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螤喂慰 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓蠈 魏喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰 蟽魏慰蟿维未喂
欧宝娱乐 Choice Award
Winner for Readers' Favorite Horror (2024)芦危伪蟼 伪蟻苇蟽蔚喂 位慰喂蟺蠈谓 蟿慰 尾伪胃蠉 蟽魏慰蟿维未喂; 惟蟻伪委伪, 魏伪喂 蟽鈥� 蔚渭苇谓伪禄, 纬蟻维蠁蔚喂 慰 危蟿委尾蔚谓 螝喂谓纬魏 蟽蟿慰谓 蔚蟺委位慰纬慰 伪蠀蟿萎蟼 蟿畏蟼 谓苇伪蟼 胃伪蠀渭维蟽喂伪蟼 蟽蠀位位慰纬萎蟼 未蠋未蔚魏伪 未喂畏纬畏渭维蟿蠅谓 蟺慰蠀 蔚渭尾伪胃蠉谓慰蠀谓 蟽蟿畏 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓萎 蟺位蔚蠀蟻维 蟿畏蟼 味蠅萎蟼 鈥� 渭蔚蟿伪蠁慰蟻喂魏维 魏伪喂 魏蠀蟻喂慰位蔚魏蟿喂魏维. 螕喂伪 渭喂蟽蠈 伪喂蠋谓伪 慰 King 蔚委谓伪喂 魏慰蟻蠀蠁伪委慰蟼 蟽蟿慰 蔚委未慰蟼, 魏喂 伪蠀蟿维 蟿伪 未喂畏纬萎渭伪蟿伪 渭蔚 胃苇渭伪 蟿畏 渭慰委蟻伪, 蟿畏 胃谓畏蟿蠈蟿畏蟿伪, 蟿畏谓 蟿蠉蠂畏 魏伪喂 蟿畏 味蠅萎, 蠈蟺慰蠀 慰蟿喂未萎蟺慰蟿蔚 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 谓伪 蟽蠀渭尾蔚委, 蔚委谓伪喂 蟿蠈蟽慰 蟺位萎蟻畏 魏伪喂 魏伪胃畏位蠅蟿喂魏维 蠈蟽慰 蟿伪 渭蠀胃喂蟽蟿慰蟻萎渭伪蟿维 蟿慰蠀, 纬蔚渭维蟿伪 谓慰萎渭伪蟿伪 魏喂 伪蟺慰位伪蠀蟽蟿喂魏维 蟽蟿畏谓 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽萎 蟿慰蠀蟼. 螣 螝喂谓纬魏 纬蟻维蠁蔚喂 渭蔚 蟽蟿蠈蠂慰 谓伪 伪喂蟽胃伪谓胃蔚委 芦蟿畏谓 蔚蠀蠁慰蟻委伪 蟺蠅蟼 伪蠁萎谓蔚喂 蟺委蟽蠅 蟿畏谓 魏伪胃畏渭蔚蟻喂谓蠈蟿畏蟿伪禄, 魏伪喂 蟽蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 伪蠀蟿蠈 慰喂 伪谓伪纬谓蠋蟽蟿蔚蟼 胃伪 伪喂蟽胃伪谓胃慰蠉谓 蟿慰蠉蟿畏 蟿畏谓 蔚蠀蠁慰蟻委伪 蔚蟺委蟽畏蟼, 尉伪谓维 魏伪喂 尉伪谓维.
韦慰 芦螖蠉慰 蟿伪位伪谓蟿慰蠉蠂慰喂 渭蟺维蟽蟿伪蟻未慰喂禄 蔚尉蔚蟻蔚蠀谓维 蟿慰 蔚蟺委 渭伪魏蟻蠈谓 魏蟻蠀渭渭苇谓慰 渭蠀蟽蟿喂魏蠈 纬喂伪 蟿慰 蟺蠋蟼 伪蠀蟿慰委 慰喂 未蠉慰 维谓未蟻蔚蟼 伪蟺蠈魏蟿畏蟽伪谓 蟿伪 蟿伪位苇谓蟿伪 蟿慰蠀蟼. 危蟿慰谓 芦螘蠁喂维位蟿畏 蟿慰蠀 螡蟿维谓喂 螝维蠁位喂谓禄, 渭喂伪 蟺蟻蠅蟿蠈纬谓蠅蟻畏 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蠀蟽喂魏萎 伪谓伪位伪渭蟺萎 伪谓伪蟿蟻苇蟺蔚喂 未蔚魏维未蔚蟼 味蠅苇蟼, 魏伪喂 渭蔚 蟺喂慰 慰位苇胃蟻喂慰 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 伪蠀蟿萎谓 蟿慰蠀 螡蟿维谓喂. 危蟿慰蠀蟼 芦螝蟻慰蟿伪位委蔚蟼禄, 蟽蠀谓苇蠂蔚喂伪 蟿慰蠀 蔚渭尾位畏渭伪蟿喂魏慰蠉 螝慰蠉蟿味慰, 苇谓伪蟼 蠂萎蟻慰蟼 尾蠀胃喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 伪魏蠈渭伪 蟽蟿慰 蟺苇谓胃慰蟼 蟺畏纬伪委谓蔚喂 蟽蟿畏 桅位蠈蟻喂谓蟿伪 伪蟺慰味畏蟿蠋谓蟿伪蟼 蟺蟻蠈蟽魏伪喂蟻畏 伪谓伪魏慰蠉蠁喂蟽畏, 伪位位维 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚喂 蔚委谓伪喂 渭喂伪 伪谓伪蟺维谓蟿蔚蠂畏 魏位畏蟻慰谓慰渭喂维 鈥� 渭蔚 尾伪蟻喂苇蟼 未蔚蟽渭蔚蠉蟽蔚喂蟼. 危蟿慰 未喂萎纬畏渭伪 芦螒蠀蟿慰委 蟺慰蠀 尾位苇蟺慰蠀谓 蠈谓蔚喂蟻伪禄, 苇谓伪蟼 位喂纬慰渭委位畏蟿慰蟼 尾蔚蟿蔚蟻维谓慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 螔喂蔚蟿谓维渭 伪蟺伪谓蟿维 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 伪纬纬蔚位委伪 纬喂伪 未慰蠀位蔚喂维 魏伪喂 渭伪胃伪委谓蔚喂 蠈蟿喂 渭蔚蟻喂魏苇蟼 纬蠅谓喂苇蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠉渭蟺伪谓蟿慰蟼 魏伪位蠈 蔚委谓伪喂 谓伪 渭苇谓慰蠀谓 伪谓蔚尉蔚蟻蔚蠉谓畏蟿蔚蟼. 韦慰 未喂萎纬畏渭伪 芦螣 螁谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰蟼 螒蟺维谓蟿畏蟽畏禄 胃苇蟿蔚喂 蟿慰 蔚蟻蠋蟿畏渭伪 伪谓 蟿慰 谓伪 纬谓蠅蟻委味蔚喂蟼 蟿慰 渭苇位位慰谓 蔚委谓伪喂 魏伪位蠈 萎 魏伪魏蠈 魏伪喂 渭伪蟼 胃蠀渭委味蔚喂 蠈蟿喂 渭喂伪 味蠅萎 蟽畏渭伪未蔚渭苇谓畏 伪蟺蠈 渭喂伪 伪尾维蟽蟿伪蠂蟿畏 蟿蟻伪纬蠅未委伪 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 蟺伪蟻鈥� 蠈位伪 伪蠀蟿维 谓伪 苇蠂蔚喂 谓蠈畏渭伪.
螚 喂魏伪谓蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟿慰蠀 螝喂谓纬魏 谓伪 尉伪蠁谓喂维味蔚喂, 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪蟺位萎蟽蟽蔚喂 魏伪喂 蟿伪蠀蟿蠈蠂蟻慰谓伪 谓伪 渭伪蟼 纬蔚谓谓维 蟿蟻蠈渭慰 魏伪喂 谓伪 渭伪蟼 蠂伪蟻委味蔚喂 蟺伪蟻畏纬慰蟻喂维 蟺伪蟻伪渭苇谓蔚喂 伪尉蔚蟺苇蟻伪蟽蟿畏. 螝伪胃苇谓伪 伪蟺鈥� 伪蠀蟿维 蟿伪 未喂畏纬萎渭伪蟿伪 魏蟻蠉尾蔚喂 伪纬蠅谓委蔚蟼, 蠂伪蟻苇蟼 魏伪喂 渭蠀蟽蟿萎蟻喂伪, 魏喂 蠈位伪 渭慰喂维味慰蠀谓 蔚渭尾位畏渭伪蟿喂魏维. 危伪蟼 伪蟻苇蟽蔚喂 蟿慰 尾伪胃蠉 蟽魏慰蟿维未喂; 螡伪 蟿慰 位慰喂蟺蠈谓.
韦慰 芦螖蠉慰 蟿伪位伪谓蟿慰蠉蠂慰喂 渭蟺维蟽蟿伪蟻未慰喂禄 蔚尉蔚蟻蔚蠀谓维 蟿慰 蔚蟺委 渭伪魏蟻蠈谓 魏蟻蠀渭渭苇谓慰 渭蠀蟽蟿喂魏蠈 纬喂伪 蟿慰 蟺蠋蟼 伪蠀蟿慰委 慰喂 未蠉慰 维谓未蟻蔚蟼 伪蟺蠈魏蟿畏蟽伪谓 蟿伪 蟿伪位苇谓蟿伪 蟿慰蠀蟼. 危蟿慰谓 芦螘蠁喂维位蟿畏 蟿慰蠀 螡蟿维谓喂 螝维蠁位喂谓禄, 渭喂伪 蟺蟻蠅蟿蠈纬谓蠅蟻畏 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蠀蟽喂魏萎 伪谓伪位伪渭蟺萎 伪谓伪蟿蟻苇蟺蔚喂 未蔚魏维未蔚蟼 味蠅苇蟼, 魏伪喂 渭蔚 蟺喂慰 慰位苇胃蟻喂慰 蟿蟻蠈蟺慰 伪蠀蟿萎谓 蟿慰蠀 螡蟿维谓喂. 危蟿慰蠀蟼 芦螝蟻慰蟿伪位委蔚蟼禄, 蟽蠀谓苇蠂蔚喂伪 蟿慰蠀 蔚渭尾位畏渭伪蟿喂魏慰蠉 螝慰蠉蟿味慰, 苇谓伪蟼 蠂萎蟻慰蟼 尾蠀胃喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 伪魏蠈渭伪 蟽蟿慰 蟺苇谓胃慰蟼 蟺畏纬伪委谓蔚喂 蟽蟿畏 桅位蠈蟻喂谓蟿伪 伪蟺慰味畏蟿蠋谓蟿伪蟼 蟺蟻蠈蟽魏伪喂蟻畏 伪谓伪魏慰蠉蠁喂蟽畏, 伪位位维 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 尾蟻委蟽魏蔚喂 蔚委谓伪喂 渭喂伪 伪谓伪蟺维谓蟿蔚蠂畏 魏位畏蟻慰谓慰渭喂维 鈥� 渭蔚 尾伪蟻喂苇蟼 未蔚蟽渭蔚蠉蟽蔚喂蟼. 危蟿慰 未喂萎纬畏渭伪 芦螒蠀蟿慰委 蟺慰蠀 尾位苇蟺慰蠀谓 蠈谓蔚喂蟻伪禄, 苇谓伪蟼 位喂纬慰渭委位畏蟿慰蟼 尾蔚蟿蔚蟻维谓慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 螔喂蔚蟿谓维渭 伪蟺伪谓蟿维 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 伪纬纬蔚位委伪 纬喂伪 未慰蠀位蔚喂维 魏伪喂 渭伪胃伪委谓蔚喂 蠈蟿喂 渭蔚蟻喂魏苇蟼 纬蠅谓喂苇蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠉渭蟺伪谓蟿慰蟼 魏伪位蠈 蔚委谓伪喂 谓伪 渭苇谓慰蠀谓 伪谓蔚尉蔚蟻蔚蠉谓畏蟿蔚蟼. 韦慰 未喂萎纬畏渭伪 芦螣 螁谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰蟼 螒蟺维谓蟿畏蟽畏禄 胃苇蟿蔚喂 蟿慰 蔚蟻蠋蟿畏渭伪 伪谓 蟿慰 谓伪 纬谓蠅蟻委味蔚喂蟼 蟿慰 渭苇位位慰谓 蔚委谓伪喂 魏伪位蠈 萎 魏伪魏蠈 魏伪喂 渭伪蟼 胃蠀渭委味蔚喂 蠈蟿喂 渭喂伪 味蠅萎 蟽畏渭伪未蔚渭苇谓畏 伪蟺蠈 渭喂伪 伪尾维蟽蟿伪蠂蟿畏 蟿蟻伪纬蠅未委伪 渭蟺慰蟻蔚委 蟺伪蟻鈥� 蠈位伪 伪蠀蟿维 谓伪 苇蠂蔚喂 谓蠈畏渭伪.
螚 喂魏伪谓蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蟿慰蠀 螝喂谓纬魏 谓伪 尉伪蠁谓喂维味蔚喂, 谓伪 魏伪蟿伪蟺位萎蟽蟽蔚喂 魏伪喂 蟿伪蠀蟿蠈蠂蟻慰谓伪 谓伪 渭伪蟼 纬蔚谓谓维 蟿蟻蠈渭慰 魏伪喂 谓伪 渭伪蟼 蠂伪蟻委味蔚喂 蟺伪蟻畏纬慰蟻喂维 蟺伪蟻伪渭苇谓蔚喂 伪尉蔚蟺苇蟻伪蟽蟿畏. 螝伪胃苇谓伪 伪蟺鈥� 伪蠀蟿维 蟿伪 未喂畏纬萎渭伪蟿伪 魏蟻蠉尾蔚喂 伪纬蠅谓委蔚蟼, 蠂伪蟻苇蟼 魏伪喂 渭蠀蟽蟿萎蟻喂伪, 魏喂 蠈位伪 渭慰喂维味慰蠀谓 蔚渭尾位畏渭伪蟿喂魏维. 危伪蟼 伪蟻苇蟽蔚喂 蟿慰 尾伪胃蠉 蟽魏慰蟿维未喂; 螡伪 蟿慰 位慰喂蟺蠈谓.
704 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2024
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About the author
Stephen King
2,580听books871k听followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,376 reviews
June 16, 2024
Hell yes! A new collection of Stephen King stories is here, including five never-before-published chillers promised to go as dark as a crocodile-shaped peninsula鈥攐r is it a peninsula-sized crocodile?? Amongst the darkness is a sequel to his masterpiece, Cujo. I'm reviewing each story as I read them. For the few I鈥檝e read before, my original review will accompany a revised opinion based on the second experience.
Two Talented Bastids
Previously unpublished!
5/5 - A compelling, poignant opener with memorably creepy moments. Can't say much without spoilers, but I can say the story returns to themes which have seemingly plagued King for some time. That is, the complexity of being a prodigy writer. What causes some artists to possess great talent while others, those who devote their lives to the same goal, never achieve the same success? I believe this has concerned him at least as far back as the invention of Richard Bachman, which King has said was created to see if he could do it again. Was Carrie a right-place-right-time situation, a fluke, or was it him? And if it was him, was he chosen? A pre-destined product of fate?
