Something Wicked This Way Comes
By Ray Bradbury
Published: 1962, 1997
Genre: Sci-fi/horror novel
Info: Something Wicked This Way Comes was
developed from one of Bradbury's shorter tales, "The Black Ferris." The title was changed to reflect a
well-known line from the Shakespearean tragedy, Macbeth, which is alluded to in the novel.
Synopsis: This tale is set in Green Town, Illinois. It centers around the
lives of two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade. The boys are best friends, born two minutes apart--Will before midnight,
Jim after midnight. These two symbolize the contrasting sides of the events that occur when a mysterious carnival arrives
in town the week before Halloween. Will and Jim witness the eerie power of a carousel that can turn a middle-aged man into a boy of 12
by merely spinning backwards, and in a depressing scene, their elderly teacher is trapped by the promise of youth and disappears without a trace. The situation is
hardly improved when the carnival's freaks begin hunting for the boys, trying to
prevent them from getting help. The freaks have managed to discredit the youngsters in front of the town police and to punish others
who could be of aid. Luckily, Will and Jim find an ally in Charles Halloway, Will's father. In the suspenseful final showdown at the
carnival, the triumph of good over evil is both classic and refreshing.
Analysis: Although this novel is didactic in its basic nature, the reader is treated to awesome imagery and some beautiful prose.
Unusual descriptions can found: "Maybe a man walked around in a monkey skin a million years ago, stuffing himself with other people's
unhappiness, chewed their pain all day like spearmint gum, for the sweet savor, and trotted faster, revivified by personal disaster."
I'd say this illustrates the term "schadenfreude" better than I ever could.
Recommendation: This book does not rely on cheap or gory thrills to keep your interest; it would be great for a sophisticated horror fan.
Also, this isn't exactly light vacation reading, though the ending is happy. Some portions of the book are deep and ponderous, so it might
have you rethinking things.
