Stephen King 101: Best Novels, Non-Horror Works, and Reading Order

Published by Esther Fung, July 12, 2024

The school teacher crumpled up the pages and tossed them into the trash can beside his desk. He had successfully written several short stories for a men’s magazine, but this particular concept seemed to be a dead end. At a friend’s suggestion, he had decided to write about a teenage girl experiencing her first menstruation. But while the teacher was familiar with adolescents, he couldn’t get into his main character’s mind. What would she be feeling? How would she behave? After only three pages, he gave the project up. 

The three pages he threw away would have remained trash, discarded and unread, if not for the school teacher’s wife, who rescued them from the bin, read them, and insisted that her husband finish the story. She needed to know what would happen next. 

Today, Stephen King has become synonymous with the horror genre. After being saved by Tabitha King, his debut novel, Carrie, was published in 1974 and became a New York Times bestseller in 1976, selling one million paperback copies in its first year. Since then, King has left the classroom, written over sixty books, and won numerous awards, including the 2014 National Medal of Arts. But not his works are horror stories. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly King’s legacy as one of the most iconic authors of our time, his best books, and books to read by King if you’re not interested in horror.

How many books has Stephen King sold?

Stephen King has sold four hundred million copies of his books worldwide. In their list of best-selling fiction authors in history, Wikipedia currently places King at number thirteen, above Jirō Akagawa and below Dean Koontz. 

On Pango, King has sold over fifteen thousand copies of his works. He was the third bestselling author in 2023, placing between Taylor Jenkins Reid and Colleen Hoover, and his memoir, On Writing, was the twenty-first bestselling nonfiction book of that year.  

What is Stephen King’s net worth?

In 2014, Forbes listed King’s net worth at seventeen million dollars. Today, his net worth is estimated to be at least five hundred million. Both he and his wife, who is also a writer, give generously to libraries, local fire departments, schools, and various organizations that support the arts. In addition, the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, which supports community-oriented projects in Maine, has a total annual giving of about three and a half million dollars. 

Where does Stephen King live?

Stephen King may have been living in a trailer when he wrote Carrie, but his success as a writer soon afforded him the opportunity to purchase a much larger home. In 1980, he bought what is now known as the Stephen King House in downtown Bangor, Maine. This 19th century Victorian mansion has a beautiful blood red facade and sits behind an iron gate adorned with bats, a dragon, and a spider web, making it the perfect home for the famous horror writer. In 2019, King announced that the house will be turned into an archival museum for his works. It will also function as a writer’s retreat. King and his wife have since moved to a second home in Florida for privacy reasons, as the Maine residence has become a site of pilgrimage for fans all over the world. 

Best Stephen King books

In October 2023, we used our sales history to rank Stephen King’s most popular works. According to our readers, the top five best Stephen King books are as follows:

1. It
2. The Shining
3. Misery
4. Pet Sematary
5. The Stand

Do you own any of these books? See how much you can make by selling them to other readers on Pango in our guide on the Stephen King Used Book Market. 

Stephen King books to read if you don't like horror

Want to join the Stephen King bandwagon but still want to be able to sleep tonight? We relate. Luckily, King is a versatile writer with plenty of books outside the horror genre in his bibliography. Here are some of our favorites.

11/22/63

For a historical fiction, we recommend 11/22/63. A high school teacher named Jake Epping discovers a time portal that leads to September 9, 1958. He embarks on a mission to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. However, as Jake immerses himself in the past, he faces unforeseen challenges and learns that changing history can have unpredictable and far-reaching consequences.

The Dark Tower series

Fantasy and science fiction lovers will adore The Dark Tower series. Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, is on a quest to reach the Dark Tower, a mysterious structure that is the nexus of all universes. Throughout his journey, Roland encounters various allies and adversaries, traveling through different worlds and times, battling evil forces that threaten the Tower. The series blends elements of fantasy, horror, and Western genres, exploring themes of destiny, sacrifice, and the nature of reality. Jump into this series with book one: The Gunslinger.

Fairy Tale

Another fantasy novel to read by Stephen King is Fairy Tale. The teenage protagonist, Charlie Reade, discovers a hidden parallel world after befriending an elderly recluse, Mr. Bowditch. In this fantastical realm, Charlie encounters a kingdom under the grip of a dark curse, populated by magical creatures and dangerous enemies. As he navigates this new world, Charlie must confront his deepest fears and harness his newfound abilities to save both his world and the enchanted one.

The Running Man

Writing under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, Stephen King published The Running Man in 1982. Set in a dystopian future where the government controls a brutal reality TV show, Ben Richards participates in this deadly game where he must evade professional hunters and survive for 30 days to win a cash prize for his impoverished family. As he struggles to stay alive, Richards uncovers the corruption and exploitation inherent in the society, challenging the oppressive system that perpetuates such violence.

On Writing

On Writing is part memoir, part guide for aspiring writers. King shares his personal journey as a writer, including his struggles and triumphs, offering insight into his creative process and the experiences that shaped his career. One of the bestselling nonfiction reads of 2023, this book provides practical advice on the craft of writing, emphasizing the importance of reading, dedication, and authenticity in storytelling. We highly recommend it for any aspiring author.

Stephen King books in order

Explore King’s extensive bibliography below. + signifies nonfiction

1. Carrie (1974)
2. Salem’s Lot (1975)
3. The Shining (1977)
4. Rage (1977)*
5. The Stand (1978)
6. The Long Walk (1979)
7. The Dead Zone (1979)
8. Firestarter (1980)
9. Roadwork (1981)
10. Cujo (1981)
11. Danse Macabre (1981)+
12. The Running Man (1982)
13. The Dark Tower: the Gunslinger (1982)
14. Christine (1983)
15. Pet Sematary (1983)
16. Cycle of the Werewolf (1983)
17. The Talisman (1984)
18. The Eyes of the Dragon (1984)
19. Thinner (1984)
20. It (1986)
21. The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (1987)
22. Misery (1987)
23. The Tommyknockers (1987)
24. Nightmares in the Sky (1988)+
25. The Dark Half (1989)
26. The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (1991)
27. Needful Things (1991)
28. Gerald’s Game (1992)
29. Dolores Claiborne (1992)
30. Insomnia (1994)
31. Rose Madder (1995)
32. The Green Mile (1996)
33. Desperation (1996)
34. The Regulators (1996)
35. The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (1997)
36. Bag of Bones (1998)
37. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999)
38. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000)+
39. Secret Windows: Essays and Fictions on the Craft of Writing (2000)+
40. Dreamcatcher (2001)
41. Black House (2001)
42. From a Buick 8 (2002)
43. The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla (2003)
44. The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah (2004)
45. The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (2004)
46. Faithful (2004)+
47. The Colorado Kid (2005)
48. Cell (2006)
49. Lisey’s Story (2006)
50. Blaze (2007)
51. Duma Key (2008)
52. Under the Dome (2009)
53. 11/22/63 (2011)
54. The Dark Tower: The Wind through the Keyhole (2012)
55. Joyland (2013) 
56. Doctor Sleep (2013)
57. Mr. Mercedes (2014)
58. Revival (2014)
59. Finders Keepers (2015)
60. End of Watch (2016)
61. Gwendy’s Button Box (2017)
62. Sleeping Beauties (2017)
63. The Outsider (2018)
64. Elevation (2018)
65. The Institute (2019)
66. Later (2021)
67. Billy Summers (2021)
68. Gwendy’s Final Task (2022)
69. Fairy Tale (2022)
70. Holly (2023)

* Due to its depiction of school violence, Rage is now out of print and no longer widely available. You can find as part of The Bachman Books on Pango.

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