20 Best Stephen King Books

For anyone getting into modern horror, you can’t dip your feet into the genre without understanding the impact of Stephen King. The writer has made an indelible mark in both horror and sci-fi literature. Even if you’re not an avid reader, you’ve definitely seen at least one of King’s books adapted on screen; Carrie, The Shining, Misery, It, The Outsider. Take your pick!

If you want to get into Stephen King beyond the movies and shows based on his books, there are tons of books to wade through. King’s published short stories, novels, and even some nonfiction for decades. His first novel, Carrie, was published in 1971, and has since had not one, but two movie adaptations. Because if anything is timeless, it’s the emotional struggle of being a teenage girl… just be grateful none of your classmates had telekinesis.

And it wouldn’t be right to mention modern horror without also mentioning Joe Hill, Stephen King’s son, who is also a contemporary influence on the genre in his own right. Anyone interested in perusing through Hill’s work can check out our list here, and we also have a joint short story between Hill and King listed below (link included) if you want a sampling of both writers’ skills.

No matter what genre or type of book you enjoy (memoirs, thrillers, sports nonfiction), we’ve got 20 of the best Stephen King books to get you started on the writer’s massive bibliography. Prepare yourself for scares and thrills galore.