5 best and 5 worst King book

[Jojo87]

Best book by King.

1. Liseys Story
2. Duma Key
3. Blaze
4. Mist
5. Dolores Claiborne

Worst book by king.

1. Tommyknockers
2. Dreamcatcher
3. Gunslinger
4. Running man
5. Roadwork

Okay this was my list. Now is your turn.

[Srbo]

Hmmmm...to each their own, of course, but that is one strange list there, Girl, IMO, no offence.:)

To me, every book written Steve is the best book out there ( like you just proved to me with your first list ), the only thing is if I personally like some more than others.

Cheers.

[Shasta]

Ooooo. Good question.

Best:
1. Gunslinger
2. Insomnia
3. Rose Madder
4. The Regulators
5. The Long Walk

(These - other than the first 3 - change daily depending on my mood.)

Worst:
1. From a Buick 8
2. Roadwork
3. Dreamcatcher
4. Blaze
5. Black House
(This doesn't mean I don't love them, it just means they're my least favorite.)

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Best
1. Dark Tower
2. Lisey's Story
3. The Stand
4. IT
5. Tie Duma Key/ Bag of Bones

Worst
1. Tom Gordon
2. From a Buick 8
That's all.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Natjen26]

Best

1. Misery & Duma Key
2. The Long Walk
3. The Stand & It
4. The Dark Tower (All 7)
5. Pet Semetary & Lisey's Story & ... :grinning:

Worst

1. From a Buick 8
2. Roadwork
3. Storm of the century (I liked the movie, but the scriptplay just didn't do it for me)
That's it.

[ClintBrynner]

Hmm, let's see
Best: (not in order)
1. It
2. Wizard and Glass, revised edition
3. Needful Things
4. Misery
5. Roadwork

Worst: (not in order)
1. Geralds Game
2. The Long Walk
3. Dolores Claiborne
4. Thinner
5. The Regulators

[Roseasharn]

Most favorite:

1. Dark tower, all of it. (and I can do that, because its a series, baby!)
2. Rose Madder
3. The Talisman/Black House (oh yes, a possible trilogy, so I can do that, too!)
4. Lisey's Story
5. Bag of Bones/ IT tie

Less than favorite (but still not bad)
1. Tommyknockers (okay, that one was really bad to me, but I'm terrified of aliens...so...)
2. From a Buick 8
3. Cell (yeah, I liked it, but not as much as the others)

and that's it. 5 least favorite is asking too much of me, my head would explode. :p

[Spideyman]

Hmmmm...to each their own, of course, but that is one strange list there, Girl, IMO, no offence.:)

To me, every book written Steve is the best book out there ( like you just proved to me with your first list ), the only thing is if I personally like some more than others.

Cheers.




Going to have to agree with Srbo. Worst and Stephen King doesn't fit for me. I do like some more than others, but never could catorgize one as worst.

[Kim L.]

Best:
1. DT series
2. Bag of Bones
3. Lisey's Story
4. The Stand
5. IT

Worst (comparatively):
1. Roadwork
Can't think of any others, but I couldn't finish this one

[Doc Wilson]

1. Stand
2. Talisman
3. Lisey
4. Duma Key
5. It

1. Gunslinger
2. From A Buick 8
3. Pet Sematary
4. TommyKnockers
5. Carrie

[gem collins]

Can tell you my favourite ones -

First place - Duma Key
2nd place - Bag o Bones
3rd place - The Talisman
4th place - The Stand
5th place - Rose Madder

Don't have any "worst" ones but can tell you scariest was "The Shining", funniest "Christine" and most disturbing was "Pet Sematary".

I haven't tried any of the Dark Tower ones yet.

[Leighjavu]

5 favorites:
(With a disclaimer.. I'm a Libra so I could change my mind.)
When I read the next one, It will change this list!

In no order,all were a bloodrush to the head!
Needful Things
Just After Sunset
Pet Sematary
Rose madder
Night Shift

The 5 less likely to re-read
Geralds Game
From a buick8
Cell
Firestarter
Tommyknockers

[Ubasti]

Best:
1. Gerald's Game
2. It
3. Dreamcatcher
4. Dark Tower
5. The Eyes of the Dragon

Worst:
1. Tom Gordon
2. Buick 8
3. Blaze

[Bryan James]

Faves: DT Series, The Stand, IT tied with Talisman, E.E., Duma Key

After several reads of 'The Talisman' I was disappointed by 'Black House."

I was surprised by how hard 'Needful Things' was to finish...not (ever) for subject matter, it was just..unwieldy. I enjoyed the TV version.

'Carrie' didn't grab me much, but I was thinking the words as I was reading them (I'd just finished 'On Writing' and was saving the first for last), and a combination of thinking and reading sometimes prevents understanding.

A bad day with King is better than a good day with a phone book.

BJS

[Wendy Capps]

Hmmmm...to each their own, of course, but that is one strange list there, Girl, IMO, no offence.:)

To me, every book written Steve is the best book out there ( like you just proved to me with your first list ), the only thing is if I personally like some more than others.

Cheers.

I agree Srbo I cannot say I've read one SK book I did not like. There are some I have not read yet, but not many..My top favs?

The Stand
Duma Key
Bag of Bones
Just After Sunset (Just finished today). SOMEONE HELP ME: I NEED MORE ASAP!!!!

[Balrog21]

Best 5
It
The Stand
Salem's Lot
Dead Zone
The Dark Half
Duma Key

Worst 5 (I am with most, I don't thing they are bad, just my least favorite)
Tommyknockers
From a Buick 8
Tom Gordon
Christine
Cell

Best,
Bal

[Goodlovin]

In no particular order for the five best and worst.

Five Best:
It
The Stand
Bag of Bones
The Shining
Different Seasons

The Five Worst:
Lisey's Story this one is easily number 1.
Tommy Knockers
Dolores Claiborn
The girl who loved Tom Gordon

Those are the only books I havent enjoyed.

[Goodlovin]

I apologize for posting again but I may have forgotten to add Bag of Bones to my top five.

To me that is a serious offense and one I shall smack myself on the side of my head as punishment

:grinning:

[JayneH]

wow, I am continually amazed at how different we are yet how similar we are.

I am with SRBO - I just have some that I enjoyed more than others...... so have only written out my least favourite books.... apart of course for my all time favourite... The Stand !!!

Least Favourites:
Dark Tower Series !!! (dont yell at me)

and Black House - just couldnt get into it. (but does that really count as it was a collaboration????)

[ihavepromisestokeep]

I love them all for many different reasons, and of course my tastes have changed over the years. The same is true of Mr Kings writting style. I have been reading Mr King since the age of 15. I am now 38. My top 5 in no particular order.

The Body.
The Stand.
Talisman.
The Long Walk.
Wizards and Glass.

The only one I ever really struggled with is Bag of Bones, and I say with a heavy heart that for me, Black House failed to live up to the Talisman.

[moonhoney2]

Favs
1- Stand
2- DT Series
3- Long Wlak
4- Langoliers
5- The Cell - until the end

Lease Fav
1- Carrie
2- Cujo
3- Christine
4- Tom Gordon
5- The ending of The Cell - LOL

[Jojo87]

Okay! Those book I put on worst list isn't my WORST book. I mean that they aren't my fave. Sorry if I put up it a little wrong way.

[Haunted]

Going to have to agree with Srbo. Worst and Stephen King doesn't fit for me. I do like some more than others, but never could catorgize one as worst.

I'm with Srbo and Spideyman on this one. I think it depends on your likes, dislikes, your interests and what doesn't interest you, i.e., for me Tom Gordon is a don't interest. AND I think it depends on what frame of mind you were in when you read the book!!! I have one book of Mr. King's that I could not get into, even though I had been told by the bookseller that 'she thought it was the best he had ever written'; BUT it still maintains a central place on my bookshelf for another time when my heart is open to it.:grinning:

[luceze]

Faves
1. Dark Tower Series
2. The Long Walk
3. IT
4. Christine
5. The Shining

Least Faves:
1.Dolores Claiborne
2. From A Buick 8
3. The Dead Zone
4. Salem's Lot
5. Lisey's Story

[psj77]

best
1) Bag Of Bones
2) Hearts In Atlantis (The book as a whole)
3) Blaze
4) Duma Key
5) Insomnia

worst
1) The Shining
2) The Dark Half
3) The Tommyknockers
4) Different Seasons
5) Four Past Midnight
I don't hate any of these books. They are just the worst of the best.

[michal]

Right now that is, 'cause you know, things change...

Best:
1. Salem's Lot
2. It
3. Pet Semetary
3. The Stand
4. Wolves of the Calla (sorry guys - but listing the whole DT series as one book is just cheating! :biggrin2:)

Least Favorite:
1. From a Buick 8
2. Roadwork
3. Storm of the century
4. Lisey's Story
5. Dreamcatcher

[Prince of Darkness]

Hi,

Best:

1. Dark Tower
2. The Stand/IT
3. Salem's Lot/The Tommyknockers
4. Lisey's Story/Bag of Bones
5. Duma Key

Worst:

1. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

I like all the rest. I just can't get past the first page of TGWLTG.

