Another new year has arrived, and once again, I find myself embarking on my reading journey with Dan Simmons. Last year, it was the outstanding The Terror. Now, I have delved into his horror trilogy with ‘Summer of Night’.

Unlike the unique plots typically found in Dan Simmons' books, such as Hyperion and Ilium, to name just a couple, ‘Summer of Night’ is a rather simple horror story that has been told time and time again. The beginning was slow but held promise. Old Central School has reached the end of its usefulness and will be closed forever. However, on the last day of term, one student makes the mistake of exploring the lower levels of the haunted structure and is never seen again. This sets in motion a whole series of ghastly events, causing five friends to investigate the hidden history of the school and its current faculty roster.

I much preferred the first half of the book when the children were uncovering the dark past of the school and researching the Borgia Bell. The second half, unfortunately, devolved into a monster story that progressed without much surprise or intrigue, with an ending that was all too familiar in these types of tales. I wasn't a fan of the children, perhaps because I have read many Stephen King novels with more fully developed child characters.

This experience has by no means deterred me from reading Dan Simmons. Rather, it has simply dampened my enthusiasm for the horror genre.

Summer of Night is truly my favorite Simmons novel.

It is a long and sweeping coming-of-age horror story, much like King's It or McCammon's Boy's Life.

What makes it even more special is that it has the magic of a youthful summer, similar to what one can find in Ray Bradbury's works.

The story takes the reader on a journey through the eyes of young characters, experiencing the joys and terrors of a summer that they will never forget.

The atmosphere Simmons creates is palpable, making the reader feel as if they are right there in the small town, sharing in the adventures and scares.

It is a masterful work that combines elements of horror, mystery, and coming-of-age in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

A Goodread indeed, it is a novel that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good horror story with a touch of magic and nostalgia.

The last day of classes holds great significance for the small town of Elm Haven in Illinois.

For most children, it marks the beginning of well-deserved summer vacations, free from books, exams, and teachers.

For the town, it brings the end of an era as Old Central School will close its doors for the last time.

But for some twelve-year-old children, it leads to an adventure none of them could have imagined.

It all starts when Tubby Cooke disappears on the last day of classes. None of the other children see him leave, although the principal and some teachers insist that he ran away before the final bell.

Duane McBride doesn't believe it. He has always felt that there is something strange about the school and convinces his friends Mike O'Rourke, Jim Harlen, Dale and Lawrence Stewart, and Kevin Grumbacher that Tubby didn't run away and that the answer lies somewhere in Old Central.

While the rest of the gang spies around the town, Duane delves into the history of the school and discovers disturbing information about its past.

But the nightmare has already begun: a ghostly soldier tries to catch Mike's grandmother; the town's recycling truck comes to life and is determined to run over the boys; the darkness under the beds, in the closets, or in the farthest corners of the basements seems to come alive; and long furrows start to appear all over the town, emanating from Old Central and leading to each of the boys' houses.

Under the cover of night, the boys must find a way to stop the darkness that has been set in motion before it consumes them and the town.

"A Dark Summer" is the great adventure that we all wanted to embark on during the summer vacations, riding bikes, swimming in the river, and exploring with friends on the long hot days, but Dan Simmons turns it into a nightmare that no one could have imagined.

It is in part a mystery, trying to uncover the dark secrets of Old Central, and in part pure terror, not because he creates a single monster that seems to be everywhere at once, but because it touches on the childhood fears of the dark.

Lawrence Stewart has a terrible fear of what might be lurking under his bed; his brother Dale never liked the dark space behind the furnace in the basement.

Simmons' nightmare creation uses those fears against the children with some terrifying results.

Imaginative and terrifying, the kind of novel that can be enjoyed late into the night without wanting to stop reading.

