Stephen King fans: what are your favorite/least favorite works of his?

  • 94 results
  • 1
  • 2

This topic is locked from further discussion.

Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#1 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

IMO, Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption is his most mature and most flawless work and it comes together in the most amazing way. This is the novella I refer people who don't think he has "literary chops" to.

Everything in Different Seasons is extremely mature come to think of it. Such a wonderful collection of novellas.

His worst book is Dreamcatcher. It is damn near unreadable. Everything about it is total rubbish, from the confusing, messy narration, to the uninspired generic characters, the annoying down syndrome kid device, and the silliness and dullness of the alien invasion. The Tommyknockers wasn't too great, but it was a better alien book than this one.

Avatar image for Omni-Slash
Omni-Slash

54450

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

#2 Omni-Slash
Member since 2003 • 54450 Posts
Love the Dark Tower Series..releasing a new addition to it tomorrow actually) ...I thought Christine and Kujo were really weak....
Avatar image for deactivated-5e836a855beb2
deactivated-5e836a855beb2

95573

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#3 deactivated-5e836a855beb2
Member since 2005 • 95573 Posts
dreamcatcher wasn't that bad lol
Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#4 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

Love the Dark Tower Series..releasing a new addition to it tomorrow actually) ...I thought Christine and Kujo were really weak....Omni-Slash

I'm quite eager to read it. It has a cool title and a wondeful cover. I still have to read his novel about the JFK assassination tho.

Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#5 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

dreamcatcher wasn't that bad lolJandurin

I have to disagree with that. I thought it was a hot mess, even worse than Insomnia and Rose Madder.

Avatar image for dave123321
dave123321

35554

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#6 dave123321
Member since 2003 • 35554 Posts
[QUOTE="Omni-Slash"]Love the Dark Tower Series..releasing a new addition to it tomorrow actually) ...I thought Christine and Kujo were really weak....

I look forward to the new book.
Avatar image for DrOldGuy
DrOldGuy

65

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#7 DrOldGuy
Member since 2009 • 65 Posts

[QUOTE="Jandurin"]dreamcatcher wasn't that bad lolGreySeal9

I have to disagree with that. I thought it was a hot mess, even worse than Insomnia and Rose Madder.

You obviously have thing for King. The only books I remember reading of his are Regulators/Desperation and Shining.
Avatar image for Omni-Slash
Omni-Slash

54450

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

#8 Omni-Slash
Member since 2003 • 54450 Posts
[QUOTE="dave123321"] I look forward to the new book.

yup yup...set to download to my kindle at some point after midnight...if I'm still up when it comes I'll be reading that before falling asleep...
Avatar image for Kage1
Kage1

6806

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#9 Kage1
Member since 2003 • 6806 Posts

Favorite: The Stand, Christine, Pet Cemetery, The Mist

Least: Needful Things, Sleepwalkers

Avatar image for deactivated-5e836a855beb2
deactivated-5e836a855beb2

95573

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#10 deactivated-5e836a855beb2
Member since 2005 • 95573 Posts
My favorite is probably Dead Zone or The Stand.
Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#11 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

[QUOTE="GreySeal9"]

[QUOTE="Jandurin"]dreamcatcher wasn't that bad lolDrOldGuy

I have to disagree with that. I thought it was a hot mess, even worse than Insomnia and Rose Madder.

You obviously have thing for King. The only books I remember reading of his are Regulators/Desperation and Shining.

I've been a huge Stephen King fan since high school.

The Shining is a classic of course, but Desperation is really underrated and awesome. The Regulators was pretty throwaway but it had a few fun moments.

Avatar image for deactivated-5e836a855beb2
deactivated-5e836a855beb2

95573

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#12 deactivated-5e836a855beb2
Member since 2005 • 95573 Posts

The Shining is a classic of course, but Desperation is really underrated and awesome. The Regulators was pretty throwaway but it had a few fun moments.

GreySeal9
The Shining was so fvcking hard to finish. I can never remember the difference between regulators and desperation. I read them right after another.
Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#13 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

My favorite is probably Dead Zone or The Stand.Jandurin

Love both of those, the Stand for its epic scale and its brilliant handling of its subject matter, The Dead Zone because it's super suspenseful and ambitious but also really tightly written.

Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#14 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

[QUOTE="GreySeal9"]

The Shining is a classic of course, but Desperation is really underrated and awesome. The Regulators was pretty throwaway but it had a few fun moments.

Jandurin

The Shining was so fvcking hard to finish. I can never remember the difference between regulators and desperation. I read them right after another.

Regulators was alot more goofy whereas Desperation was more serious and dark. They had the same characters but in different roles and scenarios.

Avatar image for deactivated-5e836a855beb2
deactivated-5e836a855beb2

95573

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#15 deactivated-5e836a855beb2
Member since 2005 • 95573 Posts

They had the same characters but in different roles and scenarios.

GreySeal9
Yeah I remember. One was in a like wild west more supernatural setting, and the other was in a suburban community? I actually read them when they were still new releases so it has been um 17-18 years lol
Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#16 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

[QUOTE="GreySeal9"]

They had the same characters but in different roles and scenarios.

Jandurin

Yeah I remember. One was in a like wild west more supernatural setting, and the other was in a suburban community? I actually read them when they were still new releases so it has been um 17-18 years lol

Yeah. It was a pretty cool concept, if a bit gimmicky.

Also, how old were you back then? :lol:

Avatar image for turtlethetaffer
turtlethetaffer

18973

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 144

User Lists: 0

#17 turtlethetaffer
Member since 2009 • 18973 Posts

Favorite: IT. The characters are excelltn and well developed, as is the town, villain... everything about the book was masterfully written. Favorite book ever. Awful movie though.

Least favorite: Tommyknockers. Something about it just didn't sit well with me. I guess I didn't like the whole concept of it. IDK not a bad book but I kinda had to force myself to finish it. Also he makes a reference to Pennywise the Clown a few years after the end of IT... which makes zero sense.

Avatar image for PcGamingRig
PcGamingRig

7386

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#18 PcGamingRig
Member since 2009 • 7386 Posts

I like the shining movie.

don't read books much though.

Avatar image for deactivated-5e836a855beb2
deactivated-5e836a855beb2

95573

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#19 deactivated-5e836a855beb2
Member since 2005 • 95573 Posts

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="GreySeal9"]

They had the same characters but in different roles and scenarios.

GreySeal9

Yeah I remember. One was in a like wild west more supernatural setting, and the other was in a suburban community? I actually read them when they were still new releases so it has been um 17-18 years lol

Yeah. It was a pretty cool concept, if a bit gimmicky.

Also, how old were you back then? :lol:

12 or 13
Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#20 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

Favorite: IT. The characters are excelltn and well developed, as is the town, villain... everything about the book was masterfully written. Favorite book ever. Awful movie though.

Least favorite: Tommyknockers. Something about it just didn't sit well with me. I guess I didn't like the whole concept of it. IDK not a bad book but I kinda had to force myself to finish it. Also he makes a reference to Pennywise the Clown a few years after the end of IT... which makes zero sense.

turtlethetaffer

I don't like the ending of It, but it's still a brilliant book in spite of that. It's amazing how well he writes child characters and expresses childhood fears.

I think he doing the most drugs during the writing of the Tommyknockers. If I'm not mistaken, his family staged an intervention after that book.

Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#21 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

[QUOTE="GreySeal9"]

[QUOTE="Jandurin"] Yeah I remember. One was in a like wild west more supernatural setting, and the other was in a suburban community? I actually read them when they were still new releases so it has been um 17-18 years lolJandurin

Yeah. It was a pretty cool concept, if a bit gimmicky.

Also, how old were you back then? :lol:

12 or 13

Quiet down everyone. We have an old person in the thread. :P

Avatar image for deactivated-5e836a855beb2
deactivated-5e836a855beb2

95573

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#23 deactivated-5e836a855beb2
Member since 2005 • 95573 Posts

Quiet down everyone. We have an old person in the thread. :P

GreySeal9
Avatar image for WiiCubeM1
WiiCubeM1

4735

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

#24 WiiCubeM1
Member since 2009 • 4735 Posts

My favorites would be "Shawshank Redemption" and "The Shining".

