Stephen King? - Page 2 - Writers Forum

eMb · 06-07-2006, 02:18 PM

The Shining.

Easy.

Omni · 06-10-2006, 07:08 PM

Many consider The Stand one of the great books EVER written. I however have yet to read it. Too many pages. Oof.

eggo · 06-10-2006, 07:46 PM

I would recommend his short stories, which are some of the best stuff I've ever read..

Skeleton Crew, which has "The Mist" in it

or

Night Shift

If you are into fantasy/Horror he co-wrote a book with Peter Straub called

The Talisman. It is not only one of the best books King has written, but it is

among one of my favorite books.

Hodge · 06-10-2006, 07:58 PM

The Stand is too drawn out. The first third is brilliant. The next two could have been condensed into one.

His short stories ARE good. I particularly like "The Moving Finger," but there are others as well. "Dolan's Cadillac" is a cool revenge story, and there's one he did I can't remember the name of where a dying man calls for help on the phone and ends up calling himself a decade earlier.

I think his best novel is either The Tommyknockers or Misery, although I haven't read them all yet.

Jukebox · 06-25-2006, 09:40 PM

i don't know about anybody but i also enjoyed hearts in atlantis
though it's far from horror genre...

DrKilljoy · 07-18-2006, 05:43 PM

Neh, I'd say just about anything. Although I've only read The Shining, It, and the first three parts of The Dark Tower, I'd say just about anyone from him is worth reading.

Stewart · 07-19-2006, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrKilljoy

I'd say just about anyone from him is worth reading.

I'll try out Owen King's new novel then.

nelijane · 07-19-2006, 04:12 AM

I grew up devouring Stephen King - I must have read my favourites tens of times. I would go for It or Carrie or Firestarter. Probably because I went through my 'king' stage in my early teens, I found The Stand and The Dark Tower stuff hard to get into. I'm not too keen on his newer stuff, but I think it's because my reading tastes have changed as I've matured. He's a great writer and has been an inspiration of mine all my life.

The Dark Half is one of his 'newer' better books.

Why not read them all and then make your own top ten list?

nelijane · 07-19-2006, 04:12 AM

Needful things is good too, and Salem's Lot was always a good one. There are so many. But do read the books first before seeing the films, I don't think they translate well.

Sand · 07-19-2006, 11:27 AM

I've read several of his books and found them quite entertaining, but my all time favourite is his memoire "On Writing." I've just read it for the second time. I love his no-nonsense get-to-the-point style. And he has terrific advice.

Deathwishboy · 07-19-2006, 05:12 PM

"Misery" and "Cell" are the only ones I've read. I make it my tradition to read "Misery" once a year (normally during winter) as its such an amazing book which translated into an amazing film. But as "the king" once said...

Movies and Books are like apples and oranges, they are both delicious but taste different.

Anyways I'd always recommend Misery as a first read. Carrie is good too I hear (and short, if that helps).

Talia_Brie · 07-20-2006, 03:14 AM

Read Cell if you haven't read The Stand. They are in fact two versions of the same story.

His best book? The Shining imo, which is the best horror novel ever written as far as I can tell.

If you're after something shorter then try Carrie, which is his first book, and therefore a little shorter than the others. As he went on they got longer, with It being the longest (1400 pages?).

I didn't like The Tommyknockers, but I thought Misery was excellent. Full of malice, and some of the most gut-wrenching scenes I've ever experienced (the hobbling of Paul Sheldon ... bugger me).

I loved all the Dark Tower books, and seeing as he's re-released (read re-written) The Gunslinger, that would be a good place to start.

His short stories are brilliant. Nightmares and Dreamscapes and Skeleton Crew are my favourite collections. But if you can get your hands on Different Seasons, then there are some great novellas in there (The Body, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption).

Stewart · 07-20-2006, 05:34 AM

I think I'm going to have to trust Talia's signature.

Shade · 10-26-2006, 05:51 PM

Only read two of his books. I was able to read was the Shining and the Gunslinger. I tried to read the 2nd book in the Dark Tower series, but the usage of the F word wrecked the book for me.

Fantasy of You · 10-26-2006, 06:16 PM

Should read On Writing, even just for enjoyment. It's a great book. None of the artsy fatsy crap. (The first time I've ever used artsy farty. I don't like it so much...)

-Fantasy