While Stephen King Best known for his chilling horror novels and short stories, the author has actually ventured into several other genres over the years, and his non-horror books are surprisingly great. He may have made his name with supernatural scares like Curry And The ShiningHowever His talents are not limited to scaring the readers; Many of his less terrifying reads are among Stephen King’s best books ever, largely because of their emotional weight, rich imagination, or complex world-building.
King wrote many non-horror novels and short stories throughout his career, but this one The full-length books that are the most interesting. For an author so deeply entrenched in a single genre, releasing an entire book that tackles completely different issues and new structures is extremely impressive. In fact, some of the best Stephen King movie adaptations come from his non-horror works, proving just how versatile he is as a storyteller.
10
The eyes of the dragon
Genre: High Fantasy
The eyes of the dragon is a fascinating entry in King’s bibliography, as it is among the author’s very few attempts at all-out fantasy. For someone whose works are all so creative, inventive, and often far-fetched, it was inevitable that he would enter the world of fantasy at some point or another, and The eyes of the dragon is his best example of it. The story goes A young prince named PeterWho is forced to clear his name in his father’s murder, and fight his brother for his rightful throne.
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The eyes of the dragon Not as subversive as most of King’s work, following a structure most fantasy readers will be familiar with, but the execution is brilliant. It is filled with twists, lovable characters, creative locations and in-depth world-building that really Allows this fantasy universe to come to life In many ways.
9
The long week
Genre: Dystopian
The long week was originally published under King’s popular pseudonym Richard Backman, which immediately suggests that it will be something of a departure from his usual style. In this dystopian novel, A group of teenage boys are forced to compete In the titular tournament, which involves consistently walking along Route 1 without rest, or else they will be shot.
King’s works are almost always doused in some kind of social commentary, and The long week Take this to the extreme. This is one of his most provocative books, raising important questions about government, entertainment and The dangerous relationship between the two. The long week is being adapted for the screen with Cooper Hoffman and Mark Hamill in two undisclosed roles.
8
On writing
Genre: Non-Fiction
On writing is one of King’s very few non-fiction books, telling his life story and sharing tips and tricks on how to break into the writing industry. It is a refreshingly different type of book from the author, ditching his typical dramatic style and opting for a much More open, transparent look at his early life And revealing where the ideas for many of his most popular works came from.
On writing is a must-read for anyone who considers themselves a writer, and there’s plenty to keep Stephen King fans invested as well.
The book was released just one year after King was in a serious car accident, so it is very reflective on his own legacy, the future of his career, and how difficult it can be to make a name for himself in this competitive industry. On writing is a must-read For anyone who considers themselves a writer, there is plenty to keep Stephen King fans invested as well.
7
Billy Summers
Genre: Crime Thriller
In fact, there are hints of the crime genre littered throughout Stephen King’s work. whether it is The Shining Or sorrow, He is no stranger to weaving certain elements of the genre throughout his horror stories. however, Billy Summers is among these Few King novels that ditch the horror almost entirely and focuses on the crime genre instead. The story follows the titular ex-Marine turned hitman, who takes a job that requires him to work undercover as an author working on his new novel.
There is a sense of self-aware humor that runs through Billy SummersNot least because it is an author who writes about being an author, but because the character is placed in such an unusual and unconventional situation. But it’s not a comedy – The plot maintains a steady, exciting pace with several twists and turns that keep the reader invested from start to finish. Billy Summers is set to become an on-screen feature with JJ Abrams at the helm, marking the fourth collaboration between the two.
6
Mr. Mercedes
Genre: Detective Thriller
The overwhelming majority of Stephen King’s works have been stand-alone, whether it’s his full-length novels or the occasional short story – with a few exceptions. Be Dark Tower Series ran for eight books, for example, and Doctor Sleep Served as a fitting sequel to The Shining. so too, Mr. Mercedes was among King’s only attempts to write a trilogy, and the result was excellent. The story goes A retired detective named Bill Hodges who receives a note from a serial killer that he has never been able to catch, to pull him out of retirement.
