Thursday, February 01, 2007

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

I picked up the book mainly for two reasons: one is that it is Ray Bradbury after all and his contributions to fiction (and not just the genre) have been huge, and the second is that it was recommended by Stephen King in his nonfiction book Danse Macabre. True enough, Something Wicked This Way Comes lives up to its expectations, delivering a wonderful story, beautiful prose, and chilling moments. Bradbury doesn’t bore readers—his fiction is short but sweet. And at the heart of this novel are its protagonists and Bradbury develops them fully, making them sympathetic avatars. But Something Wicked This Way Comes also tells us the story of the folly of man and this is where the horror originates for as much as the terror arises from something supernatural, it is also something that originates from within us… and is already here. I expect young adults will eagerly consume this book for its child-like simplicity while adults can enjoy the books many layers and the childhood it rekindles in them.

Rating: 5/5.

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