I just want you all to know that there exists a parallel universe. In that universe, after reading chapter 19 of this book, I completely transformed into Kathy Bates' character from "Misery" and broke Dan Simmons' legs with a sledgehammer.

Did I just make a "Misery" joke about a book that attempts to answer the question, "What if 'IT' fucked 'Salem's Lot"?

Sure did.

NOW… having said that…

After listening to some Enya and engaging in deep breathing exercises, I ventured out to the spot in the woods where I had buried the book. I dug it up and finally finished it.

I actually liked this book (I swear). However, I do agree with the criticism that it is overly long. There is potentially a 300-page banger hidden within its pages. I'm giving this book four stars because, despite what might seem like a negative review, it is still better than a three-star read. It just frustrated me to no end.

Honestly, most horror or suspense books often feel somewhat lacking. The reason is that it is extremely difficult to construct a plot that can maintain a reader's interest throughout, without revealing everything too soon, while also striking a balance with interesting characters and a unique plot line. However, this particular book somehow manages to achieve all of that.

I must admit that I haven't read a great deal of horror books, so my perspective might be a bit limited. But I can say with certainty that I haven't come across anything quite like this before. I truly appreciate how well the ending was crafted. In fact, the only other writer in this genre that I have read is Stephen King. While he is really good at building engaging stories, sometimes his endings can be rather flat.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. Especially, all the characters were very likable, and they made me root for them from the beginning to the end. It was a truly captivating read that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.

This novel is by no means a masterpiece: Simmons can write better. But I have the feeling that he wrote it with another purpose - to undermine King. After all, the plot is very reminiscent of "It". There is a group of schoolchildren on bicycles, an ancient evil that "feeds" on victims, and the 1960s (although in King, it seems, it was the 1950s). But Simmons writes completely differently. He carefully avoids disgusting details and induces horror with completely different techniques. It's such a game with King: can I write such a horror story, but more refined?
And Simmons succeeds. He even writes better: the plot is very dense, the library in the plot is not a "royal in the bushes" to explain the origin of evil (oh, with Pennsylvania, this is very catchy in King: why does he "shine" in the photo?).
The ending, of course, is senseless - but typical for the genre. What Simmons takes again is explanations of how the situation is then "normalized". After all, half of the city is destroyed, various anomalies have occurred. Okay, the evil is overcome, but how do the "ordinary" then explain what this was? Simmons does not ignore this aspect.
But overall, the whole work gave the feeling that Simmons is having a great time laughing at different horror clichés. And despite this - he writes a quite decent horror story.

Re-read 10/7/21:

This almost appears to be a seasonal staple. And why not? It's a deliciously eerie mystery/horror that delights in childhood and increasingly terrifying deaths. In other words: everything a young boy desires.

And just a reminder: this IS the same author who honed his skills with horrors before penning the utterly classic Hyperion. Just saying.

Original Review:

It's truly strange, but out of all these old 80's and early 90's-era massive horror tomes that emerged, few of them really strike me as worthy of a significant nostalgic revival.

But then, just look at Stephen King's IT. The popularity of Stranger Things. Regular coming-of-age stories like those Bradbury was so fond of, but warped into dark, horrible, screaming nightmare forms. :)

You know what? THIS book really merits a read or a re-read, everyone. It's like a refined version of IT without the elements that make us squirm in an unpleasant way while still making us squirm in all the great ways.

I mean, who doesn't love a group of 60's-era 11-year-olds firing guns in rural Illinois? Battling demons. Or demon-like entities. Or ancient gods, ghosts, or demons. I still don't know what it is, but that's the charm of it. We go through this extensive process of getting out of school, relishing summer, reliving our childhoods, only to encounter murders, horrible rendition trucks, creepy crawlies, and a wealth of interesting history and research about the town. Sound familiar? IT? Who cares. It's amazing. :)

Plus, it's written by one of my favorite authors of horror OR SF. Simmons crafts intensely researched stuff, man. And it's always a thrill. :)

That nostalgia wave? Yeah. This one shouldn't be overlooked. :)

Old Central School still stood upright,

holding its secrets and silences firmly within.

Eighty-four years of chalk dust floated in the rare shafts of sunlight inside.

