Sleeping Beauties

Published: 2017

Sleeping Beauties (2017) explores a world where women become shrouded in a cocoon-like gauze when they fall asleep, entering a mysterious alternate reality. If the cocoons are disturbed and the women awakened, they turn violent and murderous. As this 'Aurora' phenomenon spreads globally, society rapidly unravels under increasing male aggression and fear. In the small Appalachian town of Dooling, events center around a mysterious woman named Evie, who appears immune to the sleeping curse and possesses supernatural abilities. Evie becomes a focal point in the struggle between groups of men—some who believe she should be protected, others who want her destroyed. Meanwhile, the sleeping women experience a parallel world without men that raises questions about whether they should return to the increasingly violent reality they left behind. Co-written by Stephen King and his son Owen King, the novel explores gender dynamics, violence, and societal structures through the lens of a supernatural crisis. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, particularly following prison psychiatrist Dr. Clint Norcross and his wife, Sheriff Lila Norcross, as they navigate the collapsing social order from opposing states of consciousness. Marked by intergenerational collaboration, the novel blends Stephen King's supernatural storytelling with Owen King's literary sensibilities, creating a unique entry in the King bibliography that examines toxic masculinity, gender conflict, and the possibility of social rebirth through its sprawling allegorical narrative.

Themes

• Gender dynamics
• Violence
• Alternate realities
• Societal collapse
• Redemption

Adaptations

• TV series in development

Collector Notes

Co-written with Stephen King's son Owen King. The collaboration brought a unique perspective to King's typical themes, blending Owen's literary fiction approach with Stephen's supernatural storytelling.