Stephen King (Author of The Shining)
Stephen King

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Stephen King

Goodreads Author


Born
in Portland, Maine, The United States
Website

Genre

Influences

Member Since
December 2013


Stephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a ne ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

Stephen King My favorite movie this Christmas is TRAIN TO BUSAN, because to me, nothing says Christmas like zombies on a South Korean express train.
Stephen King Favorite new horror writers? Well, of course, Joe Hill—I’m allowed to be proud of him because he’s my son, but I’m also a fan. Benjamin Percy (RED MOO…moreFavorite new horror writers? Well, of course, Joe Hill—I’m allowed to be proud of him because he’s my son, but I’m also a fan. Benjamin Percy (RED MOON) is terrific, and so is Paul Tremblay, whose novel about a case of possible demonic possession (A HEAD FULL OF GHOSTS) ranks with the best of Shirley Jackson.
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Average rating: 4.07 · 19,668,234 ratings · 934,932 reviews · 2,531 distinct worksSimilar authors
The Shining (The Shining, #1)

4.27 avg rating — 1,506,420 ratings — published 1977 — 560 editions
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It

4.24 avg rating — 1,124,335 ratings — published 1986 — 408 editions
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The Stand

by
4.35 avg rating — 766,969 ratings — published 1978 — 30 editions
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Misery

4.21 avg rating — 707,481 ratings — published 1987 — 374 editions
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Carrie

3.99 avg rating — 732,237 ratings — published 1974 — 461 editions
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Pet Sematary

4.06 avg rating — 599,082 ratings — published 1983 — 436 editions
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The Gunslinger (The Dark To...

3.92 avg rating — 615,520 ratings — published 1982 — 366 editions
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11/22/63

4.34 avg rating — 547,759 ratings — published 2011 — 241 editions
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’Salem’s Lot

4.06 avg rating — 461,642 ratings — published 1975 — 389 editions
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The Green Mile

4.48 avg rating — 323,774 ratings — published 1996 — 351 editions
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More books by Stephen King…

YOU LIKE IT DARKER Excerpt

Head over to Esquire to read an excerpt from Stephen King’s You Like It Darker



When a famous writer dies at ninety, his son investigates the defining friendship of his life. Turns out the old man kept his friends close—and his secrets closer.


Read the Excerpt Now Read more of this blog post »
160 likes ·   •  13 comments  •  flag
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Published on May 21, 2024 07:37
The Gunslinger The Drawing of the Three The Waste Lands Wizard and Glass Wolves of the Calla Song of Susannah The Dark Tower
(8 books)
by
4.12 avg rating — 1,966,322 ratings

The Shining Doctor Sleep Before the Play: Prequel to...
(3 books)
by
4.25 avg rating — 1,770,914 ratings

Mr. Mercedes Finders Keepers End of Watch
(3 books)
by
4.05 avg rating — 615,262 ratings

The Two Dead Girls The Mouse on the Mile Coffey's Hands The Bad Death of Eduard Del... Night Journey Coffey on the Mile
(6 books)
by
4.49 avg rating — 446,691 ratings

The Talisman Black House
(2 books)
by
4.10 avg rating — 198,798 ratings

More series by Stephen King…

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Stephen’s Recent Updates

Stephen King wrote a new blog post

YOU LIKE IT DARKER Excerpt

Head over to Esquire to read an excerpt from Stephen King’s You Like It Darker

When a famous writer dies at ninety, his son investigates the defining f Read more of this blog post »
More of Stephen's books…
Quotes by Stephen King  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
Stephen King

“Get busy living or get busy dying.”
Stephen King, Different Seasons

Polls

October Series Group Read

It by Stephen King It by Stephen King

To the children, the town was their whole world. To the adults, knowing better, Derry, Maine was just their home town: familiar, well-ordered for the most part. A good place to live.

It was the children who saw - and felt - what made Derry so horribly different. In the storm drains, in the sewers, IT lurked, taking on the shape of every nightmare, each one's deepest dread. Sometimes IT reached up, seizing, tearing, killing . . .

