947 in portland, maine. Aug 28, 2015 in this way, kings books transcend genre and appeal to all lovers of the written word.
Each is accompanied by a synopsis directly from the stephen king web presence. Dark tower mostly takes place in midworld, the decayed remains of a once great empire where a. Stephen king wrote the story the shawshank redemption is based on. Contrary to popular belief, the man known for shit weasels and scary clowns is an excellent writer. The one movie king ever directed, and well, you know, stephen king is a wonderful writer who should probably stick with writing. Stillson is introduced in the novel at the beginning of the book as a struggling traveling salesman for a bibleprinting company in 1955. Gregory ammas stillson was a politician and future united states president whose rise to power will eventually bring on armageddon. To lexi with all good wishes and hopes that all your zones will be live ones. This book was so beloved that king reissued it in 1990, so we could squeeze as much apocalyptic horror out of the pages as humanly possible.
Master thriller writer stephen king has penned over 50 novels, selling 350 million copies in a career that spans over 40 years. Sep 06, 2019 stephen king is fairly infamous for crafting protagonists who just happen to be bestselling authors with beautiful wives, but it wasnt until 2006s liseys story that king gave the wife a. Stephen king is a prolific american author who is known for his suspense and fantasy novels. His spare time was spent writing short stories and novels. Feb 18, 2016 and at age 68, king shows no sign of slowing down. When i asked which king novel i should read next, he replied in an election year, the dead zone of course. Stephen king is a literary icon, a status hes achieved by a defining a genre. And the nature of mystery is exactly what this noir crime installment in our list of best stephen king books explores. Among the many many books written by the writer, we have narrowed down some of his best masterpieces that proved to be a hit among the readers. Unlike a typical whodunnit, elton does not reveal the identity of the victim until around halfway into the book. Buy a cheap copy of the living dead book by stephen king. With well over 50 novels, multiple novellas, short story collections, and works of nonfiction, plus a handful of other releases that defy easy categorization among them, a libretto for a southern gothic musical, stephen king is a literary madman and an insanelyquotable storyteller. The author of fifty novels, nearly two hundred short stories and nine collections of short fiction, he is as productive as he is versatile. Stephen is alive and kicking and is currently 72 years old.
Stephen king is fairly infamous for crafting protagonists who just happen to be bestselling authors with beautiful wives, but it wasnt until 2006s liseys story that king gave the wife a. All of the best stephen king books, ranked as the greatest living master of both jump scares and slowcreeping dread, stephen king has reshaped an entire genre in the image of his imagination. Ghost brothers of darkland county, an original musical with book by stephen king and music and lyrics by john mellencamp. Also this book ties in with other stephen king books like the avengers movies which is pretty cool.
One percent are saints, and one percent are assholes. From an oeuvre of almost 100 books, here are the best stephen king books, ranked. Well actually stephen king had developed his book 112263 over several decades, he just did not want to release it too soon after kennedys death, as he thought that it would be inappropriate. Jul 18, 2019 fans of kings millionpagelong saga the stand know all too well that shows like the walking dead would have never existed without this dystopian masterpiece. Mar 20, 2019 including the two that will become movies this year. Stephen king was born in portland, maine, on september 21, 1947.
However, the sheer number of books 54 novels, six non. Jan 14, 2020 stephen king is one of the most prolific authors alive, known for writing horror, fantasy, and psychological thrillers. Summary music exec john tell thinks that working at tabori studios with famous producer paul jannings will be a big opportunity, but when he notices a pair of old dirty sneakers in an adjacent bathroom stall. A definitive ranking of every stephen king short story. With more than 50 books in print, king is insanely prolific. Here, submitted for your approval, are the short story collections of stephen king. The gunslinger is a little different from other stephen king books but its still probably his best book. He was interested in reading horror stories since an early age and used to write and sell stories to his friends. Top heroes, gifted such a gift or a curse, continues the main character of the book the dead zone. The dead zone by stephen king vintage 1979 book club edition hardcover. John smith receives his gift froman accident that led to a concussion. Dead famous is the title of a series of books following the lives of famous people who are now dead, such as albert einstein and isaac newton.
