There’s a good reason why you stumbled on this list of Stephen King Books. Whether it’s because you’re looking at all the best Stephen King books ranked out there or that you wish to learn more about Stephen King’s bibliography, it’s definitely a reason to stay. He is one of the most famous horror novelists on the planet.

But who is Stephen King, really? Well, he’s a writer that has inspired many stories of both horror, sci-fi, and crime. How many books has Stephen King written? The answer is ninety-six books. These include short stories and novellas. How old is Stephen King now? As of 2022, he is seventy-five years old. And although in his senior years, nothing gets past Stephen King. Twitter is one platform you can see him active on.

Stephen King has had so many books of his remade into films that there should even be a list of Stephen King movies somewhere on the internet. Books by Stephen King have even made readers cry because of the relatability and the right way of explaining the character’s emotions. It’s no wonder that most of his books have earned him the respect of so many avid readers and movie fans alike.

Still, only a few people know all of his books by heart. Thankfully, we have found his works and organized them into a list of books and novellas, along with their summaries.

Carrie (Novel, 1974)

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Carrie is one of Stephen King’s classic books. The story revolves around a young teenage girl named Carrie who discovers she has telekinetic powers. She deals with harsh bullies such as Chris, a popular rich girl who leads a band of bullies. Carrie also has to follow her abusive mother, who hides behind religious pretenses. What would you do if you had her problems and her powers?

Salem’s Lot (Novel, 1975)

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Salem’s Lot is the story of a writer named Ben Mears. Ben returns to his childhood town named Jerusalem’s Lot (or Salem’s Lot for short). He, unfortunately, discovers that many of the town’s locals have become odd. This all begins once Richard Straker introduces himself as Kurt Barlow’s business partner, who buys the Marsten House. What made the locals’ change? And who made them change in the first place?

The Shining (Novel, 1977)

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The Shining follows the Torrance family members: Jack, Wendy, and Danny. Jack is an aspiring playwright who gets a job taking care of the Overlook Hotel during the winter. Before they are left to their own devices, the Torrance family meets Dick Hallorann, who notices that Danny is a psychic like himself. Hallorann explains to Danny that he calls their powers the Shining, and that if there is ever any trouble, Danny must call him right away. Trouble appears as Jack starts getting possessed and apparitions of angry spirits start to appear.

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Rage (Novel, 1977)

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Rage is a novel about the violence of a school shooting led by Charlie Decker. The story begins with Charlie being expelled after he seriously injures one of his teachers, gets suspended, and refuses to apologize (even insulting the principal as a result). He gets expelled, and holds the students of the school hostage while killing the other teachers first. The novel has been named alongside various real-life school shootings from the 1980s to the 1990s, causing the book to be banned.

The Stand (Novel, 1978)

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The Stand is a post-apocalyptic novel that centers on a battle between good and evil. A deadly virus infects people and those who survive band together. All survivors have prophetic dreams, either of Mother Abigail or Randall Flagg. Mother Abigail is the good-natured one-hundred-year-old woman, while Randall is the leader of the deranged psychopaths.

Night Shift (Story Collection, 1978)

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Stephen King’s short story collections began in 1978 with his first published collection: Night Shift. The short stories include Jerusalem’s Lot, Graveyard Shift, Night Shift, I Am the Doorway, The Mangler, The Boogeyman, Gray Matter, Battleground, Trucks, Sometimes They Come Back, Strawberry Spring, The Ledge, The Lawnmower Man, Quitters, Inc., I Know What You Need, Children of the Corn, The Last Rung on the Ladder, The Man Who Loved Flowers, One for the Road, and The Woman in the Room.

The Long Walk (Novel, 1979)

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The Long Walk is a lot similar to death marches, which are forced walks for prisoners of war. In The Long Walk, this is a source of entertainment for the dystopian version of the United States of America. Should any of the participants fail in walking, they are eliminated by being shot to death. One hundred boys compete to become the one winner who earns financial stability. The main character is Raymond Garraty, and he forms a friendship with his fellow walkers as they walk continuously.

The Dead Zone (Novel, 1979)

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Johnny Smith falls into a coma and wakes up years later with a part of his brain damaged called “The Dead Zone.” As a result, other parts of his brain work to compensate for the pieces that went missing. Johnny discovers that thanks to the accident, which allows him to have visions of the future about objects and humans by merely touching them. Smith helps the police look for killers after having a failed attempt to return to normal life. Here he discovers that Greg Stillson, a politician with a questionable background, will cause an irrevocable nuclear war.

