10. ‘Salem’s Lot (1975)
“They’re in those houses. Right now, in all those houses. Behind the shades. In beds and closets and cellars. Under the floors. Hiding.”
‘Salem’s Lot’ is a classic vampire story made real. A lot of King’s work is like that. Legends and old ideas which sound silly until he writes them and you read them all alone at night with the wind screaming outside. I particularly like the prequel and sequel which he included in his collection of short stories, ‘Night Shift’.
The prequel draws a lot from Lovecraft, in particular ‘The Rats in the Walls’, and gives a history to the novel, not quite an explanation but a lot of back story. The sequel on the other hand tells us what the epilogue to the novel does not and is one of the most disquieting stories I’ve read. The novel itself is terrifying because there is never a moment when everyone knows that vampires are taking over their town. There is no last stand by the townspeople; they’re just slowly gotten one-by-one. It’s gradual and insidious and all the more frightening for it.
Want to write about the stuff you're passionate about and have your work read by an audience of over 10 million a month? Click here to become a contributor.
29 Comments
Great list. I’m a big King fan and I’ve only read a couple of these. There’s just so many to read. I just read Carrie for the first time and loved it, one of the best I’ve read.
I got into King via The Dark Tower series although book 6 and 7 were a big let down for me. I think my favourite so far is The Green Mile.
I LOVED Lisey’s Story, and Dolores Claiborne is one of my favourites, just wanted to add to your list, I can’t help myself. Quitters Inc has got to be my favourite short story of his by far. Also, I think Rose Madder is seriously overlooked, having someone (especially as terrifying as Norman Daniels) coming after you is personally my worst nightmare which I think has been touched on in a few short stories (particularly ones he has written about the paintings) Also i loved Geralds Game. It really is hard to pick a few favourites isn’t it!
I agree with you, Gemma. Rose Madder scared the crap out of me because the REAL monster was… well, REAL! And I’ve had him chasing ME before so I really empathized with poor Rose.
Great article. Prefer the original title, mind :)
The best King story is obviously the Dark Tower Series. Almost everything he wrote tied into it somehow. He said himself that THAT is the story he was trying to tell, and wrapped it up in a way so that it never had to end. You’re a bad evaluator of an artist’s work, nothing personal.
Dude, I don’t think this was an evaluation in that sense. Who ever wrote this was sharing which of King’s works touched them and why. To say they are a “bad evaluator” is just rude. Of course there are gonna be books on here you don’t agree with. But that was just disrespectful.
Dude, I don’t think this was an evaluation in that sense. The lady who wrote this was sharing which of King’s works touched them and why. To say she is a “bad evaluator” is just rude. Of course there are gonna be books on here you don’t agree with. But that was just disrespectful.
Dark tower series was good, but nothing special… end of. Just because its like ‘the bigger picture’ doesn’t mean it’s better than the others (one I say it, I mean the series)
i love stephen king…he is my all time favorite. havent read a good marriage…only one on the list. my fave is The Eyes of The Dragaon.2.bag of bones 3. talisman 4. the mist 5. the langoliers 6. the regulators 7. needful things 8. it 9. the whole dark tower series 10. the dark half. the eyes of the dragon and the talisman are 2 books i have read over and over again. i have read jus about every story by him. i have an entire book case with his books on it. all hard back. cept for a couple of dark tower series. king used to scare the crap outta me and yet i would keep reading his stories with anticipation…im sorry..but after he got hit by the van…he lost his scary side. i have been very disappointed by all of them after the accident. i still read his books to this day and i love the older stories…
See, I would almost agree… I was deeply disappointed by ALMOST everything after his accident…
The exceptions:
The Dark Tower
1 simple reason… had he not finished it, I would have had a hole in my life, seriously, the possibility of never knowing was the scariest thing for me about his accident… and I DID NOT see that ending coming…
Under The Glass
An Amazing novel, the portion early on where he breaks the ’4th wall’ and writes out of the narrative directly to the reader was disquieting and oddly compelling. The ending was typical King… Veered off into odd land… but I’m used to that and expect it now… The character development and depth was a pleasure to read.
My favorite has always been The Dead Zone.
that’s a great one too. My favorite is The Stand. I was surprised it didn’t make the list!
Any list that does not include The Stand as #1, isn’t a good top ten. Just my opinion.
I agree. The Stand is my #1.
I agree! How could THE STAND possibly not be on this list!
well everyone has their own opinions, I for one did not think the stand….. stood up well against many of his others, once again, just my opinion.
