2024 the best stephen king books review

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(as of Nov 30, 2024 12:10:08 UTC - Details)

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.

Reviewer: A Constant Reader
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A superb collection of a dozen stories, including some that are quite exquisite!
Review: Most non-fans of Mr. King think of him as a horror writer (usually thinking of gore - which he does very well), and are unaware he gave the world The Green Mile, (Rita Hayworth and) The Shawshank Redemption, Dolores Claiborne, and (The Body) Stand By Me. When I was a bookstore owner, I used those as a comeback to the countless customers who told me they did not like King's writing. In this set of stories "Two Talented Bastids" is wonderful literature masquerading as a bit of SciFi. I wish I were very wealthy so I could buy movie rights to this one, as that would be an excellent investment.I'm sure many "friends of Bill" will not like what Mr. King has done for the 12 Steps in "The Fifth Step," but I found it to be an extremely funny look at an idea. The main character here is going to have real problems when it comes to making amends, though."Willie the Wierdo" actually is a horror story, but it is also close to Jacob's hundred-plus year old classic "The Monkey's Paw"."Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream" is another I would love to have enough money to invest in the movie/TV rights. It is going to be an excellent production. I could see exactly the right actors for the cast all the way through it. It is also the second story here that felt to me like exquisite writing.The story "Finn" reminds me very much of a Faustian idea I once had for writing a book, but I never got around to writing it. Thank you, Mr. King for doing the hard work for me.There is no horror or supernatural in "On Slide Inn Road". It is just a very good, very tight action short story that is very satisfying. Mr. King gives a nod to O'Connor, so I guess I'll have to try reading some."Red Screen" is a brief glimpse into a world and some characters that you know how things are going to be, but you want it to go on anyway to find out how right or wrong you are.I have to say "The Turbulence Expert" is one that just did not impress me all that much. It was an interesting idea, and I liked the characters, but it just did not take me anywhere."Laurie" is a nice story that moves a little slowly, but that's ok because it doesn't seem to have anywhere that it wants to go. It just introduces you to some diverse characters that are very much like people in your neighborhood and family. There is a bit of excitement, but no horror or supernatural to it."Rattlesnakes" is another that will be a good production, either movie or TV. Again I would be willing to invest in the rights for it. It comes with a tip of the hat to John D. McDonald, who is another writer whose every work I read voraciously. This one does drift into the world of supernatural and good versus evil, but not as heavily as some of Mr. King's gargantuan novels. It brings back a character from Cujo in a setting close-by Duma Key, but you don't need to have read either of those to enjoy it (to be honest, I did not recall the character actually making an appearance in Cujo). The TV/movie script will be enormously bolstered by the very real, likable ancillary characters that work throughout this novella."The Dreamers" was an interesting idea, but for whatever reason it did not do it for me. I really liked, and felt for the narrator, but the story left me flat. I did not grasp Mr. King's reference to Cormac McCarthy, whose beautiful prose in horrific, sometimes painful to read stories, I love.The advice to performing artists is to "Always leave 'em wanting more." And Mr. King certainly does that with "The Answer Man" as the finale for this publication. As a better reviewer remarked this story "reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful." At the conclusion of this beautifully written piece, you definitely want more while at the same time it gives a great feeling of satisfaction. And that is good writing!

Reviewer: Kevin Lintner
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: An extraordinary collection of short stories!
Review: Stephen King's *You Like It Darker* is an extraordinary collection of short stories that takes readers on a journey through the shadows of human experience. Each tale is uniquely crafted, offering a range of horrors that are both deeply unsettling and thought-provoking. King's mastery of storytelling shines through, making this a must-read for fans of the genre.Among the collection, a few stories stand out as particularly memorable. "The Answer Man" is a chilling exploration of the dangers of foresight, where the protagonist faces the ominous consequences of seeking knowledge about his future. This story is a perfect example of King's ability to weave suspense with profound philosophical questions.Another highlight is "Rattlesnakes," a story that revisits the world of *Cujo* and introduces new layers of terror. The sense of dread builds slowly, culminating in a deeply disturbing narrative that lingers long after the story ends.However, my favorite story in the collection is "On Slide Inn Road." This tale captures the essence of Southern Gothic horror, blending elements of psychological tension with supernatural terror. The story's depiction of a family stranded in a desolate area, facing unspeakable horrors, is both eerie and captivating. King's skillful character development and atmospheric writing make this story a standout in an already impressive collection.Overall, *You Like It Darker* is a brilliant showcase of Stephen King's storytelling prowess. Each story is a gem, offering something unique and haunting. It's a collection that will satisfy long-time fans and newcomers alike, earning it a well-deserved five stars.

Reviewer: Luther
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great Stories- Wish King would stop talking about Covid in his books
Review: Overall, I really liked most of the short stories in this book. They are classic Stephen King- always gnawing at something unpleasant that's under the surface. With some of these short stories, that unpleasantness is a typical monster/ghost/ghoul, in other cases the biggest antagonist is sometimes is the character themselves- in terms of their personality or flaws that get in the way of their story.Before going into the individual stories- one thing that has bothered me about the last few Stephen King books is the fact that he continues to bring up Covid. In several stories within this book, Covid comes up and plays some role in the story, sometimes minor, sometimes just mentioned and nothing more. I wish that King would stop doing this. I read Stephen King to escape from the horrors of real-life, and I really would prefer to move on from that two years of my life- and not have to read about it within the short stories/novels that I read, especially from King.My favorite short story within this book really wasn't scary at all- Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream. In this story, a man dreams of finding a dead body- then ventures out and finds it exactly where it was in his dream. He then finds himself in a situation where he's struggling to prove that he isn't the killer- as his dream starts to derail his whole life. This was an excellent story- kinda in the genre of King's true-crime novels. It's one of the longest stories within this book- but it was a very quick read because I couldn't put it down.Another favorite was Rattlesnakes- which is typical King horror. You'll meet a character that connects with a novel from King's early years- and that alone added a lot to the story line. The only thing that I didn't like abou this one was the whole Covid thing that came up a few times.The Answer Man was the final story- and it was also enjoyable. Not scary at all- but interesting and engaging nonetheless. As a bonus, King talks about that short story a bit in his afterword.If you are a King fan, this won't disappoint. I've struggled with a few of his short story collections- losing interest or putting it down for a few weeks between readings. Not this one- it keeps your interest and you really are able to connect with the characters. It's worth a read.

Reviewer: Carolyn-Fe
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This has got to be my most favourite Stephen King book to date, after Salem's Lot. A collection of dark, really dark short stories. I love it when Mr. King goes "there".

Reviewer: Marcos
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Que livro bom! Stephen king é um excelente autor de contos. Acho que é o melhor livro dele nos últimos 10, 12 anos. Todos os contos e novelas do livro são excelentes com exceção de “Finn” que realmente não me pegou. Altamente recomendável, na melhor tradição da ficção espeulativa norte americana. Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury, onde quer que estejam devem estar orgulhos das sementes que plantaram. Vale cada palavra lida.

Reviewer: Cliente de Kindle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: First, I didn't know there was a story sequel of CUJO... surprised and happy, read it gladly. Second, apart from the sequel of CUJO, there were several stories that were just amazing, I think the "two talented bastids" story is my favorite so far, gave me "Dreamcatcher" vibes! This book is a must-read for every Stephen King fan, and I recommend it if you are new to his stories.

Reviewer: Alfirin
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Kindle or physical edition : same opinion.Some shot stories are great, just a few you wish it would have ended sooner.There's one in particular I wish it had been a full novel though.

Reviewer: Kindle Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The best short story book he has ever written. I loved it. You won't be disappointed. My four more words.