Ahead of the New Movie Pet Semetary, Here Are 12 More Must-Read Stephen King Novels
As the author of more than 60 globally best-selling books, the mind behind 50 of the scariest scary movies, and both a National Medal of Honor and National Book Foundation Medal recipient, it's an undisputed fact that Stephen King is a master of horror fiction.
Since his 1974 debut novel Carrie, King has been hitting us with countless masterful stories that are so perfectly twisted and shocking, we always want more. As a matter of fact, his works are often turned into cultural staples in film and TV. (The Shining, anyone?) The latest novels to get the big screen treatment are Pet Semetary, which hits theaters April 5 (and stars King, too) and It 2, which premieres September 6.
If you want to continue to revel in the genius that is a King novel, we've put together a list of some of his best and most essential that must be read in your lifetime.
Carrie (1974)
Thanks to King, this is what nearly everyone thinks about when they hear one name: Carrie. His legendary debut novel follows the story of a teen outcast that's desperate to fit in, but bullied by her classmates and abused by her mother. It all comes to a violent head when Carries uses some newly discovered powers at the prom. In 1976, Sissy Spacek played the lead in the now classic horror film adaptation. Chloë Grace Moretz portrayed Carrie in a 2013 version.
'Salem's Lot (1975)
In his second published novel, King introduces us to Ben Mears, a writer who returns to the house that once haunted him in his hometown of Jerusalem's Lot. But as he's searching for inspiration for his next book, he instead discovers that the small town is quickly being infested by vampires.
The Shining (1977)
When you hear The Shining, do you think of Jack Nicholson's manic face breaking through a splintered wooden door? 'Cause we sure do. The iconic scene is from the film adaptation of a novel that follows title character Jack Torrence as he moves his wife and son to the deserted Overlook Hotel in Colorado. After he takes a job as a caretaker, he slowly succumbs to the evils of the hotel, turning on his family in the process.
The Stand (1978)
Named by Entertainment Weekly as the "godfather of the modern post-apocalyptic drama," The Stand follows a world with a dwindling population following an outbreak of a deadly virus. With a fraction of the population left, survivors have to decide between leaders of good and evil to determine humanity's fate. In January, it was announced that the book would be turned into a limited series on the new streaming service CBS All Access.
The Dark Tower Series (1982)
The first novel in the wildly popular eight-book series, The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger, was published in 1982. (The latest in the series came out in 2004.) The fantasy follows Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, who sets out on a quest through the desert to catch his rival, the mysterious Man in Black.
Different Seasons (1982)
Comprised of four novellas, each of these stories represents a respective season but presents its own unique journey. The collection deferred from King's previous work, in that it was more drama than horror. One title, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, inspired the Oscar-nominated movie The Shawshank Redemption, widely considered one of the greatest American films of all time. Another novella, The Body, was adapted into the classic 1986 coming-of-age film, Stand By Me.
Pet Sematary (1983)
Premiering in theaters on April 5 (the first film adaptation was released in 1989) Pet Sematary follows Dr. Lois Creed as he moves his family to the seemingly idyllic town of Ludlow, Maine. But the Creeds have moved into a house that's right by a highway infamous for killing neighborhood pets, causing the town children to create a cemetery for the animals. But a more sinister graveyard lurks nearby.
It (1986)
The second King movie to premiere this year, It 2 hits theaters September 6, starring Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, and Bill Hader. It's a sequel to the 2017 blockbuster simply known as It, just like the book. The story follows a group of seven adults who return to their hometown of Derry, Maine to fight an unnamed evil they faced 28 years earlier as teens.
Misery (1987)
In this chilling tale, romance novelist Paul Sheldon meets his number one fan: a woman named Annie Wilkes. But fandom soon turns deadly, as Annie is furious that Paul has killed off her favorite character, keeping him prisoner in her isolated house as she forces him to write a book that brings her beloved character back to life.
The Green Mile (1996)
Turned into a 1999 Oscar-nominated dramatic fantasy film starring Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan, The Green Mile tells the story of prison guard Paul Edgecombe. He works in the E-block, the cells where men sentenced to the electric chair wait out their sentence. But a new prisoner named John Coffey shakes up all of Paul's beliefs as he exhibits an impossible power.
11/22/63 (2011)
Winner of the 2011 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Science Fiction and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller, 11/22/63 depicts the story of a time traveling teacher named Jake Epping. Through his friend's secret time portal which brings him to 1958, he sets out on a time traveling quest to do the near impossible: stop the Kennedy assassination.
Joyland (2013)
Narrator Devin Jones tells the story of his 1973 summer job as carny in North Carolina. While working at the amusement park, he soon makes life-changing discoveries about the fables "Funhouse killer" and the life of a dying child.
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