Long days and pleasant nights

[adrianmarley]

5 of the best (in no particular order)

1. Pet Sematary
2. The Shining
3. Misery
4. The Dead Zone
5. Danse Macabre

5 that aren't as good:

1. The Tommyknockers
2. Cycle of the Werewolf

(Okay, only 2, but there are lots that I haven't read: The Talisman, From a Buick 8, Dreamcatcher, Needful Things, Bag of Bones, The Dark Tower and so on....)

[Shasta]

4. Wolves of the Calla (sorry guys - but listing the whole DT series as one book is just cheating! :biggrin2:)



I agree michal!

I want to cry when I see someone say the DT series or the Gunslinger was the worst. That book was life changing to me! To each his own, I guess!

[LOTUS]

I think I am fan of all his books.There are some that I haven't reread yet,but I definitely want to and will do it in a short period of time.I see many point out The Tommyknockers and From A Buick 7 as some of their least favourite,but I actually enjoyed them a lot!!!So,I guess I can't even pick my favourite 5.:laugh:

[LOTUS]

Sorry,I meant From A Buick 8.:laugh::laugh::blush::blush:

[redrayne63]

going with Srbo and Spideyman...nothing SK writes could ever end up on any of MY worst novels list.....they all rock some are much better than others...The Stand, Insomnia, Duma Keys,Talisman, IT and all the Dark Tower books......but they are all worth the read and by far better than anything in the same genre...I like Dean Koontz, Peter Straub(especially writing with SK) etc but nobody....NOBODY writes like the Master!!!!!

[Shasta]

I would like to replace Roadwork on my list for The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. I actually really dislike that book. Roadwork was just one of my least favorite of the loved but I still like it.

[Srbo]

I`ve got suprised a few times going through your lists, guys, especially the " top 5 ", and like I`ve said and we all know that, to each their own...

But, it kind of makes me really sad that Insomnia was mentioned only twice ( Shasta and psj ), somehow I think that good old Ralph Roberts deserves more recognition...and Desperation was not mentioned once.

I almost feel like these are the "forgotten", brilliant books by Uncle Steve...

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I think it's interesting how often From a Buick 8 crops up.

Unless I'm much mistaken, he handed the manuscript of that in to the publishers a week before his accident.

I've always felt that (given the accident in Buick) that his muse wasn't so much telling him to write a story in this case, but was trying to tell him not to walk in the effin road!

Long days and pleasant nights

[thebarbster24]

Top 5: (not in a particular order)

1. The Body
2. Misery
3. Pet Sematary
4. The Talisman
5. The Running Man

I can't think of 5 "worst" books, but these come to my mind as the ones I didn't really care for:

Black House (mainly because of the writing style)
Firestarter
The Girl Whol Loved Tom Gordon
and I am sorry for this - It

But I am yet to read the most recent books

[the_last_gunslinger]

Favorites:
IT
The Dark Tower Series. (Specifically, Song of Susannah)
Bag of Bones
Duma Key
Pet Sematary

Worst:
Dolores Claiborne
Eyes of the Dragon
Cell
Different Seasons
Lisey's Story

Like most others, my lists of least-favorite books typically refers to ones I just didn't enjoy as much as others. The notable exception is Lisey's Story. I hate to say it, but that was a truly bad book, in my opinion.

[Shasta]

But, it kind of makes me really sad that Insomnia was mentioned only twice ( Shasta and psj ), somehow I think that good old Ralph Roberts deserves more recognition...and Desperation was not mentioned once.

I almost feel like these are the "forgotten", brilliant books by Uncle Steve...

I LOVE Insomnia! When I met SK awhile ago I just KNEW it was the first book I had to have him sign! And it's my book that he wrote Happy Birthday in (it was, obviously, my birthday) so now I love it even more! If it was more cuddly I'd cuddle with it.

I think people don't like it because it starts a bit slowly but when it picks up it REALLY picks up. And in my humble opinion it is one of the most well written, image filled novels ever.

[#1 FAN]

In my opinion, they are all great- and that's why I truly am THE #1 FAN

[hanjoe01]

Best:
Insomnia
Wizard And Glass
The Eyes of The Dragon
Bag of Bones
The Regulators

Worst:
The Tommyknockers
Roadwork

[delores 74]

My 5 favorites in no particular order:
1) Dolores Claiborne
2) Lisey's Story
3) Bag of Bones
4) Insomnia
5) The Stand

My 5 least favorites:
1) Cell
2) From a Buick 8
3) Dreamcatcher
4) Gerald's Game
5) The Tommyknockers

[robdraggoo]

I havent even read ten books yet to form a list, but I am getting close. I think its aweasome to see the differences in these list however. Its just shows how SK appeals to such a large and diverse audience. My favorite is currenlty Bag of Bones from what I have read so far.

[Srbo]

I LOVE Insomnia! When I met SK awhile ago I just KNEW it was the first book I had to have him sign! And it's my book that he wrote Happy Birthday in (it was, obviously, my birthday) so now I love it even more! If it was more cuddly I'd cuddle with it.

I think people don't like it because it starts a bit slowly but when it picks up it REALLY picks up. And in my humble opinion it is one of the most well written, image filled novels ever.

And Ralph Roberts is soooooo real, the guy should`ve actually payed taxes.:)

[JohnDalglish]

Its just shows how SK appeals to such a large and diverse audience.

Hi,

My feelings exactly, something for everyone.

Long days and pleasant nights

[mrob44]

I think the entire Dark Tower series is cemented at number 1. So, setting that aside....

Top 5
1. Desperation (My first, and therefore always my favorite)
2. The Stand
3. It
4. Duma Key
5. Black House

Least favorite 5
1. Cujo
2. Christine
3. Dreamcatcher
4. Misery (Liked it in general, but hated the book within the book you had to read through)
5. From a Buick 8

[Shasta]

And Ralph Roberts is soooooo real, the guy should`ve actually payed taxes.:)

He totally reminds me of my awesome grandpa.

[ginapenn]

Wow, a lot of these lists are mostly made up of newer King work. I have to say I love the classics most of all. There are a few newer ones that are alright but my greatest loves are the ones that first drew me to him.

Favies, in no particular order:

Christine
Firestarter
On Writing (didn't see this one a whole lot on anyone's list but I absolutely LOVE this book- it's personal, informative, well-written.)
Rose Madder
Eyes of the Dragon (I have the two headed bird tattooed on my back!)

I can only pick 5? I could pick ten more, easy.

Worst
Cell
It (not necessarily a worst for me but I'm coulrophobic so I barely made it through the first time)
Hearts In Atlantis

Hmm. That's about as far as I can get without arguing with myself.

[chillbill]

Best:
The Stand
Dead Zone
Dark Half
Firestarter
It

Worst:
Cell
Dark Tower IV (sorry but it had to be said)
Roadwork
Regulators
Rage (which wasn't even all that bad, but I had to pick 5 and this one had a lot of backlash)

[Agincourt Concierge]

Dang this is a tough one....
Best Five:
1. Dark Tower Series
2. Talisman
3. It
4. Insomnia
5. The Stand

My least favorite....(which are still better than most other authors best....LOL)
1. Cujo
2. Lisey's Story

[Mindyleigh]

i was trying to figure out if anyone had liked eyes of the dragon?

top 5
rose madder (cause its the first stepen king book i read)
bag of bones
dt series
blackhouse series
hearts in atlantis

I cant honestly say that i dislike any of his books, but i have some of his older books
carrie, shining, ect that i havent read yet

[Countrygirl_sass]

Oh y'all are a cold hearted bunch of people, listing the "Worst" books on the mans own site.

For Shame! :laugh:

[youngfibre]

I cant pick my best five, being adding and changing the list for the last five minutes.

Ok. Worst is definately Tommyknockers (For now?)

[JohnDalglish]

Oh y'all are a cold hearted bunch of people, listing the "Worst" books on the mans own site.

For Shame! :laugh:

Hi,

Point taken, but I don't think he'd be all that keen on a bunch of fawning sycophants either.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Dhasek]

ok..I'm getting worried..Im reading The Stand for the first time and I'm half way done. As soon as I finish it, I was planning on reading From a Buick 8 because it's one of the few remaining books of Kings that I have not read....but it is on almost everybodys worst list in this thread!!!!! can anyone give me a little bit of an explanation as to why they consider it to be one of his worst, without giving anything about the story away?????

[JohnDalglish]

ok..I'm getting worried..Im reading The Stand for the first time and I'm half way done. As soon as I finish it, I was planning on reading From a Buick 8 because it's one of the few remaining books of Kings that I have not read....but it is on almost everybodys worst list in this thread!!!!! can anyone give me a little bit of an explanation as to why they consider it to be one of his worst, without giving anything about the story away?????

Hi,

Well, I initially found it a little unfocussed and short on strong characters, but I enjoyed it far more the 2nd (post-DT) time and I'm going to re-read it again shortly.

