Well, folks, it’s that time again. The literary world’s favorite boogeyman has emerged from his lair, brandishing a fresh collection of nightmares bound in paperback. Stephen King’s latest offering, “You Like It Darker,” is a smorgasbord of short stories that’ll tickle your spine and leave you sleeping with one eye open.
As I cracked open this tome of terror, I couldn’t help but wonder: would the King still reign supreme in the realm of the creepy and the crawly? Spoiler alert: he does, but with a few unexpected twists along the way.
From the get-go, it’s clear that King’s pen hasn’t lost its venomous bite. The collection opens with a bang – or rather, a blood-curdling scream – that sets the tone for the rollercoaster ride ahead. King’s prose dances between the lyrical and the visceral, painting vivid pictures that’ll have you squirming in your seat one moment and marveling at the beauty of his words the next.
Before we unpack and review the stories (warning: SPOILERS lie ahead), here some more information about the collection itself:
- Publisher: Scribner
- Publication Date: May 21, 2024
- Number of pages: 512
- Number of stories: 12
- This is King’s first short story collection since 2015.
- Not counting his novella collections, this is King’s 7th short story collection.
Now, let’s tuck in to the meat and potatoes of this literary feast:
1. Two Talented Bastids
In the opening tale we meet Laird and Butch, two unassuming friends whose lives are forever altered by a chance encounter with an otherworldly being. As they stumble upon an alien lifeform in distress while on a hunting trip, they unwittingly unlock the secrets of their own dormant talents. The alien’s enigmatic gift – a small, gray case that awakens their inner artistic geniuses – sets them on a path of creative exploration, as they blossom into a renowned writer and artist.
One of the most striking aspects of “Two Talented Bastids” is its thematic resonance with King’s earlier work, particularly “The Tommyknockers.” While the latter novel descends into darkness, exploring the corrupting influence of alien power, “Two Talented Bastids” offers a more optimistic, life-affirming take on the intersection of art and the supernatural. This contrast highlights King’s remarkable versatility as a storyteller, as he revisits familiar themes with fresh eyes and a newfound sense of wonder.
Throughout the story, King’s prose is as evocative as ever, conjuring vivid images of the rural landscape, the eerie atmosphere of the alien encounter, and the inner worlds of his characters. His writing is akin to a masterful symphony, effortlessly shifting between moments of tenderness, humor, and unease.
In “Two Talented Bastids,” Stephen King reminds us that creativity is a mysterious, otherworldly force that can transform our lives in unexpected ways. This novella champions the power of imagination, friendship, and the boundless potential that lies within us all. As we immerse ourselves in King’s captivating world, we are reminded that, indeed, we like it darker – but we also crave the light of inspiration, the thrill of creation, and the magic that happens when the universe conspires to unlock our true potential.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
2. The Fifth Step
Harold Jamieson, a retired engineer enjoying his golden years in Manhattan, encounters an unexpected visitor during his daily routine in Central Park. A seemingly ordinary man named Jack approaches Harold, claiming to be a recovering alcoholic seeking help with a crucial step in his rehabilitation process.
Harold is as vanilla as they come – a retiree content with his Netflix and newspaper routine. Jack, a character who initially seems plucked from an AA pamphlet, gradually reveals himself to be cut from far darker cloth. The dialogue between these two is King at his most Stephen King-ish: natural, engaging, and tinged with an undercurrent of unease that grows with each exchanged word.
The story’s pacing is like a slow-cooker set to “dread.” It simmers along, adding ingredients of discomfort until the final moments when it boils over into horror. King’s talent for making the ordinary sinister shines here, transforming a park bench into a confessional and then an altar of violence.
However, the tale isn’t without its flaws. The twist, while jarring, feels somewhat telegraphed to seasoned King readers. And Jack’s motivations, while disturbing, lack the depth that would elevate this from a good story to a great one.
Yet, there’s an undeniable pull to this narrative. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion – horrifying, yet impossible to look away from. King’s exploration of the masks we wear and the demons we hide is, as always, unnervingly on point.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
3. Willie the Weirdo
Let’s set the scene: A family dinner table where young Willie, the odd duck of the bunch, is busy making a clown face in his mashed potatoes. His sister Roxie, blossoming into adolescence, drops the “Weirdo” bomb on him. The parents try to shush her, but Grampa James, the old war horse, takes an interest in Willie’s peculiarities.
