The Stranger Things universe is officially expanding, just not in the way you probably expected. While Netflix is celebrating the long-awaited arrival of Season 5, Volume 2, the show’s first-ever spinoff is arriving on December 2, but it won’t be streaming anywhere. Instead, it’s hitting bookshelves.
The newly announced spinoff, Stranger Things: One Way or Another, is a full-length mystery novel centered on fan-favorite Nancy Wheeler, played by Natalia Dyer in the hit series. Nancy has been a butt of Nancy Drew jokes ever since Season 2; so if anything, this spinoff was somewhat promised. Written by Stranger Things TV writer Caitlin Schneiderhan and published by Random House Worlds, the book picks up shortly after the events of Season 4, making it the perfect bridge to the rather long gap.
The book will be set two months after Vecna’s devastating “earthquake,” which tore through Hawkins, and will follow Nancy and Robin Buckley (portrayed by Maya Hawke) as they investigate strange behavior from a fellow classmate, Joey Taft.
When people around Hawkins start falling mysteriously ill, and a creepy stranger begins tailing Nancy, the pair dive into a case that may be even bigger than the Hawkins Post could have assigned. And while Vecna’s shadow looms large, the book teases new twists that may reshape what fans think they know about the Upside Down.
Essential Reading for Puzzled Viewers
The novel, as mentioned before, helps bridge the gap between Seasons 4 and 5, filling in key developments for Nancy and Robin as they evolve into one of the series’ best investigative duos. It’s worth noting that Stranger Things Season 5 started off in a rather abrupt timeskip, with many of the details about the past being filled in through dialogue only.
Season 5 never really went into detail about how the “gang” managed to delve into the Upside Down dozens of times, despite the military’s presence, or how they built their elaborate setup. One Way or Another arrives December 2, giving fans just weeks to devour the mystery before Season 5, Volume 2 lands on Christmas Day and before the finale drops New Year’s Eve.
Those who prefer to consume their stories by watching instead of reading, however, might have to wait longer since the actual live-action Stranger Things spinoff might not be arriving until long after Season 5 has wrapped up. Nevertheless, the live-action spinoff has been confirmed, and it will apparently be a fresh new start for Hawkins as it’s going to be “different.”
