It is no secret that Never Flinch. For the most part, King is renowned for his iconic horror books, many of which have been adapted into incredible movies. However, one underrated genre that he also works in is sci-fi.
Although sci-fi is not King's most prolific genre, he has written some truly incredible sci-fi works over the years, ranging from full novels to short stories. More often than not, these tales combine horror with sci-fi, creating a far scarier world than before. Some of these worlds include aliens, strange monsters, outer space, and even time travel. All in all, it is worth readers' time to check out King's sci-fi stories because they show off King's skills as a writer, and also, give a refreshing take on his usual spooky tales.
10 The Institute
A Powerful Little Boy Is Captured
When diving into King's sci-fi offerings, starting with something new may be a smart choice. One option is 2019's The Institute. In this novel, the life of 12-year-old genius Luke Ellis is turned upside-down when his parents are murdered, and he is kidnapped, taken to a mysterious place only known as the Institute. There, children with telekinetic and telepathic powers are held and experimented on through torture. Luke must find a way to escape.
The Institute may be more sci-fi than horror, but it definitely harks back to some of King's classic horror novels. The most obvious example is Carrie. Just like Luke, Carrie White harbors telekinetic powers, but rather than being abducted, readers see the consequences of her powers through her prom-night massacre. In this way, The Institute is a solid pick for those who have enjoyed King's previous books about telekinetic children.
9 Dreamcatcher
Four Friends Have Their Annual Trip
Speaking of telepathy, another King sci-fi novel that includes this element is Dreamcatcher. Published in 2001, this book follows four friends who, when they were teens, helped a young man with Downs Syndrome escape a pack of bullies. As a result, the men began to share in the boy's powers of telepathy. Years later, the four men are on their annual hunting trip when they are caught in the midst of an alien invasion that begins to wreak havoc on them.
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Dreamcatcher is one of many King novels that has ended up dividing readers. Mainly, the discourse comes from the fact that many did not realize that the book was sci-fi before reading it, and thus, were thrown off by the appearance of aliens. However, for those who know what to expect, Dreamcatcher could be a far more enjoyable reading experience. Plus, aliens aside, Dreamcatcher includes King's usually wonderful depictions of friendship and shared experience.
8 From A Buick 8
A Deadly Vehicle Haunts A Police Station
For those seeking a King novel that is underrated or not often discussed, From A Buick 8 is the ideal pick. It centers on the state police of Troop D in rural Pennsylvania who are haunted by a strange Buick that they keep hidden in a shed on their property. The men know something is wrong with the car, that it is capable of killing, but no one has been able to uncover the truth about the vehicle. Then, the son of a recently killed officer begins to investigate and learns things that he will never forget.
More specifically, King explores the kinds of stories that people want to uncover, but wish they hadn't after the fact.
From A Buick 8 is another King story that is loved by some and hated by others. It is the kind of tale that takes its time, slowly building up towards its most climactic moments. For those who want a fast-paced read, this is probably not the book to choose. However, From A Buick 8 offers plenty of interesting ideas about stories and how they affect people. More specifically, King explores the kinds of stories that people want to uncover, but wish they hadn't after the fact.
7 Firestarter
A Young Girl Is Pursued By A Nefarious Agency
Running it back to telekinetic children, one of King's more popular sci-fi works is Firestarter. This book revolves around Charlie, a little girl who has pyrokinetic powers. She inherited these abilities from her parents, both of whom were part of an experiment during college where they were given a low-grade hallucinogen that gave them telekinetic powers. Now, Charlie and her father are being pursued by those who ran the experiment, as they intend to harness Charlie's powers for their own uses.
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Once again, Firestarter feels reminiscent of stories like The Shining or Carrie. Charlie may be young, but she possesses wisdom far beyond her years and abilities that could be detrimental to whoever gets in her way. As opposed to the books mentioned above, Firestarter isn't nearly as recognizable, yet it is still a strong entry in King's catalog. In fact, Firestarter is a great place to start for King newbies, as it is fast-paced and exciting.
6 The Mist
A Man & His Son Become Trapped In A Strange Mist
A great example of King acing sci-fi horror is The Mist. This 1980 novella is set in a small, idyllic town that is suddenly plunged into chaos when a strange mist rolls in, inhabited by sounds and movements that imply horrifying creatures are hiding inside. A father and son become trapped in a local supermarket, and alongside the other shoppers, must figure out how to escape the fog before whatever is inside it gets them first.
