You Like It Darker

Last updated
You Like It Darker
You Like It Darker by Stephen King.jpg
First edition cover
Author Stephen King
Audio read by
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre Horror
Publisher Scribner
Publication date
May 21, 2024
Media typePrint (hardcover), eBook, Audiobook
Pages512
ISBN 978-1668037713
Preceded by If It Bleeds  

You Like It Darker is a collection of twelve stories by American author Stephen King, set to be published by Scribner in May 2024. It delves into the darker aspects of life, both metaphorically and literally. Known for exploring themes such as fate, mortality, luck, and the unexpected turns of reality, the book comprises a mix of new and previously published stories. Each narrative, distinct in its approach, collectively contributes to this volume, marking its first comprehensive assembly. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] 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 . [8]

Contents

Stories

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1"Two Talented Bastids"Previously unpublished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4"Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream"Previously unpublished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10"Rattlesnakes"Previously unpublished
11"The Dreamers"Previously unpublished
12"The Answer Man"Previously unpublished

Selected stories

The collection has a diverse range of stories, each delving into unique aspects of the human experience, often through a lens of supernatural or psychological horror. [8] Each story in You Like It Darker offers a distinct exploration of themes such as fate, grief, the supernatural, and the often-blurred line between the known and the unknown. [4] Notable stories within the collection include:

Rattlesnakes

Serving as a sequel to King's 1981 novel Cujo , this tale follows a grieving widower who, in search of solace, travels to Florida. However, his journey takes an unexpected turn when he receives a peculiar inheritance, accompanied by significant conditions. [8] [10]

Two Talented Bastids

This story unravels the concealed secret behind the remarkable abilities of the titular characters, offering a narrative rich in mystery and revelation. [8]

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. [8]

The Dreamers

A narrative centered around a reticent Vietnam veteran who, upon responding to a job advertisement, discovers that certain realms of the universe are better left undiscovered. [8] 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". [11]

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. [8]

Publication

The collection will be published in May 2024 by Scribner. It will be available in physical, digital and audio book formats. [12]

Critical response

Philippa Pride, Stephen King's UK editor, says: "You Like It Darker is a collection of long stories and short tales with unexpected twists. We at Hodder are so excited to champion this book by the ultimate storyteller, who has long been a master of the short fiction form. The book’s publication will play a key part in a major anniversary year for Stephen King. There is a story here for every reader, which will continue to resonate long after they have finished the book – from the terrifying sound of a squeaky wheel on a double stroller to the heartwarming feeling of a puppy protecting her master. Nobody does it better!" [1] [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen King</span> American writer (born 1947)

Stephen Edwin King is an American author. Called the "King of Horror", he has also explored other genres, among them suspense, crime, science-fiction, fantasy and mystery. He has also written approximately 200 short stories, most of which have been published in collections. His debut, Carrie (1974), established him in horror. Different Seasons (1982), a collection of four novellas, was his first major departure from the genre. Among the films adapted from King's fiction are Carrie, Christine, The Shining, The Dead Zone, Stand by Me, Misery, Dolores Claiborne, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and It. He has published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman and has co-written works with other authors, notably his friend Peter Straub and sons Joe Hill and Owen King. He has also written nonfiction, notably On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short story</span> Brief work of literature, usually written in narrative prose

A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest types of literature and has existed in the form of legends, mythic tales, folk tales, fairy tales, tall tales, fables and anecdotes in various ancient communities around the world. The modern short story developed in the early 19th century.

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This is a list of short fiction by Stephen King. This includes short stories, novelettes, and novellas, as well as poems. It is arranged chronologically by first publication. Major revisions of previously published pieces are also noted. Stephen King is sometimes credited with "nearly 400 short stories". However, all the known published pieces of short fiction are tabulated below. In all, 218 works are listed. Most of these pieces have been collected in King's seven short story collections: Night Shift (1978), Skeleton Crew (1985), Nightmares & Dreamscapes (1993), Everything's Eventual (2002), Just After Sunset (2008), The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (2015), and You Like It Darker (2024); in King's five novella collections: Different Seasons (1982), Four Past Midnight (1990), Hearts in Atlantis (1999), Full Dark, No Stars (2010), and If It Bleeds (2020); and in the compilation Secret Windows: Essays and Fiction on the Craft of Writing (2000). Some of these pieces, however, remain uncollected.

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References

  1. 1 2 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.
  2. Constant, Paul (January 18, 2024). "The most anticipated books of 2024: from Stephen King to Kathleen Hanna". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  3. "You Like It Darker". Stephen King's Official Website. 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  4. 1 2 "You Like It Darker: Stories by Stephen King". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  5. King, Stephen (2024). "You Like It Darker. Stories by Stephen King". Simon & Schuster. Scribner. ISBN   978-1-6680-3771-3 . Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  6. King, Stephen (2024). You Like It Darker: Stories. Scribner. ISBN   978-1668037713.
  7. "You Like it Darker, by Stephen King". Cemetery Dance Publications. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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.
  9. King, Stephen. ""Laurie"" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  10. 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.
  11. Reed, Betsy (August 16, 2023). "Stephen King says he may continue the Talisman series". The Guardian . Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  12. "You Like It Darker: Stories". Kazoo Books. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  13. "You Like It Darker. Stephen King". Goodreads . 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-21.