Stephen King Book Rankings | Part I: 1974-1982

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  • Опубліковано 3 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 265

  • @mikesbookreviews
    @mikesbookreviews  2 роки тому +64

    Hey Bookworms! Yes, for those who saw it before I editied it out, I almost broke one of the Content Creator Overlords rules and mentioned The Virus That Shall Not Be Named and I just laughed and forgot to edit out the 3-4 seconds while I collected my thoughts. Maybe I should make a blooper reel for the end of the year. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!

  • @kathykathyish
    @kathykathyish 2 роки тому +81

    You are my hero, Mike, and I’m a 75 year old woman!!!! Stephen King is my favorite author like you. Your rankings were totally on target. I watch all of your videos, and have learned a lot about fantasy, which is my new genre. Keep ‘‘em” coming!
    Regarding SALEM’s Lot I have a story. I was a young married woman in my early twenties and my mother in law told me about a book she was reading by an author named “King” that was so scary that she wore her rosary beads around her neck while reading! Of course, it was Salem’s Lot and I’ve been reading “King” ever since!

    • @divad44
      @divad44 2 роки тому +3

      Great story Kathy!

  • @divad44
    @divad44 2 роки тому +58

    OMFG YESSSSSSS JUST WHAT I WANTED. Can’t wait to see how you feel about all the other decades of his works. Thanks for uploading!

  • @PhreakPhantom
    @PhreakPhantom 2 роки тому +69

    I finally read Pet Sematery and my heart is shattered, that's real horror.

    • @markymarkeaton
      @markymarkeaton 2 роки тому +4

      One of his best for sure! Haven’t been able to reread it since I read it

    • @PhreakPhantom
      @PhreakPhantom 2 роки тому +4

      @@markymarkeaton I am a father, so yeah I don't think I will ever have the mindset to read this again. This line will stay with me forever:
      "his grief came for him fully... It came and dissolved him, unmanned him and took away whatever defenses remained."

    • @stacyb7623
      @stacyb7623 2 роки тому +1

      Best of king’s book I have read

    • @peglamphier4745
      @peglamphier4745 2 роки тому

      RIght? I re-read King all the time, but I can NOT re-read Pet Sematery. It's too hard, to awful, too, too much.

    • @thatfuzzypotato1877
      @thatfuzzypotato1877 Рік тому

      This is a story I need to "nope" out of. I know it would be horrible for my headspace.

  • @Book_Grams
    @Book_Grams 2 роки тому +19

    So glad you did this, Mike! Excited to see the rest of the videos!

  • @Jessica-us3gh
    @Jessica-us3gh 2 роки тому +17

    I went to Goodwill a couple weeks ago and found a ton of well loved Stephen King novels. I grabbed each and every one.

  • @nightmarishcompositions4536
    @nightmarishcompositions4536 2 роки тому +10

    Stephen King’s early horror was on a whole different level. Not just from a scare factor standpoint, but because of how emotional and human his stories and characters are. Love them.

  • @PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy
    @PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy 2 роки тому +2

    This is a massive endeavor, Mike, so thank you for providing this content for us. I've got a lot of catching up to do in order to attain the status of a Constant Reader!

  • @simonedwards9450
    @simonedwards9450 2 роки тому +7

    Carrie, salems lot, the shining are the greatest debut trilogy in history. Never get tired of reading those three

  • @angelaholmes8888
    @angelaholmes8888 2 роки тому +34

    Salem's lot is definitely a great vampire book 😊🧛‍♀️🧛‍♂️

  • @cipriansirbu3699
    @cipriansirbu3699 2 роки тому +7

    Yess,please continue with these tier-lists,I love this video.Don't know why but I can watch two hours long videos about Stephen King without being bored.😅Only read Carrie,Salem'S Lot and The Shining and I loved all three.

