Day 1,625, Quasi-Quarantine: Extrasensory Perception, Visions, Covid Combine To Propel "You Like It Darker" Into Another King Short-Story Masterpiece

 

“Well, I tell myself, we call it a gift and we call ourselves gifted, but gifts are never really earned, are they? Only given. Talent is grace made visible.” 

~ “Two Talented Bastids”

Bookended by the strong opener "Two Talented Bastids" and the emotional "The Answer Man," "You Like It Darker" is Stephen King summoning his fastball in yet another short-story collection. Filled with Easter eggs from his entire oeuvre, this book balances quick burns ("The Fifth Step," "Willie the Weirdo," "On Slide Inn Road," "Red Screen") with novellete-length stunners like "Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream," "Rattlesnakes," and "The Answer Man."

“The stars we see at night are just eternity’s first inch.”

~ “The Dreamers”

"You Like It Darker" balances an emphasis on dreams and visions with insights on mortality and toxic masculinity. The specter of Covid overhangs much of the work, lending an air of isolation and paranoia to the festivities.

“He wonders if he could change his name, ditch his family, and get a job at some little bank in an Australian town. Learn to call people mate and say g’day.” 

~ “On Slide Inn Road”

The author manages to pay tribute to Flannery O'Connor ("On Slide Inn Road") and H.P. Lovecraft ("The Dreamers"), while hat-tipping his own works like "The Shining" and "Doctor Sleep" ("Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream"), "Duma Key" ("Rattlesnakes"), and "Tommyknockers" ("Two Talented Bastids").

“What had Jim the bridge keeper said? Dusk, you know. Real things seem thinner then.”

~ “Rattlesnakes”

Along the way, he combines interesting concepts ("Finn"), potentially misplaced entries ("Judge Judy"), and familiar republications ("Laurie"), maintaining the ability to hit you hard in just eight pages ("The Fifth Step") or drag you along at high intensity for 151 ("Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream").

King varies his locations from his trademark Northeast, roaming to the Midwest, Ireland, New York City, and Florida. His customary stellar character-building is ever-present, giving fans of this format yet more evidence that better short-story writers would be difficult to find.

“You like it darker? Fine. So do I, and that makes me your soul brother.”