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You Like It Darker
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message 1: by Trisha (last edited May 28, 2024 04:29PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Trisha | 1596 comments 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.


Trisha | 1596 comments Theresa and I are starting this one today. Not an arc but we NEED a place to discuss each short story so I hope it's okay we're doing it here! lol


message 3: by Kristie (new) - added it

Kristie | 2907 comments Mod
Understandable! lol


message 4: by Theresa (last edited May 29, 2024 02:20PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments 1, Two Talented Bastids

What a great story. (view spoiler)


message 5: by Trisha (last edited May 29, 2024 11:14AM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Trisha | 1596 comments Story 1: Two Talented Bastids

5 stars - would read over 1500 pages of a full novel of this one! lol

I loved it!

(view spoiler)


Trisha | 1596 comments Story 2: The Fifth Step

ha! this one was so fun
short, sweet, and brutal

(view spoiler)


message 7: by Theresa (last edited May 29, 2024 03:06PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments #2 The Fifth Step

Very short. A definite twist on the AA program and the 5th step.


Trisha | 1596 comments Story 3: Willie the Weirdo

OOOOoh this one was so good (view spoiler)


message 9: by Theresa (last edited May 29, 2024 06:38PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments #3 Willie the Weirdo

Willie is close with his ailing grandpa. Well, seems like grandpa might have taken over Willie's body???


message 10: by Theresa (last edited May 30, 2024 06:17PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments #4 Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream

WOW! I loved this longer short story. (view spoiler)


message 11: by Theresa (last edited May 30, 2024 08:56PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments #5 Finn

Poor Finn and his bad luck. (view spoiler)


message 12: by Theresa (last edited May 30, 2024 10:07PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments #6 On Slide Inn Road

Another good one! (view spoiler)


message 13: by Theresa (last edited May 31, 2024 09:09PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments #7 Red Screen

An interesting idea. (view spoiler)


Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments #8 The Turbulence Expert

I could do that job for sure. (view spoiler)


Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments #9 Laurie

Animals rule this one. (view spoiler)


message 16: by Theresa (last edited Jun 02, 2024 09:14PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments #10 Rattlesnakes

Well, I think most of us hate snakes but this story definitely solidifies that. (view spoiler)


message 17: by Theresa (last edited Jun 02, 2024 09:14PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments #11 The Dreamers

This story puts a different light on dreams.


message 18: by Theresa (last edited Jun 03, 2024 04:50PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Theresa Sivelle (hiking1957) | 104 comments #12 The Answer Man

A great story. (view spoiler)


Trisha | 1596 comments Story 4 Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream

wow, this one WAS good
but I kept getting confused, thinking this was Danny from The Shining and I was like (view spoiler)

I would have read this as a longer one (view spoiler)


Trisha | 1596 comments Story 5: Finn

jeez, his poor luck (view spoiler)


Trisha | 1596 comments Story 6 On Slide Inn Road

wow! (view spoiler)


Trisha | 1596 comments Story 7 Red Screen

ha love it! Taking a conspiracy theory and twisting it just a little (view spoiler)


message 23: by Trisha (last edited Jun 04, 2024 11:45PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Trisha | 1596 comments Story 8 The Turbulence Expert

absolutely not! lol I would never (view spoiler)


message 24: by Trisha (last edited Jun 05, 2024 12:12AM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Trisha | 1596 comments Story 9: Laurie

I loved the keys but ugh, I hated the gators

(view spoiler)


Trisha | 1596 comments Story 10 Rattlesnakes

WOW! A continuation from the Dad so many years after Cujo

what a treat this was - to know how it turned out for the mom (and dad) but also, OMG what a great spooky story!

(view spoiler)


Trisha | 1596 comments Story 11 The Dreamers

I love how Stephen King always wonders about dreams

(view spoiler)


Trisha | 1596 comments Story 12 Answer Man

this last story was great (view spoiler)


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