NEWS -

King Search For the Most Gripping Short Story

Posted: October 31, 2015, 01:19
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King and The Guardian in search for the most original and gripping short story.

The master of horror fiction joins us in a search for the most original and gripping short stories. But how will you interpret Stephen King’s intriguing invitation?

To mark the publication, we are teaming up with his UK publisher Hodder & Stoughton to run a short story competition, in which King himself will pick the winner. The prize will include publication of the winning story on the the Guardian books website and a chance to improve your skills at a Guardian Masterclass run by King’s UK editor, Philippa Pride.

Read more here.

Thanks to Lou Sytsma.

Contest!!!

Posted: October 30, 2015, 22:14
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Contest time again here at Lilja’s Library. This time it’s 3 copies of the UK hardcover of The Bazaar of Bad Dreams that you can win. All you have to do is answer these three questions.

Answer the questions no later than November 8 and you are in the running for one of the books.

Good Luck!

Full List of Narrators for Bazaar of Bad Dreams

Posted: October 20, 2015, 23:58
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Simon & Schuster Audio is proud to announce the full ensemble cast for the unabridged audiobook edition of The Bazaar of Bad Dreams. The collection draws together 20 incredible stories, many of them brand-new to audio. Introductions written and read by King himself precede each tale, offering a unique behind-the-scenes look at the story’s origins or what inspired him to write it. The star studded cast of readers includes Dylan Baker, Brooke Bloom, Kathleen Chalfant, Hope Davis, Santino Fontana, Peter Friedman, Holter Graham, Edward Herrmann, Will Patton, Thomas Sadoski, Tim Sample, Cotter Smith, Craig Wasson, Fred Weller and Mare Winningham.

Scribner Gets Rights to 27 Older King Books

Posted: October 14, 2015, 05:28
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Looks like Scribner will be continueing releasing King's books.

Two decades after becoming the megaselling author’s publisher, Simon & Schuster imprint Scribner has acquired North American and Open Market print, e-book, and audio rights to 27 titles

Here is a list of the books.

Christine
Cujo
Cycle of the Werewolf
The Dark Half
The Dead Zone
Desperation
Different Seasons
Dolores Claiborne
The Eyes of the Dragon
Firestarter
Four Past Midnight
Gerald’s Game
IT
Misery
Needful Things
Rose Madder
Skeleton Crew
The Tommyknockers
The Long Walk (writing as Richard Bachman)
Roadwork (writing as Richard Bachman)
The Running Man (writing as Richard Bachman)
Thinner (writing as Richard Bachman)
The Regulators (writing as Richard Bachman)
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower series)
The Drawing Of The Three (The Dark Tower series)
The Wastelands (The Dark Tower series)
Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower series)

Thanks to Lou Sytsma and Bruno Barattini

Ep 50: Beahm Serves Fans A King Companion

Posted: October 13, 2015, 00:47
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With your hosts - longtime Constant Readers - Hans Lilja of Lilja's Library and podcaster & writer - Lou W. Sytsma.

This is it! Our milestone - 50th episode of The Stephen King Podcast!

Woohoo!

As your co-hosts Hans Lilja & Lou Sytsma - we want to thank our Constant Listeners for following along with us on our Stephen King Podcasting path.

We wanted to make our 50th episode a special one and to do that we are honored to present a episode long interview with one of the - in his words - old guard Stephen King Chroniclers.

It's been 20 years since George Beahm updated his Stephen King Companion and a lot of water has passed under the bridge since 1995. George has updated his book and made more accessible than ever before. He'll talk about how the book is for the fans because it is not only about King and his works but also how those works impacted so many lives and how they in turn enriched the Stephen King fan community.

We asked for fan questions and you responded! Thanks to everyone who sent in questions. So listen and see if your question made the podcast.

But that's not all. If you sent in a question you really want to listen to this podcast because there's a CONTEST!

If you hear your question on the podcast, George Beahm proves his generosity not only in his interview on the podcast but to those lucky fans because.......

YOU'VE WON A COPY OF GEORGE'S BOOK!

So listen to the podcast, listen for your question, and if you hear it then listen to Hans on how to claim it!

You can leave us comments, questions, topic suggestions for future episodes at:
1) Facebook - Lilja's Library
2) Audio Message - Speak Pipe widget on the right hand of the podcast page (send voicemail)

In this podcast:
1) 00:00 - Intro
2) 00:57 - Podcast Setup
3) 03:26 - From The Night Shift - George Beahm Interview about his new book - The Stephen King Companion
4) 1:25:46 - Sign Off
5) 1:26:42 - Outre



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Outro Music - Stand By Me - Ben E. King
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Description of End of Watch

Posted: October 8, 2015, 01:24
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From the Flap of End of Watch (contains spoiler for Mr Mercedes and Finders Keepers):

IN ROOM 217 OF THE LAKES REGION TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY CLINIC, SOMETHING HAS AWAKENED. SOMETHING EVIL.