3.5
Summer of Night has its charm, but it could definitely be shorter without sacrificing much. I've seen readers compare it to It or Boy's Life. Luckily for this book, I haven't read Boy's Life yet, so I can only compare it to It. I don't think it can hold up to the comparison. The similarities to It are clear - a group of pre-teens facing off against something evil. However, while I loved the kids in It, it took me a while to find anything redeeming in this group.

Some aspects of the book are a bit repetitive. We get it - Kevin has a prominent Adam's apple, Dale is scared of the basement, and Lawrence is afraid of the dark. But I never really warmed up to Jim Harlen. I think he's one of the most selfish kids I've ever read about. How can I like a kid who blames his mother for his father leaving? And yet, I also feel sorry for him. His mother isn't exactly a great parent. He's a prime candidate for a serial killer, but I still have a hard time seeing him as part of that group of generally good boys. Still, I have to admit that he's one of the strongest in the bunch, given his circumstances.

One of the most frustrating things is that none of the blurbs I read mentioned the girl in the group. She's actually quite important, even though she doesn't appear as much as the boys. There are several moments in the book where her presence makes a big difference.

Despite my initial misgivings, the book grew on me. I started out hating these kids, then got annoyed with them, but by the end, I felt sorry for some and loved others. I liked Duane the most. For all their flaws, there's always something they do that makes me like them a little more each time. Like Mike standing guard over his sick grandmother, Dale's relationship with his younger brother, and Lawrence's bravery.

As for the plot, it's really slow. All the encounters with evil are individual until more than halfway through the book. Only then do the boys start to form a somewhat cohesive fighting force. The book managed to surprise me and make me angry. I really didn't expect some of the things that happened.
Even though I didn't love it as much as It, it's still a good story that could have been a bit tighter.

Superb!

And there we have the coming-of-age horror trifecta.

After conducting extensive research on the net and reading numerous reviews on Goodreads by individuals whose opinions I trust, I've determined to uncover the top three coming-of-age tales within the horror genre. In my view, this is the third and final piece of the triangle - the others being IT by Stephen King and BOY'S LIFE by Robert R. McCammon.

What renders these books so remarkable?

Well, the writing is truly outstanding - it has to be, considering this one is the shortest at 601 pages.

They must be terrifying - while BOY'S LIFE might be the least scary of the three, it succeeds as both a horror and a brilliant drama, with a touch of'magic' that captivates you.

Most importantly, though, they have to be relatable - and that is never an easy feat, especially with a global audience of diverse cultures and beliefs. And although I grew up on a different continent, in a different era, and with a very distinct culture, all three of these stories transported me back to my childhood.

SUMMER OF NIGHT is set in Elm Haven, Illinois, in 1960, featuring six friends, five of them 11 turning 12, during their summer vacation. Their school - Old Central - has closed its doors for the very last time, but something has awakened... something evil.... and it is up to the Bike Patrol to stop that which they are far too young to even comprehend.

I made the comment around the halfway point of the book - When was the last time I saw a firefly? The last time I can recall with any degree of certainty was when I was six years old. My father had to explain to me the wonder of a living creature generating light without, well, anything. I was too young to understand the concept, but I do remember my dad's words:

"A miracle we can't explain."

I may have seen them again during my youth, but I honestly can't remember. However, I can say with absolute certainty that I haven't seen a firefly in my adult life. It saddens me somewhat, but I can only hope that I will have the opportunity one day to attempt to explain it to my own son.

Then there is the Free Show - held every Saturday, providing the entire town with the chance to watch movies and cartoons on a large screen.

When I was seven years old, we had a teacher in our school who adored children and spending time with them. On three or four Fridays during that year, he would decide to have a movie night. Word spread throughout the school via word of mouth, and a small fee was requested - just enough to rent a movie projector and one or two movies.

We would gather at the Assembly Hall (I think that's what our friends call it overseas) with a sleeping bag, pillow, and snacks. While the teacher supervised and the older kids kept an eye on the younger ones, we would watch movies until we fell asleep.