The Mist (Novella, 1979)

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The Mist is part of the Dark Forces Anthology. On this list of Stephen King books, the Mist was not just made into a film, but also into a popular TV series. The story introduces the protagonist, David, and his son, Billie. The father and son are trapped in a grocery store, among other survivors, after a mysteriously thick fog surrounds the store. Inside the Mist are violent creatures willing to kill anyone who steps too close. David, his son, and his companions must figure out a way to escape from the Mist before it reaches the inside of the store itself.

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Firestarter (Novel, 1980)

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Andy McGee flees with his daughter Charlie from The Shop, a terrifying government agency that deals with experimentation. Andy and his wife, Victoria, took part in some experiments that gave them psychic abilities (with setbacks such as migraines and brain hemorrhages). An alarming thing is that Charlie, the product of the two, has developed pyrokinetic abilities. Andy attempts to protect his daughter from The Shop in a battle between freedom and control.

Roadwork (Novel, 1981)

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Roadwork centers on the protest and rejection of the new highway extension by Barton George Dawes, and the reporter that follows the story surrounding the roadwork to be done. Dawes’ son, Charlie, had died of brain cancer. This becomes one of the biggest reasons for Dawes’ disapproval of the extension, seeing as it will demolish Charlie’s childhood home. The other reason being that the laundry shop he works at is also set to be demolished. Roadworks’ story follows Dawes’ violent protests and refusal to accept the destruction of his town. The novel was dedicated to Stephen King’s confusion about the death of his mother, who also died of cancer, as Charlie did in the story.

Danse Macabre (Non-Fiction, 1981)

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The Danse Macabre is a non-fiction book written by Stephen King which discusses what frightens the everyday reader. It talks about the various influences of TV, media, and print regarding the anxieties and everyday fears of the average person. Danse Macabre is a novel that gives insight into the influences of horror stories, and is a great way to get another perspective regarding the others ones on this list of Stephen King books.

Cujo (Novel, 1981)

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Cujo is a story of two families intertwined with a tragedy. The Trenton family is suffering from financial loss, which causes Vic to go out of town to take care of business matters. His wife, Donda, and son, Tad, go out to repair their Ford Pinto at the Camber’s territory. As for the Camber’s, Charity and her son, Brett, fly to Connecticut to visit Charity’s sister. This leaves Joe Camber alone as he drinks with his friend Gary. The real trouble starts when Cujo, their friendly and well-beloved Saint Bernard, is infected with rabies.

The Running Man (Novel, 1982)

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The Running Man is set in the year 2025, and focuses on the usage of media to distract society from alarming human rights violations. Its main protagonist, Ben Richards, willingly competes in the Running Man because of the intense cash prizes that the competitors will receive in exchange for violent assassination attempts, betrayals, and elusive escapes from the police (including the murder of police and hunters themselves). The novel focuses on poverty, and the manipulative forces around the dystopian era that allow people to ignore pressing issues.

The Dark Tower (Novel Series, 1982–2012)

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The Dark Tower is one of the longest in this list of Stephen King books. This is because The Dark Tower comprises eight books spanning from the 1980s to the 2010s. The story follows the last gunslinger, Roland Deschain, whose goal is to reach the Dark Tower, which is said to be the connecting point of all universes. As the book series progresses, Deschain’s goals and motivations become clearer on why he focuses solely on his mission towards the elusive Dark Tower.

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Different Seasons (Story Collection, 1982)

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Different Seasons is another collection by Stephen King. The novellas in the collection feature four seasons. This collection has nearly all of its contents made into a film. Different Seasons have a more dramatic tone compared to the others in this list of Stephen King books. Included in it are Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, The Body, and The Breathing Method.

The Body (Novella, 1982)

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The Body (King novella) is a novella about the confrontation of death at a young age. Gordie LaChance, Teddy Duchamp, Chris Chambers, and Vern Tessio go out camping to search for the dead body of Ray Brower. It’s a reflection of children and their troubled upbringing as the group of friends discuss their familial homes. Once they meet Ray Brower’s body, the emptiness and lack of life in Brower haunt Gordie for a long time.

