If It Bleeds

Published: 2020

If It Bleeds (2020) collects four novellas showcasing King's range across different types of horror and suspense. In 'Mr. Harrigan's Phone,' a young boy maintains a connection with his deceased elderly employer through an early iPhone that somehow allows communication beyond the grave. 'The Life of Chuck' tells the story of Charles Krantz's life in reverse, beginning with the collapse of civilization heralded by mysterious billboards celebrating his retirement and moving backward through increasingly personal vignettes. The title novella, 'If It Bleeds,' continues the story of Holly Gibney from the Bill Hodges trilogy and The Outsider as she uncovers a news reporter who appears at disaster scenes with suspicious consistency, suggesting he may be a supernatural entity feeding on tragedy. In 'Rat,' a struggling writer makes a Faustian bargain with a talking rat while isolated in a cabin during a storm—success as a novelist in exchange for the life of someone he knows. The collection continues King's tradition of novella compilations that began with Different Seasons, demonstrating his versatility within the medium-length format. Each story explores different facets of King's interests—technology and death, the boundary between life and art, supernatural predators masquerading as humans, and the psychological cost of creativity. The collection particularly highlights King's continued development of Holly Gibney as one of his most significant late-career characters, connecting these novellas to his broader fictional universe.

Themes

• Technology and afterlife
• Creative struggle
• Hidden monsters
• Isolation
• Bargains with supernatural forces

Adaptations

• Mr. Harrigan's Phone (2022 Netflix film)

Collector Notes

Continues King's tradition of novella collections, following in the tradition of Different Seasons and Full Dark, No Stars. The title novella features Holly Gibney, connecting it to the Bill Hodges trilogy and The Outsider.