Marty Roppelt’s ‘Mortal Foe’: A Rollercoaster Ride Through the Shadows

‘Mortal Foe’ by Marty Roppelt. Photo: Amazon

Marty Roppelt was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and enjoys writing in the paranormal and horror genre. He has written a series of short Christmas stories to raise money for St. Herman’s House, a homeless shelter in Cleveland. In his first novel “Mortal Foe,” a picture is worth a thousand words, but what if that image can only be seen through the lens of one special camera? (Amazon, 2024)

“Mortal Foe” – Buddy Cullen dreams of his grandfather’s death just before it happened. After his death, he inherits his grandfather’s antique camera which captures an image that haunts him and seeks his death. Can Buddy survive the curse that he sarcastically dubs “Popcorn”—a curse that no one wants to believe exists and stalks the city of Cleveland, beginning with its baseball team—a mortal foe?

Review:
The story is set in Cleveland, Ohio and begins with Buddy Cullen, a journalism professor, waking up from a nightmare about his grandfather Jimmy Cullen. In it, he sees his grandfather, who’s a photographer, and within the nightmare, he has an out of body experience and becomes Jimmy and experiences his last night alive. Buddy and his girlfriend Kelly attend Jimmy’s wake at O’Leary’s, his father’s Irish pub. There, he takes a picture of Jimmy’s friends with his old camera. This picture, and others that Jimmy took throughout his life, will haunt Buddy and he believes they are linked to the curse of the Cleveland Indians. Together with RJ, his best friend, and Erika, RJ’s sister, they investigate these pictures which inevitably opens hell on earth for Buddy and will endanger his loved ones in ways he never saw coming.

“Mortal Foe” is a gripping thriller that deals with the complexities of family and the human condition. Roppelt masterfully creates a narrative filled with suspense and intrigue, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each twist and turn. The characters are well developed and their relationship with each other moves the story along at a steady pace. Buddy is a flawed but compelling character, struggling with his own moral dilemmas while chasing down a formidable antagonist. From the beginning, with Buddy awakening from a nightmare: “Don’t show the darkness any fear,” readers are immerse in his world, where menacing shadows lurk everywhere.

There is heavy sports talk since the narrative centers around baseball, specifically the Cleveland Indians, but you don’t have to know the sport well to get caught up on the story, which intensifies after Chapter 11 when Buddy starts seeing all sorts of creepy and scary images. The language is vivid and descriptive: “Mannion wears the profound loss of a close friend like a floor-length, black overcoat” and brings the story to life.

Overall, “Mortal Foe” is a must-read notable addition to the thriller genre, showcasing Roppelt’s talent for creating an engaging and thought-provoking story. By exploring the themes of death, faith, family, friendship, and good vs evil, it is a treat for baseball and supernatural fans alike. The author’s attention to detail and ability to build tension is evident throughout the book, making it a page-turner that’s hard to put down. It’s recommended for fans of suspenseful, character-driven narratives.

“The shadow approaches my bed. The odors intensify with each step, both the reeking of too many roses and the stench of corruption. Decay. Death.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

‘Godspeed, Cedar Key’: Insights and Reflections on Michael Presley Bobbitt’s latest work

‘Godspeed, Cedar Key’ is the debut novel by Michael Presley Bobbitt. Photo: Amazon

Michael Presley Bobbitt is an off-Broadway playwright, novelist, and clam farmer living on a tiny island in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. He always wanted to be a novelist, but first had to spend all those years in the theater to learn how to create memorable characters. Prose was always his first love and will be the windmill he tilts after for the rest of his life. “Godspeed, Cedar Key” is his debut novel; it isn’t just another end of the world book, it’s a despite the end of the world book. (Amazon, 2024)

“Godspeed, Cedar Key” – Cedar Key is an island off the western coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. On a chilly February morning, the horizon is covered in a piercing light, and in an instant the old world is gone forever. Fires burn on horizons around the planet but the heat eventually gives way to the creeping monotone of the skies. The gray sets in overhead and all around, determined to keep the sun away from the land and waters.

