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You Like It Darker  By  cover art

You Like It Darker

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Will Patton, Stephen King
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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

Editorial Review

Pace yourself
Did you know that May is Short Story Month? And what better way to enjoy it than having the king of horror himself, Stephen King, release a new anthology of dark and disturbing tales. You Like It Darker features 12 short stories, some new and some fan favorites, just in time to add frightful flair to my list of short stories to binge this month. As a longstanding fan of Stephen King, I was really excited to catch the mentions of popular characters like Cujo and well-established multiverse locations like Castle Rock and Derry, Maine. You Like It Darker is one of King’s longer anthologies, so take your time. You have the whole month of May to finish! —Nicole R., Audible Editor

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What listeners say about You Like It Darker

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Will Patton sure can narrate a story!!

Another great group of short and shortish stories by the great Stephen King! There was one "Laurie" which was also included in another book of King's, but fun to hear again. I wish Mr. King could write forever, he has a great ability to take me away. I thoroughly recommend these stories. They are beautifully written and get right at human nature. I will listen again and look forward to talking to friends that are currently having a good listen, fun to compare thoughts! Thanks again Stephen King, for more enrichment.

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Not as Dark as I Expected

I was expecting…more. I enjoyed revisiting the “Cujo” storyline, but aside from that, it doesn’t really hold up to its title. Forever a fan…but disappointed in this one.

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Return of the King!

Fantastic; especially if you’re King fan; of all the story collections-this one ties/continues some major King books-through another perspective; I greatly appreciated the book and the narrators.

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King's Still Got It

This collection is diverse, yet has all the hallmarks of the King works I know and love.

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Great selection of short stories from a great storyteller

this book was great! I loved nearly all if the stories. there was one or two that were just ok to me but the rest were amazing. only a couple were horror but it showcased the great storytelling if one of the greatest writers of all time.

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Audible is A RIP OFF!!!

We pay full price for an incomplete BOOK! I should have bought the hard copy! There's no titles for the stories! No information about length of each story! VERY SHABBY AUDIBLE!!! I'm sick of getting ripped off by this over priced app!!! I love being able to listen to the books. But they can and SHOULD DO BETTER!!!

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reading King for years, even before my son was born ,

Stephen’s ending about where the stories come from, loved it, almost brought tears to my eyes. I’ve been reading King for years, even before my son was born , now he’s 50 and loves you as much as me

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Excellent anthology by King. King and Patton ace the narration.

Stephen is the King of Intermixing the sublime with everyday life - these short and long stories are so engaging because we get to know the main characters and the eeriness they experience seems like it could be just around the corner.

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Great read.

Great stories and Will Patton killed it with the narration as usual. It may not be his scariest collection but it might be his best written collection

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Using old characters

I loved all the stories and especially bringing back memories from previous books made it much more enjoyable

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