Stephen King, the prolific and celebrated author known for his vast body of work, has shared his favorite novel during a recent Reddit Q&A session. Known for creating stories that delve deep into the human psyche, King has crafted some of the most iconic novels in modern literature, with themes of horror, suspense, and psychological torment. While his stories often feature supernatural elements, it is his exploration of sorrow, addiction, and madness that has left a lasting impact on readers.
King, whose career spans nearly five decades, is a literary titan whose influence stretches beyond books to film and television adaptations. From Carrie (1973) to The Shining and It, his work has become synonymous with fear and tension, with many of his stories translated into successful movies and series. His storytelling style blends the ordinary with the extraordinary, making the mundane seem terrifyingly unfamiliar.
In a 2023 Reddit session promoting the TV adaptation of his 2009 sci-fi novel Under the Dome, King was asked by a fan which of his many novels he considered his favorite. The answer was straightforward: Lisey’s Story.
Published in October 2006, Lisey’s Story centers on Lisey Landon, the widow of a famous author named Scott, who must navigate the grief of losing her husband, who was killed by an obsessed fan. As the story unfolds, Lisey uncovers hidden layers of her husband’s past, leading her to confront both his legacy and her own emotional turmoil.
King has often said that Lisey’s Story holds personal significance. The idea for the novel emerged after he was hospitalized for a life-threatening bout of double pneumonia in 2003. Upon returning home, his wife, Tabitha, had reorganized his study, providing him with a poignant glimpse of life continuing in his absence. This moment, combined with the intense personal emotions he experienced during his illness, became the emotional foundation of the novel.
Although Lisey’s Story was initially too personal for King to consider an adaptation, he eventually decided to release the rights for a television series. In 2021, director Pablo Larraín adapted the novel into an Apple TV+ miniseries. During promotional interviews for the series, King reflected on his continued affection for the story, even years after its release. He explained, “I would never have gotten involved with this thing at my age if it wasn’t [my favorite]. You know, they’re all my favorites. I love them all. Some of them are difficult children to love, some of them a little bit easier. This is a little bit difficult to love, but I’ve always loved the story, and that’s the reason I got involved.”
King also shared why he waited several years before allowing the story to be adapted for television. He explained that he wanted to be involved in writing the screenplay, a rare opportunity he cherished. “At my age, you don’t have a great deal of time — not to sound morbid or anything like that — it’s just the actuarial tables,” he said. “So I’m glad that I held on to it, and I’m glad that Bad Robot did it, and Pablo [Larrain, series director] was the right man for the job. So, everything turned out well.”
With Lisey’s Story now adapted into a visual medium, King’s deeply personal narrative continues to resonate with both longtime fans and new audiences, solidifying its place as his favorite among his many literary works.
