"The Shawshank Redemption" is probably the highest-rated film in the history of world cinema, and it is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. The most lucrative writer on the planet has an amazing two-sided personality that has the ability to convey a profound healing while also turning his head and scaring you. For example, the most classic American horror movie "The Shining" is also adapted from his novel, and he also serves as the screenwriter of this movie.
The versatility of his content style probably comes from what his mother said to him back then, "Think about the worst thing you can think of, if you say it out loud, it won't come true." ”
文|Sughnen Yongo
Born in 1947 to a poor family in Maine, Stephen King studied English literature at State University.
Spanning 50 years, his oeuvre is arguably the most eclectic collection of works by a single writer ever made, and a testament to his status as the undisputed king of horror fiction. It is this central highlight that makes King's spiritual world the perfect canvas for filmmakers and directors, and as such, he is not only the most frequently adapted writer of all time, but also one of the most profitable writers of modern times.
Although King began writing early, his first novel, Carrie the Witch (1974), was published when he was 26 years old, was later brought to the big screen, and eventually gained critical recognition. Since then, the horror maestro has dabbled in fantasy (The Dark Tower series), science fiction (The Running Man), and even crime thrillers (Mr Mercey's Ghost), but his comfort zone remains horror, suspense, and the supernatural.
A prolific independent fiction writer, King also wrote several novels, including the Dark Tower series (1982-2012) and the Bill Hodges Trilogy, which are his landmark works. "I just write what scares me," King told The Wall Street Journal in 2011. "When I was a kid, my mom used to say, 'Think about the worst thing you can think of, if you say it out loud, it won't come true. That's probably the foundation of my career. Now with 350 million copies sold worldwide in 40 different languages and a net worth of $500 million, King is a literary giant, but more of a cultural phenomenon.
Over the past 57 years, King has written more than 60 books and more than 200 short stories, leaving his mark on the literary world. However, it is quite a challenging question to answer which of Kim's works is the most successful. While all of his works are excellent, the following 10 books stand out in the pantheon of horror fiction. From creepy classics to modern masterpieces, here are 10 of Stephen King's best works selected based on public perception, critical acclaim, and commercial success.
The Shining
(Shining, 1977)
It's not for nothing that literary critics and book lovers often say that The Shining is one of King's most important novels. The story follows Jack Torrance, his wife, Wendy, and son Danny when they arrive at a haunted lookout hotel in a secluded mountain region in Colorado. Jack, a recovering alcoholic and writer, gets a job as a winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel, hoping to make some money while finding inspiration for his writing. Danny has a supernatural premonition known as "The Shining", which gives him insight into the hotel's evil history. The dark aura of the hotel begins to take a heavy toll on Jack's psyche, plunging him into a dangerous violent frenzy and threatening his wife and son. "The Shining" is a very good read for fans who like the combination of psychological thriller and horror.
Dying Light
(It，1986)
Kim's best-selling novel, Dying Light, is a brilliant account of childhood trauma and fear through a demonic entity known as "it." The story takes place in two periods: in the 1950s and 80s, a group of children in Derry, Maine, are terrorized by this otherworldly monster. It first appeared in the image of Pennywise, a dancing clown, and some children who liked to "live alone" gathered because of it, calling themselves "losers' clubs" and fighting monsters. When the children grew up and forgot about "it" for 27 years, the demon reappeared, and the "losers" who had grown up were recalled to Delhi to fulfill their childhood vow: if "it" returned, they would kill it. This book is not only a horror novel, but also a coming-of-age novel, and it takes readers through the experiences and fears of the characters in Delhi, explores the power of memory for trauma survivors, and the need to return to those scary environments in order to become adults who are no longer intimidated by nightmares, making it the perfect read for fans of classic horror novels.
On September 6, 2017, Stephen King attended a special screening of Dying Light at the Bangor Mall Cinema. Image courtesy of Getty Image
"Pet Cemetery"
(Pet Only, 1989)
King's "Pet Cemetery" is set in the idyllic town of Ludro, Maine, where evil secrets seem to have found their home. Shortly after Dr. Louis Creed and his family moved to Ludro for a new job, they found that their new home bordered a pet cemetery with a misspelled sign that read "Pet Sematary." At first, it seemed like an unintentional discovery, but they didn't know that beyond this place, there was an ancient cemetery that possessed an evil power that could bring the dead back to life. The cemetery has seen generations of children bury their pets here, and the Creed family later suffered a terrible tragedy that left Louis with a challenging choice: whether to resurrect his loved ones against the laws of nature, or let them rest in peace. Readers who love suspense, afterlife, and inner fears will love this book.
2017年，斯蒂芬·金在纽约举行的美国图书博览会上发表讲话。 图片来源：2017 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
"Ten Days of Danger"
(See also, 1987)
After a car accident, acclaimed writer Paul Sheldon finds himself at the mercy of Annie Wilkes, a self-proclaimed fan of his. Trapped in Anne's secluded home, Paul is abused by Anne while she asks him to resurrect her beloved fiction character, Miseli Chastain. Anne, a former nurse, uses her medical knowledge to commit an abusive act against Paul, with the prisoner-to-prisoner struggle forming the core of the story. It's a fascinating piece of work for readers who like to be on the lookout. In this 1987 psychological horror thriller, King highlights the dark side of fame and fortune, and the irrational obsession that often comes with it.