In the aftermath, 300 islanders must learn to survive, battling invaders from the mainland, disease and natural disasters, and the intensifying dread of hearing almost nothing from the wider world. Despite the loss of most technologies and modern comforts, the islanders persevere in the face of hardship and death– burying their loved ones in the morning and planting spring vegetables in the afternoon.

Review:
The story begins as the town council is voting on taking down the Number Four Bridge that separates the island from the mainland. Hayes David is the current mayor who briefly left town but eventually returned, as most people often do, but “…was unable to escape for long the reach of its familial and environmental tendrils.” It then goes on to tell the backstory of the town’s various citizens, how they survived the town’s shifting priorities, and how they worked together to tackle the fallout from ‘the gray.’

This novel is an interesting blend of historical and literary fiction set against the backdrop of the charming town of Cedar Key, Florida. It has intrigue, small-town dynamics, and personal redemption with the main focus on character development and atmospheric storytelling. Bobbitt excels in creating a vivid small town setting that feels almost like a character on its own, with its coastal beauty and close-knit community adding layers to the narrative. The writing style is engaging, offering an emotional depth that keeps readers engaged. With language that is vivid and easy to understand, the plot unfolds at a steady pace: “For a moment, he missed her disapproval like an aimless former prisoner homesick for the familiar walls of his cell.”

Overall, “Godspeed, Cedar Key” is a compelling read that combines heartfelt personal journeys with historical facts. By exploring the themes of family, friendship, isolation, death, and resiliency, it emphasizes the need for humans to live in true community with one another. Despite the theme of a nuclear accident, it’s not a dystopian novel, but an excellent piece of literary fiction with rich prose and deeply developed characters. It is an homage to small towns, their citizens’ shared history, and the spirit of community and recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary literary fiction centered around small coastal towns.

“Since that awful morning in early February, the islanders had faced one disheartening setback after another. It would be something short of the truth to say they had met every challenge with honor and courage. Certainly, their resolve was worthy of praise, but in the crucible of those hard five months, there had been less heroism than self-preservation.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Marc Guggenheim’s ‘In Any Lifetime’: A Captivating Journey Through Parallel Lives

‘In Any Lifetime” is Marc Guggenheim’s new novel. Photo: Amazon

One of the reasons I love time travel novels is because they seem so imaginative, especially the concept of parallel universes. They provide an interesting look at human destiny, different realities, and cause and effect. Through these stories, readers are given the opportunity to travel through several eras, questioning the idea that time moves in a linear fashion and revealing the complexities of both the past and the future. Besides the creativity involved, they are also intellectually stimulating because they frequently explore the ramifications of changing past events, the effects of knowing things that will happen in the future, and the complex dance between fate and free will.

I recently got a copy of Marc Guggenheim’s new novel “In Any Lifetime: A Novel” through Amazon First Reads. It’s a combination time travel/romance novel. I’m intrigued by the ‘I’ll find you in any lifetime’ aspect of romance, provided of course, the couple is truly in love and not a stalker situation. I haven’t read it yet, but I wanted to share it as a ‘new book’ feature. Stay tuned for the review.

Marc Guggenheim is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer of television shows (Arrow, DC’S Legends of Tomorrow, Trollhunters, Carnival Row), movies (Green Lantern, Percy Jackson – Sea Of Monsters), comic books (X-Men Gold, Blade), video games (Call of Duty 3, Singularity, and novels (“Overwatch”). In his new book “In Any Lifetime: A Novel,” A devoted husband defies fate and risks everything to find the one universe where his beloved wife is still alive in this bold and thought-provoking novel. (Amazon, 2024)

“In Any Lifetime: A Novel” – Dr. Jonas Cullen has spent his career as a groundbreaking physicist defying the odds. But on the best night of his life—the night his wife, Amanda, tells him they’re finally having a baby—everything is taken away when a tragic car accident claims the lives of Amanda and their unborn child.