Definitely read it and I'll be interested in your opinions afterwards IMO.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Mr. Jingles]

Faves:
1. The Green Mile
2. The Shining
3. Salem's Lot
4. Duma Key
5. Pet Semetary

I can't really say these are the "worst" because I have not finished all the books, but I wasn't too keen on them:

1. Insomnia
2. Carrie
3. Dark Tower (I know, I know, but I just can't get into them!!!!)
4. Lisey's Story

Sorry to any I have offended, but everyone has different tastes, right?

[JohnDalglish]

Sorry to any I have offended, but everyone has different tastes, right?

Hi,

No offence taken, and it just proves once again (if proof were needed) that there's something for everyone in the King canon.

Long days and pleasant nights

[~Ally~]

Hi guys:smile2:. Dashek I really enjoyed Buick 8 so I hope you aren't put off by peoples opinions, all I can recommend is to read the book for yourself as we all have differing tastes.

Although I am not a fawning sycophant (JD:wink2:) I honestly do not have any worst books...maybe I am just very easily pleased!!

Now for the best:
IT, Hearts In Atlantis, Misery, Blaze, Cujo.

That was a really hard thing to do and I am so tempted to add others such as Desperation and The Shining...I am so indecisive...help:eek2:

[Boni]

So far...

1- Misery
2- Pet Sematary
3- The Green Mile
4- The Eyes of the Dragon
5- Dolores Claiborne

Worst

1- Rage
2- Gerald's Game
3- Thinner
4- Firestarter
5- Cycle of the Werewolf

[The Mangler]

I think I am fan of all his books.There are some that I haven't reread yet,but I definitely want to and will do it in a short period of time.I see many point out The Tommyknockers and From A Buick 7 as some of their least favourite,but I actually enjoyed them a lot!!!So,I guess I can't even pick my favourite 5.:laugh:

It's From A Buick 8..

:wink2:

And I don't have any worst ones, not really.

My favourites, though, are, in no particular order:

Needful Things
The Stand
IT
The Dark Half
Pet Sematary

:laugh:

[Stillreading]

The guy is frighteningly prolific he's bound to have a dud or two, or five. Granted the amount of good books he's written is unprecedented.

Here's my take:

WORST:

Gerald's Game (which i actually liked for about 275 pages until I abruptly lost interest)

TommyKnockers (another aborted effort)

Lisey's Story (aborted)

Desperation

The Dark Half (great beginning, great ending, meandering middle and forced dialogue)

* I figure I have to place the one's I never finished on this list, however, Lisey's Story was definitely one of those ones I tried to force before it was ready, and Gerald's Game I have every intention of reading again.

BEST:

1.The Shining (forever and always my favorite fiction of all time!!)

2.The Dead Zone (just finished this and it is absolutely brilliant)

3.Misery

4.Insomnia

5.Three-way tie: Hearts in Atlantis, Green Mile, and Needful Things

[TheHardcase]

1. The Stand -- by far and away SK's best ever.

The rest, in no particular order --

2. Bag of Bones
3. 'Salem's Lot
4. Wizard and Glass
5. It

Somehow, I find the term "worst" and Stephen King inherently incompatible. However, here's a list of stories that, for one reason or another, didn't float my boat.

1. Lisey's Story
2. The Tommyknockers
3. Dreamcatcher
4. From a Buick 8

That's it. Only four. That should tell you something.

[DillonNelson]

Im having trouble coming up with a list. But the The first four DT books all hold equal place as not just the best SK but the best books i have ever read, I just started the 5th and i think It will also join the ranks... as well as six and seven.

i do have one question though... why is From a Buick 8 on everybodies worst list?? I havn't read it yet but it was lined up for as soon as i finish DT. Just wondering. If it turns out terrible i guess it wont be a loss. I got it for under one dollar, and who can pass up a good deal on a book? any book.

[Destrachan]

My, my, my...quite a diverse set of opinions here. I must admit that I'm a bit shocked to see so many have Lisey's Story in their top 5, I tried reading it, but it turned into an exercise in futility....same with Gerald's Game and Rose Madder come to think of it. Anyway, here we go:

Worst (no particular order):
Lisey's Story
Gerald's Game
Rose Madder
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Carrie

Best (no particular order):
Cujo
Needful Things
The Shining
The Stand
Eyes of the Dragon

[Mr. Jingles]

i do have one question though... why is From a Buick 8 on everybodies worst list??

People say it has no point....i have read it twice and loved it more the 2nd time, it's an awesome story.

[suzieb]

Favorites:

Misery
Pet Sematary
Dolores Claiborne
Bag of Bones
Salem's Lot

Can't think of anything I would categorize as worse but haven't read all his works yet. I do feel that some of his endings fizzle, just don't feel right or are rushed. Endings are tricky! He gets it right most of the time and when he doesn't it really doesn't ruin the entire story for me. It's why he's the man!

Thanks,
SuzieB

[DillonNelson]

People say it has no point....i have read it twice and loved it more the 2nd time, it's an awesome story.

Well I guess that gives some idea of what people don't like but i will have to see for myself.

And now I'm also noticing how many people don't like Gerald's Game. FOR CHRIST'S SAKE WHY NOT?!?!?! That has got to be the most suspensfull and sweety palmed book I've ever read. Loved it.

[FoolsStuffing]

I have to say Im surprised that the majority of my favorites have not made it onto either list. As far as least favorites go, I see it like this. Between Kings big novels, the ones that seem to have a little extra marketing push, there are hastily written filler novels designed to reach quota and keep fans eyes open for the real deal. Not necessarily Bad, but more like B stock. This is the logic of my list.


Best
1) The Dark Half
2) The Shining
3) The Drawing of the Three
4) The Stand
5) Bag of Bones

Worst
1) Gerald's Game
2) From a Buick 8
3) The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
4) Hearts in Atlantis (Brilliantly done, but just wasn't my thing)
5) Blaze

[dwspell]

Hey-

5 favs

thinner
misery
IT
black house
duma key
really too many to narrow it down to just 5!

least favs

tom gordon
bag of bones

[Marianne]

I too don't think Sai King has ever written anything BAD. I find it quite interesting to see how different our opinions are. What some people dislike, others love and vice versa. I think that's cool. :cool2:

My top 3:
The Dart Tower (the series as a whole)
The Talisman
Dreamcatcher

My bottom 3:
From a Buick 8
Colorado Kid
Tommyknockers (though I haven't read this in YEARS... so maybe it's time for a re-read and maybe I'll change my mind) ;)

[ashiepoo84]

Fave-
Salems Lot
Blaze
Different Seasons
Thinner
Delores Claiborne

Worst- hmmmm this is hard
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Pet Sematary
Rose Madder, very hard for me to stay interested
Deperation, same
Dreamcatcher, not bad by any means, but i've read it twice and just had a hard time following.

[skyrow]

I havn't read Duma Key or Lisey's story so this makes me look forward to it because so many people put them on their top!

TOP

1. Dark Tower Series (although Gunslinger was a little slow for me)
2.The Stand
3.The Talisman
4.Different Seasons
5.Misery

Bottom

1.From a Buick 8
2.Needful things
3.Just after sunset
4.Storm of the century
5.Desperation

[Doc Wilson]

Im having trouble coming up with a list. But the The first four DT books all hold equal place as not just the best SK but the best books i have ever read, I just started the 5th and i think It will also join the ranks... as well as six and seven.

i do have one question though... why is From a Buick 8 on everybodies worst list?? I havn't read it yet but it was lined up for as soon as i finish DT. Just wondering. If it turns out terrible i guess it wont be a loss. I got it for under one dollar, and who can pass up a good deal on a book? any book.

Its not such a bad book at all, its just that he doesn't break any new ground with it.

[Matthew.Degnan]

Best:

1. The Gunslinger
2. The Stand
3. The Green Mile
4. The Dead Zone
5. Under the Dome

Worst

1. Rage
2. Cycle of the Werewolf
3. Roadwork
4. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
5. Dolores Claiborne

Would have put On Writing as the best but I thought I'd just do the list as novels.

[PunkrX]

haha makes me laugh how so many replies in there worst list they put From A Buick 8. i even seen pet semetary on a worst list! ...

but honestly From A Buick 8 was good! i enjoyed it! maybe im crazy, but it was good!

Best::

1. The Stand
2. Misery
3. Pet Semetary
4. Cell
5. The Shining

Worst.

1. Cujo (really...didnt buy the story... was great and terrifying! but didnt buy the fact that the dog could get that far with rabies and not shot...not where i live anyway)

but thats the only i can say for worst... and its just cus i couldnt buy the fact that the dog would be that far into having the disease of rabies and manage to walk around town, kill some people, kill a cop, and keep a mother and kid locked in a car... i dunno... plus the 'monster in the closet' ... i never understood why that was there... kinda built up to nothing....

