You Like It Darker

You Like It Darker
	First edition cover
Author	Stephen King
Audio read by	Will Patton; Stephen King;
Language	English
Genre	Horror
Publisher	Scribner
Publication date	May 21, 2024
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardcover), eBook, Audiobook
Pages	502
ISBN	978-1668037713
Preceded by	If It Bleeds

You Like It Darker is a collection of twelve stories by American author Stephen King, published by Scribner in May 2024.^[1] The book was announced on November 6, 2023, via Entertainment Weekly, 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.^[2]

Stories

#	Title	Originally published in	Type^[3]
1	Two Talented Bastids	Previously unpublished	Novella
2	"The Fifth Step"	March 2020 issue of Harper's Magazine	Short story
3	"Willie the Weirdo"	McSweeney's 66 (Spring 2022)^{[nb 1]}	Short story
4	Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream	Previously unpublished	Novella
5	"Finn"	Finn e-book (2022)	Short story
6	"On Slide Inn Road"	October/November 2020 issue of Esquire	Short story
7	"Red Screen"	Red Screen e-book (2021)	Short story
8	"The Turbulence Expert"	Flight or Fright (2018)	Short story
9	"Laurie"	stephenking.com (2018)^[4]	Short story
10	Rattlesnakes	Previously unpublished	Novella
11	The Dreamers	Previously unpublished	Novella
12	The Answer Man	Previously unpublished	Novella

Selected stories

Notable stories (the novellas) within 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. ^[2]

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.^[2]

Rattlesnakes

Serving as a sequel to King's 1981 novel Cujo, this tale follows a grieving widower named Vic Trenton who, in search of solace after the death of his beloved wife Donna, whom he divorced and remarried, travels to Florida. His journey takes an unexpected twist when he receives a strange inheritance from a new neighbor who tragically lost her twin sons, which is accompanied by King's supernatural contentions.^[2]^[5]

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.^[2] 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".^[6]

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.^[2]

Publication

The collection was published on May 21, 2024 by Scribner. It is available in physical, digital and audio book formats.^[7]

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.^[8]

Critical response

The book debuted at number one on The New York Times fiction best-seller list for the week ending May 25, 2024.^[9]

In his USA Today 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.^[10]

Kirkus Reviews 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.^[11]

References

^ Pride, Philippa (2024). "YOU LIKE IT DARKER, A NEW COLLECTION OF STORIES, IS COMING IN MAY 2024". Stephen King Books UK. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Collis, Clark (November 6, 2023). "Read the start of Stephen King's Cujo sequel in excerpt from story collection, You Like It Darker". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
^ Vincent, Bev (May 20, 2024). "Bev Vincent explores You Like it Darker by Stephen King". CemeteryDance.com. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
^ King, Stephen. ""Laurie"" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-01-22.
^ Lynn Tozan, McKenzie (7 November 2023). "We're Screaming: New Stephen King Short Story Collection & 'Cujo' Sequel: 'You Like It Darker". Lit Shark. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
^ Reed, Betsy (August 16, 2023). "Stephen King says he may continue the Talisman series". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
^ "You Like It Darker: Stories". Kazoo Books. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
^ Lilja, Hans-Åke (July 10, 2024). "Always Holly: new book, Talisman 3 & The Dark Tower". Lijas-Library.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024. He talks about the new book, You Like It Darker and mentions that he totally forgot about The Music Room but that it probably will be in the paperback edition.
^ "Combined Print & E-Book Fiction". The New York Times. June 9, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
^ Truitt, Brian (May 21, 2024). "Review: Stephen King knows 'You Like It Darker' and obliges with sensational new tales". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
^ "You Like It Darker by Stephen King. The disturbing stories in King's latest collection will seep into your psyche and haunt you". Kirkus Reviews. May 1, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-31.

Notes

^ Originally published in French in Bifrost #104 (October 2021)

External links

You Like It Darker at StephenKing.com

[philippa-1] Pride, Philippa (2024). "YOU LIKE IT DARKER, A NEW COLLECTION OF STORIES, IS COMING IN MAY 2024". Stephen King Books UK. Retrieved 2024-01-21.

[entertainment-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Collis, Clark (November 6, 2023). "Read the start of Stephen King's Cujo sequel in excerpt from story collection, You Like It Darker". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2024-01-21.

[Vincent2024-3] Vincent, Bev (May 20, 2024). "Bev Vincent explores You Like it Darker by Stephen King". CemeteryDance.com. Retrieved May 31, 2024.

[5] King, Stephen. ""Laurie"" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-01-22.

[6] Lynn Tozan, McKenzie (7 November 2023). "We're Screaming: New Stephen King Short Story Collection & 'Cujo' Sequel: 'You Like It Darker". Lit Shark. Retrieved 2024-01-21.

[7] Reed, Betsy (August 16, 2023). "Stephen King says he may continue the Talisman series". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-01-21.

[8] "You Like It Darker: Stories". Kazoo Books. Retrieved 2024-01-21.

[Lija-9] Lilja, Hans-Åke (July 10, 2024). "Always Holly: new book, Talisman 3 & The Dark Tower". Lijas-Library.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024. He talks about the new book, You Like It Darker and mentions that he totally forgot about The Music Room but that it probably will be in the paperback edition.

[10] "Combined Print & E-Book Fiction". The New York Times. June 9, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.

[11] Truitt, Brian (May 21, 2024). "Review: Stephen King knows 'You Like It Darker' and obliges with sensational new tales". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-05-31.

[12] "You Like It Darker by Stephen King. The disturbing stories in King's latest collection will seep into your psyche and haunt you". Kirkus Reviews. May 1, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-31.

[4] Originally published in French in Bifrost #104 (October 2021)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[nb 1]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

You Like It Darker

Stories

Selected stories

Two Talented Bastids

Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream

Rattlesnakes

The Dreamers

The Answer Man

Publication

Critical response

See also

References

Notes

External links

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