Gutted by pain, Jonas sets out to find a way to bring back Amanda—or rather, find a parallel universe in which she’s still alive. But that’s easier said than done. As Jonas comes to understand all too well, the universe favors certain outcomes…and Amanda’s death is one of them.

Guggenheim’s novel takes readers on a suspenseful journey, intercutting scenes of Jonas’s frantic, present-day search across multiple realities with glimpses from the past of his unfolding romance and eventual marriage. Will Jonas and Amanda reunite in some other world, or will fate succeed in taking her from him forever?

Navigating the Universe of ‘Loka’: An Insightful Review of S.B. Divya’s Futuristic Novel

‘Loka’ (The Alloy Era Book 2) is the new hard science fiction novel by S.B. Divya. Photo: Amazon

S.B. Divya is the Hugo- and Nebula-nominated author of “Meru” in the Alloy Era series, “Machinehood,” “Runtime,” and the short-story collection “Contingency Plans for the Apocalypse and Other Possible Situations.” Her stories have been published in various magazines, such as Analog and Uncanny; on Tor.com; and in several anthologies, including Seasons Between Us and Rebuilding Tomorrow. She holds degrees in computational neuroscience and signal processing and she worked for twenty years as an electrical engineer before becoming an author. In her new book is “Loka (The Alloy Era Book 2),” finding a place to belong becomes a girl’s ambitious quest. It is a thrilling epic about space, humanity, and self-discovery. (Amazon, 2024)

“Loka” – Sixteen year old Akshaya is the hybrid daughter of Jayanthi (from the first book “Meru”), a human mother, and Vara, an alloy – a genetically engineered posthuman. She’s the future of life on the planet Meru, but Akshaya has other plans. Before choosing where her future lies, she wants to circumnavigate the most historic orb in the universe—the birthplace of humanity: Earth.

Akshaya’s parents reluctantly agree to her participation in the Anthro Challenge – one with no assistance from alloy devices, transport, or wary alloys themselves who manage humanity and the regions of Earth called Loka. It’s just Akshaya, her equally bold best friend, Somya, and a carefully planned itinerary, traveling continent by continent across a wondrous terrain of things she’s never seen before including blue skies, sunrises, snowcapped mountains, and roiling oceans.

As the adventure unfolds, the travelers discover love and new friendships, but they also learn the risks of a planet that’s not entirely welcoming. On this journey—exciting, dangerous, and life-changing—Akshaya will discover what human existence really means.

Review:

“Loka” continues the thrilling saga with an imaginative blend of futuristic technology and humanity’s ever present sense of belonging and identity. The story begins with Akshaya and her friends aboard Chedi, a conscious megaconstruct with a cylindrical body traveling through space. It is the only home she has ever known so she is naturally curious about what else is out there. Divya world-building is amazing, as she creates a rich, immersive environment that blends futuristic technology with traditional concepts like family, friends, and relationships, offering a fresh perspective on the genre. The vivid descriptions and innovative technologies bring the story to life, immersing readers in a vividly constructed universe: “…the chromatophores made me a hybrid – altered enough not to be entirely human, but not so different as to count as an alloy.”

The extensive character development makes the characters relevant. Akshaya’s internal conflicts and growth are portrayed with depth and empathy, making her journey both engaging and relatable. Everything she is experiencing along the way is new to her, so her reactions are emotional: “I listened to the sound of raindrops outside, the wind spattering them in bursts every few minutes. A rainstorm!” The plot unfolds with a series of unexpected twists and turns, maintaining a brisk pace while exploring thought-provoking themes about humanity’s relationship with technology and nature. The secondary characters also receive significant attention, enriching the narrative and adding layers to the central plot. The narration is in the first person point of view through Akshaya’s eyes and the language is easy to understand.