[GNTLGNT]

Bestest:
-The DT series
-The Stand
-IT
-The Talisman
-Black House

Baddest:
uuuuhhhh, let me say dis & dat-nothing "bad", just some works that didn't "flip my switch all the way to "love it""

[smerdyakov]

Best:
-DT Series (but especially the waste lands and wizard and glass)
-The Stand
-It
-Needful Things
-The Shining

Worst:
-The Regulators
-Blaze
-Rose Madder
-Under the Dome
-Tommyknockers

[kyleckm]

best worst

1. Misery 1. Roadwork
2.Thinner 2. From a Buick 8
3.Everythings Eventual 3. Cujo
4. it 4. Carrie
5. The Tommyknockers 5. The Regulators

[Voozle]

Of those I've read, my favorites are The Gunslinger, Needful Things, The Shining, The Dead Zone, and It, if only including my favorite DT novel. I'm extremely surprised to find Tommyknockers among the least favorites of so many and the favorites of only one; although it didn't make my list I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

While I agree that appreciation of a novel may change with mood, time, and repetition - I couldn't get into The Gunslinger the first time I read it - I (respectfully) do not share the opinion that none of King's works are bad. My least favorites are Rose Madder, Cujo, Dolores Claiborne, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and Gerald's Game. I just didn't enjoy them.

[Raoul Duke]

I see a lot of good top 5's. I also see some least favorites that make me question how crazy the poster is.

top 5 (really a top 8)
Different Seasons
The Shining
Needful Things
Misery
Night Shift-Green Mile-Talisman-Four Past Midnight

least favorite
Insomnia (never finished it)
Geralds Game
Cujo

There's about 13 SK books I have yet to read so some of this list might change.

[GNTLGNT]

Only "Crazy" in each other's opinion's man...they are going to be all over the place as is only fitting, we SHOULDN'T all like the same works-that smacks of brainwashing...(although my dura mater could stand a good coat of scrubbing bubbles come to think of it:laugh:)

[Ron2112]

Wow......what's with all the hating on "Cujo" and "From a Buick 8?" I can kinda understand the negative feelings towards "The Tommyknockers," although I rather like that one myself. Anyway, my lists:

Most Favorite:
1. Salem's Lot
2. Different Seasons
3. The Green Mile
4. It
5. The Stand

Least Favorite:
5. Needful Things
4. Just After Sunset
3. The Black House
2. Dreamcatcher
1. Lisey's Story

[Gaz_Uk]

vast majority of SK books fall into best,didn't enjoy Geralds Game,but really not sure about whether I'll read Blockade Billy (being English I just don't' get baseball, although I do love American Football and Ice hockey)

[hansel4150]

1. Stand
2. Talisman
3. Lisey
4. Duma Key
5. It

1. Gunslinger
2. From A Buick 8
3. Pet Sematary
4. TommyKnockers
5. Carrie

Pt Semetary?? That surprises me. I thought that was his best, after IT of course.

[Doc Wilson]

Pt Semetary?? That surprises me. I thought that was his best, after IT of course.

You know you are right I probably shouldn't have included it. I didn't enjoy it because I found it to be so unrelentingly dark, but I can't say it was badly written.

Also, I did this before rereading IT. If I did it over, IT would move up to #2 and I'd replace PS with Dark Half or Delores Claiborne.

[T2(BEATLOAF)]

These questions are right up there with, "What's your favorite song?"

I can't answer. I would waste so much time listing and re-listing choices and feeling a horrible pull in my stomach that I'm forgetting something. It can feel like picking a favorite child, which I have a new favorite every week among my two kids, but I'd never tell them that!
OK now I'm biting my tongue not to list my faves and non-faves. But knowing King, as soon as I pick he'll come out with some new ones for me to add to both lists! :-)

[guido tkp]

#1 'salems lot...by a mile, easy.
*2 d.t.#4...okay, actually..it's a veeerrryyy close second: i take back that mile...centimeters...
# 3...uhhh, easy, d.t. #3..then,
#4 is d.t. #2
and #5 is...the mist (okay, so it's short novel...or, a novella (whatever!)..i' still da bomb

worst...
#5 roadwork...just did not work for me...been an age since i read it; ought to give it another go...still
#4 dreamcatcher..a little too over the top, a little too gross..the first 1/3 is haunting and effective, but once the protagonists are gripped with the ..whatever...it's not intense, just...ugh. and the ending...umm.. not..well done.
#3 an even steven tie: d.t. #5, d.t. #6 & , especially, #d.t. 7; sorry, i know this is unpalatable to many...maybe even heretical, but these three do not hold a candles fart next to the first four, and the denounment...pppuuuhhhllleeeezzz; yeah, that was so logical...uh huh (flame on, i'm right)
#2 tommyknockers...been there, done that...a thousand times before, and every one of 'em a thousand times better: the flying coke machine was effective and cool...just about everything else...blah-blah-blah
and, lastly...the least effective, most forgettable...at #1, very easy..by far: insomnia...which only inspired some by my actually staying up, to absolutely no avail, to try to get through it...the only book, in the entire history of my reading life that i've put down and restarted..on no less than 3 occasions...hoping that i'd find my way in, only to get more and more frustrated and lost...boring, silly, stupid..boring...limp...boring, convoluted..and did i mention, boring.

[JessicaSarah]

Worst? tsk, He hasn't written a bad book :)
His best IMO:
1) The Stand
2) 'Salems Lot
3) IT
4) The Dead Zone
5) The Library Policeman from Four Past Midnight

Least Favourite:
1) Christine
2) Cell
3) Dreamcatcher

[PunkrX]

but seriously ... whats up with the eyes in the closet in cujo?

[MET21]

My five favorite:

1. Misery
2. Dolores Claiborne
3. Under The Dome
4. Needful Things
5. Pet Sematary

My least favorite:

1. Tom Gordon
I do have to say, that is the only book of Stephen King's that I almost could not finish.

[micronesian]

I did not read all 9 pages of this, but for the pages I read I cannot believe that nobody mentioned last rung on the ladder as a top 5 and very few mentioned hearts in atlantis for a bottom 5. That is not only the worst King book I have ever read, it may very well be the worst book I have ever read. I still can't believe I made it through it. So here are my lists:

Top 5:
1. Last Rung on the Ladder (I just read this for like the 5th time and I still want to cry when I read it).
2. Dark Tower Series in general, Wizard and Glass in particular.
3. Talisman
4. The Stand
5. Eyes of the Dragon (I was only around 14 when I read that so it might change if I re-read it).

Bottom 5:
1. Hearts in Atlantis - worst book ever.
2. Roadwork
3. The regulators (somehow it was worse than Desperation).
4. Black House (Doesn't hold a candle to Talisman)
5. Hearts in Atlantis, it makes the list twice. I really hated it.

[king family fan]

I have read alot and I like some more than others. But I guess I like alot because I read Sk and anything to do with him.

[Hartley]

Guess for me it's a case of most preferred and least preferred.Not sure there are any I outright hate.

Most Preferred :

Bag of Bones
Talisman
Any of the collections particularly Nightmares and Dreamscapes
Needful Things
The Stand

Least Preferred :

Hearts in Atlantis
Tom Gordon
The Regulators
Rose Madder (Although must try this again,just in case)
Blaze

Hell ! To each their own. The world would be mighty boring if we all agreed with each other wouldn't it?

[Anna Rose]

i dont have any least favorites, but here are the best!
1. Misery
2. Pet Sematary
3. The Green Mile
4. Desperation
5. Cell

[Silhouette86]

Top five favs:
1. IT
2. Pet Sematary
3. Under The Dome
4. The Stand
5. Desperation

Least fav five:
1. Lisey's Story
2. Rose Madder

That's all the least favorites I can think of.

[Dana Jean]

I haven't read all of Stephen's books, so I can only make a list from what I have.

Top 5:
Salem's Lot
The Talisman
Eyes of the Dragon
On Writing
Duma Key
And since The Talisman was written with Straub, I'm going to add one more Stephen standalone --
Wizard and Glass; Danse Macabre; All the short story collections; Under The Dome; The Long Walk and, and, and....

Bottom 5:
From a Buick 8
Tommyknockers
The GWLTG
Roadwork
CELL

[Lily Sawyer]

I'm gonna copycat Dana Jean and give the same disclaimer and the same kinds of lists. I haven't read all of Mr. King's works, and there are no "bad" or "worst" lists I could compile. I'm like DJ: a Most Preferred and Least Preferred girl.

Most:
The Talisman
The Stand
'salem's Lot
The Breathing Method
It

Least:
Gerald's Game
Eyes of the Dragon
Dolores Claiborne
Lisey's Story
The Body

[Razeus]

Excluding his collections and novellas:

1) The Stand
2) Misery
3) The Shining
4) It
5) Pet Semetary

[muskrat]

May as well throw in my two cents:

Top Five:
1) The Stand
2) Dark Tower series
3) It
4) Salems Lot
5) Under The Dome

Worst Five:
1) Insomnia
2) Tommyknockers
3) Gerald's Game
4) Tom Gordon
5) Doloris Clayborne

There. I trust the world is now a better place...

