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Thread: New short story: "The Fifth Step" in Harpers (March '20)

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    Default New short story: "The Fifth Step" in Harpers (March '20)

    Looks like the March 2020 issue of Harpers magazine will include “new fiction by Stephen King” based on the cover I’ve seen on eBay. Can’t find out what story it is yet as I haven’t seen a TOC or any info on their website (they still have the Feb info up). Keep the eyes pealed! Maybe an excerpt of one of the stories in IF IT BLEEDS...
    ~Jonathan

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    Thanks!
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    The story is titled “The Fifth Step” and is four pages long. I just got in a copy here at work today.
    ~Jonathan

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    Nice
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    Any of the following flatsigned or inscribed-
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    Brother ARC, Seed ARC

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    Nice! Looking forward to read it!
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    Cool, thanks !
    Is it new or is it from "If it bleeds"?
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    I’m thinking it’s a brand new story, there is no mention of excerpt or mention of IF IT BLEEDS in this issue. That was just an assumption on my part earlier when I hadn’t seen it yet. I had posted this and then an issue appeared at my mailroom at work within minutes lol.
    ~Jonathan

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    Yeah an excerpt typically wouldn't be published in Harpers and under "new fiction". If anything an excerpt will show up around publication of the book in EW.

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    I read If it Bleeds already and I can confirm there's no relation to something similar as "steps" or "fifth step"
    Wanted list:
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ari_Racing View Post
    I read If it Bleeds already and I can confirm there's no relation to something similar as "steps" or "fifth step"
    The cover shows that the issue is related to addiction. So it's clearly the 12 steps of AAs
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ari_Racing View Post
    I read If it Bleeds already and I can confirm there's no relation to something similar as "steps" or "fifth step"
    Can you rate IIB on a scale of 1-10?

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    ...or 1 - Different Seasons.
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    Harper's allows you one free article per month, so if you haven't burned through that already, you can read "The Fifth Step"

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bev Vincent View Post
    Harper's allows you one free article per month, so if you haven't burned through that already, you can read "The Fifth Step"
    Thanks Bev.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ben Mears View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Ari_Racing View Post
    I read If it Bleeds already and I can confirm there's no relation to something similar as "steps" or "fifth step"
    Can you rate IIB on a scale of 1-10?
    I can give my non-spoiler feedback on the stories. If I have to assign a word to the book is FAMILIAR.

    Mr. Harrigan's Phone sounds like a very familiar SK story. Both the characters and the evolution of the story are very known by King readers, which makes it enjoyable. The bond between the two characters is also something we already felt (it made me remember of Ted and Bobby from Hearts in Atlantis).

    The Life of Chuck is my favorite of the book. It took me on a ride that involved anguish, nostalgy and happiness and probably not in the order it should. It also had familiar moments (the story contains three acts and the second act was the one that rang a bell) and it left me a very good taste in my mouth.

    If it Bleeds it's related to The Outsider from the begining, since you have the first Holly Gibney's solo story with a case that has points in common with the novel. I liked it a lot and I'd love to share my theory but I can't since it involves several spoilers.

    Rat is like a twisted fabble that, again, will feel very familiar, with a couple factors in common with other King stories. It made me remember a little bit of Secret Windows, Secret Garden.

    All the stories have their easter eggs and connections with other King works. While these are not spoilers, in case you don't want to know anything, don't read:

    SPOILER
    Wanted list:
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bev Vincent View Post
    Harper's allows you one free article per month, so if you haven't burned through that already, you can read "The Fifth Step"
    Or open in an Incognito tab.

  17. #17
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  18. #18
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    Thanks Bev for the link !
    ------------------------------------------------
    CLUB STEPHEN KING (french website about STEPHEN KING, since 1992) : on : Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
    ------------------------------------------------

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ari_Racing View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Ben Mears View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Ari_Racing View Post
    I read If it Bleeds already and I can confirm there's no relation to something similar as "steps" or "fifth step"
    Can you rate IIB on a scale of 1-10?
    I can give my non-spoiler feedback on the stories. If I have to assign a word to the book is FAMILIAR.

    Mr. Harrigan's Phone sounds like a very familiar SK story. Both the characters and the evolution of the story are very known by King readers, which makes it enjoyable. The bond between the two characters is also something we already felt (it made me remember of Ted and Bobby from Hearts in Atlantis).

    The Life of Chuck is my favorite of the book. It took me on a ride that involved anguish, nostalgy and happiness and probably not in the order it should. It also had familiar moments (the story contains three acts and the second act was the one that rang a bell) and it left me a very good taste in my mouth.

    If it Bleeds it's related to The Outsider from the begining, since you have the first Holly Gibney's solo story with a case that has points in common with the novel. I liked it a lot and I'd love to share my theory but I can't since it involves several spoilers.

    Rat is like a twisted fabble that, again, will feel very familiar, with a couple factors in common with other King stories. It made me remember a little bit of Secret Windows, Secret Garden.

    All the stories have their easter eggs and connections with other King works. While these are not spoilers, in case you don't want to know anything, don't read:

    SPOILER
    Thanks Ari. Familiar is OK when it's good. I look forward to reading the collection in May.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bev Vincent View Post
    Harper's allows you one free article per month, so if you haven't burned through that already, you can read "The Fifth Step"
    Thanks Bev.

  21. #21
    Traveler forevershellfish will become famous soon enough

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    The story short and concise. I was keen in seeing Jack get better. It’s a quick and good read.

  22. #22
    Traveler PhilWalch will become famous soon enough PhilWalch will become famous soon enough

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    This story will be released in the anthology The Best Mystery Stories of the Year. I don't know how they have managed to drag this one out to 12 pages. Like 'Batman and Robin Have An Altercation' I hoped this would find it's way into a King collection.

    Last edited by PhilWalch; 06-17-2021 at 03:35 AM. Reason: More detail

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    Thanks for the information Phil

    I guess that it depends of the format of the page and font size
    ------------------------------------------------
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