Stephen King is, hands down, the greatest writer of his generation. Ignored and vilified by legions of empty-minded critics, King is resoundingly admired and venerated by his peers. His staying power alone puts him in rare company; his productivity spans over forty years. More importantly, while the writers generally considered his betters (say, John Updike or Phillip Roth) have grown both old and irrelevant to the majority of the reading public, King’s work continues to inspire and speak to millions. As if that is not enough, the immense range of his work, spanning every genre and every format, makes even prolific writers appear ordinary and stale. In addition, King may hold the title for highest number of brilliant films made from his work (in spite of a concurrent large number of terrible ones), including The Shawshank Redemption, Stand By Me, Carrie, The Green Mile, The Mist and Storm of the Century.
King has inspired an entire generation of writers, including myself. As our new century pushes on, his reputation is only likely to grow, and he will be remembered as both the finest horror writer of his era and one of the few writers who could truly be called a titan of American literature.
Stephen King Books to Read:
IT, The Body, The Dead Zone, Hearts in Atlantis, The Stand, The Shining, Dreamcatcher, Desperation, The Green Mile, Under the Dome, Dolores Claiborne, Christine, Lisey’s Story, Cell, 11/22/63.
Stephen King Links:
Phil Konstantin Interview w/Stephen King
The Black Cat Moan 
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