Brady Hartsfield, perpetrator of the Mercedes Massacre, where eight people were killed and many more were badly injured, has been in the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic for five years, in a vegetative state. According to his doctors, anything approaching a complete recovery is unlikely. But behind the drool and stare, Brady is awake, and in possession of deadly new powers that allow him to wreak unimaginable havoc without ever leaving his hospital room.

Retired police detective Bill Hodges, the unlikely hero of Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers, now runs an investigation agency with his partner, Holly Gibney, who delivered the blow to Hartsfield's head that put him on the brain injury ward. Brady also remembers that. When Bill and Holly are called to a murder-suicide with ties to the Mercedes Massacre, they find themselves pulled into their most dangerous case yet, one that will put not only their lives at risk, but those of Hodges’s friend Jerome Robinson and his teenage sister, Barbara. Because Brady Hartsfield is back, and planning revenge not just on Bill Hodges and his friends, but on an entire city.

In End of Watch, Stephen King brings the Hodges trilogy to a sublimely terrifying conclusion, combining the detective fiction of Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers with the supernatural suspense that has been his trademark. The result is an unnerving look at human vulnerability and up-all-night entertainment.

Ask Beahm!

Posted: September 28, 2015, 15:43
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On Sunday George Beahm will join me and Lou when we record episode 50 of The Stephen King Pod Cast. This has been pushed forward but now it’s happening. We have gotten a few questions so far but we need more so send in your questions either by mail, facebook, twitter or preferable the SpeakWidget you can find here (send voicemail to the right). George has promised to bring a few copies of his new book The Stephen King Companion that we will give out to some of you that send in questions.

Ep 49: Pulling A Double Night Shift

Posted: September 28, 2015, 10:53
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With your hosts - longtime Constant Readers - Hans Lilja of Lilja's Library and podcaster - Lou W. Sytsma.

Welcome to Episode 49 of The Stephen King Podcast!

Your co-hosts Hans Lilja & Lou Sytsma review King's first short story collection - Nightshift and pick our top 3 stories. Plus we reveal your top 3 episodes.

We continue our discussions of Richard Chizmar's - owner of Cemetery Dance Magazine and Publications - thoughts on reading all the Stephen King novels over at - Stephen King Revisited.

This Stephen King Revisited looks at - Night Shift.

Stephen King Revisited article links:

1) Graveyard Shift by Bev Vincent

2) “How I Got A Job Working The Night Shift” by Brian Keene

3) Revisiting Night Shift by Richard Chizmar

As always, we bring you the latest Stephen King news.

We hope you enjoy this episode and, as usual, we want to hear from you.

Good or bad, we want it all!

You can leave us comments, questions, topic suggestions at:

1) FaceBook - Lilja's Library

2) Audio Message - Speak Pipe widget on the right hand of the podcast page (send voicemail)

In this podcast:

1) 00:00 - Intro
2) 00:57 - Podcast Setup
3) 01:45 - From The Death Room - The Latest Stephen King News
4) 30:49 - Reviews From The Night Shift - Night Shift
5) 47:16 - Stephen King Revisited - Night Shift
6) 56:43 - Sign Off
7) 1:00:29 - Outre



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Intro Music - Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

Outro Music - Stand By Me - Ben E. King
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Direct Download Link - The Stephen King Podcast - Episode 49

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Support The Show - Thank You!

Unearthed & Untold Out in 2016

Posted: September 24, 2015, 09:19
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The documentary UNEARTHED & UNTOLD: THE PATH TO PET SEMATARY has been acquired for worldwide distribution by Terror Films and will probably released next year.

UNEARTHED & UNTOLD: THE PATH TO PET SEMATARY is a documentary film chronicling the origins of Stephen King’s bestselling horror novel, PET SEMATARY, as well as the subsequent film based on his novel. Through extensive interviews this documentary showcases the stories of many cast and crew and highlights how the local communities in Maine played an invaluable role in making the film. In addition to first-time interviews by cast and crew members and never-before-seen video footage from the sets in Maine, this documentary will also take you on an extensive tour of the filming locations from the film – emphasizing the true local flavor and influence of Maine on this timeless horror film.


Thanks to Herbert West

I Need Your Help!

