Stop me if you've heard this one before. A gaggle of school children on the cusp of puberty in the 1960's try to find out what happened to a missing fellow kid during the summer only to become embroiled in supernaturally tinged horrors in their small town. No this is not Stephen King's 1986 doorstop
It I'm instead describing Dan Simmons 1991 doorstop
Summer of Night. Dan Simmons has recently re-entered humanity's consciousness with the AMC adaption of his novel
The Terror and if like me, you devoured the far superior source novel you would have found out about
Summer of Night with a quick search for a list of Simmon's back catalogue. Although many people's initial response would be to punt this 600 page paperback into the cash grab King knock off bin if you stop and give it a chance you'll find a story although similar in some beats far more affecting and rich in presentation. Taking place in fictional Elm Haven, Illinois we follow a group of boys from their last day of 6th grade through their entire summer break and the escalating violence and terror they endure. The novel opens with the fact that their town is slowly dying, shrinking in population enough that the kindergarten through 12th grade school is permanently closing on this final day before Summer break. We as a reader, are also clued into the fact that one of the kids from the poor side of town is most likely murdered inside the school on this final day. His disappearance becomes the touchstone that launches the friend group of Mike, Duane, Dale, Harlen, and Kevin into investigating and unleashing unimaginable terror and violence on themselves.
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Warner Books 1992 paperback
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I went into this book blind and I personally believe that's the best way to approach it. Have a quick laugh about how similar the plot sounds and then let Simmons take you on a ride. These kids feel real especially Mike who gets his strength from his Catholic faith and disabled grandmother and Harlen a boy with inumerable issues the least of which is his neglectful mother. Although slow paced especially in the beginning it winds up working in the novel's favor especially when events truly hit the fan. You will never look at a rendering truck the same way again. On that note I feel compelled to mention that some uncomfortably real violence happens to children in this even with the overlay of the supernatural. So if that is something that bothers you, it is present. I was also happy to see that Simmons didn't take notes from King when it came to the first moves toward puberty of Mike. His interactions with his school crush felt real and sweet, not gratuitous like
It's tunnel scene. When you add up the sum of this novel's parts you find that although not perfect, you feel for these kids and want to find out as much as them what the hell is stalking them and why.
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The stepback art of the 1992 paperback
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Featuring an intriguing mythos, creepy as hell monsters, and boys you recognize from your 6th grade class
Summer of Night is a book worth tracking down. Whether saving as a Summer read or reading anytime this novel from Simmons' paperback career deserves to be seen as more than a copycat. Well those are my thoughts on
Summer of Night. As always the comments are open and feel free to bring up any "copycat" versions of bestseller's you've read that you feel are as good as the book they are similar to.
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