The King’s IT has its 40th Anniversary

From Kallie Townsend Senior Publicity Manager at Hodder and Stoughton Publishing

On 3 September 2026, Hodder & Stoughton will publish a classic hardback edition of IT by Stephen King, with a new introduction by The Duffer Brothers to celebrate its fortieth anniversary. The Duffer Brothers (filmmakers of hit Netflix series Stranger Things) are long-time Stephen King fans and they share in their new introduction the impact IT has had on them: ‘We’re not sure any work of art has rocked us as deeply, or shaped our lives and our storytelling, the way IT has’.

There will also be a limited print run of a deluxe special edition that will feature an exclusive jacket, die-cut red slipcase, bespoke endpaper design and a printed edge. These will be numbered and strictly limited to 1,010 copies, available on 26 November and shipping restrictions listed on website: www.specialeditionbooks.co.uk

Derry, Maine is just an ordinary town: familiar, well-ordered for the most part, a good place to live. It is a group of children who see – and feel – what makes Derry so horribly different. In the storm drains, in the sewers, IT lurks, taking on the shape of every nightmare, each one's deepest dread. Sometimes IT appears as an evil clown named Pennywise and sometimes IT reaches up, seizing, tearing, and killing. Time passes, and the children grow up, move away and forget. Until they are called back, once more to confront IT as IT stirs and coils in the sullen depths of their memories, emerging again to make their past nightmares a terrible present reality.

IT has recently been adapted into two hugely successful feature films, along with a critically acclaimed prequel TV series; IT: WELCOME TO DERRY. Adaptations of Stephen King’s works continue to smash the box office, with recent films including The Life of Chuck, The Long Walk and The Running Man, once again proving the timelessness of his stories.

Stephen King is the author of more than seventy books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. He is the author of many classic bestselling titles, including Carrie, The Shining and IT which was adapted into the highest grossing horror film of all time. King is the recipient of The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence 2022, the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Philippa Pride, Stephen King’s UK editor, said: 'IT is one of the most iconic novels of all time, combining a powerful coming-of-age story with supernatural terror.  It deftly interweaves the stories of a group of children and the adults they become. IT continues to capture generations of readers and has inspired award-winning adaptations. I was thrilled when The Duffer Brothers agreed to write a new introduction describing how IT has resonated with them since their childhood and how inspirational the book has been in their lives.’

Jo Dickinson, Executive Director of H&S, said: ‘Hodder & Stoughton is delighted to publish a beautiful hardback edition of King’s Classic novel IT to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of a story that continues to appeal to new generations of readers around the world.’

Stephen King’s crime thriller NEVER FLINCH

 

To celebrate the release of Stephen King’s crime thriller NEVER FLINCH in paperback, Hodder and Stoughton have kindly offered readers of Shots Magazine three copies in a competition.

But first, we wrote last year on the release of NEVER FLINCH –

Though the undisputed master of the horror genre, after this latest release perhaps Stephen King will be anointed the king of crime fiction. Never Flinch features the return of Private Investigator Holly Gibney, tasked to bodyguard the controversial feminist speaker Kate McKay. It seems McKay is being stalked by a deranged brother [and sister] duo from a radical religious sect intent on disrupting her promotional book tour.

Add to the mix a serial killer referred to as Bill Wilson [aka ‘Trig’] whose intention is to '…..kill thirteen innocents and one guilty…’ in retribution for the murder of an innocent man [wrongly incarcerated] in the Ohio state penitentiary.

Read the full review HERE

In order to win one of three copies of NEVER FLINCH in paperback name three previous works [Novella, Novel, or Story Appearance] by Stephen King that also feature the character of Holly Gibney.

Email your answer to shotseditor@yahoo.co.uk by midnight on Tuesday 30^th of June 2026 – three winning entries will be picked at random and full terms and conditions of entry are noted at the bottom of this article.

GOOD LUCK!

And Hodder and Stoughton in conjunction with Stephen King present a short extract from NEVER FLINCH >

It’s April now. In the Second Mistake on the Lake, the last of the snow is finally melting.

Izzy Jaynes gives a one-knuckle courtesy knock on her lieutenant’s door and goes in without waiting. Lewis Warwick is tilted back in his chair, one foot resting on the corner of his desk, hands loosely clasped on his midsection. He looks like he’s meditating or dreaming awake. For all Izzy knows, he is. At the sight of her he straightens and puts his foot back on the floor where it belongs.

‘Isabelle Jaynes, ace detective. Welcome to my lair.’

‘At your service.’