Apt Pupil (Novella, 1982)

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Apt Pupil is the story of a relationship between a young teenager and a Nazi War Criminal. Todd discovers that Arthur Denker is actually Kurt Dussender, a Nazi who has escaped under falsified documents and is now living as an elderly German immigrant. Todd’s relationship with Dussender develops from Dussender becoming an interesting storyteller of the brutality in the Holocaust to an old friend, with whom he shares a similar hobby. While Todd Bowden was just a rebellious teenager, Kurt Dussender handled the lives of many Jewish people who died under his command. Todd eventually strengthens into a pupil of sorts to Dussender.

The Breathing Method (Novella, 1982)

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The Breathing Method tells the story of Dr. Emlyn McCarron’s experience with a patient named Sandra Stansfield. The woman, who is pregnant with an illegitimate child, proceeds with a plan to give birth to the infant despite the protests. McCarron teaches her a new breathing method that does more than just give her an easy birthing experience.

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (Novella, 1982)

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Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption tells the story of prisoner Andy Dufresne and his prison mate, Red. Andy is convicted of killing his wife and her lover. He is then forced to serve two life sentences. He overcomes various experiences inside the Shawshank Prison Ward and helps his close friend, Red, to adjust to life after prison. The novella has been remade into “The Shawshank Redemption” and has won many awards. It mentions the challenges of prison life and the unjust corruption that happens inside of it.

Christine (Novel, 1983)

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Christine is the name of a Plymouth Fury that Arnie buys with his friend Dennis. Roland D. LeBay was Christine’s previous owner. During this time, the progression of Arnie’s personality changes to that of LeBay’s. Christine is then often seen in a string of car-related deaths. Now it’s up to Dennis and Arnie’s girlfriend, Leigh, to understand Christine’s true intentions.

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Pet Sematary (Novel, 1983)

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Louis Creed moves into the small town of Ludlow with his wife, Rachel, and two children: Ellie and Gage. Ellie’s pet cat, Church, dies in an accident. Jud comes to the aid of Louis and reveals the secret of Pet Sematary. Although they are never quite the same again. Pet Sematary has been remade into many films with sequels. This novel, in the list of Stephen King books, is one of the most widely known stories in horror.

The Talisman (Novel, 1984)

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The Talisman is basically a story about Jack Sawyer and his journey to save his mother. Sawyer learns about “The Talisman,” an existing crystal with magical healing powers. In order to locate this, Sawyer ventures into the parallel world of The Territories, where every person on earth usually has a counterpart. Sawyer, accompanied by Speedy Parker, attempts to find the talisman in order to heal his beloved mother, and her counterpart, as well.

Thinner (Novel, 1984)

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Stephen King wrote Thinner to depict his weight issues during this time. The story revolves around a morbidly obese hotshot lawyer named Billy Halleck, who kills a Romani woman in a roadside accident. Halleck escapes justice and roams free. Meanwhile, the Romani woman’s father, Taduz Lemke, curses Halleck using the word “thinner.”

The Cycle of the Werewolf (Novel, 1985)

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The Cycle of the Werewolf tells the story of wheelchair-bound Marty Coslaw. Every new moon, a murder victim appears in the small town of Tarker’s Mills, Maine. Marty is the first to discover the existence of the werewolf and its identity. Though nobody believes him, Marty stops at nothing to prevent another murder by the vicious werewolf.

Skeleton Crew (Story Collection, 1985)

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The Skeleton Crew is a list of Stephen King books, short stories, and even poems. Skeleton Crew is a limited edition novel collection with only one thousand copies in print. The collection features illustrations by fellow author, J. K. Rowling.

The Bachman Books (Novel Collection, 1985)

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Richard Bachman is Stephen King’s alias. The books he wrote under this false name were compiled into a collection after his true identity was revealed. The novels in this collection include Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork, and The Running Man.

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IT (Novel, 1986)

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Stephen King’s IT book is probably one of his most famous books to ever exist. It is also considered one of his best books. IT revolves around the story of “The Losers Club”, a group of kids that are bullied, ostracized, and have troubled family backgrounds. They band together after discovering Pennywise, an entity that may have had a hand in a series of frightening experiences.

The Eyes of the Dragon (Novel, 1987)

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The Eyes of the Dragon is a novel that reached criticism from many Stephen King fans. This is because the novel isn’t in the horror genre. Instead, the Eyes of the Dragon is a fantasy epic about Peter, heir to the throne of Delain, and his nemesis, Flagg. Sasha, Peter’s mother, was the queen of the land. Her husband, King Roland, appointed Flagg as the royal court magician. Flagg felt threatened by Peter’s existence and conspired to frame him for assassinating King Roland.

