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9 of the Best Stephen King Books for Beginners
Don’t let King’s backlist scare you away. Start here with some of his best.
Published on April 21, 2020
If It Bleeds: Mr. Harrigan's Phone, The Life of Chuck, Rat
Stephen KingEscape into these four engrossing, frighteningly good stories by the, well, king of short fiction. You’ve probably heard of “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” (adapted into the movie “Shawshank Redemption”) and “The Body” (aka “Stand By Me”), so you don’t want to miss his newer novellas in “If It Bleeds.”
The Green Mile: The Complete Serial Novel
Stephen King“The Green Mile” originally came out in monthly installments and became the inspiration for the movie by the same name starring Tom Hanks. All the parts are compiled here into one of King’s greatest works. A novel full of magical realism for anyone who’s not big on horror.
It
Stephen KingKing captures the magic of childhood, and lifts the reader’s spirit high with his depiction of the shielding power of friendship in the face of evil for a group of grammar school kids. The book breaks your heart, too, floating to the surface the pain kids suffer as they grow aware of the failures of their would-be adult protectors. “It” will terrify you. But read it. It’s worth losing a couple nights of sleep. It’s gotten several movie adaptations for a reason.
11/22/63: A Novel
Stephen KingThough the novel came out fairly recently, “11/22/63” has already been recognized as one of King’s best novels and was adapted into a miniseries by Hulu. King toyed with the idea of an alternate history about preventing JFK’s assassination for several decades.
The Outsider: A Novel
Stephen KingThis wild ride of a thriller has been adapted into a series on HBO starring Jason Bateman, Cynthia Erivo, and Ben Mendelsohn. The unsettling story begins when a seemingly straightforward investigation into a monstrous crime reveals supernatural forces at work.
Mr. Mercedes: A Novel
Stephen KingA divergence from the typical King fare, but no less amazing. This hard-boiled detective story won the Edgar Award for best novel in 2015 and has been adapted into a DirecTV series starring Brendan Gleeson.
The Running Man
Stephen KingOriginally published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, “The Running Man” is one of the best dystopian novels, often compared in premise to “The Hunger Games” and “Battle Royale.” The movie version starring Arnold Schwarzenegger differs greatly, so be sure to read it, too.
On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft
Stephen KingIt might seem counterintuitive to read King’s book on how to write without actually having read any of his fiction first, but his advice is so sound, and the way he tells his personal history so engaging, and his successes so monumental, that “On Writing” will definitely convince you you’ve been missing out. This isn't your typical, formulaic how-to-write book, but a description of how one author approaches the craft. King writes as if it’s the only thing he was put on this earth to do, and it’s a fascinating look at a towering figure in the publishing industry.
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
Stephen King“The Dark Tower” series has been described as King’s magnum opus and has many adaptations across film and TV in the works, but it requires some prior King knowledge to fully appreciate. Read the other books on the list first, and once you fall in love with King, start this one.