Man, those were the days! Even mentioning something like that in the times we live in may seem completely, utterly irresponsible and crazy, but nothing bad ever occurred on those nights. We were still innocent kids, discovering the magic of cinema with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill movies (that's what I can remember, anyway). And I'm quite sure that our parents didn't lie awake, worried sick about their children, but rather relished the solitude and (perhaps) a rare date night.

Yes, this was during the early 80's, but we still had that innocence, you know?

Okay, I'm digressing a bit... sorry - only the excellent books have that impact on me.

I adored this horror, everything functioned perfectly, and Simmons can build tension like no other. I'm a fan of this author after just one book - highly recommended to all horror enthusiasts!

I love books that make me feel nostalgic for times with which I actually have no tangible points of contact... The story takes place in the sixties in a small farming town during a hot and dark summer. It reminds me of It in the sense that the community of kids wages a war against an ancient, genuine evil and through this experiences a terror that binds them even closer. Of course, I also think it's unfair to compare this horror story with others because it's so much more than that. Roughly speaking, the story is about the disappearance of a boy on the last day of school, about the dark monumental school building that hides horrible things within its walls and is destined for demolition, and about the esotericism and evil that draws its origin from the Borgia family. A bit exploitative, I know - but fuck it when this premise is actually a widely written story about a small town, a gallery of painted figures, vampires, and a family that truly tries with all its might, but just can't. The story is about all the classic childhood fears of the dark, of being wrapped in blankets so that whatever is under the bed can't do anything, the fear of closets, creaky spaces, basements, and so on. About the betrayals and general mistrust of adults who disappoint them every time, and (in this case) they receive support only from a man who is completely broken and prone to alcoholism, although he isn't there all the time because he himself is waging painful battles. In a few places, I came across child characters who utter not entirely convincing lines, but the plot engages me so much that it doesn't bother me too much. Still, every child in this book has a strongly developed character, firmly holds their part of the story, and they are truly alive within the pages - like a small group from The Goonies who dreams of finding a special cave and carefully preserves their bunkers, so I can't wait to see in the sequel what kind of people they have grown into. The beginning of the book is really rural, summer romance, so I fell into the feeling of "please, this is a cat's cradle story, and I want Jesus" which came, with a slight delay, but it thrilled me when I least expected it. The only tiny flaw that I see and that isn't executed here to the extent it usually is, and that could spoil the horror story for me, is the demystification of what/whom is being chased because despite the anticipation of the ending, I still prefer that some questions remain unanswered in the air, and this way my hope of encountering something new and never experienced before sinks into the banality of what is described... I really recommend this to people who love atmospheric horrors, and it's also fun for me to come across Simmons who is excellent from his first sentence: D I love him, but he knows how to piss me off when he wants to.

Ever wanted to read a Stephen King novel that DOESN'T have a shitty ending? Here ye go.

Simmons manages to artfully cram together everything cool about Stand By Me and It, while completely avoiding any of the bloat. He also throws in a little bit of The Sandlot and a whole lot of balls. The story is filled with intense moments. Main characters die suddenly and savagely. Sixth-graders engage in murder. Hundreds of shots are fired. And yet, everything makes sense in the end. But not, y'know, TOO much sense. It's a damn good, creepy time that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

If I HAD a gripe, it would be that the 12-year-old stars of the story are a little too adult-like. However, that's a drawback I'm more than willing to take in exchange for this batch of fully realized characters. What they do matters, and what happens to them matters, because they feel so real. You don't often get that level of authenticity in a horror story.

Simmons doesn't get nearly the attention he deserves as one of our greatest living writers, and that's a damn shame. Even his misfires are so ambitious that they're still worth our time. And when he writes a focused story like this one, it's pure gold. It's so money and you don't even know it.

A book that strongly reminds one of It by Stephen King. It's truly a delight. :)

This particular book shares several similarities with the famous work of Stephen King. The atmosphere it creates is equally eerie and captivating. Just like in It, the story seems to draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat.

