Yeah, Tommyknockers is pretty forgettable. I like Firestarter but in some respects it feels a lot more dated than some of his other books that were written in the same time period.
I’d probably start with IT, just because that’s the first King book I ever read (when I was 9 years old!) and it hooked me.
Seeing the results of this poll, I ran to order **The Stand ** in ebook form (great for those long, heavy books), only to find that it costs $35 (for an ebook?!). Dang, the Kindle version sells for $7. Boo.
I really liked the TommyKnockers, but it just didn’t grab me the way IT, or some of the others did.
I kinda liked Tommyknockers. Much better than Duma Key or Buick 8. But it was nowhere near as good as The Stand (extended).
Now I’m working on The Shining, and I need to catch up on some more of His classics. I still have a long way to go. I’ve read 12 of the 28 books in the poll, plus most of the collections and a few of the Bachmans and collaborations.
[nitpick]It was Skeleton Crew. [/nitpick]
Since we’re discussing a lot of his short-works here, was anyone else as delighted as me about Everything’s Eventual’s Dinky Earnshaw showing up in the final DT book?
The Stand; edging out **Wizard and Glass **(which wasn’t even in the poll.)
The ending of **The Stand **was perfectly in line with the rest of the novel and build-up. I mean, seeing that there was an obvious supernatural (God) element at work in the first 1000 pages, I’m not sure why that being manifested near the end is so surprising or off-putting.
And the last part “in the desert” when Tom Cullen (M-O-O-N, that spells “great novel”) meets up with Stu and they make their way back to Boulder is a great send off to two great characters who will stick with me always. And King was even able to work Nick Andros (another great character) into those scenes.
Chronological order would be good, but if you don’t want to do that, I’d recommend starting with 'Salem’s Lot or The Shining and then continuing on with his older works.
I think Desperation would be my second favorite.
It’s been years, but I remember really liking Firestarter and thinking Tommyknockers was just okay.
The one I’m avoiding is Lisey’s Story. I’ve heard that there’s a great story buried in there but the slang (especially the “smucking”) annoys me no end. If I could get somebody to take my copy and mark it up, replace smucking with fucking, I might be able to finish it.
I hated that euphemism so bad I can’t even remember the plot, or the ending to Lisey’s Story.
If only there were a poll where people voted for their favorite Stephen King novel. I bet that would help.
Stand By Me has got to be his most endearing, most culturally recognizable work. It’s just such a great story with really identifiable characters.
Sheer scariness for me has got to be both 'Salems Lot and 1408.
Jesus those stories are scary as shit.
I actually really liked Hearts In Atlantis, too, and the inevitable tie-in with the ending of the DT series.
Face it, the guy is a gifted writer with an uncanny ability to capture not only the macabre but the popular culture aspect that renders his tales so believable.
I like and have read pretty much everything he’s ever written.
My biggest disappointment has to be The Eyes Of The Dragon. It just didn’t function on any level for me. YMMV.
Seconded.
My second choice would have been The Running Man. I hope someday they’ll make a movie of it. But that has never yet been done. Never, do you hear me?! sob NEVER!
No. The appearance of characters from other books - and of King himself - struck me as self-indulgent and unimaginative (and not done very well either). Ruined the whole damn series for me.
Oh, well, different strokes and all that. 
The Long Walk. I’ve read it four or five times. It’s absolutely gripping and brilliant in so many ways.
“Get me the Justice Dept, entertainment division”
The Body, Shawshank, Misery & The Langoliers.
I voted for Gerald’s Game. Misery and the Dark Half were second and third.
This is a tough question since I’m a big King fan and many of his books draw me back to re-read them.
I chose The Stand as my favourite book to have read and recommended to others, but Insomnia is the best audiobook I have ever heard. This is one that, for me may go unread in paper form. The gentleman who did the reading did an extraordinary job and the characters King created are so vivid.