You Like It Darker
Ratings82
Average rating4.1
From legendary storyteller and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published, and some of his best EVER.
“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.
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Contains spoilers
My first Stephen King book. Wow, I am in awe. Individual reviews under the hood.
Two Talented Bastids 2.5/5 - Cool but honestly too long
The Fifth Step 3/5 - Short but sweet 🗡️
Willie the Weirdo 3/5 - This was also nice and really open ended. You want death? Get a mouthful
Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream - 4/5 Love the thrill. I was waiting for a sick twist at the end and didn't get one. Still enjoyed it nevertheless.
Finn 2.5/5 - Poor boy. I hope he really got out of that one.
On Slide Inn Road 3/5 - Granpop was THE final boss. Respect!
Red Screen 2/5 - Meh
Turbulence Expert 3.5/5 - This Black Mirror typeshit is right up my alley
Laurie 3.5/5 - The bestest and goodest girl everrrr
Rattlesnakes 4/5 - Finally, a horror story! And it slithered its way into my heart
The Dreamers 2.5/5 - Cool concept it didn't make me feel anything though. FIDO, fuck it drive on.
The Answer Man 4/5 - This one hurt. A journey of a man just going through life - experiencing its highs and lows. We are all in this ride. ALWAYS REMEMBER OTHERS HAVE IT WORSE
Stephen King does it again.
I've never read Stephen King (minus [b:The Jaunt|52317884|The Jaunt|Stephen King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561266112l/52317884.SX50_SY75.jpg|71429287] and that one short story of his where a man stranded on an island eats himself to death. But after reading this, I get it.
I don't normally write reviews (I'd like to, I've been meaning to, but I've just never got around to actually doing it), but after reading Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream I've been emotionally moved enough to sit down at my computer and write this out. Because it is truly something incredible.
I don't want to spoil anything. Because it's always better if you experience yourself, summarizing it would only negate any suspense or intrigue in the mystery that is Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream. And it is a mystery, albeit an unrelenting one, oh dear, it is unrelenting, it shocks you, angers you, puzzles you. It's a story that captured me far more than anything I've read these past few months, so much so that I could not tear myself away from the book until I had finished it.
I expected untold horrors when I read the title You Like It Darker. All I found was a coldness called humanity. Maybe I found what I expected all I along.
But I suppose that's I like it anyways.
It's... not bad. In my opinion, it's average at best.
I found this in my local library and checked it out because I didn't know that my friend from Maine, that I always see at our fair had a new book out.
I keep giving his “newer” books a chance and each time... I'm left with disappointed or wondering if his son is ghost writing for him. In my opinion, something happened in 2010/2011 that his books/writing just felt off.
Anyway... I'm rambling.
I checked it out and noticed this is a book filled with short stories. Which I do tend to enjoy. The quality of each one is not the same. I... I'm sad to admit that a lot of this is forgettable. And the ones that I can remember like the answer man are just... Okay.
