I love Stephen King.

[madaboutharry]

I love his personality and I love his politics. I love his Twitter feed.

I have watched some of the movies based on his books, but have been a afraid to actually read one of his books.

I am interested in his new book Fairy Tale. So, here is my question: just how scary are Stephen King’s books?

[Fullduplexxx]

1. his books are better than the movies

there's a lot of internal dialog that goes on that doesnt make it in to the movies... the stand is my favorite although the dark tower is pretty awesome as well - the dead zone good too .

[dameatball]

20. "The Stand" got me started as well. Wow, that was a long time ago.

[Glorfindel]

2. Some of them are not scary at all

Others, like "It" and "Salem's Lot" are downright terrifying. Treat yourself to reading one. Whatever its plot, I guarantee it will hold your interest.

[blm]

6. I read Salem's Lot in one night.

I was so tense I had to make 8 trips to the bathroom in 6 hours.

[Glorfindel]

8. I know what you mean. Those child vampires...

that scene in the basement, trying to get out before sunset. Oh, my.

[dchill]

14. I did, too. Because I wasn't going to be able to sleep, anyway.

[eleny]

40. I read it fast, too. Alone in the house. Big mistake

Decades ago and it still gives me the creeps. It was great!

[Demsrule86]

23. Dr. Sleep was scary too.

And the outsiders was just scary. Theme mini series is good too. I really enjoyed the Mr Mercedes series. Hell I read all his books!

[Glorfindel]

27. I agree about Dr. Sleep - most unsettling as well as scary

There are a few of Mr. King's books i haven't got around to reading yet ("Gwendy's Button Box, e.g.), but I hope to in the near future.

[Docreed2003]

3. Depends on the book, honestly, and the types of things you're afraid of

If you want a book that's excellent and not terribly scary check out "Different Seasons". It's four novellas. Most people know "The Body" through the movie "Stand By Me" and "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" through its movie. All four novellas are quite good.

If you want a taste of his horror writing without committing to a book, King is an excellent short story writer and "Night Shift" and "Skeleton Crew" are great, as are some of his more recent collections.

Edit to add: I'm a huge fan and happy to guide you to some choices that might suit your tastes.

[Glorfindel]

10. His story that scared me the most was the novella "Sun Dog"

I had one of those cameras at the time. I donated it to a thrift shop.

[MotorCityBeard]

29. The Jaunt was the one that got to me

I believe it was in Night Shift. Really creeped me out and horrified me. The Mist also; prefer King's more "hopeful" ending than the movie ending.

First I read by him was Salem's Lot, WAY back when it was first in paperback. I was a kid, home reading it alone and it scared the crap out of me ("The town knew darkness...&quot The Stand is my favorite, LOVED The Dark Tower series. In fact, loved most of his books. I do need to reread From a Buick 8, I did not get that one at all but think it ties into the Dark Story universe.

[Glorfindel]

31. I read "From a Buick 8" and later listened to it on audiobook

Frankly, there's not much there to "get," in my opinion. Except for "Insomnia," I believe it's Mr. King's weakest effort. "The Tommyknockers," too, was much too long and rather pointless. Having said that, Stephen King is my favorite living author. I'm getting excited by all this discussion. I need to re-read a novel or two of his!

[Glorfindel]

32. Speaking of "Jaunt," have you read

"The Stars My Destination," by Alfred Bester? I highly recommend it. Seriously.

[Docreed2003]

33. From a Buick 8 definitely ties into The Dark Tower

Although you could make an argument that all of his books have some ties to "the beam" so to speak, "From a Buick 8" is directly related to the Dark tower series, much like The Stand and Salems Lot.

[Docreed2003]

34. Ooo that's a good one

It's from "Four Past Midnight" which is a great series of stories as well

[Tetrachloride]

4. Read the short story from which Shawshank Redemption was derived

easy read

[FalloutShelter]

5. I am a huge fan and have read them all.

Fairy Tale is a good place to start. Also O would say that The Stand is more suspense and fantasy than horror. You will be hooked.

[P.C.L.D.]

7. To me The Stand is an absolute masterpiece

But the books really are better than the movies

[nolabear]

18. The Stand is brilliant. One of the great Good/Evil battles.

I might just read it again. 😄

[Mysterian]

22. I'll third that!

The Stand really is a great book.

I thought the TV miniseries did a pretty good job of capturing the gist of the book.