Posted: September 21, 2015, 11:17
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There has been a lot of now followers both on facebook, twitter and here on the Internet recently and I just want to make you aware of a few things that I need your help with. OK, here we go.

Mr Mercedes
Revival
Finders Keepers

Link on how to send in photo is on each page. Here are my photos to give you an idea...


I want to post as many photos as I can of you, the King fans, with his books. And a lot of you have sent in photos but I bet there are more of you out there that have the books and want to be part of this. So, check these pages out and then send in your photo with any of these three books (the photo should be a photo of you and the book, not just the book). Any edition and language goes.

I’m trying to decide what book the fans like the best and for that I need you to vote. Head over here and cast your vote for the best book!


OK that’s it. I hope you’ll all help me out with this! Thanks!
/ Lilja

A Piece of King History

Posted: September 21, 2015, 11:04
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Here is a unique look behind the scenes of the publication of The Stand Uncut. Peter Schneider, marketing director at Doubleday at the time, tells how they presented the book to their sales reps with the help of a video of King talking to them about the book. Check this out, it’s a small piece of history!


Full story

The Mist As a TV Series

Posted: September 16, 2015, 23:06
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Seems like The Mist is being developed as a TV series by Dimension Television...again.

The Weinstein Company’s Dimension Television is developing a TV series based on The Mist, first a Stephen King novella and then a 2007 MGM film directed by Frank Darabont. The project, which Dimension says is moving forward with King’s blessing, is from writer Christian Torpe, who created the Danish series Rita which is now finishing its fourth season.

The series will tell an original story about a seemingly innocuous mist that seeps into a small town but contains limitless havoc. From psychological terrors to otherworldly creatures, the mist causes the town residents’ darkest demons to appear forcing them to battle the supernatural event and, more importantly, each other.

“The terror and drama in Stephen King’s novella are so vast that we felt serialized television is the best place to explore them in greater depth,” said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films. “With this show, Christian has created a fascinating band of characters and a story with infinite scares.”

Dimension TV’s Megan Spanjian, Matthew Signer and Keith Levine will oversee the project.

King & Grisham To Appear At Book-Ends

Posted: September 16, 2015, 15:07
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2016 will get off to a great start for fans of best-selling authors John Grisham and Stephen King. The two authors will participate in the Manatee Library Foundation’s fundraiser in January at State College of Florida’s Neal Performing Arts Center.

Legal thriller novelist John Grisham will headline the event. Stephen King will interview Grisham on stage.

The event, “Book-Ends: An Evening with Two Literary Giants” will be held Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. Organizers are hoping to sell out the 832-seat venue and to raise $175,000 for the Library System.

“This is a huge literary event and we continue to be awestruck it’s happening here,” said Manatee County Library Services Manager Ava Ehde. “We are grateful to these impressive and prolific authors as well as Rep. Boyd, the growing list of sponsors and the Library Foundation for their support of our Manatee Libraries.”

If tickets are still available on Oct. 15, the public may purchase tickets for $150 apiece.

The Foundation will also give away a ticket to the King event to the winner of a Flash Fiction contest challenging amateur writers to submit a 250-word piece of fiction or poetry inspired by a photo posted on the new 805lit.org site. One winner will be announced in January. (If a minor wins the contest, he or she will be awarded two tickets for guardian accompaniment.)

If You Could Have Any Superpower...

Posted: September 16, 2015, 09:18
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At first I thought telepathy, but you’d hear some pretty nasty thoughts. X-ray vision? No, you might see some really nasty things. Superstrength? Might hurt someone without meaning to. Mind control? Too tempting—absolute power corrupting absolutely and all that. But would I like to be able to just jump into the air and fly like Superman? Yes, but without superstrength and invulnerability, I would probably be shot down by fighter jets acting on the authority of Homeland Security. I guess the best one would be superspeed, like the Flash. You know, just turn it up to 11 and pull the knobs off. Burn that sucker.
-Stephen King

What would you choose?

King on Under the Dome

Posted: September 15, 2015, 09:25
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King sort of commented on the Under the Dome TV series during the Lee Child event and even though he didn't say it our flat I think this says it all...

I wrote a novel called ”Under the Dome”, not necessary to be confused with a TV show…

Bruce & Laurie as Paul & Annie

Posted: September 15, 2015, 00:47
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Here is a teaser for the Misery stage play with Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf as Paul and Annie. Funny thing was that I just today realized that I’ll actually be in New York when it premiers but when I saw that the cheapest tickets are $119 and all the way back of the theatre I decided not to go. I didn’t realize it would be so expensive. The best seats are sold for just over $400. Crazy if you ask me. Anyone else planning on going?

