You Like It Darker - Stephen King

You Like It Darker

By Stephen King

  • Release Date: 2024-05-21
  • Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
4.5 Score: 4.5 (From 939 Ratings)

Description

From legendary storyteller and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published, and some of his best EVER.

“You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in You Like It Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again.

“Two Talented Bastids” explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. “The Answer Man” asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful.

King’s ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.

Reviews

  • Others

    5
    By Woodsheder
    Others have it worse…
  • As always, King is King…

    4
    By Attn Patients!
    …but I hope he is okay and continuing to write. These stories seem a bit too morbid, even for this great horror author.
  • This was great

    5
    By Shocked In CT
    I’m always happy with Stephen King’s writing and this book of short stories wasn’t an exception!!!
  • Highly Entertaining

    5
    By DallasLass
    Unlike most of his fans, I prefer Mr. King’s stories that feature his writing excellence over pure horror. This compilation of short stories is just that. Stellar story telling, well written, a pleasure to read.
  • Not scary but thoughtful Stephen King at his near-storytelling best

    3
    By Rs19701980
    One thing that cannot be denied about this work - it’s well written, and each story draws you in with the promise of some sort of exciting development or finale. After all these years, Stephen King continues to do that better than anyone. The issue for me is that those conclusions, in this series of short stories, are more thoughtful and occasionally thought provoking rather than horrifying or jarring. I have to admit, from the greatest horror writer of all time, that feels disappointing. Yet, it was the final story - The Answer Man - that convinced me to give this work at least a 3 and, in my opinion, making it worth reading. That story is reminiscent of The Shawshank Redemption in its slowly developing storytelling that leaves you craving each work, each plot point, until you reach an ending that, while not necessarily surprising, leaves you utterly fulfilled. It’s not a scary book by any stretch. If you want that, like I did, this probably isn’t for you. But if you love excellent storytelling by, quite possibly, the best to ever do it, pick up a copy.
  • I’ll have to listen to the song

    5
    By LSUNtmd8r3
    Always a joy, SK. Constant reader.
  • Magnificent

    5
    By J.hogue
    This was my first short story book ever, and I loved every bit of it! This book is full of darkness, intrigue, and represents some great storytelling. Five stars hands-down, the best short story book out there. Great job Mr. King.
  • Short Stories

    5
    By Belliemay
    Good solid story telling is what this is.
  • Another misfire

    2
    By Reckia6
    I have been a big Stephen King fan nearly all of my life, and I have to say that of all his short story collections, this one goes right at the bottom. I just don't find the stories that engaging or interesting. He should just stick to novels. A definite misfire for Stephen King.
  • still the KING

    5
    By matt von d
    some books like this can’t be measured in pages, such as this one. because it’s such a delightful read, the pages just whiz by. i devoured each of these stories heartily. to all of the clowns complaining about the references to covid: king has always been progressive, sorry to burst your alternative reality bubble. there’s no separating the artist from the art. as much as you want to make covid solely a political issue or to erase our collective memory of it—you can’t and you shouldn’t. i suppose you troglodytes would have wanted authors to not write about the vietnam war or the the watts riots if you’d been around to gripe about imagined grievances during those periods too. the pandemic was an important moment in our story as a species and this will serve as an important document to reflect that time.

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