[towerchilde78]

Best:
The Stand
Duma Key
Cell
I'm counting all of the Dark Tower books as one
Eyes of the Dragon

these I didn't care for:
Children of the Corn
The Mangler
Graveyard Shift
My Pretty Pony
The Fifth Quarter

[blernblan]

1. Duma Key
2. The Stand
3. Cell

One I didn't care for so much:

Blockade Billy

[BlueCeleste]

Favourites so far;

The Talisman
It
The Stand
On Writing
The Dark Tower series…all these books have been life changing, once I finished them, I felt as though I were not the same person who had started these books.


Least favourites;

Colorado Kid
Gerald’s Game
Cycle of the werewolf
The Girl who loved Tom Gordon
Thinner

[nyyankeefandp]

Best
1. The Stand
2. Tommyknockers
3. IT
4. Dark tower series
5. Duma Key

Worst
1. Cell (I'm sorry, but this was just horrible)
2. Desperation
3. Dreamcatcher

[throne_92]

I'm surprised by the amount of times I see 'Salem's Lot' & 'The Talisman' not making ppl's top 5. I've only read like maybe 15 SK books and plan on reading more before I answer this..

But I'd still say the Talisman at least was probably one of the top 3 best books I've read ever.

[Wolfslice]

best

1. Dark Tower (all. book 4 in particular, but they would all fill the top 5)
2. Insomnia
3. Pet Sematary
4. The Shining
5. Misery

worst (I DO like all of these except Christine)

1. Christine
2. Eyes Of The Dragon
3. Cell
4. Cujo
5. Under The Dome

[throne_92]

Under the Dome may have been the best page-turner for me out of all of SK's books. Constantly wondering what's going to happen next

[Roland17]

5 best:

1) Dreamcatcher
2) IT
3) Stand
4) Dark Tower Series
joint 5!) Firestarter / Under the Dome / Duma Key

5 Worst (quite hard to do tbh)

1) Lisey's Story
2) Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
3) Bag of Bones
really struggling now...
4) Dead Zone
5) Salem's Lot

lets face it all 5 of the worst above are great stories - just not as great as others

[TheRanderson]

Best
1. It
2. Pet Sematary
3. The Shining
4. The Green Mile
5. Desperation

Worst
1. Carrie
2. Gerald's Game
3. Cell
4. Dreamcatcher
5. Just After Sunset (a collection, yes, but a collection I was quite uniformly unimpressed by as I recall)

[Spade]

I've only read 13, so bear with me, haha.

Best 5:

1. Bag of Bones
2. The Green Mile
3. Misery
4. Lisey's Story
5. The Shining

Worst (I've read):

1. The Long Walk
2. The Gunslinger
3. Eyes of the Dragon

Meh.... not awful - just three I didn't really care for.

[LurchenGamer]

Well, okay, this should be easy.
BEST(NOT IN ORDER) The Shining, Salem's Lot, It, The Running Man, and Gunslinger
WORST(IN ORDER) Roadwork(Finished it, eeh...), and that is about it, King is great

[vitaminc]

Well let's see....

Best: (not in order)
DUMA KEY
IT
PET SEMATARY
UNDER THE DOME
MISERY

Honorable mention: INSOMNIA

Worst: (I don't hate any Stephen King book these are just my least favorites)
Roadwork
Mist (again I don't hate this, just not my favorite)

That's it!
The least favorite of mine is Roadwork. The beggining was much to slow for me and I'm used to slowness, frankly it was bland. It got better at the end, the last 80 pages are so were pretty good.

My favorite is a tie between Duma Key and IT they were just both so good!

scariest is by far Pet Sematary, especially the last 50 pages, scariest thing I've ever read!

Under The Dome gets a bad rap, it seems that people either love it or hate it. I loved it! the 1000+ pages seemed to zoom by very fast, even faster than IT. I really loved it. probably my 3rd favorite

Misery I finished this book in about three days, I loved it and it's the first book I really loved.

Mist Was good it just wasn't my favorite. The ending in the movie was much better.

Insomnia I liked because it was so strange! and since I'm so strange it fit well with me!

THERE YA GO!

[pauljj]

I loved the mist! Scary as hell. The Regulators sucked though. Too many characters introduced at once.

[fljoe0]

Top 5 today (can change without notice) (not in order) Duma Key was hard to leave off this list

The Stand
The Shining
Dark Tower series
Salem's Lot
It

Least favorites (I could only come up with 3 that I had a lukewarm reaction to. I haven't read Lisey and Cell which seem to be on few people's list)

Tommyknockers
Gerald's Game
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

[John Joyce]

It is such a treat to be a new King fan -- simply because you know you have such a vast collection still to read. In the last 2 years I have read about 20 king books, and love the way they are all so different. So many people think of King as pure horror, and although there usually is an element of horrow I don't think the real horror parts are his strongest skill! His strongest skill is the creation of bonds between people and groups of people - think of the kids in IT and how he bonds them together so beautifully! I read IT a while ago and I can still remember all the names of the kids.
Someone also made the point about the first King book read is the best - The Green Mile was a powerful book and it moved me!!
I think Needful things was the hardest to put down -- it ruined my social life, not that i cared - all I wated to to do was to be left alone with my book! It is the kind of book where you read until 1am and then set your alarm clock for 5am so that you can geta few chapters in before work!!
Didn't you find it hard to put your top 5 into any order? I was always deliberatng about that.
Cheers all you good people from Sunny South Africa
John Joyce

[Mohawk]

Liked the most so far - haven't read every single King book... yet (in no particular order):
Pet Sematary
The Stand
On Writing
Misery
Bag of Bones
Needful Things
The Shining
Salem's Lot
(I know, that's more than five but I couldn't help myself)

Liked "not as much" but still entertaining:
Gerald's Game
Insomnia

[Andrés A. S.]

Let's see:

Top 5:

Misery
A bag of bones
Firestarter
The running man
A tie between From a Buick 8 (for real!) and Cell

Bottom 5:

Gerald's game
The girl who loved Tom Gordon
Roadwork
The Tommyknockers
The Colorado kid

[graveflower]

Fun Thread! I love seeing everyone's different opinions. I can't decide so I refrain from answering!

[Timmy]

This is gonna be kind of lame, because I have only read five King novels (don't hate me). But, I plan to do A LOT of reading over the summer, and most of my list is S.K. stuff... Also, I didn't dislike ANY of the books that I have read, this is just my preference... Ok, here we go:

Tied for first - The Green Mile and On Writing (I don't mind ranking them together since they are different categories {fiction and non fiction}). But, I enjoyed both of these books and have read them several times...

Second (again, tie) - Cujo and The Shining (NOTE: I think I would have enjoyed the Shining more, if I had not seen the movie first... The differences have been discussed on other threads, but I got the movie version stuck in my head, and the variations threw me off...)

Third - The Stand. I realize I'm taking a risk here, because many LOVE the Stand, but, I think I made a mistake and bought the LONG version (the 1,100 page epic) first. I should have got the original novel, which is cut in half... When I got about mid way, I hit a slow spot and struggled to keep going. I want to get the edited version, read that, and then come back to the epic... It seems like the long version gives you a more in depth view of the character's, their backstory, etc. But, for me, I lost sight of the overall story. Once I get a better feel for the story (via short, edited, original version), I want to come back to the Epic Stand and give it another shot... I suspect I will have a much greater appreciation at that point.

Ohh, also, I just realized that I have also read Insomnia, which I liked. So, I would probably rank that a three way tie with Cujo and The Shining. My question for you guys is, based on these novels that I like the most (The Green Mile), which one's do you think I should read next???

[wick]

Out of the handful I have read.
Favorite
1. IT(currently reading, but can tell it will be #1)
2. Shining
3. Misery

Least Favorite
1. Lisey's Story
2. Talisman (Some parts dragged on)

[ZBliss]

My favorites are:
IT
The Shining
Eyes of the Dragon
Christine
Misery

I haven't read any that I dislike, but I haven't read them all yet either. :wink2:

[66bronco]

1. Geralds Game
2. Long Walk
3. Full Dark...
4. Duma Key
5. Blaze

Not Best (But not worst :p)

1. The Shining

[Christiane17]

Hello!!

5 bests:

The Green Mile
Carrie
Misery
The Stand
Duma Key

5 worst

Roadwork
Silver Bullet
The Cell
Rose Madder
Bag of Bones

[elle borrett]

Theyre all awesome, however i do love a list...
BEST
1) The Stand
2) Under the Dome
3)IT
4) Different Seasons (Slight cheat as technically 4 in one,not a big fan of the breathing method though)
5) Gerald's Game
Closely followed by ..... Long Walk,Tom Gordon, Rose Madder, Eyes of the Dragon,Lisey's story, and everything else!

My personal least favourite
1) Roadwork (bleh, couldnt finish it)
2) Dreamcatcher
3) Hearts in Atlantis
4)The Regulators
5)Tommyknockers

[elle borrett]

Cockadoodie. I forgot the Green Mile.

[Alexandra19]

Hi !