In Bed With Willis

Posted: September 11, 2015, 09:02
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Here is an article on Bruce Wills playing Paul Sheldon in the upcoming stage adaptation of MIsery. I got the impression that the reporter talked to Willis for an hour but he really dosn't say much...


Thanks to Lou Sytsma

No One Takes Over The Dark Tower

Posted: September 6, 2015, 14:57
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Interesting...

As published in The New York Times, the American author answered several readers' questions with some related to 'The Dark Tower'. One reader asked what he thought of another writer taking over The Dark Tower should he be unable to do so in the future.

The 67 year old King responded he "would never let another writer 'take over' a series like the Dark Tower" He added that when a story comes to completion, then that's it. He also commented on how he rarely repeats characters, with the "exceptions of Roland Deschain (the Dark Tower series) and Bill Hodges (the Hodges trilogy)."

He was also asked about his family publishing his works should he be incapable of doing so, and he says he trusts his wife and children in that matter.

King Writes Introduction to The Rim of Morning

Posted: September 4, 2015, 13:17
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A new introduction from King will be included in the book The Rim of Morning: Two Tales of Classic Horror written by William Sloane. The book will be released on October 6th.

Stephen has written an introduction to be published in The Rim of Morning: Two Tales of Classic Horror written by William Sloane and released on October 6th. Stephen is one of several writers to praise these stories, saying:

The re-issue of these two remarkable novels is long overdue... I can think of no other novels exactly like these two, either in style or substance. My only regret is that William Sloane did not continue... Yet we must be grateful for what we have, which is a splendid rediscovery. These two novels are best read after dark, I think, possibly on an autumn night with a strong wind blowing the leaves around outside.

— Stephen King

Order your copy here.

King To Receive National Medal of Arts

Posted: September 4, 2015, 09:05
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Stephen King will receive the 2014 National Medals of Arts and President Barack Obama will present him (and others) with it on September 10, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. ET in an East Room ceremony at the White House. The event will be live streamed at WH.gov/Live

Stephen King for his contributions as an author. One of the most popular and prolific writers of our time, Mr. King combines his remarkable storytelling with his sharp analysis of human nature. For decades, his works of horror, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy have terrified and delighted audiences around the world. (Bangor, ME)

Read more here

Thanks to Lou Sytsma

More From Cary Fukunaga on IT

Posted: September 3, 2015, 08:50
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Dread Central has more info on the reason Cary Fukunaga left IT.

I was trying to make an unconventional horror film. It didn’t fit into the algorithm of what they knew they could spend and make money back on based on not offending their standard genre audience. Our budget was perfectly fine. We were always hovering at the $32 million mark, which was their budget. It was the creative that we were really battling. It was two movies. They didn’t care about that. In the first movie, what I was trying to do was an elevated horror film with actual characters. They didn’t want any characters. They wanted archetypes and scares. I wrote the script. They wanted me to make a much more inoffensive, conventional script. But I don’t think you can do proper Stephen King and make it inoffensive.

The main difference was making Pennywise more than just the clown. After 30 years of villains that could read the emotional minds of characters and scare them, trying to find really sadistic and intelligent ways he scares children, and also the children had real lives prior to being scared. And all that character work takes time. It’s a slow build, but it’s worth it, especially by the second film. But definitely even in the first film, it pays off.

Under the Dome Ends With Season 3

Posted: September 1, 2015, 01:02
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Finally CBS is doing the right thing and letting the residents of Chester's Mill end their journey.

CBS is putting the residents of Chester’s Mill out of their misery.

The network has decided to end its summer thriller Under the Dome next month— which is still two years after the show was originally expected to conclude.

CBS has officially decided to not order a fourth season of the series, which is based on the Stephen King bestseller about a Maine town suddenly trapped under a mysterious force field.

Instead, the Sept. 10 finale will serve as a series ender.

“Two years ago, Under the Dome broke new ground in the summer and became an instant hit on CBS, as well as with viewers around the world,” said Nina Tassler, chairman, CBS Entertainment. “Dome’s event storytelling and multi-platform business model paved the way for more original summer programming with the successful rollouts of Extant and Zoo. We’re excited to present the final chapter in Chester’s Mill as the story comes full circle, with the Dome coming down as dramatically as it went up.”

Previously Tassler had teased that the dome was going to come down at the end of the season. The network also revealed the closer will chronicle “two groups of residents engage in one final conflict that some won’t survive” and that the dome’s “mysterious origins will be revealed.” We’re told there are no plans to shop Dome around to other potential networks or streaming companies.

Thanks to Herbert West

Revival With Tease For Bazaar...