The characters are well-developed and their experiences add to the overall charm of the book. You can't help but get invested in their lives and root for them as they face various challenges. The plot is full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end.

Overall, this book is a great read for anyone who loves horror and mystery. It's a gozada (a joy) that will leave you satisfied and eager for more.

I have read a vast amount of brain candy, those light and entertaining reads that offer a quick escape. However, this particular piece was truly something special. It had shades of the early works of Stephen King, which is no small feat.

The author managed to create a sense of mystery and suspense right from the start, drawing me in and making it impossible to put down. The characters were well-developed and relatable, and the story took unexpected turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

It was a brilliant piece of writing that combined elements of horror, thriller, and mystery in a seamless way. I found myself completely immersed in the world that the author had created, and I can't wait to see what else they have in store.

This is definitely a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good read that will keep them guessing until the very end.

It's just like that.

If it sucked, it really made the whole experience unpleasant.

You know, when something is not good, it can have a significant impact on our mood and perception.

Maybe it was a movie that had a bad plot, or a meal that didn't taste right.

Whatever it was, it left a negative impression.

But you know what? We can always learn from these experiences.

We can figure out what went wrong and try to avoid similar situations in the future.

So, even though it sucked at the time, it can ultimately lead to personal growth and improvement.

And who knows, maybe the next time around, it'll be a whole lot better.

We just have to keep an open mind and be willing to give things another chance.

What all happens during the summer of night? It's not a pleasant sight.

Old Central School still stands upright, tightly holding its secrets and silences. Eighty-four years of chalkdust float in the rare shafts of sunlight inside. The memories of more than eight decades of varnishings rise from the dark stairs and floors, tinting the trapped air with the mahogany scent of coffins. The walls of Old Central are so thick that they seem to absorb sounds. The tall windows, their glass warped and distorted by age and gravity, give the air a sepia tiredness.

Time moves slowly at Old Central, if at all. Footsteps echo along corridors and up stairwells, but the sound seems muted and out of sync with any motion in the shadows.

That school is extremely creepy. It's a three-story school full of creepiness, and there are secrets in the basement and other parts of the school.

The gang consists of Dale, Mike, Duane, Harlen, Kevin, Lawrence (Dale's little brother), and sometimes Cordie.

The story begins when they are waiting to leave the school for summer break, and they will never come back again as they are going to a newer school. And a death occurs almost immediately. That's all I'm going to say.

This is a coming-of-age story with a creepy twist! I loved all of the kids, some of the side characters, and the town where everything takes place. I adored the setting that Dan Simmons created for this book.

The book delves into each of the children in the story, so we know all of their tales. There are parents, neighbors, priests, school teachers, ghosts, evil beings, and so on.

And yes, there are deaths. Sadly.

There is this creepy Rendering Truck that follows the boys from time to time. They think it's someone associated with the school, but they can never see them. They only smell the stench of the dead animals it picks up.

I can envision all of the scenes in my mind. The story is set in 1960, and you really should read it if you've been planning to. I love old-school books where you feel like you're a part of the past. Of course, I wouldn't want to go to this town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just wait until you encounter all of the creepy stuff =)

MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List

In 1960, Elm Haven, Illinois was home to the old Central School. This four-story monstrosity was on the verge of closing its doors forever as school let out for the summer. It was supposed to be a time when the fun would begin. However, that's not what actually happened, was it?

There was a rendering truck with scabby red paint. The cornfields were growing too tall and at an unnatural pace. The darkness was absolute. There was a glint of teeth, shadows that seemed to slither, and steps leading down from the basement.

This is a harrowing coming of age tale that is almost certain to please lovers of horror. Dan Schwent's excellent review brought this to my attention. The flooded basement sequence is truly at the top of the tree as an example of horror done right. It creates an atmosphere of intense dread and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The details are vivid and the story is engaging, making it a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good horror story.