10 Best Stephen King Book Endings, Ranked

Stephen KingHis books are widely celebrated and acclaimed, but one aspect of the author’s work that is sometimes criticized is how his stories end. of The Gunslingerthe opening line, “The man in black ran across the desert, and the gunslinger followed” to itOpening with Georgie Denbrough, Stephen King’s best books have strong beginnings that immediately hook the reader and capture the imagination. He is just as effective in keeping the reader engaged throughout his stories.

Despite these strengths, Stephen King’s stories sometimes have an ending problem and have conclusions that do not prove to be completely satisfying after the often long stories that preceded them. While this is true of some of King’s books, many of them have fulfilling endings. The best endings are those that provide a sense of meaningful and memorable closure For the characters and the various plotlines, along with making the story feel really complete.

10

Under the dome

Published in 2009

Under the dome is among the endings that are often criticized, but it brings the book to a mostly satisfying conclusion. The ending sees Julia Shumway making contact with an alien who placed the dome around Chester’s mill and convincing them to remove it. The dome was finally lifted off what remains of Chester’s millRelease the toxic air trapped beneath it, allowing Julie and Dale “Barbie” Barbara to get on with their lives.

While this may seem overly simplistic after a story that spans over 1,000 pages, it works because the story is never really about the aliens or even the dome. It was always about the characters and the small town of Chester’s Mill, with the dome simply being a plot device that pushed the town’s residents to their breaking point. The ending is ranked towards the bottom of the list because it’s a bit anticlimactic, however There is still hope and Proves that empathy will win over the selfishness and manipulations of people like Big Jim Rennie.

9

Curry

Published in 1974

After retaliating against years of torture and abuse with her destructive powers, The only way for Curry To end is for the titular character to die also as a victim of the cruel world around her. Carrie’s fate is inevitable and the tragedy of what happened feels consequential. This is followed by the fallout of Kerry White’s actions when faculty members resign, a committee is formed to investigate what happened, and a woman sends a letter describing her young daughter’s telekinetic abilities that she claims her grandmother also has.

The letter about a young girl with telekinetic abilities further elevates the ending as it becomes clear that there are others with powers in the Stephen King book like what Carrie has. The question will be if these powers can be nurtured and used for good, or if they will assert themselves and manifest in terrible ways as they did with Carrie after all the suffering she endured. The ending mostly works, though Complete with letters, excerpts from Sue Snell’s memoirs, and news articles that feel somewhat impersonal.Which is why it falls lower in the rankings.

8

unhappiness

Published in 1987

The author Paul Sheldon finally escapes from the terrible Annie Wilkes after months of holding him captive and torturing and mutilating him. After Paul’s escape and Annie’s death, he returns to New York and struggles to recover from his traumatic experiences. Suffering’s return Becomes a bestseller. Eventually, Paul finds the inspiration to write againAnd cries because of what he endured and because of rediscovering the joy of writing.

unhappiness is a bleak story and creates a palpable sense of hopelessness as more time passes and Paul continues to suffer at the hands of Annie. This makes the ending bittersweet Paul mourns both what he lost but also finds his creative spark again That his self-professed number one fan almost snuffed out. The ending doesn’t leave as much of an impact as many other King stories, which is why it’s ranked lower, but it works well in the context of the novel.

7

The stone

Published in 1978

The stone Is another one of King’s endings that is often criticized, in this case, because of its use of “the hand of God” confirm the nuclear bomb that defeats the villain Randall Flagg and all his followers. Larry Underwood and Ralph Brentner, two of the prominent and likeable characters of the book, are also killed during the detonation. The stone Ends with Stu Redman surviving as he is reunited with Frannie GoldsmithAnd they settle with their child in Ogunquit, Maine. The expanded edition also has an epilogue of Flagg emerging elsewhere after the nuclear explosion.

As an epic tale of good versus evil and the power of faith, “The Hand of God” fits the tone and themes of the story. While Larry, Ralph and many other beloved characters are lost, there is still a sense of goodness and faith rewarded with Stu and Franny’s happily ever after. The expanded edition brings a darker edge with its epilogue consistent with the ending of another King book, The Dark Tower. The stone Has an overall emotionally and thematically satisfying endingAlthough its overreliance on a deus ex machina causes it to rank a little lower.

6

The Shining

Published in 1977

The end of The Shining Features Jack Torrance dying and the Overlook Hotel destroyed As Wendy Torrance, Danny Torrance and Dick Halloran escape. The destruction of the Overlook Hotel is vital, because it was the real evil of the story that weaponized Jack’s trauma and alcoholism and turned him against Wendy and Danny. An epilogue showing Wendy and Danny still recovering from what they endured illustrates the long-term effects of experiencing trauma.

