Where I live, the temperature is still relatively warm, and the leaves on the trees have not yet changed their colors.

Consequently, reading books like this serves as my way to embrace the Halloween spirit. Although there is a hint of a chill in the air here, it is not quite fully autumnal - not yet.

However, as I delved into this classic novel that tells the story of an evil carnival that arrives in a small town a week before Halloween, and the two young boys who must confront the darkest fears they have ever encountered, I felt the gentle embrace of fall. And it was truly magical.

Ray Bradbury is undoubtedly one of my favorite writers and perhaps my greatest source of inspiration. He was not merely a wordsmith; he was a magician, adept at dealing with elements of whimsy, wonder, nostalgia, and fear. Nowhere in his body of work are his skills more strikingly evident than in this, one of his most renowned releases.

I am not aware of any other author (aside from perhaps Stephen King) who can write about childhood with such precise accuracy - and in such minimalistic language. Bradbury's writing exhibits a certain economy of language that, I am certain, is far more challenging to achieve than it seems. Every word here is carefully chosen and not a single one is wasted.

Perfect for the Halloween season (or indeed any time of the year), this is a landmark coming-of-age story that explores themes of friendship, fear, magic, and the strange and alluring wonder associated with small town carnivals. I am extremely glad that I concluded my Halloween Bingo reading with this remarkable book!

Read for ‘Classic Horror’ in Halloween Bingo.

Ok, so this review is ONLY for the The Colonial Radio Theater dramatized production that I listened to and not the audiobook or print version of Something Wicked This Way Comes.

This one was another COVID-19 free borrows from Hoopla. Since I'd enjoyed the radio dramatization of War of the Worlds, I thought this would be a lot of fun and a good way to introduce myself to the story.

Well, yes and no.

Yes, because the voice actors were very good and I did end up wanting to give the real story a try. The voices brought some life to the characters.

But no - and here's the important thing - because it was very hard to tell what the hell was going on in the thing. I mean, War of the Worlds just translated really well into a radio drama. But this? It was a bit of a mess.

Someone yells, Oh no! I'm in a funhouse! then there's wibbly-wobbly music, then the kids say, Golly gee, that's weird! Let's run!, then you hear sound effects of the kids running away. And they aren't good sound effects. Every time someone ran away, I could almost see a guy with shoes on his hands cartoonishly making them slap down on a board.

I felt like the plot was really hard to follow with any accuracy. Maybe if this weren't my first encounter with this book it would have been different. However, as I said, this did make me want to read the book-book.

As far as being scary, I'm just not sure yet. Instead of listening to a radio broadcast, it was like watching tv with your eyes closed. You know?

So. I got the gist of what was kind of happening - a carnival comes to town and a couple of boys discover that it's got something evil attached to it. But there were a lot of the more intricate things that I assume just blew right past me, and those things might have made this seem far creepier than it did with just some squeaky sound effects.

I did love the father-son storyline. That was just a really well-written dynamic that you don't see every day. I expected Will's dad to play the role of 'dumb adult' or 'angry father' but he was kind of great. He's the dad we all wish we had, you know?

The boys were a different story. Yuck. Super annoying. I wasn't sure how old Will was in the book, but he sounded like he was about 10. And he was kind of an obnoxious goodie-goodie with all the no swearing, Jim! stuff. BUT his best friend, Jim, was worse. A prime example of what an indulged, assy little boy looks like when allowed to run wild. If he could be a dick to someone, he was a dick to someone. Plus, his obsession with being 25 was weird. Even though I get that it was thrown in there to show that 'kids want to grow up', I felt it went too far and veered into over the top territory.

Ok, I get it. You want to be a man. But even after he knew all the dangers he still (I think) ran right into the arms of Mr. Dark. Although, I may have missed something important because of the way the story was told.

Bottom line: If you haven't read this story before, DON'T listen to this version of the thing. If you already know what the hell it's about, your mileage may vary with this radio dramatization.

Something Wicked This Way Comes (Green Town, #2), Ray Bradbury

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" is a captivating 1962 dark fantasy novel by the renowned American writer Ray Bradbury. It delves into the lives of two thirteen-year-old best friends, Jim Nightshade and William Halloway. Their ordinary world in Green City, Illinois, is turned upside down when a mysterious roving carnival arrives on October 23rd.

The boys find themselves thrust into a harrowing experience as they encounter the frightening characters of this carnival. At the helm is the enigmatic Mr. Dark, who seems to possess the power to grant the hidden desires of the citizens. However, beneath this alluring facade lies a malicious and malevolent being who preys on the lives of those he enslaves.

Adding to the complexity is William's father, Charles Halloway, a town librarian who conceals his fear of aging. He feels that he is too old to be a proper father to William.

The story takes the readers on a thrilling journey as the boys learn to face their fears and uncover the dark secrets of the carnival. With its vivid descriptions and engaging plot, "Something Wicked This Way Comes" is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy.

