Stephen KingThe 2024 short story collection is one of the biggest horror books of the year, and almost every short story within it lives up to the hype. Some of the best stories Do you like it darker explore existential themes such as aging, grief and unfulfilled potential – although there are some scarier ones that touch on more chilling subjects. Among them is the short story “The Fifth Step”, which seems innocuous at first glance. It shows a recovering alcoholic approaching a stranger on a bench as part of his 12-step program.
The man confesses his sins to the stranger, but his confessions become darker and more troubling as he reaches the end of the conversation. In a final, shocking moment, the man admits that he killed his wife before murdering the stranger in the bank. Although “The Fifth Step” is one of the shortest stories in Do you like it darkerits ending makes it one of the most disturbing. And while it should leave readers awestruck, its twist shouldn’t be so shocking. In the end, King achieved something similar in another tale.
“The Fifth Step” from You Like It Darker is as dark and shocking as “The Man Who Loved Flowers”
Both feature shocking acts of violence in seemingly ordinary circumstances
Part of the reason “The Fifth Step” is so scary is that its central murder happens so suddenly.proving that any interaction can take a dark turn when you least expect it. This message makes “The Fifth Step” one of the scariest stories in King’s 2024 collection, and it seems reminiscent of a much older story of his. “The Man Who Loved Flowers” was first published in 1977 and appeared in Night Shift. It also starts out seemingly innocently, with a man deciding to buy flowers for the woman he loves.
Unlike “The Fifth Step,” “The Man Who Loved Flowers” leaves an early clue that something isn’t right: a radio update that a woman has been murdered. It’s easy to dismiss this as it doesn’t seem to bother the story’s main character. Only after he receives the flowers do readers realize why he is so disinterested. The man already knows about the murder, as he is the one who commits the heinous acts. He does it again immediately after buying flowers, revealing that the woman they were intended for is dead – and he has been killing other women ever since.
Just like “The Fifth Step,” “The Man Who Loved Flowers” takes a seemingly mundane interaction and turns it on its head.
Like “The Fifth Step”, ‘The Man Who Loved Flowers’ takes a seemingly mundane interaction and turns it upside down. Both stories end on a shocking note, capturing how abrupt violent acts can be. And this is a message that King captures impressively, by showing the darker side of human beings in other works as well.
Both tales make a point that Stephen King captures well
He has a knack for revealing more human terrors
Although some of King’s best books are about the supernatural, the author has a knack for capturing the darkness of humans and everyday life. “The Fifth Step” and “The Man Who Loved Flowers” put this on full display, but they are not his only works to do so. From Jack Torrance to Annie Wilkes, King’s best human villains also highlight how evil and violent ordinary people can be. Even when there is a suggestion of supernatural interference, Stephen King still manages to make it clear that anyone can be capable of such darkness – a frightening reality that makes his stories scarier.