Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1742839 in Books
• Published on: 1991-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 555 pages

Customer Reviews

A "must" for Simmons fans
When one of their classmates suddenly disappears into thin air, the lives of a group of twelve-year-old boys in the small town of Elm Haven, Illinois are about to change dramatically.
During the summer holiday, Mike, Dale, Lawrence, Kevin, Jim Harlen and Duane set out investigating Tubby Cooke's mysterious disappearance and are plunged into an adventure they never bargained for.

Sure, the plot of the story has Stephen King written all over it. Still it is a very thrilling, well-written book, although I could not help wondering if the average eleven-year-old boy is as clever and daring as Mike and his friends are. I mean, would you drive your father's four-ton milk truck straight into your old school and shoot at your former principal with your grandma’s squirrel gun, even if he turns out to be an instrument of Evil?
The book's actual strength though is not its plot, but the way the principal characters are portrayed and the vivid descriptions of rural life in a small American town in the 1960's. The book almost reads like a film. You can easily picture yourself riding your bike along with the boys, hiding in one of their secret Camps or playing ball in the park.
Not that many writers share Simmons' rare talent for character portrayal, especially in the field of horror and SF.

If you are curious to know what became of some of the heroes in "Summer of Night" you might like to read "Children of the Night" (Mike O'Rourke) and "A Winter Haunting" (Dale Stewart).

Absolutely brilliant read
When I first read the synopsis of this novel I thought to myself not another one of those child horror novels because to my way of thinking you want horror you read Stephen King.....but after having read this novel I must admit it far surpassed my expectations and now I am an avid fan of Mr. Simmons.

It's about a group of kids who save their town from the evil of the borgia bell and all that comes with it. Unputdownable, I found myself reading it right through the early hours of the morning until I finished. It has got a really great plot and everything really comes together in the end of the nove.

Lots of laughs, adventure, terror a definite must for any horror fan.

The hairs on the back of my neck are still standing on end!
This book is fantastic - I would recommend anyone to read it - particularly if you are an avid reader of horror - including Stephen King and James Herbert.

The characters are extremely real and the whole plot creeps forwards to an ending that will not disappoint!

Not for the faint hearted - DO NOT READ THIS BOOK ON YOUR OWN - call a friend to sit with you afterwards! I have warned you...

PS I am convinced that Dan Simmons is Stephen King!