Stephen King Recommends This Unmissable Gothic Horror Classic

  |  
Dec 1, 2023
Stephen King
Stephen King in 1999. ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection

Horror writer and cultural icon Stephen King is also a constant reader. And the only realm to rival his film and TV recommendations is his literary suggestions. So, when King saw a fan’s tweet in the wild admitting that they had never read any of Peter Straub’s work, he had a title for just such an occasion. Uncle Stephen swooped in to let them know that’s okay, but they should read Ghost Story.

See the exchange here:

Most of us probably figured he would point to the novel he co-wrote with Straub in 1984, The Talisman. However, King has been a fan of this particular story from the late author for a while. In his 1981 non-fiction book, Danse Macabre, covering horror in all mediums, King said Ghost Story was one of the finest horror novels of the 20th Century. 

Ghost Story’s official synopsis reads, “In the sleepy town of Milburn, New York, four old men gather to tell each other stories—some true, some made-up, all of them frightening. A simple pastime to divert themselves from their quiet lives. But one story is coming back to haunt them and their small town. A tale of something they did long ago.”

Also Read: This Ultimate Forgotten Stephen King TV Adaptation Is Now Free To Stream

If you have been looking for the perfect haunting book for your winter reading vibes, it would be hard to find a better recommendation than from Stephen King, especially if you are also unfamiliar with the works of the late Peter Straub. And we might be so bold as to suggest you also read The Talisman afterward. That way, you get two terrifying horror scribes for the price of one. 

Do you love Ghost Story as much as Stephen King? Or are you one of the people secretly ordering it now to correct a massive oversight in your horror reading? I want to know either way at @misssharai.

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