The Life of Chuck

So, you’ve probably heard about the movie. The one from Mike Flanagan, starring Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, and Karen Gillan, that’s already been called "phenomenal." The one that won the big People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Well, the story that inspired it all, Stephen King’s The Life of Chuck, is finally getting the spotlight it deserves.

For the first time, this mind-bending tale is available as a gorgeous standalone book, complete with a new introduction from the master himself and a cool design surprise inside.

Imagine this: the world is falling apart, with earthquakes, disasters, and chaos. And in the middle of it all, these strange billboards start appearing everywhere. They all say the same thing: “Charles Krantz.” Thirty-nine great years. Thanks, Chuck!” You’d be wondering, who on earth is Chuck? And why does the entire world seem to be tied to his life?

Here’s the genius of it—King tells you the story backwards. Act Three comes first. You see the end before you even know the beginning. Then, he pulls you back to Act Two, where a middle-aged Chuck is mesmerized by a street performer and breaks into an unforgettable sidewalk dance. Finally, you land in Act One, with a young Chuck in a haunted house, learning to dance with his grandmother.

It’s King showing off a different kind of magic. Seriously, his ability to write about pure, unfiltered joy—the simple perfection of a blue-sky day or a dance where every move feels right—is as powerful as his ability to terrify. The Life of Chuck isn't just a story. It's a celebration of the huge, beautiful, mysterious universe contained within a single human life. It’s a reminder that we all contain multitudes. Wow.