Stephen King is joining a unique post-apocalyptic creative venture called The End Times, which will launch this November and continue publishing new editions monthly through late 2026. The project is a fictional newspaper chronicling life after a devastating virus, and King will contribute original stories written through the voice of a character living in this world. This collaboration brings King’s renowned storytelling to an ongoing serialized format, expanding his work into a fresh narrative medium.
The Premise and Structure of The End Times
The End Times is set in a future where a deadly virus has wiped out most of humanity, leaving only a small group of survivors. The story is framed through the discovery of a printing press by a woman, who becomes the newspaper’s editor-in-chief. She begins publishing news to keep these scattered survivors informed, posting editions in a communal square. Over time, the paper grows in popularity, evolving into a mosaic of diverse voices that reflect the rebuilding of society.
Benjamin Percy, a well-known comic book writer and novelist behind works like The Dead Lands and Red Moon, explained that The End Times blends elements reminiscent of Station Eleven and Our Town, emphasizing the mixture of survival and community. As Percy described it,
“The point of this is not that the world is ending,”
“The world has ended and it’s rebuilding.”
—Benjamin Percy, Writer and Podcast Guest
The narrative explores how survivors come together after catastrophe, using the newspaper as a way to share stories and maintain connections.
Stephen King’s Role and Story Themes
Stephen King’s involvement in The End Times adds a distinct layer of atmosphere and horror. Rather than writing under his own name, King contributes as a fictional character inhabiting this apocalyptic landscape. Percy hinted that King might even use his pseudonym Richard Bachman for the submissions, adding intrigue for longtime fans.
King’s stories for the project promise unsettling imagery typical of his style. Percy revealed some of the submission details on The Kingcast podcast:
“I’m not going to give too much away, but let’s just say some of what I already have in my inbox involves scarecrows with large button eyes and dead rats and bodies dangling from the rafters of barns. You know, the Stephen King special.”
—Benjamin Percy, Writer and Podcast Guest
This collaboration fits King’s penchant for immersive horror and his history of experimenting with formats, recalling his 1996 release of The Green Mile as monthly novella installments and the digital launch of his short story Ur exclusively through Kindle.
Availability and Support for the Project
The End Times is available for pre-order in two formats through Bad Hand Books. The physical newspaper, with a limited print run of 500 subscriptions, has already sold out. However, the digital edition remains open for pre-orders at $15. Subscribers of the digital version will later receive a 15% discount on the compiled physical edition, set to be released after the year-long run concludes.
Additionally, the project supports a charitable cause. After surpassing the initial 500 subscribers, Bad Hand Books and Percy will donate $1 per subscription to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), combining storytelling with a social contribution.
What This Means for Stephen King Fans and the Genre
This post-apocalyptic project offers a rare chance to experience Stephen King’s work in a serialized, multimedia format that is both innovative and reminiscent of his past experimental publishing ventures. For fans of suspense and dark speculative fiction, The End Times merges community storytelling with King’s distinctive horror style, presenting a vivid depiction of survival and despair in a ravaged world.
With contributions from other voices alongside King’s, and the immersive framing of a newspaper keeping the fictional society connected, The End Times is poised to become a notable addition to contemporary dystopian literature. Its unique delivery model—blending digital convenience with the nostalgia of a printed newspaper—may influence how post-apocalyptic stories are told and consumed in the future.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How high is Stephen King’s IQ?
A. Stephen King is a well-known American writer famous for horror, supernatural, and suspense stories. His IQ is about 130. King has a talent for creating gripping and intense stories, which has gained him a large fan base and praise from critics.