    • @divad44
      @divad44 2 роки тому +2

      Keep reading him! None of those are even in my top 10! He has so many good books

    • @alistaircarrigan6206
      @alistaircarrigan6206 2 роки тому +1

      yeah same, i’ve only read the shining and i’m almost finished per semetary but i love watching videos about king and i’ve already bought myself salem’s lot and his new one fairy tale and honestly i’m so excited to read them

  • @stevendevlin5204
    @stevendevlin5204 2 роки тому +2

    Can't wait for this! Can never have enough King content and you always have great insight that comes from a place of love 🙌

  • @JoyfulOrb
    @JoyfulOrb 2 роки тому +1

    I subscribed as soon as you said picking a favorite book was like picking a favorite Beatles song! So happy to be here!

  • @lizrsreadingcorner4361
    @lizrsreadingcorner4361 2 роки тому +9

    I loved the tier list.
    For me The Dead Zone is one of my first Stephen King books. I heard it in audiobook format and I enjoyed it a lot. It had of course the psycho killer part I was looking for and the political aspect was just gold.

  • @joeymarchesi
    @joeymarchesi 2 роки тому +1

    Thank you soo much for posting this finally Mike! Can’t wait for Part 2!

  • @sandragreen6346
    @sandragreen6346 2 роки тому +1

    I'm so glad you are doing this, always adore your King content. Please, please continue tier ranking all books together it will be so interesting to see where you rate each book against the others.

  • @JaimeEnFuego
    @JaimeEnFuego 2 роки тому +4

    Rad status distinction with the 'Tiers' man. Props for going beyond the letters and stoked you implemented the Bachman stuff here. Your King perspective legit inspires and makes me reposition my own. Only alter take is that I adore ROADWORK, although it is very much a bummer of a tale. Super Bach in it's hopelessness.

    • @mikesbookreviews
      @mikesbookreviews  2 роки тому

      When I put Roadwork there I said “Jaime won’t like this” ha ha

  • @genghisgalahad8465
    @genghisgalahad8465 10 місяців тому +3

    My favorite glimpse is your mug "M-O-O-N. That spells coffee..." 😆 ☕️ 🌕

  • @QuirkyQuillify
    @QuirkyQuillify 2 роки тому +1

    I've never been a fan of tier lists, but thank you for making this!!! I can tell you put a lot of thought into it and the tier names themselves are delightful. I agree with almost all of your rankings.

  • @robmoulton7207
    @robmoulton7207 2 роки тому +1

    Thank you so much for doing this! Keep up the good work! Can’t wait for all 5 ranking videos!

  • @anna_rn
    @anna_rn 2 роки тому +3

    Omg! Loved it!!! 😂 loved the ranking. I would’ve moved the shining up to Ka but I haven’t read all of SK’s novels to do a fair comparison. This is a great way to prioritize your SK TBR.

  • @justinthyme2666
    @justinthyme2666 2 роки тому

    Awesome video. I started a new job with my company this past Monday and in the morning I'm closing on a house and moving all weekend. Couldn't focus on a book all week, but this was perfect for a little break. I like the tiers, also.

  • @vicdelta31415
    @vicdelta31415 2 роки тому +4

    I have started reading Stephen King with the Bachman books and the more someone rates it lower than other King books the more excited I get for the rest of the journey.

  • @nickfoster9350
    @nickfoster9350 2 роки тому +1

    Awesome list and video. Maybe you've done so already, but I think a video of top/best Stephen King villains would be a great companion to this series you're doing.

  • @molol44
    @molol44 2 роки тому +8

    I've always loved Kings Richard Bachman books. Most have a grittiness and realism to them. Those are the books I think about the most from King. The Long Walk especially.

    • @Thecatladybooknook_PennyD
      @Thecatladybooknook_PennyD 2 роки тому

      Yes! The Long Walk and Running Man were my favs out of that collection.

    • @AnonymousAnonposter
      @AnonymousAnonposter Рік тому

      I feel like they have that pulp vibe too. The Long Walk is personally my favorite. Just today I finished reading Thinner, for me the book is three stars and a half, while The Long Walk is five stars.

  • @brianl6151
    @brianl6151 2 роки тому +1

    Great video Mike as usual. I vote for continuing with adding to the current tier list as it would be a great way yo see you're overall list.

  • @raduprofeanu6891
    @raduprofeanu6891 2 роки тому +1

    cool video Mike, love to see the rest of the list since i am currently getting into Stephen King.

