''You Like It Darker'' is a collection of twelve stories by American author

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror novels and has also explored other genres, among them Thriller (genre), suspense, crime fiction, crime, scienc ...

, published by Scribner in May 2024. The book was announced on November 6, 2023, via ''

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'', which provided a look at the book's wraparound cover, table of contents, and an excerpt from "Rattlesnakes", a sequel to King's 1981 novel ''

Cujo ''Cujo'' () is a 1981 horror novel by American writer Stephen King about a rabid Saint Bernard. The novel won the British Fantasy Award in 1982 and was made into a film in 1983. Cujo's name was based on the alias of Willie Wolfe, one of th ...

''.

Stories

Selected stories

Notable stories (the novellas) in the collection include:

Two Talented Bastids

This story unravels a concealed secret that's shared regarding the otherworldly genesis of the artistic abilities and the remarkable careers of childhood friends from a small Maine town: painter David "Butch" LaVerdiere and author Laird Carmody.

Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream

Focusing on the impact of a sudden and unprecedented psychic event, this tale explores the profound upheaval caused in numerous lives.

Finn

A young Irish man experiences frequent injuries and bad luck while growing up. His grandmother tells him that God will give him two bits of good luck for every bit of bad. At 19, while running home from his girlfriend's house, he is mistaken for another young man, abducted and tortured for information he does not have. When his kidnappers realize their mistake they release him, giving him four thousand euros for his trouble. Walking home, he remembers Ambrose Bierce's "

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is an 1890 short story by American writer and American Civil War veteran Ambrose Bierce, described as "one of the most famous and frequently anthologized stories in American literature"."An Occurrence at Owl ...

" and wonders whether he is only imagining his emancipation while actually dying under torture.

Rattlesnakes

A sequel to King's 1981 novel ''

'', this tale follows grieving widower Vic Trenton's search for solace after the death of his beloved wife Donna. In Florida his journey takes an unexpected twist when he meets a new neighbor who tragically lost her twin sons to a snake attack. The neighbor dies, unexpectedly leaving all her assets to Trenton and this makes the police suspicious of him. Supernatural forces appear, as usual, threatening Trenton and his sanity.

The Dreamers

A narrative centered on a reticent Vietnam veteran who, upon responding to a job advertisement, discovers that certain realms of the universe are better left undiscovered. Stephen King said that though it's very rare that he scares himself with what he writes, a story in the upcoming collection titled ''The Dreamers'' was "so creepy" that he "couldn’t think about it at night".

The Answer Man

This story probes the dual nature of prescience, contemplating whether it constitutes good fortune or a curse, and reflects on how lives marked by profound tragedy can still hold significance.

Publication

The collection was published on May 21, 2024 by Scribner. It is available in physical, digital and audio book formats. In July 2024, King noted that his 2016 short story " The Music Room" had been omitted from the collection due to him forgetting about it, but that it would "probably" be included in the paperback edition.

Critical response

The book debuted at number one on ''The New York Times'' fiction best-seller list for the week ending May 25, 2024. In his ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...

'' review, Brian Truitt commends Stephen King's ''You Like It Darker'' for its array of twelve dark and engaging stories. The collection is praised for revisiting familiar characters and settings while exploring new horrors, such as deadly snakes, ghosts, and mad scientists. Truitt highlights King's ability to blend horror with deeper themes of talent, unrealized dreams, and existential musings. Despite some less impactful stories, the collection is noted for its gripping narrative and ability to evoke fear. ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...

'' points out that while some stories might feel less developed, the overall collection remains engaging. The review appreciates the familiar "King staples" and notes that the stories successfully revisit old haunts and characters, providing a mix of suspense and horror.

References

Notes

External links

''You Like It Darker'' at StephenKing.com
{{Authority control 2024 short story collections American short story collections Short story collections by Stephen King Charles Scribner's Sons books