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You Like It Darker: Stories Hardcover – May 21, 2024
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“You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that delve into the darker part of life—both metaphorical and literal. King has, for half a century, been a master of the form, and these stories, about fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything can happen, are as rich and riveting as his novels, both weighty in theme and a huge pleasure to read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in You Like It Darker, readers will feel that exhilaration too, again and again.
“Two Talented Bastids” explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills. In “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” a brief and unprecedented psychic flash upends dozens of lives, Danny’s most catastrophically. In “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to Cujo, a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and instead receives an unexpected inheritance—with major strings attached. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored. “The Answer Man” asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful.
King’s ability to surprise, amaze, and bring us both terror and solace remains unsurpassed. Each of these stories holds its own thrills, joys, and mysteries; each feels iconic. You like it darker? You got it.
- Print length512 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherScribner
- Publication dateMay 21, 2024
- Dimensions6.13 x 1.5 x 9.25 inches
- ISBN-101668037718
- ISBN-13978-1668037713
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Get to know this book
Popular highlight
“When intelligence outraces emotional stability, it’s always just a matter of time.”672 Kindle readers highlighted thisPopular highlight
Well, I tell myself, we call it a gift and we call ourselves gifted, but gifts are never really earned, are they? Only given. Talent is grace made visible.519 Kindle readers highlighted thisPopular highlight
It’s all right to want what you can’t have. You learn to live with it. I tell myself that, and mostly I believe it.388 Kindle readers highlighted thisPopular highlight
“I’m sorry for you. Your world is a living breath in a universe that is mostly filled with deadlights.”317 Kindle readers highlighted this
From the Publisher
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"A master class in tension and is full of King’s dark humor. He knows what we like, and he delivers. This collection proves King is still king." —The New York Times Book Review
“Stephen King knows You Like It Darker and obliges with sensational new tales… thoughtful… intriguing… surprisingly emotional… the author has a long history of exceptional short fiction… He proves once more that his smaller-sized tales pack as powerful a wallop as the big boys.” —USA Today
“What's obvious is that King's skills as a storyteller remain undimmed, and following him into the dark, the light or anywhere in between is never a bad bet. As if anyone could resist.” —Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“The best of these stories, as is true with the best of King’s work, feature horror tempered with heart.” —Associated Press
“Stephen King is still writing with the giddy abandon of scribes half his age, and more than anything else, You Like It Darker is evidence of that joy.” —Paste
“Stephen King keeps it fresh… very entertaining… sometimes, good things come in small packages.” —Bangor Daily News
“Classic King, stories full of heart, horror, and humanity, each riffing on that eternal question: what if?” —Vulture
“The titular darkness promised is as riveting and all-consuming as ever.” —New York Magazine
"King is writing some of the best work of his long career." —Seattle Times
“King does it again in this collection of stories… there’s no doubt that King is still a master.” —AARP
"The bite-sized tales are perfect beach reads." —Variety
“King proves he’s still a master of short fiction in his sterling seventh collection… This remarkably assured collection will thrill the author’s fans.” —Publishers Weekly
“King’s first book, Carrie, was published 50 years ago. You Like It Darker proves that he is still at the height of his powers. A triumph.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Readers will be thrilled by these tales. They all have that King touch.” —Library Journal, STARRED review
“A dozen tales from the master will draw you in—page by page, horror by horror—and hold you fast.” —Kirkus, STARRED review
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Scribner (May 21, 2024)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 512 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1668037718
- ISBN-13 : 978-1668037713
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.13 x 1.5 x 9.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Horror Anthologies (Books)
- #2 in Short Stories Anthologies
- #106 in Suspense Thrillers
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author
![Stephen King](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/S/amzn-author-media-prod/fkeglaqq0pic05a0v6ieqt4iv5._SY600_.jpg)
Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His first crime thriller featuring Bill Hodges, MR MERCEDES, won the Edgar Award for best novel and was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award. Both MR MERCEDES and END OF WATCH received the Goodreads Choice Award for the Best Mystery and Thriller of 2014 and 2016 respectively.
