Ah, Stephen King… Widely regarded as perhaps the most prolific writer of our time (and rightfully so), King is an expert at engaging readers with terrifying and fantastical stories about the darkest parts of our imaginations: a spine-chilling and harrowing place in which only the most unspeakable of horrors can exist.

With over 60 novels, 120 short stories, and 5 non-fiction books published, it is clear that King has truly mastered the craft of writing.

To be completely transparent, I came to first enjoy Stephen King’s iconic stories through the silver screen, having watched “It” and “It Chapter Two” in theatres. To say I was intrigued by the terror, the thrill, and the suspense would be an understatement. I’ll also never forget watching Kubrick’s “The Shining” for the first time in college. As someone who was never a horror fanatic, these films were my first steps into this vast genre, and since watching them, I have not looked back.

I decided that I would read “It” to get a glimpse of the world I had seen on-screen. This time though, I would see it as intended by the creator of this terrifying tale. Needless to say, at 1,153 pages, I did not have the commitment needed to make it very far. (Although, I do enjoy reading more of “It” in the month of October each year, so perhaps in a few years, you will finally get to read my review… We will see.)

I came across a copy of King’s “You Like it Darker” at an airport earlier this year. I saw it was an anthology of 12 short stories. I remember thinking that this would be the perfect way to get into King’s books, since it was a collection of several shorter works.

Right away, I noticed King’s incredible syntax. The complex yet clear sentences were descriptive to the point of realism.

I was happy to see that these stories explore broadly “dark” themes that play on human’s innate discomforts: fate, chance, and mortality. This made the characters in each story feel quite real; we all know what it’s like to fear the future, to distrust the world around us, to question ourselves and the reality we live in…

If I had to choose a favorite story, it would have to be “The Answer Man” followed closely by “Rattlesnakes” — both were deeply unsettling in different ways.

Not every story captured my interest as deeply, and at times, I found my attention straying. But that’s only natural. Overall, I would say that while the themes explored in this anthology did not necessarily terrify me in the way that demonic teethy clowns and haunted hotels can, they certainly got me thinking about life’s real horrors. And to that, I ask you: what is more terrifying than a horror that exists not only on a page, but perhaps more frighteningly, within all of us?

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