Best Sci Fi Books Stephen King (2026): 4 Compared

Stephen King does horror, but his sci-fi side is just as sharp, and the best sci fi books stephen king fans should read run from 144 to 800 pages. We compared four books by fit, contents and edition, and value, using only what each listing publishes.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Mist	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	The Langoliers	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	End of the World As We Know It	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	INFESTED	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The Mist

Stephen King·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 176-page Stephen King novella; skip it for longer reads.

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Pros

• By Stephen King
• 176 pages, quick read
• Scribner edition from 2018

Cons

• 176 pages, short
• No reading age is stated
• 2018, older than the anthology

2

The Langoliers

Stephen King·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 304-page Stephen King novella; skip it for anthologies.

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Pros

• By Stephen King
• 304 pages
• Scribner edition from 2019

Cons

• No reading age is stated
• A novella, not a novel
• 2019, older than the anthology

3

End of the World As We Know It

Christopher Golden·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An 800-page anthology from 2025; skip it for pure King.

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Pros

• 800 pages, the longest here
• New tales from 2025
• From Gallery Books

Cons

• King is one of three authors
• Not pure Stephen King
• 800 pages is a long read

4

INFESTED

Stephen R. King·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 144-page book by Stephen R. King; skip it if you want the other Stephen King.

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Pros

• 144 pages, the shortest here
• Published April 13, 2017
• A quick read

Cons

• By Stephen R. King, not Stephen King
• No publisher is stated
• 2017, the oldest here

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Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, and value. No pick here lists a reading age, so the score rests on the books themselves. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best sci fi books stephen king

King or King-adjacent

Two picks are by Stephen King: The Mist and The Langoliers. One is an anthology with King among three authors, and INFESTED is by Stephen R. King, a different author. Check the author on the listing before you buy.

Length

Pages run from 144 to 800. The End of the World As We Know It is the 800-page anthology, while The Mist at 176 pages and INFESTED at 144 are quick reads. Pick the commitment level you want. For Mars sci-fi, see our best sci fi books mars list.

Edition

The Mist and The Langoliers are Scribner editions from 2018 and 2019, while the anthology is from Gallery Books in 2025. Check the publisher and date on the listing to pick the right edition. For military sci-fi, see our best sci fi military books list.

Before you buy

• Check the author on the listing; one pick is by Stephen R. King, not Stephen King.
• Note the page count and publication date to pick the right edition.
• Decide between novella and anthology before you shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the longest book here?

The End of the World As We Know It, 800 pages from Gallery Books, published 2025.

Which are by Stephen King himself?

The Mist and The Langoliers. The anthology includes King among three authors; INFESTED is by Stephen R. King.

Which are the shortest?

INFESTED at 144 pages and The Mist at 176 pages.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Mist

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Related lists

See every fantasy list and all fiction lists. Also see our best sci fi books mars. Also see our best sci fi military books.

More lists: sci fi like the expanse, sci fi npr and sci fi on kobo plus.