The issue of "Fate" shows up in this story, though King also provides another explanation for talent鈥攁 bizarre, creepy explanation. The characters include a son and his recently deceased famous father, an author of many bestsellers. It's hard not to compare these characters to real-life King and his writer sons Joe and Owen. At 77 years, it's clear death has been on King's mind a lot lately based on several of his recent books.
While I am terrified at the thought of a world without Stephen King, I am loving how impending death is informing his fiction. In many ways, this era is scarier than his killer clown and rabid dog era. It's more real. It's more personal. I love every word of this story! We're off to a great start.
The Fifth Step
Previously published in March, 2020, issue of Harper's Magazine.
4.99/5 - A marvelous example of pacing and sleight of hand. Reminds me of the best of Shirley Jackson. Almost perfect except there's a few lines of dialogue at the end which are perhaps too campy. Loads of fun though, and classic King that could easily have been written during his Nightmares & Dreamscapes years.
Willie the Weirdo
Previously published in the Spring 2022 issue of McSweeney's.
4.99/5 - Same energy as "The Fifth Step" though the world-building here is more complex and fascinating. The ending is perhaps too ambiguous, but I like its unsettling effect. And it made me go back through the earlier pages to find the appropriate clue. A great short story usually invites closer inspection. King offers some masterful dialogue of bickering between adolescent children. Overall, memorable, creepy, and excellent delivery.
Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream
Previously unpublished!
100/5 - F*cking mesmerizing. One of King's best novels鈥攊t's about 200 pages鈥攊n recent years. "Belief is hard" he writes, and that's a good premise for the story because it tackles the difficulty of believing in the supernatural and difficulty in changing one's beliefs in light of new information.
Feels like allegorical commentary on the current state of mental health in America, but it's also a propulsive thriller that's as tense as The Outsider (and comparable in many ways) but even better because there's no bloat. Written in 68 micro chapters, with each scene moving the plot closer to impending doom, it's ideal for on-the-go reading. I found myself lustily devouring chapters at every spare moment. Worth the price of the book for this one alone. Don't miss it!!
Finn
Previously published, May 25th, 2022, as a one-off story exclusive to Scribd.
3/5 - King again showing interest in the horrors of being falsely accused. This story takes a surreal, and European, approach to the subject. The handful of pages turn easily and it's one to devour in a short twenty minutes or less. The ending goes for ambiguity which is appropriate for the tone, but will likely leave many readers unsatisfied. Possibly greater meaning is hidden in metaphor somewhere that's over my head. Anyway, it's fine. Off to the next!
On Slide Inn Road
Previously published in the Oct/Nov 2020 issue of Esquire Magazine.
3/5 - A slow-burn vignette (if that's even possible) concluding with a message that crazy old grandpas can be badasses. Otherwise, it's a standard car-trouble-turned-nightmare story. Characters aren't necessarily developed, but they do feel real. The context is never fleshed out, but the reader can fill in the fuzzy areas without much trouble. Not exceptional, but accomplishes a lot within a short space. Next!
Red Screen
Previously published, Sept. 2021, as a $5 limited edition eBook by Humble Bundle. Proceeds were donated to the ACLU.
4/5 - Original Review from 2021: A breezy, creepy story that requires no more than 15 minutes to read. Set in modern day, its themes explore how easily conspiracies can hatch and gnaw at the brain, while at the same time suggesting a possible reality of unknown horrors. We are in the Stephen King universe, after all. It is a "subtle" horror story, and subtleness is in fact King's major observation about modern day anxieties.
The unresolved conclusion leaves us pondering thanks to a set-up beautifully designed to create uncertainty and unease. Our logical brain knows there's nothing going on, and yet we can't help but wonder. Clues allow for the argument of both sides, making it an excellent short story for discussion.
4.5/5 - Second Reading Review: Still good. Better within the context of this story collection. It meshes particularly well with "Two Talented Bastids" and "Willie the Weirdo." Very short, though. Shorter than I remember. Was it edited down for this collection? I thought I remember more evidence in favor of the conspiracy. Love the concept of supernatural explanation for why our personalities change over time, which I glossed over before. Is becoming cranky really a natural process of aging, or can it be a case of being body snatched? Despite being a very short vignette, it crawls into the brain and lingers there.
The Turbulence Expert
Previously published in Flight or Fright (2018).
4/5 - A fun, high-concept Twilight Zone mind-boggler. The logic isn't clearly explained but if you companion it with other plots in the King Universe, like The Institute, you can just go with it. The Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" still haunts the minds of airplane travelers, and that episode came out in 1963. King's story may not infect your mind quite as strongly, but there's a good chance you'll think of it the next time you experience turbulence.
Laurie
Previously published as a StephenKing.com freebie and also included as a bonus on the audio version of Elevation.
4/5 - On its own, "Laurie" is a nice but unexceptional King short story. However, within You Like It Darker it serves a more complimentary purpose. This is largely due to noteworthy revisions from the original version which King published on his website back in May, 2018.
"Laurie" refers to the name of a dog in this story, a name selected "as if it came from a dream." This newly-added sentence is, of course, a reference to Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream. Laurie is also a name used in that story, further connecting the two. Other revisions include a sign reading WATCH FOR ALLIGATORS which is spray painted over to say ALIENS, a recurring menace in this collection. In the original story, it was spray painted to say DEMOCRATS.
"Rattlesnake Key" is a location reference in Laurie not in the original version, an obvious preamble to "Rattlesnakes," the Cujo-sequel included in this collection. The eerie alligator/crocodile imagery on the cover also seems to be inspired by this story.
With these added elements, Laurie serves as a world-building connection between the tales. Otherwise, it is merely a charming story of an older man whose health improves after he adopts a puppy. The horror twist isn't all that horrific and not all that twisty. Again, however, it sets the mood for what's to come.
Rattlesnakes
Previously unpublished! Noteworthy for being a sequel to Cujo.
100/5 - SCARY!!! King's recent thrillers and mysteries have been great, but he hasn't written much lately that I would consider scary. Rattlesnakes is classic, old-school horror that'll give you nightmares just like Pet Sematary, The Shining and, of course, Cujo.
The less you know the better, but I will say this Cujo follow-up works on every level. I'd go so far as to say it's brilliant. King masterfully places Vic Trenton, and all his psychological baggage, in a brand-new situation custom-made for supernatural monsters. Among the creepiest monsters in King's entire bibliography, I will add.
It is important to know that this novella does address major plot elements from Cujo and probably won't be nearly as good if you aren't familiar with the book. The movie isn't a great substitute because they made a significant change to the ending.
There are also numerous references to Duma Key, which I have not read yet. It didn't bother me not fully understanding these references. If you have read it, I'm sure you'll be in for an extra treat.
Overall: Rattlesnakes is f*cking incredible! Do not miss it!
The Dreamers
Previously unpublished.
5/5 - Once again, King contemplates the great beyond. Given how prophetic he can be, I do not like his vision of afterlife one bit! Super creepy. The story will remind readers of Revival, though I actually find The Dreamers more satisfying and more chilling. Something along these lines would've been a far superior ending to Revival.
The Answer Man
Previously unpublished.
4/5 - A character-driven, birth-to-death story with supernatural elements. Some slower moments, but overall excellent. For a while I worried it would sully the superb thematic connections all the previous stories shared. Not to worry, however. The ending is unexpectedly satisfying, and a clear enhancement to the overall completeness of You Like It Darker. Particularly with regard to King's literary (and likely personal) interest in the afterlife.
Fun bonus fact, as discussed in the afterward, King started this story in the 1970s. It was discarded for decades until recently, when his nephew suggested it was too good not to finish. Given the full life cycle of the plot, it's fascinating to imagine King finishing a story at age seventy-five that he started writing at age thirty. Often authorial context is meaningless, but this behind-the-scenes detail adds significant intrigue.
Overall...
I'm a total King fan, but I've also been critical of his recent efforts Sleeping Beauties and Fairy Tale. This collection, however, blew me away. Partly because each story is so good, but more broadly because of how superbly they spoke to each other. The subtle revisions to previously published fiction really showcase just how much thought went into this collection as a thematic vision, broken up in different parts. In a way, it's so cohesive it reads like a single novel. Anchored, perhaps, by the two standouts鈥�Rattlesnakes and Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream鈥攂ut every story, even the very short ones, present dark visions of a supernatural reality.
Required reading for King fans and even a great entry point for King virgins鈥攋ust do yourself a favor and read Cujo first.
Two Talented Bastids
Previously unpublished!
5/5 - A compelling, poignant opener with memorably creepy moments. Can't say much without spoilers, but I can say the story returns to themes which have seemingly plagued King for some time. That is, the complexity of being a prodigy writer. What causes some artists to possess great talent while others, those who devote their lives to the same goal, never achieve the same success? I believe this has concerned him at least as far back as the invention of Richard Bachman, which King has said was created to see if he could do it again. Was Carrie a right-place-right-time situation, a fluke, or was it him? And if it was him, was he chosen? A pre-destined product of fate?
The issue of "Fate" shows up in this story, though King also provides another explanation for talent鈥攁 bizarre, creepy explanation. The characters include a son and his recently deceased famous father, an author of many bestsellers. It's hard not to compare these characters to real-life King and his writer sons Joe and Owen. At 77 years, it's clear death has been on King's mind a lot lately based on several of his recent books.
While I am terrified at the thought of a world without Stephen King, I am loving how impending death is informing his fiction. In many ways, this era is scarier than his killer clown and rabid dog era. It's more real. It's more personal. I love every word of this story! We're off to a great start.
The Fifth Step
Previously published in March, 2020, issue of Harper's Magazine.
4.99/5 - A marvelous example of pacing and sleight of hand. Reminds me of the best of Shirley Jackson. Almost perfect except there's a few lines of dialogue at the end which are perhaps too campy. Loads of fun though, and classic King that could easily have been written during his Nightmares & Dreamscapes years.
Willie the Weirdo
Previously published in the Spring 2022 issue of McSweeney's.
4.99/5 - Same energy as "The Fifth Step" though the world-building here is more complex and fascinating. The ending is perhaps too ambiguous, but I like its unsettling effect. And it made me go back through the earlier pages to find the appropriate clue. A great short story usually invites closer inspection. King offers some masterful dialogue of bickering between adolescent children. Overall, memorable, creepy, and excellent delivery.
Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream
Previously unpublished!
100/5 - F*cking mesmerizing. One of King's best novels鈥攊t's about 200 pages鈥攊n recent years. "Belief is hard" he writes, and that's a good premise for the story because it tackles the difficulty of believing in the supernatural and difficulty in changing one's beliefs in light of new information.
Feels like allegorical commentary on the current state of mental health in America, but it's also a propulsive thriller that's as tense as The Outsider (and comparable in many ways) but even better because there's no bloat. Written in 68 micro chapters, with each scene moving the plot closer to impending doom, it's ideal for on-the-go reading. I found myself lustily devouring chapters at every spare moment. Worth the price of the book for this one alone. Don't miss it!!
Finn
Previously published, May 25th, 2022, as a one-off story exclusive to Scribd.
3/5 - King again showing interest in the horrors of being falsely accused. This story takes a surreal, and European, approach to the subject. The handful of pages turn easily and it's one to devour in a short twenty minutes or less. The ending goes for ambiguity which is appropriate for the tone, but will likely leave many readers unsatisfied. Possibly greater meaning is hidden in metaphor somewhere that's over my head. Anyway, it's fine. Off to the next!
On Slide Inn Road
Previously published in the Oct/Nov 2020 issue of Esquire Magazine.
3/5 - A slow-burn vignette (if that's even possible) concluding with a message that crazy old grandpas can be badasses. Otherwise, it's a standard car-trouble-turned-nightmare story. Characters aren't necessarily developed, but they do feel real. The context is never fleshed out, but the reader can fill in the fuzzy areas without much trouble. Not exceptional, but accomplishes a lot within a short space. Next!
Red Screen
Previously published, Sept. 2021, as a $5 limited edition eBook by Humble Bundle. Proceeds were donated to the ACLU.
4/5 - Original Review from 2021: A breezy, creepy story that requires no more than 15 minutes to read. Set in modern day, its themes explore how easily conspiracies can hatch and gnaw at the brain, while at the same time suggesting a possible reality of unknown horrors. We are in the Stephen King universe, after all. It is a "subtle" horror story, and subtleness is in fact King's major observation about modern day anxieties.
The unresolved conclusion leaves us pondering thanks to a set-up beautifully designed to create uncertainty and unease. Our logical brain knows there's nothing going on, and yet we can't help but wonder. Clues allow for the argument of both sides, making it an excellent short story for discussion.
4.5/5 - Second Reading Review: Still good. Better within the context of this story collection. It meshes particularly well with "Two Talented Bastids" and "Willie the Weirdo." Very short, though. Shorter than I remember. Was it edited down for this collection? I thought I remember more evidence in favor of the conspiracy. Love the concept of supernatural explanation for why our personalities change over time, which I glossed over before. Is becoming cranky really a natural process of aging, or can it be a case of being body snatched? Despite being a very short vignette, it crawls into the brain and lingers there.
The Turbulence Expert
Previously published in Flight or Fright (2018).
4/5 - A fun, high-concept Twilight Zone mind-boggler. The logic isn't clearly explained but if you companion it with other plots in the King Universe, like The Institute, you can just go with it. The Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" still haunts the minds of airplane travelers, and that episode came out in 1963. King's story may not infect your mind quite as strongly, but there's a good chance you'll think of it the next time you experience turbulence.
Laurie
Previously published as a StephenKing.com freebie and also included as a bonus on the audio version of Elevation.
4/5 - On its own, "Laurie" is a nice but unexceptional King short story. However, within You Like It Darker it serves a more complimentary purpose. This is largely due to noteworthy revisions from the original version which King published on his website back in May, 2018.
"Laurie" refers to the name of a dog in this story, a name selected "as if it came from a dream." This newly-added sentence is, of course, a reference to Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream. Laurie is also a name used in that story, further connecting the two. Other revisions include a sign reading WATCH FOR ALLIGATORS which is spray painted over to say ALIENS, a recurring menace in this collection. In the original story, it was spray painted to say DEMOCRATS.
"Rattlesnake Key" is a location reference in Laurie not in the original version, an obvious preamble to "Rattlesnakes," the Cujo-sequel included in this collection. The eerie alligator/crocodile imagery on the cover also seems to be inspired by this story.
With these added elements, Laurie serves as a world-building connection between the tales. Otherwise, it is merely a charming story of an older man whose health improves after he adopts a puppy. The horror twist isn't all that horrific and not all that twisty. Again, however, it sets the mood for what's to come.
Rattlesnakes
Previously unpublished! Noteworthy for being a sequel to Cujo.
100/5 - SCARY!!! King's recent thrillers and mysteries have been great, but he hasn't written much lately that I would consider scary. Rattlesnakes is classic, old-school horror that'll give you nightmares just like Pet Sematary, The Shining and, of course, Cujo.
