Stephen King is returning to the fantasy genre with one of the most anticipated sequels of his career: Talisman 3. After beginning the series in 1984 with The Talisman, co-authored with the late Peter Straub, the writers created a vivid new universe that fans of King and Staub were eager to get lost in. The sequel, Black House, came out in 2001, and for a long time, it seemed as though this would be the last time readers would be transported to the Territories and Mid-world through Jack Sawyer's eyes.

While a new installment of Dark Tower won't be coming anytime soon, the next Talisman is just as thrilling. Though Talisman 3 is an exciting development for fantasy in the 2020s, it's a reminder of another genre in which King excels that's often overlooked. King's fantasy work is fantastic, but he has just as many compelling works within science fiction. The opportunities for chilling stories and examinations of human nature are easy to tackle within sci-fi, as King himself has proven time and again.

The Talisman 3 Is Exciting, But Stephen King Needs To Revisit The Sci-Fi Genre

After Talisman 3, King should consider returning to sci-fi

Though there's no concrete release date for Talisman 3, and King himself has mentioned that he has "a long way to go" on the project, it bodes well for future works (via Threads). King doesn't just thrive when he's creating fantasy worlds and exploring the Mid-world, but when he's envisioning unbelievable scientific discoveries. After he finishes Talisman 3, the best thing King can do is revisit the sci-fi genre and reinvigorate this aspect of his work. Though he's been slowing down in recent years, it seems unlikely that King will truly stop writing anytime soon.

Sci-fi is having a renaissance on television and in the media in general, making this the perfect time for King to strike.

Every Stephen King book offers something new within his canon, but they all fall under the horror, crime-thriller, or fantasy genres. It's been a long time since King released a sci-fi book, but that doesn't mean they've faded from the cultural memory. Some of the best screen adaptations of his work have brought his sci-fi books to life, and the demand for new works within the genre hasn't diminished. Sci-fi is having a renaissance on television and in the media in general, making this the perfect time for King to strike.

Stephen King's Sci-Fi-Leaning Stories Are Some Of His Most Underrated

They're excellent additions to his body of work

Of course, not every King sci-fi book has been as successive as his most prominent books, but the same can be said for every genre he's written in. When looking at the best of what he's contributed to sci-fi, like Under the Dome, Dreamcatcher, and The Long Walk, it's impossible to ignore his talents. Though King is still best known for his horror and crime-oriented books, the TV adaptation of Under the Dome from 2013 helped draw renewed attention to his science fiction worlds and proved that his skills easily translate to this niche of literature.

Additionally, Dream Catcher demonstrates that King can infuse the same amount of horror and suspense into sci-fi as in any other genre. While The Long Walk touches upon dystopian themes and was a departure for King when it was published in 1979, it deserves to be ed alongside his most iconic works. Like every King book, these sci-fi projects don't adhere to just one genre or story type. Instead, they combine the best elements of his style and prove that these books should be a bigger part of his legacy.

You Like It Darker's Best Stories Prove Stephen King Needs A Sci-Fi Comeback

His recent collection of stories hinted at King's sci-fi potential

Some of the best stories in You Like It Darker gave readers a taste of what King could accomplish in another sci-fi book. "Two Talented Bastids," "Red Screen," and "The Dreamers" all stood out among the twelve stories that King included in You Like It Darker. The fact that the collection was just published in the spring of 2024 shows that King is sharpening his sci-fi skills and could easily make the transition into writing a full-length novel within the genre. He's already laid the groundwork and introduced science fiction to his audience, making the jump to sci-fi easier.

Since many of Stephen King's most underrated books are sci-fi, putting one out at this time could reinvigorate interest in his past works. Stephen King isn't just one of the biggest names in horror and fantasy but in contemporary literature. Pivoting to sci-fi by writing an original work would give him an edge in the next phase of his career. Readers and critics are thrilled that he's continuing with the established series that have proven to be successes for many years, but due to his fame, taking a risk with sci-fi would only help bolster his lesser-known projects.