5 best :

- The Dark Tower
- It
- The Stand
(and here the hard part begins)
- Pet Semetary (I didn't felt close to Louis Creed the way I felt close to Roland, the Losers Club or the Free Zone but that book haunts me in its own particular way - does that make it better than The Shinning, which also haunts me in its own particular way, or Misery, that also... - is a choice even possible ?!)
- Night Shift. Or Skeleton Crew. I want short stories in my list because God knows I love them, but there again, it's hard to make a choice.

Let's say : 1 - The Dark Tower, 2 - It, 3 - The Stand, 4 - The Shinning, 5 - Night Shift.

I don't have many worst ones but I'd say :
1 - Roadmaster
2 - Dreamcatcher
3 - Cell

I also need to read Lisey's Story in english.
I've always been afraid to miss something if I tried but I suspect the french translation to be particularly awful.
I don't know if any of you have had the same problem, but there were sentences that I couldn't get until I mentally turned them in english and surprise, surprise : it made sense.

[91rewoT]

Best
1. Dark Tower Series (Yes, all of them, they are, after all, one story)
2. The Stand
3. The Talisman
4. The Green Mile
5. Lisey's Story
Least Favorite (sorry, can't bring myself to type "Worst")
1. Tommyknockers
2. Dreamcatcher
3. Storm of the Century (Dang it. I never got through it because it's a screenplay.)

[jellydonut25]

Well, since this is all each person's own opinion:

BEST:
1. The Stand
2. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
3. Gerald's Game
4. Bag of Bones
5. Duma Key

Honorable Mentions: The Eyes of the Dragon, The Talisman, Pet Sematary

Books 2 and 3 genuinely terrified me (and Pet Sematary) and are to date the only King novels that I would recommend those who are faint of heart avoid entirely. Bag of Bones and Duma Key are BEAUTIFULLY written works with a ton of complexity and depth without ever seeming contrived or forced like, for example, Insomnia. The Stand is my all-time favorite book.


Worst:
1. Rose Madder (This book took me a LONG time to finish, felt more like a padded-out-to-length novella or short story...)
2. Tommyknockers (Another one that took FOREVER to finish...feels too long even though he's written WAY longer works)
3. From a Buick 8 (I don't mind this one but it's dry. another one that feels padded-out)
4. Black House (for the life of me, I could not get into this one with its odd narrative tone...)
5. 'Salem's Lot (its more that it's sloppily written than bad...it's also a bit of a bore)

(dis)honorable mentions: The Colorado Kid, Dolores Claiborne - neither of these is necessarily BAD, but my interest level in either was nearly zero

[skyrow]

Best:
1. The Dark Tower series
2. IT
3. The Stand
4. The Talisman
5. Under the Dome

Worst:
1. From a Buick 8
2. Desperation
3. Storm of the Century
4. The girl who loved Tom Gordon
5. Cycle of the Werewolf

[RoseMadder7]

BEST
1.It
2.The Stand
3.'Salem's Lot
4.Christine
5.The Dead Zone

Worst
1.Dreamcatcher
2.Insomnia
3.The Regulators/Desperation
4.Blaze/From a Buick 8
5.Skeleton Crew

I just couldn't get into the "worst" books.

[RoseMadder7]

Oh no!!! I forgot Rose Madder, loved that book too!!

[friend of Oye]

For me:
Best 1) Salem's Lot
2) The Shining
3) It
4) The Stand
5) Full Dark No Stars tied with The Dark Tower (all 7 books)

Worst
Only Geralds Game was hard for me to finish..........Sorry

[Timmy]

I responded to this once before, but now that I've thought about it further, I'd like to revise my answer. I think King - like all authors - has strong points in his writing coupled with periods of weakness (or what I would call a thin plot - although Steve would argue plot is a lame device). I wouldn't say any of his books are bad, but they all have some soft spots. Any author - any one that is producing large amounts of material - is susceptible to the same critique. You can't knock out thirty bestsellers and not have a jacked up line every once in awhile. He is the King, but he is also human.

Further, the books that I like - by King or any other writer - are usually not because of literary merit, as that is a subjective term. I like them because I can identify will someone or can relate to a situation. Take Hearts in Atlantis for example. Great book, brilliant even. I didn't fight in Vietnam (or Afganistan) and can't relate to the time period, however the description of college life - the eternal card game - resonated deeply within me. To think of all the time I wasted (not to mention my parents money) and all the screwing off - or just screwing - all the while kidding myself that I was getting an education, that is what I found so powerful in that book.

I suspect others would probably select their "favorite's" accordingly. It's more of a case of what you, the reader, can identify with and relate to. That is what makes an enjoyable book. And if you run across a line that doesn't quite ring true, you are not going to care as much. Granted, King doesn't have many of those lines, but still.

[lovely1]

Wouldn't say worst just my least favorite books. I like a little bit of everything in all his books, my top books though would have to be Pet Semetary, Misery, It and the Dark Tower series.

[Tiny]

1: It.
2. TGHLTG
3. all 7 D.T. books
4 Carrie
5.The Stand
Im talking about books only. Not the movies or the f#ckawful made for-TV stuff.

The worst.
bag of bones, children of the corn(written work), SALEM'S LOT (sorry, just didn't like it), Thinner,Sleepwalkers.
these are in no order, except salem's lot was my least fav.

[dsurrett]

Favorites, not necessarily in order:
The Stand
Salem's Lot
DT series
Talisman/Black House
It

Least favorite (I won't use the word "worst," so will say "least likely to read again")
Lisey's Story
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

[Tiny]

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon; is a work of pure genius!
I don't know anyone cant see that.

[Schmidty]

Doesn't that list depend on what the reader is looking for in a book and if they are really into it?

[Honeybee14]

My top 5 are:
1. Christine
2. Different Seasons
3. IT
4. The Shining
5. Pet Sematary

The ones I didn't enjoy very much are:
1. Bag of Bones (too much moping at the beginning)
2. Salem's Lot
3. Insomnia
4. The Stand (please don't hurt me!)

[Spade]

I really haven't read enough to give a good Top and Bottom 5... maybe only 15 novels or so, but:

Best:

1. The Green Mile
2. Bag of Bones
3. Lisey's Story
4. The Drawing of the Three
5. Misery

[JohnDalglish]

The ones I didn't enjoy very much are:
4. The Stand (please don't hurt me!)

Hi,

But a little remonstration may not go amiss surely?

Long days and pleasant nights

[Sundrop]

5 best for me so far are

'Salem's Lot
Pet Sematary
The Shining
The DT Series (yes, I count it as one)
Needful Things

Kinda difficult to choose a bottom 5....so I'm not gonna :biggrin2:

[Lisamull]

best:
1. The Stand
2. It
3. Geralds Game
4. Delores Claibourne
5. Misery

Worst (for me):
1. Gunslinger (all of them)
2. The girl who Loved Tom Gordon
3.The Regulators
4. Dreamcatcher
5. Tommyknockers

[CCAL]

5 best/5 worst---any way you can to look at it, they were all good enough to get published & get repeatedly purchased over the years! Theres not a 'worse' in the whole bunch imho. I may not like a particular one but thats merely my own hangup...anyone who gets the draw the way SK does hasnt got a worse story anywhere. I wouldnt be surprised if he managed to get a 'honey-do' or grocery list published if he so desired. Somewhere he probably has a notebook of thoughts and probably has notations up the margins with neat stuff "Trails End for YOU " " _ _ TRESPASSING ALLOWED on Crimsons Lane" or columns of numbers all totaling 19...& if he wanted it would probably fetch a high dollar there.
I had trouble reading Danse Macrebe (sp) but Gunslinger ,Duma Key & Liseys Story to me should definitely be on the best 5, if we must have a best 5, I just cant consider a 5 worst...

[prufrock21]

The best:
1. The Stand
2. DT 1-7
3. It
4. Pet Sematary
5. The Plant (though unfinished)

The worst:
There are no worst King books.

[bryantburnette]

The worst:
There are no worst King books.

I think what you mean to say is that there are no bad King books; technically speaking, something HAS to be the worst.

Here's my list:

5 Best
(1) Different Seasons
(2) It
(3) The Dead Zone
(4) The Green Mile
(5) On Writing

5 Worst
(1) Faithful (I love King's sections, but O'Nan's lost me entirely)
(2) Rose Madder
(3) The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
(4) Lisey's Story
(5) Blockade Billy

Looking at that list from a remove, it appears that I've got a hate-on for King's baseball-themed writings. If so, it's a coincidence; I adore "Head Down," and "Fenway and the Great White Whale" is awfully good, too. No, I just don't care for the specific titles on my list all that much ... comparatively speaking, of course; none of them is what I'd call "bad."