  • @pokebros17
    @pokebros17 2 роки тому

    Love when you talk King brother. And ranking videos are always fun. Hope you're still enjoying what you're doing on here. You still have a consistent audience and we support ya. Don't break your back for this platform when it doesn't support creators like it should. But know people are watching and still care.

  • @johanjoseph4802
    @johanjoseph4802 2 роки тому +2

    Man... I already can't wait for the upcoming parts 💚

    • @johanjoseph4802
      @johanjoseph4802 2 роки тому +1

      Hey Mike. I just realised you didn't count the first 2 novella collections. Needful things and Different Seasons.

  • @gator7082
    @gator7082 2 роки тому +3

    Cujo will always be my sentimental favorite as it was my first King novel. Very underrated.

  • @eamonndoohan8863
    @eamonndoohan8863 2 роки тому +1

    Thanks Mike for posting this. I’ve been a fan of Stephen king since I was a teenager. Think my favourite ones were written in the 80s late 70s. I was late in reading the dark tower series. Read it in the wrong order to begin with and missed books.Then at the beginning of last year I started to read the whole series from the gunslinger to the final dark tower book. Wow! What a journey. I just finished the last one 4 weeks ago. I’ve got my favourites. Your channel is great. You’ve got yourself another subscriber!

  • @ryanjennings2249
    @ryanjennings2249 2 роки тому +1

    Dude, your videos just make me want to read more and more. Thanks for the great content!

  • @holybaldness8047
    @holybaldness8047 2 роки тому +1

    I really love your shelves, how you place your books, your books and those Pops, the Mugs and the other keepsakes.........Oh this was a tier list thing...........Uhhhhhhh......Any thoughts on the Dark Tower series????

  • @scottferris2686
    @scottferris2686 2 роки тому

    Great video! Loved it! Keep adding to the existing ranked list, really enjoyed it.

  • @gustophercokchammer4575
    @gustophercokchammer4575 2 роки тому

    I just picked up the long walk today, can't wait to read it after I finish Fairy Tale. Your praise of it made my mind up, before seeing it at the bookstore today I had never heard of it. It sounded interesting to me because I thought that the characters must be amazing given the plot and my trust in Stephen.
    Thanks for taking the time and sharing your experience with Stephens novels. I'm subscribed now after finding your channel with this video and look forward to more.

  • @bridleybateson5622
    @bridleybateson5622 2 роки тому

    Great idea for a video Mike. I've only read the Dark Tower Series and a couple of others by King, so it's good to know where to look next.

  • @supernorry3847
    @supernorry3847 2 роки тому +1

    i always love your Stephen King videos. I am looking forward to the next into the multiverse :D

  • @Michael_L_Morrison
    @Michael_L_Morrison 2 роки тому +1

    I won't include them all, but my Ka And Everything Else Row is, in this order: Salem's Lot, The Long Walk, The Stand. My Heart Burns There Too consists of The Gunslinger and The Shining, also in that order. Great stuff Mike! Your S.K. videos are still my favorites!!!

  • @brittanyhager8027
    @brittanyhager8027 2 роки тому

    I cant wait to see the rest ranked! Awesome video

  • @mozzstickdestroyer
    @mozzstickdestroyer 2 роки тому +1

    Love your videos, love the way you say Stephen Keeeng, and can’t wait to watch the rest!

  • @Johanna_reads
    @Johanna_reads 2 роки тому +4

    Sounds like I’ll be enjoying my time reading Salem’s Lot! I finished (and loved) Wizard & Glass a few days ago and plan to read Salem’s Lot before continuing the Dark Tower series. Great idea to break these videos down by years!

    • @angelaholmes8888
      @angelaholmes8888 2 роки тому +1

      I hope you will enjoy Salem's lot ☺️

    • @Johanna_reads
      @Johanna_reads 2 роки тому +1

      @@angelaholmes8888 Thanks! I'm excited hearing your praise for it too! 😊

  • @cmmosher8035
    @cmmosher8035 2 роки тому +4

    I wish i had read The Shining before seeing the movie because for personal reasons the movie resonates with me in a way that the book just couldn't live up.
    On the other hand Salems Lot is up there with I am Legend for vampire books and it also introduced me to Shirley Jackson who is another of my top tier authors.