Least favorites would be "Carrie" and "From a Buick 8". They're not bad novels by any means, but U had to reread Buick 8 to get some of the plot points and Christine is just a little drawn out for me. That would make sense as it's Stephen King's first blockbuster novel.

He hasn't wrote a novel I actually "hate", just one's that don't interest me very much.

Avatar image for DaBrainz
DaBrainz

7959

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#25 DaBrainz
Member since 2007 • 7959 Posts
My favorite is The Long Walk and Running Man My Least favorite is The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
Avatar image for AvatarMan96
AvatarMan96

7324

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 2

#26 AvatarMan96
Member since 2010 • 7324 Posts

Loved The Shining, but I just couldn't get very far into Misery

Avatar image for The-Apostle
The-Apostle

12197

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

#27 The-Apostle
Member since 2004 • 12197 Posts
[QUOTE="Omni-Slash"]Love the Dark Tower Series..releasing a new addition to it tomorrow actually) ...I thought Christine and Kujo were really weak....

This. I finished the Witch & Wizard series just in time to get the latest Dark Tower novel. However, I quit reading his newer books due to the way he portrays Christians in them. :( The only reason I'm picking up the new Dark Tower is because I read the rest of the series before I decided to quit reading his newer books. I still enjoy his earlier works, however. The Shining and Pet Sematary were awesome, and the Stand, I felt, had strong Christian overtones. :D
Avatar image for British_Azimio
British_Azimio

2459

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#28 British_Azimio
Member since 2007 • 2459 Posts
IT.
Avatar image for The-Apostle
The-Apostle

12197

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

#29 The-Apostle
Member since 2004 • 12197 Posts
IT.British_Azimio
"It" was awesome too. :D
Avatar image for British_Azimio
British_Azimio

2459

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#30 British_Azimio
Member since 2007 • 2459 Posts
[QUOTE="British_Azimio"]IT.The-Apostle
"It" was awesome too. :D

I'm actually still not done with it. Been reading off and off for the past 6 years or so. Almost on page 700. Amazing work.
Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#31 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

Loved The Shining, but I just couldn't get very far into Misery

AvatarMan96

I love Misery but I do have to admit that it can be hard to get into.

Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#32 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

BTW, here's my Dark Tower ranking:

1. Part 3: The Waste Lands

2. Part 4: Wizard and Glass

3. Part 2: The Drawing of the Three

4. Part 7: The Dark Tower

5. Part 1: The Gunslinger

6. Part 6: Song of Susannah

7. Part 5: Wolves of the Calla

5 and 6 is when I felt the series started to lose its way, but the last book got it back on track.

Avatar image for David719
David719

2187

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#33 David719
Member since 2007 • 2187 Posts

The only Stephen King stories I've read were Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption and The Body. I found both of them to be excellent, though If had to choose which I preferred, I'd go with the former.

Avatar image for GreySeal9
GreySeal9

28247

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

#34 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

The only Stephen King stories I've read were Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption and The Body. I found both of them to be excellent, though If had to choose which I preferred, I'd go with the former.

David719

I would go with the former as well, especially considering how stunning the movie was.

Avatar image for Sunfyre7896
Sunfyre7896

1644

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#35 Sunfyre7896
Member since 2011 • 1644 Posts

There really aren't any bad ones per se. I did however find The Eyes of the Dragon a refreshing change from the standard, uber high detail of his standard works. The Dark Tower series might be my favorite although I'm only on book 5 of 7 and just started it basically.

Avatar image for aaronmullan
aaronmullan

33426

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

#36 aaronmullan
Member since 2004 • 33426 Posts
Salem's Lot for overall greatness. The Dark Tower I-III are close though.
Avatar image for Sunfyre7896
Sunfyre7896

1644

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#37 Sunfyre7896
Member since 2011 • 1644 Posts

Just found out they're making a new show adapation from Eyes of the Dragon, speaking of which. I think maybe on SyFy.

