Your Ranking of King's Books

[Tommy]

wow this is a daunting task. I will have to come back to it when im not working
LOL

I know what you mean, I've read nearly all of them and trying to rank them is giving me a slight panic attack

[CyberGhostface]

Updating for Joyland.

1. It
2. The Shining
3. Hearts in Atlantis
4. Insomnia
5. Black House
6. Eyes of the Dragon
7. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
8. The Dark Tower: Wolves of the Calla
9. The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three
10. The Dark Tower: The Waste Lands
11. Under the Dome
12. Duma Key
13. 11/22/63
14. 'Salem's Lot
15. Desperation
16. The Talisman
17. The Stand
18. Everything's Eventual
    
19. Joyland
20. Night Shift
21. Nightmares and Dreamscapes
22. On Writing
23. Skeleton Crew
24. The Long Walk
25. The Dead Zone
26. Blaze
27. Rage
28. The Dark Tower: The Wind through the Keyhole
29. The Green Mile
30. Firestarter
31. Christine
32. The Dark Half
33. Bag of Bones
34. Roadwork
35. Different Seasons
36. Dreamcatcher
37. The Regulators
38. The Dark Tower: Wizard and Glass
39. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
40. From a Buick 8
41. Four Past Midnight
42. Cujo
43. Carrie
44. Danse Macabre
45. The Plant
46. Pet Sematary
47. Misery
48. Full Dark No Stars
49. Rose Madder
50. The Dark Tower: The Dark Tower
51. The Dark Tower: Song of Susannah
52. Just After Sunset
53. Needful Things
54. Cell
55. The Running Man
56. Lisey's Story
57. Storm of the Century
58. Cycle of the Werewolf
59. Rose Red
60. The Tommyknockers
61. Thinner
62. Dolores Clairborne
63. Gerald's Game
64. The Colorado Kid
65. Blockade Billy
66. Faithful

[Jean]

I got to update mine with Joyland too, but I will have to wait a couple of days. If I do now, it will be in the top 5, and it probably shouldn't be. Loved it immensely.

[DoctorZaius]

Well, here is my two cents. I hope it's all inclusive. I had to categorize things in my head a bit. Sorry!

NOVELS

1. IT
2. The Stand
3. Pet Sematary
4. Salem’s Lot
5. The Long Walk
6. The Shining
7. 11/22/63
8. Joyand
9. Thinner
10. Rage
11. The Talisman
12. Christine
13. Misery
14. Blaze
15. The Dead Zone
16. The Green Mile
17. Carrie
18. Dolores Claiborne
19. Cell
20. Gerald’s Game
21. Cycle of the Werewolf
22. The Running Man
23. Firestarter
24. The Dark Half
25. Desperation
26. Insomnia
27. Rose Madder
28. Under the Dome
29. Needful Things
30. Eyes of the Dragon
31. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
32. Cujo
33. Duma Key
34. Bag of Bones
35. The Regulators
36. Black House
37. From a Buick 8
38. The Colorado Kid
39. Lisey’s Story
40. Dreamcatcher
41. Road Work
42. Tommyknockers

DARK TOWER SERIES

1. Wizard and Glass
2. The Wastelands
3. Wind Through the Keyhole
4. Wolves of the Calla
5. The Gunslinger
6. Drawing of the Three
7. The Dark Tower
8. Song of Susanna
9. Little Sisters of Eluria

FAVORITE NOVELLAS

1. The Mist
2. The Body
3. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption
4. The Library Policeman
5. Apt Pupil
6. Blockade Billy
7. 1922
8. The Langoliers
9. Big Driver
10. Secret Window, Secret Garden
11. The Sun Dog
12. The Breathing Method
13. Fair Extension
14. A Good Marriage

COLLECTIONS

1. Night Shift
2. Skeleton Crew
3. Nightmares and Dreamscapes
4. Everything’s Eventual
5. Hearts in Atlantas
6. Just After Sunset

NOVELLA COLLECTIONS

1. Different Seasons
2. Full Dark, No stars
3. Four Past Midnight

[Merlin1958]

DARK TOWER SERIES

Wizard and Glass
The Wastelands
Wind Through the Keyhole
Wolves of the Calla
The Gunslinger
Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower
Song of Susanna
Little Sisters of Eluria

I thought that DOTT was hands down the best "TDT" novel, but after that I can't really disagree. The best "related novel" IMHO was "Black House", but he totally disrespected that one in the series for what I assume are legal/contractual reasons

Plus, I may have listed TWTTKH a little lower as it has no real impact on the over-riding story. Otherwise, good job!!.

[DoctorZaius]

I liken DOTT to that of the origin tale portion of the recent slew of superhero movies. I love to watch them, but they don't resonate as long with me.

[pathoftheturtle]

Please check out: showthread.php?1780-Your-order-of-the-series.

To me, it's interesting that you place highly Pet Semetary and Thinner, and disheartening that you give Black House and Desperation such low position. I'm little hesitant to ask about Hearts in Atlantis.

