What is Stephen King's Favorite Stephen King Novel

[nmohr1]

Anybody know what he thinks is his best work?

[Moderator]

Lisey's Story is his favorite of the moment.

[the_last_gunslinger]

Funny. I was thinking about asking what his least favorite one was, not one he regrets writing, just one that he doesn't like. One that he would do over if he could.

[jplanet]

Lisey's Story is his favorite of the moment.

Interesting, that's usually pointed out as a pretty challenging book for a lot of fans...maybe that's why - I'm sure he felt like he got to explore more complex plot development with this one...

[SixPins]

I really have to get around to reading Lisey's Story. I don't think is was well recieved by general readers, but the constant readers of SK seem to love it.

[JoeSherry]

I could be wrong but I believe in the past(before Lisey's Story) he said The Dead Zone was one of his favorites.

[bopropadop]

I could be wrong but I believe in the past(before Lisey's Story) he said The Dead Zone was one of his favorites.

Believe you are correct.

[JohnDalglish]

I could be wrong but I believe in the past(before Lisey's Story) he said The Dead Zone was one of his favorites.

Hi,

Indeed, and Lisey is my favourite too, and if I remember correctly Carrie is his least favourite because he considers that it isn't well-written.

Long days and pleasant nights

[CountKrunkula666]

i'm reading lisey's story myself right now. i've only read it once since it came out, and i'm really enjoying it :love:

[All Hail The Crimson King]

No, his favorite isn't Lisey's Story! It's The Tommyknockers of course!




I Don't Even Remember Writing The Tommyknockers


By Stephen King
May 5, 1999 | Issue 35•17 (http://www.theonion.com/content/index/3517)
http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/onion_opinion290.article.jpg
So, I'm doing this book signing for The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon at the Barnes & Noble on Manhattan's Upper West Side last week, and this woman comes up to me, gushing about how The Tommyknockers is her "absolute, all-time favorite book." The name really didn't ring a bell, but I figured I must have written it, seeing as this woman is bothering to tell me how it's her all-time favorite, so I just kind of play along like I know what the heck she's talking about.
"What Bobbi Anderson and the other people of Haven went through, well, that was just the ultimate in horror fiction," this woman said to me as I nodded along, clueless. "I must have read it at least 50 times, and I swear, not once has it failed to scare the living daylights out of me."
Anyway, when I got home, I looked up The Tommyknockers in this literature reference book I have and, sure enough, I wrote it in 1987. Apparently, it's the story of this woman in this small town in Maine who discovers a metal object that was buried for millennia, and the thing gives all the townspeople super-powers. But then there's this deadly evil that's unleashed by the object, and the town becomes a death trap for all outsiders.
After reading the plot synopsis, I sort of remembered it, but, then again, maybe it just sounded like something else I wrote. After your 50 or 60th one, it's all kind of a blur. But if I had to venture a guess, I'd say I probably did write The Tommyknockers. It sounds like my kind of thing, what with this invisible evil being unleashed on a town full of innocent people and all.
To be honest, that wouldn't be the first time I'd forgotten one of my books. I'm usually pretty good about remembering the early stuff, like Carrie and The Stand and so forth. And I never forget my most recent one. It's those middle-period ones, though, that always seem to slip my mind. Like, what's that one about the writer who uses a pen name, and then the pen name develops into this evil, Mr. Hyde-type alter ego and commits a brutal murder? The Dark Tower? The Dark Zone? I'm pretty sure it's the "Dark" something, but I could be wrong.
Oh, and then there was that one about the werewolf. I honestly don't remember anything about that one, except that there was some kind of killer werewolf attacking a whole bunch of people. Hopefully, no one will ever mention that one at a book signing, because I don't think I could fake it for even a minute. Like I said, it's all a big blur after a while.http://www.theonion.com/content/themes/onion/assets/terminator.gif

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33676

[CountKrunkula666]

that is sooooo funny!

[Spideyman]

Thanks for sharing that article. Brought a big smile. OK, next book signing must ask Sai king about..........

Lisey's Story is his fav for now. Have to agree. Replaced Bag of Bones for me.

[Dark Reader]

Wow he didn't remember The Tommyknockers!!! :oh: Thats incredible :biggrin2:

[nmohr1]

makes me wonder if he knew pennywise (or lookalike) is is in tommyknockers

[Dark Reader]

I don't remember a clown in the Tommyknockers nmohr1, you'll have to enlighten me i'm afraid

[SixPins]

Yikes. I can understand not knowing The Tommyknockers due to what he was going through at the time, but he doesn't remember The Dark Half?! I'm kinda dissappointed, but very ammused.