King co-wrote the bestselling novel Sleeping Beauties with his son Owen King, and many of King's books have been turned into celebrated films and television series including The Shawshank Redemption, Gerald's Game and It.
King was the recipient of America's prestigious 2014 National Medal of Arts and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for distinguished contribution to American Letters. In 2007 he also won the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. He lives with his wife Tabitha King in Maine.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the writing style great, easy to relate to, and attention-grabbing. They also say the characters truly come to life and you feel their emotions right along. Readers describe the stories as good, solid, and poignant. They find the horror particularly chilling and packed with delicious darkness. Opinions are mixed on readability, with some finding it a very quick read and others saying it takes time to get into it.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the stories in the book good, great, and concise. They also say the author's attention to detail makes the stories feel familiar and lends solidness to the scenery.
"...Laurie" is a nice story that moves a little slowly, but that's ok because it doesn't seem to have anywhere that it wants to go...." Read more
"...It makes them feel familiar and lends solidness to the scenery without being repetitive or serial...." Read more
"...You Like It Darker is full of solid tales, and if the others beyond this one are never quite "essential," they're also never bad at all - King is..." Read more
"...I felt every story was compelling, with nary a filler or dud amongst them; most reminded me of my claim that Stephen King is a marvelous and..." Read more
Customers find the writing style wonderful, vivid, riveting, and sheer perfection. They also say the book is easy to relate to and draws them in immediately.
"...At the conclusion of this beautifully written piece, you definitely want more while at the same time it gives a great feeling of satisfaction...." Read more
"...It makes them feel familiar and lends solidness to the scenery without being repetitive or serial...." Read more
"...them; most reminded me of my claim that Stephen King is a marvelous and nuanced writer who rarely gets his professional due...." Read more
"...This book has wonderfully written, beautiful prose, & (of course) frightening tales..." Read more
Customers find the book particularly chilling, eerie, and packed with delicious darkness. They also describe it as a thriller, spooky, sci-fi, mystery, and gruesome.
"...Rattlesnakes" is undeniably a horror tale - perhaps the most effective in the book - but it's also a fascinating reminder of that character and a..." Read more
"...This book has wonderfully written, beautiful prose, & (of course) frightening tales..." Read more
"...And my favorite series, “The Dark Tower,” is the perfect blend of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. There are dozens more. I’ve read them all...." Read more
"...It’s a particularly chilling tale, a sequel to Cujo & just as eerie if not more so as the that book...." Read more
Customers find the stories in the book dark, poignant, and absorbing. They appreciate the explanation at the end and the references. They also say the author has a unique talent for distilling wisdom about human nature and relationships.
"...His writing pulls you into different worlds and are full of emotions. This can be seen in many of these stories and I could not put them down...." Read more
"...The last story, The Answer Man, was really thought-provoking and still has me sitting here staring into the distance. What questions would I ask?..." Read more
"...plot line. Rattlesnakes is more true King horror. Too much weird stuff, but keeps you up turning pages...." Read more
"...some to be not dark or scary, but to me they are thought provoking tales of the human condition. I did find one mistake in this book...." Read more
Customers find the characters in the book come to life and feel their emotions along with the story.
"...movie script will be enormously bolstered by the very real, likable ancillary characters that work throughout this novella."..." Read more
"...the most effective in the book - but it's also a fascinating reminder of that character and a thoughtful take on what might have happened to him in..." Read more
"...Not this one- it keeps your interest and you really are able to connect with the characters. It's worth a read." Read more
"...it vs reading it while marveling at how precisely and uniquely he writes his characters...." Read more
Customers find the humor in the book gripping, tender, and mild. They also say the writing is gripping and enthralling.