Overall, “Loka” is a thought-provoking and imaginative read that will appeal to fans of speculative fiction and those interested in the intersection of technology and humanity. With its steady pacing and unexpected twists, it offers a compelling continuation of the series. It’s a must-read for fans of speculative fiction who appreciate a fusion of high-tech and traditional elements, delivering both excitement and thoughtful exploration of its themes: identity, friendship, and perseverance.

“I ached in a hundred places, but I was too exhausted to care. We had crossed the Euphrates, I had survived hours of being alone, and we were together again. In that moment, nothing else mattered.”

*The author received an ARC of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Get Ready for ‘No Address’: A Sneak Peek into Ken Abraham’s New Book

‘No Address’ is part of a five-pronged approach to shed light on the homeless situation and offer solutions. Photo: Amazon

In a continuation of the mission to bring awareness and solutions to homelessness in America, Robert Craig Films is announcing the upcoming release of the novel “No Address” published by Forefront Books with sales and distribution by Simon & Schuster. This is part of “The Big 5” movement to bring empathy and awareness to the stories of homelessness born from the Robert Craig Films – produced, award-winning No Address movie. The novel is now available for pre-order. (Anderson PR, 2024)

“In the pages of ‘No Address,’ the reader embarks on a literary journey that follows the story of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The plight of the unhoused is something we all see on a daily basis and we are humbled to present this book, knowing it will leave an everlasting mark on hearts and minds alike.” – Jonathan Merkh, President of Forefront Books

The novel “No Address” is written by 15-time New York Times Best Selling Author Ken Abraham. Based on the critically acclaimed dramatic film and inspired by true events, “No Address” shows how homelessness could happen to anyone. It will be available on September 10, 2024 through Forefront Books and available for pre-order.

“I look for stories that have the potential to transform the fabric of our society, and ‘No Address’ rises to the top in that category,” shares Ken Abraham. “To help someone who has no way of repaying you is one of the greatest joys in life and I believe ‘No Address’ can inspire that sort of response in millions of people.”

“No Address” is a gripping tale about a group of individuals who find themselves homeless due to unfortunate circumstances. It provides a realistic portrayal of their fight for survival against the gangs, vigilantes, and an uncompassionate community. It features celebrity cast members, including William Baldwin, Xander Berkeley, Beverly D’Angelo, Ashanti, Lucas Jade Zumann, Isabella Ferreira, Patricia Velasquez, and Ty Pennington. To take homelessness head-on and do more, “The Big 5” includes the “No Address” movie, novel, documentary, an interactive study guide, and an upcoming music album.

Robert Craig Films is a film company located in Placer County, California, with a mission to develop, create and produce high-quality, entertaining movies that inspire the audience to engage with greater empathy, compassion, and generosity in their communities.

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It Ends With Us: The New Adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Bestseller

The movie adaptation of ‘It Ends With Us’ will be released on August 9, 2024. Photo: Amazon

In movie news today: If you’re a fan of the worldwide bestseller “It Ends With Us,” the long awaited movie adaptation hits theaters next month.

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty four novels and novellas. Hoover’s novels fall into the New Adult and Young Adult contemporary romance categories, as well as psychological thriller. In 2015, her novel “Confess” won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance. That was followed up in 2016 with her latest title, “It Ends With Us,” also winning the Choice Award for Best Romance; it has been adapted into a feature movie and will be released on August 9, 2024. It stars Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and Brandon Sklenar. (Amazon/Colleen Hoover, 2024)

“It Ends With Us” – Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. When she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

Celebrate your love for “It Ends with Us” with the all new official journal.

For the millions of Colleen Hoover fans, this officially licensed journal gives you a space to write and reflect on your favorite quotes, characters, and scenes of the novel and its soon-to-be-released movie adaptation.

This journal is the perfect place to keep all your thoughts and feelings as you watch the movie. Featuring art inspired by the movie, this journal includes 192 pages of high-quality ruled paper, printed end sheets, an elastic closure, a ribbon placeholder, and plenty of space to record your musings.