The other two novels in the trilogy, Finders Keepers And End of watch are just as exciting and well-written as the first. Each story becomes bolder and more fascinating than the last, as King gradually drifts away from the detective formula and begins to put his own creative spin on things. The books are Definitely worth reading for anyone not interested in horror But wants to understand the hype surrounding America’s best-selling author.
5
The Green Mile
Genre: Historical Drama, Southern Gothic
There are certain elements of horror in it The Green MileAt least more so than shown in the screen adaptation, but they are nowhere near as central to the story as they usually are in King’s work. Instead, the novel is more of a dark, gritty drama In a high security prison And follow a death row employee as he forms a unique friendship with an inmate with supernatural abilities.
The Green Mile The film changes many details from King’s original novel, but the crux of the story is the same. It’s a very mature, often harrowing read that deals with some seriously dark themes A sincerity that is not often seen in King’s work. He is known for masking the truth of his stories behind horror tropes and supernatural unknowns, but here, he is very open and frank about the severity of what he describes.
4
Under the dome
Genre: Science Fiction
Sci-fi is certainly not a genre that Stephen King is unfamiliar with, as it appears in almost all of his stories, but Under the dome Takes it to a whole new level. The story centers around a small town in Maine that is cut off from the rest of the world by a giant, invisible dome that encloses them. Unlike most of King’s work, Under the dome is a multi-perspective ensemble which follows several different characters as they come to terms with their new lives in this sci-fi nightmare.
Under the dome was made famous in a TV show of the same name, which stuck closely to the content of the story and ran for three fairly successful seasons. unfortunately, Under the dome wasn’t picked up for season 4, leaving the show without a definite ending — but thankfully, King’s book is a much more cohesive piece of work that leaves no questions unanswered.
3
The Dark Tower
Genre: Fantasy, Western, Sci-Fi
Among Stephen King fans, the Dark Tower series is arguably the author’s most acclaimed work. Although most of his books are stand-alone adventures that tell tight, gripping, confined stories, The Dark Tower is an epic adventure Which spans eight novels, one novella and one children’s book. This is certainly the author’s most ambitious work yet, and while there are aspects of horror in some scenes, the series as a whole is deeply rooted in fantasy.
The first book, The GunslingerTakes this high fantasy story and sets it in the world of a neo-western, with the titular character seeking revenge on his old nemesis, the Man in Black. It takes all the tropes of the Western and puts them in an unfamiliar world – and it’s the blending of genres that Stephen King always does so well. The Dark Tower series might be his best example of it.
2
22/11/63
Genre: Sci-Fi, Historical Fiction
Time travel is always a difficult thing for writers to navigate, especially when dealing with real-life events. And yet, Stephen King manages to make it look effortless 22/11/63, An alternate-reality novel that sees a Time travelers attempt to save President Kennedy from assassination in 1963. It’s one of King’s later works, released in 2011, but it feels incredibly fresh and inventive all the same.
It is not just about their actions, but rather the consequences of them and how they deal with them.
What’s so impressive about 22/11/63 is that its central premise isn’t really the best thing about it – the traveling through time is great, but the characters and their complex relationships really make the story fascinating. It is not just about their actions, but rather the consequences of them and how they deal with them. Although an idea exists for a sequel to 22/11/63King has previously said that it is one of his favorite books and it needs no expansion.
1
The stone
Genre: Post-apocalyptic
When it comes to stories about the apocalypse, The stone Has to rank among the best ever written. The way Stephen King manages to use this far-fetched story of Chemical weapons and mutating viruses And making it feel so real and topical is excellent, weaving in plenty of subtle commentary about the world around us. The story follows a man who escapes from a biological weapons facility after an accident, releasing a deadly virus on the world and wiping out most of humanity.
There is some horror in it The stoneBut it’s not the supernatural kind that Stephen King is known for. Instead, it’s the horror of how easily our civilization could fall apart, and that’s arguably even more terrifying. Everything in The stone is shocking and terrifying because it is so raw and real – it is not the world away from The Gunslinger Or The eyes of the dragonIt’s right here.