[Jean]

and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42

[Merlin1958]

I enjoyed "Joyland", but I don't think I would rate it that high. It feels/reads like a Bachman novel to a degree.

[pathoftheturtle]

I enjoyed "Joyland", but I don't think I would rate it that high. It feels/reads like a Bachman novel to a degree.

I have not read Joyland yet, but I notice that Thinner, The Long Walk, and Rage all made his top 10.

and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42

Yeah, I wouldn't put either of those at very bottom. (Nor for that matter right at the top.)

Geez, this is all quite interesting, but I sure hope that Zaius doesn't start to feel like he's being ganged up on. More people's lists needed ASAP!

[DoctorZaius]

Please check out: showthread.php?1780-Your-order-of-the-series.

To me, it's interesting that you place highly Pet Semetary and Thinner, and disheartening that you give Black House and Desperation such low position. I'm little hesitant to ask about Hearts in Atlantis.

I think that sometimes books just hit you differently at different points in ones life. Pet Semetary is a favorite because I was taking a course at Northeastern in horror fiction. The professor, Gary Goshgarian (who has written some fine horror novels under the name Gary Braver, brought in one of his friends to class to discuss a book we had read - yup, Stephen King. It was an amazing day. I still love the book, especially it's ending. I was actually in the middle of reading Thinner when word got out that it was actually Stephen King - so it resonates with me because I kept saying I should have known. Black House just didn't hit me well. I loved the Talisman and perhaps was hoping for more of the same. Desperation is great for the first 1/2 to 2/3, then it slows a bit. Still loved it, enough to have Don Maitz do his remarque in my limited edition.

[DoctorZaius]

and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42

Sorry dude, but I really loathed (sorry for the strong wording) Tommyknockers! To each his own.

Thanks again for trying out Geek Love! ;-)

[DoctorZaius]

I enjoyed "Joyland", but I don't think I would rate it that high. It feels/reads like a Bachman novel to a degree.

Interesting, I didn't feel Joyland had a Bachman Feel at all. I felt it was like something from King's Different Seasons era.

[Merlin1958]

I enjoyed "Joyland", but I don't think I would rate it that high. It feels/reads like a Bachman novel to a degree.

I have not read Joyland yet, but I notice that Thinner, The Long Walk, and Rage all made his top 10.

and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42

Yeah, I wouldn't put either of those at very bottom. (Nor for that matter right at the top.)

Geez, this is all quite interesting, but I sure hope that Zaius doesn't start to feel like he's being ganged up on. More people's lists needed ASAP!

He seems like a very good guy (for a fucking Boston fan!!! LOL) and realizes we are just having a discussion, but good looking out, dude.

[DoctorZaius]

I enjoyed "Joyland", but I don't think I would rate it that high. It feels/reads like a Bachman novel to a degree.

I have not read Joyland yet, but I notice that Thinner, The Long Walk, and Rage all made his top 10.

and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42

Yeah, I wouldn't put either of those at very bottom. (Nor for that matter right at the top.)

Geez, this is all quite interesting, but I sure hope that Zaius doesn't start to feel like he's being ganged up on. More people's lists needed ASAP!

I learned a long time ago not take this kind of stuff personally - it's too subjective. I love The Long Walk because I have read it so many times - each year a group of my students ends up reading it for a book club assignment and I find so much more each time I explore it. Rage too, resonates with the teacher side of me. School shootings are part of my life, luckily only on the periphery. I hate the fact that Stephen King pulled it from publication - it's actually a quite brilliant exploration of an all to real life situation.

I do agree though, that when these lists get posted you had better be prepared for the fallout.

Jean - I am genuinely honored that you are taking the time to read Geek Love!

[DoctorZaius]

and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42

Sorry dude, but I really loathed (sorry for the strong wording) Tommyknockers! To each his own.

Thanks again for trying out Geek Love! ;-)

Here I am replying to myself. I meant to say I "loathed" the Tommyknockers MOVIE. The book itself was pretty good for the first 200 pages or so. The early parts reminded me of one of my favorite movies, The Thing (the original one from the 50s). Then the story became uninteresting for me.

[jhanic]

I've never tried to rank King's works. What I like varies from almost day-to-day for me. There are some that I like more than others, but a ranking is out of the question.

John

[DoctorZaius]

I've never tried to rank King's works. What I like varies from almost day-to-day for me. There are some that I like more than others, but a ranking is out of the question.

John

I agree with you but wanted to give it a go!

[divemaster]

I've never tried to rank King's works. What I like varies from almost day-to-day for me. There are some that I like more than others, but a ranking is out of the question.

John

I hear ya. For me, using somewhat broad categories was the way to go. I can easily see movement within a category, but probably not between groupings.

