The king in yellow, along with the Necronomicon, by H. P. Lovecraft, is one of the happiest literary resources of fantasy literature. Book inside a book, enters and leaves the narrative causing a distancing effect that enhances its horror. It is remarkable the influence that Ambrose Bierce produced, especially "An inhabitant of Carcosa". His own is felt within the circle of authors of "The Myths of Cthulhu."

The tales of El Rey de Amarillo have been very important in the development of American fantasy literature. All the leading writers of the period of emergence of the pulp seem to have known it. His influence extends almost worldwide, even though for many years the book was exhausted. From it new themes are extracted, stories are imitated and recycled, and - most important of all - the new concepts of metaphysical horror are taken up by a host of writers tired of ghosts and occult phenomena, and dissatisfied with mysticism or research psychological Indeed, The King of Yellow can be singled out as one of the most important books of American supernatural fiction between Poe and the moderns.