[Presque Vu]

Lool that is priceless! Thanx for the article:biggrin2:

[JayneH]

great story !!! gave me a giggle

[BeepBeepJenny]

Hello Friends,

I read that he was most pleased with "The Dead Zone." I did not read anything like that about "Lisey's Story"- which I have yet to read, but will pick up soon.

[Srbo]

No, his favorite isn't Lisey's Story! It's The Tommyknockers of course!




I Don't Even Remember Writing The Tommyknockers


By Stephen King
May 5, 1999 | Issue 35•17 (http://www.theonion.com/content/index/3517)
http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/onion_opinion290.article.jpg
So, I'm doing this book signing for The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon at the Barnes & Noble on Manhattan's Upper West Side last week, and this woman comes up to me, gushing about how The Tommyknockers is her "absolute, all-time favorite book." The name really didn't ring a bell, but I figured I must have written it, seeing as this woman is bothering to tell me how it's her all-time favorite, so I just kind of play along like I know what the heck she's talking about.
"What Bobbi Anderson and the other people of Haven went through, well, that was just the ultimate in horror fiction," this woman said to me as I nodded along, clueless. "I must have read it at least 50 times, and I swear, not once has it failed to scare the living daylights out of me."
Anyway, when I got home, I looked up The Tommyknockers in this literature reference book I have and, sure enough, I wrote it in 1987. Apparently, it's the story of this woman in this small town in Maine who discovers a metal object that was buried for millennia, and the thing gives all the townspeople super-powers. But then there's this deadly evil that's unleashed by the object, and the town becomes a death trap for all outsiders.
After reading the plot synopsis, I sort of remembered it, but, then again, maybe it just sounded like something else I wrote. After your 50 or 60th one, it's all kind of a blur. But if I had to venture a guess, I'd say I probably did write The Tommyknockers. It sounds like my kind of thing, what with this invisible evil being unleashed on a town full of innocent people and all.
To be honest, that wouldn't be the first time I'd forgotten one of my books. I'm usually pretty good about remembering the early stuff, like Carrie and The Stand and so forth. And I never forget my most recent one. It's those middle-period ones, though, that always seem to slip my mind. Like, what's that one about the writer who uses a pen name, and then the pen name develops into this evil, Mr. Hyde-type alter ego and commits a brutal murder? The Dark Tower? The Dark Zone? I'm pretty sure it's the "Dark" something, but I could be wrong.
Oh, and then there was that one about the werewolf. I honestly don't remember anything about that one, except that there was some kind of killer werewolf attacking a whole bunch of people. Hopefully, no one will ever mention that one at a book signing, because I don't think I could fake it for even a minute. Like I said, it's all a big blur after a while.http://www.theonion.com/content/themes/onion/assets/terminator.gif

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33676


HAHAHAHA!

I almost fell of the chair reading this...:biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2:

I thought for the longest time that he didn`t remember writing Cujo as well...

Anyone ?

[raven1]

I think he mentioned in On Writing that Cujo was one of his favorites and he wished he could remember writing it. :wink2:

Love that Onion piece :biggrin2:

[Phantomking]

I didn't like Lisey's Story as much as his other books. But I can see why Stephen King would feel the way he does about it.

It's very obvious when he writes or speaks about Tabitha that he loves her a great deal. Then, add in the emotion from his near-death experience and it's easy to understand why it's such a personal story for him.

My favorite book is probably IT. I love how you can immerse yourself in the lives of those children. The character development is outstanding, which just drives the really exciting action parts. Also, I think King is at his best when he's writing about people living in a town/community setting together; you get so many cool back stories and anecdotes about people. My favorite novels involve people in that kind of setting. Needful Things, IT, The Stand, Bag of Bones, etc.

[nmohr1]

I don't remember a clown in the Tommyknockers nmohr1, you'll have to enlighten me i'm afraid

haven't read it myself but this is from wiki

On a trip to retrieve batteries, two Haven Tommyknockers in the process of becoming pass through Derry. One of them, who is exhibiting severe withdrawal from Haven's atmosphere, claims to see a clown "with silver dollars for eyes." This matches the description of Pennywise, one of the manifestations of King's titular character from It.

[Dark Reader]

haven't read it myself but this is from wiki

On a trip to retrieve batteries, two Haven Tommyknockers in the process of becoming pass through Derry. One of them, who is exhibiting severe withdrawal from Haven's atmosphere, claims to see a clown "with silver dollars for eyes." This matches the description of Pennywise, one of the manifestations of King's titular character from It.

