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It

It is a 1986 horror novel by Stephen King set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

It is a 1986 horror novel by Stephen King set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine. The story follows the Losers’ Club, a group of children who confront a shape-shifting evil entity that often appears as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, and later reunite as adults when the terror returns.

Plot

The story centers on children in Derry who encounter a malevolent entity that can take many forms, especially that of Pennywise. Years later, the same group reunites as adults to confront the evil again.

Characters and antagonist

The central group is the Losers’ Club, seven children who bond over shared fear and outsider status. The antagonist is known as It, most famously appearing as Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

Publication and length

It was published in 1986 and is one of Stephen King’s longest novels. Different editions vary, but it is commonly described as being just over 1,000 pages long.

Adaptations

The novel has been adapted for screen, with the 2017 film focusing on the children’s timeline. The film reworks and condenses the book’s plot for feature-length storytelling.

Key facts

  • The novel alternates between two timelines: the Losers’ Club as children and as adults.
  • It is a shape-shifting, ancient evil that awakens roughly every 27 years to feed on the town’s children.
  • Pennywise the Dancing Clown is the form It most often uses in the story.
  • The Losers’ Club is a group of seven outcast children from Derry who battle It.
  • The novel was adapted into feature films, including the 2017 film It and its sequel It Chapter Two.
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Canadian context

Stephen King’s It is widely read in Canada and frequently appears in Canadian libraries, bookstores, and university horror-fiction discussions.

Frequently asked questions

What is It about?
It is about the Losers’ Club, a group of children in Derry, Maine, who face an ancient evil that preys on the town’s children and later return as adults to fight it again.
Who wrote It?
It was written by Stephen King.
It movie vs book?
The book is a long 1986 novel with two main timelines, while the 2017 movie is a condensed adaptation that focuses mainly on the children’s story.
It 2017 cast?
The 2017 film’s main cast includes Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, Jaeden Martell as Bill Denbrough, Sophia Lillis as Beverly Marsh, Finn Wolfhard as Richie Tozier, and Jeremy Ray Taylor as Ben Hanscom.
How long is It novel?
It is commonly described as being a little over 1,000 pages long, though the exact length depends on the edition.
What is the clown’s name in It?
The clown is called Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_(novel)
    Supports: Plot structure, Losers’ Club, Derry setting, alternating timelines, and Pennywise/It details.
  2. Stephen King — https://stephenking.com/works/novel/it.html
    Supports: Official description of the novel’s premise and the adults returning to Derry.
  3. Audible — https://www.audible.com/blog/summary-it-by-stephen-king
    Supports: Publication year, approximate length, antagonist name, and 27-year cycle.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1396484/plotsummary/
    Supports: 2017 film plot and principal cast context.