Friday, March 20, 1998

Review: "Something Wicked This Way Comes" by Ray Bradbury

Another trip down memory lane. A while back, I revisited "Farenheit 451" and "The October Country," now I stop at the carnival.

The carnival rolls into a small Illinois town in the dead of night, carrying a dark secret. Two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, set out to discover all the secrets of the Cooger and Dark Pandemonium Show and get more than they bargained for. Now they have to dodge Mr. Dark, while trying to save the town from the temptations of the carnival.

Regardless of what Bradbury writes, he does it well. I still say his best works comes when he walks on the dark side, though. A sense of foreboding, a feeling of evil permeates the story. Bradbury is a master at it.

Not only that, but his characterization is top-notch as usual. Everyone knows, or perhaps was, a kid like Will or Jim. As far as the nasty characters go, Bradbury is able to make them dark and fascinating, yet still very believable.

Bottom line: This is one of those books that I think should be required reading for everyone. Bradbury is a master storyteller and this is one of his best.

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