The novel was first published in 1962 and has since become a classic in the genre. It has been translated into numerous languages and has captivated audiences around the world.

In conclusion, "Something Wicked This Way Comes" is a masterful work of literature that explores themes of fear, desire, and the power of good over evil. It is a testament to Ray Bradbury's incredible talent as a writer and continues to be beloved by readers of all ages.

I thought this was an extremely enjoyable story.

It was highly entertaining and kept me in a state of curiosity regarding how things would unfold.

It took me a rather long time to adapt to Bradbury's writing style.

Especially in the early parts of the book, he employs an enormous quantity of metaphors and imagery.

I discovered that I was losing sight of the story itself amidst all those, at times, excessive details.

I'm quite certain that this was done to reflect how the main characters at that age perceive the world.

However, it simply wasn't to my taste and made it difficult to follow on occasion.

Beyond that, there were some fascinating characters, particularly the antagonists, and several truly creepy moments throughout the narrative.

Overall, despite the challenges presented by the writing style, the story still managed to engage me and hold my attention.

As I write, it has been about a week since Ray Bradbury passed away. As you can expect for such an influential author, numerous tributes are being written by famous authors, celebs, columnists, and of course fans. Instead of adding another drop to the ocean of tributes, I would rather pay my own little tribute through rereading and reviewing my favorite Bradbury books. This one, "Something Wicked This Way Comes", is my favorite of them all.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" is one of Bradbury's best-known works. It is a fully fledged novel, unlike some of his other works that are collections of interconnected stories. If this was written recently, it might be classified as YA. Fortunately, it was first published in the 60s, so it escapes such unnecessary categorization and was read widely by readers of all ages.

The story follows two boys, Will Halloway and his best friend Jim Nightshade. Their lives are turned upside down when a mysterious carnival arrives in their Midwestern town and chaos ensues. The book is filled with fantastical elements that make the story come alive. Bradbury's writing is simple yet evocative, with a poetic rhythm that is characteristic of him. The characters are well-developed, from the intelligent and earnest Will to the impulsive and loyal Jim. The villain, Mr. Dark, is suitably evil and formidable, and his witchy henchwoman adds an extra layer of creepiness.
Besides a great story, the book also offers plenty of food for thought, moral lessons, and philosophical issues to ponder. It makes me feel nostalgic for my own childhood and the friendships I had. I envy the boys their friendship and love this book from start to finish. R.I.P. Mr. Bradbury.

The old Ray also knew how to write good horror, and this book is a testament to that.

With references to The Illustrated Man, to Mr. Electric (whom he actually met at a fair when he was a child and who told him "you will live forever") and with a wink, paying homage to the story by Herman Melville called "The Lightning-Rod Man", he leaves us an exciting novel.

One of those that are all the rage among adolescents today, but written in the 1950s. It's truly remarkable how Ray's work has stood the test of time and continues to captivate readers of all ages. His ability to create vivid and terrifying worlds, populated by strange and memorable characters, is truly a gift. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves horror or simply enjoys a well-written story. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Sigh. Oh, how I loathe it when this occurs. I truly should have adored this book to the fullest. It's Bradbury, for goodness sake! It's vintage horror, recommended by Stephen King no less. It's a captivating coming-of-age tale that revolves around young boys and a creepy carnival, and it's been sitting on my reading list for years. This book and I were supposed to click like a house on fire. The chemistry between us should have been overwhelming and beyond dispute. But alas, we got off to an awkward start. I kept setting it aside and picking up other things.

Finally, with a day off work, I decided to take it in hand this afternoon with the determination to just dive right in and, for better or worse, finish the darn thing. Alas, it turned out to be for the worse.

There's no doubt that some of the writing is charmed and absolutely gorgeous. Bradbury's descriptions of the library, in particular, are truly wonderful. But the rest of it, for me... it's like cracking open a freezing cold can of soda, expecting that sharp, satisfying fizz of carbonation at the back of your throat, and instead, what you swallow is flat, warm, syrupy water.

To me, no one writes about children (especially boys) quite like King. He has this uncanny ability to capture, every single time, the way kids talk, think, and act, as if he's bottling lightning. I simply didn't experience that here. Jim and Will feel too much like archetypes of all boys rather than boys who are genuine to their unique story. Will is childish on one hand and yet too mature on the other. And I don't know... quite frankly, I was bored. The mirror maze was sort of interesting, as was the carousel, but nothing ever really felt creepy and perilous.

Ah shizzle. I can only conclude that the book didn't fail me; I failed it.

Well, this one was truly an all-out treat for me.

First and foremost, the prose in this work completely caught this reader by surprise. The author's rambunctious attention to detail, making every image vivid and every emotion heightened, lends to the story a unique sense. It combines both a dreamlike playfulness and a menacing immediacy. Bradbury writes with an expressionistic style, which is quite remarkable. He never once loses his sense for storytelling, even though his over-reliance on turning nouns into adjectives can sometimes lead to some less-than-perfect phrases. But overall, the spell that Bradbury weaves is truly intoxicating.

How can a reader resist a sinister carnival that preys on the foibles of humanity? Or its demonic proprietor, Mr. Dark, an illustrated man whose tattoos are a seething mass of monsters? Or his menacing dust witch who hunts for children in the night with a hot air balloon that oozes silver slime? Or a treacherous carousel that promises children a way to skip ahead to adulthood and seduces adults with dreams of reclaiming their youth, but instead only warps its riders into horrific configurations?

However, as delicious as the story's fantastical representation of evil is, Bradbury really shines with his protagonists, both young and old. Their many nuanced meditations on friendship, the impatience of youth, the regrets of aging, and the manifold disappointments of living a life based on decency add depth and heart to the tale. It is a story of wonder and terror that is suitable for readers of all ages, and I wholeheartedly proclaim it to be a must-read!

I did not have a favorable impression of this science fiction novel. In contrast, I had a great fondness for his short story 'The Martian Chronicles', and I also liked half of the stories in 'The Illustrated Man'.

I assume that the Illustrated Man in this novel is the same as the one in his short story collection. Although in this novel, this person is also referred to as Mr. Dark.

The plot of this novel was simply too long for my taste. Most of the chapters were of a reasonable length, and that wasn't the issue. I find it difficult to clearly express the problem. For instance, I liked the idea of the calliope running backwards and Miss Foley transforming from a middle-aged teacher into a little girl. That concept was quite spooky, and that element of the plot was interesting. However, there wasn't enough of that kind of engaging content. His descriptions seemed to go on and on. Just about everything in this novel dragged on and on, except that the ending didn't arrive soon enough. Maybe I should just stick to his short stories, as I really liked one of his collections a great deal. And I don't like to be constantly complaining about Ray Bradbury!

This really cost me a lot of effort even though I love the macabre stories about "coming of age".

Bradbury's prose is beautiful but suddenly I felt some parts of this novel were longer than Lent. However, starting from about 60%, it gets good, so it was worth persevering.

The description of Mademoiselle Tarot will haunt me for a good while and, well, Mr. Dark will also remain in my memory.

Beware of the people of autumn!

It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, but there were definitely some slow moments that made it a bit of a struggle to get through.

Still, the overall atmosphere and the unique characters made it an interesting read.

I think fans of Bradbury's work will appreciate this novel, even if it has its flaws.

Maybe on a second reading, I'll be able to fully appreciate the beauty and depth of his writing.

For now, I'm just glad I stuck with it and was able to experience this strange and wonderful story.

Ray Bradbury's dark fantasy from 1962.

I delved into this work for a science fiction book discussion scheduled to take place in October. As I had dreaded, although I derived enjoyment from it, I couldn't help but think that it would have had a much stronger resonance had I read it during my childhood.

Another observation that crossed my mind was that it seemed to bear a striking resemblance to "It" and other Stephen King books, almost as if it was derivative. Due to this, initially, I was inclined to rate it ***. However, upon further reflection, I realized that such a rating wouldn't be fair. After all, it was Bradbury who exerted a profound influence on King, as King himself has attested. Moreover, Neil Gaiman has also stated that Bradbury was a significant influence on him.

So, for these reasons, and given the fact that the writing is of such high quality, I have no choice but to give it ****. Nevertheless, it must be noted that it doesn't quite reach the same lofty level as Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451."

SOMETHING WICKED is a captivating story that revolves around two 13-year-old friends, Jim Nightshade and Will Holloway. They live next door to each other in a small town. Jim was born one minute before midnight on October 30th, while Will was born one minute after on October 31st, Halloween. The arrival of the Cooger and Dark's carnival in town brings a spooky atmosphere as strange things start to occur. A lightning rod salesman turns into a dwarf, a school teacher becomes young again, and the barber goes missing. The boys, intrigued and fascinated, sneak out at night to witness these events. When they see Mr. Cooger ride the carousel in reverse and turn into a young boy, they become scared. Will eventually tells his father about all the strange happenings, and to his surprise, his father believes him. I truly love this entire book, especially the evolving relationship between Will and his father. Will realizes what he never saw before, that his dad is his hero. Will's father, Charles, is an unhappy 54-year-old man who works cleaning the town library during the day and reads at night. After Will reveals the secrets about the carnival, Charles discovers that Mr. Cooger and Mr. Dark have been traveling with their carnival since 1846. The evil Mr. Dark, now aware of the boys' knowledge, starts tracking them, and the boys go into hiding. Charles saves the day when he learns that smiles, laughter, and happiness can destroy the evil. I also love the Shakespeare quote, "BY THE PRICKING OF MY THUMBS, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES". The Afterward is interesting as it explains why the book is dedicated to Gene Kelly. The author states that "Singin' in the Rain" was a science-fiction musical that described how silent films reinvented themselves with the technology of sound, starting as a fiction and ending in a science.