Salem Town
(Salem’s Lot，1975)
King's "Salem Town" takes the reader to Salem, an eerie town in Maine, where everyone is a little out of the ordinary, and where life is not as simple as it seems. After years away, the protagonist, Ben Mills, returns to the town of Salem, where he lived as a child. It was Ben's first return in decades, and while memories of his childhood came flooding in the form of constant thoughts and childlike longings, he found himself haunted by a hallucination, a strange whimper coming from the Masten Mansion, high up in the center of town. Ben knew that the whimpering sound was more terrifying than his father's drunken in his youth, because it was the voice of the undead, and they were essentially vampires. The creatures are all controlled by a mysterious figure named Kurt Barlow, who chooses his prey based on what appeals to him the most. Ben Mills must fight for justice before the town is overrun by evil. For those who love horror and suspense, this book is perfect for you.
Carrie the Witch
(Carrie，1974)
Kim's iconic debut, Carrie the Witch, tells the story of Carrie White. She is a tormented high school fringe, viciously bullied by her peers, and physically abused by her fanatical mother, Margaret. As Carrie experiences the ups and downs of adolescence, she discovers her latent superpowers and eventually unleashes them in a series of bloody disasters as a way to get revenge on her tormentors. A brutal prank at the school dance pushes Carrie to the brink of collapse, and her repressed superpowers are fully unleashed along with her anger, resulting in a bloodbathing disaster that throws the town she lives in into chaos. Readers who are fascinated by stories that explore themes of isolation, trauma, and revenge will surely be captivated by King's portrayal of Carrie's descent into a frenzied revenge.
The Dark Tower I Gunslinger
（The Gunslinger，1970)
King's The Dark Tower series has been the highlight of his writing career for more than four decades. Considered his magnum opus by literary critics and King himself, the work blends fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and westerns to create one of the finest series of novels of all time. The first novel in the Dark Tower series, Gunslinger, has also become one of the most popular and critically acclaimed books due to its character evolution and beautiful writing. The central character of Gunslinger is the last gunslinger, Roland Deschain, who embarks on a journey to find the Dark Tower in order to connect the world he inhabits with other worlds and prevent it from dying out quickly. Spanning the Old West and feudal medieval societies of the United States, the book is rich and diverse in content, making it ideal for mystery fiction and fiction readers.
11/22/63
(2011)
In the book "11/22/63," King uses research, historical fiction, suspense, and his vivid imagination to create a compelling fantasy saga about time travel and moral choices.
Set in two eras, past and present, "11/22/63" has an intricate plot and is full of moral scrutiny. The main character, Jack Epping, is a high school teacher who discovers a magical black restaurant portal that sends him back to 1958. On November 22, 1963, U.S. President John J. Bush was inspired. F. Kennedy is assassinated, and Jack is tasked with stopping the assassination, so he embarks on a life-changing mission to change the history of the world as it is known. Readers who enjoy stories with complex plots and historical novels will surely be drawn to Kim's rich narrative style. Although he had the idea to write 11/22/63 before the publication of his first novel, Carrie the Witch, the book was not published until 2011.
史蒂芬·金2003年在洛杉矶W酒店。 图片来源：LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES
"Pin-shaped Erosion"
(Thinner, 1984)
Originally written by King under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, "Pin Erosion" follows the life of Billy Halleck, a morbidly obese, self-centered lawyer whose life takes a sinister turn after an accident that results in the death of a gypsy woman. Although Billy was responsible for the death of the Gypsy woman, he escaped punishment due to his high-level connections. However, the deceased's 106-year-old father, holding a grudge, cursed Halek with a chilling pain: "The pin of the eroded remains." At first, the rapid weight loss seemed like a welcome change, but he soon discovered that his dramatic shift was not a good thing, but a fatal one. Billy was horrified and watched in horror as the weight he had worked so hard to get rid of disappeared at an alarming rate. Billy is determined to find the person responsible, hoping to convince him to lift the curse. This makes him suddenly realize that not only does he have to face his inner demons, but he also has to take responsibility for his past and the selfish decisions he made. This book is an ideal read for any reader who is fascinated by the concepts of justice and horror.
Doctor Sleep
(Doctor Sleep，2013)
Many of King's works conceptually revolve around characters related to situations or other characters in his previous works. In this way, Kim was able to connect the storylines and themes of the book in a way that would be familiar to his loyal readers. In "Doctor Sleep," Kim follows the life of Danny Torrance, a troubled young boy whose story begins with 1977's The Shining. In the book Doctor Sleep, Danny has grown into an alcoholic and troubled adult, living on the edge of the law, immersed in anger and haunted by his disturbing past. When he finally settles down in New Hampshire and uses his psychic powers at a hospice to help the dying, only the "Shining" – that is, his own supernatural psychic powers can bring balance to his life. However, his life gets out of balance again when he meets a little girl named Abra Stone, who has more psychic powers than he does, and together the two of them must stop a group of carnivorous psychic vampires who use psychic powers to kill and torture children with superpowers. "Doctor Sleep" became a New York Times bestseller about two months after its publication, and was made into a movie in 2019. For horror lovers, this book is perfect.
美国作家斯蒂芬·金(Stephen King) 1977年的小说《闪灵》的续集《睡梦医生》(Doctor Sleep)在巴黎展出。 图片来源：AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Easter Eggs: Upcoming Stephen King New Book
The ever-relenting master of horror is about to publish a new book called You Like It dark, which will feature 12 stories that explore the truth of life and the nuances of humanity in a new and exciting way that is both in King's usual style. The new book will be published by Simon & Schuster.
The author of this article is a Forbes contributor, and the content of the article represents the author's own views only.
This article is translated from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/entertainment/article/stephen-king-books/?sh=387a934762b8
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Header image source: Getty Images
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