Willie and Grampa form an unlikely alliance, swapping tall tales about historical events and natural disasters. Meanwhile, the rest of the family grapples with Willie’s oddness and Grampa’s declining health. As a mysterious virus sweeps the globe, Grampa’s health takes a nosedive due to cancer.
In a twist that’ll make your hair stand on end, Grampa’s final moments with Willie take an unexpected and chilling turn. The story wraps up with Willie matter-of-factly informing his family of Grampa’s passing, leaving us with a sense of unease about what really went down in that room.
One again King’s masterful character work shines through in Willie, a kid who’s just a few fries short of a Happy Meal. The way he obsesses over dead things and disaster scenarios will have you checking under your bed at night. And don’t get me started on Grampa James – that old coot’s tall tales and mysterious past add a sinister layer of intrigue that’ll keep you guessing.
In true King fashion, “Willy the Weirdo” takes the ordinary and twists it into something deeply unsettling. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most terrifying monsters are the ones living right under our own roofs. This story is like a paper cut – small, but man, does it sting! If you’re looking for a quick hit of the heebie-jeebies, “Willy the Weirdo” delivers in spades.
Rating: 4/5 stars.
4. Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream
Meet Danny Coughlin, a high school custodian whose life is forever altered by a single, vivid dream. In this dream, he sees a murder victim buried behind an abandoned gas station, wearing a charm bracelet on one wrist. The dream is so realistic that Danny becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, leading him to investigate the crime scene and ultimately becoming the prime suspect in the murder investigation.
As Danny navigates the treacherous landscape of his own sanity, he must confront the dark forces that seek to destroy him. The relentless Detective Jalbert, driven by a zealous determination to prove Danny’s guilt, becomes a formidable foe, pushing Danny to the brink of despair. Meanwhile, the enigmatic Andrew Iverson, a serial killer who has confessed to the crime, adds another layer of complexity to the narrative, raising questions about the nature of justice and the reliability of the human psyche.
“Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream” thematically resonates with King’s novel “The Outsider.” While the novel descends into darkness, exploring the corrupting influence of supernatural power, “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream” offers a more nuanced, psychologically driven take on the intersection of fate and human nature. This contrast highlights King’s remarkable versatility as a storyteller, as he revisits familiar themes with fresh eyes and a newfound sense of wonder.
Rating: 5/5 stars
5. Finn
In this darkly comedic tale, King weaves a tapestry of misfortune around the luckless Finn Murrie. From his inauspicious entrance into the world (literally dropped by the midwife) to a series of increasingly improbable accidents, Finn’s life seems cursed by an unseen malevolent force.
The narrative unfolds like a series of painful punchlines, each misfortune building on the last. A cherry bomb claims Finn’s toe, monkey bars break his arm, and a lightning strike nearly claims his life. King masterfully balances the tragic with the absurd, inviting both winces and reluctant chuckles from the reader.
But it’s when Finn is mistaken for a criminal named Bobby Feeney that his string of bad luck reaches its horrifying crescendo. Kidnapped and tortured by a group of delusional vigilantes led by the unhinged Mr. Ludlum, Finn’s ordeal reads like a fever dream. The story takes on a surreal, almost Kafkaesque quality as Finn struggles to convince his captors of his innocence.
The story’s denouement leaves the reader questioning the nature of Finn’s experience. Was it all a coma-induced hallucination? A dying man’s final thoughts? Or perhaps the universe’s cruel joke on a cosmically unlucky soul? King offers no easy answers, instead inviting us to ponder the capricious nature of fate and the fragility of our perceived reality.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
6. On Slide Inn Road
When a family’s road trip takes a disastrous turn, they find themselves stranded on a remote dirt track, at the mercy of two ruthless criminals. But as the situation spirals out of control, the family’s elderly patriarch, Granpop, proves to be a formidable force, using his wits and brute strength to fight back against their attackers.
King brilliantly crafts a narrative that is both a riveting thriller and an exploration of family dynamics. Through the family’s journey, we witness the struggles of survival, the power of family bonds, and the resilience of one old bastard who proves to be tough as nails. King’s blend of humor, grotesque descriptions, and subtle terror kept me enthralled, and made for a pleasurable reading bout.