Of course, how could i forget that bit, thanks nmohr for reminding me. It really does beg the question whether there will be another novel featuring Pennywise at some point in the future doesn't it? :oh:

[Dragoro]

You guys know that the onion is all fake stuff right? Its all made up.

[Lizard slushie]

You guys know that the onion is all fake stuff right? Its all made up.

Nuh uh! It's America's finest news source. Says so right across the top of the page. :D

[nmohr1]

Of course, how could i forget that bit, thanks nmohr for reminding me. It really does beg the question whether there will be another novel featuring Pennywise at some point in the future doesn't it? :oh:

It could be a spawn of IT in the sewers

[Sterling]

It could be a spawn of IT in the sewers
Very good possibility!!! The Tommyknockers was published after IT, thus published after The Loser's Club had destroyed the mortal enemy of The Turtle.
But, I'm not sure what his favorite story was, but I know he says his scariest is hands down Pet Sematary.

[jesterqueen]

Hi,

Indeed, and Lisey is my favourite too, and if I remember correctly Carrie is his least favourite because he considers that it isn't well-written.

Long days and pleasant nights
This is in response to the note that Carrie is SK's least favorite. I have an article ("I want to be Typhoid Stevie" in Reading Stephen King edited by Brenda Miller Power, Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, and Kelly Chandler) in which King is talking about theme in his stories, and the role of blood. Anyway, he says "I'm not saying that Carrie is sh##, and I'm not repudiating it--hell, that kid made me a star--but I am saying that it was a young book by a young writer. In retrospect, it reminds me of a cookie baked by a first grader: tasty enough, but kind of lumpy and burned on the bottom. But the vibration of that blood imagery still pleases me, and it gives the book what echo it has" (16). This seems a relevant observation in the context of this board discussing King's own favorites and least favorites. It's kind of like playing a scavenger hunt game and assuming that the guy who knows where everything is REALLY hidden is watching you through the camera you're using to photograph the objects you're finding. And a meta-writing thought. I imagine SK is reading this thread, laughing, to see who has read what he has written about what he has written.

(Dear moderator, do I REALLY have to censor swear words on a moderated board? Yes, I've read the FAQ. But I'm asking anyway. Is there seriously such paranoia about offending an SK fan in this context with a curse? How do they get through his books? Or that virgin nonfans and their parents will happen upon my tiny F-bomb and sue the pants off my favorite author and get by with it?? Can't you just put an "explicit language" warning on the board and remain legally protected? Sigh. That article I was referring to also notes that SK doesn't like censorship but isn't heading towards taking up that cross because he'd rather write good books. Good. But cheez, does that mean we have to go by the unfair standard to play?)

[oygirl]

Ya, right.

[guitarhero]

I know one of his favorites is Salem's Lot.

In the Illustrated Edition Of Salem's Lot, He says something about that despite it's flaws, it's a good one. In the audio intro of Salem's Lot he says something about how he still lists it among his favorites and in the Art Of Darkness, Douglas E Winter says that it remains Stephen's personal favorite.

I'm sure he is proud of a good many of his works.

[Damaris]

You guys know that the onion is all fake stuff right? Its all made up.

In many cases, that's true. In this particular case it's not. Mr. King related this tale several years ago in an interview and it has been slowly circulating since. If I remember correctly, he said he thought one reason he did not remember it was that it fell during a time of heavy drinking and was part of a period that had simply disappeared from his memory.

Oh, and a couple years ago he favored Bag of Bones.

[DanishReader]

The Onion piece is not written by King. It's not listed in any bibliographies.

[Jack Torrance]

The Onion cracks me up. Yeah, I would hope most people figure out it's not King writing that. It would be funny if he could not remember writing a story though. The guy has written a lot. I could see it happening honestly.

[Damaris]

Hmmm, I guess I was pretty naive because when I read it, circa 1999, I thought it was true and the bones of it stuck with me. I had thought it was published in Fangoria but apparently not. (Curse you encroaching senility!! :mad:)

[lanceschaubert]

Lisey's Story is his favorite of the moment.

really? How come?

[michal]

That was a good one "All Hail The Crimson King", thankee sai. I laughed myself silly.

As for Mr. King's favorite book being Lisey's Story - How disappointing indeed. Here I was, thinking I shared Mr. King's taste in stories :biggrin2:...

