Stephen King, Benjamin Percy Unite for ‘End Times’

Stephen King is stepping back into the world of serialized fiction—this time alongside Benjamin Percy. The horror icon has teamed up with the Minnesota author for The End Times, a post-apocalyptic novel delivered in an old-school, deeply unexpected format: a monthly newspaper.

The collaboration marks a notable moment for thriller and horror readers. King isn’t just lending his name. He’s consulting, contributing ideas, and writing sections of the story under his own byline, making this a true creative partnership.

A Post-Apocalyptic Story Told as a Newspaper

The End Times unfolds 12 years after societal collapse in a small town called North End, inspired by Northfield, Minnesota. At its center is Mary Poole, who relaunches a community newspaper in the ruins of the old world. What begins as a solo effort grows into a multi-voiced publication that educates, entertains, and even saves lives.

Instead of arriving as a single hardback, the novel is being serialized across 12 monthly newspaper installments through 2025 and into 2026. The project comes from Bad Hand Books and leans into the tactile experience of print, complete with A/B/C/D plotlines and epistolary elements. After the full run, the story will be collected into an omnibus edition.

The format deliberately echoes King’s own history with serialization, most famously The Green Mile. It also taps into Percy’s background in comics storytelling, blending cliffhangers with layered character arcs.

A Collaboration Years in the Making

The partnership didn’t happen overnight. Nearly a decade ago, King publicly praised Percy’s novel Red Moon, sparking a connection that grew into ongoing correspondence and shared stage appearances. That creative rapport eventually led Percy to pitch the ambitious newspaper experiment.

King, known for championing bold publishing moves and fresh formats, embraced the spirit of experimentation. His willingness to co-write and shape the project adds serious weight to what is already an inventive literary gamble.

For King fans, the news lands amid a busy period that has included everything from screen adaptations to new introductions and reissues, such as a rare introduction he penned for a Nat Cassidy collection and updates on a fresh audiobook edition of The Body.

Early reactions to The End Times highlight its blend of intimate small-town drama and sweeping dystopian tension, with some describing it as carrying the emotional resonance of Station Eleven filtered through community journalism. More details about the project’s rollout and format have emerged through coverage from Popverse and MPR News.

Monthly issues will continue through 2026 before the full collection lands. For readers who miss the anticipation of waiting for the next chapter, King and Percy may have just made the apocalypse feel thrillingly old-fashioned.

Part of our full guide: Stephen King Adaptations in 2026: What Is Filming, What Was Cancelled and What Is Next