The less you know the better, but I will say this Cujo follow-up works on every level. I'd go so far as to say it's brilliant. King masterfully places Vic Trenton, and all his psychological baggage, in a brand-new situation custom-made for supernatural monsters. Among the creepiest monsters in King's entire bibliography, I will add.
It is important to know that this novella does address major plot elements from Cujo and probably won't be nearly as good if you aren't familiar with the book. The movie isn't a great substitute because they made a significant change to the ending.
There are also numerous references to Duma Key, which I have not read yet. It didn't bother me not fully understanding these references. If you have read it, I'm sure you'll be in for an extra treat.
Overall: Rattlesnakes is f*cking incredible! Do not miss it!
The Dreamers
Previously unpublished.
5/5 - Once again, King contemplates the great beyond. Given how prophetic he can be, I do not like his vision of afterlife one bit! Super creepy. The story will remind readers of Revival, though I actually find The Dreamers more satisfying and more chilling. Something along these lines would've been a far superior ending to Revival.
The Answer Man
Previously unpublished.
4/5 - A character-driven, birth-to-death story with supernatural elements. Some slower moments, but overall excellent. For a while I worried it would sully the superb thematic connections all the previous stories shared. Not to worry, however. The ending is unexpectedly satisfying, and a clear enhancement to the overall completeness of You Like It Darker. Particularly with regard to King's literary (and likely personal) interest in the afterlife.
Fun bonus fact, as discussed in the afterward, King started this story in the 1970s. It was discarded for decades until recently, when his nephew suggested it was too good not to finish. Given the full life cycle of the plot, it's fascinating to imagine King finishing a story at age seventy-five that he started writing at age thirty. Often authorial context is meaningless, but this behind-the-scenes detail adds significant intrigue.
Overall...
I'm a total King fan, but I've also been critical of his recent efforts Sleeping Beauties and Fairy Tale. This collection, however, blew me away. Partly because each story is so good, but more broadly because of how superbly they spoke to each other. The subtle revisions to previously published fiction really showcase just how much thought went into this collection as a thematic vision, broken up in different parts. In a way, it's so cohesive it reads like a single novel. Anchored, perhaps, by the two standouts鈥�Rattlesnakes and Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream鈥攂ut every story, even the very short ones, present dark visions of a supernatural reality.
Required reading for King fans and even a great entry point for King virgins鈥攋ust do yourself a favor and read Cujo first.
July 13, 2024
"You Like It Darker: Stories鈥� by Stephen King was one of the most anticipated novels I鈥檝e been waiting for in 2024. Besides having 12 new short stories, the most hype was 鈥淩attlesnakes,鈥� a sequel to his legendary novel 鈥淐ujo.鈥�
Before I start my review, I found a bunch of trigger warnings while reading. Here they are:
- COVID
- Masking
- Pandemic
- Politics
- Vaccinations
- Suicide
- Breast Cancer
- Drugs
- Alcoholism
- Domestic Abuse
- Rape
- Torture
- Homophobic slurs
- Widowed
- Tumors
- Cancer
- Sandy Hook
- 9/11
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, I loved all the references in this new anthology. I lost my mind when I saw references to Derry, Maine, the Suicide Stairs from Gwendy鈥檚 Button Box Trilogy, the New York Yankees, Breaking Bad, Duma Key, and my hometown of Queens, NY.
Besides that, this is an incredible collection of new short stories that checks many boxes. There鈥檚 a great mix of horror, excellent storytelling, terror, and everything you鈥檇 come to expect of how excellent King is at fleshing out memorable characters. 鈥淭wo Talented Bastids鈥� kicks things off and is primarily a slow burn but then picks up nicely at the end, in case you're starting this and wondering when the twist hits.
Don鈥檛 worry, I鈥檇 never ruin or spoil anything, but out of all 12 stories, these were my favorite since they told a great story but also had some crazy good horror, which made my soul happy:
- The Fifth Step
- Red Screen
- Laurie
- Rattlesnakes
- The Dreamers
- The Answer Man
If I had to pick my favorite short story from "You Like It Darker: Stories,鈥� it would easily be 鈥淩attlesnakes鈥� since that could be a separate book. To see what Vic has been up to after all these years after what happened in 鈥淐ujo鈥� was an awesome reading experience. This was scary, creepy, and the best snake and ghost horror I鈥檝e ever read.
Finally, 鈥淭he Answer Man鈥� was a fantastic ending to this anthology. It blew me away and connected with me so much. I won鈥檛 get into any specifics, but over the last few months, I鈥檝e been dealing with several personal issues. I haven鈥檛 been able to read as much as I wanted to or even write these reviews that I love doing.
I鈥檝e always felt for years now that reading is powerful. Reading books of the genre you love and authors you adore can help you get through some of life鈥檚 toughest battles. This happened to me since it took me over a month and a half to finish this anthology. Finishing this helped me more than words could ever describe since it distracted me from what I was going through. As always, Uncle Stevie helped me through it, as he鈥檚 done a few times throughout my life.
I鈥檓 in a much better place now, both mentally and physically, while getting my regular routines back on track. Not just reading and writing horror book reviews but also in life. It鈥檚 incredible to correlate this novel with some of the toughest and most challenging times I鈥檝e ever faced. I will never forget how this book was there for me when I needed it most. I鈥檓 out of the dark, and best of all, brighter days are ahead.
"You Like It Darker: Stories鈥� by Stephen King gets a 5/5 for being one hell of an anthology. There is plenty of horror here on top of magnificent storytelling. I loved all the characters, scenarios, blood, gore, ghosts, and more. This is worth it for 鈥淩attlesnakes鈥� alone if you want to know what happens in the aftermath of 鈥淐ujo,鈥� as it was such an exhilarating read. The numerous plot twists you鈥檒l find while reading all these stories are wild since they hit when you least expect them. I have to see what the rest of the year is like, but this will likely be my favorite novel of 2024. It鈥檚 that good, and with everything I鈥檝e gone through over the last few months, it came out when this Constant Reader needed it most.
Squeak, pause. Squeak, pause. Squeak, pause.
Before I start my review, I found a bunch of trigger warnings while reading. Here they are:
- COVID
- Masking
- Pandemic
- Politics
- Vaccinations
- Suicide
- Breast Cancer
- Drugs
- Alcoholism
- Domestic Abuse
- Rape
- Torture
- Homophobic slurs
- Widowed
- Tumors
- Cancer
- Sandy Hook
- 9/11
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, I loved all the references in this new anthology. I lost my mind when I saw references to Derry, Maine, the Suicide Stairs from Gwendy鈥檚 Button Box Trilogy, the New York Yankees, Breaking Bad, Duma Key, and my hometown of Queens, NY.
Besides that, this is an incredible collection of new short stories that checks many boxes. There鈥檚 a great mix of horror, excellent storytelling, terror, and everything you鈥檇 come to expect of how excellent King is at fleshing out memorable characters. 鈥淭wo Talented Bastids鈥� kicks things off and is primarily a slow burn but then picks up nicely at the end, in case you're starting this and wondering when the twist hits.
Don鈥檛 worry, I鈥檇 never ruin or spoil anything, but out of all 12 stories, these were my favorite since they told a great story but also had some crazy good horror, which made my soul happy:
- The Fifth Step
- Red Screen
- Laurie
- Rattlesnakes
- The Dreamers
- The Answer Man
If I had to pick my favorite short story from "You Like It Darker: Stories,鈥� it would easily be 鈥淩attlesnakes鈥� since that could be a separate book. To see what Vic has been up to after all these years after what happened in 鈥淐ujo鈥� was an awesome reading experience. This was scary, creepy, and the best snake and ghost horror I鈥檝e ever read.
Finally, 鈥淭he Answer Man鈥� was a fantastic ending to this anthology. It blew me away and connected with me so much. I won鈥檛 get into any specifics, but over the last few months, I鈥檝e been dealing with several personal issues. I haven鈥檛 been able to read as much as I wanted to or even write these reviews that I love doing.
I鈥檝e always felt for years now that reading is powerful. Reading books of the genre you love and authors you adore can help you get through some of life鈥檚 toughest battles. This happened to me since it took me over a month and a half to finish this anthology. Finishing this helped me more than words could ever describe since it distracted me from what I was going through. As always, Uncle Stevie helped me through it, as he鈥檚 done a few times throughout my life.
I鈥檓 in a much better place now, both mentally and physically, while getting my regular routines back on track. Not just reading and writing horror book reviews but also in life. It鈥檚 incredible to correlate this novel with some of the toughest and most challenging times I鈥檝e ever faced. I will never forget how this book was there for me when I needed it most. I鈥檓 out of the dark, and best of all, brighter days are ahead.
"You Like It Darker: Stories鈥� by Stephen King gets a 5/5 for being one hell of an anthology. There is plenty of horror here on top of magnificent storytelling. I loved all the characters, scenarios, blood, gore, ghosts, and more. This is worth it for 鈥淩attlesnakes鈥� alone if you want to know what happens in the aftermath of 鈥淐ujo,鈥� as it was such an exhilarating read. The numerous plot twists you鈥檒l find while reading all these stories are wild since they hit when you least expect them. I have to see what the rest of the year is like, but this will likely be my favorite novel of 2024. It鈥檚 that good, and with everything I鈥檝e gone through over the last few months, it came out when this Constant Reader needed it most.
Squeak, pause. Squeak, pause. Squeak, pause.
June 6, 2024
"That's how it works for me sometimes - a story will arrive fully formed, just waiting for the right trigger to declare itself. It's a very cool thing."
It's no secret - I would read his shopping lists. I will read EVERY story will bless us with. Because I know, when I grab one of his books, that it's going to be amazing and I'm going to love it.
In this one, King gives us 12 new stories. Two of these stories are longer - one will be from a character we haven't heard from in a very long time. Many others are medium length and only 1 or 2 are very short. But they all pack Stephen King's typical punch - a character you get to know, a scenario you could never imagine, and an outcome that makes you smile for its twist and ingenious route to it.
"But think of the adventure you had."
Spoil yourself with these 12 new stories, but don't get any spoilers. They are original stories and all just wonderful. And don't skip that author note at the end. I always love reading Stephen King just writing to us, the readers.
Soon, I will buy the audio too and listen to them again. They are THAT good!
It's no secret - I would read his shopping lists. I will read EVERY story will bless us with. Because I know, when I grab one of his books, that it's going to be amazing and I'm going to love it.
In this one, King gives us 12 new stories. Two of these stories are longer - one will be from a character we haven't heard from in a very long time. Many others are medium length and only 1 or 2 are very short. But they all pack Stephen King's typical punch - a character you get to know, a scenario you could never imagine, and an outcome that makes you smile for its twist and ingenious route to it.
"But think of the adventure you had."
Spoil yourself with these 12 new stories, but don't get any spoilers. They are original stories and all just wonderful. And don't skip that author note at the end. I always love reading Stephen King just writing to us, the readers.
Soon, I will buy the audio too and listen to them again. They are THAT good!
August 11, 2024
The older Stephen King gets the better his stories are. Here we have 12 outstanding pieces of fiction, shorter and longer ones. His characters often are old, near death, they look back on a long life full of experience and everyday horrors. You'll meet a man who dreamed of a dead body and found her in reality. An obsessed cop tries to prove he's the murderer. Then we meet Tad's father Frank again after so many years (do you remember King's Cujo?). Or we have The Answer Man. Dreams can be dangerous as we learn in the Mad Scientist story. Is this the right stuff for younger readers? Well, I have my doubts as whole lives pass by in most of the tales. The older you are the more you will like the stories offered here. Stephen King is on top of his game here. If you think one of the longer tales is over he surprises the reader with yet another twist. What can I say as a lifelong Stephen King reader since the 80s? One of his very best story collections. A true highlight. Even though a massive tome, it could have been longer is the only thing I can add to the title. Very impressive. Hard to beat highlight of the year!
May 22, 2024
I loved this book! Yes, it鈥檚 a bit slow in places, and some stories don鈥檛 shine as brightly as others, but overall, it鈥檚 a captivating read that keeps you hooked. My only gripe? I wished it was darker, but hey, I can still appreciate the thrills it delivered.
One highlight for me was the sequel to Cujo but my absolute favorite, though, was 鈥淒anny Coughlin's Bad Dream.鈥� It had me glued to the pages.
So, thank you, Mr. King, for another sleepless night! You never fail to entertain, and I can't wait for more. If you're looking for a collection that offers a mix of chills and great storytelling, this one鈥檚 a solid choice.
One highlight for me was the sequel to Cujo but my absolute favorite, though, was 鈥淒anny Coughlin's Bad Dream.鈥� It had me glued to the pages.
So, thank you, Mr. King, for another sleepless night! You never fail to entertain, and I can't wait for more. If you're looking for a collection that offers a mix of chills and great storytelling, this one鈥檚 a solid choice.
May 27, 2024
Two Talented Bastids - 4猸�
The Fifth Step - 3猸�
Willie the Weirdo - 4猸�
Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream - 5猸�
Finn - 3.5猸�
On Slide In Road - 4.5猸�
Red Screen - 4猸�
The Turbulence Expert - 4猸�
Laurie - 3.5猸�
Rattlesnakes - 4.5猸�
The Dreamers - 5猸�
The Answer Man 4.5猸�
This was an excellent collection! Overall I am going to rate it five stars due to how much I enjoyed my favourites. The stories that I rated 3 stars were still enjoyable and they tended to be the shorter stories in the collection. My absolute favourite was Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream, which at around 150 pages is the longest in this collection. I would have been happy to pay the price of this book just for that story alone! I think Constant Readers will really enjoy this collection, the best he has done in years!
I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration by Will Patton and Stephen King. For the story Laurie, I listened and read at the same time and noticed that a lot of the words and phrases were different in the narration to the book in print, some sentences were missed out, some different ones added in. It was quite frequent, on almost every page of the story. I only did that with the one story, so not sure if it is the same for the rest of the book.
The Fifth Step - 3猸�
Willie the Weirdo - 4猸�
Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream - 5猸�
Finn - 3.5猸�
On Slide In Road - 4.5猸�
Red Screen - 4猸�
The Turbulence Expert - 4猸�
Laurie - 3.5猸�
Rattlesnakes - 4.5猸�
The Dreamers - 5猸�
The Answer Man 4.5猸�
This was an excellent collection! Overall I am going to rate it five stars due to how much I enjoyed my favourites. The stories that I rated 3 stars were still enjoyable and they tended to be the shorter stories in the collection. My absolute favourite was Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream, which at around 150 pages is the longest in this collection. I would have been happy to pay the price of this book just for that story alone! I think Constant Readers will really enjoy this collection, the best he has done in years!
I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration by Will Patton and Stephen King. For the story Laurie, I listened and read at the same time and noticed that a lot of the words and phrases were different in the narration to the book in print, some sentences were missed out, some different ones added in. It was quite frequent, on almost every page of the story. I only did that with the one story, so not sure if it is the same for the rest of the book.
March 27, 2025
Stephen King really 鈥�nailed鈥� it this time,
straight into the coffin lid.