The adults, knowing better, knew nothing.

Time passed and the children grew up, moved away. The horror of IT was deep-buried, wrapped in forgetfulness. Until they were called back, once more to confront IT as IT stirred and coiled in the sullen depths of their memories, reaching up again to make their past nightmares a terrible present reality.
 
  15 votes 22.1%

Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies, #1) by Isaac Marion Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

R is having a no-life crisis—he is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he is a little different from his fellow Dead. He may occasionally eat people, but he’d rather be riding abandoned airport escalators, listening to Sinatra in the cozy 747 he calls home, or collecting souvenirs from the ruins of civilization.

And then he meets a girl.

First as his captive, then his reluctant guest, Julie is a blast of living color in R’s gray landscape, and something inside him begins to bloom. He doesn't want to eat this girl—although she looks delicious—he wants to protect her. But their unlikely bond will cause ripples they can’t imagine, and their hopeless world won’t change without a fight.
 
  15 votes 22.1%

My Sister's Grave (Tracy Crosswhite, #1) by Robert Dugoni My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni

Tracy Crosswhite has spent twenty years questioning the facts surrounding her sister Sarah’s disappearance and the murder trial that followed. She doesn’t believe that Edmund House — a convicted rapist and the man condemned for Sarah’s murder — is the guilty party. Motivated by the opportunity to obtain real justice, Tracy became a homicide detective with the Seattle PD and dedicated her life to tracking down killers.

When Sarah’s remains are finally discovered near their hometown in the northern Cascade mountains of Washington State, Tracy is determined to get the answers she’s been seeking. As she searches for the real killer, she unearths dark, long-kept secrets that will forever change her relationship to her past — and open the door to deadly danger.
 
  14 votes 20.6%

Half Bad (The Half Bad Trilogy, #1) by Sally Green Half Bad by Sally Green

Wanted by no one.
Hunted by everyone.

Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world's most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan's only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it's too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?

Half Bad is an international sensation and the start of a brilliant trilogy: a gripping tale of alienation and the indomitable will to survive.
 
  8 votes 11.8%

The Memoirs of a Living Dead Girl by Brenda Bailey The Memoirs of a Living Dead Girl by Brenda Bailey

Life for beautiful Zoey Tann was a simple one, filled with hard work and contentment working at the sanitarium owned by her wealthy grandfather.

Unfortunately life as she knew it came to an abrupt halt when she died a sudden death, drowning in the massive river that surrounded the mysterious hospital in the woods. Only at the hands of the brilliant Dr. Joshua Graham is Zoe's heart able to beat once again, creating the world's first living dead girl.

But awakening in a world meant only for the living isn't all sunshine and roses for Zoe. Constantly pursued by Dr. Ivan Drake, a vile man that has only lust and money in his mind, she must cope with the fact that her body has changed in ways that are now bizarre and frightening. After a night of heated ecstacy together, Dr. Graham vowed to unlock the secrets that kept Zoe a prisoner in her own body, but falling in love with her was never part of his carefully laid plan.

Now they share a love and romance greater than death itself.
 
  8 votes 11.8%

Rot & Ruin (Rot & Ruin, #1) by Jonathan Maberry Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.
 
  5 votes 7.4%

Texas Gothic (Goodnight Family #1) by Rosemary Clement-Moore Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Amy Goodnight knows that the world isn't as simple as it seems—she grew up surrounded by household spells and benevolent ghosts. But she also understands that "normal" doesn't mix with magic, and she's worked hard to build a wall between the two worlds. Not only to protect any hope of ever having a normal life.

Ranch-sitting for her aunt in Texas should be exactly that. Good old ordinary, uneventful hard work. Only, Amy and her sister, Phin, aren't alone. There's someone in the house with them—and it's not the living, breathing, amazingly hot cowboy from the ranch next door.

It's a ghost, and it's more powerful than the Goodnights and all their protective spells combined. It wants something from Amy, and none of her carefully built defenses can hold it back.

