You Like It Darker Audiobook By Stephen King cover art

You Like It Darker

Stories

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You Like It Darker

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Will Patton, Stephen King
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About this listen

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
Anthologies & Short Stories Editor's Select Short Stories Supernatural Suspense Scary Exciting Fiction
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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

What listeners say about You Like It Darker

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thank god Will Patton is back!

Some really great stories. When Will Patton left on the last book and a new reader came in - it was a bummer since she was a trash narrator. Will Patton and King are the perfect combo. Thank god he's back.

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King's short stories are so God Dam× good!

I can't stand his politics. He clearly suffers from TDS...but the dude can write a short story!

absolutely love these stories.

The narrators are phenomenal.

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The Master is Back!

I liked that he stayed out of politics! "Holly" made me vomit. I wish he would rewrite it and and add Will Patton as narrator.

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Will Patton Kills!

Great narration, which is of course, standard Will Patton.

Enjoyed every single story, especially Laurie, Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream and The Answer Man.

There's a lot of heart in this collection, which is of course, standard Stephen King.

Thanks again, Mr. King! In your own way, you give me joy.

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another great collection of king shorts

I really enjoyed this one, I'd rank it 3rd out of his short story collections behind skeleton crew and nightshift and very enjoyable.

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King won’t let up with politics and covid

Idk where this title emerges from and this book is NOT classic King but the new and corroded version. Granted some stories are great BUT…let’s just say this is what I’d say to him, my one time favorite author second only to Poe, after only being halfway through this book:
“Dude, you WERE a fantastic author until you decided to use your fame as a platform for hate. Who cares what political party you prefer, you are insulting the others with your snide comments. We get it, Covid was bad but we had to live it, books are to escape reality and if I have to hear about Covid again I’m going to scream! Your editors need to grow a backbone and tell you the truth, you have great talent but you need to stay in your lane as it is affecting the quality of your craft. Ever since bag of bones every subsequent one has gotten worse especially with the whole political soapbox and pandering to twitter trends. Get over yourself.”
Buy it so long as you don’t mind the constant reminders of what we suffered through both with the political divide and the pandemic, stories are decent (none scary) but I’m ready to smash my phone.
Oh but the narrator is fantastic

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Some great. Some ok

I'm fairly new to Stephen King and I was excited for this collection. As with most collections, there's good and just OK.

The stories I remember are below.

Two Talented Bastids - Two friends from the same town suddenly get famous for different reasons. One, an artist. The other, a writer. But what sparked their success? And why do they refuse to talk about it?

Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream - My favorite story. A man dreams of a body behind a gas station. It was so vivid, he can't believe it so he goes to the station to prove to himself that it wasn't real. It was real. And now two detectives are on the case. One obsessed with his guilt, the other focused on facts.

On Slide Inn Road - Great tense story about a family on a lonely stretch of road who come across two men.
Red Screen - Great short about a man who killed his girlfriend and the detective who interrogates him.

The Turbulence Expert - Loved this one! We follow a man who flies often to observe turbulence. It's great.

Rattlesnakes - I was not a fan. It was decent, but it was LONG. It felt like it could have ended a few times and didn't.

The Answer Man - Another favorite. A man who appears on the side of the road answers any questions you can ask within a set amount of time. Will you ask the right questions?

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The Best of the Best

These are the best stories King has ever told. Filled with wisdom, laughter, loss and love. I hope King lives another 50yrs because he gets better with age.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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old friends

It's like revisiting childhood reading King short stories. Masterful tales, gripping and engaging as always

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Stephen king Aka mr Bachman does it again

Love the short stories he does they are always amazing and never fail to leave you wanting more

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