Top 10 audiobooks by Stephen King

Stephen King fans worldwide always anticipate his next novel, novella, or short story.

Known as the “king of horror,” his New York Times best-selling stories has seen many big screen adaptations, most of which revolve around themes of love, loss of innocence, redemption, revenge, and courage. It’s no wonder he is considered one of the most prolific modern writers.

Author Stephen King is native to Maine, where he spent most of his life. That is why many of his books are about the fictional town of Derry, Maine. If you’re ready to dive into Stephen King’s universe, audiobooks are the way to go.

Here are the top 10 audiobooks by Stephen King to get you started.

The best Stephen King audiobooks you have to listen to

Some of the best Stephen King audiobooks have been narrated by famous actors. You can start with an audiobook narrated by Grover Gardner, Craig Wasson, George Guidall, Ron McLarty, Michael C. Hall, Frank Muller, Campbell Scott, Steven Weber, Lindsay Crouse, Santino Fontana, Will Patton, and several others.

You can also start with a specific Stephen King genre like horror, crime, science fiction, and fantasy. However, the best introduction to Stephen King’s work is often to start with the most celebrated novels, novellas, and short stories.

1. The Dark Tower series

This series contains one short story and eight novels. The first novel, The Gunslinger, was published first, in 1982. The entire Dark Tower series revolves around Roland Deschain, who is hunting for “the man in black” but meets many people on his path. The story takes place in a world that resembles the Old West and contains some magical elements.

2. Pet Sematary

Undoubtedly, Pet Sematary is one of the most popular Stephen King novels. The book came out in 1983, and the movie adaptation in 1989. Pet Sematary tells a story about Dr. Louis Creed and his family who move to rural Maine from Boston.

They quickly discover an unusual burial ground behind their house, and then some horrific things start to happen. It’s an action-packed horror novel that will keep the audiobook listeners on edge the whole time.

3. It

Chances are you might have already seen the movie It but didn’t know Stephen King was the creative mind behind it. This is a truly incredible book about seven children who fight against an evil entity that appears as Pennywise, a terrifying clown.

As children begin to disappear and the town changes, it’s evident that someone must fight against the evil that resides in the small town of Derry, Maine.

4. The Shining

Likely, you’ve already seen The Shining memes online, as they don’t go out of style. But while memes are fun, this novel is pretty frightening. It has all the trademarks of Stephen King’s writing, including suspense, unusual destinations, and supernatural occurrences.

This audiobook is about Jack Torrance, an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic, and his family. They move to an isolated hotel in Colorado, where Jack has a job as the winter caretaker. Quickly, everything goes epically wrong.

5. The Green Mile

The Green Mile is a serial novel published in 1996. The book was quickly adapted into a well-received movie starring Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan.

It is an incredibly touching but disturbing story about a death row inmate with healing powers and an extraordinarily empathic nature. Reading or listening to this book is a one-of-a-kind experience.

6. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption

With a 9.2 rating, The Shawshank Redemption is the highest-rated movie on IMDB. The movie is excellent, but the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption also deserves attention.

A 1940’s banker, convicted for the murder of his wife and her lover, does not give up on claiming his innocence. His years in prison are hard, but he never loses hope.

7. Under the Dome

Under the Dome is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a post-apocalyptic novel. Unsurprisingly, the plot takes place in a small town in Maine where its residents are suddenly separated from the outside world.

An invisible and impenetrable barrier prevents them from leaving the town. The novel follows the main character’s struggles, including the police chief Howard “Duke” Perkins.

8. Carrie

Stephen King has said that his wife Tabitha is the reason audiences got the chance to read Carrie, his first novel. He didn’t like the result and threw away the entire manuscript. But she saw the potential, and the success of Carrie speaks the rest. Sissy Spacek famously played Carrie in the movie adaptation.

Carrie is a high school senior raised by a mentally ill mother and has telekinesis abilities. She’s bullied relentlessly at school and abused at home. What could go wrong?

9. The Mist

The psychological novella, The Mist, centers around a group of people hiding in a local supermarket as the unusual mist swallows their town. The supernatural motives in this audiobook are exceptional.

But other essential themes include religious zealotry, the fight against evil, and human survival. Like in many of Stephen King’s works, this novella aims to shock and stir up buried fears.

10. Doctor Sleep

This book follows the event in Stephen King’s novel The Shining. The protagonist is Dan Torrance, who was a child when the horrific events in the Colorado hotel took place.

In Doctor Sleep, he is a grown-up, struggling with his trauma and alcoholism. He meets a teen girl who needs his help, and they ally to fight the same evil force.

Honorable mentions

Stephen King has written over 70 novels and 200 short stories. Whether it’s sci-fi, horror, or cowboy fantasy, it’s impossible to narrow the list of phenomenal audiobooks. But here are a few honorable mentions to also keep in mind:

• The Talisman

• Lisey’s Story

• Dolores Claiborne

• Misery

• Mr. Mercedes

• Duma Key

• The Institute

• Skeleton Crew

• The Outsider

• 11.22.63 (You may also enjoy the James Franco miniseries with the same title.)

FAQ

What is the best Stephen King audiobook?

It’s impossible to pick the best, but a few are extremely popular. That list includes The Shining, The Stand, The Dark Tower, and Salem’s Lot. Amazon Audible regularly updates the list of the most popular Stephen King audiobooks, but you can turn any of his books into an audiobook with Speechify.

Does Stephen King narrate any audiobooks?

Yes, Stephen King narrates some of his audiobooks. For starters, you can check out titles like Fairy Tale, Skeleton Crew, Needful Things, Everything’s Eventual, Desperation, and Just After Sunset.

What is the best-selling audiobook of all time?

That’s difficult to determine because there are many audiobook sellers. However, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K Rowling, It by Stephen King, and the self-help bestseller How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie are on the list.

What is the first book Stephen King wrote?

The first book Stephen King published is Carrie. It came out in 1974 and was successful worldwide.