The Extra Hour: Stephen King’s New Story Arrives in Cemetery Dance #79
The Extra Hour is the latest Stephen King short story to make its debut in Cemetery Dance Magazine #79, and it’s exactly the kind of creepy premise that reminds us why King remains the master of short fiction. Published in the Spring 2024 issue, the story introduces readers to Jim Danton, a man dealing with a strange and terrifying problem: every night he experiences an extra hour that nobody else seems to share. What begins as an odd inconvenience quickly evolves into something much darker.
One thing I’ve always loved about Stephen King’s shorter works is his ability to take a simple idea and transform it into a nightmare. That’s exactly what happens in The Extra Hour. Most of us know what it’s like to lose sleep, but King twists that familiar experience into a disturbing supernatural mystery. Through Jim Danton’s increasingly desperate situation, readers get a story that feels both relatable and deeply unsettling.
For collectors, The Extra Hour makes Cemetery Dance Magazine #79 an essential pickup. Not only does the issue contain brand-new fiction from King, but it also features an interview with the author conducted by Bev Vincent, along with Vincent’s regular “Stephen King News: From the Dead Zone” column. That’s a lot of King-related content packed into a single issue
The magazine itself is packed with talent beyond King. Readers will also find stories from Chuck Palahniuk, S.A. Cosby, Kealan Patrick Burke, Donald J. Bingle, and several other notable names in horror and dark fiction. As a result, this issue feels more like a special event than just another magazine release.
What makes The Extra Hour especially memorable is its brevity. King doesn’t need hundreds of pages to create tension. Reviewers have noted that despite its short length, the story delivers atmosphere, character development, and an effective payoff. That’s a skill few writers possess, and it’s one reason King’s magazine appearances continue to attract so much attention from fans and collectors.
If you collect Stephen King’s first appearances, magazine publications, or limited-distribution works, The Extra Hour deserves a place on your shelf. It’s a strong reminder that some of King’s most effective storytelling happens in the short-story format, where a single strange idea can linger in your mind long after you’ve finished reading.
About Cemetery Dance Magazine #79
For collectors interested in You Like It Darker and Stephen King’s short fiction, Cemetery Dance Magazine #79 is another publication worth tracking down. The issue was published in 2024 and features Stephen King’s story “The Extra Hour”, along with an interview conducted by Bev Vincent.
Issue #79 Details
- Publication Date: 2024
- Cover Artist: Francois Vaillancourt
- Interior Artists: Ben Baldwin, Glenn Chadbourne, Vincent Chong, Seven Gaines, Jaime Stearns, and Francois Vaillancourt
- Page Count: 104
Collectors could also purchase a Limited Edition Hardcover signed by Richard Chizmar, limited to just 1,000 copies.
Fiction Featured in Cemetery Dance #79
The issue includes an impressive lineup of fiction:
- “Buried” by Donald J. Bingle
- “The Second Hand” by Kealan Patrick Burke
- “Blood Red and the Riding Hood” by S.A. Cosby
- “Feral” by J.G. Faherty
- “The Extra Hour” by Stephen King
- “Auntie 9” by Felicia Lee
- “The Ghost Shrimp” by Bruce McAllister
- “The Prophecy of Ruth” by Chuck Palahniuk
- “Hairs” by Kathleen Scheiner
Features and Interviews
Beyond the fiction, readers will find several features of interest to horror fans and collectors, including:
- Bev Vincent’s interview with Stephen King
- A conversation with Chuck Palahniuk by Tyler Jones
- Rick Hipson’s interviews with Frank Darabont and Barry Hoffman regarding Hope and Miracles: The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile
