Summer of Night
by Dan Simmons
Published by Warner Books
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Reviewed by Mayra Calvani
If the goal of a horror author is to scare the readers, to affect them in such a way as to influence their dreams, then Dan Simmons has achieved his goal with Summer of Night.
In the small town of Elm Haven, Illinois, during the summer of 1960, an ancient evil has awakened...the first sign being the strange disappearance of a young boy within the century-old walls of Old Central School.
When the authorities seem to ignore the event, friends Mike, Duane, Dale, Harlen, and Kevin, decide to take matters into their own hands and investigate. Not much time passes before the boys realize something very wrong is happening in their town and more specifically, in their school. Pale faces at the window, noises in the closet, evil clouds under the bed, and a red rendering truck that mysteriously travels through town carrying road kill and giving off the stench of Death--these are just some of the horrors the kids have to face.
Will they be able to destroy the gathering evil that threatens to take over their town and take their souls?
The book is much more than a scary tale. It's a story of innocence vs. evil at its best. Simmons offers us not only his macabre imagination but his elegant sense of style as well. His writing sparkles and maintains an almost painful crescendo all the way to the heart-stopping climax.
I found myself totally engrossed in the plot and the fate of the young characters. Simmons has a way of effortlessly pulling readers into his world, leaving them strangely exhausted--yet very satisfied--at the end. This is a book that will be relished by horror fans.
Armchair Interview says: If you enjoyed Stephen King's It, you'll love this book.
Author's Web site: http://www.dansimmons.com