The Best (and Worst) Ways to Start Reading Stephen King
By Ision Yadav
Stephen King is a well known author with an expansive bibliography. With over 65 published books, it can be daunting to try to decide where to start reading. I’ve read almost every book he’s published, so here are my top 5 recommendations for books to start with for new readers interested in the King of Horror. I’ve also compiled a list of books to avoid starting with and save for later instead.
#1: Carrie (1974)
Spoiler-free summary:
Carrie White, an introverted and anti-social girl in high school, has an extraordinary power: telekinesis, the ability to move objects with her mind. The book describes her experience with bullies and her furious and devastating retaliation.
Why should you start here?
Where better to start than at the beginning? Carrie was King’s first published book so it was the first King experience for many people. It’s short, unlike some of King’s later works, which makes it an easy introduction to King’s style of writing. The horror is also light, (at least compared to King’s other novels) so if you aren’t sure about how many nightmares you’ll get reading later novels, start here to get a nice, easy introduction to how horrifying King can make his books.
#2: Firestarter (1980)
Spoiler-free summary:
Charlie McGee is a young girl with pyrokinesis, the ability to create fire with her mind. Together with her father, she flees from The Shop, a secret government organization responsible for experiments that led to the creation of her powers.
Why should you start here?
This was actually the first King book I ever read so I’ll always recommend it as an introduction to King’s writing. There are less horror elements in this book compared to some of his other works so it’s a good start if you aren’t used to horror just yet. Also, the characters are extremely likable, especially Charlie. King writes children exceptionally well, which is an element present in many of his other books.
#3: Christine (1983)
Spoiler-free summary:
High school students Arnie and his best friend Dennis spot a vintage car in an old lot. Arnie quickly falls in love with the cherry-red 1958 Plymouth Fury, dubbed “Christine,” much to the dismay of his friend and parents. Arnie’s life is quickly taken over by his new car, and Dennis investigates the possessive hold Christine has over his friend.
Why should you start here?
This is one of King’s most well known stories. The characters are charismatic and the premise pulls you in like a fish on a hook. The horror elements are also less scary than some of his other books but will definitely still stick with you after you’ve finished. This book is quite a bit longer than the previous two, but you’ll fly through it so fast you will hardly notice. Finally, the length will ease you into King’s longer stories so you won’t feel overwhelmed holding the other extremely long ones he’s written.
#4: The Eyes of the Dragon (1984)
Spoiler-free summary:
Set in the mythical kingdom of Delain, King Roland is murdered. His son, Peter, is framed for his death and locked up in prison. His brother Thomas is declared the new king, but due to his inexperience and young age he lends all too much power to the magician Flagg. Flagg begins to influence Thomas for his own gain while Peter plans to clear his name.
Why should you start here?
This is a somewhat underrated book that is a long way from his usual style of horror. It is told in the style of a fairy tale, through the eyes of a whimsical narrator. It's extremely easy to read and understand, and it's so short and so gripping that you’ll be finished reading in no time. Not only is it an extremely well told story, it serves as a sort of set up to some of King’s other works, namely The Stand and The Dark Tower. These are two works that I recommend you NOT to start with (more on that later), but The Eyes of the Dragon is a perfect introduction to King nonetheless.
#5: Pet Sematary (1983)
Spoiler-free summary:
Louis Creed and his family move to a small town in Maine. Behind their house is a path that leads to a small “Pet Sematary” where past children had buried their beloved pets. After his daughter’s cat is killed, he buries it in the Pet Sematary only for it to return from the dead.
Why should you start here?
Be warned: this is one of King’s scariest and most disturbing books. This was the second King book I read after Firestarter and it was a big shock to me having never read any of his other books. This book deals with themes of grief, loss and guilt and what people are willing to do to get back what they’ve lost. I recommend it to start if you’re prepared to be scared out of your mind as you are abruptly pushed into King’s style of horror.
Where NOT to start with Stephen King: IT, The Stand, The Dark Tower Series
In my opinion, these three are the worst possible way to start reading Stephen King. Not because they are bad, quite the opposite. These are incredibly well written for a variety of reasons and are my absolute favorite King novels. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t start here. But first, a quick intro to all three:
IT
This is perhaps King’s most famous work: this brick of a novel tells the story of how the Loser’s Club faced Pennywise the Clown in the small town of Derry plagued with missing children. It intertwines two stories at once: the kids in 1958 and the adults after they’ve all grown up.
The Stand
King’s longest novel tells the story of a group of survivors emerging after a catastrophic plague that wiped out 99% of humanity. They begin to settle into a small community, led by the wise Mother Abigail. Elsewhere, a mysterious man named Randall Flagg emerges from the ashes of society and begins to take advantage of the desperate survivors.
The Dark Tower
This 7-book series is an expansive fantasy epic that connects almost all of Stephen King’s stories to each other. It follows Roland Deschain, the last Gunslinger, and his Ka-tet on their journey to find the Dark Tower, the mystical nexus point of the multiverse that holds reality together.
Why should you NOT start here?
These 3 works share a few things in common that are all reasons you should save them for last. They are extremely long, complex, and absolutely incredible.
First, the length. These books will overwhelm you if you aren’t used to long books. They’re all over 1000 pages and it’s best to get used to some other Stephen King novels before you try these ones.
With such high page counts it’s not surprising that the content is rich and intricate. The characters are extremely well written with complex motivations and the worlds are vast with long histories. These 3 works also connect to each other and other King novels, and without experience you’ll quickly lose track of everything to properly enjoy it.
Finally, in my opinion, these are the absolute finest works King has to offer. It's best to save the greatest for last.
Stephen King’s novels may be difficult to get into, but hopefully this guide offered some useful advice on where to start. Let me know what you think of Stephen King if you decide to start reading his books!
Page layout by Hasan Ahmed