You Like It Darker

2024 collection of stories by Stephen King

This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance. (January 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

You Like It Darker

First edition cover

Author| Stephen King
Audio read by|

* Will Patton
* Stephen King

Country| United States
Language| English
Genre| Horror
Publisher| Scribner

Publication date

| May 21, 2024
Media type| Print (hardcover), eBook, Audiobook
Pages| 512
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]

## Stories[edit]

#  | Title  | Originally 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1  | "Two Talented Bastids"  | Previously unpublished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4  | "Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream"  | Previously unpublished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10  | "Rattlesnakes"  | Previously unpublished
11  | "The Dreamers"  | Previously unpublished
12  | "The Answer Man"  | Previously unpublished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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Focusing on the impact of a sudden and unprecedented psychic event, this tale explores the profound upheaval caused in numerous lives.[8]

### The Dreamers[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

## Critical response[edit]

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[edit]

* Stephen King short fiction bibliography
* Unpublished and uncollected works by Stephen King

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d e f g 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.

## External links[edit]

* Stephen King's Official Website

* v
* t
* e

Stephen King

* Bibliography
* Short fiction
* Unpublished and uncollected
* Awards and nominations

Novels|

* Carrie (1974)
* 'Salem's Lot (1975)
* The Shining (1977)
* The Stand (1978)
* The Dead Zone (1979)
* Firestarter (1980)
* Cujo (1981)
* Christine (1983)
* Pet Sematary (1983)
* Cycle of the Werewolf (1983)
* The Talisman (1984)
* It (1986)
* The Eyes of the Dragon (1987)
* Misery (1987)
* The Tommyknockers (1987)
* The Dark Half (1989)
* Needful Things (1991)
* Gerald's Game (1992)
* Dolores Claiborne (1992)
* Insomnia (1994)
* Rose Madder (1995)
* The Green Mile (1996)
* Desperation (1996)
* Bag of Bones (1998)
* The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999)
* The Plant (2000; unfinished)
* Dreamcatcher (2001)
* Black House (2001)
* From a Buick 8 (2002)
* The Colorado Kid (2005)
* Cell (2006)
* Lisey's Story (2006)
* Duma Key (2008)
* Under the Dome (2009)
* 11/22/63 (2011)
* Joyland (2013)
* Doctor Sleep (2013)
* Mr. Mercedes (2014)
* Revival (2014)
* Finders Keepers (2015)
* End of Watch (2016)
* Gwendy's Button Box (2017)
* Sleeping Beauties (2017)
* The Outsider (2018)
* Elevation (2018)
* The Institute (2019)
* Later (2021)
* Billy Summers (2021)
* Gwendy's Final Task (2022)
* Fairy Tale (2022)
* Holly (2023)

| The Dark Tower series|

* The Gunslinger (1982)
* The Drawing of the Three (1987)
* The Waste Lands (1991)
* Wizard and Glass (1997)
* Wolves of the Calla (2003)
* Song of Susannah (2004)
* The Dark Tower (2004)
* The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012)

|

Richard Bachman novels|

* Rage (1977)
* The Long Walk (1979)
* Roadwork (1981)
* The Running Man (1982)
* Thinner (1984)
* The Bachman Books (1985)
* The Regulators (1996)
* Blaze (2007)

Short fiction
collections|

* Night Shift (1978)
* Different Seasons (1982)
* Skeleton Crew (1985)
* Four Past Midnight (1990)
* Nightmares & Dreamscapes (1993)
* Hearts in Atlantis (1999)
* Everything's Eventual (2002)
* Just After Sunset (2008)
* Full Dark, No Stars (2010)
* The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (2015)
* If It Bleeds (2020)
* You Like It Darker (2024)

Nonfiction|

* Danse Macabre (1981)
* Nightmares in the Sky (1988)
* On Writing (2000)
* Secret Windows (2000)
* Faithful (2004)
* "Guns" (2013)

Screenplays|

* Creepshow (1982)
* Cat's Eye (1985)
* Silver Bullet (1985)
* Maximum Overdrive (1986; also director)
* Pet Sematary (1989)
* Sleepwalkers (1992)
* A Good Marriage (2014)
* Cell (2016)

Teleplays|

* "Sorry, Right Number" (1987)
* Golden Years (1991)
* The Stand (1994)
* The Shining (1997)
* "Chinga" (1998)
* Storm of the Century (1999)
* Rose Red (2002)
* Kingdom Hospital (2004)
* Desperation (2006)
* "Heads Will Roll" (2014)
* The Stand (2020–21)
* Lisey's Story (2021)

Comics|

* Heroes for Hope (1985)
* American Vampire (2010)

Musical
collaborations|

* Michael Jackson's Ghosts (1997)
* Black Ribbons (2010)
* Ghost Brothers of Darkland County (2012)

Anthologies
edited|

* The Best American Short Stories 2007 (2007)
* Six Scary Stories (2016)
* Flight or Fright (2018)

Worlds and
concepts|

* Dollar Baby
* Fictional locations in Maine
* Castle Rock
* Derry
* Jerusalem's Lot
* Shawshank State Prison
* All-World

Family|

* Tabitha King (wife)
* Joe Hill (son)
* Owen King (son)

Related|

* List of adaptations
* Bibliography of works on Stephen King
* Raymond H. Fogler Library archives
* Rock Bottom Remainders
* People, Places and Things
* Philtrum Press
* Six Stories
* Stephen King Goes to the Movies
* Charlie the Choo-Choo
* Hearts in Suspension
* The Secretary of Dreams
* King on Screen

* Category

* v
* t
* e

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

* "Two Talented Bastids"
* "The Fifth Step"
* "Willie the Weirdo"
* "Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream"
* "Finn"
* "On Slide Inn Road"
* "Red Screen"
* "The Turbulence Expert"
* "Laurie"
* "Rattlesnakes"
* "The Dreamers"
* "The Answer Man"

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template