Avatar image for raven_squad
raven_squad

78438

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

#38 raven_squad
Member since 2007 • 78438 Posts
Favorite is pretty tough for me to pick, but I can say that Duma Key has been my least favorite I think. I just really didn't care for it at all.
Avatar image for shadowkiller11
shadowkiller11

7956

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

#39 shadowkiller11
Member since 2008 • 7956 Posts
Was the IT book's ending the same as the movie if so wouldn't that be the biggest joke ever?
Avatar image for DharmaMember77
DharmaMember77

2377

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#40 DharmaMember77
Member since 2010 • 2377 Posts

Favorite-Salem's Lot

Least Favorite-Misery (I'm going to get alot of **** for this)

Avatar image for Omni-Slash
Omni-Slash

54450

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

#41 Omni-Slash
Member since 2003 • 54450 Posts
what's funny is that other than the dark tower books...I'm not a huge king fan...
Avatar image for Sunfyre7896
Sunfyre7896

1644

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#42 Sunfyre7896
Member since 2011 • 1644 Posts

what's funny is that other than the dark tower books...I'm not a huge king fan...Omni-Slash

I really, really hope these get made into movies. That would be epic.

Avatar image for shadowkiller11
shadowkiller11

7956

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

#43 shadowkiller11
Member since 2008 • 7956 Posts

Favorite-Salem's Lot

Least Favorite-Misery (I'm going to get alot of **** for this)

DharmaMember77
Maybe if it was the movie you'd get hate but from what I heard Misery is not considered his best from what I heard.
Avatar image for DharmaMember77
DharmaMember77

2377

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#44 DharmaMember77
Member since 2010 • 2377 Posts

[QUOTE="DharmaMember77"]

Favorite-Salem's Lot

Least Favorite-Misery (I'm going to get alot of **** for this)

shadowkiller11

Maybe if it was the movie you'd get hate but from what I heard Misery is not considered his best from what I heard.

Misery is one of the few times I enjoyed the film more than the book

Avatar image for Pittfan666
Pittfan666

8638

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 33

User Lists: 0

#45 Pittfan666
Member since 2003 • 8638 Posts
Cujo since it's the only one I can remember.
Avatar image for David719
David719

2187

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#46 David719
Member since 2007 • 2187 Posts

Speaking of Stephen King, What did everybody think of 1997 mini-series adaption of The Shining. Admittedly, I haven't seen the entire thing, but from what I did see, it was pretty average. Certainly not on par with Stanley Kubrick's adaption, even if it was more faithful to the novel.

Avatar image for Necrifer
Necrifer

10629

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#47 Necrifer
Member since 2010 • 10629 Posts

His worst book is Dreamcatcher.

GreySeal9

Terrible...everything about it was just awful.

Avatar image for dave123321
dave123321

35554

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#48 dave123321
Member since 2003 • 35554 Posts

There really aren't any bad ones per se. I did however find The Eyes of the Dragon a refreshing change from the standard, uber high detail of his standard works. The Dark Tower series might be my favorite although I'm only on book 5 of 7 and just started it basically.

Sunfyre7896
Will you be getting the new Dark Tower book? Set between the 4th and 5th books, though most is set in the past like the 4th book. Also seems like it would fit right in if you read that one between 4 and 5 from what I heard
Avatar image for raven_squad
raven_squad

78438

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

#49 raven_squad
Member since 2007 • 78438 Posts

Speaking of Stephen King, What did everybody think of 1997 mini-series adaption of The Shining. Admittedly, I haven't seen the entire thing, but from what I did see, it was pretty average. Certainly not on par with Stanley Kubrick's adaption, even if it was more faithful to the novel.

David719
I thought it was pretty terrible personally. I don't see how anyone could prefer it over Kubrick's film.
Avatar image for rebecky1982
rebecky1982

147

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#50 rebecky1982
Member since 2005 • 147 Posts
Favorites: The Stand, The Long Walk, The Eyes of the Dragon Least Favorite: Black House, From A Buick 8, Lisey's Story The Complete Works: Ranking All 62 Stephen King Books