Perfect for fans of the novel—and its soon-to-release movie adaption—this journal is sure to be a treasured keepsake.

Exploring the Chemical Frontier: A Review of ‘Strained Sigma Bonds’ by Arasibo Campeche

Embark on adventures with stories about science, magic, the tarot, Haitian vodou, the clash of epistemologies, and addiction. Photo: Amazon

“Strained Sigma Bonds” expertly combines the workings of science with an intense narrative. Arasibo Campeche explores the complexities of chemical concepts and uses them to create engaging stories that are accessible to both academics and curious readers alike. His writing style is as captivating as it is informative, blending personal tales, that are often narrated in the first person, with scientific insight. The language is descriptive and lures the reader into the story: “…following me through the forest like a slow-moving orgy ascendant from hell.”

Stories include:
Penalties of Entropy
Given Pain,
Magnetization and Resistance
Regret in Blue Sharp
Big Water Protect You
Flavor of Lab
Conservation of Cold
The Greater Secrets of Carbocations
One Step Forward, Two Steps Starways, Three Steps Plop!
Trompe-l’oeil
The Organometallic God
Butter Me Up and Float Me Sideways
Drowned in Mindfulness
First Blink
The Chroma of Home

Highlights:

Big Water Protect You – a survivor of a plane crash in the Puerto Rican rainforest, who has a PhD in biochemistry but was drafted into the army and sent to solve The Plague, encounters man made zombies. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology that was used to help cure many illnesses had inadvertently re-animated the dead. “That the ancient dead could be revived was one thing, but biting a bullet out of a wound…Signs of intelligence were a whole new problem.”

Conservation of Cold – Alicia dies from a heroin OD but her spirit is trapped at home with her grandmother. She doesn’t have the mass necessary to move objects but she can absorb people’s heat to move around, similar to a Carnot engine that transforms heat into mechanical energy. When her grandmother dies later that same day, her spirit is also trapped at home. Furious that she is not in heaven, she blames Alicia and attacks her and gouges her eyes out. Now Alicia can’t see and she is freezing cold. Her only hope is that someone eventually hears her. “…a chill spiraled up my spine like fingers flicking air out of a syringe.”

This is science meets horror and sci-fi at its best and Campeche uses it to successfully explore the darker aspects of the human condition with themes such as redemption, love, death, and survival. The stories are deep and reflective and the characters are relatable, each dealing with his or her own demons, whether real, imagined, or tech/science-related.

Overall, ‘Strained Sigma Bonds’ is a brilliant collection of short stories that has science, especially biochemistry, at its core. The author manages to make it easy to understand and follow, so that even if you’re not a science person, you will appreciate how it enriches the narrative. It is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the intersection of biochemistry and human interest, offering not just knowledge but a profound appreciation for the elegance of scientific inquiry. Fans of thought provoking science fiction, horror, and especially speculative fiction will find it fascinating.

“You march on the ocean floor, heading northwest, hungry for the pound of flesh owed to your people.”

*The author was contacted for an honest review of this book. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

‘The Watchers’: Adapting A.M. Shine’s Epic Tale for Film

The movie adaptation of ‘The Watchers’ is in theaters now. Photo: Amazon

Book to movie adaptations bring beloved characters and intricate plots to life, yet often spark debates among fans about the faithfulness to the source material. Directors face the challenge of condensing rich narratives into a cinematic format, risking either losing nuance or gaining new perspectives. Successful adaptations capture the essence of the book while leveraging the unique power of film to enhance emotion and spectacle. These adaptations continue to captivate audiences worldwide. The most current one is “The Watchers” by A.M. Shine; the movie adaptation, produced by M. Night Shyamalan and starring Dakota Fanning, is currently out in movie theaters nationwide.