Rating: 4/5 stars
7. Red Screen
The story begins with Detective Wilson, our hapless protagonist, stumbling through a morning that’s about as pleasant as a root canal. His wife Sandi, once a source of comfort, now pelts him with petty criticisms like a verbal machine gun. It’s enough to make a man wonder if he’s losing his marbles or if his better half has swapped her honey for vinegar.
At the police station Wilson finds himself face-to-face with a suspect namedLeonard Crocker, a plumber with his wife’s blood on his hands and aliens on the brain. Crocker spins a wild yarn, claiming his wife was a fleshy puppet for some extraterrestrial puppeteer, which is why he had to kill her.
With this story King plants seeds of doubt in the mind like a paranoid gardener. Could there be a kernel of truth in Crocker’s crackpot theory? After all, in a world where reality TV stars can become world leaders, who’s to say what’s possible or impossible?
The story hurtles towards its climax. Poor Crocker meets a grisly end, but not before leaving us with a chilling warning: beware the red screen.
And just when we think we can exhale, King pulls the rug out from under us one last time. Wilson and Sandi’s tender reconciliation takes on a sinister hue as that infernal red screen makes an appearance. Is it a sign of alien invasion or just menopause setting in? King left me dangling on the precipice of uncertainty with this one.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
8. The Turbulence Expert
Meet Craig Dixon, a man shrouded in mystery and fear, whose unsettling expertise in turbulence masks a darker truth. Craig possesses an eerie power tied inexplicably to the wrath of severe clear-air turbulence, a force that stirs his deepest anxieties and awakens a sinister destiny. As he boards yet another flight, his mind races not merely with the dread of the skies, but with the overwhelming responsibility that looms over him—finding a worthy successor to inherit his cursed gift.
Stephen King offers up a narrative that is both a taut, gripping thriller and a chilling reflection on the burden of destiny. Through Dixon’s experiences, we unearth the struggle to break free from a malevolent legacy, witness the harrowing thrill of his dark gift, and feel the suffocating weight of an inescapable fate. However, other than the interesting premise, the story did not capture me like the rest in this collection. Maybe because I’ve never had a fear of flying?
Rating: 3/5 stars.
9. Laurie
This is a tale that simmers with the heat of Florida’s sun and the chill of unexpected danger. This story, like a gator lurking beneath placid waters, lulls you with its gentle pace before snapping shut the jaws of terror.
We meet Lloyd, a widower finding solace in the companionship of Laurie, a dog gifted by his sister. Their daily routine unfolds like the pages of a well-worn book – walks on the beach, shared meals, and the gentle rhythm of small-town life. King paints this world with the deft strokes of a master, each detail adding depth to the canvas.
But beneath this tranquil surface, something sinister stirs. The story takes a sudden, heart-stopping turn when Lloyd and Laurie stumble upon a scene of horror on their daily walk. Don Pitcher, Lloyd’s neighbor, lies dead, his body claimed by one of Nature’s most perfidious monsters. Would they also end up on its dinner plate? You’ll have to read it to find out.
King’s prose here is a masterclass in building tension. The ‘monster’, described with chilling precision, becomes a primal force of nature – ancient, unstoppable, and utterly indifferent to human life. Lloyd’s confrontation with this prehistoric predator is a pulse-pounding dance of survival, where quick thinking and sheer luck are the only things standing between life and death.
But “Laurie” isn’t just about man versus nature. It’s a story about connection, about the bonds we forge in the twilight of our lives. Laurie, the faithful companion, becomes more than just a pet. She’s a lifeline, a reason to keep going when the world seems intent on taking everything away.
“Laurie” is vintage King – a story that starts in the familiar, veers into the terrifying, and ends by reminding us of the profound connections that make life worth living, even in the face of loss and danger. It’s a reminder that sometimes, in our darkest moments, it’s the simplest bonds – like that between a man and his dog – that can be our strongest lifeline.