As a huge fan of King鈥檚 short story collections, You Like It Darker might just be my new favorite. With twelve tales that creep under your skin and linger in the shadows of your mind, King delivers exactly what he promises: the darker side of life, both literally and metaphorically. Each story feels iconic, balancing terror, tragedy, and King鈥檚 signature surprises.
My absolute favorite was "Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream", talk about a nightmare you don鈥檛 want to wake up from. One brief psychic vision turns dozens of lives upside down, especially poor Danny鈥檚. It鈥檚 haunting in the best way, showing King鈥檚 unmatched ability to blend fate and catastrophe. The twists kept me guessing, and the ending stuck with me like a shadow at midnight.
Close behind was "Rattlesnakes", a real 鈥渇ang-tastic鈥� sequel to Cujo. The return to that chilling universe had my heart racing. King proves that sometimes the past has more bite than we expect, especially when an unexpected inheritance comes with venomous strings attached. It was a brilliant mix of nostalgia and new terror, with that slow build dread King does so well.
Other standout stories include "Two Talented Bastids," which peels back the layers of a long-hidden secret, and "The Dreamers," where exploring unknown corners of the universe might be a worse fate than staying home. And don鈥檛 sleep on "The Answer Man", or do, but don鈥檛 expect sweet dreams. It asks big questions about luck, fate, and whether knowing your future is a gift or a curse.
King鈥檚 afterword says it best: 鈥淵ou like it darker? Fine, so do I.鈥� And honestly, so do I, especially when it鈥檚 this good. This collection hits all the right notes: eerie, thought-provoking, and absolutely unputdownable. For fans of King鈥檚 short fiction, You Like It Darker is a must read. After all, when it comes to short stories, King is still the king.
馃憫馃憫馃憫馃憫馃憫- 5 out of 5 crowns,
long live the King of Horror.
straight into the coffin lid.
As a huge fan of King鈥檚 short story collections, You Like It Darker might just be my new favorite. With twelve tales that creep under your skin and linger in the shadows of your mind, King delivers exactly what he promises: the darker side of life, both literally and metaphorically. Each story feels iconic, balancing terror, tragedy, and King鈥檚 signature surprises.
My absolute favorite was "Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream", talk about a nightmare you don鈥檛 want to wake up from. One brief psychic vision turns dozens of lives upside down, especially poor Danny鈥檚. It鈥檚 haunting in the best way, showing King鈥檚 unmatched ability to blend fate and catastrophe. The twists kept me guessing, and the ending stuck with me like a shadow at midnight.
Close behind was "Rattlesnakes", a real 鈥渇ang-tastic鈥� sequel to Cujo. The return to that chilling universe had my heart racing. King proves that sometimes the past has more bite than we expect, especially when an unexpected inheritance comes with venomous strings attached. It was a brilliant mix of nostalgia and new terror, with that slow build dread King does so well.
Other standout stories include "Two Talented Bastids," which peels back the layers of a long-hidden secret, and "The Dreamers," where exploring unknown corners of the universe might be a worse fate than staying home. And don鈥檛 sleep on "The Answer Man", or do, but don鈥檛 expect sweet dreams. It asks big questions about luck, fate, and whether knowing your future is a gift or a curse.
King鈥檚 afterword says it best: 鈥淵ou like it darker? Fine, so do I.鈥� And honestly, so do I, especially when it鈥檚 this good. This collection hits all the right notes: eerie, thought-provoking, and absolutely unputdownable. For fans of King鈥檚 short fiction, You Like It Darker is a must read. After all, when it comes to short stories, King is still the king.
馃憫馃憫馃憫馃憫馃憫- 5 out of 5 crowns,
long live the King of Horror.
June 13, 2024
In this new collection of short stories called You Like it Darker by Stephen King, I found myself really enjoying the wide selection of thrills and chills.
I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 a bad plot in the collection. Each one was entertaining, and I was engaged when I started the short story.
It鈥檚 got a bit of everything in the book from paranormal horror, cosmic horror to humanity being evil.
You Like it Darker also has some tales that weren鈥檛 dark at all, and they just made me feel good. I鈥檓 looking at you Laurie!
For me, some plots worked better than others but that鈥檚 due to my own sense of horror and what truly scares me. I think this collection will be subject to the reader鈥檚 taste and what horror resonates with them.
Case in point, I have paralyzing dreams, and they happen a few times a month. Yes, they f鈥檌ng suck and I鈥檝e had them since I was a kid.
When I got to The Dreamers, it did a number on me!
I think the lowest grade that I gave was to Finn and Red Screen and both felt a bit unfinished to me. All other short stories ranged between 3 to 5 stars.
My favorites include:
Two Talented Bastids 鈥� 4 stars
Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream 鈥� 5 stars
On Slide Inn Road 鈥� 4/4.5 stars
Rattlesnakes 鈥� 5 stars
The Dreamers 鈥� 5 stars
The Answer Man 鈥� 4/4.5 stars
I鈥檓 happy that King did this collection!
I鈥檝e been wanting some tales like his older books and take a break from Holly Gibney.
Yes, I鈥檓 sure the Holly fans are booing at me and throwing popcorn, but I do have a limit on OCD and hypochondria with characters in a book. 馃憖 hahaha
But you know what? He still threw some of this in with our boy and I ended up loving it. 炉\_(銉�)_/炉 Damn you King! 馃槀馃ぃ
I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 a bad plot in the collection. Each one was entertaining, and I was engaged when I started the short story.
It鈥檚 got a bit of everything in the book from paranormal horror, cosmic horror to humanity being evil.
You Like it Darker also has some tales that weren鈥檛 dark at all, and they just made me feel good. I鈥檓 looking at you Laurie!
For me, some plots worked better than others but that鈥檚 due to my own sense of horror and what truly scares me. I think this collection will be subject to the reader鈥檚 taste and what horror resonates with them.
Case in point, I have paralyzing dreams, and they happen a few times a month. Yes, they f鈥檌ng suck and I鈥檝e had them since I was a kid.
When I got to The Dreamers, it did a number on me!
I think the lowest grade that I gave was to Finn and Red Screen and both felt a bit unfinished to me. All other short stories ranged between 3 to 5 stars.
My favorites include:
Two Talented Bastids 鈥� 4 stars
Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream 鈥� 5 stars
On Slide Inn Road 鈥� 4/4.5 stars
Rattlesnakes 鈥� 5 stars
The Dreamers 鈥� 5 stars
The Answer Man 鈥� 4/4.5 stars
I鈥檓 happy that King did this collection!
I鈥檝e been wanting some tales like his older books and take a break from Holly Gibney.
Yes, I鈥檓 sure the Holly fans are booing at me and throwing popcorn, but I do have a limit on OCD and hypochondria with characters in a book. 馃憖 hahaha
But you know what? He still threw some of this in with our boy and I ended up loving it. 炉\_(銉�)_/炉 Damn you King! 馃槀馃ぃ
September 27, 2024
Initial Thoughts
This is going to make me unpopular, but I hate those geeky labels that Stephen King fans come out with. Like 'constant reader.' But the funny thing is, I am without doubt one of those constant readers. In a two year span I read pretty much all his books. And what a glorious two years it was!
A lot of King's books are absolute bangers, while some are just really good. But the guy writes at such a high level and in such an effortless way that even the ones that don't quite hit the mark are still a worthwhile read.
But here's the thing you guys. Recently King has been branching off into areas I haven't been in a rush to read about. In fact I haven't even read his last two outings. Fairy Tale just didn't sound like my type of story and Holly, as well as being one of my least favourite characters of his, was way too focused on that virus that caused such a meltdown in 2020. Don't get me wrong, if I'd have heard reports that these two were must reads then I wouldn't have been able to resist. But that's just not the case. Maybe I'm just not the constant reader I thought I was.
So it was with great relief that I discovered he was making a return to his dark and nasty routes with some spine chilling suspense and a little dash of horror. That's the horror that made him such a star in the eighties. And I, for one, am peeing my pants at the prospect of getting my gruby mits all over it. Believe you me, if it was a choice between this and Margot Robbie I'm choosing the book all day long.
Plus, I'm a huge fan of these short story collections. Twelve stories makes up the book, with one of the longest being about ninety pages. So bring it on.
Anyway, enough of the chit chat. It's time for you, me and the King to get acquainted. Let's go!
The Stories
Two Talented Bastids 4.25 猸�'s -
You Like it Darker gets off to a bang with a pretty fantastic tale of the son of a famous writer who has recently passed away. While digging through his office he discovers a document detailing the secret behind his father's success and how he went from a landfill owner to a world famous author. It centres around a hunting trip in the local woods and has strong vibes to another King novel, which I won't mention. But dare I say this one does it slightly better.
The Fifth Step 4 猸�'s -
If the first entry wasn't exactly dark, this one certainly is as Stevie boy cranks it up a level. We have a random meeting on a park bench between an older gent, Harold Jamieson, and a recovering alcoholic.
The younger man is working his way through the AA program, and you guessed it...he's on the fifth step. This one he can't do on his own and he needs help. And when Harold eventually agrees to help things are looking peachy. But with this being a Stephen King story, we'll...I'm saying no more about it.
Willie the Wierdo 3.75 猸�'s -
This one felt very similar to a story from Skeleton Crew, not saying which one that is either. I'm evil like that. Not one to give the game away. Certainly not intentionally anyway.
A ten year old boy, who's a bit of a weirdo...and funnily enough called Willie, is obsessed with his grandfather's war stories. Bloody, violent and a touch disturbing, who can really blame the young lad. We've all been there.
The rest of the family thinks he's a bit of a misfit. Makes them feel a touch uncomfortable. But not grandpa. He sees something special in Willie. And you're going to find out exactly what that is.
A bit like Danny De Vito, this one's a touch on the short side. But what's there is pretty decent with an air of suspense.
Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream 5+ 猸�'s -
The absolute star of the show. This one is worth the price of admission alone. It just has everything I look for in a King story. Suspense, great characters, a little bit of the supernatural and a touch of emotion all wrapped up in a gripping tale. Yeah, I liked it quite a bit.
So what's this one about? Guess what? It starts with Danny Coughlin having a bad dream. One that shows him a location that's going to send him on a wild journey. He's your average working man, but his life is going to get anything but average. I honestly want to tell you what happens in this one, because it's so f'in good. But I won't, so pop along a read it right now!
Finn 3.75 猸�'s -
I remember this one originally appeared on something called Scribd. But having absolutely no idea what that is I never got round to reading it. So believe you me, I was chuffed to see it appear in this collection.
It's about a ridiculously unlucky teenager called Finn, who is on his way home when he predictably lands himself bang in trouble. Talk about wrong place, wrong time!
There's a lot of people who say King doesn't know how to finish a story, and to be honest, sometimes that's true. I guess it comes with his style of not beginning with the end in mind and just seeing where the story takes him. Like here for instance. It did loose it's way a bit toward the end and fizzled out.
However I loved the idea for this character and would love to see him in a feature novel. Rather than another Holly Gibney yarn. Another one of those planned apparently...bugger!
On Slide Inn Road 4.25 猸�'s -
This one was really good and for me delivered on the darker part of the books title.
Grandpa's family is driving to听Derry, Maine, to visit his sister,听when they take a detour down "Slide Inn Road." With this being a horror story they should have known better. We all know how these detours end up...badly.
Grandpa is foul mouthed, not politically correct and a giant pain in the ass as far as his son is concerned. But boy are they happy to have him along for the ride. A good reminder not to discount the elderly simply because they seem out of touch.
Red Screen 4 猸�' s-
This one is brief and a little bit on the vague side...but that doesn't put me off and I ended up really liking it.
It follows a detective who's been having marriage trouble. And he's talking to a prisoner who confessed to killing his wife. But the reason is shocking! Could it be true? Guess you're going to find out.
It's short but pretty intense. A bit like a night with yours truly. At least that's what I like to tell myself.
The Turbulence Expert 3 猸�'s -
Probably my least favourite of the bunch. I'm not going to lie, it's a great idea. But it just fell a little bit flat.
It starts with a guy getting a mysterious phone call about a job he wants no part of but is railroaded into taking. He ends up taking a flight, and guess what? There's going to be some turbulence.
This one definitely could have done with being expanded on. I finished with the feeling of "is that it?" A crying shame because the potential was definitely there.
Laurie 3.75 猸�'s -
More sentimental than dark, which isn't usually my cup of tea. But it was a well written and fairly enjoyable yarn.
It chronicles an aging widower, who receives a new canine companion when his sister thinks it's the perfect antidote for his loneliness. At first he's far from impressed but a reluctant bond begins to form that blossoms into a heart warming friendship. For those of you that have hearts anyway.
It's a nice story, but I'm not here for the nice stories. Plus I'm not a huge fan of dogs like everyone else seems to be. Including Stephen King. Which is why this story is included.
Thats not saying I didn't enjoy it. But it certainly didn't blow my socks off. Or even my shoes for that matter.
Rattlesnake 4 猸�'s -
This one's a sequel to another classic King story. Should I tell you what it is? I'll give you a clue and say it was one of those set in his fictional town of Castle Rock. This one isn't though and takes place in Florida.
We follow Vic, who is looking to move on from past trouble while looking after an old friend's condo. It's set in 2020 and of course everything is in lockdown. The place is like a ghost town. But despite this Vic meets Allie Bell, a haunted woman who lives nearby. She has a bizarre habit involving the empty pram she pushes about. One that's going to get hold of Vic's life.
It's tinged with sadness, with grief playing a big role. I'd have almost certainly scored it a little higher if it weren't for King's obsession with Covid running away with itself and distracting me from the main story at times.
The Dreamers 5 猸�'s -
This was a goody. One of the darkest and most disturbing in the collection, with some fantastic imagery.
A Vietnam veteran answers a job advertisement from the local rag involving conducting experiments with an affluent scientist. And what exactly are these experiments? Are you sure you really want to know?
The vet soon learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored as things are about to get a touch terrifying. This one could have been plucked straight out of the brain of HP Lovecraft. I loved it.
The Answer Man 5 猸�'s -
So this collection finishes strongly with two bangers. Going out on a high is always a good idea. But where The Dreamers had you by the throat this one pulls at the heart strings just a little bit and really gets you thinking.
A lawyer finds himself at a number of crossroads in his life, and just at those very moments a strange guy shows up to answer any questions he may have. And he has some big ones. But are you better not knowing some things?
It's filled with tragedy, while still having a sense of hope. Can a life still have meaning when awful events come about? It's a fantastic story and a perfect way to end the collection.
The Writing
It's Stephen King. Of course the writing is bloody excellent. It's just so bloody effortless, while perfectly painting the picture my little brain needed to visualise these excellent stories. Honestly, this guy doesn't get enough credit amongst those snooty expert critics for how good he really is. But I digress. I could literally go on all day about it, but I've already talked enough. And my fingers are sore from all this typing.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, my reading performance has been absolutely diabolical in 2024. You know how it is when you have a lot of stuff going on with work and the family? Nothing negative, just not having a lot of free time to site down and read a good book.
But I found myself making time for You Like it Darker. It was so bloody good. Best book I've read this year? Absolutely no doubt in my mind. It reminded me why I'm such a big fan of the King.
It really is a sumptuous collection of short stories from one of the masters of horror and short fiction. Did you really expect anything else?
