What kind of books does Stephen King write?

Seems like I missed reading the works of a great author during my “formative years” because I had the impression that he wrote only cheap and superficial horror stories.

There were friends and relatives who read his works a lot but they didn't let me know what was so special about this author.

So after all these decades I finally decided to dig a little because a thinking friend mentioned that he read King a lot during his impressionable teen years.

This is what ChatGPT had to say about King:

Stephen King is a highly acclaimed and prolific author known primarily for his work in the horror genre. However, his writing often crosses over into other genres such as suspense, science fiction, and supernatural fiction. King's books are characterized by their intense storytelling, well-developed characters, and a masterful blend of psychological terror and supernatural elements. His narratives often delve into the darker aspects of human nature, exploring themes of fear, death, and the supernatural.

Some of Stephen King's most popular novels include:

"Carrie" (1974): King's first published novel about a high school girl with telekinetic powers.

"The Shining" (1977): A psychological horror story about a writer and his family's experiences in an isolated hotel.

"It" (1986): A massive novel about a group of friends who confront an ancient evil in their small town, featuring a terrifying clown named Pennywise.

"Misery" (1987): A psychological thriller about an author held captive by his obsessed fan.

"The Stand" (1978): An epic post-apocalyptic novel depicting the battle between good and evil after a global pandemic.

"The Dark Tower" series (1982-2012): A series of interconnected novels blending elements of fantasy, science fiction, and Westerns, following the quest of gunslinger Roland Deschain.

"Pet Sematary" (1983): A chilling story about a burial ground that has the power to resurrect the dead.

"11/22/63" (2011): A time-travel novel where a man attempts to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

These examples represent only a fraction of Stephen King's extensive body of work, which includes numerous novels, short stories, and novellas. His storytelling style has made him one of the most influential and successful authors of our time.