You Like It Darker

Stories

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Will Patton, Stephen King

Length: 20 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

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 digest. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in You Like It Darker, listeners 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.

©2024 Stephen King (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Chilling and beautiful stories

It’s hard for me to choose a favorite from this new collection. It’s excellently written, and superbly narrated.

I could choose ‘Rattlesnakes’ for the power of its writing, creepy imagery (and superbly creepy narration!) This story, ‘The Dreamers,’ ‘Willie the Weirdo,’ (which reminds me very strongly of ‘Grandma’) and ‘On Slide Inn Road’ are the ones I’d say are more “pure” horror, in the tradition of the genre.

‘Two Talented Bastids’, the opening story, is also a strong contender. Not for its science fictiony plot device, but for its examination of deep friendships between men, and the relationships between men and their sons. It also highlights the type of kindness, as well as courage, that can be nurtured in those relationships. It’s a great story, and it gave me some chills on the way.

I think my overall favorite is ‘The Answer Man’ because it’s beautifully crafted, and because it serves up an answer to many of the questions Stephen King has spent his life asking through his fiction.

It’s always interesting to me when a writer wrestles with an idea in multiple ways. Stories in this collection either directly connect to, or remind me of themes in, “Tommyknockers,” “The Dead Zone,” “Cujo,” “Duma Key,” “Hearts in Atlantis,” “Dreamcatcher,” and stories from “Everything’s Eventual,” and “Just After Sunset.”

Some critics have claimed that “the pacing is uneven.” I’m not sure how one manages a collection of 12 disparate stories, each written with their own rhythm, without that being true. If it’s a concern, perhaps read each story one at a time.

Overall, this is a wonderful collection of mostly new, unpublished stories from a lifetime writer who, much to my pleasure, is still wrestling with questions about fate, what it is to be both human and humane, aging, childhood, marriage, and what might live beyond the veils of our reality.

As for the audiobook, it’s performed by both Stephen King and Will Patton. Patton’s narration is as excellent here as it was in “The Outsider.” He is a highly gifted narrator.

King isn’t the narrator that Patton is, but it’s always good to hear his familiar voice regardless. I’m glad this collection includes some of his narration.

Never disappoints!

What more can be said than I was so very sad when the last story was done…

Fantastic!

I love this new set of stories; well-worth the wait. Only slightly hard to navigate due to audible lack of chapter titles; but fabulous writing by King as always.

Darker How?

Not really what I was expecting considering the title. Not really dark at all.

As in any collection, some of the stories were good, and some were not as good.

If Mr. King reads this:
I have read and listened to you since I was a kid. I love your work for the most part, but please keep two things in mind:
1) We read/listen to books for entertainment. We watch sports for entertainment. We go to the movies for entertainment. Please keep your politics/ideology out of your work. I am so tired of hearing about COVID, Trump, and anything else along those lines. Had a hard time finishing Holly, ruined what could have been a great book.
2) Please do not read your own work. It rarely works out for the good, for any author.

Good, but have been better

like the title says, it was good. it was entertaining, but it isn't his best or even second best set of short stories.

What happened to the chapter titles

I’ve read/listened to five or six stories so far. Narration is great. Stories are ranging from great while some are just ok some like red screen are not good. When I first downloaded the title it showed the name of each story title and chapter breaks. Now it just has 100+ chapters. Why did the story titles disappear I didn’t remove the audio file. I did try removing it and downloading it again but just chapter numbers listed. Hopefully Audible sees this and reinserts the story titles. Thx.

Getting better with age

While Skeleton Crew is still my favorite collection of King stories, this was a great group of stories. Will Patton brings a touch of melancholy, in a good way, as though he was recounting his own life and the still sharp feelings come through his voice.

Excellent story telling as expected

Loved each story and hated when they ended. King continues to be the king of story telling.

you like it darker

Classic Stephen King! The master has amazed us once again! At this point the King is just showing off!

Love it! Stephen is still the King.

Couldn’t put this this one down.
I started immediately listed at work in the car, walking the dog going to bed. Stories are great.
Will Patton is fantastic as usual !

I hate that audible removed the story titles for some reason.
They were there when on day one when I started listening. Then they were gone. Now I only have numbers as reference.

Hope they put them back