Yes it does get dark at times, but not in a full on, balls to the wall way. It's certainly nowhere near the grimmest he's written. I'd go Pet Semetary for that. But it fully delivered on the suspense and fantastically written characters I was looking for.
For me it contains some of King's best short stories. All of them are good but some are fantastic. Absolute belters. You'd be a fool to pass this one up. So you know what to do. In fact, why aren't you in that book shop right now?
Thanks for read and....cheers!
April 23, 2025
猸愶笍 猸愶笍 猸愶笍 猸愶笍
Like a warm blanket on chilled flesh, King once again provides solace to an aching soul. This is just what I needed at this moment, and this stands out as one of his stronger short story/novella collections 鈥� maybe his best since Everything鈥檚 Eventual.
Although not entirely congruous with its title, most of these stories were not in fact of a dark nature, but rather they were of a literary, introspective inclination.
Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream is the standout among the bunch, but there are some incredibly memorable stories that can stand their ground among King鈥檚 best. Here is the definitive ranking, and I will accept no other order:
1. Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream
2. The Dreamers
3. The Answer Man
4. Willie the Weirdo
5. Rattlesnakes
6. Two Talented Bastids
7. The Fifth Step
8. Finn
9. Red Screen
10. Laurie
11. On Slide Inn Road
12. The Turbulence Expert
And now we count down the days to Never Flinch鈥�
Like a warm blanket on chilled flesh, King once again provides solace to an aching soul. This is just what I needed at this moment, and this stands out as one of his stronger short story/novella collections 鈥� maybe his best since Everything鈥檚 Eventual.
Although not entirely congruous with its title, most of these stories were not in fact of a dark nature, but rather they were of a literary, introspective inclination.
Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream is the standout among the bunch, but there are some incredibly memorable stories that can stand their ground among King鈥檚 best. Here is the definitive ranking, and I will accept no other order:
1. Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream
2. The Dreamers
3. The Answer Man
4. Willie the Weirdo
5. Rattlesnakes
6. Two Talented Bastids
7. The Fifth Step
8. Finn
9. Red Screen
10. Laurie
11. On Slide Inn Road
12. The Turbulence Expert
And now we count down the days to Never Flinch鈥�
Read
May 29, 2024My story by story review and discussion with guest Jaime en Fuego:
Probably my favorite short story collection from King since all the way back to Nightmares & Dreamscapes. So happy to see him get away from Holly and more crime/detective stories. This almost feels like a return to form.
Probably my favorite short story collection from King since all the way back to Nightmares & Dreamscapes. So happy to see him get away from Holly and more crime/detective stories. This almost feels like a return to form.
March 12, 2025
Stephen King鈥檚 "You Like It Darker" is a masterful collection of twelve short stories that delves deep into the unsettling corners of life, blending themes of fate, mortality, and the uncanny twists of reality. True to its title, the anthology embraces the shadows, exploring both literal and metaphorical darkness in ways that only King can deliver. Each story offers its own unique brand of intrigue and horror, ranging from slow-burning mysteries to fast-paced tales that grip you from the first page. Whether you鈥檙e a seasoned Constant Reader or a newcomer, this anthology provides a thrilling showcase of why King remains one of the greatest storytellers of our time.
The standout stories include "Rattlesnakes," a chilling sequel to Cujo, which revisits the haunting aftermath of the original and expands on its terrifying legacy, and "Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream," a gripping tale of psychic visions and their devastating ripple effects. "The Answer Man" delivers a poignant exploration of prescience, tragedy, and the weight of difficult choices, leaving a lasting emotional impact. Meanwhile, "Two Talented Bastids" kicks off the collection with an engaging blend of small-town charm and an undercurrent of otherworldly mystery.
One of the collection鈥檚 greatest strengths is King鈥檚 ability to craft complex, unforgettable characters, even in short form. Readers will find themselves immersed in their struggles, fears, and quiet moments of hope. The stories are peppered with references to King鈥檚 expansive universe鈥擠erry, Maine, The Suicide Stairs from Gwendy鈥檚 Button Box, and more鈥攚hich offer delightful Easter eggs for longtime fans while standing firmly on their own for new readers.
Beyond the scares, these stories tackle heavy themes like grief, addiction, and aging, making them deeply relatable and emotionally resonant. King鈥檚 exploration of the human condition feels more poignant than ever, offering moments of reflection amidst the suspense and terror. With its blend of riveting storytelling, sharp twists, and King鈥檚 unmistakable voice, "You Like It Darker" is a must-read. It鈥檚 not just a collection of stories; it鈥檚 a reminder of the enduring power of storytelling to transport us, terrify us, and, ultimately, bring us closer to understanding ourselves. A triumph from start to finish, this anthology is a gift for Constant Readers and a testament to King鈥檚 unmatched legacy in literature.
The standout stories include "Rattlesnakes," a chilling sequel to Cujo, which revisits the haunting aftermath of the original and expands on its terrifying legacy, and "Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream," a gripping tale of psychic visions and their devastating ripple effects. "The Answer Man" delivers a poignant exploration of prescience, tragedy, and the weight of difficult choices, leaving a lasting emotional impact. Meanwhile, "Two Talented Bastids" kicks off the collection with an engaging blend of small-town charm and an undercurrent of otherworldly mystery.
One of the collection鈥檚 greatest strengths is King鈥檚 ability to craft complex, unforgettable characters, even in short form. Readers will find themselves immersed in their struggles, fears, and quiet moments of hope. The stories are peppered with references to King鈥檚 expansive universe鈥擠erry, Maine, The Suicide Stairs from Gwendy鈥檚 Button Box, and more鈥攚hich offer delightful Easter eggs for longtime fans while standing firmly on their own for new readers.
Beyond the scares, these stories tackle heavy themes like grief, addiction, and aging, making them deeply relatable and emotionally resonant. King鈥檚 exploration of the human condition feels more poignant than ever, offering moments of reflection amidst the suspense and terror. With its blend of riveting storytelling, sharp twists, and King鈥檚 unmistakable voice, "You Like It Darker" is a must-read. It鈥檚 not just a collection of stories; it鈥檚 a reminder of the enduring power of storytelling to transport us, terrify us, and, ultimately, bring us closer to understanding ourselves. A triumph from start to finish, this anthology is a gift for Constant Readers and a testament to King鈥檚 unmatched legacy in literature.
April 5, 2025
i don't think a single one of these short stories had a decent ending. i don't understand how one can be considered the king of a genre if they can't write endings.
May 30, 2024
I've been a Stephen King fan for a long, long time & although I haven't enjoyed much of his recent work I found You Like It Darker to be one of the best things he's written in years.
These twelve short stories (some of them are quite long!) open with the superb Two Talented Bastids, which is a wonderful mix of small town life & science fiction.
I won't go over each story here, as I'm sure my fellow readers will have already done this & far better than I could ever manage. All I will say is that there is one weak story in this collection, while the rest of them are nothing short of excellent. This really is old school writing from Stephen King, with excellent characterisation & tales that you can completely absorb yourself in. For me reading these King stories was an absolute joy....just like the old days!
These twelve short stories (some of them are quite long!) open with the superb Two Talented Bastids, which is a wonderful mix of small town life & science fiction.
I won't go over each story here, as I'm sure my fellow readers will have already done this & far better than I could ever manage. All I will say is that there is one weak story in this collection, while the rest of them are nothing short of excellent. This really is old school writing from Stephen King, with excellent characterisation & tales that you can completely absorb yourself in. For me reading these King stories was an absolute joy....just like the old days!
May 26, 2024
A decent collection of King鈥檚 short fiction. A few standouts (Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream, The Dreamers, The Fifth Step, On Slide Inn Road), others not so much.
Two Talented Bastids- considering the title, I expected the first story in this collection to be much darker (or at least somewhat dark). Nope, no darkness here. What do have is a very interesting tale of a young man discovering his father鈥檚 long held secret. Thoughtful and intriguing, it will grip you and have you reading straight to the end. Unfortunately, it is dated with references to Trump and Covid, but that is expected with King鈥檚 unending obsession with both.
The Fifth Step - here we go! This one is short, quick, and dark! This鈥檒l teach ya to talk to strangers.
Willie the Weirdo - all families have their secrets. Some are darker than others, this family鈥檚 is one of the darkest. This one鈥檒l have you guessing where it鈥檚 leading as you learn more and more of the family dynamics.
Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream- one of the best so far. Full of tension, mystery and dread. This one sucks you in from the beginning wondering where it鈥檚 going to lead and you know it鈥檚 going to take you someplace dark. A few Covid mentions throughout seem pointless except to feed King鈥檚 obsession. Overall it鈥檚 a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Finn- a story of a kid with bad luck. Not really sure what the point of this one is but at least it鈥檚 short. One Covid reference for those keeping track. :)
On Slide Inn Road - a shortcut takes a dark turn for a family road trip.
Red Screen - a detective鈥檚 interview with a man who killed his wife ends up having dark consequences for his own marriage. One random Covid comment seemingly thrown into the story for no reason.
The Turbulence Expert - I鈥檒l be checking out the middle seat off the starboard wing side of the plane next time I鈥檓 flying鈥�
Laurie - a grieving man receives a dog and has a very dark encounter. Interesting short story but doesn鈥檛 really seem to have a point.
Rattlesnakes- the sequel to Cujo. Probably the reason so many were interested in this collection. It does have some truly creepy moments. However, the references to Cujo seem to be added after the fact as well as the various mentions of Covid. Neither were needed for the story. Honestly it would have been better without either.
The Dreamers - this seemed very reminiscent of those 80鈥檚 horror films starring Jeffrey Combs based on Lovecraft tales. Specifically, The Beyond. I wouldn鈥檛 doubt that this will soon be optioned for a movie, if not already.
The Answer Man - an interesting story. What if you could get answers to any question you asked. What would you ask and why? All in all a very melancholy ending to the collection.
Two Talented Bastids- considering the title, I expected the first story in this collection to be much darker (or at least somewhat dark). Nope, no darkness here. What do have is a very interesting tale of a young man discovering his father鈥檚 long held secret. Thoughtful and intriguing, it will grip you and have you reading straight to the end. Unfortunately, it is dated with references to Trump and Covid, but that is expected with King鈥檚 unending obsession with both.
The Fifth Step - here we go! This one is short, quick, and dark! This鈥檒l teach ya to talk to strangers.
Willie the Weirdo - all families have their secrets. Some are darker than others, this family鈥檚 is one of the darkest. This one鈥檒l have you guessing where it鈥檚 leading as you learn more and more of the family dynamics.
Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream- one of the best so far. Full of tension, mystery and dread. This one sucks you in from the beginning wondering where it鈥檚 going to lead and you know it鈥檚 going to take you someplace dark. A few Covid mentions throughout seem pointless except to feed King鈥檚 obsession. Overall it鈥檚 a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Finn- a story of a kid with bad luck. Not really sure what the point of this one is but at least it鈥檚 short. One Covid reference for those keeping track. :)
On Slide Inn Road - a shortcut takes a dark turn for a family road trip.
Red Screen - a detective鈥檚 interview with a man who killed his wife ends up having dark consequences for his own marriage. One random Covid comment seemingly thrown into the story for no reason.
The Turbulence Expert - I鈥檒l be checking out the middle seat off the starboard wing side of the plane next time I鈥檓 flying鈥�
Laurie - a grieving man receives a dog and has a very dark encounter. Interesting short story but doesn鈥檛 really seem to have a point.
Rattlesnakes- the sequel to Cujo. Probably the reason so many were interested in this collection. It does have some truly creepy moments. However, the references to Cujo seem to be added after the fact as well as the various mentions of Covid. Neither were needed for the story. Honestly it would have been better without either.
The Dreamers - this seemed very reminiscent of those 80鈥檚 horror films starring Jeffrey Combs based on Lovecraft tales. Specifically, The Beyond. I wouldn鈥檛 doubt that this will soon be optioned for a movie, if not already.
The Answer Man - an interesting story. What if you could get answers to any question you asked. What would you ask and why? All in all a very melancholy ending to the collection.
December 5, 2024
12/5/2024 addendum: Winner of the 2024 欧宝娱乐 Choice Award for Best Horror
I have found, as I get older, that what I found scary in my childhood is not what I find scary in my 50s. I realize that this is simply a part of maturity and aging. This is not to say that childhood fears ever go away. They simply change.
Stephen King鈥檚 latest book of short stories, 鈥淵ou Like It Darker鈥�, illustrates this point wonderfully.
King鈥檚 early books of stories (鈥淣ight Shift鈥�, 鈥淪keleton Crew鈥�, 鈥淣ightmares and Dreamscapes鈥�) were exciting exercises in horror: things that lurk under beds, shapes in the shadows, haunted objects, creatures that have no right to exist in real life. Most of the stories were the literary equivalent of cinematic jump scares. It鈥檚 the cat leaping out of a closet. It鈥檚 the figure rising from behind the couch as the babysitter blithely watches TV. It鈥檚 the (insert here: rabid dog/possessed car/killer washing machine) that the hero must confront in the end.
And, as anybody who loves horror movies knows, jump scares are great. But they aren鈥檛 very fulfilling. They get the blood flowing, sure, but they don鈥檛 linger in the subconscious the way true horror does. True horror is often subtle. It鈥檚 often more nuanced. It sneaks up on you, like old age.
The stories in 鈥淵ou Like it Darker鈥� are like that.
Take, for example, 鈥淒anny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream鈥�, the book鈥檚 longest (let鈥檚 be honest: this is definitely more of a novella than a short, but whatevs) and perhaps best story. In this story, Danny, an ordinary man, has an extraordinary psychic flash鈥�-his first and only. He has a vision of a dead body and where it is buried. He decides to do the right thing and takes the info to the police. It turns out to be completely accurate. Unfortunately, the police now consider him the prime suspect. One of the detectives becomes obsessive in his quest to find evidence to convict Danny, beyond all reason. Now, Danny鈥檚 good samaritan deed is biting him in the ass as the psychotic detective slowly but surely destroys his life.
I鈥檒l be honest: if I had read this story thirty years ago, I probably wouldn鈥檛 have liked it. There is nothing really supernatural or scary about the story, other than the psychic flash, and that happens in the very beginning. It鈥檚 basically a noir thriller about an innocent guy being pursued by a psycho, who happens to be a cop.
But I wasn鈥檛 really smart thirty years ago. Or, rather, my 20-something-year-old mind hadn鈥檛 fully developed. I was interested in self-gratification and the NOW. You don鈥檛 fully develop a sense of empathy and a worry for the future until you鈥檙e about my age. Hell, some people never develop it.
Danny鈥檚 story is terrifying鈥�-moreso at age 50 than 20-something鈥�-because it works on the adult fears of aging: what have I done with my life? What kind of legacy am I leaving my kids? How do I know that what I鈥檓 doing is the right thing? You know: stuff a 20-something-year-old doesn鈥檛 give two shits about.
And King tackles these themes in several stories throughout the collection.
Standouts:
鈥淟aurie鈥�: in which a widower who has given up on life finds hope in a new puppy.