Posted: August 20, 2015, 10:56
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Got this in the mail yesterday. It's the UK paperback edition of Revival (out Sep. 10) and besides the book it also contains parts of the intro by King to The Bazaar of Bad Dreams, parts of the intro to Mile 81 and part of Mile 81.

Lloyd Segan Comments on Haven Ending

Posted: August 20, 2015, 08:50
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Just spoke to Lloyd Segan and when I asked about Haven being cancelled and according to him it wasn’t cancelled. This was what David Howe (president of the network) and the rest of the team envisioned it all to end over a year ago. I asked him if they did get a chance to do an ending or if the show cancelled after they were done with the season and here is what he answered.

Indeed the show was not canceled. A misfortunate headline. But yes all planned for.

Why Did Cary Fukunaga Leave IT?

Posted: August 19, 2015, 09:25
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Entertainment Weekly have talked to Cary Fukunaga who explained why he left IT:

“It’s never easy,” he says. “Chase [Palmer] and I had been working on that script for probably three years. There was a lot of our childhood and our experience in it. Ultimately, we and New Line have to agree on the kind of movie we want to make, and we just wanted to make different movies.”

“It’s like a relationship,” he continued. “You can try to make the other person who you want them to be, but it’s impossible really to change. You just have to work.”

Haven Cancelled!

Posted: August 19, 2015, 08:31
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It looks like there will only be 13 more troubled episodes of Haven but on the good side it seems they managed to get a good ending to the show...

The Troubles are coming to an end. Syfy has canceled its long-running supernatural drama “Haven,” which will end its run after the upcoming 13-episode conclusion to its fifth season, TheWrap has learned.

The cable network aired the first 13 episodes of Season 5 in 2014, with the second half set to premiere in October.

Showrunner Gabrielle Stanton told TheWrap that even though the decision came after Season 5 of “Haven” had wrapped, the creative team was prepared for the end.

“I’m sure as a fellow TV fan, there’s nothing more annoying than when a show kind of feels like it might be wrapping up, but they just don’t address it, they don’t come to any kind of satisfying conclusion,” she said. “I always think that’s cheating the audience a little bit, of a nice satisfying ending. So we really looked at these 13 episodes as if… If we were indeed going to end, what would be the best ending we could possibly do for Haven?”

Ep 48: Tinkering With The Stephen King Tour

Posted: August 14, 2015, 12:04
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With your hosts - longtime Constant Readers - Hans Lilja of Lilja's Library and podcaster - Lou Sytsma.

Welcome to Episode 48 of The Stephen King Podcast!

Stuart Tinker of Derry, Maine owns & operates The Stephen King Tour. We talk to Stuart about what King territory it covers plus find out when the best time to book is!

Here is a link to the tour where you can book ahead and schedule your trip: The Stephen King Tour

At one time Stuart also owned and ran Bett's Bookstore and Hans actually went there.

Here's proof! A young Lilja outside Betts in the summer of 1998.


This plus the latest Stephen King news.

We hope you enjoy this episode and, as usual, we want to hear from you.

Good or bad, we want it all!

You can leave us comments, questions, topic suggestions at:

1) FaceBook - Lilja's Library

2) Audio Message - Speak Pipe widget on the right hand of the podcast page (send voicemail)

In this podcast:

1) 00:00 - Intro
2) 01:02 - Podcast Setup
3) 01:48 - From the Death Room - The Latest Stephen King News
3) 28:35 - King Crate - Interview with Stuart Tinker of Stephen King Tours
4) 1:02:24 - Sign Off
5) 1:04:10 - Outre


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Intro Music - Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

Outro Music - Stand By Me - Ben E. King
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iTunes - The Stephen King Podcast.
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Special feature

30th anniversary wishes

King calendar

2026:
Stephen King: Not Just Horror (German ed.)
2026:
Stephen King: Stories From Five Decades of Storytelling (German edition)
October 2026:
Carrie TV Series
October 6, 2026:
Other Worlds Than These
2026:
Stephen King: Not Just Horror (Portuguese ed.)
2026:
Stephen King: Stories From Five Decades of Storytelling (Portuguese edition)
November 5, 2026:
An Exercise in Murder (Short story by Hill)
2026:
The Institute season 2
March 2, 2027:
Hunger (Joe Hill)

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Caroline Bicks
April 20, 2026
Rex Baluyot
February 4, 2026
Andy & Barbara Muschietti
February 2, 2026

Latest reviews

Locke & Key: Comic, TV, Dramatization & Keys
May 5, 2026
Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King
April 21, 2026
The Running Man
November 14, 2025

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