Misery (Novel, 1987)

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In this list of Stephen King books, Misery is one of the most brutal. Annie Wilkes is a deranged fanatic who kidnaps Paul Sheldon. The mentally ill nurse confines the famous author, Paul Sheldon, and forces him to write another book in a series that he has already finished. The story relates to the mentally draining experience King has gone through when his fans rejected his epic fantasy, Eyes of the Dragon.

The Tommyknockers (Novel, 1987)

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The Tommyknockers centers on Gard, an alcoholic with a steel metal plate protecting him from the infection of an Alien spacecraft that transforms unsuspecting people in his town. The person who has discovered the spacecraft is Bobbi, with whom Gard is good friends with. Both Bobbi and Gard attempt to launch the spacecraft back into space to help the remaining survivors of the town.

Nightmares in The Sky (Non-Fiction,1988)

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Nightmares in The Sky is a collaboration between F-Stop Fitzgerald and Stephen King. Compared to other titles on this list of Stephen King books, the author’s role in this book is to accompany text on the photographs only. The book is about gargoyles and grotesques that hang above buildings.

The Dark Half (Novel, 1989)

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The Dark Half reflects Stephen King’s experience writing under the pen name Richard Bachman. The main character is Thad Beaumont who has been writing under the pen name George Stark. Thad and his wife decide to create the false death of George Stark. However, the burial ground unearths an actual George Stark with Thad’s physical and habitual traits.

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The Stand: The Complete & Uncut Edition (Novel, 1990)

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Stephen King released its complete and uncut edition in 1990. It’s about a deadly virus that splits between the good versus the bad. The complete uncut edition is longer and more detailed compared to its earlier release.

Four Past Midnight (Story Collection, 1990)

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Four Past Midnight is a collection of novellas Stephen King wrote between 1988 and 1989. It is the second story collection he published after Different Seasons, which features four novellas that center on supernatural entities. The stories featured inside are The Sun Dog, Secret Window, Secret Garden, The Library Policeman, and The Langoliers.

The Sun Dog (Novella, 1990)

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The Sun Dog tells the story of Kevin, his father John, and Pop. Kevin buys a Sun 660 camera for his birthday but notices that whatever he takes a picture of doesn’t print out. Instead, it reveals a picture of a dog behind a white fence. The sun dog gradually shows movement with every picture taken. He takes it to Pop, who owns The Emporium Galorium, and the two decipher it as a paranormal camera.

Secret Window, Secret Garden (Novella, 1990)

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For this list of Stephen King books, this novella talks mostly about the subject of intellectual property. The protagonist of this story is Mort Rainey, a famous author, who is accused by a man from Mississippi named John Shooter. Mort is confronted by Shooter to have stolen his work, Secret Window, Secret Garden. Initially, Mort denies this but discovers that Shooter’s work and Mort’s are incredibly similar. Mort and Shooter go through a violent cycle of vengeance to claim that the other party is guilty.

The Library Policeman (Novella, 1990)

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The Library Policeman is a supernatural ghost story about Ardelia Lortz, a dead librarian. The protagonist, Sam Pebble, does research for his speech to the Rotary Club in the library. There he meets the ghost of Ardelia, who insists he returns his borrowed books in time or else the library policeman will get him. Sam discovers he must face his fears and the trauma of his younger years to survive the library policeman.

The Langoliers (Novella, 1990)

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The Langoliers tells the story of a group of people on a plane to Boston. There is news of an unnatural phenomenon, similar to an aurora occurring in the Mojave Desert. After a few moments, the nine people discover themselves alone on the plane without the crew or the other passengers. The Langoliers end up being the culprit as they try to clean up the past.

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Needful Things (Novel, 1991)

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Leland Gaunt is a shop owner from Ohio. He opens up a shop in Castle Rock, Maine where he has specific items that every customer needs. The prices are ridiculously low and all the customers have to do is play a small prank on another member of the town. Unbeknownst to most of his customers, Gaunt asks for these pranks not to be harmless, but to instigate further violence or chaos in Castle Rock.

Gerald’s Game (Novel, 1992)

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Jessie and her husband, Gerald, take a romantic trip to a lake house in Maine. Gerald asks Jessie if he can handcuff her to the bed as they perform sexual intercourse. Gerald suffers a heart attack and dies as Jessie remains cuffed on the bed with no one to find her. People that know them are unaware of their location, and many of the locals have left for the season. Gerald’s game becomes a fight for survival as Jessie suffers dehydration and hallucination from the fear.