鈥淥n Slide Inn Road鈥�: in which a disastrous family road trip is saved by the quick thinking of the only member of the family that nobody would have ever expected to be heroic鈥�-grandpa.
鈥淩attlesnakes鈥�: a sequel to 鈥淐ujo鈥�, in which the father who lost his son so many years ago to a rabid dog, is forced to deal with the ghosts of two other dead children who have latched on to his loneliness.
Don鈥檛 get me wrong: I loved the other stories in this collection, too. And King still does a great job with those jump scares. But it鈥檚 clear that King鈥檚 fears have turned away from the childish fears of youth to the more nuanced and dread-filled horrors of those of us who worry less and less about the minor scares in life and more about the kind of world we鈥檙e leaving for our children.
I have found, as I get older, that what I found scary in my childhood is not what I find scary in my 50s. I realize that this is simply a part of maturity and aging. This is not to say that childhood fears ever go away. They simply change.
Stephen King鈥檚 latest book of short stories, 鈥淵ou Like It Darker鈥�, illustrates this point wonderfully.
King鈥檚 early books of stories (鈥淣ight Shift鈥�, 鈥淪keleton Crew鈥�, 鈥淣ightmares and Dreamscapes鈥�) were exciting exercises in horror: things that lurk under beds, shapes in the shadows, haunted objects, creatures that have no right to exist in real life. Most of the stories were the literary equivalent of cinematic jump scares. It鈥檚 the cat leaping out of a closet. It鈥檚 the figure rising from behind the couch as the babysitter blithely watches TV. It鈥檚 the (insert here: rabid dog/possessed car/killer washing machine) that the hero must confront in the end.
And, as anybody who loves horror movies knows, jump scares are great. But they aren鈥檛 very fulfilling. They get the blood flowing, sure, but they don鈥檛 linger in the subconscious the way true horror does. True horror is often subtle. It鈥檚 often more nuanced. It sneaks up on you, like old age.
The stories in 鈥淵ou Like it Darker鈥� are like that.
Take, for example, 鈥淒anny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream鈥�, the book鈥檚 longest (let鈥檚 be honest: this is definitely more of a novella than a short, but whatevs) and perhaps best story. In this story, Danny, an ordinary man, has an extraordinary psychic flash鈥�-his first and only. He has a vision of a dead body and where it is buried. He decides to do the right thing and takes the info to the police. It turns out to be completely accurate. Unfortunately, the police now consider him the prime suspect. One of the detectives becomes obsessive in his quest to find evidence to convict Danny, beyond all reason. Now, Danny鈥檚 good samaritan deed is biting him in the ass as the psychotic detective slowly but surely destroys his life.
I鈥檒l be honest: if I had read this story thirty years ago, I probably wouldn鈥檛 have liked it. There is nothing really supernatural or scary about the story, other than the psychic flash, and that happens in the very beginning. It鈥檚 basically a noir thriller about an innocent guy being pursued by a psycho, who happens to be a cop.
But I wasn鈥檛 really smart thirty years ago. Or, rather, my 20-something-year-old mind hadn鈥檛 fully developed. I was interested in self-gratification and the NOW. You don鈥檛 fully develop a sense of empathy and a worry for the future until you鈥檙e about my age. Hell, some people never develop it.
Danny鈥檚 story is terrifying鈥�-moreso at age 50 than 20-something鈥�-because it works on the adult fears of aging: what have I done with my life? What kind of legacy am I leaving my kids? How do I know that what I鈥檓 doing is the right thing? You know: stuff a 20-something-year-old doesn鈥檛 give two shits about.
And King tackles these themes in several stories throughout the collection.
Standouts:
鈥淟aurie鈥�: in which a widower who has given up on life finds hope in a new puppy.
鈥淥n Slide Inn Road鈥�: in which a disastrous family road trip is saved by the quick thinking of the only member of the family that nobody would have ever expected to be heroic鈥�-grandpa.
鈥淩attlesnakes鈥�: a sequel to 鈥淐ujo鈥�, in which the father who lost his son so many years ago to a rabid dog, is forced to deal with the ghosts of two other dead children who have latched on to his loneliness.
Don鈥檛 get me wrong: I loved the other stories in this collection, too. And King still does a great job with those jump scares. But it鈥檚 clear that King鈥檚 fears have turned away from the childish fears of youth to the more nuanced and dread-filled horrors of those of us who worry less and less about the minor scares in life and more about the kind of world we鈥檙e leaving for our children.
July 25, 2024
BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed -
My personal BookTube channel -
The more King the better, so I dived into his latest release, You Like It Darker! It delivers on its title....
This is a fantastic short story collection. Stephen King still has it, and he demonstrates that seemingly with ease. His skill at crafting character and tension is just wonderful, from terrifying people who could be real in Willie the Weirdo, to exploring the supernatural with Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream, there is such an array of intriguing and engaging stories.
There was only one that did not click with me, whilst all the rest were so enjoyable in different ways.
Short story collections are perfect for dipping into when you have time, or when you want a little break from longer stories, and in You Like it Darker, King gives quality aplenty that you can dive into.
4.5/5 STARS
My personal BookTube channel -
The more King the better, so I dived into his latest release, You Like It Darker! It delivers on its title....
This is a fantastic short story collection. Stephen King still has it, and he demonstrates that seemingly with ease. His skill at crafting character and tension is just wonderful, from terrifying people who could be real in Willie the Weirdo, to exploring the supernatural with Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream, there is such an array of intriguing and engaging stories.
There was only one that did not click with me, whilst all the rest were so enjoyable in different ways.
Short story collections are perfect for dipping into when you have time, or when you want a little break from longer stories, and in You Like it Darker, King gives quality aplenty that you can dive into.
4.5/5 STARS
Want to read
May 29, 2024This gets cool points simply for being a reference to that .
June 7, 2024
4.5
This is a collection of 12 stories:
Two Talented Bastids 4 猸�
No violins. Until there was a whole orchestra.
How did a couple of country men living their simple country lives become an overnight success.
The Fifth Step 5 猸�
Never talk to strangers!
Willie The Weirdo 5 猸�
A blood chilling story about a strange boy who loves to study dead birds and has collections of dead bugs.
Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream 4 猸�
No good deed goes unpunished.
Finn 4 猸�
Is it a case of mistaken identity or something more sinister?
On Slide Inn Road 4 猸�
A road trip gone wrong.
Red Screen 5 猸�
The Exorcist or the Invasion of the Body Snatchers?
The Turbulence Expert 3 猸�
Do not read this if you intend to travel by air!
Laurie 4 猸�
Should he keep the puppy or not?
Rattlesnakes 5 猸�
See us. Roll us. Dress us.
This one was creepy as hell!
The Dreamers 4 猸�
Beware of dreams! They鈥檙e dangerous!
The Answer Man 5 猸�
Tempus fugit
A melancholic story!
This is a collection of 12 stories:
Two Talented Bastids 4 猸�
No violins. Until there was a whole orchestra.
How did a couple of country men living their simple country lives become an overnight success.
The Fifth Step 5 猸�
Never talk to strangers!
Willie The Weirdo 5 猸�
A blood chilling story about a strange boy who loves to study dead birds and has collections of dead bugs.
Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream 4 猸�
No good deed goes unpunished.
Finn 4 猸�
Is it a case of mistaken identity or something more sinister?
On Slide Inn Road 4 猸�
A road trip gone wrong.
Red Screen 5 猸�
The Exorcist or the Invasion of the Body Snatchers?
The Turbulence Expert 3 猸�
Do not read this if you intend to travel by air!
Laurie 4 猸�
Should he keep the puppy or not?
Rattlesnakes 5 猸�
See us. Roll us. Dress us.
This one was creepy as hell!
The Dreamers 4 猸�
Beware of dreams! They鈥檙e dangerous!
The Answer Man 5 猸�
Tempus fugit
A melancholic story!
October 20, 2024
this was a pretty solid short story collection overall. usually there鈥檚 a couple stories that i won鈥檛 like but in this one they were all 3 stars or above so can鈥檛 complain. there were a couple stories in here that connected to some of King鈥檚 other previously published works and a few brand new ones. im glad i read this!
top 4 stories: the fifth step, willie the weirdo, danny coughlin鈥檚 bad dream and red screen
top 4 stories: the fifth step, willie the weirdo, danny coughlin鈥檚 bad dream and red screen
April 17, 2025
鈥炐犘靶沸毙秆€邪褕 谢懈 泻邪泻胁芯 懈屑邪屑 锌褉械写胁懈写, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 泻邪蟹胁邪屑, 褔械 械 谢械褋薪芯 写邪 蟹邪写邪胁邪褕 胁褗锌褉芯褋懈, 泻芯懈褌芯 薪械 锌芯屑邪谐邪褌 蟹邪 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪薪械褌芯? 孝械 芯斜械蟹褑械薪褟胁邪褌 褑械谢懈褟 锌褉芯褑械褋 薪邪 锌懈褌邪薪械褌芯, 薪邪谢懈? 袧邪 蟹邪写褗谢斜邪胁邪薪械褌芯 胁褗胁 胁褗锌褉芯褋懈褌械.鈥�
鈥炐バ把€械褋胁邪褌械 谐芯 锌芯-屑褉邪褔薪芯鈥� 械 锌芯褉械写薪懈褟褌 锌褉械胁褗蟹褏芯写械薪 褋斜芯褉薪懈泻 薪邪 小褌懈胁褗薪 袣懈薪谐! 孝胁芯褉斜懈褌械 胁 薪械谐芯 褋邪 屑薪芯谐芯 褋懈谢薪懈 懈 屑褉邪褔薪懈, 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉邪褌邪 芯锌褉械写械谢械薪芯 械 褌褟谐芯褋褌薪邪, 芯斜邪褔械 褋褗褖械胁褉械屑械薪薪芯 褋邪 褋褌褉邪褕薪芯 褍胁谢械泻邪褌械谢薪芯 锌芯写薪械褋械薪懈... 效懈褔芯 小褌懈胁懈 芯褌薪芯胁芯 懈 芯褖械 锌芯-褍斜械写懈褌械谢薪芯 褋械 械 褍褌胁褗褉写懈谢 泻邪褌芯 械写懈薪 芯褌 薪邪泄-胁械谢懈泻懈褌械 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉懈 薪邪 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹懈褌械 懈 薪芯胁械谢懈褌械, 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹胁邪泄泻懈 褟褉泻懈 懈 蟹邪锌芯屑薪褟褖懈 褋械 泻褉邪褌泻懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈 褋 褍屑械褉械薪懈, 薪芯 懈 薪械蟹邪斜褉邪胁懈屑懈 褋胁褉褗褏械褋褌械褋褌胁械薪懈 械谢械屑械薪褌懈.
袗斜褋芯谢褞褌械薪 褎邪胁芯褉懈褌 芯褌 薪芯胁械谢懈褌械 屑懈 械 胁械谢懈泻芯谢械锌薪邪褌邪 鈥炐毿狙埿夹把€褗褌 薪邪 袛邪薪懈 袣芯褏谢懈薪鈥�! 袚谢邪胁薪懈褟褌 谐械褉芯泄 胁 薪械褟 懈屑邪 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 褋褌褉邪薪械薪 褋褗薪, 泻芯泄褌芯 谐芯 胁褗胁谢懈褔邪 胁 褋褌褉邪褏芯胁懈褌懈 薪械锌褉懈褟褌薪芯褋褌懈... 鈥炐斝残� 褌邪谢邪薪褌谢懈胁懈 泻芯锌械谢械褌邪鈥� 懈 鈥炐撗娧€屑褟褖懈褌械 蟹屑懈懈鈥� 褋褗褖芯 褋械 芯泻邪蟹邪褏邪 芯褌谢懈褔薪芯 懈蟹谐褉邪写械薪懈 懈 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖懈 薪芯胁械谢懈. 袙 械写薪邪褌邪 锌芯褋褌械锌械薪薪芯 褋械 褉邪蟹泻褉懈胁邪 屑懈褋褌械褉懈褟褌邪 泻邪泻 写胁械 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈 屑芯屑褔械褌邪 褋邪 褋械 锌褉械胁褗褉薪邪谢懈 胁 写芯褋褌邪 褍褋锌械褕薪懈 锌懈褋邪褌械谢 懈 褏褍写芯卸薪懈泻, 邪 锌褗泻 胁 写褉褍谐邪褌邪 谐谢邪胁薪懈褟褌 谐械褉芯泄 褋械 锌褉械屑械褋褌胁邪 写邪 卸懈胁械械 胁褗胁 肖谢芯褉懈写邪, 泻褗写械褌芯 谐芯 芯褔邪泻胁邪 薪邪锌褉械谐薪邪褌邪 褋胁褉褗褏械褋褌械褋褌胁械薪邪 蟹邪谐邪写泻邪... 袙褗锌褉械泻懈 褔械 褋械 褟胁褟胁邪 锌褉芯写褗谢卸械薪懈械 薪邪 鈥炐氀冃葱缎锯€�, 鈥炐撗娧€屑褟褖懈褌械 蟹屑懈懈鈥� 褋锌芯泻芯泄薪芯 屑芯卸械 写邪 褋械 锌褉芯褔械褌械 褋邪屑芯褋褌芯褟褌械谢薪芯, 邪 懈 屑懈 褋械 褋褌褉褍胁邪 屑薪芯谐芯 锌芯-写芯斜褉邪 芯褌 褉芯屑邪薪邪. 袥褞斜懈屑懈褟褌 屑懈 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹 械 鈥炐拘残敌貉娧� 芯褌谐芯胁芯褉鈥�, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 褍屑械谢芯 褋邪 锌芯胁写懈谐薪邪褌懈 屑薪芯谐芯 蟹薪邪褔懈屑懈 褌械屑懈 蟹邪 褉邪蟹屑懈褋褗谢, 邪 锌褗泻 鈥炐澬� 小谢邪泄写 袠薪 袪芯褍写鈥� 懈 鈥炐⊙娦窖冃残把壭秆傂碘€� 褋褗褖芯 褋懈谢薪芯 屑械 胁锌械褔邪褌谢懈褏邪!
鈥炐⑿拘� 褋械 褉邪蟹褋屑褟, 锌芯褋谢械 锌芯谐谢械写薪邪 懈蟹薪械薪邪写邪薪芯... 褋褟泻邪褕 薪械 斜械褕械 蟹薪邪械谢, 褔械 屑芯卸械 写邪 褋械 褋屑械械.
- 袧械 屑芯卸械 写邪 胁懈 斜褗写械 写邪写械薪芯 薪械褖芯, 泻芯械褌芯 薪械 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪 胁褗褌褉械 胁褗胁 胁邪褋. 孝芯胁邪 械 邪泻褋懈芯屑邪.鈥�
鈥炐犘靶沸盒靶沸残� 懈屑 胁褋懈褔泻芯, 薪芯 薪械 屑芯卸械 写邪 锌褉械写邪写械 褟褋薪芯褌邪褌邪 薪邪 褋褗薪褟, 芯薪芯胁邪 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯 蟹邪 锌褗谢薪邪 褉械邪谢薪芯褋褌.鈥�
鈥�- 袧械 泻褉懈械褕 薪懈泻邪泻胁懈 锌褍褕泻懈, 薪邪谢懈, 写褟写泻邪? 鈥� 锌懈褌邪 袚械泄谢褗薪.
