What Steven King book would you suggest for someone who's never read Steven King

[CJones]

What the subject title says. I've never read a Steven King book, but I've seen loads of the movies and/or TV shows based on his work. I don't have anything better to do, so I thought I should check out one of his books. I have no problem with violence or profanity. I just want something that isn't a thousand pages long.

[wihogfan]

I haven't read any in a long time, but my suggestion for a good start would be a book of his short stories.

[goflyblind]

the gunsl...

I just want something that isn't a thousand pages long.

oh, nevermind.

eyes of the dragon, then.

[MrTorso]

The Shining.

Then follow it up with the UNCUT Stand.

[F-Zero]

I haven't read any in a long time, but my suggestion for a good start would be a book of his short stories.

Agree. Skeleton Crew (1985) would be my pick (it has The Mist). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King_short_fiction_bibliography

-OR-

The Bachman books that include The Long Walk and Running Man.

[MartyS (Gromit)]

I read lots of King as a kid, last one I read was Thinner.

Maybe start with the Night Shift collection, lots of great stories in that one.

For something less than 400 pages I thought Cujo was good, made a terrible movie but since King narrates for the dog it changes the tone a lot, you feel worse for the dog than some of the people.

[CJones]

Thanks for the advice guys    I'll go to the library and see if they have any of King's short story collections.

[Johnny Unusual]

If you want a full novel, Dead Zone is also really good.  It's not too long and its a really good supernatural thriller.  But short stories is probably a good entry point.

[George-2.0]

Haven't read him in a while (though I did get back to him for Dr. Sleep). So of course I gravitate towards the early stuff. Salem's' Lot, The Shinning, The Stand (though that's a big ol novel), The Dead Zone, Firestarter... all of these I remember enjoying.