Meanwhile, the memories of more than eight decades of varnishing rose from the dark stairs and floors,

tinging the trapped air with the mahogany scent of coffins.

How I love this book!

I live for that moment when you're in the thick of a story and have the realization that it has become a favorite you know you will read and reread.

That was true for me with this well-written work of Simmons.

If you're a fan of King's It, this is a book you will thoroughly enjoy.

The description of Old Central School is so vivid that it仿佛comes alive in your mind.

The combination of the chalk dust, the memories, and the strange scent creates an atmosphere that is both eerie and captivating.

It makes you want to explore the school further and uncover its mysteries.

The author's writing style is engaging and draws you in from the very beginning.

You can't help but be swept away by the story and the characters.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery or horror story.

It will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more.

9/10

My 500th book since records began (i.e. Goodreads)

I was completely oblivious to this little gem until I came across Dan’s excellent review. It was like a siren call that lured me in, and it turned out to be everything he said and more. What a wonderful treat for my earbuds!

I have a penchant for these coming-of-age tales set in a bygone era, in a land far across the pond. There's something about the innocence of youth in a time that, on the surface, appears simpler than life today. This story is one of those, but it also has a dormant horror element in a small rural town that suddenly awakens. There is a large cast of characters that bring this local community to life, and it did take a bit of time to keep track of who was who. However, it soon fell into place like a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle.

I listened to this book in audiobook format, and it was by far the longest audiobook I've ever listened to, clocking in at over 22 hours. The narrator was decent enough, but there was only one speed, which made it a bit confusing when something tense was happening, as the pace was the same as when he was describing a sandwich. That aside, this was a great listen, mainly because of how good the story was. I went out of my way to listen to it, which speaks volumes. My commute would become slightly longer, or I would pray to the traffic gods.

Don't rely on my review as the sole measure of this book. Check out Dan’s review and give it a try for yourself. I had never heard of it before, but I'm so glad I made the effort to track it down once I did!

This review refers to the audiobook.

I only became aware of Dan Simmons recently when one of my Goodreads groups had Summer of Night as an option for a group read. Honestly, my initial interest was rather tepid. The cover seemed a bit cheesy, and the description - kids facing ancient evil in their own backyard and battling to save humanity - didn't exactly set my heart racing. Its only redeeming feature appeared to be that it was the best among a not-so-great selection. Then I came across some reviews hailing Dan Simmons as a horror genius and proclaiming Summer of Night a classic. This made me start to question if there might be more to this book than met the eye. Subsequently, I saw my friends' reviews, almost all of which were 5 stars, and I decided that I probably should give it a try and pick up a copy.

I absolutely adored this book. Although it was indeed about a group of kids confronting ancient evil in their own backyard and fighting to save humanity, it was an exciting and, strangely enough, contextually plausible adventure. What made Summer of Night truly outstanding was the remarkable characterization. I really grew to love these kids, and I was impressed by how their reactions to the unfolding events seemed so fitting. The plot was also well-crafted and the writing was excellent, with some genuinely spine-tingling moments to boot.

Summer of Night has been compared to Stephen King's IT and The Body (or, more accurately, Stand By Me in the latter case). This comparison makes sense considering the story is told from the perspective of children in the good old days. However, unlike IT , we don't get any adult perspective, and unlike The Body , the focus is less on the relationships between the children or how times have changed and more on the children themselves. Life's struggles take a backseat to dealing with the supernatural problems at hand, and the 60s serves merely as a backdrop, not the main focus. This makes Summer of Night an excellent horror book in its own right.

The narration by Dan John Miller was superb and enhanced the story. This is particularly important considering that the audio version of Summer of Night lasts approximately 22 hours. (Talk about getting your money's worth!).

I will definitely be addressing my ignorance of Simmons as soon as possible as I can't wait to explore some of his other novels. I have a feeling that he may actually live up to the hype (and the apparent recommendation from Stephen King, which usually doesn't work out well for me in most cases).

Summer of Night is an absolute gem of a book. It's a story that is not only a pleasure to read but also poses a bit of a challenge when it comes to writing a review. It was my very first encounter with Dan Simmons' work, and after devouring this novel, I'm eagerly looking forward to reading more by him.

