Underrated Stephen King Stories

The master of the thriller has certainly written some heavyweight novels, but not all of them were met will critical acclaim or commercial success. Here are three underrated Stephen King stories that are certainly worth revisiting.

The Long Walk. Originally published under King’s pen name Richard Bachman, the novel initially received little attention. It was King’s first novel, and lacked some of the polish of his later efforts, but remains a disturbing tale of a dystopian future that’s worth dissecting. The Long Walk tells the story of a walking contest run by the totalitarian US government in which 100 teenage boys must continuously walk and maintain a steady pace, lest they meet their death, with the last boy standing being declared the winner.

The Man in the Black Suit. Originally published in an issue of The New Yorker, The Man in the Black Suit may be one of King’s best short stories. It tells the story of a young boy meeting the devil by a river and won many industry awards, but many readers may not even know of its existence as much of the focus tends to be on King’s novels. Available in a number of different collections, it’s a must-read for any true horror fan.

Doctor Sleep. Although there was no particular desire for a sequel to the Shining, King wrote one anyway, and though the novel paid little lip service to fans it was a very well written tale of PTSD and alcoholism in the wake of the events of The Shining. Doctor Sleep certainly stands out among King’s more modern works, and is certainly deserving of more attention.

Looking for a thrilling read? Visit our online library at www.emplying.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices.