Stephen King continues to bring the goods in his latest short story compilation, You Like It Darker. While some are more impactful than others, King continues to prove why he’s still one of the best American authors writing today.
Of the twelve stories included in this edition, four stood out to me the most: “Willie the Weirdo,” “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” “Rattlesnakes,” and “The Answer Man.” Each of these delivered a level of suspense or creepiness that stuck with me long after I finished reading.
Of these four, “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream” kept me engaged the most; my desire to know Coughlin’s fate kept me glued to the page for hours (it is the longest story in the book). The premise is simple, and King outlines the premise in the Afterword: “I thought, ‘What would happen if a man had a single psychic flash? A dream that showed him where a body was buried? Would anyone believe him, or would they think he was the killer?’” (499). It’s a rollercoaster of suspense and twists from the start, and an excellent read.
“Rattlesnakes” links two King novels, Cujo and Duma Key, and is a superbly creepy read.
“Willie the Weirdo” is short but has some palpably unsettling imagery and a great ending.
The final story, “The Answer Man,” is thought-provoking, and its themes resonate long after you’ve completed the book. It’s relatively tame by King’s standards, but still manages to gin up plenty of emotional heft and suspense.
For hardcore King fans, you’ll get plenty of references to Derry and Castle Rock, two favorite King locations used in numerous novels and short stories over the past several decades.
Compared to other Stephen King short story collections, You Like It Darker is less violent, disturbing, and macabre. While those elements exist throughout, they are used sparingly and for greater impact than for shock value. In his other short story collections like Skeleton Crew, Nightmares & Dreamscapes, Full Dark, No Stars, and If It Bleeds, King amped up the graphic violence much more than is on display here.
You Like It Darker by Stephen King is an excellent read, offering a wide range of stories that will keep you engaged and ready for more. I highly recommend it!