"...the 12 Steps in "The Fifth Step," but I found it to be an extremely funny look at an idea...." Read more
"...They are beyond twisted and funny and scary beyond anything I’ve ever read short of watching the twilight zone when I was 10 years old...." Read more
"...His ability to bring his characters to life, make you laugh, cry, and scare the crap out of you is truly what makes him the best...." Read more
"Longtime Stephen King fan, here. This was satisfying and meaty. It feels real. It was an amazing escape. All of the stars. All of them." Read more
Customers find the premise fits perfectly into the novella length. They also say the book is dark and unsettling.
"..."Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream" is a great premise that fits perfectly into its novella length, delivering a supernatural premise that feels like a..." Read more
"...work with a timelessness that is neither good nor bad, fitting snugly on the shelf of time, where feelings can change and people can change, and we..." Read more
"Loved these stories! Some were short, some were longer. But they were all good!" Read more
"Unlike most King stories, these are short, sweet, and packed with delicious darkness!" Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the readability of the book. Some find it very quick to read and can't put it down, while others say it takes time to get into it.
"...It's one of the longest stories within this book- but it was a very quick read because I couldn't put it down...." Read more
"...Each story is so captivating. It is actually one of his easiest reads ever and really wish it had been longer. Truly one of my favorite SK books!" Read more
"Most of these stories were extremely hard to put down. One of them was so scary I couldn’t finish it at night. Loved these stories. Highly recommend" Read more
"...Nothing gory, actually most are very mild. A quick reas, read it in two nights." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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I'm sure many "friends of Bill" will not like what Mr. King has done for the 12 Steps in "The Fifth Step," but I found it to be an extremely funny look at an idea. The main character here is going to have real problems when it comes to making amends, though.
"Willie the Wierdo" actually is a horror story, but it is also close to Jacob's hundred-plus year old classic "The Monkey's Paw".
"Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream" is another I would love to have enough money to invest in the movie/TV rights. It is going to be an excellent production. I could see exactly the right actors for the cast all the way through it. It is also the second story here that felt to me like exquisite writing.
The story "Finn" reminds me very much of a Faustian idea I once had for writing a book, but I never got around to writing it. Thank you, Mr. King for doing the hard work for me.
There is no horror or supernatural in "On Slide Inn Road". It is just a very good, very tight action short story that is very satisfying. Mr. King gives a nod to O'Connor, so I guess I'll have to try reading some.
"Red Screen" is a brief glimpse into a world and some characters that you know how things are going to be, but you want it to go on anyway to find out how right or wrong you are.
I have to say "The Turbulence Expert" is one that just did not impress me all that much. It was an interesting idea, and I liked the characters, but it just did not take me anywhere.
"Laurie" is a nice story that moves a little slowly, but that's ok because it doesn't seem to have anywhere that it wants to go. It just introduces you to some diverse characters that are very much like people in your neighborhood and family. There is a bit of excitement, but no horror or supernatural to it.
"Rattlesnakes" is another that will be a good production, either movie or TV. Again I would be willing to invest in the rights for it. It comes with a tip of the hat to John D. McDonald, who is another writer whose every work I read voraciously. This one does drift into the world of supernatural and good versus evil, but not as heavily as some of Mr. King's gargantuan novels. It brings back a character from Cujo in a setting close-by Duma Key, but you don't need to have read either of those to enjoy it (to be honest, I did not recall the character actually making an appearance in Cujo). The TV/movie script will be enormously bolstered by the very real, likable ancillary characters that work throughout this novella.
"The Dreamers" was an interesting idea, but for whatever reason it did not do it for me. I really liked, and felt for the narrator, but the story left me flat. I did not grasp Mr. King's reference to Cormac McCarthy, whose beautiful prose in horrific, sometimes painful to read stories, I love.
The advice to performing artists is to "Always leave 'em wanting more." And Mr. King certainly does that with "The Answer Man" as the finale for this publication. As a better reviewer remarked this story "reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful." At the conclusion of this beautifully written piece, you definitely want more while at the same time it gives a great feeling of satisfaction. And that is good writing!
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