This is the summer when the wall between Amy's worlds is going to come crashing down.
 
  3 votes 4.4%

68 total votes
More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics posts views last activity  
Study Buddies: Freezer Books 6 452 Oct 23, 2008 07:47AM  
The Book Challenge: Sarah's 2008 Book Challenge v2.0 - Fini! 5 1803 Dec 29, 2008 09:31AM  
100+ Books in 2024: Jennifer D's 100 of 08 10 254 Dec 30, 2008 03:28PM  
Goodreads Librari...: Combine Question 8 228 Jan 15, 2009 11:35AM  
75 Books...More o...: This topic has been closed to new comments. Authors you love 17 2258 Jan 27, 2009 04:14AM  
Glens Falls (NY) ...: Jim's post about a Stephen King Interview... 4 108 Feb 10, 2009 11:19AM  
SciFi and Fantasy...: The Road -- The Stand Vs The Road 58 212 Feb 14, 2009 10:21PM  



Comments (showing 17-66)    post a comment »

message 66: by Sandy

Sandy Parsons "Was he big, or was he real big?" -from Big Driver, that scary moment when you realize there's an even bigger one. Yikes!

Happy Birthday to the biggest of them all.


message 65: by G.A.

G.A. Miller Happy Birthday Mr. King! Hope you find enjoyment in all you do today.


message 64: by Doreen

Doreen Petersen Reading through the Dark Tower series. Loving every bit of it. Thank you for writing it.


message 63: by G.A.

G.A. Miller Now that you've shared the path that Danny Torrance took as he grew up, I sincerely hope you'll wonder whatever became of Mark Petrie, and whether he ever decided to return and find out if the fire was as cleansing as Ben thought it would be...
'Salem's Lot was my introduction to your work, and will always be my favorite. No matter where life takes us, we always remember our first.


Ann Marie Happy birthday to my second favourite author (my first being my kids... who also read your books)!!! Keep being wonderful and have a lovely day! xo


message 61: by Karen

Karen Malena Okay, this isn't going to be an "I'm your number one fan" note. I want to tell you what your writing has meant to me. I've read your books since I was in my twenties. Through my life, I've always wanted to write my own stories but was laughed at even by family members. Flash forward to about eight years ago when I read your amazing book, "On Writing." A true life-changer! Not only is that the handbook for anyone interested in penning a more crisp style of writing, but re-reading my favorite books of yours every couple years also is like sitting with you in a schoolroom, watching the master spin his craft.

I'm near the end of "Doctor Sleep" which is a brilliant piece of writing. I have "The Shining" sitting right next to it as a reference book, and am amazed at your settings, sentence structure, extremely powerful writing. As always, this book is a winner.

Here's to you my teacher! Keep doing what you're chosen to do. Oh, and by the way, I am your number one fan. Karen Malena


message 60: by Doreen

Doreen Petersen Looking forward to seeing you and Lee Childs at the Harvard Bookstore on Sept. 9. I'm sure it will be a great evening!


message 59: by Doreen

Doreen Petersen Just finishing up Full Dark, No Stars. So close to the end that I just can't put it down until I finish. Today was a rough day for me. The 11th yr anniversary of my Dad's death and I was feeling really low but reading your book Mr. King helped get me through the day. Thank you so much and hope all is well with you.


message 58: by Tanja

Tanja Hal Sorry that I`m late..Happy, happy, happy birthday and best wishes:)


message 57: by Celeste

Celeste Happy Birthday!! *.*
Thank you for sharing your wonderful imagination with us.

-Celeste.


message 56: by May

May Kasahara Happy Birthday Mr. King!!!


message 55: by Doreen

Doreen Petersen Just finished reading Dr. Sleep tonight and all I can say is WOW! There were parts you put it there that I never expected and kept me totally addicted to the book! I would definitely recommend your writing to everyone. You are the master Mr. King!


message 54: by Aloy

Aloy Stephen King = THE KING


message 53: by Antuan

Antuan Vance Thank you for accepting my request. It made my day. You are my favorite author. You have been an inspiration.