[Manxkitti]

Best
TIE: The Stand & Pet Semetary
Rose Madder
Duma Key
The Shining
SalemsLot

Worst
Cell
From a Buick 8
Geralds Game
Tommyknockers
Roadwork

[furrawn]

Best:
1) The Stand
2) It
3) Lisey's Story
4) Bag of Bones
5) Insomnia
(I want to sneak and put UR as the sixth fav:)

Least Liked:
1) Gerald's Game
2) Roadwork
3) Dreamcatcher (I loved it when I read it, but it was so raw and tangible that I shiver when I think of re-reading it)

[19jen]

Best:
The Dark Tower Series
The Talisman, Black House
The Stand
Misery
Salem's Lot


Worst:
The Tommyknockers
Desperation

[AchtungBaby]

Best:
1. Misery
2. IT
3. 11/22/63 -TIE- Full Dark, No Stars
4. The DT series (what I've read of it so far, anyway)
5. Pet Semetary

Worst:
1. Insomnia
2. Dreamcatcher
3. The Running Man
4. Roadwork
5. Desperation

(Note: the only one of these I actually finished was Desperation, which isn't bad at all, it's just not as good as some of SKs other works. Maybe I should finally finish the other four, although I'm dreading it.)

[Krystal Pistol]

Best
1. Salems Lot
2. Pet Semetary
3. The shining
4. Misery
5. Full Dark, No Stars TIED with Bag
Of Bones

Worst
1. The dark half
2. Cell (only bc I was so disappointed in the ending)
3. Under the Dome ( the ending could have been much better)

[deanlaker]

Best:
The Long Walk {I read it at least 2x a year}
The Stand {Long version}
Tommyknockers
It
Misery

[VaporDriven]

Hi there.... BRAND NEW to the forum..... here's my list

1) The Stand
2) (a very CLOSE 2) 11/22/63
3) Gerald's Game
4) Pet Sematary
5) Full Dark, No Stars

and while he really has no WORSTS... I will list the five that, while I might have liked them, I was pretty ho-hum about compared to most of the others....

1) Rose Madder
2) Dolores Claiborne
3) Cell
4) The Dark Tower Part 6: Song of Susannah
5) The Colorado Kid/Blockade Billy

There we go! Great to be here!

[VaporDriven]

OH and P.S. --- If I Could add a 6 and 7 to the "best" list.... because they are so close, I would add

6) The Eyes of the Dragon
7) The Green Mile

Hell.... they are ALL great.... my "worst" list above is really just a "preferred them the least" list. I still liked them all to a degree.

[samhain]

Best
The Shining
'Salem's Lot
IT
Pet Semetary
Misery

Worst
The Tommyknockers
Insomnia
Lisey's Story
Roadwork

[King fan from trinidad]

Now that I've read enough for this-

BEST-
1. IT: This book was really amazing! I personally think this was the best book i've ever read. I just totally connected to it.
2. Needful things: I've recently finished this and for some reason to me it was like the stand on a smaller and more interesting level.
3. The stand: This was one big @## book that was REALLY good in my eyes and truly i liked the ending even though many didn't.
4. Carrie: This was just a fun book that was really good for a full novel.
5. The Shining: This was the last book i read and this book was just good! It was as scary as pet sematary in my eyes but better in many ways.

Worst:
1. Insomnia: I still really like this book but the plot didn't really pick up until after a while. I still recommend it!
2. Pet sematary: This was an ok book but the plot was really just disturbing but not that great. Love the ending though.
3. From a buick 8: Still find it to be good but not as good as the ones i read after.
4. Cycle of the werewolf: It really was just an okayish short story in it's own book.
5. Cujo: The only king book that i truly didn't enjoy but i must reread soon.

Note:
I have read many more but didn't include some because of short story collections (i've read night shift and now on everything's eventual and i have skeleton crew to read) and i didn't include the dark tower books i've read (book 1 and 2 and after i have 3 and 4 to read). I've also read dolores claiborne and on writing.

[Stan_Richards_of_Windsor]

I think I just had a heart murmur when I seen "The Gunslinger" on the WORST 5.

[kvsdiva]

"Don't have any "worst" ones but can tell you scariest was "The Shining", funniest "Christine" and most disturbing was "Pet Sematary"

I second that. I've seen Rose Madder on both lists...interesting.

[robertcathey]

5 Best:

1) 11/22/63
2) Wizard & Glass
3) Wolves of the Calla
4) Eyes of the Dragon
5) Misery

Five Worst

1) Dream Catcher. (Haven't finished this one.)
2) Desperation (still liked this one pretty good though.)
I don't like the word worst, I can't really give any more than these two.

[Stan_Richards_of_Windsor]

My Five Favourites (I can't say best, I haven't read all of Sai King's books yet):

1) 'Salem's Lot
2) Duma Key
3) Wolves of the Calla
4) On Writing
5) The Dark Half

Books I still liked but they didn't really meet my standards of King:

1) Carrie
2) Cujo

.... that is all.

[Garriga]

my favorites

Drawing of the Three
Bag of Bones
Cell
The Green Mile
The Stand
Under the Dome

"not my favorite"
Tom Gordon
Pet Cemetery

[IBuriedPaul90]

Best:

1. It
2. The Stand
3. The Dead Zone
4. Salem's Lot
5. The Shining

Not Best:

1. The Regulators
2. Desperation
3. Insomnia
4. The Talisman
5. Carrie

[LittleLune]

It's so interesting reading through all of your lists and how we all differ (many of you put Tommyknockers on your least favorite list - I loved it - although it isn't on my top 5 either).

Top 6 favorite books/stories:
The Stand
The Dark Tower(I haven't gotten through the whole series yet, I'm about 2/3 through The Wastelands and completely addicted!)
The Shining
Apt Pupil
The Man in the Black Suit
1408

Least favorite:
Gerald's Game - I just couldn't get into it and I never finished it.

[TheHardcase]

O.K. I no particular order. . .

1. The Stand -- by a large margin. Indescribably outstanding.
2. 11/22/63 -- the only other book I regretted getting to the end of as much as The Stand.
3. 'Salem's Lot -- best vampire story since the original (Dracula, not Twilight, ugh!)
4. Bag of Bones -- There's so much there there, I don't know where to begin.
5. Wizard and Glass -- The one book that finally hooked me into the blasted lands of the Gunslinger.
Honorable mention -- There are many others crowding the top 5. It's a shame I had to make a choice.

I can't say I didn't like the books listed below, but they lacked a certain something SK's best work had.

1. The Tommyknockers -- It just didn't work for me.
2. From a Buick 8 -- Ditto.
3. Under The Dome -- Hate to break it to anyone, but not all conservative Christians are a bunch of jack-booted Nazi thugs.

I really can't go beyond these three. Everything else was wonderfully entertaining, sometimes bordering on absolutely profound. Either way, the body of work SK has produced makes for an incredible contribution to American fiction.

[TheLobsterBoy]

Best:

The Dead Zone
The Stand
Under The Dome
Night Shift
It

Worst
Gerald's Game
Rose Madder
The Shinning (sorry...just didn't like it)

That's about it.

[RichardX]

Best:
1) The Shining
2) Salem's Lot
3) The Stand
4) It
5) The Dead Zone

Worst:
1) Dreamcatcher
2) Gerald's Game
3) Cell
4) Insomnia
5) Dark Half

[Philthy]

Best
1. Pet Sematary
2. The Regulators
3. Dark Tower III The Wastelands
4. The Langoliers / The Long Walk
5. Duma Key

Worst
1. From A Buick 8
2. TommyKnockers
3. Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
4. Dark Half
5. Bag Of Bones

[Provectus Fidelis]

Best:
1. The Shining
2. The Stand
3. The Green Mile
4. The Dark Half
5. The Dark Tower generally

Worst:
1. Gerald's Game
2. Dolores Claiborne
3. Roadwork
4. Blaze
5. Rage

[Mr. Palmer]

5 Best:

Christine
Salem's Lot
The Tommyknockers
Thinner
Under The Dome

As for five... ahem, worst? I honestly don't think the man has written anything that bad. I'll give it some thought, though. Maybe I can conjure something...

[samhain]

Best
The Shining
'Salem's Lot
IT
Pet Semetary
Misery

Worst
The Tommyknockers
Insomnia
Lisey's Story
Roadwork


After looking at this again, I'd like to change the word Worst to Least-Favorite. These books are in no way bad, just not my favorites.

[King fan from trinidad]

This is my updated list!

BEST
1. IT
2. The green mile
3. Needful Things
4. The stand
5. Carrie

Worst
1. Cujo
2. Cycle of the werewolf
3. From a buick 8
4. Roadwork
5. Insomnia

I enjoyed all the books of his so far!

[Kurtman518]

Best
The Stand
It
The Dark Tower Series
The Talisman
Bag of Bones

Worst (or least favorite)
I don't have 5 but I didn't really care for Cell
I also struggled through Insomnia and Needful Things

[King fan from trinidad]

Worst (or least favorite)
I don't have 5 but I didn't really care for Cell
I also struggled through Insomnia and Needful Things

I understand Insomnia but i really don't get the hate for Needful Things. It's one of my favorites!