TOP SHELF; it doesn't get any better than this
Black House
Christine
Danse Macabre
Dead Zone, The
Desperation
Different Seasons
Duma Key
Firestarter
Misery
Night Shift
On Writing
Roadwork
'Salem's Lot
Shining, The
Stand, The
Waste Lands, The
Wizard & Glass


Good quality call brand; always very enjoyable
11/22/63
Bag of Bones
Creepshow
Dark Tower, The
Dolores Claiborne
Everything's Eventual
Four Past Midnight
Full Dark, No Stars
Green Mile, The
Hearts in Atlantis
It
Joyland
Just After Sunset
Long Walk, The
Pet Sematary
Rage
Rose Madder
Running Man, The
Secret Windows
Skeleton Crew
Thinner
Under the Dome
Wind Through the Keyhole, The
Wolves of the Calla


House brand--on sale; okay in a pinch
Blaze
Blockade Billy
Carrie
Cell
Colorado Kid, The
Cujo
Cycle of the Werewolf
Dark Half, The
Drawing of the Three, The
Eyes of the Dragon
From a Buick 8
Girl who Loved Tom Gordon, The
Gunslinger, The
Lisey's Story
Needful Things
Nightmares & Dreamscapes
Song of Susannah
Storm of the Century


Rockgut; swill to avoid forevermore
Dreamcatcher
Gerald's Game
Insomnia
Regulators, The
Talisman, The
Tommyknockers, The

[Stebbins]

Doctor Zaius, glad to have you in on this thread, and that your contribution has sparked it into discussion. I liked your list, a lot more than the one or two before it, but like everyone, we have some differing of opinion. With how much variance there can be in sixty-something choices, I felt the commonalities outweighed the differences though.

I thought of Bears when I saw those two so low, Jean.

Bill, I couldn't agree more about DOTT, total disagree on the Joyland analysis. I didn't see it as trying to return to Bachman, I thought it was King doing his take on crime-fiction--giving a tremendous homage to Westlake as well-- much like in [snippets of] The Dark Half. I also think it's top-shelf drawing on Dive's analogy.

Path, it's interesting, if I'm interpreting correct, that you hold Desperation in good regard while having contempt for Cell. I'm reading the former right now and the layout and writing of the book reminds me very much of the latter.

[Jean]

Interesting, I didn't feel Joyland had a Bachman Feel at all. I felt it was like something from King's Different Seasons era.

Same here.

and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42

Yeah, I wouldn't put either of those at very bottom. (Nor for that matter right at the top.)

No, not the very top - that is reserved for It, The Stand, Black House, Desperation and Duma Key. But those two follow close.

Geez, this is all quite interesting, but I sure hope that Zaius doesn't start to feel like he's being ganged up on.

we are! we are!!!

Thanks again for trying out Geek Love! ;-)

Here I am replying to myself. I meant to say I "loathed" the Tommyknockers MOVIE.

I loathed all King films with only two (possibly three) exceptions. Had nothing to do with how I felt about the novels, though.

I've never tried to rank King's works. What I like varies from almost day-to-day for me. There are some that I like more than others, but a ranking is out of the question.

John

Yes, but it is stull fun. I wish you would share which ones are those you like more than others, too.

[Jean]

Updated List:

Books of my life:

IT
The Stand
Desperation
Black House
Duma Key
Roadwork

Loved:

Pet Sematary
Under the Dome
Blaze
Christine
The Long Walk
Carrie
‘Salem’s Lot
The Tommyknockers
From a Buick 8
The Dead Zone
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Misery
Needful Things
Joyland

Really good:

The Shining
Cell
Dreamcatcher
The Dark Half
Different Seasons
Insomnia
Four Past Midnight

Good:

Cujo
Gerald's Game
Rose Madder
Dolores Claiborne
The Talisman
Cycle of the Werewolf

Average:

The Green Mile
11/22/63
The Running Man
The Regulators
Firestarter
Bag of Bones
The Colorado Kid

Didn't really care for:

The Eyes of the Dragon
Just After Sunset
Full Dark, No Stars
Lisey's Story
On Writing
Hearts in Atlantis
Thinner

Hated:

Rage


To Read:

Blockade Billy
Storm of a Century

[pathoftheturtle]

Path, it's interesting, if I'm interpreting correct, that you hold Desperation in good regard while having contempt for Cell. I'm reading the former right now and the layout and writing of the book reminds me very much of the latter.

I never thought of that. Maybe because I first read Desperation years before Cell. On the other hand, maybe you won't feel that way all the way through the book. But, anyway, I'm not totally contemptuous towards Cell. Not my favorite by any means, that's all.

I loathed all King films with only two (possibly three) exceptions. Had nothing to do with how I felt about the novels, though.

Did you ever watch The Green Mile?

BTW -- I just love The Colorado Kid. In fact, I just don't say so often enough. Love that book!

[Jean]

I watched the Green Mile, and fell asleep... just like I did while reading... I am really sorry, I know that everyone loves it!

I would enjoy Colorado Kid much more if not for the first-person narrative which seemed to me horrible. Otherwise, its a nice little thing.

[pathoftheturtle]

I watched the Green Mile, and fell asleep... just like I did while reading... I am really sorry, I know that everyone loves it!

That's okay. It's what I thought you'd say. Must be the one case where your loathing DID have something to do with how you felt about the novel. Sure is a well-made movie, opinions of the story aside.