If you’ve spent any time scouring Netflix for more Hawkins content, you've probably wondered: is there a Stranger Things book? Yes. Actually, there are a lot of them. But it’s not just one novelization of the show. It's a whole messy, sprawling universe of prequels, comics, and behind-the-scenes guides that fill in the gaps the Duffer Brothers couldn't fit into the episodes.
Most people just want more Eddie Munson. Or maybe they want to know why Max is the way she is. The books actually do that. They aren't just cheap cash-ins; most are "canonical," meaning the writers of the show gave them the thumbs up.
The Prequels You Probably Missed
The first thing you need to know about any Stranger Things book is that they almost always look backward. They want to tell you the stuff that happened before Eleven crashed into Benny’s Burgers.
Take Suspicious Minds by Gwenda Bond. It’s the first official novel. It follows Terry Ives—Eleven’s mom—back in the late 60s. If you ever wondered how a college kid ended up in a lab getting her brain fried by Dr. Brenner, this is where you find out. It’s gritty. It feels less like a 80s synth-wave dream and more like a paranoid Cold War thriller.
Then there’s Darkness on the Edge of Town by Adam Christopher. This one is a personal favorite for a lot of fans because it’s about Jim Hopper. But it’s not about Hopper in Hawkins. It’s about Hopper in New York City in 1977. He was a homicide detective. It’s got a very Se7en or The French Connection vibe. It’s basically Hopper telling El about his "big city" days during a snowy Christmas in the cabin. It makes his character in the show feel way more lived-in.
Honestly, the sheer volume of these stories is getting hard to track. You’ve got Runaway Max, which explains her life in California before she moved to Indiana. It’s a YA novel, so it’s a bit lighter, but it explains her relationship with Billy in a way that makes Season 2 much more painful to rewatch.
Why the Eddie Munson Book Changed Everything
Recently, the hype shifted. Everyone obsessed over Lucas on the Line and especially Flight of Icarus by Caitlin Schneiderhan. Since Caitlin is actually a writer on the show, this Stranger Things book carries some serious weight. It’s the Eddie Munson backstory we all craved.
It’s set in 1984. Eddie is trying to make it with his band, Corroded Coffin. He gets mixed up with a shady record producer. It’s tragic because we know where Eddie ends up. Reading about his dreams while knowing he’s going to die in the Upside Down is a gut punch. It’s probably the most "human" the franchise has ever felt.
Graphic Novels and the "Other" Kids
If you aren't into 300-page novels, the comic books are actually where the weirdest lore lives. Dark Horse Comics has been churning these out for years.
There is a series called Stranger Things: Six. It’s about another test subject from Hawkins Lab. Her name is Francine. She can see the future. It’s dark. It shows that Eleven wasn't the only one suffering under Brenner, and it expands on the idea that these kids all had different, terrifying "gifts."
Then you have The Other Side. This is basically Season 1 but from Will Byers’ perspective while he was stuck in the Upside Down. It’s spooky because it’s mostly silent. You see him hiding in his "Castle Byers" fort while the Demogorgon stalks him. It answers that nagging question: "What was Will actually doing for eight days?" He wasn't just sitting there; he was fighting for his life.
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Is Every Stranger Things Book Canon?
This is where it gets a little muddy. Technically, Penguin Random House and Dark Horse work with Netflix to keep things consistent. But as any Star Wars fan will tell you, "canon" is a fragile thing. Sometimes a book might mention a small detail that the show later contradicts.
For the most part, though, the Duffer Brothers treat these as official extensions. If a character dies in a book, they stay dead. If a backstory is established, the show writers usually try to respect it.
- Suspicious Minds (Terry Ives/MKUltra)
- Darkness on the Edge of Town (Hopper in NYC)
- Runaway Max (Max’s California past)
- Rebel Robin (Robin Buckley’s internal monologue)
- Lucas on the Line (Lucas dealing with the aftermath of Season 3)
- Flight of Icarus (The Eddie Munson prequel)
The Hidden Gem: The "World Turned Upside Down" Guide
If you only buy one Stranger Things book, make it the official companion guide. It’s called Stranger Things: World Turned Upside Down. It’s not a story. It’s a physical object that looks like a beat-up library book from 1985. It even has a "property of Hawkins Public Library" sticker on it.
