M-O-O-N, that spells one hell of an anthology.
Stephen King‘s The Stand needs no introduction. There’s no denying the impact such a novel makes on horror fiction, fiction in general, or pop culture, the never ending reverberation such a story possesses. But if you need a signifier of just how influential this thousand-page tome of apocalyptic fiction really is, you don’t need to look any further than The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand. Edited by two masters of horror themselves, Brian Keene and Christopher Golden have opened the gates to King’s sandbox, inviting some of our favorite voices in horror fiction to build castles.
And just like there’s no denying just how powerful The Stand is, there’s no avoiding the romanticism in the very existence of The End of the World As We Know It. Before I unpack the contents of the anthology itself, the sheer excitement, enthusiasm, and honor that so many contributors have expressed regarding their inclusion in this massive love letter to The Dark Man, Trashy, and Larry Underwood is nothing short of infectious. It is a unique time to be a horror fiction fan, one in which so many powerful voices gain the opportunity to partake in such a momentous opportunity. Something like this deserves to be celebrated with as many diverse voices as possible, and I believe that’s exactly what Golden and Keene have done.
The End of the World As We Know It contains over thirty stories set in the universe of The Stand, each providing their own unique perspective, conflict, and resolution to the world built by Stephen King, a world ravaged by Captain Tripps. Walking into this anthology, you may think you know what to expect, but perhaps one of the best facets of this 800-page love letter is that you’ll be surprised. The doors have been thrown wide open as readers are able to experience the fallout from space, from South America, or from the perspective of beings you may have not considered. Holding The End of the World As We Know It in your hands feels a lot like having the world (albeit a devastated one) at your fingertips, a glimpse into parts unknown and undiscovered, until now.
Perhaps the greatest strength of many of these stories is their ability to make you feel, ranging from sorrow to optimism, about the state of humanity in such a setting. Jonathan Janz‘s Lenora is one of those stories that tears you to pieces and stitches you whole again within mere pages, tugging on every heartstring imaginable. Wrong Fucking Place, Wrong Fucking Time by C. Robert Cargill is a pulpy romp that also serves as an homage to all we love about horror, a genuinely good time. And of course, Paul Tremblay gives us a story, The Story I Tell Is the Story of Some of Us, that is so wholly his despite its presence in this very Stephen King anthology. It’s the most joyously on-brand thing you can fathom, and horror fiction fans will be living for these stories.
But where I really want to turn the spotlight is to the female voices in this anthology that absolutely shine. Catriona Ward gives us an unforgettable story, a true revelation, with The African Painting Dog. It’s a story I think about nearly weekly, one that I think is what this whole anthology hopes to embody: something new, something different, and something so heartbreakingly well-written. The same can be shared in regards to Came the Last Night of Sadness by Catherynne M. Valente, a sprawling, poetic entry that touches upon the most unique parts of humanity within the King universe. Sarah Langan’s The Devil’s Children carries hefty symbolism regarding the human need for connection, presenting a situation so true to the conflicts of this universe while remaining wholly distinct. V. Castro stares down the darkest facets of violence with Across the Pond, an entry that left my skin crawling. And Make Your Own Way by Alma Katsu feels like the feminist stand that this anthology calls for, a tough, gritty look at independence in a distraught world. Nothing but sheer joy can be found in finding these stories in this menagerie of apocalyptic tales marked by love, loss, hurt, anguish, bravery, and strength.
It’s a joyous time to be a horror fan, full stop. To be around for the active celebration of a modern classic through the inclusion of so many voices, so many perspectives feels special, in short. And to be more specific, seeing the names of Katsu, Ward, and Castro right next to King’s feels emblematic of the place I’m happiest as a female reader. The End of the World As We Know It edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene offers a kaleidoscopic worldview of the place Stephen King created, a landscape rife for horror, heart, and humanity, something for everyone.
The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene hits shelves on August 19, 2025 from Gallery Books. The audiobook, narrated by Sean Patrick Hopkins & Adenrele Ojo, is available via Libro.fm!