Rating: 4/5 stars
10. Rattlesnakes
The story follows Vic Trenton, a character familiar to Cujo fans. Now a lonely widower in his seventies, Vic grapples with a pain that runs deeper than any phobia; he’s haunted not only by the memories of his deceased son but also by the ghostly presence of loss that permeates his every waking moment. Set against the backdrop of Rattlesnake Key—an island riddled with a dark past and sinister wildlife—Vic’s encounters with his eccentric neighbor, Alita Bell, usher him into a confrontation with the tragic fate of her twin sons and the rattlesnakes that symbolize both danger and inevitability.
King deftly immerses readers in Vic’s inner turmoil as he wanders through nostalgia layered with regret. The narrative pulsates with a chilling energy—especially as Vic comes face-to-face with spectral elements that conjure memories best left buried. The imagery is hauntingly vivid: Alita’s stroller eerily carries a spectral weight as Vic is enveloped by visions urging him to confront terrifying truths.
Described by many as one of King’s scariest tales in You Like It Darker, “Rattlesnakes” stands out for its careful exploration of personal loss wrapped in a dark supernatural package. King reinvigorates familiar themes while delivering a fresh surge of terror. Praise has rightly been laid on his ability to make even an inanimate stroller feel like a vessel of dread—a true hallmark of King’s mastery.
Rating: 5/5 stars
11. The Dreamers
Meet William Davis, a Vietnam veteran tormented by the harrowing shadows of his past. In an effort to escape his inner demons, Davis finds himself employed by Elgin, a scientist whose work delves into the darkest recesses of human consciousness. Elgin’s sinister Lovecraftian Dream Experiments urge human test subjects to access a nightmare realm of unimaginable horror—one that can bleed into our own reality.
As Davis becomes entwined in Elgin’s macabre research, his journey transforms into a bone-chilling exploration of the human psyche, probing existential questions that drive him to the edge of sanity. The novella’s central theme—the terrifying power of dreams to reshape our world—is beautifully woven throughout the narrative, and left me pondering my own nightly oneiric adventures with more than a little trepidation.
In “The Dreamers” King meticulously constructs a narrative that is both a taut, spine-tingling thriller and a profound philosophical quest. Through Davis’s harrowing experiences, readers witness the torment of grappling with one’s identity and the all-encompassing grip of trauma. King’s quiet horror kept me entranced, as the line between reality and the nightmarish unknown became increasingly nebulous.
The novella’s pervasive sense of dread is intensified by haunting imagery, particularly the recurring vision of the red house with a green door—a symbol as enigmatic as it is unsettling. King’s prose is as evocative as ever, painting vivid scenes of a rural landscape steeped in eerie foreboding. And if you’re a fan of H.P. Lovecraft, this story will give you a shot of that cosmic terror you’ve been craving.
Rating: 5/5 stars
12. The Answer Man
In the final story we meet Phil, a small-town lawyer who encounters a mysterious figure known as the Answer Man during the lean years of the Great Depression. This enigmatic being offers to answer three of Phil’s questions for $25, setting him on a journey of self-discovery and introspection. As Phil navigates the twists and turns of his life, he must confront the dark answers that have shaped his destiny, and the tragedy that fate has in store for him.
This is one of King’s best tales, and manages to cram in some truly terrific character development for a short story. Not only does it chronicle a man’s entire life, but it also manages to make you feel as though it mirrors your own life. At least, that was my experience with the tale; your mileage may vary.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Final Thoughts
“You Like It Darker” as a whole explores various dark themes, including horror, suspense, and the darker aspects of existence. It combines some of Stephen King’s previously published short stories with new, unpublished ones, offering a mix of familiar settings and characters alongside fresh horrors.
As I turned the final page, I felt like I’d just stepped off a literary tilt-a-whirl – dizzy, disoriented, but ultimately exhilarated. King’s ability to conjure fear from the mundane remains steadfast, and his characters feel as real as the goosebumps on my arms.
That said, not every story hits the mark. There are moments when the pacing lags, and a few endings that feel more like whimpers than bangs. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise stellar collection.
In the end, “You Like It Darker” proves that Stephen King is still the reigning monarch of the macabre. It’s a reminder of why we keep coming back to his worlds of wonder and terror, time and time again. So curl up in your favorite reading nook, constant reader, and prepare to be thoroughly entertained – and more than a little unsettled, when you read “You Like It Darker.”
Overall Score:
★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars)
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