He would go on to produce two more of his most wellknown works, salems lot and the shining, over the following few years. See where misery, the shining, pet sematary, and the dark tower land and which horror gem takes the top spot. After graduating with a bachelors degree in english from the university of maine at orono in 1970, he became a teacher. Dolores claiborne is an american opera composed by tobias picker. Guaranteed genuine stephen king autograph with certificate of authenticity included. Trivia night is the climax of big little lies, by linda moriarty. All of the best stephen king books, ranked reedsy discovery. So forget what youve seen in the movieswhether youre new to stephen kings oeuvre, or youre working on indoctrinating a friend, reading the following 10 books is nonnegotiable. Every stephen king reader has a favorite tale or series, from christine to cujo. During the early days of his career he worked as an english teacher while writing in his leisure time. Ninetyfive percent of people who walk the earth are simply inert. We rank it number one because its in many ways the ideal king novel, the novel scientists would create if they sought to grow a king.
A list of stephen king s novels, organized alphabetically. Stephen king, his books, and their origins at lisner audiotorium. Dec 09, 2019 stephen king has published more than 80 novels since 1974, making him one of the most prolific authors in history, as well as arguably the most popular. The best stephen king novels 12 mustread stephen king books. Dead zone one of the author s favorite themes issupernatural human abilities, which are devoted to the best books by stephen king.
End of watch, the third book in his hardboiled detective trilogy, is due out in june. It was first published in the 1988 anthology dark visions, and later included in king s own 1993 collection nightmares and dreamscapes. The only criticism i have of this book is that i wish i had read it sooner. Joe, their oldest son, followed in his dads footsteps and is a bestselling horror writer. George romeros night of the living dead is one of the most highly regarded films ever made. The dead zone by stephen king vintage 1979 book club. His own sequels to that modern classic have also been held in high regard by critics and audiences alike. His books have sold over 350 million copies since he first published carrie in 1974.
If you have any unfortunate news that this page should be update with, please let us know using this form. It is his 65th book, if you count novels, nonfiction, and shortstory collections, and we are using its publication as an excuse to. As the book progressed from story to story, one cant help but play whatif scenarios in ones head. An underrated classic, rose madder 1995 is the story of rosie daniels, a wife who has finally found the courage to. Every single stephen king book, ranked from worst to best. Jan 22, 2019 with more than 60 books under his belt, stephen king is one of the most famous, successful, and prolific authors of our time.
During a stop at a house in rural iowa, stillson is attacked by the absent. The special books in this collection are based on certain groups of people, such as inventors and authors. As king is one of americas best and foremost short story writers, this is a matter that bears rectifyingafter all, there are more than 100 stories spread across his 10 collections, and thats a considerable body of work. Mar 10, 2020 based on the 1979 stephen king novel of the same name, the dead zone was adapted for film by screenwriter jeffrey boam and director david cronenberg, a big name in the horror genre specifically for body horror. This week, stephen king releases his latest novel, mr. The best stephen king movies, ranked from worst to best. Oct 18, 20 for more than 37 years, filmmakers have been dipping into stephen king s endless well of fiction, both within the horror genre and without. Stephen king is a famous american writer known for his prolific writing in the genre of horror, science fiction and suspense. The dead zone 1979 this book was king s first hardcover. The 10 best movies based on stephen king books according to. Stephen king goodreads author shelved 1742 times as stephenking avg rating 4. I love the shawshank redemption, that is one of my favorite movies.
From white zombie to dawn of the dead, resident evil to world war z, zombies have invaded popular. Including the two that will become movies this year. His father abandoned the family when he was little. Known best for his horror and suspense books, classics like carrie and the shining, the 70yearold author has been dubbed the king of horror. Inscribed by steve king on front fep, cute but not the author stephen king. These books are a spinoff of the horrible histories collection and are published by the same. His books have sold more than 350 million copies, and many have been adapted into films, television series, miniseries, and comic books. Top 10 modern horror novels more terrifying than a stephen. King has written several novels since his first short story sale in 1967 that have become pop cultural signposts. Stephen king is a famous american author known for his horror and suspense books. The story goes that, as soon as the book came out, a copy was given directly to jeffrey boam to adapt into a screenplay so a movie. Your picks for the horror masters scariest, most suspenseful pageturners, from it to the dead zone.
The idea of living in a world in which his stories could be a reality is horrifying, but the truth is, the author often draws inspiration from his own personal experiences that he then twists into macabre masterpieces. But however you know him, from the films or his books, there is little doubt that stephen is the king at what he does. Which of these novels and collections have you read. Stephen edwin king born september 21, 1947 is an american author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, and fantasy novels. The 10 best stephen king books your picks for the horror masters scariest, most suspenseful pageturners, from it to the dead zone. Heres some background on the mainebased writer and a bibliography, featuring details about some of his most notable works. Aug 05, 2016 master thriller writer stephen king has penned over 50 novels, selling 350 million copies in a career that spans over 40 years.