The other day I saw a post in the Books of Horror Facebook group (join if you haven’t already; it’s awesome) in which someone shared this list from Listverse, supposedly detailing the ten authors who could be the next Stephen King.
The list, written by someone named Michael Cook, has a number of issues. But let’s start with the fact that you must first define what it means to be the next Stephen King. In my opinion, to be the next Stephen King, the author would have to become the face of horror. They would have to dominate horror literature in the same fashion as King. Their books would become instant bestsellers the moment they go up for sale, overtaking everyone else. All their books would be granted movie deals. So on and so on.
It would be extremely difficult for anyone to attain this level of success, especially with the extraordinary wealth of talented authors now able to get their work out there, able to subvert a handful of editors at a handful of big publishing houses.
Nevertheless, let’s have a look at Michael Cook’s list and then I’ll name a few authors I think should’ve been considered.
From Michael Cook (the list, not the comments; they are mine):
Stephen Graham Jones - Jones is very good and his popularity is only growing. If there is another King out there—and that’s a big if—Jones should definitely be in the conversation.
Joe Hill - He’s fine. I’ve liked some of his work and haven’t liked others. But I don’t see him attaining anywhere near the level of success as his father. I haven’t seen the uncanny ability to strike fear in a person from Hill.
Grady Hendrix - This may be my choice to do it from Cook’s list. Hendrix is super talented and he’s on fucking fire right now. His books are being made into movies and we’re seeing him everywhere. He is as much comedy as horror, though. Does that improve his chances or make it more difficult? I don’t know.
Tananarive Due - I’ve never read Due’s work, so I can’t comment on that. But just looking at the numbers on Amazon, I’m not sure where Cook is getting the idea that she’ll be the next King. Maybe he knows something I don’t?
Neil Gaiman - This is where we start getting into the absurdity of the list. Gaiman is already a super-well-established author in multiple genres. And he’s 61. Not only is Gaiman not the next King, he has no desire to be. King is mostly known as a horror author. Gaiman has managed to not be pigeon-holed.
Alma Katsu - The Hunger was great. She is probably as good a candidate as anyone on this list, but, in my opinion, none of them are close yet. Katsu definitely needs to find a wider audience first.
Joyce Carol Oates - What? Did Mr. Cook run out of female authors to list so he just threw in JCO? She’s fucking 84! I know plenty of female horror authors with a better chance of being the next King than JCO!
Chuck Palahniuk - Sigh. Chuck writes horror on occasion, sure. He was even on Dead Headspace, a largely horror podcast. But he is not chiefly a horror author, and like Gaiman, he doesn’t want to be. Cook is just pulling popular authors out of a hat with some of these picks.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia - I really, really need to read Mexican Gothic. It’s been on my to-read list. Moreno-Garcia may have the best selling book of any author on the list, which is saying something. #2 is probably a good spot for her, if not at the top.
Josh Malerman - Bird Box was a huge hit, no question. His subsequent books, though, have not garnered anywhere near the same success. To be King, every book would need to explode onto the scene.
So there’s your list.
Look, I don’t think any of them have a prayer at being the next Stephen King. His level of success in the horror genre will likely never be attained again. But it’s a fun game to play, right? But some of Michael Cook’s picks were just plain silly. Here’s some authors that I think should have been on there:
Nick Cutter - He’s flat-out terrifying.
Duncan Ralston - Woom already hit big. Next, The Ghostland books…
Ania Ahlborn - How is she not a bestseller already?
Kristopher Triana - From extreme to mainstream, he knocks it out quick and brilliantly.
Owl Goingback - Already with a few Bram Stokers under his belt.
Christine Morgan - Hey, gotta root for my faves.
Catriona Ward - We need more like Last House on Needless Street.
Thomas Olde Heuvelat - Maybe the best writer on this post.
I could go on and on. Where are Tremblay and Langan and Malfi and Blackwell? What about Adam Nevill and Eric LaRocca? What if my brothers in extreme horror—like Volpe, Beauregard, and Morrison—decided to take over the mainstream scene? I know my writing pal Chris Miller would be perturbed if I didn’t mention him here too. Chris, how about you work on that next chapter of our collaboration, then we’ll see if you make the list!
Anyway, probably no one on this post will reach King levels. Like I said, I could go on and on with suggestions, and any of them are better suggestions than JCO or Neil Gaiman. Might as well say Dean Koontz is the next Stephen King.
So who on this whole page, if I had to guess, has the best chance of achieving King-like success? I can only pick one. . .
I gave this serious thought before picking. At first, it was between Cutter, Hendrix, Heuvelat, Ward, and Moreno-Garcia. But I’m gonna go with my gut.
Kristopher Triana has the best chance.
But, hey, why not me? Buy my books here!
Good call on Ania. In terms of pure style and approach to storytelling, I noticed her... Kingliness (?)... pretty much right away.
yes some of those picks for 'next Stephen King' were ridiculous, but what did you expect from an article with that kind of headline? and Thank You for the kind words about BOOKS OF HORROR! - and if i may throw a name into 'the hat' I would suggest PHILIP FRACASSI. Having read 'Boys in the Valley' and 'Gothic' Fracassi is one hell of a storyteller!