A review by jbliv
Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

4.0

The title really says it all; these tales are all darkness, no light. My history with King has been rocky, though recently I feel he has picked up his game significantly, with the recent Under the Dome being a hefty masterpiece. But as dark as King can be, these takes are darker than most. Two, "1922" and "Fair Extension" more or less plod through their gruesome plots, leaving behind little except a bad aftertaste. But "Big Driver" and "A Good Marriage" both redeem the book as a whole. While dark, both tales explore the nightmarish mix of good and bad that can exist in a single person, and in a single relationship. There is bitter redemption in each, and both will have you ripping through pages to see the surprises just ahead. Just be prepared to get a bit dirty in the process.