Well, his unique blend of horror and sci - fy elements. He often takes normal, everyday things like cell phones in 'Cell' and turns them into sources of great horror. It's not just about spaceships and aliens in his sci - fy novels. He makes the ordinary extraordinary in a very scary way.
Another one is '11/22/63'. It involves time travel which is a classic sci - fy concept. The main character goes back in time to try to prevent the assassination of President Kennedy, but of course, things get very complicated as time travel often does in King's stories.
Definitely 'Cell'. In this novel, a mysterious signal transmitted via cell phones turns people into mindless killers. It's a very modern take on the apocalypse genre. Stephen King uses the ubiquity of cell phones in our lives to create a really scary and believable scenario where technology becomes the source of a great disaster.
One of his most well - known sci - fi novels is 'The Dark Tower' series. It combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and western. The story follows the gunslinger Roland Deschain on his quest to reach the Dark Tower, and it features otherworldly landscapes, strange creatures, and a complex multiverse concept.
A really good Stephen King sci - fi story is 'Under the Dome'. It presents a situation where a small town is suddenly cut off from the rest of the world by an invisible dome. It delves into how the people in the town react and survive in this isolated, almost alien - like environment. There are also elements of power struggles and the mystery of what the dome actually is, making it a captivating read.
For me, 'It' is the most terrifying. The idea of a malevolent clown that can appear in different forms and feed on fear is just spine - chilling. Pennywise lurking in the sewers and coming after kids is nightmare fuel.
Some of the highly ranked Stephen King novels include 'The Shining'. It's a classic with its terrifying story of a family in an isolated hotel. The psychological horror and the build - up of tension are masterfully done. Another top - ranked one is 'It'. The story of a group of kids facing an ancient evil in the form of a clown has captured the imagination of many readers. And 'Misery' is also very popular. The idea of an obsessed fan holding a writer captive is both disturbing and engaging.
I'd recommend starting with 'The Tommyknockers'. It has a great blend of mystery, sci - fi elements, and King's typical small - town horror feel. It's not as complex as some of his other works, so it's a good entry point into his sci - fi world.
It's really tough to definitively rank all Stephen King novels as it depends on personal taste. However, 'The Shining' is often considered one of his best. It has a great blend of horror, psychological thriller elements, and a very spooky setting in the Overlook Hotel. Another highly regarded one is 'It'. The story of the shape - shifting monster that preys on children is both terrifying and engaging. 'Misery' is also up there. The idea of an obsessed fan holding an author captive is a truly disturbing concept that King executes masterfully.