Ray Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes”

This week I read through I book I haven’t had the chance to tear into in years: Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. I’ve mentioned this book before, and recommended it in some holiday lists, but I figured it was time for a full review of the book that just screams “Halloween!” to me.

Something Wicked This Way Comes follows the duo of Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway, teen boys living in a small Midwestern town and counting down the days until their 14^th birthdays. Born minutes apart, the two have always been best friends, and delight in the sense of adventure a traveling carnival brings to town. As the carnival approaches, excitement builds amongst the townspeople, and soon whispers of wish granting filters through the town. Sneaking off to experience the fun firsthand, Jim and Will discover that some gifts come with strings, and that fulfilling their dreams may cost them more than they could ever imagine.

First, let’s look at the writing. Operating on the opposite end of the spectrum than horror authors like Stephen King, who prefer more visceral frights, Ray Bradbury is practically the definition of psychological horror. Something Wicked This Way Comes oozes with buildup and tension, all while capturing the wonder that Jim and Will feel. The result is a combination that is rarely seen. The reader is swept along in the boys’ excitement, and yet all the while something feels wrong. Bradbury’s prose is downright poetic at times, though this actually leads to some awkward dialogue in a few scenes. The tradeoff is that every character’s monologue is superb, and the carnival and small town imagery leaps off the page. Keep in mind, however, that this is a book of buildup and character development. The disturbing will come, but it takes some time.

Ultimately, Something Wicked This Way Comes is the quintessential Halloween novel. From the word “go,” Bradbury captures the hair-raising feeling of strangeness that accompanies the holiday season. If you like smart, intricately written horror, this is an absolute must read. On the other hand, keep in mind the tone of the book. The fantasy and horror takes a little time to come full circle, so if you want chased-through-the-woods, teeth-gnashing horror, you will want to look elsewhere: don’t worry, I’ll have some reviews this month that you will definitely want to check out! For those of you who stick with Will and Jim, I hope you enjoy your delve into this utterly twisted horror classic.