Stephen King's 10 Best Non-Horror Tales
6. The Eyes Of The Dragon
Perhaps the finest work of fantasy ever put to page by Stephen King, The Eyes of The Dragon is considered by many King fans to be some of his best work, although it was a hard sell at first.
Tying into the world of The Dark Tower but not exactly a direct part of it, the novel tells a story set in the world of Delain, where the good King Roland's wife has given birth to a son, Peter, who his magician, Flagg, sees as a threat. Flagg (well known, in various forms, to King readers) manages to have the Queen murdered in childbirth while she is delivering her second son, Thomas, who Flagg later befriends.
Eventually, Flagg manages to frame Peter for the murder of his father, arranging things so that Thomas is present to witness the "murder" (which has Peter unsuspectingly deliver poison to the king). Peter is locked away in a tower, yet escapes years later, confronting Flagg - at which point Thomas turns on Flagg, stating he knows the truth.
While fans originally discounted The Eyes of the Dragon as a children's tale (King reportedly wrote it for his children), it has, over the years, grown into a favourite - classic fantasy writing from an author better known for his horror work.