    • @yelisieimurai
      @yelisieimurai Рік тому

      I loved the shining movie, and disliked the book unfortunately:(

  • @iWizard
    @iWizard 2 роки тому +1

    This is absolutely great! Thanks man!!

  • @benjaminhostetler3467
    @benjaminhostetler3467 2 роки тому

    This is great! Thanks for doing this video. Will definitely need to update my Goodreads list

  • @anthonygrimes1075
    @anthonygrimes1075 2 роки тому +1

    Aewsome video idea!
    Salems lot is one of my favorites however I might be alone in not seeing where the "scary" is in those vampires, it came across as more emotionally scary to me.

  • @jean-philippelavoie7138
    @jean-philippelavoie7138 2 роки тому

    Great idea! I love the way you do it. And keep those on for next time. I am just starting reading Mr. King in publication order. Just finished Carrie. I am giving myself a decade lol

  • @MythicalP
    @MythicalP 2 роки тому +1

    AMAZING! Thank you Mike!!!!

  • @candacesalmond951
    @candacesalmond951 2 роки тому +2

    This is so encouraging! I just read Carrie earlier this year and it was my first King. I didn't know at the time that it was his first book so I decided to read them all in print order. BIG task but I am excited. Glad to see you give many of the first dozen such praise. Time to dive into Salem's Lot! Wish me luck. Also, if you could read a King novel again for the first time what would it be??

  • @bradleynoell6178
    @bradleynoell6178 2 роки тому

    I love your King content! Salem's Lot is not just my favorite Stephen King book but one of my favorite books period.

  • @tojorozombie
    @tojorozombie 5 місяців тому

    Really dug the chronological approach!
    Great stuff, thanks!👍😎

  • @Ulmo90
    @Ulmo90 2 роки тому +1

    Only read Carrie of these books, but I'm definitely interested im checking out some of these soon

  • @timmeyer9191
    @timmeyer9191 2 роки тому

    I like this tier list format. Really cool.

  • @eliasisthegreatest
    @eliasisthegreatest 2 роки тому

    Thank you for this video! I’ve been trying to figure out what Stephen King to read next. Looks like I’m going to be checking out the long walk.

  • @madisongoodyear5040
    @madisongoodyear5040 2 роки тому +4

    This is sooooo fun!

  • @Europa1749
    @Europa1749 2 роки тому +1

    Favorite SK book is the unabridged "The Stand" which I read in pocketbook format.
    Second favorite is "11/22/63 listened to on audiobook....loved it. I have never read "It."

  • @irishknight6893
    @irishknight6893 2 роки тому

    Yes!!!! More Stephen King content!!! :) love it!! Just started The Stand last night, it’s already good, I have started a JOURNEY!

  • @kabiansadi
    @kabiansadi 2 роки тому +2

    I could tier rank this video on Ka, and Then Everything Else.
    Amazing, cant wait for the next ones🔥

  • @mustardtiger9875
    @mustardtiger9875 2 роки тому +1

    Great video, Mike! This is very helpful!

  • @tylerpeck9754
    @tylerpeck9754 2 роки тому +1

    I recently did a twitch stream where i talked about my fave short stories from each collection book. it was a lot of fun. I was debating doing a ranking video from each decade where i roll a dice to determine the book's initial seeding like a ncaa bracket and then I pick my faves and have an overall winner, if that makes sense.

  • @Leroy510
    @Leroy510 2 роки тому +1

    I've read most of these, except the Long Walk... looks like I need to add that to the tbr!

  • @thewickerman4083
    @thewickerman4083 2 роки тому

    Very interesting Mike. Looking forward to part 2.

  • @EndlessLaymon
    @EndlessLaymon 2 роки тому +1

    Brilliant video Mike.

