Stephen King's Best Novel?

[Doctor Crankenstein]

IMO Carrie.

Nothing else of his even comes close.

[TheBean]

The Shining is where it's at. Stunning.

[Tansy]

Needful Things, Insomnia, The Talisman, The Shining

IT started off well but was a dismal ending and the film was awful

Pet Semetary was readable but again the film was dire

[suupaabaka]

If by 'best' you mean the most scary or horror-like, I would have to recommend IT. There was something unsettling and creepy pervading that entire story, and I must admit I haven't quite felt the same while reading other horror novels (though I read IT when I was still in high school).

I guess it really depends on if you're a reader who appreciates a good ending, or the journey as a whole. I didn't find the end all that disappointing, to be honest.

[Null_Zone]

The Stand, but I've always had a weakness for apocalyptic plagues.

[Tansy]

I loved IT right up till the last few chapters, it had me hooked from the start when I was 14 and I think the ending upset me because I loved the book so much. Pennywise was a truly chilling character

[My Atomic Tales]

Originally Posted by suupaabaka

If by 'best' you mean the most scary or horror-like, I would have to recommend IT.

I'd have to agree with this. I've read all of SK's offerings, but this was the only one which truly scared me (an honourable exception being Salem's Lot). It's a fantastic novel, and along with The Stand probably ranks as a highpoint of his writing career.

[dlsevern]

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon..............Just kidding!

Top of the list:
It, The Dark Tower series, Pet Semetary, Salem's Lot, Cell, any of his collections(novellas and short stories), The Shining, Christine, Dreamcatcher, Desperation, Misery, The Tommyknockers, The Talisman, Blackhouse, Insomnia, Bag of Bones, Duma Key, The Stand, Needful Things and Gerald's Game.

Middle of the road:
Lisey's Story, Carrie, Cujo, Regulators, The Dark Half, Dolores Claiborne, Firestarter, The Green Mile, and Thinner.

Bottom of the Barrel:
The Dead Zone, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, From A Buick 8, Rose Madder, The Colorado Kid, and Cycle of the Werewolf. Keep in mind though that From A Buick 8 has ties to The Dark Tower for sure, really everything he has written is based on the idea of alternate realities, an idea that plays a significant role in The Dark Tower.

I didn't care for The Dead Zone much at all when I first read it, but I would really like to reread it, tastes change as you grow older.

I have yet to read Eyes of the Dragon, The Bachman Books collection, Under the Dome, Full Dark No Stars, or Blaze.

[dlsevern]

Originally Posted by Null_Zone

The Stand, but I've always had a weakness for apocalyptic plagues.

Ever read Robert McCammon's "Swan Song", kinda reminiscent of "The Stand" but I felt it was a very enjoyable read.

[thatollie]

Instead of picking my favourites, I'm going to pick the one I think Gollum will like the most (out of the ones I've read). I'm going to say Pet Semetary.

[Null_Zone]

Originally Posted by dlsevern

Ever read Robert McCammon's "Swan Song", kinda reminiscent of "The Stand" but I felt it was a very enjoyable read.

Loved Swan Song as well and really need to get another copy, my old one was "borrowed" years ago and disapeared.

[Souldrain]

Hard to say which is his "best" so I'll just list the ones I have re-read the most.

The Stand, Salems Lot, Dead Zone, Pet Semetary, The Talisman/Black House, Desperation(def. one for those who find Kings writing bloated), Insomnia, Needful Things, The Dark Half, Dreamcatcher, and the two I am always reading it seems.. IT and Bag of Bones.

Ones to avoid - Tommyknockers, Christine, Rose Madder, Geralds Game
The rest all fall somewhere in between for me.

[D_Davis]

I'd say his best is Under the Dome.

And I also really love The Stand, 'Salem's Lot, Misery, Desperation, Insomnia, and Cell.

[Kiercoria99]

Duma Key was surprisingly good, a return to his '80's style. It (the book) didn't pass the test of time for me and Carrie was a solid but beginning effort, in my opinion.

He hit his stride with The Stand and The Talisman (if you'll consider the co-authorship).

The Long Walk from the Backman collection has stuck with me, haunted me, over the years.

[Shagggadellic]

No-one else has said my favorite (probably because I haven't read nearly as much Stephen King as the rest of you all), but my favorite was "The Long Walk", which he wrote as Bachman. Other stories that I read by him that I really liked were "The Running Man" (another Bachman), "The Stand", and "The Cycle of the Werewolf". "The Eye of the Dragon", "The Gunslinger" and "Cujo" were ok IMO. And the ones I liked the least were "The Drawing of the Three" and "The Girl Who Loved Tom Robinson". I didn't even read the Dark Tower past "The Drawing of the Three".

Of course a lot of the folks on here have read a lot more than I have, but that's what I thought about what I've read.