Dolores Claiborne (Novel, 1993)

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Dolores Claiborne is a novel centered on a transcript of Claiborne’s confession to the murder of her husband, Joe St. George. Initially taken in for questioning at the death of her employer, Vera Donovan, Claiborne instead confesses to her relationship with her departed employer and her marriage with Joe.

Nightmares & Dreamscapes (Story Collection, 1993)

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Nightmares & Dreamscapes is another story collection on this list of Stephen King books. The genre surrounding the collection involves horror, Viking lore, and science fiction. Included in this collection are The Beggar and the Diamond, Brooklyn August, Head Down, Umney’s Last Case, The Doctor’s Case, Fifth Quarter, The House on Maple Street, Crouch End, The Ten O’clock People, Sorry, Right Number, My Pretty Pony, Rainy Season, Home Delivery, You Know They’ve Got a Hell of a Band, Sneakers, Moving Fingers, and many more. The collection adds up to twenty-four short stories.

Insomnia (Novel, 1994)

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Insomnia’s setting takes place in Derry, Maine. The same location where It and Dreamcatcher take place. The protagonist is a retired and aggressive old man named Ralph Roberts. He discovers that after experiencing extreme symptoms of insomnia; he sees people and visions that usually cannot be seen with the naked eye. After discovering that his companions, Ed and Lois, also experience the same visions, Ralph has trouble identifying which parts are in his existence and which are from another.

Blind Willie (Novella, 1994)

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Willie Shearman believes that his somatic symptom disorder is penance. He goes temporarily blind and suffers memory loss. Actually, he believes that this is his punishment for merely witnessing and not defending Carol, who has been beaten in front of him. Willie also keeps a scrapbook of Carol’s achievements and resistance against government corruption. This inspires Willie and even helps him with the police officers who he bribes to escape arrest.

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Rose Madder (Novel, 1995)

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Rose Madder deals with domestic violence. The protagonist is Rosie, a battered woman, who escapes her husband after he physically abuses her during her second trimester. Rosie loses her baby and escapes Daniel, despite his aggressive nature and ties with the police. While doing so, she encounters relationships with various people. Rosie carries a portrait of a woman she calls “Rose Madder” because of her dress and the distorted mania on her face.

The Regulators (Novel, 1995)

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The Regulators are a novel in parallel to another on this list of Stephen King Books. Desperation’s characters are also present in The Regulators, but are presented differently. Tak is an entity that has escaped its prison in Desperation by possessing the body of Seth, a boy with strong mental capabilities. The town is then changed into an Old Western town, and a string of violent deaths occur. The other characters try to escape by freeing Seth from Tak.

The Green Mile (Novel Series, 1996)

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The Green Mile is just one book turned into a movie on the list of Stephen King books. Here we follow death row supervisor, Paul Edgecombe, and his relationship with inmates who are to receive the death penalty. Edgecombe writes in his nursing home of his own experience with a particular inmate named John Coffey. Paul notices how empathetic Coffey is, and has supernatural healing abilities. Despite Coffey’s good nature, he is still expected to walk towards death as the days tick by.

Desperation (Novel, 1996)

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Desperation is the name of an abandoned mining town where a group of people is captured by Collie Entragian. Initially believing Collie to be a deranged psychopath, the group in the town discovers that Collie is possessed by a violent spirit named Tak. The entity was once a human being who had died inside the mining shaft, and gained the ability to possess living creatures. However, its possession causes the bodies it inhabits to decay quickly. The group must decide how to escape and what must be done so that others can survive.

Bag of Bones (Novel, 1998)

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Mike Noonan is a widow who has lost his pregnant wife because of a brain aneurysm. After four years of intense writer’s block, Mike moves to his vacation house in Dark Score Lake. There he meets Mattie, a young woman, and her daughter Kyra. He sees apparitions of his dead wife warning him to solve the mystery of Dark Score Lake’s Sara Tidwell, a ghost that haunts their home.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (Novel, 1999)

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While on a trip with her mother and brother Pete, Trisha argues with her brother regarding their parents’ divorce. After taking a pee break, she becomes hopelessly lost. As she tries to find her way back to her family, she listens to a recording of Tom Gordon, hoping to keep calm.

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Hearts in Atlantis (Story Collection, 1999)

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Hearts in Atlantis is another story collection by Stephen King with three short stories accompanied by two novellas. All of the stories revolve around the Baby Boomer Generation, and their promising, idealistic futures. Included in the collection are