The Mist is a perfectly eerie sci-fi story that keeps readers gripped throughout its less than 200 pages. Unlike other, longer books on this list, it is a great story to pick up for a quick, evocative read. Plus, The Mist has a great movie adaptation with a shocking ending. The finale of this King tale is astonishing and absolutely heartbreaking. For some, it may be worth reading the entire story just to experience the gut-wrenching final moments.
5 Revival
A Man Reunites With His Old Pastor
One King sci-fi novel that doesn't get as much attention as it deserves is 2014's Revival. Set over the course of five decades, the story follows Jamie, a young boy whose town is changed by the arrival of a charismatic pastor and his wife. Years later, Jamie is a musician, addicted to drugs, and runs into his old pastor again, who is now claiming to heal people. The two briefly reignite their old bond, and Jamie quickly becomes obsessed with figuring out what the pastor is really up to.Revival is arguably a special book on this list because it feels quite different from the other entries. The concept of a healing pastor and a young man reuniting with him throughout time is unique and gripping. Like in any King novel, there are various layers to this story that readers will have to pull back in order to get to the truth. Additionally, Revival is a particularly haunting novel with an incredible ending. It is definitely worth checking out for King fans old and new.
4 The Running Man
A Man s A Reality Competition
Another book with a distinctly different premise is King's The Running Man. Published in 1982, but set in 2025, this story follows a man who is in dire straits with no job and a sick baby to care for. Desperate, he decides to a dystopic reality TV competition where he must run for his life from masses of people trying to kill him. If he wins, he'll have more money than he'll ever need, but if not, he will lose everything, including his life.
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The Running Man is perhaps more dystopic than sci-fi, but it definitely still counts toward the genre. The book has all the classic makings of a dystopian novel, from an oppressive government to mass violence. It is also a cool choice because it is set in our present day, leading to inevitable comparisons between what King wrote and what our reality actually looks like. All in all, The Running Man is an action-packed story that will keep readers on their toes.
3 11/22/63
A Man Attempts To Change History
One King story that is incredibly popular, and for good reason, is 11/22/63. It follows a man named Jake who is shown a time slip by his friend who is dying of lung cancer. Lacking the time and ability to carry out his mission, the friend asks Jake to go back in time instead to try and prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Jake agrees, and is thrown into an entirely new world where he makes meaningful bonds, but is also faced with a difficult choice: to change history or let it be.
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11/22/63 has been lauded by most who have read the book. Beyond just being a solid sci-fi novel, the story is incredibly well-written and offers countless important questions about time, history, and our role inside of it. On top of that, King writes a beautiful love story that defies time and space. Overall, readers may pick up 11/22/63 for its time travel, but they will stay for the amazing writing and moving story at its heart.
2 Under the Dome
A Town Is Sealed By A Mysterious Dome
The book that is likely King's most popular or well-known sci-fi story is Under the Dome. This 2009 novel is about Chester's Mill, Maine, a small town that is suddenly sealed away inside an invisible force field. With no one able to enter or leave, the citizens must band together to try and figure out what is going on. Additionally, they must maintain peace within the town before normal people begin turning on each other in increasingly violent ways.
In many ways, Under the Dome is King at his finest. The book combined some of King's greatest elements, including a small town and an escalating sense of terror and danger. Rather than relying on a monster or a supernatural being, Under the Dome examines the horror of simply being stuck in one place without a good explanation. Overall, this is a strong sci-fi story that has all of King's usual terrifying flairs.
1 The Jaunt
A Family Travels Through Space
Finally, King's best and most disturbing sci-fi story would have to be "The Jaunt." Released in his 1985 short story collection, Skeleton Crew, "The Jaunt" centers on a family who are traveling to Mars for a two-year business trip. In this world, space travel is done through a teleportation process called "jaunting," which humans must be unconscious for in order to survive. The father explains the history of "jaunting" just before they set off.
"The Jaunt" is truly one of the most haunting stories that King has ever written. Despite being sci-fi, the story feels uncannily realistic, plunging readers into a scenario that is terrifying, no matter who you are. "The Jaunt" is a quick read, but an effective one, that won't leave readers for a long time after reading. Ultimately, this is the best sci-fi piece Stephen King has ever written, but read it at your own risk.
