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Books In Order

Horror

Stephen King Books in Order

by Stephen King

The master of modern horror's complete novels in publication order — from supernatural dread to dystopian thriller, with the Dark Tower epic threading through it all. Includes works published as Richard Bachman.

About the series

Stephen King is the undisputed master of modern horror and suspense, with a career spanning five decades and more than sixty novels. Writing under his own name and the pen name Richard Bachman, King has produced everything from supernatural horror (The Shining, It) to dystopian thrillers (The Running Man), coming-of-age drama (The Body, basis for Stand by Me), and the vast Dark Tower epic that serves as the connective tissue for his entire fictional universe.

Recommended reading order

Most King novels stand alone and can be read in any order, but publication order is the traditional starting point — Carrie (1974) is a brisk introduction, while The Shining (1977) and It (1986) are fan favorites for newcomers. The Dark Tower series (beginning with The Gunslinger, 1982) is best read in its own publication order; many readers tackle it after sampling a few standalones. The Bachman Books are seamlessly integrated here in their publication slots. Note that The Body and Apt Pupil appear as novellas within Different Seasons (1982), which is included because it contains some of King's most celebrated fiction; pure short-story collections and non-fiction are excluded from this list.

Reading order

65 books · Ongoing

  1. #1

    Carrie

    1974

  2. #2

    'Salem's Lot

    1975

  3. #3

    The Shining

    1977

  4. #4

    Rage

    1977

    As Richard Bachman

  5. #5

    The Stand

    1978

  6. #6

    The Long Walk

    1979

    As Richard Bachman

  7. #7

    The Dead Zone

    1979

  8. #8

    Firestarter

    1980

  9. #9

    Roadwork

    1981

    As Richard Bachman

  10. #11

    The Running Man

    1982

    As Richard Bachman

  11. #12

    The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger

    1982

    Dark Tower #1

  12. #13

    Christine

    1983

  13. #14

    Pet Sematary

    1983

  14. #15

    Cycle of the Werewolf

    1983

  15. #16

    The Talisman

    1984

    Co-written with Peter Straub

  16. #17

    Thinner

    1984

    As Richard Bachman

  17. #19

    The Eyes of the Dragon

    1987

  18. #20

    Misery

    1987

  19. #21

    The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three

    1987

    Dark Tower #2

  20. #22

    The Tommyknockers

    1987

  21. #23

    The Dark Half

    1989

  22. #24

    The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands

    1991

    Dark Tower #3

  23. #25

    Needful Things

    1991

  24. #26

    Gerald's Game

    1992

  25. #27

    Dolores Claiborne

    1992

  26. #28

    Insomnia

    1994

  27. #29

    Rose Madder

    1995

  28. #30

    The Regulators

    1996

    As Richard Bachman

  29. #31

    Desperation

    1996

  30. #32

    The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass

    1997

    Dark Tower #4

  31. #33

    Bag of Bones

    1998

  32. #34

    The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

    1999

  33. #35

    Dreamcatcher

    2001

  34. #36

    Black House

    2001

    Co-written with Peter Straub; sequel to The Talisman

  35. #37

    From a Buick 8

    2002

  36. #38

    The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla

    2003

    Dark Tower #5

  37. #39

    The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah

    2004

    Dark Tower #6

  38. #40

    The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower

    2004

    Dark Tower #7

  39. #41

    The Colorado Kid

    2005

  40. #43

    Lisey's Story

    2006

  41. #44

    Duma Key

    2008

  42. #45

    Under the Dome

    2009

  43. #46

    11/22/63

    2011

  44. #47

    The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole

    2012

    Dark Tower #4.5

  45. #48

    Joyland

    2013

  46. #49

    Doctor Sleep

    2013

    Sequel to The Shining

  47. #50

    Mr. Mercedes

    2014

    Bill Hodges #1

  48. #51

    Revival

    2014

  49. #52

    Finders Keepers

    2015

    Bill Hodges #2

  50. #53

    End of Watch

    2016

    Bill Hodges #3

  51. #54

    Sleeping Beauties

    2017

    Co-written with Owen King

  52. #55

    The Outsider

    2018

  53. #56

    The Institute

    2019

  54. #57

    Later

    2021

  55. #58

    Billy Summers

    2021

  56. #59

    Fairy Tale

    2022

  57. #60

    Holly

    2023

    Holly Gibney standalone

  58. #61

    Never Flinch

    2025

    Holly Gibney