A.M. Shine writes in the Gothic horror tradition. Born in Galway, Ireland, he received his Master’s Degree in History there before sharpening his quill and pursuing all things literary and macabre. His stories have won the Word Hut and Bookers Corner prizes and he is a member of the Irish Writers Centre. His debut novel, “The Watchers,” has received critical acclaim. It is a horror adventure set in the remote and sinister forests of Ireland. (Amazon, 2024)

“The Watchers” – You can’t see them. But they can see you.

This forest isn’t charted on any map. Every car breaks down at its treeline. Mina’s is no different. Left stranded, she is forced into the dark woodland only to find a woman shouting, urging Mina to run to a concrete bunker. As the door slams behind her, the building is besieged by screams.

Mina finds herself in a room with a wall of glass, and an electric light that activates at nightfall, when the Watchers come above ground. These creatures emerge to observe their captive humans and terrible things happen to anyone who doesn’t reach the bunker in time.

Afraid and trapped among strangers, Mina is desperate for answers. Who are the Watchers, and why are they keeping the humans imprisoned, keen to watch their every move?

Forthcoming new horror thriller release: Blackwater Lane

Blackwater Lane will be released in theaters, digital, and On Demand on June 21, 2024. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

This week, the trailer for Lionsgate’s new horror/thriller “Blackwater Lane” was released. The movie is directed by Jeff Celentano, written by Elizabeth Fowler and stars Minka Kelly, Maggie Grace, Dermot Mulroney, Alan Calton, and Natalie Simpson. (Cinematic Red, PR, 2024)

Based on the successful The New York Times bestselling book “The Breakdown” by B.A. Paris, after witnessing a grisly tragedy, Cass is visited by a ghostly presence and starts to question her sanity. As these otherworldly experiences intensify, she is driven closer to the brink until she begins to assemble the pieces of a horrific plot against her.

Blackwater Lane will be released in theaters and digital/On Demand on June 21, 2024.

Rating: PG-13
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Runtime: 108 mins.

Book synopsis: “The Breakdown”

If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust?

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods. It was on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, and a woman was sitting inside—the woman who was killed. She’s been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It’s a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm, and she probably would have been hurt herself if she’d stopped. Not only that, her husband would be furious if he knew she’d broken her promise not to take that shortcut home.

But since then, she’s been forgetting every little thing. Where she left the car; if she took her pills; even the alarm code. The only thing she can’t forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt; and the silent calls she’s receiving, or the feeling that someone’s watching her. (Amazon, 2024)

‘The Breakdown’ by B.A. Paris. Photo: Amazon

Forthcoming new book release: ‘You Like It Darker’ by Stephen King

‘You Like It Darker’ will be out May 21, 2024. Photo: Amazon

It is no secret that I love horror novels, especially from Stephen King. His were the first books I enjoyed in elementary school (yes, elementary school) but surprisingly, have yet to give me nightmares. I look forward to every one of his releases and my home library is filled with most of his books, especially the short story collections. I even have “The Bachman Books;” if you’re a Constant Reader, you get it. So today, I’m pleased to share that the Master of Horror has a new book coming out next month: “You Like It Darker.” Enough said.

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection “Holly,” “Fairy Tale,” “If It Bleeds,” “The Outsider,” “Sleeping Beauties,” (cowritten with his son Owen King) and the Bill Hodges trilogy: “End of Watch,” “Finders Keepers,” and “Mr. Mercedes.” His epic works “The Dark Tower,” “It,” “Pet Sematary,” “Doctor Sleep,” and “Firestarter” are the basis for major motion pictures, with “It” now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. His new book “You Like It Darker: Stories” will be released on May 21 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. It is an exciting new collection of twelve short stories, many never-before-published, and some of his best EVER. (Amazon, 2024)

“You Like It Darker” – “You like it darker? Fine, so do I,” writes Stephen King in the afterword to this magnificent new collection of twelve stories that dig 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 read. King writes to feel “the exhilaration of leaving ordinary day-to-day life behind,” and in “You Like It Darker,” readers 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.

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