You’ll Float Too: New Illustrated Edition of Stephen King’s IT Features Guillermo del Toro Intro

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Perfect timing as the movie is about to air on SYFY, Stephen King’s chilling masterpiece “IT” returns to bookstores in an elegantly illustrated edition by the Folio Society.

If you’re keen on owning one of the 500 copies available worldwide, you might want to hope for an unexpected financial boost from Maturin, as this special edition of the renowned book doesn’t come at a low price. At $825 per copy on the Folio site, this exclusive Pennywise printing boasts a new introduction penned by Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, The Shape of Water) and unique box, binding, and endpaper designs by David Curtis, who offers guidance on crafting Georgie Denbrough’s famous paper boat.

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John Carpenter’s movie, “Christine,” remains one of the most thrilling adaptations from Stephen King’s work. This film, inspired by a less renowned short story, is considered among King’s best movies due to its compelling narrative and lack of unnecessary elements – it truly lives up to the phrase, “All killer, no filler.”

The movie “Christine,” directed by John Carpenter, is one of Stephen King’s most exciting adaptations. Based on a lesser-known short story, this film has been praised for its suspenseful plot and absence of unnecessary scenes – it really fits the description, “All killer, no filler.

Check out Folio Society’s illustrated edition of IT by Stephen King

The detailed illustrations, both in black and white (11) and color (6), are generously provided by renowned artist Jim Burns, a multiple Hugo Award winner. Flip through the sample pages, and you’ll notice that Burns has selected significant scenes and images from the book to portray. Among these depictions are the bloody water spouting from Beverly Marsh’s sink and Pennywise’s authentic spider-like form as described in the book.

Over a thousand pages and various timeframes, the story unfolds in Derry, a quaint Maine town, where its residents face a chilling threat – a formidable, interdimensional being that resurfaces every 27 years to prey upon the town’s young inhabitants.

This creature, typically appearing as a circus clown known as Pennywise, has been operating with impunity for thousands of years, believing itself invincible. However, its endless feast on fear ultimately meets its demise when this Lovecraftian being is confronted by a band of misfit children who call themselves “The Losers Club.

The book has undergone adaptation twice so far – first in a 1990 television miniseries and later into two movies directed by Andy Muschietti. One of these films, “It Chapter One,” is airing on SYFY this week (click here for the schedule). It currently holds the record as the highest-grossing horror movie of all time with more than $700 million earned globally, and it ranks among the top 10 highest-grossing R-rated films ever released. A prequel series co-created by Muschietti, titled “It: Welcome to Derry,” is set to premiere this fall.

In this passage, Guillermo del Toro discusses an ongoing battle against evil that seems eternal and often cyclical. The form this cosmic dread takes can vary; sometimes it appears friendly, while at other times it seems to frown upon us. For him, ‘IT’ served as a warning of the fear he would face in his adult years. It was a deep-seated, irrational fear that eventually gave way to a delicate sense of courage – a realization that through it all, we only have each other for support.

Jim Burns’ illustrations beautifully capture the dread and enigma that are integral to Stephen King’s masterpiece, IT – a modern horror classic. Guillermo del Toro’s personal preface explains why this book is a must-read for him, and it seems that its influence has expanded beyond the pages, permeating our contemporary culture. This unique edition underscores Folio Society’s dedication to publishing Stephen King’s works, and some readers might be astonished to discover what was overlooked in previous adaptations. IT is consistently chilling, ever-approaching, and serves as the origin of Pennywise. For devoted horror enthusiasts, it remains indispensable.

Each copy comes signed by del Toro, Curtis, and Burns.

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2025-07-15 22:16