It’s packed with:
- Concept art of the Demogorgon (which looked way more like an alien at first).
- A map of Hawkins that actually makes sense.
- Interviews with the cast where they talk about how they hated the fake blood (it was apparently very sticky and attracted bees).
- A secret Morse code message hidden under the book jacket.
It’s the kind of thing you leave on a coffee table. It feels authentic to the era. It doesn't try to be "digital" or "modern." It’s pure 80s nostalgia captured in paper and ink.
Dealing With the "Science" of the Upside Down
Let's talk about the Hawkins Lab Secrets types of books. These are less about the characters and more about the "why." Some of the books dive deep into the MKUltra experiments. They reference real-life history.
Did you know MKUltra was a real CIA program? It was. The books lean into that reality. They blend the supernatural stuff with actual 1950s and 60s paranoia. This makes the Stranger Things book universe feel a lot scarier than the show sometimes, because the monsters aren't just CGI—they’re government bureaucrats with no ethics.
What Should You Read First?
It depends on what you like.
If you want the "lore" and the "answers," go with Suspicious Minds. It sets the stage for everything. If you just want to hang out with your favorite characters more, Rebel Robin is great because it captures Maya Hawke’s voice perfectly. It’s funny, awkward, and very queer-coded in a way that feels honest to the character.
For the hardcore fans who want to know about the "other" numbers (like Eight/Kali from Season 2), the comics are your best bet. Into the Fire follows some of the kids who escaped the lab and are now trying to find a normal life. It’s basically an X-Men story but with more trauma and 80s fashion.
The writing quality varies. Some of these are written for middle-schoolers. Others, like the Hopper and Eddie books, are definitely for adults. They don't shy away from the darker side of life in the 80s—the poverty, the crime, and the isolation.
Expanding the Shelf
There's even a "Choose Your Own Adventure" style book. And a "Tribute to Barb" (poor Barb).
But the core novels are the meat of the franchise. They give the actors more to work with and give us a reason to keep thinking about Hawkins during the long, long breaks between seasons. With Season 5 being the final one, these books are likely going to be the only way the story continues after the credits roll for the last time.
The reality is that a Stranger Things book is a bridge. It bridges the gap between the seasons. It bridges the gap between what we see on screen and what these characters are thinking in their heads.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're ready to dive into the literature of Hawkins, don't just grab the first thing you see on Amazon. Follow this path to get the best experience:
- Start with "Flight of Icarus": It is widely considered the best-written novel in the series. Even if you aren't an Eddie superfan, the prose is sharp and the stakes feel real.
- Check out the Dark Horse Library Editions: If you want the comics, buy the "Library Edition" hardcovers. They collect multiple issues into one big book and include extra sketch art. It's much cheaper than buying individual issues.
- Listen to the Audiobooks: Most of these have incredible narrators. The Rebel Robin audiobook is actually narrated by Maya Hawke herself. It’s basically like getting an extra six hours of the show.
- Avoid the Unofficial Guides: There are dozens of "unofficial" books that are just Wikipedia summaries printed on cheap paper. Stick to the ones published by Del Rey or Penguin Random House to ensure you're getting the real story.
- Visit a Local Comic Shop: Many of the Stranger Things comic variants are collector's items. If you're looking for the rarer covers, skip the big retailers and head to a local shop.
The world of the Upside Down is a lot bigger than just Eleven and her Eggos. It’s a multi-decade conspiracy that spans from the labs of the 60s to the crime-ridden streets of 70s New York, and finally to the mall-obsessed 80s. Picking up a book is the only way to see the full picture.
Final Resource List
To keep your collection organized, here are the primary publishers and creators you should look for to ensure you are buying official material:
- Fiction Novels: Published primarily by Del Rey (Random House). Look for authors like Gwenda Bond, Adam Christopher, and Caitlin Schneiderhan.
- Graphic Novels: Published exclusively by Dark Horse Comics. Look for the "Stranger Things" branding and artists like Jody Houser.
- Behind-the-Scenes: The gold standard is Stranger Things: World Turned Upside Down by Guy Adams.
- Young Adult/Middle Grade: Often published under the Random House Books for Young Readers imprint.
By focusing on these specific titles, you'll avoid the fluff and get straight to the heart of the Hawkins mystery. Whether it's Eleven's origins or Hopper's dark past, the answers are there if you're willing to turn the page.