Just started reading Stephen King...

[GullyFoyle]

I recently got a collection of Stephen King short stories out of the library - I was hooked instantly. I found his writing clear and accessible, and his understanding of human nature scarily accurate...

The question is, where do I go next? Any suggestions for a good Stephen King book? Keep in mind, I'm not into horror for the sake of horror. I found King's more "magical" stories quite interesting...

So, any recommendations?

 

[summeriris]

I've always loved 'The Dead Zone'. I think it features his most tragic and human hero.

 

[alchemist]

It's hard to know where to start, there's so many, but I think The Green Mile meets your criteria.

 

[biodroid]

The Green Mile definitely and try The Talisman (about a boy that goes to a parrallel world that is fantasy-ish), he wrote it with Peter Straub and it was great! The Stand is amazing and is not horror but a book about what happens when 99% of the worlds population dies. Very good book, deals with a lot of characters and their journey across the US. He doesn't really write horror (except for some of his earlier books) but more like what would happen if an alien ship was discovered in the woods outside your house (The Tommyknockers). His horror books are not really gory, very eerily atmospheric which is awesome, because it shows he can capture that atmosphere very well.

 

[HoopyFrood]

As Biodroid says, King doesn't exactly do the whole horror for horror sake thing, really. Most of his books could probably be considered more science fiction or fantasy. He deals with a wiiiide array of ideas, that's for sure, including what would be deemed the usual supernatural stuff (ghosts, vampires, aliens, etc). But he also has a wonderful amount of human horror (Jack Torrence in The Shining, the delightful Anne Wilkes in Misery, but to name just a couple). And you really hit the nail on the head with your observation of how well he deals with human nature. As well-rounded, troubled, and just very human characters you'd have difficulty finding elsewhere.

As to what book to read next, well that depends on what you fancy. Considering magicial...yes, I think the Green Mile is a good suggestion. In the same way the novella Shawshank Redemption would also be a good one. Needful Things is an intriguing one, nice little community-based story. Ultimately, though, I'm just going to end up telling you to read any King you get get hold of.

 

[biodroid]

I think you will be pleasantly surprised if you delve deeper into the world of SK. Sometimes he might scare you sometimes he might make you go YUCK!! but almost all of the time you are more engaged with the wonderfully drawn out and always human characters. I reckon the magic of SK is in his characters followed very closely by the story and the obvious atmosphere he presents you with. In one of his forewords he like to say that you must take his hand, he is going to take you on a journey but be warned it might be a little wierd and frightening but you should be thrilled as well but he will look after you through the journey as well. Like a rollercoaster maybe?

 

[biodroid]

I think I forgot to mention Insomnia is great as well.

 

[paranoid marvin]

I would say that Rose Madder and The Stand would fit your criteria. If you like sci-fi , then The Dome and The Tommyknockers would be better. I'd leave The Dark Tower until you've read as many of his books as you're going to - but definately read it.

Personally my favourite is The Eyes Of The Dragon - a mixture of fantasy, horror and magic (and you'll get your first taste of a certain Mr.Flagg). I just couldn't get into Black House , one to bypass in my opinion.

 

[sloweye]

Personally my favourite is The Eyes Of The Dragon - a mixture of fantasy, horror and magic (and you'll get your first taste of a certain Mr.Flagg).

I would second that choice and add on 'Needful Things' which i found to be a fantastic read and one of the better transfers to the screen.

 

[digs]

I'd second/third any of the above mentions (except Rose Madder, not much of a fan of that one). If you're looking for full-on fantasy, The Talisman is probably a good one. The Stand and The Shining are among his very best, and I can't argue with the Needful Things suggestion - it's probably my personal favourite. Lots of human drama, a touch of the supernatural and a whole lot of action and violence.

 

[Jake Reynolds]

I'm a huge Stephen King fan, and I would say that you could almost pick up any of them. Each has great things about them, and in all honesty I would recommend them all (but leave the Dark Tower for a while, even though its his masterpiece).

As well as what has been suggested above, I would say you'll most likely enjoy the counterpart short story book, i.e. if you read Skeleton Crew, then go for Night Shift or vice versa. There are other, more recent short story books, but these two are my favourites.

As to novels, nobody has mentioned IT (a brilliant read) and the Dark Half. Hell, what am I saying, refer to earlier in the post- they're all great in their own way.

 

[summeriris]

I'm a huge Stephen King fan, and I would say that you could almost pick up any of them. Each has great things about them, and in all honesty I would recommend them all (but leave the Dark Tower for a while, even though its his masterpiece).

As well as what has been suggested above, I would say you'll most likely enjoy the counterpart short story book, i.e. if you read Skeleton Crew, then go for Night Shift or vice versa. There are other, more recent short story books, but these two are my favourites.

As to novels, nobody has mentioned IT (a brilliant read) and the Dark Half. Hell, what am I saying, refer to earlier in the post- they're all great in their own way.

I think 'IT' is brilliant. I think it also made for one of his better transfes to the small screen.

 

[biodroid]

Try reading his Bachman books, he wrote under a pseudonym for a bit as Richard Bachman. Four Past Midnight is a 4 novella book, have read the Langoliers which is very good but still need to read the rest. Just don't read Lisey's Story first, I hated it and you will be put off by him if you read that one first. Cell is a good zombie/apocalypse story with a good twist in the middle. The Tommyknockers is good if you can get past the draggy bits. SK also like to write about childhood innocence lost and found. He is very good at writing children and the trials and tribulations they have to endure in life. A good example is Dreamcatcher where he flashes back to present day characters and back to their past as kids. I enjoyed that book, want to get me a copy and re-read it again.

 

[The Imp]

The Green Mile definitely and try The Talisman (about a boy that goes to a parrallel world that is fantasy-ish), he wrote it with Peter Straub and it was great! The Stand is amazing and is not horror but a book about what happens when 99% of the worlds population dies. Very good book, deals with a lot of characters and their journey across the US. He doesn't really write horror (except for some of his earlier books) but more like what would happen if an alien ship was discovered in the woods outside your house (The Tommyknockers). His horror books are not really gory, very eerily atmospheric which is awesome, because it shows he can capture that atmosphere very well.

I agree about The Talisman, and the sequel- Black House is also terrific. It also ties into The Dark Tower series, which by the way, is probably a must read

 

[biodroid]

The Imp - how is Blackhouse? Is it good/better/worse compared to The Talisman?

 

[digs]

It's been a very long time (and you may notice I'm not The Imp) but I remember not enjoying Black House as much as The Talisman. It's quite different though - for one thing the characters are much older - and still a good read. I love that dark edge that runs through them, and there are some brilliant ideas and images in there.

 

[biodroid]

Ok, so you are now digs? Cool, will give Blackhouse a go sometime.

 

[dlsevern]

I would say that Rose Madder and The Stand would fit your criteria. If you like sci-fi , then The Dome and The Tommyknockers would be better. I'd leave The Dark Tower until you've read as many of his books as you're going to - but definately read it.

Personally my favourite is The Eyes Of The Dragon - a mixture of fantasy, horror and magic (and you'll get your first taste of a certain Mr.Flagg). I just couldn't get into Black House , one to bypass in my opinion.

Couldn't disagree more about "Black House", I found it very creepy at times and it is an important companion book to "The Dark Tower" series.

 

[dlsevern]

Carrie- it's about Telekinesis, Firestarter-Pyrokinesis, Tommyknockers and Dreamcatcher-aliens, The Stand-a post-apocolyptic world, Thinner-a man loses weight at a very rapid pace, The Green Mile-a man has the power to heal people, Cujo-a rabid dog, The Colorado Kid-the mysterious death of a man, Four Past Midnight-collection of stories of which none are true horror, All Stephen King books , with the exception of his non-fiction, are set in alternate realities. I created this list to show that very few SK books are true horror.