Oh well. We don't ALWAYS have to agree

[Drawn to Ka-tet]

Hi,

Indeed, and Lisey is my favourite too, and if I remember correctly Carrie is his least favourite because he considers that it isn't well-written.

Long days and pleasant nights

As I recall, Carrie is the manuscript that Mrs King rescued from the trash can. I think that tells volumes about how much he liked that one!

And may you have twice the number!

[thymeoperator]

[QUOTE=Drawn to Ka-tet;298521]As I recall, Carrie is the manuscript that Mrs King rescued from the trash can. I think that tells volumes about how much he liked that one![QUOTE]

if that is true, that is amazing - it just goes to show you never know what the future has in store for you when you least expect it.

[psj77]

I've been trying to deside what to bring to Atlanta for the signing now I know Cycle Of The Werewolf. :biggrin2:

[Bryan James]

The question was asked, but we cannot answer it. Go mow the grass or cook up some Hamburger Helper.

BJS

[JohnDalglish]

The question was asked, but we cannot answer it. Go mow the grass or cook up some Hamburger Helper.

BJS

H,

We can, and we did; Lisey's Story and before that it was The Dead Zone.

And don't you think the grass mowing and hamburger helpering is just a tad condescending?

Long days and pleasant nights

[Sundrop]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again----I love you, John! :)

[blunthead]

The question was asked, but we cannot answer it. Go mow the grass or cook up some Hamburger Helper.

BJSOkay, I'm back from mowing down the help, and cooking the grass with the hamburger. Now, the grass and the hamburger are no good. Thanx alot!:mad:

[Doc Wilson]

I agree with Stephen, Lisey rocks.

[robdraggoo]

[QUOTE=Drawn to Ka-tet;298521]As I recall, Carrie is the manuscript that Mrs King rescued from the trash can. I think that tells volumes about how much he liked that one![QUOTE]

if that is true, that is amazing - it just goes to show you never know what the future has in store for you when you least expect it.

I believe this is true. It was in ON WRITING as I recall.

[Jake Featherston]

I don't remember a clown in the Tommyknockers nmohr1, you'll have to enlighten me i'm afraid

Some guy in The Tommyknockers is driving by Derry, and he sees Pennywise with a bunch of ballons standing at some old crossroads. The guy's like "WTF?," 'cause he has no idea who Pennywise is, but we do...except for people who read The Tommyknockers before they read It; those people were probably also wondering "WTF?"

[Jake Featherston]

Of course, how could i forget that bit, thanks nmohr for reminding me. It really does beg the question whether there will be another novel featuring Pennywise at some point in the future doesn't it? :oh:

I think we're supposed to assume that the events in The Tommyknockers occurred shortly before the events in It, and thus that Pennywise had yet to be banished to Todash, or whatnot. So probably not.

[Joiey]

According to the book, On Writing, at least ONE of his favorites was The Stand (also a huge favorite of mine behind the Talisman). J

[jalexbrown]

I haven't read Lisey's Story yet; right now I'm reading The Tommyknockers, and next is maybe Eyes of the Dragon - do many people remember that one, do you think? - then it's on to Lisey's Story. I do a kind of long-short-long-short pattern with King books, and it seems to be a pattern that works well for me.

[SIMBA2.0]

Sai King was quite right when he said he might be more likely to forget some of his middle-period books. But I wonder, to such a prolific writer, how long will it take his most recent books to become middle-period books? :biggrin2:

[JRM]

Aw, I wish that Onion article was real, lol. It cracked me up.

[djbeilstein]

Funny stuff . Time does some funny things. And if you live long enough, you're no exception to it.

[poisonrevolution]

No, his favorite isn't Lisey's Story! It's The Tommyknockers of course!

I Don't Even Remember Writing The Tommyknockers


By Stephen King
May 5, 1999 | Issue 35•17 (http://www.theonion.com/content/index/3517)
http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/onion_opinion290.article.jpg


Conversely, I read recently that The Stand is one of his least favorite he's written... any inklings why?

[JRM]

Conversely, I read recently that The Stand is one of his least favorite he's written... any inklings why?

REALLY??? :eek2: I've heard that's his best from, well, everyone, lol.

[thewordisnineteen]

I now know that King forgets writing the Tommyknockers, but didn't he forget writing Cujo too, because of his alcohol/drug problem?

[chimpanity]

Okay, I'm back from mowing down the help, and cooking the grass with the hamburger. Now, the grass and the hamburger are no good. Thanx alot!:mad:

dID sOME oNE sAY gRASS>