Stephen King has many great books and stories under his belt after 51 years as a published author, but one incredible novella took 45 years to come to fruition — and it benefited from the wait. King’s 2024 collection, You Like It Darker, is full of great stories, some leaning into horror on par with his earlier works, while others tackle more existential themes. The collection’s solid mix of stories lands it among King’s best books of the 2020s. And a number of the ones featured in this collection were published elsewhere beforehand.

There are a few stories that were published for the first time in You Like It Darker, including “The Answer Man.” This novella follows a man named Phil, who runs into a mysterious being called the Answer Man multiple times over the course of his life. These encounters earn him the ability to ask questions the Answer Man must respond to honestly, and they give Phil glimpses into his future — though not always in the ways he expects. A poignant narrative that tackles themes like grief and fate, “The Answer Man” is memorable — and it took a long time to finish.

Stephen King’s “The Answer Man” Was 45 Years In The Making

It Was One Of His Projects That Was Forgotten For Years

“The Answer Man” is easily one of the best stories featured in You Like It Darker, and King confirmed that he came up with the idea at age 30. As King is currently in his 70s, this means it took more than 40 years for the novella to see the light of day. In an interview with NPR, King explained that not all his stories “get done,” and that “the ones that don’t get done go in a drawer and I forget all about them.” “The Answer Man” is one such project, but it was unearthed when King’s work was collected for an archive:

“My nephew John Leonard found this particular story, which was written in the U.N. Plaza H๏τel back in the ’70s, I think. And he said, ‘You know, this is pretty good. You really ought to finish this.’ And I read it and I said, ‘You know, I think I know how to finish it now.’ So I did.”

The ending King came up with is a fitting one for the story in question, and it shows that time away can improve the quality of a work. Given how successful You Like It Darker‘s story is, it’s safe to say that King’s novella benefited from its lengthy gestation period. And given the premise of the story, it’s not hard to imagine why that is.

Why Stephen King’s 2024 Story Benefited From Taking So Long To Write

The Author Got To Experience The Stages Of Life The Main Character Cycles Through

Given that “The Answer Man” chronicles the various stages of life its main character goes through, it makes sense that the story benefited from King coming back to it after 40+ years. The author himself got to experience those cycles, giving him a better understanding of the very themes the narrative covers. This makes You Like It Darker‘s novella feel authentic, and it likely helped Stephen King come up with the right ending. If nothing else, “The Answer Man” is proof that some stories can take years and be better for it.

Source: NPR

Stephen King

Birthdate

September 21, 1947

Birthplace

Portland, Maine, USA

Notable Projects

The Shawshank Redemption, The Shining, It, The Stand, Misery, The Dark Tower, Mr. Mercedes, Carrie

Professions

Author, Screenwriter, Producer, Director, Actor