British publisher Hodder & Stoughton has shared exciting news for all fans of Stephen King’s work. After years of waiting, the third instalment of the Jack Sawyer trilogy — launched by King in collaboration with Peter Straub — has been officially announced. The novel, titled “Other Worlds Than These”, will reach readers on 6 October.
Back to Mid-World after all these years
If you follow Stephen King’s work, you’ll certainly remember young Jack Sawyer. We first met him as a twelve-year-old travelling across America and the mysterious Territories in “The Talisman”, trying to save his mother’s life. We met him again in “Black House”, where he faced a child killer, the powerful Crimson King, and other forces of evil.
Now the story comes full circle. The very title of the new novel — “Other Worlds Than These” — is a direct quote from the iconic “Dark Tower” saga. As the publisher announces, the book is set to be not only an epic, unforgettable finale to “The Talisman” trilogy, but also a definitive closing of the worlds linked to Roland of Gilead’s story.
Stephen King himself summed up his return to this universe in very direct terms:
I wanted to go back to Mid-World, which was always the Territories under another name.
What is “Other Worlds Than These” about?
In this new instalment, Jack Sawyer is older, and his former ka-tet is slowly falling apart. The task in front of him seems almost impossible. Two enormous threats stand in his way:
- In our world, in America, he must stop a dangerous roaming gang of infected teenagers.
- At the very edge of Mid-World, forces connected to the mysterious Gullet are waiting for him.
Jack must defeat these dark powers before they destroy our world — and all the others. Despite the high stakes and grim atmosphere, the publisher promises a spectacular, fast-paced adventure, with plenty of heart and King’s trademark humour.
Importantly, “Other Worlds Than These” is designed to work as a strong standalone novel, appealing both to Constant Readers and to those only just beginning their journey with King’s fiction.
Publication details and pre-release previews
For lovers of beautiful editions, there’s more good news. This is a hefty read — the novel is planned at 608 pages. What’s more, the interior will be enhanced by 30 black-and-white illustrations by Gabriel Rodriguez.
If you can’t wait for the October release, Esquire has prepared a treat. As is tradition, shortly after the announcement of a new Stephen King book, the magazine published a short excerpt from the first chapter. You can also see the full cover — both front and back.
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