The Losers' Club

Stephen King's 10 Best Novel Endings

Added 2023-06-13 22:41:57 +0000 UTC

If you’re a Constant Reader or fan of horror fiction, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the theory that Stephen King writes bad endings. This cruel claim has been swirling since the mid-90’s and we’ve even heard it echoed by King himself. In the classic horror film It: Chapter 2, the author-turned-actor sits behind the cashier’s desk of Secondhand Rose, Secondhand Clothes and gives Bill Denbrough (James MvAcoy) shit for writing bad endings. But is this reputation justified? Despite decades on the bestseller list and worldwide fame, does the Master of Horror really not know how to end a book? Needless to say, the Losers have some thoughts.

They’ll share our own theories on this common misconception and shout out some of their own favorite King conclusions. Jenn Adams crunches the numbers and guides fellow Losers Dan Caffrey, Randall Coburn, and Julia Marchese in a ranking of the top ten best Stephen King novel endings. Will your favorite make the top 10? Can you guess our No. 1 entry? Will Richard Bachman make an appearance? From horrifying stingers, to heart wrenching friendships and bittersweet love stories, we’ll celebrate the good, the great, and the nasty on our quest to uncover the best ending King has ever written.

This episode was suggested by Michael Darer. Have an episode you think we should do? Become an Overlook patron and send in your prompt and see if we bite.

Timestamps for Spoilers:
ELEVATION: (13:45 - 23:45)
FIRESTARTER: (24 - 29)
THINNER: (29 - 35:22)
CHRISTINE: (35:30 - 42:30)
THE GREEN MILE: (42:40 - 49:50)
IT: (50 - 1:01:30)
THE DEAD ZONE (1:01: 30 - 1:06:05)
THE DARK TOWER (1:06:05 - 1:17:20)
PET SEMATARY: ( 1:17:20 - 1:28:00)
11/22/63 (1:28:00 - 1:36:40)
HONORABLE MENTIONS: 1:36:40