One of the keys to The ShiningThe end is to see the payoff of a recurring detail throughout the story. This detail is the hotel’s unstable boiler that is never fixed, which literally causes the Overlook Hotel to explode, but also works as a metaphor for the darkness with Jack that feasts and eventually boils. The Shining Has a solid ending that wraps up the story wellBut it’s not as memorable as the more chilling parts of the novel, which is why it lands in the middle of the rankings.

5

Salem’s place

Published in 1975

Salem’s place Ends with Ben Mears and Mark Petrie defeating the ancient vampire Kurt Barlow. They then flee with their lives from Jerusalem Lot, making them the only survivors, except for Father Donald Callahan, who left in disgrace after Barlow forced him to drink his blood, thereby corrupting the priest. An epilogue reveals that Ben and Mark returned to Jerusalem a year later And set fire to the whole city to kill the remaining vampires.

Having only three characters survive the events in Jerusalem’s lot makes the vampire threat feel consequential, as Susan Norton, Matt Burke, Jimmy Cody, and many other characters lose their lives. The ending wouldn’t feel complete without the epilogue, as the problems of Jerusalem Lot were beyond vampires, with the city itself having to be destroyed. The ambiguous fate of Father Callahan makes these Salem’s place Ending feeling somewhat incompleteWhich is why it falls to the middle of the list, but fortunately, the character is further explored in The Dark Tower Series.

4

it

Published in 1986

its controversial sewer scene overshadows the novel’s otherwise effective ending. The book carefully alternates between the two timelines From when the losers clubs were children and as adults when they face it again 27 years later. This builds to an epic finale that sees Bill Denbrough defeat it with Maturin’s help in the 1950s timeline and Bill crushing its heart in the 1980s timeline. There is also a sense of hope at the end as Bill’s wife, Audra, is reawakened from being catatonic after her experience with it.

Seeing the Losers Club confront it in both timelines, with Bill leading the charge, is immensely satisfying, especially since the story begins with it brutally manipulating and killing Bill’s younger brother, Georgie. Part of Derry is destroyed by a storm in the 1980s timeline after the confrontation also suggests that it may actually be defeated for good this time. The sewer scene works on a symbolic level for the Losers Club and their growth, but its problematic nature cannot be ignored.what is what it Wasn’t one of King’s best endings.

3

The Dead Zone

Published in 1979

As Johnny Smith’s health continues to decline and his clairvoyant visions continue to take more of a toll on him, a tragic sense of inevitability hangs over The Dead Zone. As Johnny dies, He leaves knowing that he prevented the apocalyptic future that Greg Stilson would have created If he became president of the United States. Further closure is provided by the characters Johnny leaves to his loved ones and Sarah visits Johnny’s grave, with Johnny and Sarah’s unfulfilled relationship being the heart of the story.

It is satisfying to see Stilson’s political career come to an end And to have his truth unmasked when the picture of him holding a baby as a shield becomes national news. Johnny’s fate is equally appropriate as the humble and kind-hearted character dies a hero, with most of the world not knowing how he saved them. The Dead ZoneIts ending is only matched by two other King stories whose conclusions are more emotional and surprising.

2

22/11/63

Published in 2011

22/11/63 Has one of the most bittersweet endings of any King novel As Jake Epping returns to the future and is reunited with Sadie Dunhill. She doesn’t know who he is or their relationship in another timeline, but he shares a dance with her, telling her that he is “Someone you knew in another life.” For a story that dealt with time travel and its consequences, it was a simple, but deeply emotional and meaningful way to end. 22/11/63.

The ending was the perfect way to end the story after Jake sacrificed the life he built in the late 1950s and early 1960s to save the future. Jake made the necessary sacrifice by leaving his life, including his relationship with Sadie, back to return to a future where she knows who he is. It’s both heartbreaking and healthy to end up with them sharing a dance When only Jake knows their story. This could have been King’s best ending if not for one story whose boldness gives it the top spot in the rankings.

1

The Dark Tower

Published in 2004

After many books, thousands of pages and a history written over decades, it was impossible to give The Dark Tower Series a proper end. King pulls off this seemingly impossible task by having Roland Deschain reach the Dark Tower, go inside and climb to the top, only to discover that he has made it to the Dark Tower before, and is stuck in an endless loop. Roland is sent back to where his journey began The GunslingerAlthough this time he has the horn-eld.

This brilliant ending recontextualizes the whole Dark Tower Series and everything Roland did when he knew it was all part of a loop that was punishing him. Roland simply reaching the Dark Tower and saving the universe would have been too neat of an ending. instead, King takes a huge creative leap, but it works and is consistent with The stones epilogue of time and fate being a wheel. The Dark TowerThe ending completes Roland’s journey throughout the series and gives it a new meaning, all while he will start the journey again, which makes it Stephen KingIt’s the best ending.