After a few months of speculation,Stephen Kinghas finally confirmed he’s working on a book that will be his best one of the 2020s. It’s always been funny to me to ponder how King has said once or twice in the past that he’s thinking about retiring. Considering his prodigious output of the past decade, he knows, and we know, and we know he knows he’s lying to himself; the man has stories pouring out of him like water from a spring.
We already know two upcoming books involving him. The first isKing’sNever Flinch, which will return to theHolly Gibney universe; the second is theanthologyThe End of the World As We Know It, a first for Stephen Kingthat will find dozens of writers coming together to pen short stories set in the world ofThe Stand. But the project he’s teased he’s quietly working on that will involve the Territoriesis the one that has me the most intrigued.
Stephen King’s Talisman 3 Confirmation Makes Me Excited After Years Of Waiting
He’s Finally Confirmed A Sequel He’s Teased For A While
Like many Constant Readers, I’ve wondered for years about whetherStephen King would ever write a thirdTalismanbook, but those hopes seemed dashed when co-author Peter Straub passed away in 2022. But King announced last October that he was penning a new bookand teased he was returning to Mid-world and the Territories with it.I knewKing probably wasn’t teasing a newDark Towerbook, as he’s said emphatically that he’s done with that world, or at least with any stories following Roland of Gilead. That leftThe Talisman 3, but it was honestly anybody’s guess.
Stephen King’s New Project Might Solve A Dark Tower Canon Plot Hole That Has Bothered Readers For Years
Stephen King teased a new project that could bring together two of his universes that have long been the subject of some muddled canon consistency.
That’s why I’m thrilled thatStephen King has finally confirmed that he is, indeed, working on the thirdTalismanbookhe and Straub had talked about before his co-author passed away. “[P]eter Straub had a terrific idea before passing away,” he wrote. “Dual credit, as on THE TALISMAN and BLACK HOUSE. But as always, I can never be sure a book will be done until it is. This one has a long way to go.”
Of course, I’m trying to temper my excitement - like King says right in the post,there’s still a long way to go.Still, Stephen King hasn’t historically been a writer to tease books that don’t happen. So it may be a few years, but I’m excited for a return to the Territories again with Jack and any other characters King wants to bring along for the ride. Seeing that King loves Straub’s story idea enough to write it is exciting enough.
The Talisman 3 Will Probably Be Stephen King’s Best Book Of The 2020s
It Has So Much Potential
I know that we’re already into 2025, and King has had a handful of books out already this decade with more to come, but, assumingThe Talisman 3releases within the next five years (which it probably will), thenI believe it will go down as his best book of the 2020s. It’s simply that there’s so much anticipation built up and so much goodwill forThe Talismanthat, as a longtime reader, it’s the project that’s most exciting to me.
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Never Flinch
2025
The End of the World As We Know It (anthology, writing foreward)
The Talisman 3
TBD
I really lovedYou Like It Darker, but then,I’ve always been a fan of King’s short story collections.Even beyond that, it felt like a bit of a throwback to some of his older work, which I appreciated. His other novels have been great, but, as much as I like his books withHolly Gibney, she’s a controversial Stephen King characterfor many. On a personal level, while I like his crime thrillers, I much prefer his horror and dark fantasy. King’s collaborations have always been great, and though Straub is gone, it will be interesting to see how King honors the vision of his late friend.
The Talisman 3’s Likely Dark Tower Connections Make It An Even Bigger Deal
Exploring Mid-World Through Another Character’s Eyes Will Be Great
Just as exciting is thatKing has also confirmed that it will find him returning to Mid-world. This is also exciting to me, as he’s already said he’s done writing stories with Roland in them, but he’s also never really explored the Mid-world through another character’s point of view outside the characters ofThe Dark Tower. To see it explored through Jack Sawyer’s eyes will give us a brand-new perspective on Roland’s world, which could give us a whole new appreciation for it. Honestly, there’s so much to look forward to with this new book, so I hopeStephen Kingdoes see the project through to publication.
Stephen King
Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for The Dark Tower series, The Stand, IT, The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Misery, the Bill Hodges trilogy, and more.