She doesn’t envy him his office, because she’s aware of all the bureaucratic bullshit that comes with it, accompanied by a salary bump so small it might be called ceremonial. She’s happy enough with her humble cubicle downstairs, where she works with seven other detectives, including her current partner, Tom Atta. It’s Warwick’s chair that Izzy lusts after. With its high, spine-soothing back and reclining feature, it’s meditation-ready.

‘What can I do for you, Lewis?’

He takes a business envelope from his desk and hands it to her. ‘You can give me an opinion on this. No strings attached. Feel free to touch the envelope, everybody from the postman to Evelyn downstairs and who knows who else has had their paws on it, but the note should maybe be fingerprinted. Partly depending on what you say.’

The envelope is addressed in capital block letters to DETECTIVE LOUIS WARWICK at 19 COURT PLAZA. Below the city, state, and zip, in even larger capitals: CONFIDENTIAL!

‘What I say? You’re the boss, boss.’

‘I’m not passing the buck, it’s my baby, but I respect your judgement.’

The end of the envelope has been torn open. There’s no return address. She carefully unfolds the single sheet of paper inside, holding it by the edges. The message has been printed, almost certainly on a computer.

To: Lieutenant Louis Warwick

From: Bill Wilson

Cc: Chief Alice Patmore

I think there should be a corollary to the Blackstone Rule. I believe the INNOCENT should be punished for the needless DEATH of an innocent. Should those who caused that death be put to death themselves? I think not, because then they would be gone and the suffering for what they did would be at an end. This is true even if they acted with the best will in the world. They need to think about what they did. They need to ‘Rue the Day.’ Does that make sense to you? It does to me, and that is enough.

I will kill 13 innocents and 1 guilty. Those who caused the innocent to die will therefore suffer.

This is an act of ATONEMENT.

Bill Wilson

 

NEVER FLINCH by STEPHEN KING - EXTRACT FOR SHOTS MAGAZINE

Chapter 1 (p.5 – p.6 in Never Flinch paperback)

TEXT © 2025 – 2026 Stephen King and Hodder and Stoughton

More information available HERE

Terms and conditions for the NEVER FLINCH competition

# Closing date for entries is midnight 30.06.2026

# All correct entries will be entered into a prize draw and will be picked at random on 01.07.2026

# Entry is restricted to UK and Ireland.

# The winners will be notified by email within 3 days of the promotion closing date and are required to accept their prize by email or phone call within 7 days of notification.

# In the event of non-acceptance within the specified period, the promoter reserves the right to reallocate the prize to the next randomly drawn correct and valid entry.

# No responsibility can be accepted for lost or misplaced entries

# The prizes are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative

# Only one entry per person

# Incorrect or illegible answers or entries received after the entry date will not be entered into the prize draw

# The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Stephen King reads from Never Flinch via Simon & Schuster  

 Stephen King Reads from Other Worlds Than These via Simon & Schuster  

Shots Magazine wish to thank Stephen King, Kallie Townsend, Louise Court,

Francesca Russell and Philippa Pride of Hodder and Stoughton Publishing for organising this competition.

Jacket Cover Images used from Hodder and Stoughton and Simon & Schuster  

Stephen King Readings © Simon & Schuster  

Kingdom Come

 

It’s been a signal year for Stephen King followers as we had the release of his Crime Thriller NEVER FLINCH featuring Holly Gibney….

…..though the undisputed master of the horror genre, after this latest release perhaps Stephen King will be anointed the king of crime fiction. Never Flinch features the return of Private Investigator Holly Gibney, tasked to bodyguard the controversial feminist speaker Kate McKay. It seems McKay is being stalked by a deranged brother [and sister] duo from a radical religious sect intent on disrupting her promotional book tour….

Read the full Shots Magazine Review HERE

And earlier this year we were treated to Osgood R. Perkin’s re-working of King’s creepy story THE MONKEY which has its roots in W.W. Jacob’s 1902 classic The Monkey’s Paw – and last fall’s remake of the Tobe Hooper’s Salem’s Lot miniseries [which hit British Cinemas].

But next week sees the release of The End of the World As We Know It an original short story anthology based on master storyteller Stephen King's #1 international bestselling classic The Stand.

Stephen King has fully authorised 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.

Contributors Tim Lebbon and V Castro are delighted to be sharing their stories at the official UK launch, in conversation with Sarah Maria Griffin on Tuesday 19 August at Forbidden Planet London Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue London WC2H 8JR – the signing starts at 1730 hours – for more details and tickets – Click HERE

More information about the UK Launch next week Click HERE and more about Stephen King’s work Click HERE

Shots Magazine would like to thank Kallie Townsend or Hodder & Stoughton UK for information about the UK launch.

....And from Horror Author and Co-Editor of The End of the World As We Know It - here's Brian Keene.....