Gayathri Arun Kumar Thanks for accepting my request. My best birthday gift this year is friendship with my favourite author.


message 51: by Sharon

Sharon Finally able to put an advanced hold on Mr. Mercedes with my library. Cannot wait to read it!


message 50: by Bonnie

Bonnie Domrois Thank you Mr. King for accepting my friend request. I look forward to discussing all things literary with a fellow bibliophile.


message 49: by Heather

Heather Walsh Hi Stephen,

I am honored that you accepted my friend request. I'm reading On Writing for the third time. Hands down my favorite book on writing after Elements of Style (but I think you'll forgive me for putting that one first).

-Heather


message 48: by Jovi

Jovi Hello! :) Thank you for accepting my request. Like the rest of your followers, I, too, am a fan since HS after reading "Needful Things". Getting hooked in your books made me write books for my own pleasure. I did two and, I suspect, will remain unpublished. "One day", I keep telling myself :)

I sometimes muse over the possibility of you working with John Ajvide Lindqvist one day. That may be a long shot, but a girl can dream, right? ;)

Stay safe always! :)


message 47: by Nayeomi

Nayeomi Thank you Stephen King for accepting my friend request. A long time ago, a gangly 14 year old me picked up your book IT and haven't been the same ever since. If i could produce a quarter for all the nightmares your books gave me! But i still keep reading them.

I am very much honored, sir. Looking forward to meeting you someday and shaking your hand. And ask for a book sign of course. Well, duh. :)


message 46: by Camila

Camila Zagal Hey Stephen, thank you so much for accepting my friend request! I really enjoy The Shinning and Pet Sematary so much and hoping to read the rest. i am a big fan.
- Camila from Mexico City ;D


message 45: by Paolo

Paolo Hey Stephen, thank you for accepting my friend request! So happy.
-CR from Mexico City


message 44: by James

James Lawless Thanks for accepting my friend request Stephen. I just finished your book On Writing which I enjoyed; particularly hilarious -- the scene about the the wild feminist lesbian.
Best wishes,
james
www.jameslawless.net


message 43: by C.J.

C.J. Anderson Thank you for all that you do. Carrie is on my reading list next.


message 42: by Gillian

Gillian Thanks for excepting my friends request. I've read and loved loads of your books. The Shining was the first one of your books that I read many years ago, I've been a big fan of horror ever since.

I've read one of your Son's books as well, he is also a very talented author. It must run in your family! :)


message 41: by Karen

Karen Malena Thank you kindly for accepting my friend request! You are a teacher to me, the greatest storyteller, and now, a friend on Goodreads. Karen Malena, Monroeville, PA


message 40: by Vane

Vane Thanks for accepting my friend request.
I´m so happy !
Grettings from Peru ;)


message 39: by Debbie

Debbie Thank you for adding me as a friend! I am so thrilled. I love reading your books.


message 38: by Mike

Mike Marsbergen Thanks for adding me as a friend! You're an absolute inspiration. The way you weave your 'world' and have it all connect-- it changed how I approach my own writing. Thank you, and I hope you continue to write stories for many more years.


ManaChelle Thank you for accepting my friend request! Is it lame that I got really excited to see that I was like # 2 thousand something?!
You're work is Amazing. Top 5 favorite author. I know when one of your books come out I'm not going to be disappointed . Also, I know I probably won't sleep till the book is done..but, it's always worth it :)
Amanda


message 36: by S.

S. Rutherford Thank you for accepting my friend request. :) You have always been, and will always be, my idol (no seriously!). I have never found someone to be considered my idol until I first picked up Carrie in school. From then on, you've been my guy.