[guido tkp]

best - 1) salems lot - only wins because it was the first great one..and thus gets the edge
2) d.t. 4 - that middle part..?? best writing he's ever done
3) d.t. 3 - near perfect, just a smidgen away from 4's perfection
4) d.t. 2 - ditto, just a hairline fracture divides them all
5) the mist - if these other 3 weren't so damnably great, it's be higher up, but, as it is...

worst - d.t. 5 - king-by-numbers: an action story that actually bored me...
d.t. 6 - same as above, only he gets awfully silly, too
d.t. 7 - same as both, only silly turns to parody/rape of all that went before
the tommyknockers - overly, unimaginatively repetative, not the least bit scary...
and dead last...
insomnia - starts out interesting, but quickly becomes a train wreck..

all those stories about king writing under the influence so bad he couldn't remember a
thing he wrote...well, that describes these last 5 for me just fine...

sorry to all those who actually like 'em,
don't mean to offend, just enlighten

[ShaggyShrvs]

5 favorite:
1) It
2) Pet Sematary
3) Desperation
4) 'Salem's Lot
5) Under the Dome

5 least favorite:
1) The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
....well, that's about it. It's kinda hard to name any Stephen King books that can be considered "least favorite." Well, hard for me too, anyway.

[The Sitting Dude]

Hey everyone, I am new here so go easy on me! I own every Stephen King book bar Cycle Of The Werewolf, although i've not yet read them all. As it is, I would say that I have read ninty five percent of Mr King's output. Here are my best and worst novels published under the author's own name.

Top 5, in no particular order.

The Dark Tower Saga: King's magnum opus. The last three seemed slightly rushed and the series as a whole was far from perfect. I felt he shoehorned in novels that were better left as stand alone tales and made a huge mistake writing himself into the story. And yet I still adored every step I took on this journey. I fought my way to the peak of the tower with Roland. I was there. For that alone, this book will always hold a special place in my heart.

Needless Things: Simply because it was the book that introduced me to the wonderful - and wonderfully weird - world of Stephen King.

Danse Macabre: I've never been the type to re-read books, but with King I always make an effort to give a novel a second read... even the ones i've dislike (we'll get to them shortly). This book was a strange case in that you'd have to force me to stop re-reading it. I can't begin to tell you how often i've picked this book up, dived into my favourite parts and got lost in the voice of a natural storyteller. His views on horror are akin to my own. He, however, puts it better than I ever could.

Pet Sematary: I don't get scared or even creeped out much by novels. I read horror for the ride, not for the goosebumps. This book was a rare exception. Not only was it a fantastic story well told, it was also creepy as hell. The final scene my my hair stand on end. It's also the only novel to have ever inspired a nightmare. For that, I tip my hat.

The Stand: What can I say about this novel that has not already been said a hundred times before? It's nigh on flawless. While other books made me a fan, this one made me a disciple. It's also next up on my re-read list. I can't wait.

My worst, again in no particular order.

Lisey's Story: To me this does not even feel like a King novel. I'd quit on it three times before actually getting to the end. From the messy plot to the downright stupid baby language of the main character - the only King protagonist i've ever disliked - I can honestly say this is the worst time i've ever had with one of the master's novels. It was awful. Just awful.

From A Buick 8: As soon as I finished it I pretty much forgot every word. Even after re-reading it not long back, all I call tell you is that it's about a police station, a weird car and... stuff. At least Lisey's Story has it's sheer badness going for it. This does not even have that. It's merely insipid. A flavourless throwaway of a book.

Gerald's Game: These last three books in my bottom five are not actually bad, just lesser works in a strong canon. This is an... interesting read. Not great, but far from bad. It also has one hell of a spooky villain. Still, I feel he could have gone further with the idea of extreme isolation, which is certainly a good one.

Carrie: Maybe I was expecting to much from this. It's the novel that launched a career. It's the basis of a damned fine horror movie. It's also distinctly average in every regard. Sorry Steve, this one ain't for me.

Cujo: Again, it's not a bad book. It's just a bit too plodding for my tastes. It works to scratch the Stephen King itch we fans get, but the flavour does not linger once you put the book down. It's a case of 'so that was that... what's next?'.

[Mike1967]

Interesting lists. Would this be considered sacrilege? I don't know if I'd call them best books vs worst books. I'd rather just say favorites to not-so-favorites because I may like/dislike a book that another person loves. We each have our own tastes.

My favorite SK books:

It
The Stand
Salem's Lot
Cujo
Different Seasons


Not-so-favorites:

Eyes of the Dragon
Thinner
Gerald's Game
Livesy's Song
Cell


... and that's all folks!

[Learah Greene]

1. Dolores Claibourne - a masterpiece. Anyone saying King ain't literary should put their J.M. Coetzee down and check this bad girl out.
2. The Talisman - An orb of perfection.
3. The Drawing of the Three - other worlds and formation of the ka-tet makes this one the most exciting step in the series.
4. The Stand - still relevant as ever. Even more so. *cough*
5. 11.22.63 - Something for everyone and so engrossing. The clarity of writing as countless books tie up here is beautiful, yet it stands alone for new readers and old.

I wanted to do so many honorable mentions and then realised it just makes a longer list!

Least favourite:
1. Dreamcatcher - much as I munched it up on release, I think the ****weasel was a low ebb!

[Haunted]

:eek2:BEST and WORST?:eek2:

As our good friend John Daiglish would say and I am paraphrasing here; maybe a particular book did not appeal to you because of what was going on in your life at the time.

Case in point: when the Dark Tower series came out I was going through a dark, dark time and just could not handle the fantasy. I needed hard black and white and steady-as-you-go fiction. But, now is a better time and I absolutely LOVED the latest about Roland as a child!!

[fredthe3rd]

I've yet to read Roadworks. Bit worried now! Bought the Bachman Books collection years ago but have just read one novella at a time every couple of years. That's the one I haven't read yet. And based on TLW an RM I was looking forward to one day reading it!

[70sFan]

I am currently reading :Full Dark, no Stars" and am finding it true to SKs form, He knows what scares you.. right from the start, Salems Lot, shocking and fascinating.

As my name states, been a fan since the 70s.

Faves

Salems Lot
Needful Things
Bag of Bones
The Shinning
The TommyKnockers'
have to throw "Cujo" in there too

I don't have a worst list

[SharkGunslinger1999]

How is The Gunslinger part of the worst list? I loved The Gunslinger.....Sure, it was confusing, but that was part of the charm, that you have to be like a detective and figure stuff out.... I agree with Dreamcatcher though, but in Steve's defense, he wrote it after being hit by a minivan.:sad::oo:

[A.T.]

You know you wrote something memorable when it's included in peoples' best AND worst list! :-)

Best

1. Pet Sematry
2. Rose Madder
3. Misery
4. Everythings Eventual/ The Girl that Loved Tom Gordon
5. Different Seasons, any famous work here (the stand, it, tommy knockers). The above 4 are the ones that captured my emotions and have the most soul.

Oh and I never forgot the short story "sometimes they come back"

Worst in no real order...numbers are just what I thought of first:

1. Christine
2. From A Buick 8
3. The pacing of Lisey and IT, some parts are just too long... great--some of his best are what I felt needed more editing.
4. Dolores (because of the gross poop parts... it's just too real, I prefer the surreal horror

You know what I liked the Tommy Knockers but not the best or the worst. I think his "worst" stuff involved cars or inanimate objects that just seemed silly as a source of horror.

[dsurrett]

I might have answered this before. If so, some of the answers will be different.

Best:
Salem's Lot
The Stand
It
Wolves of the Calla
The Talisman

Least favorite (can't say 'worst' since they're better then the best of most other writers)
Lisey's Story
Duma Key
Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Cell
Under the Dome - I'm 300 pages from the end and have had to put it down.

[Bryan James]

I like the fact that he actually wrote most of them.

[they all float down here]

1. 11/22/63
2. The stand
3. Under the dome
4. IT
5. Needful things


1. Dreamcatcher
2. Tommyknockers

[rhee]

Best Books
1. 'Salem's Lot
2. The Shining
3. Misery
4. The Dead Zone
5. Different Seasons (The Shawshank Redemption and Apt Pupil)


Worst Books
1. Black House
2. Rose Madder
3. Gerald's Game
4. maybe Thinner

But haven't read It, The Stand and Pet Sematary.

[Chuggs]

this is not in order from one through five, just listed. It, The Stand, Duma Key, Bag of Bones, Lisey's Story...

As far as least...Gerald's Game, The Talisman...the Tommyknockers maybe...wow...this is hard...

[TheInterloper]

5 worst: rose madder, black house, Gerald's game, pet Cemetary, insomnia

[Tim D.]

My personal 5 favorites:

IT
The Stand
'Salem's Lot
The Green Mile
Christine

My 5 personal least favorites:

The Tommyknockers
From A Buick 8
Carrie
Dreamcatcher
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

Please note that this list is subject to change at any time.

[carrie's younger brother]

Favorites:
Carrie
'Salems Lot
Firestarter
Needful Things
Night Shift

Least favorite:
Duma Key
Lisey's Story
Bag of Bones
Dreamcatcher
The Dead Zone