In many ways, this is your conventional alien possession and body horror type of novel.

However, what truly sets Dreamcatcher apart is Stephen King's superb characterisation. You will find yourself truly believing in the friendship among the four boys, not only with each other but also with Duddits.

So, when the bad stuff starts to unfold, it has a genuine and profound impact. And be warned; Duddits will surely break your heart. Kurtz and Owen are also excellently developed characters.

This was Stephen King's first book following his near-fatal accident, and he ingeniously incorporates some of his own experiences into the story.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy a captivating blend of horror and character-driven narrative.

This book is truly an unstoppable trash machine, presenting both positive and negative aspects.

On the upside, it offers a well-written thriller filled with wild scatological body horror, vivid alien imagery, engaging military drama, and an abundance of telepathy. The story is a whirlwind of excitement that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

However, on the downside, it contains a deeply problematic portrayal of a character with Down's syndrome. The entire narrative is built around this, leading to some of the corniest moments King has ever put to paper.

I believe that those who vocalize their hatred for this book have issues with the "good side" of its trashiness. To me, it simply means that these readers can't handle the book's unique freakiness. Written while the author was under the influence of painkillers, it brings the perfect energy to established sci-fi horror tropes.

Nevertheless, it is also extremely ableist. The book is a constant battle between good and bad trashiness. It features fantastic gross-out horror scenes, but also has long, pointless chases that make the novel feel overly long. Much of it takes place on a psychic mental plane, which is impressive, but then there are internal inconsistencies and daytime-TV-level discussions about disabled people.

There are some genuinely interesting character moments, but also some of the worst sentences King has ever written. In the end, I must admit that I was largely won over by the violent and trippy content this book offers. If it had taken a different thematic direction, perhaps focusing more on pain and broken bodies rather than on humanity, cognition, and telepathy, it would be a favorite of mine.

As it stands, it's more of a guilty pleasure. But it's such a chaotic mess that I do recommend it for those seeking exquisite trash. I don't think many people would or should enjoy this book, but it's a must-read if you're a King fan and/or a lover of freaky literary trash.

It almost physically pains me to give a Stephen King book such a low rating because I love his writing so much.

His works usually have a unique charm that can draw readers in and keep them hooked until the very end. However, this book is just such a hot mess that it’s my least favourite King book of all time.

I thought The Tommyknockers was horrid but somehow this one managed to be a hell of a lot worse. The story in this book is just a confusing mess to me. I didn’t know what was going on half the time and when I did know all I could think was WTF. And not in a good way!

It seems like the plot is all over the place, lacking a clear direction and focus. The characters also don't seem to have much depth or development. I think it’s safe to say that this is most definitely not King’s best work. It’s a disappointment for a die-hard King fan like me.

I hope his future books will be able to recapture the magic and brilliance that made me fall in love with his writing in the first place.