  • @timkirsten6184
    @timkirsten6184 2 роки тому +1

    Great vid! Would you consider also doing a tier list of the short story and novella collections? Maybe after you've done the novels as it's hard to directly compare the formats. I'd love to know your thoughts on the collections beyond Different Seasons

  • @bookmeridian
    @bookmeridian 2 роки тому +2

    I feel like the tier list is perfect for the multiverse. Always love me some King content

  • @jimmyallen8210
    @jimmyallen8210 2 роки тому +1

    Keep going! Awesome stuff!!

  • @jzerfass04
    @jzerfass04 2 роки тому

    Thanks for uploading this. Was a fun watch 🙏🏻

  • @afeeser
    @afeeser 2 роки тому +18

    I would definitely put The Shining higher than Salem's Lot. I just recently read The Shining and found it extremely disturbing, particularly the thoughts of Jack Torrence.

  • @mikeprince6685
    @mikeprince6685 2 роки тому +1

    “Shitters” might be the best tier list option I’ve ever seen

  • @jeffhaubrich6121
    @jeffhaubrich6121 2 роки тому

    We are aligned, I probably would rate The Gunslinger higher as it blew my mind when I read it as a teenager. Please keep going with this, you are helping me rate my collection!

  • @andrewmurphy5055
    @andrewmurphy5055 2 роки тому

    Definitely keep adding to the tier list

  • @dkropelnicki9819
    @dkropelnicki9819 2 роки тому +1

    I really enjoyed Roadwork. Probably because I work for a highway department, haha. Also loved the ending of The Running Man. Read it over 7 years ago, I still remember it.

  • @marco.savini.128
    @marco.savini.128 2 роки тому +1

    What you said about The Stand's lenght is completely true, when i read "It" i knew it was gonna take a long time, so i didn't force myself to read it, i went slow, i read other things in between, I'm a fast reader but i still took a whole month to read it, i didn't try to cram it in a week just to say i finished it

  • @brandongibson3907
    @brandongibson3907 2 роки тому

    Clever way to do a tier list. My favorite King book so far is The Stand.

  • @VenusEscapesToRead
    @VenusEscapesToRead 2 роки тому

    This is awesome! Thank you!!! Looking forward to the rest!!

  • @NamasteBbooktube
    @NamasteBbooktube 2 роки тому

    Loved the tier list, please continue, adding to this list 😀 very interested to see how rank all books from Carrie to Billy Summers 😀😀

  • @tank6994
    @tank6994 2 роки тому +1

    Thank you for the ranking. I like where IT is going.👍

  • @BishopWalters12
    @BishopWalters12 2 роки тому +4

    It's really amazing that King didn't have one bad book in that era, The Stand would be the top of this list with Salems Lot and The Dead Zone rounding out the top 3. I would put Gunslinger at the bottom but still a good book.

  • @Felipexingu
    @Felipexingu 2 роки тому

    Cool video Mike, keep going!

  • @stephenoakley7410
    @stephenoakley7410 2 роки тому

    Love the Stephen King content on your channel! I know you're pacing yourself with the into the multiverse, but can't wait for more!!!

  • @mmurphy3608
    @mmurphy3608 2 роки тому +1

    Great video!

  • @timkirsten6184
    @timkirsten6184 2 роки тому

    Excited to watch this one. Love your King content Mike!

  • @Leaving_Hope
    @Leaving_Hope 2 роки тому +2

    This is how I’d rank the ones I’ve read so far:
    6. The Shining
    5. Firestarter
    4. The Long Walk
    3. ‘Salem’s Lot
    2. The Running Man
    1. Rage

  • @katelynbaker6832
    @katelynbaker6832 2 роки тому +2

    Always here for Stephen King content 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

  • @RLDesrochers
    @RLDesrochers 2 роки тому

    Love this! Can't wait for the next one.

  • @nathantowns1999
    @nathantowns1999 2 роки тому +1

    The foreshadowing in The Gunslinger (the use of 19, the entire 2nd paragraph of that first page) was only in the revised version. King had no idea of any of that when he originally wrote the novel.

  • @richardcozad1166
    @richardcozad1166 2 роки тому +1

    Love the rankings Mike. The only book I disagree with you on is Rage. When it came out in The Bachman Books in the 80’s, I was roughly the same age as Charlie Decker. I identified with Decker in many ways. He obviously had issues that no one was equipped to help him with. At times funny, and mostly tragic. To me, Charlie Decker was the teenage Anti Hero of the 80’s.

