Connection to The Stand

Previously, it was announced that Christopher Golden and I were editing an anthology full of brand-new stories set in the world of Stephen King’s seminal novel, The Stand. This is a first — a book of other authors playing with Steve’s toys, as it were.

Last Sunday, I told you that we’d be unveiling the line-up the cover, the publication date, and the preorder date here this week. But I’ve since been told that the publisher now wants to hold off on some of that, so I’m only allowed to show you the line-up. The rest will be unveiled before the end of this month, but not today.

So, without further ado, here is the final Table of Contents for THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: TALES OF STEPHEN KING’S THE STAND.

Foreword by Christopher Golden
Introduction by Stephen King

PART ONE: DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS

Room 24 by Caroline Kepnes
The Tripps by Wrath James White
Bright Light City by Meg Gardiner
Every Dog Has Its Day by Bryan Smith
Lockdown by Bev Vincent
In A Pig’s Eye by Joe R. Lansdale
Lenora by Jonathan Janz
The Hope Boat by Gabino Iglesias
Wrong f******g Place, Wrong f******g Time by C. Robert Cargill
Prey Instinct by Hailey Piper
Grace by Tim Lebbon
Moving Day by Richard Chizmar
La Mala Horla by Alex Segura
The African Painted Dog by Catriona Ward
Till Human Voices Wake Us, And We Drown by Poppy Z. Brite
Kovach’s Last Case by Michael Koryta
Make Your Own Way by Alma Katsu

PART TWO: THE LONG WALK

I Love The Dead by Josh Malerman
Milagros by Cynthia Pelayo
The Legion of Swine by S.A. Cosby
Keep The Devil Down by Rio Youers
Across The Pond by V Castro
The Boat Man by Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes
The Story I Tell Is the Story of Some of Us by Paul Tremblay
The Mosque at the End of the World by Usman T. Malik
Abigail’s Gethsemane by Wayne Brady and Maurice Broaddus

PART THREE: LIFE WAS SUCH A WHEEL

He’s A Righteous Man by Ronald Malfi
Awaiting Orders In Flaggston by Somer Canon
Grand Junction by Chuck Wendig
Hunted to Extinction by Premee Mohamed
Came The Last Night of Sadness by Catherynne M. Valente
The Devil’s Children by Sarah Langan

PART FOUR: OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE

Walk On Gilded Splinters by David J. Schow
The Unfortunate Convalescence of the SuperLawyer by Nat Cassidy

Afterword by Brian Keene

Part One takes place during the initial spread of Captain Trips and the dreams.

Part Two takes place between the migrations to Boulder and Las Vegas and the Hand of God moment.

Part Three takes place after the conclusion of the novel, detailing the world in the decades that follow.

And Part Four takes place… well, that would involve major spoilers. I think we’ll wait and let you find out where David J. Schow and Nat Cassidy’s stories take place.

So, there you have it. That’s the final line-up. Cover reveal and preorder link coming this month (possibly as early as next week).


October 15 edited October 15
The Kindle edition is now available for pre-order. The release date is given as August 19, 2025.

An original short story anthology based on master storyteller Stephen King’s #1 New York Times bestselling classic The Stand!

Since its initial publication in 1978, The Stand has been considered Stephen King’s seminal masterpiece of apocalyptic fiction, with millions of copies sold and adapted twice for television. Although there are other extraordinary works exploring the unraveling of human society, none have been as influential as this iconic novel—generations of writers have been impacted by its dark yet ultimately hopeful vision of the end and new beginning of civilization, and its stunning array of characters.

Now for the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World As We Know It features unforgettable, all-new stories set during and after (and some perhaps long after) the events of The Stand—brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with readers everywhere as an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel.

Featuring an introduction by Stephen King, a foreword by Christopher Golden, and an afterword by Brian Keene. Contributors include Wayne Brady and Maurice Broaddus, Poppy Z. Brite, Somer Canon, C. Robert Cargill, Nat Cassidy, V. Castro, Richard Chizmar, S. A. Cosby, Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, Meg Gardiner, Gabino Iglesias, Jonathan Janz, Alma Katsu, Caroline Kepnes, Michael Koryta, Sarah Langan, Joe R. Lansdale, Tim Lebbon, Josh Malerman, Ronald Malfi, Usman T. Malik, Premee Mohamed, Cynthia Pelayo, Hailey Piper, David J. Schow, Alex Segura, Bryan Smith, Paul Tremblay, Catherynne M. Valente, Bev Vincent, Catriona Ward, Chuck Wendig, Wrath James White, and Rio Youers.