- 袧械, 褌械 褋邪 蟹邪 屑芯屑褔械褌邪 泻邪褌芯 胁邪褋...鈥�
鈥炐捬徰€薪芯 斜械褕械. 袠 褋 锌邪写邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 薪芯褖褌邪 褋褌械薪邪褌邪 屑械卸写褍 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻懈褌械 薪械褖邪 懈 褑褟谢邪褌邪 写褉褍谐邪 褉邪胁薪懈薪邪 薪邪 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪薪械 屑芯卸械 写邪 懈蟹褔械蟹薪械 薪邪锌褗谢薪芯.鈥�
鈥炐澬笛壭� 褋械 斜械褕械 褋谢褍褔懈谢芯 褋 屑械薪. 袘褟褏 褋褌邪薪邪谢 谢褞斜芯锌懈褌械薪. 孝芯胁邪 斜械褕械 械写薪芯胁褉械屑械薪薪芯 写芯斜褉械 写芯褕谢芯 懈 褋褌褉邪褏芯胁懈褌芯. 袘械褕械 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯, 邪 胁 屑芯褟 褋胁褟褌 褔褍胁褋褌胁邪褌邪 薪械 褋械 褋褉械褖邪褏邪 胁 懈蟹芯斜懈谢懈械.鈥�
鈥炐斞冄呅叫� 胁褟褌褗褉, 褍胁懈褋薪邪谢懈褌械 泻褉邪懈褖邪 薪邪 褔械褉胁械薪懈褟 褔邪写褗褉 蟹邪锌谢褞褖褟褏邪, 邪 锌褉芯褕邪褉械薪邪褌邪 泻芯褋邪 薪邪 效芯胁械泻邪 芯褌谐芯胁芯褉 褋械 褉邪蟹褉芯褕懈. 孝芯泄 锌芯谐谢械写薪邪 锌褍褋褌懈褟 锌褗褌 褋 写褗谢斜芯泻邪 屑械谢邪薪褏芯谢懈褟.
- 袝褋械薪褌邪 褋械 褌芯褔懈 斜邪胁薪芯 蟹邪 屑械薪, 邪 芯泻褌芯屑胁褉懈 械 薪邪泄-斜邪胁薪懈褟褌 屑械褋械褑 芯褌 胁褋懈褔泻懈. 袦懈褋谢褟, 褔械 锌褉械蟹 械褋械薪褌邪 锌芯胁械褔械 褏芯褉邪 褋邪 胁 褋褗褋褌芯褟薪懈械 褋邪屑懈 写邪 薪邪屑懈褉邪褌 芯褌谐芯胁芯褉懈褌械 薪邪 胁褗锌褉芯褋懈褌械 褋懈.鈥�
鈥炐バ把€械褋胁邪褌械 谐芯 锌芯-屑褉邪褔薪芯鈥� 械 锌芯褉械写薪懈褟褌 锌褉械胁褗蟹褏芯写械薪 褋斜芯褉薪懈泻 薪邪 小褌懈胁褗薪 袣懈薪谐! 孝胁芯褉斜懈褌械 胁 薪械谐芯 褋邪 屑薪芯谐芯 褋懈谢薪懈 懈 屑褉邪褔薪懈, 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉邪褌邪 芯锌褉械写械谢械薪芯 械 褌褟谐芯褋褌薪邪, 芯斜邪褔械 褋褗褖械胁褉械屑械薪薪芯 褋邪 褋褌褉邪褕薪芯 褍胁谢械泻邪褌械谢薪芯 锌芯写薪械褋械薪懈... 效懈褔芯 小褌懈胁懈 芯褌薪芯胁芯 懈 芯褖械 锌芯-褍斜械写懈褌械谢薪芯 褋械 械 褍褌胁褗褉写懈谢 泻邪褌芯 械写懈薪 芯褌 薪邪泄-胁械谢懈泻懈褌械 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉懈 薪邪 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹懈褌械 懈 薪芯胁械谢懈褌械, 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹胁邪泄泻懈 褟褉泻懈 懈 蟹邪锌芯屑薪褟褖懈 褋械 泻褉邪褌泻懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈懈 褋 褍屑械褉械薪懈, 薪芯 懈 薪械蟹邪斜褉邪胁懈屑懈 褋胁褉褗褏械褋褌械褋褌胁械薪懈 械谢械屑械薪褌懈.
袗斜褋芯谢褞褌械薪 褎邪胁芯褉懈褌 芯褌 薪芯胁械谢懈褌械 屑懈 械 胁械谢懈泻芯谢械锌薪邪褌邪 鈥炐毿狙埿夹把€褗褌 薪邪 袛邪薪懈 袣芯褏谢懈薪鈥�! 袚谢邪胁薪懈褟褌 谐械褉芯泄 胁 薪械褟 懈屑邪 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 褋褌褉邪薪械薪 褋褗薪, 泻芯泄褌芯 谐芯 胁褗胁谢懈褔邪 胁 褋褌褉邪褏芯胁懈褌懈 薪械锌褉懈褟褌薪芯褋褌懈... 鈥炐斝残� 褌邪谢邪薪褌谢懈胁懈 泻芯锌械谢械褌邪鈥� 懈 鈥炐撗娧€屑褟褖懈褌械 蟹屑懈懈鈥� 褋褗褖芯 褋械 芯泻邪蟹邪褏邪 芯褌谢懈褔薪芯 懈蟹谐褉邪写械薪懈 懈 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖懈 薪芯胁械谢懈. 袙 械写薪邪褌邪 锌芯褋褌械锌械薪薪芯 褋械 褉邪蟹泻褉懈胁邪 屑懈褋褌械褉懈褟褌邪 泻邪泻 写胁械 芯斜懈泻薪芯胁械薪懈 屑芯屑褔械褌邪 褋邪 褋械 锌褉械胁褗褉薪邪谢懈 胁 写芯褋褌邪 褍褋锌械褕薪懈 锌懈褋邪褌械谢 懈 褏褍写芯卸薪懈泻, 邪 锌褗泻 胁 写褉褍谐邪褌邪 谐谢邪胁薪懈褟褌 谐械褉芯泄 褋械 锌褉械屑械褋褌胁邪 写邪 卸懈胁械械 胁褗胁 肖谢芯褉懈写邪, 泻褗写械褌芯 谐芯 芯褔邪泻胁邪 薪邪锌褉械谐薪邪褌邪 褋胁褉褗褏械褋褌械褋褌胁械薪邪 蟹邪谐邪写泻邪... 袙褗锌褉械泻懈 褔械 褋械 褟胁褟胁邪 锌褉芯写褗谢卸械薪懈械 薪邪 鈥炐氀冃葱缎锯€�, 鈥炐撗娧€屑褟褖懈褌械 蟹屑懈懈鈥� 褋锌芯泻芯泄薪芯 屑芯卸械 写邪 褋械 锌褉芯褔械褌械 褋邪屑芯褋褌芯褟褌械谢薪芯, 邪 懈 屑懈 褋械 褋褌褉褍胁邪 屑薪芯谐芯 锌芯-写芯斜褉邪 芯褌 褉芯屑邪薪邪. 袥褞斜懈屑懈褟褌 屑懈 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹 械 鈥炐拘残敌貉娧� 芯褌谐芯胁芯褉鈥�, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 褍屑械谢芯 褋邪 锌芯胁写懈谐薪邪褌懈 屑薪芯谐芯 蟹薪邪褔懈屑懈 褌械屑懈 蟹邪 褉邪蟹屑懈褋褗谢, 邪 锌褗泻 鈥炐澬� 小谢邪泄写 袠薪 袪芯褍写鈥� 懈 鈥炐⊙娦窖冃残把壭秆傂碘€� 褋褗褖芯 褋懈谢薪芯 屑械 胁锌械褔邪褌谢懈褏邪!
鈥炐⑿拘� 褋械 褉邪蟹褋屑褟, 锌芯褋谢械 锌芯谐谢械写薪邪 懈蟹薪械薪邪写邪薪芯... 褋褟泻邪褕 薪械 斜械褕械 蟹薪邪械谢, 褔械 屑芯卸械 写邪 褋械 褋屑械械.
- 袧械 屑芯卸械 写邪 胁懈 斜褗写械 写邪写械薪芯 薪械褖芯, 泻芯械褌芯 薪械 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪 胁褗褌褉械 胁褗胁 胁邪褋. 孝芯胁邪 械 邪泻褋懈芯屑邪.鈥�
鈥炐犘靶沸盒靶沸残� 懈屑 胁褋懈褔泻芯, 薪芯 薪械 屑芯卸械 写邪 锌褉械写邪写械 褟褋薪芯褌邪褌邪 薪邪 褋褗薪褟, 芯薪芯胁邪 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯 蟹邪 锌褗谢薪邪 褉械邪谢薪芯褋褌.鈥�
鈥�- 袧械 泻褉懈械褕 薪懈泻邪泻胁懈 锌褍褕泻懈, 薪邪谢懈, 写褟写泻邪? 鈥� 锌懈褌邪 袚械泄谢褗薪.
- 袧械, 褌械 褋邪 蟹邪 屑芯屑褔械褌邪 泻邪褌芯 胁邪褋...鈥�
鈥炐捬徰€薪芯 斜械褕械. 袠 褋 锌邪写邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 薪芯褖褌邪 褋褌械薪邪褌邪 屑械卸写褍 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻懈褌械 薪械褖邪 懈 褑褟谢邪褌邪 写褉褍谐邪 褉邪胁薪懈薪邪 薪邪 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪薪械 屑芯卸械 写邪 懈蟹褔械蟹薪械 薪邪锌褗谢薪芯.鈥�
鈥炐澬笛壭� 褋械 斜械褕械 褋谢褍褔懈谢芯 褋 屑械薪. 袘褟褏 褋褌邪薪邪谢 谢褞斜芯锌懈褌械薪. 孝芯胁邪 斜械褕械 械写薪芯胁褉械屑械薪薪芯 写芯斜褉械 写芯褕谢芯 懈 褋褌褉邪褏芯胁懈褌芯. 袘械褕械 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯, 邪 胁 屑芯褟 褋胁褟褌 褔褍胁褋褌胁邪褌邪 薪械 褋械 褋褉械褖邪褏邪 胁 懈蟹芯斜懈谢懈械.鈥�
鈥炐斞冄呅叫� 胁褟褌褗褉, 褍胁懈褋薪邪谢懈褌械 泻褉邪懈褖邪 薪邪 褔械褉胁械薪懈褟 褔邪写褗褉 蟹邪锌谢褞褖褟褏邪, 邪 锌褉芯褕邪褉械薪邪褌邪 泻芯褋邪 薪邪 效芯胁械泻邪 芯褌谐芯胁芯褉 褋械 褉邪蟹褉芯褕懈. 孝芯泄 锌芯谐谢械写薪邪 锌褍褋褌懈褟 锌褗褌 褋 写褗谢斜芯泻邪 屑械谢邪薪褏芯谢懈褟.
- 袝褋械薪褌邪 褋械 褌芯褔懈 斜邪胁薪芯 蟹邪 屑械薪, 邪 芯泻褌芯屑胁褉懈 械 薪邪泄-斜邪胁薪懈褟褌 屑械褋械褑 芯褌 胁褋懈褔泻懈. 袦懈褋谢褟, 褔械 锌褉械蟹 械褋械薪褌邪 锌芯胁械褔械 褏芯褉邪 褋邪 胁 褋褗褋褌芯褟薪懈械 褋邪屑懈 写邪 薪邪屑懈褉邪褌 芯褌谐芯胁芯褉懈褌械 薪邪 胁褗锌褉芯褋懈褌械 褋懈.鈥�
January 17, 2025
To me this felt like Stephen King's 'I want to read his grocery list analogy' amazing writing but just things that entered his head vibes馃槀Most not for me X but overall it suited me alright x. There were some 5 馃専stories for me x Shame as I loved his recent short story analogy If It Bleeds x
Two Lucky Bastids 3 馃専
The Fifth Step 3馃専
Willie The Weirdo 3 馃専
Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream 3馃専
Finn 3.75
On Slide Inn Road 4 馃専
Red Screen 3 馃専
The Turbulence Expert 5 馃専
Laurie 5 馃専
Rattlesnake 3 馃専
The Dreamers 5 馃専
The Answerman 5 馃専
Two Lucky Bastids 3 馃専
The Fifth Step 3馃専
Willie The Weirdo 3 馃専
Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream 3馃専
Finn 3.75
On Slide Inn Road 4 馃専
Red Screen 3 馃専
The Turbulence Expert 5 馃専
Laurie 5 馃専
Rattlesnake 3 馃専
The Dreamers 5 馃専
The Answerman 5 馃専
August 8, 2024
Perhaps one of the most difficult things a writer faces when writing is not knowing whether the final product will get to their audience and achieve the desired outcome on it. Being a great fan of SK's books, I feel this new short stories book really fulfilled what was expected from it. It made me imagine, smile, fear, empathize, feel sad...and more.
It should be true that the first one to convince is oneself, the job of a writer is tough, even more so when what's been written is a work of fiction. But even if it's a work of fiction, it should all feel plausible by containing elements of true. A good writer must do their homework by doing research on what they are writing about so that when the book gets to their readers they can get to believe what their author has written for them.
This is the first book on short stories I've read this year, and I really loved it. Throughout 12 stories SK covers a diverse series of topics.
The ones I loved most were
- Two Talented Bastids
- Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream
- Laurie
- Rattlesnakes (Super fave)
- The Dreamers...and finally...
- The Answer Man
Rattlesnakes has been by far my most favorite story as it incorporates Vic Trenton 40 or so years later. In the past it was Donna (his wife) and Tad (his son) who lived such an ordeal when attacked by a rabid St. Bernard (Cujo). It is now his turn to face some horror of his own. Will he defeat whatever is coming his way?
But what about the other stories? Well, if you're really even a little interested, I'll let you be the judge to it by allowing you to read it and decide by yourself.
In my opinion SK did a superb job and left me with the feeling of having read one of the best books this year (already on my favorites list).
It should be true that the first one to convince is oneself, the job of a writer is tough, even more so when what's been written is a work of fiction. But even if it's a work of fiction, it should all feel plausible by containing elements of true. A good writer must do their homework by doing research on what they are writing about so that when the book gets to their readers they can get to believe what their author has written for them.
This is the first book on short stories I've read this year, and I really loved it. Throughout 12 stories SK covers a diverse series of topics.
The ones I loved most were
- Two Talented Bastids
- Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream
- Laurie
- Rattlesnakes (Super fave)
- The Dreamers...and finally...
- The Answer Man
Rattlesnakes has been by far my most favorite story as it incorporates Vic Trenton 40 or so years later. In the past it was Donna (his wife) and Tad (his son) who lived such an ordeal when attacked by a rabid St. Bernard (Cujo). It is now his turn to face some horror of his own. Will he defeat whatever is coming his way?
But what about the other stories? Well, if you're really even a little interested, I'll let you be the judge to it by allowing you to read it and decide by yourself.