I love him also. These books are sooo good, that I am pissed when I finish them. A co-worker let me read one I didn’t know existed and I packed it around for a week. Reading on breaks and lunchtime and on the bus to and from work. UNDER THE DOME is the name. Some of his works I’ve missed, but am trying to find everything I don’t have in my King Library.
Also, what a lot of people don’t get is that most of his books are trying to teach a lesson, not necessarily scare you. (Just something to think about).
They are all good. However, The Stand should have been amongst them. THIS is a great book by him. I first read it when I was 15 and have re-read it again. I have also read the the updated version of it. :)
I totally agree!! I expected it to be # 1. The only one i disagree with on the list is Pet Cemetary. I didn’t like the book, or the movie.
A lot of people here have some incredibly interesting comments on Stephen King and his works. So many people have their favorites, and for diverse reasons. Funny how the main factor ISN’T horror… it’s about something within the story that is meaningful and longlasting. I have found that to be one of the best aspects of King’s writing – it isn’t just about scaring people. It is about connecting with people, and he does that with each and every book… maybe he doesn’t connect with everyone on every book, but there will always be people who love certain stories and those who hate those stories. Interesting! Gerald’s Game is one that I find to be his least enjoyable, but I see that someone here believes it should be in the top 10. Certain stories weren’t even mentioned: Bag of Bones, The Tommyknockers, Dreamcatcher, Misery, The Stand, The Dark Half, Christine, Desperation/The Regulators, Firestarter, The Talisman, Rose Madder, The Shining… the list can go on for a while! I believe it’s safe to say that anyone who has read Stephen King has loved and hated certain aspects, but it’s clear that most readers really are “constant”… we keep coming back for a reason.
The Stand, and of course, for me, Carrie
Sincerely, Cari
I don’t agree with quite a few of the choices. The Stand, The Shining, Under the Dome, Cujo… I would have them in the top 5 and I would take out Lisey’s Story, Apt Pupil, Danse Macabre… ok, so I would have a top 12…:-)
WTF??? where is Apocalipsis, Christine, the shining, and i cant belive this It #7??’ come on It could be on the # 3 position and some body can tell me what happend whit the magnus opus? where is THE DARK TOWER with Roland and his ka-tet?? this top 10 suck!!!!
My #1 is The Stand uncut and unabridged. That story has haunted me and when I put the book down I usually have to ask about the characters lives after end pages. I have bought 13 copies to date – the first one I read at the age of 12. Pet Semetary (my first king book, age 10) scared the brave outta me so that would be #2. The Long Walk, Thinner, Rose Madder, the Shining, Under the Dome, Christine, the Mist, along with so many others. I have all of them – cept Lisey book. Couldn’t stand it. Still read it. I have been hooked since I was 10, gonna be hooked till I keel over.
Uhhh, Danse Macabre’s not really a story, is it?
For me The shining is one of his best films.
Where’s the love for Duma Key, fantastic story
For me, the all-time best Stephen King book was Bag of Bones. That is the “only” King book that caused me to have an entire week of all-nighters over the summer, desperate to see what happens next.
Next, I would say, is probably Cujo. Sure, it’s not one of his “strongest” books, but I never tire of hearing the story about the rabid dog. That was my first Stephen King book, at age 11.
Third is probably The Long Walk. It had a different writing style, and I got right into it. I didn’t think it would be very good when I picked it up, but I don’t regret it now. It was a good, interesting, thoroughly-written story.
Number Four is a short story called 1922. This story is about a man who killed his wife and threw her body down a well. The story kept me up many nights scared, and held my interest, and left me (literally, at times) breathless until the story was over.
The fifth story is Carrie. I couldn’t “get into” it as much as the others, because I wanted to just get through it. I read it over 2 days, and I think I missed some major parts of this story. I have to re-read it, but the story is really good writing. His debut!
Number Six, the well-known Pet Sematary. I am scared of Zelda still today, I can hear her taunting voice in my head all the time. It was the most frightening book King ever published, although it was hard to read at the beginning.
I have read more, but I don’t have the time to list them all and explain. I have a lot more I didn’t read as well (11/22/63, Under The Dome, Everything’s Eventual, Christine, (preordered) Joyland, The Stand (Complete and Uncut), the list goes on.
I think The Stand will be my next one. I might start that today :)
I am very surprised that 11/22/63 is not in this list. 11/22/63 is such an amazing story. I have read lots of his books.