Stephen King’s pen name legacy takes on new depth with the upcoming release of ‘The End Times,’ a project that revives the mysterious Richard Bachman identity for a modern audience. Launching November 19, this collaboration between King and author Benjamin Percy brings Bachman—and a new character tied to his lore—into the spotlight just as multiple Bachman-originated adaptations hit screens in 2025.
Origins of the Richard Bachman Persona
In 1977, responding to publisher concerns about releasing multiple novels under his own name in a short time span, Stephen King introduced readers to his alter ego, Richard Bachman. Over several years, Bachman became the public author of works like ‘Rage,’ ‘The Long Walk,’ ‘Roadwork,’ ‘The Running Man,’ and ‘Thinner.’ Bachman was carefully separated from King until 1985, when similarities in writing styles led a bookstore clerk to confirm, through the Library of Congress, that Bachman and King were, in fact, the same writer.
Although King was ultimately revealed as Bachman, the pen name took on significance beyond its origin. ‘Rage’ was withdrawn from circulation due to its sensitive subject matter and real-world impacts, but other Bachman books stayed in print. King continued to release “Bachman” stories in the years that followed, including ‘The Regulators’ in 1996—a companion piece to his own ‘Desperation’—and ‘Blaze’ in 2007, which was introduced as a posthumous discovery penned by Bachman. In pop culture, King even portrayed his fictional alter ego during an appearance on ‘Sons of Anarchy’ in 2010, reflecting the ongoing mythos surrounding Richard Bachman in horror literature.
Bachman’s Resurgence in Modern Adaptations
The renewed focus on the Bachman legacy in 2025 is evident as adaptations of ‘The Long Walk’ and ‘The Running Man’—both originally released as Bachman novels—are set for release. The author’s pseudonymous works, known for their exploitation tone and bold, sometimes unnerving, narratives, find themselves freshly relevant to new audiences. Bachman’s reputation as the author of King’s darker, high-concept projects has cemented his place in the hearts of Constant Readers and horror fans alike.
‘The End Times’: A New Chapter for Bachman
Indie publisher Bad Hand Books will introduce ‘The End Times,’ a post-apocalyptic saga told through twelve serialized installments resembling issues of a local newspaper in the fictional North End. Benjamin Percy, inspired by King’s own experiments with serialized fiction like ‘The Green Mile’ and ‘The Plant,’ saw deep connections to King’s earlier worlds from the outset.
“I was thinking about big swings that King had taken with Riding the Bullet and The Plant, and I was thinking especially of The Stand, which is essentially the world in which The End Times takes place,”
Percy, writer of ‘The End Times,’ explained.
Motivated by these links, Percy reached out to King in hopes of collaboration, resulting in a partnership that is a dream come true for lifelong horror aficionados.
“I finally got the guts to shoot him an email, thinking the worst he can say is no,”
Percy continued.
“He said yes, because he’s an incredibly generous guy, and it’s been such a pleasure and honor to be able to collaborate with a hero of mine. I am that Constant Reader. I grew up worshiping at the altar of King, and it’s amazing to be in conversation with him.”
Benjamin Percy, Writer
The Secret Significance of Claudia Inez Bachman
In a unique twist, the Bachman legacy is further expanded through the character of Claudia Inez Bachman—a name familiar to King aficionados as the dedicatee of every Richard Bachman book. As first reported by Fangoria, Claudia will play a prominent role in ‘The End Times,’ transforming this longstanding in-joke into an integral narrative piece. Percy revealed this occurred during their conversations about the project’s direction.
“When I talked to King, I was like, ‘My name’s not going to appear in the newspaper. Your name’s not going to appear in the newspaper,'”
Percy detailed. “He threw out the idea of Claudia Inez Bachman, which was a wild moment, because if you’re a Constant Reader, you know that all those Bachman books are dedicated to Claudia.”
Claudia isn’t merely present as a writer’s wife; like Tabitha King, Stephen’s real-life spouse, she is envisioned as a writer herself. Within King’s broader multiverse—including ‘The Dark Tower’ saga—Claudia y Inez Bachman is credited as the author of the mysterious children’s book ‘Charlie the Choo-Choo.’ Whether ‘The End Times’ Claudia is the same as this prior incarnation remains to be seen, but Percy hints that her narrative is rich with history and secrecy.
“She writes an introduction to herself in the paper, and she introduces herself as coming from New England,”
Percy explains. “She talks about her husband. She talks about what she’s been up to over the past 12 years, because this is a time of reconstruction. Our story doesn’t take place as the world is falling apart. It takes place as the world is building itself back up. So, I don’t want to get too much into it for the reasons of spoilers, but there’s a whole established backstory there, and she also has some secrets which she carries with her.”
Benjamin Percy, Writer
The Themes and Relevance of Bachman’s Work Today
The revival of Richard Bachman’s legacy, particularly through the figure of Claudia, arrives at a time of renewed cultural resonance for the Bachman canon. As society faces new challenges, the dystopian frameworks and moral tensions in Bachman stories invite reflection on contemporary issues.
“If you look at the, let’s say, the acerbic quality of a Richard Bachman novel, look at it with the backdrop of 2025,”
Percy observes. “Here you have, in The Running Man, an authoritarian government and a population that takes pleasure in cruelty. It finds voyeuristic pleasure in seeing other people run for their lives. Here, you have The Long Walk, which tells the story of a country that sacrifices its underclass. In the case of The End Times, there are certainly some parallels when you look at attacks on the press, the rise of disinformation and misinformation, and the heroic act of journalists.”
Benjamin Percy, Writer
However, Percy also points to a nuanced optimism within this new venture and distinction between the Bachmans—fictional and newly fleshed out.
“So The End Times has that knife’s edge to it, but ultimately, this is a story that’s hopeful. It’s important to note that Claudia Bachman is not Richard Bachman. I mentioned that she carries secrets with her. I’ll also say that she speaks, in her introductory letter, about how her marriage was not a happy one. So, their voices are distinct and their outlook is distinct. And again, I won’t say too much about her arc over the course of this story, but we’re both channeling Bachman and reinventing things.”
Benjamin Percy, Writer
Looking Ahead: ‘The End Times’ and the Bachman Legacy
With ‘The End Times’ ready for release from Bad Hand Books, and film adaptations of ‘The Long Walk’ and ‘The Running Man’ generating buzz, the Stephen King pen name legacy appears more vital than ever. Claudia Inez Bachman’s emergence as a key character reflects both an inventive expansion of King’s fictional universe and a timely exploration of themes relevant to readers and audiences today. As Bachman’s story continues to grow—in both classic and surprising new directions—its significance within the worlds of horror and speculative fiction is only deepening.