[Baked Potato]

9. I read The Shining and Cujo and Christine. Way more scary than the movies.

I love animals, so I felt bad for poor Cujo. The Shining dealt with alcoholism and hit home with me as there was a lot of alcoholism in my family. Christine is just good fun 😈

Books are way better than the movies, imo…

[Skittles]

11. not a fan of his books

I read to relax in bed prior to sleep.....when I read Stephen King, I end up saying, OK one more chapter, OK....just one more......then my eyes get WIDE instead of sleepy because of what I am reading......I have worked many nights on little sleep because of Stephen King, ARGH......

[nolabear]

17. Not a fan...😄

Best promo ever.

[Skittles]

24. yeah I know

I guess I should try to read at other times but, I dunno, I just love laying in bed reading a real book....usually helps me to nod off.....

[nolabear]

26. I had to stop listening to audiobooks before bed.

I never knew just where I dropped off and had to go back over and over.

[Skittles]

30. see, that is exactly why I have never even tried audiobooks

ALTHOUGH, as a chronic insomniac I could try it as a sleep-aid.....as long as it ain't no Stephen freaking King!

[nolabear]

35. Honestly it's a GREAT sleep aid. I use PRX Remix

If you have Sirius XM it’s a compendium of all the Radiolab stories from the last few days. They’re short, usually kind of interesting but I don’t mind just letting them put me to sleep.

[Skittles]

43. I will give it a try

an ASMR reading would be PERFECTION!

[Solly Mack]

12. I read "Salem's Lot" sitting at the kitchen table, facing the laundry room that had a door going

to the outside. The door was open. Home alone. Decided to read instead of going out to eat w/ everyone else.

Growing dark, still reading, thinking I really should close and lock the door but couldn't stop reading.

Now dark, door still open, too afraid to go near the door.

Kept on reading. Kept eyeing the door. Terrified.

Family finally got home.

3 hours of complete terror and I delighted in every minute of it.

Stephen King could make cornflakes a villain of horror.

[madaboutharry]

13. I have ordered Fairy Tale.

It will be released September 6th. So, will see how it goes

[brettdale]

15. Huge King fan

I find his short stories far more scarier.

[nolabear]

16. From a reader/writer pov, his books are fantastic.

He’s just plain good. He’ll make you feel everything, not just fear. You invest in the characters, their strengths and the oh-so-human flaws that result in them getting into some incredible jams. He’s not jump-out-and-boo though those moments exist.

If you want brilliant writing and a more human foray into his work, try the prison books. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption is a brilliant novella. The Green Mile is as tragic a look at how we destroy the best of us with the worst of us as I’ve ever seen.

Misery isn’t supernatural but will make your hair stand on end.

The Stand, as much as I love the movie, gives you insight into Jack Torrance and why he falls prey to the seduction of the Overlook.

He’s also written one of the best writing books out there, part memoir and part text, and totally accessible.

I’m a literary writer but I’m fascinated by fantasy, horror, sci-fi, etc., and I don’t think anybody can touch him. And he’s funny af, as you can tell from his Twitter feed.

[Demsrule86]

19. Start with either the shining or Salems Lot

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

21. The "Dark Tower" series gives you a taste of everything King.

There are little bits of his work here and there throughout the series. Of course, that is the older stuff but it does give you an idea of all of king"s work. Some of his stuff is scary and some emotionally stirring.

[demtenjeep]

25. After I read Salem's Lot I locked all my windows

and comforted myself with the thought that "if I don't open the windows-they can't come in"

[Scrivener7]

28. They're very scary, but there is something magic about them. They suck you right in.

[bluedigger]

36. If you grew up in Maine with the people he writes about?

Pretty scary!

[Bristlecone]

37. I read Per Cemetery in 6th grade. Scared me silly

So many great books.

Also the books(kinda short stories) under pseudonym Richard Bachman are great. Less scary, but plenty suspenseful. Usually come bundled in a single book.

[Vadem]

38. I read all of them but Pet Semetary did me in!

[kickitup]

39. My favorite King book is The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.

A little girl lost in the woods, drawing upon the inspiration she finds in her favorite baseball player to find her way out. She wants to believe in the God Tom Gordon points up at during his games.

[Aristus]

41. His short story "Jerusalem's Lot", a sort of origin story

of ‘Salem’s Lot, is excellent. Subject matter by H.P. Lovecraft, format by Bram Stoker, prose style by Shirley Jackson.

They finally went and made a miniseries out of it called “Chapelwaite” (the name of the protagonist’s ancestral mansion.) But I haven’t watched it yet.

[electric_blue68]

42. "The Stand" and "Dark Tower" are on my to read List ...

I forget he wrote the Shawshank novella about he movie was based on
.
LOVE that movie!