  • @alynam82
    @alynam82 2 роки тому

    Fantastic video! I'm pretty on par with everything you have here. My only adjustments (and it's just me) I'd have bumped Salems' Lot and The Gunslinger down a peg. Maybe I need to re-read them for a fresher perspective 🤔 but I remember reading Salems Lot later in life, after already consuming many King's works. And it just didn't strike me as much as I had hoped. Same even went with Gunslinger. I read that in High School, and again in 2016, so now that I know my reading tastes have definitely matured over the last five years, I think a re-read sounds tempting

  • @pinkbunnyreads
    @pinkbunnyreads 2 роки тому +1

    Yaay! Stephen King ! Awesome video. Can't wait for the next one.

  • @doug8407
    @doug8407 2 роки тому

    I have to put The Shining at the top of the list, personally. I can't resist horror stories where the horror element springs from the psychology of the characters, and The Shining is that to a T. The way the hotel slowly, but surely stokes Jack Torrance's repressed anger until he totally succumbs to it. Too good! King's depiction of Jack's repression and how we are progressively given deeper looks underneath it as the novel progresses is just masterful. And then you start to second guess many of his other memories and what his mind is hiding from itself (especially the "car accident"). Oh man, such a great character and book.

  • @HouseOfThe8Strings
    @HouseOfThe8Strings 3 місяці тому

    I read The Long Walk after picking it up at Walmart, having literally no clue what it was about. I knew nothing about it and had never heard of it. When I started it I felt like the words were running away from me, like I had to keep up with the pace. After discovering the plot of the book, I was so surprised. I still wonder if the pacing was intentional or if it was just coincidental for me. Such a great book.

  • @thebarky1988
    @thebarky1988 2 роки тому

    Hi Mike. I read all these SK books. I agree with your assessment on where to place the books. I loved the Long Walk! I can’t believe King was a teenager when he wrote it. I also loved Salem’s Lot and liked that vampires were not romanticized…. Thanks. I love your channel and especially anything King and. Tolkien.

  • @ginabeachy4897
    @ginabeachy4897 2 роки тому

    Looking forward to hearing how you rank the rest.

  • @_Intheworks_
    @_Intheworks_ 4 місяці тому

    As somebody who’s favorite King book is the Long Walk, it’s nice to see someone else who appreciates this amazingly sad book.

  • @nohemiperez912
    @nohemiperez912 2 роки тому

    Man, I have to put The Gunslinger up there with The Stand. No doubt. I can't wait for the rest of the videos in this series!

  • @Thecatladybooknook_PennyD
    @Thecatladybooknook_PennyD 2 роки тому +1

    Yes yes yes!!! This is great!!

  • @angelaholmes8888
    @angelaholmes8888 2 роки тому +1

    The stand uncut version is one of my favorite Stephen king book I absolutely enjoyed the reboot miniseries of the stand king did a great job writing the last episode in the miniseries 🌟😊

  • @lisac1619
    @lisac1619 2 роки тому

    Was reading The Bachman Books but got to Roadwork and struggled to get into it. After seeing this, maybe I'll skip over that story.
    Great video, Mike. Similar rankings to what I would have given.

  • @loudoesreviews
    @loudoesreviews 2 роки тому

    Love your Tier List categories - especially Dirty Birdy. We're pretty simpatico on these rankings. The only change I would make is to put The Shining up into the top category.

  • @simonedwards9450
    @simonedwards9450 2 роки тому +1

    Carrie - Ka and then everything else
    Salems lot - Ka and then everything else
    The shining - Ka and then everything else
    Rage - Shitters
    The Stand - Ka and then everything else
    The long walk - you’ve got the shine
    The Dead zone - you’ve got the shine
    Firestarter - my heart burns there too
    Roadwork - you’ve got the shine
    Cujo - my heart burns there too
    The running man - dirty birdie
    The gunslinger - you’ve got the shine

  • @danielhannesson342
    @danielhannesson342 2 роки тому +1

    More of these please