It has been suggested that Finn (short story) be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2024. |
Author | Stephen King |
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Audio read by |
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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. It delves into the darker aspects of life, both metaphorically and literally. 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]
# | Title | Originally published in | Type [9] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Two Talented Bastids | Previously unpublished | Novella |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4 | Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream | Previously unpublished | Novella |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) [10] | Short story |
10 | Rattlesnakes | Previously unpublished | Novella |
11 | The Dreamers | Previously unpublished | Novella |
12 | The Answer Man | Previously unpublished | Novella |
The collection has a diverse range of stories, each delving into aspects of the human experience, often through a lens of supernatural or psychological horror. [8] Each story in You Like It Darker offers an exploration of themes such as fate, grief, the supernatural, and the line between the known and the unknown. [4] Notable stories within the collection include:
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] [11]
This story unravels the concealed secret behind the remarkable abilities of the titular characters, offering a narrative rich in mystery and revelation. [8]
Focusing on the impact of a sudden and unprecedented psychic event, this tale explores the profound upheaval caused in numerous lives. [8]
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". [12]
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]
The collection was published on May 21, 2024 by Scribner. It is available in physical, digital and audio book formats. [13]
The book debuted at number one on The New York Times fiction best-seller list for the week ending May 25, 2024. [14]
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. [15]
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. [16]
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.
There have been many books published about Stephen King and his works.
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 the men responsible for orchestrating Patty Hearst's kidnapping and indoctrination into the Symbionese Liberation Army. King discusses Cujo in On Writing, referring to it as a novel he "barely remembers writing at all." King wrote the book during the height of his struggle with alcohol addiction. King goes on to say he likes the book and wishes he could remember enjoying the good parts as he put them on the page.
Tales from the Darkside is an American anthology horror television series created by George A. Romero. A pilot episode was first broadcast on October 29, 1983. The series was picked up for syndication, and the first season premiered on September 30, 1984. The show would run for a total of four seasons.
Castle Rock is a fictional town appearing in Stephen King's fictional Maine topography, providing the setting for a number of his novels, novellas, and short stories. Castle Rock first appeared in King's 1979 novel The Dead Zone and has since been referred to or used as the primary setting in many other works by King.
Bev Vincent is an essayist author of fiction and a literary critic, he also is the author of The Road to the Dark Tower and The Stephen King Illustrated Companion.
Joseph Hillström King, better known by the pen name Joe Hill, is an American writer. His work includes the novels Heart-Shaped Box (2007), Horns (2010), NOS4A2 (2013), and The Fireman (2016); the short story collections 20th Century Ghosts (2005) and Strange Weather (2017); and the comic book series Locke & Key (2008–2013). He has won awards including Bram Stoker Awards, British Fantasy Awards, and an Eisner Award.
Doctor Sleep is a 2013 horror novel by American writer Stephen King and the sequel to his 1977 novel The Shining. The book reached the first position on The New York Times Best Seller list for print, ebook, and hardcover fiction. Doctor Sleep won the 2013 Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel.
If It Bleeds is a collection of four previously unpublished novellas by American writer Stephen King. The stories in the collection are titled "Mr. Harrigan's Phone", "The Life of Chuck", "If It Bleeds", and "Rat". It was released on April 28, 2020.
"On Slide Inn Road" is a short story by Stephen King, first published in the October/November 2020 issue of Esquire. It was collected in King's 2024 collection You Like It Darker.
"The Fifth Step" is a short story by Stephen King, first published in the March 2020 issue of Harper's Magazine. It was collected in King's 2024 collection You Like It Darker.
Flight or Fright is a horror anthology edited by Stephen King and Bev Vincent, published by Cemetery Dance Publications on September 4, 2018. All of the stories within the anthology are about flight-based horrors.
"Laurie" is a short story by Stephen King, first published as a free download on his website on May 17, 2018. It was collected in King's 2024 book, You Like It Darker.
"The Turbulence Expert" is a short story by Stephen King, first published in the 2018 horror anthology Flight or Fright. It was collected in King's 2024 collection You Like It Darker.
"Red Screen" is a short story by Stephen King, first published as an ebook by Humble Bundle in September 2021. It was collected in King's 2024 collection You Like It Darker.
"Finn" is a short story by Stephen King, first published on Scribd on May 25, 2022. It was collected in King's 2024 book, You Like It Darker.
"Willie the Weirdo" is a short story by Stephen King, first published in English in the June 2022 issue of Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern. It was collected in King's 2024 book, You Like It Darker.
The Answer Man is a novella by Stephen King, first published in King's 2024 collection You Like It Darker.
Two Talented Bastids is a novella by Stephen King, first published in King's 2024 collection You Like It Darker.
The Dreamers is a novella by Stephen King, first published in King's 2024 collection You Like It Darker.
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