In my opinion SK did a superb job and left me with the feeling of having read one of the best books this year (already on my favorites list).
October 26, 2024
Colecci贸n de 12 relatos cortos con el sello del maestro. Aunque no todos tienen el mismo nivel no me ha parecido malo ninguno. Los hay buenos, muy buenos y alguno algo m谩s flojo. Destaco "El mal sue帽o de Danny Coughlin", "Serpientes de cascabel" y "El hombre respuesta", los tres que m谩s me engancharon y que tienen ese toque tan personal, tan a lo King.
En uno de los 12, sus lectores habituales se reencontrar谩n con un personaje de una de sus novelas m谩s ic贸nicas. Me gust贸 ese reencuentro y por m谩s de un motivo. Imprescindible leer el ep铆logo/nota final del autor.
鉂囷笍 "Dos cabrones con talento". La idea est谩 bastante trillada, pero la manera en que construye a los personajes principales es de nota. Me gust贸 el final. 3,5猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "El quinto paso". Con toque de negra y criminal. El giro final me cogi贸 totalmente por sorpresa. 4猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Willy el friki". Me faltaron relato y final . Si King lo hubiera continuado habr铆a podido ser una gran novela. 2,5猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "El mal sue帽o de Danny Coughlin". Menudo enganche con este relato. No lo pod铆a soltar. Muy buena trama, buen desenlace y pedazo de personajes. 5猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Finn". El que me result贸 m谩s asfixiante. El final no me convenci贸. 3猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "En la carretera de Slide Inn". Tambi茅n con toque de negra. Bien resuelto y buen final. 4猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "La pantalla roja". Como en el primero de todos, la idea est谩 muy trillada. El relato es correcto sin m谩s. 3猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "El experto en turbulencias". Muy original. Me qued茅 con ganas de m谩s. 4猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Laurie". La cachorrita para com茅rsela. 4猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Serpientes de cascabel". Un relato con ese terror muy muy King. De los que m谩s me gustaron. 5猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Los so帽adores". De los que menos me gustaron, est谩 bien construido, pero no termin贸 de llegarme. 3猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Hombre respuesta". El m谩s original de todos. Otro que no pod铆a soltar. 5猸愶笍
En conclusi贸n, un conjunto de relatos con los que los lectores de King disfrutar谩n sin duda alguna. Para los menos fans o los que tienen problemas con el ritmo narrativo del maestro, recomiendo empezar por el cuarto relato, que es de los m谩s 谩giles y engancha cosa mala.
En uno de los 12, sus lectores habituales se reencontrar谩n con un personaje de una de sus novelas m谩s ic贸nicas. Me gust贸 ese reencuentro y por m谩s de un motivo. Imprescindible leer el ep铆logo/nota final del autor.
鉂囷笍 "Dos cabrones con talento". La idea est谩 bastante trillada, pero la manera en que construye a los personajes principales es de nota. Me gust贸 el final. 3,5猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "El quinto paso". Con toque de negra y criminal. El giro final me cogi贸 totalmente por sorpresa. 4猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Willy el friki". Me faltaron relato y final . Si King lo hubiera continuado habr铆a podido ser una gran novela. 2,5猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "El mal sue帽o de Danny Coughlin". Menudo enganche con este relato. No lo pod铆a soltar. Muy buena trama, buen desenlace y pedazo de personajes. 5猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Finn". El que me result贸 m谩s asfixiante. El final no me convenci贸. 3猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "En la carretera de Slide Inn". Tambi茅n con toque de negra. Bien resuelto y buen final. 4猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "La pantalla roja". Como en el primero de todos, la idea est谩 muy trillada. El relato es correcto sin m谩s. 3猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "El experto en turbulencias". Muy original. Me qued茅 con ganas de m谩s. 4猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Laurie". La cachorrita para com茅rsela. 4猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Serpientes de cascabel". Un relato con ese terror muy muy King. De los que m谩s me gustaron. 5猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Los so帽adores". De los que menos me gustaron, est谩 bien construido, pero no termin贸 de llegarme. 3猸愶笍
鉂囷笍 "Hombre respuesta". El m谩s original de todos. Otro que no pod铆a soltar. 5猸愶笍
En conclusi贸n, un conjunto de relatos con los que los lectores de King disfrutar谩n sin duda alguna. Para los menos fans o los que tienen problemas con el ritmo narrativo del maestro, recomiendo empezar por el cuarto relato, que es de los m谩s 谩giles y engancha cosa mala.
May 25, 2024
I'm pretty sure this is just a compilation of all of King's stories he decided weren't good enough and had laying around.
& The only dark thing about these stories is how bad they are. Goosebumps is darker.
& The only dark thing about these stories is how bad they are. Goosebumps is darker.
July 16, 2024
**July 7, 2024** I mentioned in my original review below that I might come back with a more thorough review and this is my addition. I've seen some grumblings about how this collection isn't "dark" at all, leaving some readers disappointed. I went into it with an open mind.
The word dark is open to so many different interpretations and expectations. In my opinion, an author can fill a story full of gore, body horror, disgusting and disturbing images. Does that make it darker? Maybe. It depends on the reader. I believe what Stephen King intended to be "darker" here dwelled on the themes of the stories. Let's look at those themes: aging, death, disease, fear, loss, mourning the loss of a loved one, or worse yet - mourning the loss of a child. Yeah. Those themes are all quite dark to me. I think You Like it Darker was plenty dark when taken from that perspective.
My rating will remain 4 out of 5 stars. Most of the book hit just right for me. Now back to my original notes below ...
I love Stephen King's short story collections. I devour them. You Like it Darker, while not the absolute best collection of his short work, was right up there among the best.
I may come back to give a more thorough review in a couple of days. For now, I'll say that my favorite story of the bunch was "Rattlesnakes." My least favorite was "Finn."
I give the collection as a whole 4 stars. I highly recommend this book to any fan of Stephen King's short fiction. I feel that's where he's always done his best work.
The word dark is open to so many different interpretations and expectations. In my opinion, an author can fill a story full of gore, body horror, disgusting and disturbing images. Does that make it darker? Maybe. It depends on the reader. I believe what Stephen King intended to be "darker" here dwelled on the themes of the stories. Let's look at those themes: aging, death, disease, fear, loss, mourning the loss of a loved one, or worse yet - mourning the loss of a child. Yeah. Those themes are all quite dark to me. I think You Like it Darker was plenty dark when taken from that perspective.
My rating will remain 4 out of 5 stars. Most of the book hit just right for me. Now back to my original notes below ...
I love Stephen King's short story collections. I devour them. You Like it Darker, while not the absolute best collection of his short work, was right up there among the best.
I may come back to give a more thorough review in a couple of days. For now, I'll say that my favorite story of the bunch was "Rattlesnakes." My least favorite was "Finn."
I give the collection as a whole 4 stars. I highly recommend this book to any fan of Stephen King's short fiction. I feel that's where he's always done his best work.
July 9, 2024
It seems like I have been reading Stephen King non-stop, still, no regrets there. How is it that I never get tired of his characters and writing?
This collection is dark even though not as dark as some of his other works. Yes, I enjoyed all of them, especially the one featuring Danny and his dream which he ultimately does not regret dreaming despite being that close!
This collection is dark even though not as dark as some of his other works. Yes, I enjoyed all of them, especially the one featuring Danny and his dream which he ultimately does not regret dreaming despite being that close!
June 8, 2024
As is the case with most short story collections, this to me was a mixed bag, with mostly good to excellent stories.
Finn was by far the worst (luckily one of the shortest) and I didn't get the point of it at all.
Many of the stories, like Two Talented Bastids, The Turbulence Expert and The Answer Man, were "whimsical" rather than dark. Fine stories, but not dark. DARKER, Mr. King - please!
The best two in the collection are the longest. Rattlesnakes is out-and-out creepy, and very visual - I could see a TV/movie adaptation of it being made. Ostensibly a sequel to Cujo, it has very thin ties to that book and is strong on its own.
The masterpiece is Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream. A man trying to do a good deed is accused of rape and murder, and you wonder how - or if - he will get out of the bind he's in. The characters are sharply written and the suspense builds brilliantly to a tense finish. My favorite of the collection - also the longest, a novella at 152 pages. Again, I could see this becoming a movie, one that I would likely want to see.
As an SK fan, I would have liked a little more detail on the creation of the stories in the afterword...but maybe that's asking for too much? A mostly terrific collection.
Finn was by far the worst (luckily one of the shortest) and I didn't get the point of it at all.
Many of the stories, like Two Talented Bastids, The Turbulence Expert and The Answer Man, were "whimsical" rather than dark. Fine stories, but not dark. DARKER, Mr. King - please!
The best two in the collection are the longest. Rattlesnakes is out-and-out creepy, and very visual - I could see a TV/movie adaptation of it being made. Ostensibly a sequel to Cujo, it has very thin ties to that book and is strong on its own.
The masterpiece is Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream. A man trying to do a good deed is accused of rape and murder, and you wonder how - or if - he will get out of the bind he's in. The characters are sharply written and the suspense builds brilliantly to a tense finish. My favorite of the collection - also the longest, a novella at 152 pages. Again, I could see this becoming a movie, one that I would likely want to see.
As an SK fan, I would have liked a little more detail on the creation of the stories in the afterword...but maybe that's asking for too much? A mostly terrific collection.
June 7, 2024
Although the relish of sinking into a good old tome by King is undeniable, for me, there鈥檚 no doubt his short stories are his strong suit and every new short story collection by him makes my heart sing. So it was with You Like It Darker too 鈥� And yes! Yes, we do like it darker and find plenty of that darkness here.
That being said, nothing will ever scare me like King stories in my teenage years, not even King himself. That鈥檚 a fact I have to accept. I鈥檓 not the scared child anymore but still, some of these stories here were able to remind me of that past fear and came close to unsettling me in a way I forgot 鈥� especially the unexpected, potent chills in body snatch horror Willie the Weirdo, or The Dreamers which revolves around human experiments and of course Rattlesnakes (My god, how creepy was that?) were to die for! Rattlesnakes ties to a very old King story and you鈥檒l be delighted to find the connection here!
But, if you prefer his slightly melancholy, slightly hopeful 鈥渇eel-good鈥� stories, you can still find your heart鈥檚 desire in stories like the nicely emotional Two Talented Bastids, The Answer Man or Laurie, the story of an old man and his dog. I鈥檓 very sure Laurie the dog is based on King鈥檚 real-life dog Molly, aka The Thing of Evil, lol.
There鈥檚 human depravity in The Fifth Step, On Slide In Road and especially Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream, an almost novella reminiscent of The Outsider, which shows how some horrors are just hidden in the way people treat each other.
As you see, there鈥檚 something for everyone in this new King collection, and even though it will never be like reading King for the first time, he knows that we actually do like it darker and he delivers.
That being said, nothing will ever scare me like King stories in my teenage years, not even King himself. That鈥檚 a fact I have to accept. I鈥檓 not the scared child anymore but still, some of these stories here were able to remind me of that past fear and came close to unsettling me in a way I forgot 鈥� especially the unexpected, potent chills in body snatch horror Willie the Weirdo, or The Dreamers which revolves around human experiments and of course Rattlesnakes (My god, how creepy was that?) were to die for! Rattlesnakes ties to a very old King story and you鈥檒l be delighted to find the connection here!
But, if you prefer his slightly melancholy, slightly hopeful 鈥渇eel-good鈥� stories, you can still find your heart鈥檚 desire in stories like the nicely emotional Two Talented Bastids, The Answer Man or Laurie, the story of an old man and his dog. I鈥檓 very sure Laurie the dog is based on King鈥檚 real-life dog Molly, aka The Thing of Evil, lol.
There鈥檚 human depravity in The Fifth Step, On Slide In Road and especially Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream, an almost novella reminiscent of The Outsider, which shows how some horrors are just hidden in the way people treat each other.
As you see, there鈥檚 something for everyone in this new King collection, and even though it will never be like reading King for the first time, he knows that we actually do like it darker and he delivers.
June 13, 2024
鈥淭he world is full of rattlesnakes. Sometimes you step on them and they don鈥檛 bite. Sometimes you step over them, and they bite anyway.鈥�
I can鈥檛 stress enough how much I adore 鈥檚 storytelling. The stories in this collection will make you want to settle into them at the end of each day. And I do mean "settle in" because many of the so-called 鈥渟hort鈥� stories in this book actually could鈥檝e been novellas. But that鈥檚 because King takes his time developing worlds that feel familiar and characters that feel real, be they the protagonist, the monster, or the one-scene side character.
Throughout my experience reading this book, the stories simultaneously felt like a warm sunset and an ominous storm on the horizon. Yes, these stories are dark as the title of the book suggests, but they also carry themes of grief, obsession, human relationships, unanswered questions, mystery, and grappling with the unknown.
In Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream, a man whose nightmare featuring a murdered woman turns out to be a psychic premonition, one that gets him in a world of trouble. (I was over-the-moon thrilled to discover this story was set in my home state of Kansas!) The Fifth Step opens with a man approached by an addict who claims he must share a story with a stranger as part of an AA recovery assignment (loved this one)! Two Talented Bastids begs the question of whether talent is something humankind naturally possesses or if the lucky ones are simply chosen by a supernatural fate. In Red Screen, a conspiracy theory leaves the protagonist and the reader uneasy about what to believe (this one was a personal favorite of mine). And we even get a sequel to Cujo in the story Rattlesnakes!
Whether you end up loving every single story in this collection or simply find some of them to be lacking, what I know for certain is that there will be something in YOU LIKE IT DARKER that will stick with you and leave a lasting and haunting impression as King鈥檚 writing always does.
I can鈥檛 stress enough how much I adore 鈥檚 storytelling. The stories in this collection will make you want to settle into them at the end of each day. And I do mean "settle in" because many of the so-called 鈥渟hort鈥� stories in this book actually could鈥檝e been novellas. But that鈥檚 because King takes his time developing worlds that feel familiar and characters that feel real, be they the protagonist, the monster, or the one-scene side character.
Throughout my experience reading this book, the stories simultaneously felt like a warm sunset and an ominous storm on the horizon. Yes, these stories are dark as the title of the book suggests, but they also carry themes of grief, obsession, human relationships, unanswered questions, mystery, and grappling with the unknown.
In Danny Coughlin鈥檚 Bad Dream, a man whose nightmare featuring a murdered woman turns out to be a psychic premonition, one that gets him in a world of trouble. (I was over-the-moon thrilled to discover this story was set in my home state of Kansas!) The Fifth Step opens with a man approached by an addict who claims he must share a story with a stranger as part of an AA recovery assignment (loved this one)! Two Talented Bastids begs the question of whether talent is something humankind naturally possesses or if the lucky ones are simply chosen by a supernatural fate. In Red Screen, a conspiracy theory leaves the protagonist and the reader uneasy about what to believe (this one was a personal favorite of mine). And we even get a sequel to Cujo in the story Rattlesnakes!
Whether you end up loving every single story in this collection or simply find some of them to be lacking, what I know for certain is that there will be something in YOU LIKE IT DARKER that will stick with you and leave a lasting and haunting impression as King鈥檚 writing always does.
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