There is currently only one Bird Box book that has been published. It is a novel written by author Josh Malerman and was originally published in 2014.
About the Bird Box Book
The original Bird Box novel by Josh Malerman was published in 2014 by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins. The official title of the book is Bird Box: A Novel. Some key details about the book:
- Genre: Horror/thriller
- Length: 262 pages
- Official synopsis: “Something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from. Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remain, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now, that the boy and girl are four, it is time to go. But the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat—blindfolded—with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children’s trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. And something is following them. But is it man, animal, or monster? Engulfed in darkness, surrounded by sounds both familiar and frightening, Malorie embarks on a harrowing odyssey—a trip that takes her into an unseen world and back into the past, to the companions who once saved her. Under the guidance of the stalwart Tom, a motley group of strangers banded together against the unseen terror, creating order from the chaos. But when supplies ran low, they were forced to venture outside—and confront the ultimate question: in a world gone mad, who can really be trusted?”
Only One Bird Box Novel Published So Far
The Bird Box novel by Josh Malerman published in 2014 is currently the only Bird Box book that has been released. There have not been any sequels, prequels, or other books set in the Bird Box universe published yet.
The book was Malerman’s debut novel and was very well received, earning praise from prominent authors like Stephen King. It became a bestseller and allowed Malerman to focus full-time on writing. However, despite the success and popularity of Bird Box, Malerman has not yet published any follow-up novels in the series.
Possibility of Future Bird Box Books
Even though there is only one Bird Box book so far, there is a possibility of more Bird Box novels being published in the future. Here are some reasons why:
- The ending of the first book leaves room for sequels. While it concludes Malorie’s river journey, it hints that the bird box creature is still out there and could return.
- Malerman has spoken in interviews about ideas he has for potential sequels and returning to the Bird Box world.
- The huge popularity of the 2018 Netflix movie adaptation boosted interest and appetite for more Bird Box stories.
- The book’s dystopian horror premise allows for many new directions and types of stories to be told in follow-ups.
However, Malerman has also stated he will only write a sequel if he feels a creative, compelling reason to return to the characters and world. So while more Bird Box books could certainly happen someday, nothing is guaranteed yet.
The Bird Box Movie and Other Adaptations
While there is still only one official Bird Box novel, the story and franchise has been adapted and expanded into other media:
- In 2018, a major film adaptation of Bird Box was released on Netflix, directed by Susanne Bier and starring Sandra Bullock. It was a huge hit for Netflix.
- A Bird Box audiobook read by Cassandra Campbell was released concurrently with the print book in 2014.
- In 2019, Malerman released a tie-in novel called Malorie expanding on the protagonist’s backstory.
- There have been translations of the original novel published in over 30 different languages.
So even without an official sequel yet, the Bird Box franchise has grown through adaptations in other formats. And the huge popularity of the Netflix movie in particular makes it very possible more Bird Box stories will eventually be published, whether as books, films, or other media.
Josh Malerman’s Other Books
While best known for Bird Box, Josh Malerman is an acclaimed horror author who has published many other novels:
Title | Publication Date |
---|---|
Bird Box | 2014 |
Black Mad Wheel | 2017 |
Unbury Carol | 2018 |
Inspection | 2019 |
Malorie | 2019 |
A House at the Bottom of a Lake | 2020 |
While none of these books are set in the Bird Box universe, they showcase Malerman’s talents as a horror writer. Fans eager for more of his writing can check out his full catalogue.
Conclusion
In summary, as of October 2023 there is still only the original 2014 Bird Box novel published by Josh Malerman, with no direct sequels or follow-up Bird Box books released yet. However, given the huge popularity of the Netflix movie adaptation and Malerman’s comments about potential ideas for future books, it’s very possible more Bird Box stories will be published someday. For now, fans can enjoy the original book and movie, along with Malerman’s other acclaimed horror novels.