The narrative is a unique take on the coming-of-age genre. Instead of centering on a single character, it revolves around a group of children growing up together in a small town during the 60's. Simmons masterfully brings to life the excitement of that first summer day after school ends, when the youth are filled with anticipation for the idyllic days and nights ahead, free from the shackles of responsibility.
The book commences in an old school that is on the verge of being closed down, and the children gather on different occasions to solve the mysteries of the town, not to mention the horrors that lurk within. Each child hails from a different household, each with its own set of dysfunctions, and these sub-plots add an extra layer of intrigue to the main story.
Despite being richly imaginative, the book is fully characterized, delving deep into the internal thoughts and relationships of each child. I was truly dismayed when a favorite character met an untimely end, a twist I never saw coming. Simmons doesn't shy away from delivering shocks, and the horrors of death are presented with brutal honesty.
The story unfolds in an unpredictable manner, with no convenient plot points or sudden revelations. Instead, it is carefully constructed, with the pieces of the puzzle slowly handed out to the characters as the story progresses. It's a slow burn that requires patience from the reader, but the payoff is well worth it. The internal character shifts are handled effectively, and the emotional stakes in the characters' lives keep you hooked until the very end.
Simmons is also a master at creating creepy scenes, especially when it comes to deaths. The violence and blood are not gratuitous but are used sparingly to enhance the horror. I did deduct half a star for some sluggishness in the pacing and the death of a character who added a lot of magic to the story. However, overall, this is an incredibly ambitious book that succeeds on all levels.
If you're a horror fan who loved the childhood trials in Stephen King's IT or the bonding and tragedy in Robert McCammon's Boy's Life, then you're almost certain to love Summer of Night. The drama-horror that focuses on adolescence and coming of age in the face of trials and struggles, relying on the power of friendship to overcome foes, is truly effective. This book is a must-read, offering a convincing drama, a rich mystery, and hefty doses of genuine horror. It's an experience that you simply cannot afford to miss.

I read "A Winter Haunting", which is the sequel to this book. The characters in this book are a group of friends when they are tweens.

In "A Winter Haunting", Dale, one of the boys, returns to this area as an adult. It is not as YA as this one.

Anyway, this was a good horror that starts in a soon-to-be condemned school the day before summer break is to start. After a blood-curdling scream and the disappearance of a young student, strange sightings and odd deaths occur. A group of young buddies feel obligated and pressed by fear to take things into their own hands, especially when none of the adults will believe them, and if they say anything, they will probably be admitted to the crazy house.

Yes, there are scary, gross, and ruthless deaths. This is not a nice story, and people are horribly murdered. The tweens must come up with an idea of how to rid the town of this horrible situation. Their very different personalities help them to develop and execute an elaborate but believable plan that puts all of their lives in serious danger. They all know going into this dangerous situation that their plan must succeed in order to restore safety to the town, themselves, and their loved ones.

This book was a bit like a paranormal "Stand By Me". It was a good story and I liked it. However, I liked the next one, "The Winter Haunting", much better. It was more of a ghost story and wicked, giving me goosebumps. It's perfect for Halloween.

When Tubby Cooke vanishes on the last day of sixth grade, Mike O'Rourke and his friends, the Bike Patrol, embark on a search.

They soon stumble upon Elm Haven's secret history of missing children and a turn-of-the-century lynching. But what connection do these things have with the mysterious holes in the ground and a strange soldier stalking Mike's invalid grandmother?

While I adored the Hyperion and Joe Kurtz books, Dan Simmons has been inconsistent for me. This one, however, was a definite success.

To be honest, the first chapter almost made me discard it. It was overly written, and I feared the entire book would suffer from the same issue. Although there was some excessive wordiness, Summer of Night quickly gripped me like a lamprey.

Set in the summer of 1960, after the end of sixth grade for most of the boys, Mike and his friends become embroiled in a mystery that may or may not be linked to a lynching at the turn of the century. Wait, a small town with a history of missing kids? Haven't I read this before?