I've read your book On Writing, and even though I loved the story of Carrie, On Writing has got to be my favorite of them all--purely because of the knowledge you instilled within it. Learning about your background has made me feel more comfortable with mine (we share a very similar history with writing). Everything you've taught, I've taken to heart. My copy looks worse than any textbook I've ever owned because of all the highlighting, marginal notes, and dog ears I've done to it, but it just goes to show how strongly I find your word on the craft.


message 35: by Denise

Denise Thank you for adding me to your friends. I love your writing, especially the way you write about young people growing up. You are the best.


message 34: by Constanza (last edited Apr 09, 2014 02:19PM)

Constanza Thank you for accepting my friend request and for all the wonderful stories you've giving us through the years! greetings from Chile! :)


Ann Marie Oh my gosh I'm so star struck! Thank you for accepting my friend request!

I just want to say that I sold 'On Writing' to a whole lineup of people at a coffee shop as I laughed my ass off while reading it at a nearby table. So great! Thank you!


message 32: by Tamás (last edited Apr 09, 2014 01:28PM)

Tamás The usual "thanks for accepting the friend request", but a little more too:

Your books got me into reading, when I was something like 10 years old. I'm on a mission to read everything you ever published, and I'm crazy with anticipation for every new book you announce. "On Writing" was a great insight, and helped me a lot...
You are my idol. (Well, one of my idols, anyway... :D But there aren't a lot. :D)


message 31: by Jasmina

Jasmina Jurišić Thanks for accepting my friend request!
Woohoo, you're the best. <3
Greetings from Croatia!


message 30: by Marko

Marko Rančić Thank you for accepting my friend request, Mr. King! Greetings from Serbia!!!


message 29: by Vanessa

Vanessa If this is the real Stephen King, then I am over the moon that you accepted my friend request :D This is so awesome! :)


Christopher Mechling Dear Mr. King,

Thanks for choosing to be my friend on Goodreads. You've accomplished so much as an author, and it's an honor for me, as a debut author, to connect with you this way.

Best Regards
Christopher Mechling


message 27: by Darren

Darren Thank you for accepting my friend request. You made my day!


message 26: by Mai

Mai AbdelWahab thanx for accepting my request , greetings from Egypt ^_^


message 25: by J.P.

J.P. Mac Appreciate your accepting my friend request. Your work has had a huge influence on me.

Plus we share a mutual acquaintance in Greg Shepherd who used to work at ABC. After your accident, he said ABC wanted to send you some horror movies and asked me for recommendations. I think I suggested, among others, "Curse of the Demon" and "The Cat People."

All the best!


message 24: by Sara

Sara Ribeiro Thanks for accepting my friend request :)


message 23: by Sarah

Sarah Thank you for accepting, made my day! :) Hope you're well. I haven't seen the lights on at your house much lately when I drive by; you must still be in Florida.


 ♕ ❤  ♕ Princess pink diamonds posh bird LINZY.x.♕ ❤ ♕ Thank you Stephen,It's an honour to be your friend.I'm writing my first book,a drama,and my dream is to be as famous as you one day.
You're the greatest and your surname king does you justice.I re-watched 'Misery" for the umpteenth time as I watch and read them all.
Have a great day.
Princess.:0)


László Mr. King, thanks for the friend request acception! I turly respect this moment. :)


message 20: by Jose

Jose Thank you for accepting my friend request! You made my day! :D


message 19: by Lisa

Lisa Reads & Reviews Thanks for accepting my friend request. You're my writing hero author guy!


Derrolyn Anderson Thanks for friending.
I could start gushing about how much your books have meant to me throughout my reading life, but you've already heard that a million times. You made my day :)


message 17: by Aric (last edited Mar 22, 2014 08:06PM)

Aric Cushing I loved this book. It was very difficult to stop reading between my Le Bistro, automatic pet feeder meals. Very, very difficult. It didn't have that amazing lead character (like in Cujo), but I like this even better. Mr. King, can't you write a sequel, like you did with The Shining? Everyone seems to love sequels these days, even pugs. Very few novels can keep me from my meals, but this one, unlike others, did.
[image error]the Pug's SALEM'S LOT photo photo_zpsd6623426.jpg">


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