Browse Stephen King’s ‘Cujo’ sequel in excerpt from new story collection

Are you rabid for more Stephen King? Then anxiety not — or possibly panic plenty.

The author’s new selection of limited stories, You Like It Darker, will be published by Scribner on May 21, 2024. The book characteristics 12 tales from the Carrie creator, several never ever-just before-printed. Incorporated in the new tales is “Rattlesnakes,” a sequel to King’s 1981 novel Cujo, in which a grieving widower travels to Florida for respite and as an alternative receives an sudden inheritance — with main strings hooked up. And you can examine an excerpt from the tale below.

The other tales incorporate “Two Proficient Bastids,” which explores the extensive-concealed mystery of how the eponymous gentlemen bought their competencies, and “Danny Coughlin’s Lousy Desire,” about a brief and unparalleled psychic flash that upends dozens of life. In “The Dreamers,” a taciturn Vietnam vet responses a task advertisement and learns that there are some corners of the universe best remaining unexplored while “The Reply Male” asks if prescience is excellent luck or poor and reminds us that a everyday living marked by unbearable tragedy can continue to be significant.

You can look at out a complete record of tales featured in You Like It Darker, go through an excerpt from “Rattlesnakes,” and see the whole spread of the book’s protect under.

Comprehensive record of titles in You Like It Darker

• “Two Gifted Bastids”
• “The Fifth Step”
• “Willie the Weirdo”
• “Danny Coughlin’s Undesirable Aspiration”
• “Finn”
• “On Slide Inn Road”
• “Purple Display screen”
• “The Turbulence Specialist”
• “Laurie”
• “Rattlesnakes”
• “The Dreamers”
• “The Solution Male”

Excerpt from “Rattlesnakes,” included in You Like It Darker, by Stephen King

July–August 2020

I was not amazed when I noticed the elderly girl pushing the double stroller with the empty seats I experienced been forewarned. This was on Rattlesnake Road, which winds the four-mile duration of Rattlesnake Important on the Florida Gulf Coast. Properties and condos to the south a several McMansions at the north conclude.

There is certainly a blind curve 50 % a mile from Greg Ackerman’s McMansion, in which I was keeping that summer season, bouncing around like the last pea in an oversized can. Tangled undergrowth higher than my head (and I am 6-4) flanked the street, seeming to push in and make what was slender to commence with even narrower. The curve was marked on both aspect by fluorescent environmentally friendly plastic youngsters, each individual bearing the warning Gradual! Young children AT Play. I was strolling, and at the age of seventy-two, in the simmering warmth of a July morning, I was going a great deal sluggish. My prepare was to wander to the swing gate which divides the personal aspect of the street from the part the county maintains, then go back to Greg’s house. I was already pondering if I might bitten off more than I could chew.

I hadn’t been totally absolutely sure Greg wasn’t placing me on about Mrs. Bell, but in this article she was, and pushing her oversized stroller toward me. One of the wheels experienced a squeak and could have utilized some oil. She was donning saggy shorts, sandals with knee-duration socks, and a significant blue sunhat. She stopped, and I remembered Greg inquiring me if her problem—that’s what he termed it—would give me a issue. I reported it wouldn’t, but now I wondered.

“Hello there. I feel you need to be Mrs. Bell. My title is Vic Trenton. I’m staying at Greg’s residence for awhile.”

“A good friend of Greg’s? How nice! An old mate?”

“We labored in the exact Boston advert company. I was a copywriter and he—”

“Pictures and layout, I know. Right before he produced the large bucks.” She pushed the double pram closer, but not way too near. “Any friend of Greg’s, so on and so forth. It is really a pleasure to meet you. Given that we’re going to be neighbors for as lengthy as you can expect to be below, you should call me Alita. Or Allie, if you like. Are you alright? No sign of this new flu?”

“I am alright. No cough, no fever. I think you are, much too.”

“I am. Which is great, as aged as I am, and with a several of the normal previous-human being health care issues. One particular of the several great points about currently being herein the summer is how most persons distinct out. I saw on the news this early morning that Dr. Fauci is stating there could be a hundred thousandnew situations every working day. Can you think that?”

I advised her I experienced viewed the similar detail.

“Did you occur here to get away from it?”

“No. I desired some time off and the place was available to me, so I took it.” That was far from the total story.

“I think you’re a little ridiculous to be vacationing in this element of the earth throughout the summer, Mr. Trenton.”

In accordance to Greg, you’re the a person who’s nuts, I considered. And judging by the stroller you are wheeling close to, he was not mistaken.

“Vic, you should,” I mentioned. “Due to the fact we are neighbors.”

Excerpted from YOU LIKE IT DARKER by Stephen King. Copyright © 2024 by Stephen King. Reprinted with authorization of Scribner, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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