Yes. Summer of Night shares many similarities with Stephen King's It, but I found it more focused and, thankfully, it had 100% less underage gang-bangs than It. Those who've read It understand what I mean. Anyway, Simmons made me nostalgic for my childhood summer vacations, when summer seemed to last forever and days could be spent exploring the woods, reading, or doing whatever else we pleased.

The writing held my attention, and the boys felt authentic to me, even though they didn't swear as much as the twelve-year-olds I knew. Cordie Cooke became my favorite among the supporting cast. Duane, the chubby farm kid, and Lawrence, the fearless tagalong little brother, were my overall favorites, although the book was mainly Mike's story in the second half.

The horror aspect was expertly crafted, something I didn't expect from Simmons. Some of it was in the realistic vein, like claustrophobia or having a truck or dog bear down on you. The supernatural horror was also well executed, but I won't spoil anything.

That's about all I want to reveal. I highly recommend this book to horror fans. Coming-of-age horror is my favorite genre, and Summer of Night has now ascended to the top of the pantheon, surpassing both It and Boy's Life. Five out of five stars.

I have to admit that at times I was on the verge of giving up on this story. I felt like I wasn't making any progress. However, perseverance paid off because the second half of the book really surprised me a great deal.

It is inevitable not to compare it and find similar points with IT by Stephen King. Both novels talk about the experience of growing up as a white, lower-middle-class child in the United States in the 1950s. (Simmons' story takes place in 1960, so it's not fully in the hippie era yet and still feels like the 1950s.) Therefore, it's normal that King and Simmons share cultural references. Dark Summer has truly terrifying and unexpected moments. While the supernatural episodes seemed very well constructed to me, what scared me the most was thinking that these were 11-year-old children with extremely easy access to pistols for self-defense. Anyway. The origin of the "evil" seemed a bit weak to me, but the villains and the description of everything that was happening surprised me with their brutality.

Although I liked some of the characters (Lawrence, Duane, and Mike), none of them seemed particularly endearing to me. What I liked least was how the female characters were treated: Cordie and Michelle are 11-year-old girls whose behaviors didn't seem that realistic to me. (In the case of Cordie, perhaps it came from living with an abusive father.) But the worst of all was the slut shaming of Jim Harlen's mother.

As a final note, I would say that the translation by Ediciones B didn't seem the best to me. I didn't suffer to the extent that it was illegible, but there were sentences that were translated almost literally and that didn't make much sense in Spanish. If there is another translation available and you can get it, I recommend that you go for that one. In conclusion, was it worth reading the more than 600 pages? The truth is that it was.

Nostalgia Horror is truly my favorite kind of scary. And "Summer of Night" ranks right up there with the very best examples, such as "It" (and almost every other SK novel), "Something Wicked This Way Comes", "Boy's Life" and "Ordinary Grace". Obviously, some of these are scarier than others, but you can get the general idea.

Set in rural Illinois in 1960, the story follows a group of kids who uncover true evil in their small town. It begins with the disappearance of a younger boy from their school. Soon after, a stranger dressed in a soldier's uniform is seen wandering the town at night. Then one of the kids is chased by a truck while walking his dog. Slowly but surely, the incidents become more menacing. When things finally reach a breaking point, they each investigate a different aspect of the mystery and eventually realize it all leads back to their school.

I must mention that there's something that occurs in the middle of the book that... well, I actually screamed when I got to that part. It was so unexpected, and my reaction was one of pure shock. Well done, Simmons, but I'm still upset and reeling.

There are definitely a large number of characters in this book, both past and present, and it took me some time to get them all sorted out. By far, my favorite character is Duane. One of the leaders among the kids, Duane is the smartest in the group. He's fascinated by the space race between the US and Russia and reads everything he can lay his hands on. He loves his aging Border Collie. He's also sensitive, loyal and kind, and I saw a lot of my childhood self in his quiet awkwardness.

The horror in this book is multi-faceted: there's spooky and startling stuff; there's gory and gross-out stuff; there's the terrifying situation of a giant truck versus young kids. The tension was high, but not constant. I'm still a bit confused about the nature of the evil itself and who benefited from it? It wasn't the Ashley-Montagues! but it hardly matters since the novel was such a thrilling, nostalgic joy to read.