Suggestions Please

[bigkingfan91]

I actually have quite a bit of catching up to do when it comes to King's latest works, but on both here and Facebook I've heard a lot of people talking about other authors sort of like King with great books. I'm really only into anything that has to do with horror/supernatural/paranormal, not so much interested in crime/detective type books ( except for any that King writes, will read Joyland very soon! ) unless they are somewhat original and well worth the time.

I have quite a few Dean Koontz novels as I used to collect them along with King, but honestly haven't read many. I was just always so obsessed with Stephen's works that it was hard to dive into anything else and really invest much time in it. The few that I did read were good and there were a couple I started and just couldn't get into. If anyone could name off some of his big smash hits that would be wonderful, I'm guessing " Watchers " is one of them?

Also have a few Peter Straub books that I picked up along the way but never read much of. I have a few John Saul works as well, unread.

I'm definitely interested in Joe Hill's books and will be getting into those very soon I hope. It just feels like there's so much out there for someone who quit reading for so long, it's hard to figure out what's really worth investing time in, especially when you have some catching up to do with King and don't want to get overwhelmed with other stuff. Would appreciate any and all suggestions though, thank you all!

 

[mustangclaire]

Clive Barker. His "Books of Blood". They are a collection of tales, absolutely brilliant. And scary.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...one author at a time...otherwise it muddies the flavor of all...

 

[HollyGolightly]

Hmm, I happen to like being all muddled. Upstairs, I have DT 7 I am still muddling through, and then I am working on Full Dark, No Stars, and then downstairs I am working on Best of American Short Stories, 2011, and I am thinking about starting Dead Zone or Firestarter. Haven't read either.

@bigkingfan91 You're on the right path - of the authors you mention, I love Joe the best.

 

[blunthead]

I actually have quite a bit of catching up to do when it comes to King's latest works... I'm really only into anything that has to do with horror/supernatural/paranormal... I have quite a few Dean Koontz novels as I used to collect them along with King, but honestly haven't read many... If anyone could name off some of his big smash hits that would be wonderful, I'm guessing " Watchers " is one of them?... Also have a few Peter Straub books that I picked up along the way but never read much of...

I'm definitely interested in Joe Hill's books and will be getting into those very soon I hope. It just feels like there's so much out there for someone who quit reading for so long, it's hard to figure out what's really worth investing time in, especially when you have some catching up to do with King and don't want to get overwhelmed with other stuff. Would appreciate any and all suggestions though, thank you all!

Hi, 91. I've got much catching up to do myself. I'm not nearly as versed in sK, nor in current or popular authors, nor in literature in general as so many at this site. My suggestion is to look in The Library, which is part of StephenKing.com here
StephenKing.com - Written Works - A to Z to read up on which sK titles sound appealing to you.

Meanwhile, off the top of my head, 'Salem's Lot, Duma Key, Misery, Bag of Bones, Desperation, The Stand, The Talisman (with Peter Straub), all eight of the Dark Tower books, lots of the short stories found in the following volumes...
Skeleton Crew,
Night Shift,
Nightmares & Dreamscapes,
Just After Sunset,
Different Seasons,
Four Past Midnight,
Everything's Eventual

I recommend Danse Macabre as a great reference book to answer one of your questions - what other authors to consider.

As for Dean Koontz, the ones I've read which I think you might enjoy are Lightning, The Bad Place, False Memory, The Taking, and Midnight. (I've yet to read Watchers.)

 

[Neesy]

I actually have quite a bit of catching up to do when it comes to King's latest works, but on both here and Facebook I've heard a lot of people talking about other authors sort of like King with great books. I'm really only into anything that has to do with horror/supernatural/paranormal, not so much interested in crime/detective type books ( except for any that King writes, will read Joyland very soon! ) unless they are somewhat original and well worth the time.

I have quite a few Dean Koontz novels as I used to collect them along with King, but honestly haven't read many. I was just always so obsessed with Stephen's works that it was hard to dive into anything else and really invest much time in it. The few that I did read were good and there were a couple I started and just couldn't get into. If anyone could name off some of his big smash hits that would be wonderful, I'm guessing " Watchers " is one of them?

Also have a few Peter Straub books that I picked up along the way but never read much of. I have a few John Saul works as well, unread.

I'm definitely interested in Joe Hill's books and will be getting into those very soon I hope. It just feels like there's so much out there for someone who quit reading for so long, it's hard to figure out what's really worth investing time in, especially when you have some catching up to do with King and don't want to get overwhelmed with other stuff. Would appreciate any and all suggestions though, thank you all!

You might like Joe Hill's book NOS4A2 - I really enjoyed it a lot.

 

[shookme]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record: I highly recommend Robert McCammon.

 

[prufrock21]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record: I highly recommend Robert McCammon.

Yes, especially Baal.

 

[king family fan]

lots to choose from.I suggest you stick with king,then move on to Joe Hill.

 

[Neesy]

Yes, especially Baal.

and then there is the sequel "Baal and Chain"

 

[AchtungBaby]

Yeah, I've collected so many Koontz books I still want/need to read. I really enjoyed Mr. Murder.

You can't go wrong with any Stephen King or Joe Hill book. Nope, not at all! Between Dead Zone and Firestarter, I'd definitely choose DZ. One of King's very best...

If you enjoy Christian fiction, Ted Dekker is a great choice!

 

[prufrock21]

and then there is the sequel "Baal and Chain"

 

[bigkingfan91]

Still getting caught up on the King works I missed out on, before I stopped reading years ago I remember hearing about him retiring or slowing down, glad there is still so much newer stuff for me to catch up on!!

I bought Lone Survivor last night, and have Restless Souls & Helter Skelter coming so I can't wait to read those. Not that the subject matter is positive of course, just always been interested in true crime but have never really read any good books on true crime.

Hope to start on some Joe Hill pretty soon, want to get caught up on King a little more though, although I cannot WAIT to find NOS4A2, the cover alone is screaming read me read me lol!

The local used bookstore offers store credit for trade ins, so im debating whether to trade in my Koontz books for what King/Hill books they have, or keep the Koontz books for future reads. There were some Koontz books I just couldn't get into, but I was much younger, so I'm not sure now if I could get into them or not. Definitely not anytime soon, but it's just hard giving up such a huge collection like that.. Especially when this book store doesn't really offer then cheap deals like thrift stores do, the cheapest King book I ran into last time there was $2, and most were higher then that, so if you're buying a lot it adds up pretty quick. What I need to do is keep browsing around for better deals and try and hit a good jackpot but that's hard to do when you drive past a store everyday that you KNOW has the motherlode just inside the doors lol!

Anyone read Ghost Story by, I think, Peter Straub? I remember reading most of it years ago but can't remember much..

 

[Sundrop]

I can't read just one author all the time. I have to have variety. Stephen King will always be first on my list, but I also like these others.

Joe Hill
Kealan Patrick Burke
Brian Keene
Rick Hautula
Brian James Freeman
Peter Straub
Ray Bradbury
Richard Matheson

 

[Aloysius Nell]

(old thread, I know, but I'm new)
Dean Koontz....not QUITE on King's level, for me, because some of them are just goofy. Lots and lots of great reads, though. Bad Place, Lightning, Phantoms, and Cold Fire are very good ones from the 1980s. Don't miss Intensity, either, I think it was in the 90s. And more recently, the Odd Thomas series is outstanding!

 

[Kurben]

Personally i go for Straubs Ghost story. And then I really like Justin Cronins The Passage. And perhaps Straubs Koko and Dan Simmons The Terror.