Summer of Night by Dan Simmons (2011-07-05)

I too had higher expectations for this book, but found myself struggling to finish it. It's not bad, just never really captivated me. I feel it could have been a bit shorter but not miss any of the story, but that's just my opinion. Overall it's a good horror story, and if you like Dan Simmons, you'll probably enjoy it.

This book of Simmons comes highly touted as one the greats in the horror genre. However, the only scary parts are found in midway through the 600 page novel. Once the story really gets descriptive about what's taking place in this small town, it becomes too unbelievable and unsatisfying. I do agree that the way Simmons writes (elogantly and almost poetically at times) makes this book a good read. However if you're looking for a book to scare the heck out of you look elsewhere. I would recommend Ketchum's older works, SK's Pet Semetary and the Shining, and Laymon's The Woods are Dark.

A sprawling epic of old-fashioned Gothic horror, Don Simmons' "Summer of Night" is a well-written page-turner definitely worth the time. In an unusual twist to the familiar "coming of age" theme, a group of pre-teens in rural 1960 Illinois confront a millenniums-old evil force threatening their village. The writer is in no hurry to get the reader to the payoff, painstakingly weaving the mystery thread-by-thread, with a rich and convoluted cast of villains, both real and surreal. While on the longish side (600 pages), it is well-paced, building to a truly terrifying and suspenseful climax. Simmons' writing, while falling short of Steven King's vivid imagery, is far from pedestrian. He demonstrates a true talent for spinning a contrast of the innocence of growing up in an earlier era with the malevolence of the ancient horror that is making a mess of the cherished summer vacation. Despite the dark theme of the story, Simmons injects considerable tongue-in-cheek humor, seeing life through a young boy's eyes, where all teachers are old and mean, the principal is to be feared and avoided, and the school is the center of all things bad and boring. And while Simmons takes some license in the incredible level of maturity, ingenuity, and intelligence of this group of twelve-year olds, this is, after-all, fantasy. In the final analysis, "Summer of Night" is a well-crafted and unique mixture of nostalgia and familiar childhood fears. A highly recommended read.

I chose this book after reading part of a review. It was well written, with an interesting story line. What I liked best though we're the memories of being a child of that era and the long summer nights of freedom and play. You were in a special place and time and the world seemed so huge and full of adventure. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Very entertaining. For those who are fans of authors like Stephen King, this book is for you. Interesting characters and plot. Simmons takes you back to growing up and spending your summer days outside with the guys. The twists and turns kept me up late into the night reading. Overall, an enjoyable book that I won't soon forget.

I chose this book after reading part of a review. It was well written, with an interesting story line. What I liked best though we're the memories of being a child of that era and the long summer nights of freedom and play. You were in a special place and time and the world seemed so huge and full of adventure. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Very entertaining. For those who are fans of authors like Stephen King, this book is for you. Interesting characters and plot. Simmons takes you back to growing up and spending your summer days outside with the guys. The twists and turns kept me up late into the night reading. Overall, an enjoyable book that I won't soon forget.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It starts off a little slow but the characters are so life like that I found myself wanting everyone to survive the malevolence. His isn't as good as Black Hills but it's a close 2nd.

Read it in two sittings. The character development was fantastic and I really found myself liking Duane and Mike. That said, it's almost like the story took a completely different turn about 3/4 of the way through. SPOILER ALERT: It's like the whole Borja Bell story got lost and turned into some kind of alien takeover story. Additionally, these 11-12 year old kids all of the sudden become badasses with weapons and combat? .....pretty unrealistic and dissappointed by the last 1/4 of the book. That said, good enough chracterization to probably read the next one in the series

I enjoyed the characters, andpretty much the story line.

Sometimes it seemed the author was throwing every horror evil into the mix. I discerned creatures from James, King, Straub and even Lovecraft. This kind of threw me a bit as I was not sure what was coming next.

I did enjoy the boys and was not happy when my favorite was killed off.

Nothing much scares me anymore but the subtle gets to me more than than the gross-out scenes. So, not so scary, but a good read.

I always expect quality when I read a Dan Simmons book, sort of like M. Chrichton or Arthur Clarke; rest his soul. In this case, I wasnt held as I was when reading "The Terror". This is Stephen King territory...good job, but leave this kind of stuff to those guys

This writer was recommended to me by a friend, and I have since become a huge fan. The characters are so well drawn that, by the time any violence occurs, you really know them and feel for them. And it doesn't hurt that I can identify with the time period, 1960. I have learned that this author feels as I do--that good should triumph over evil. So there are no cheap, shocker endings. This is not to say that bad things don't happen to good people, but the story comes together in a way that makes sense of all that has happened and the reader feels good about human nature and our potential for right.

I suppose I was disappointed because I was expecting something more in the science fiction line and the Hyperion series remain firm favourites of mine. Reading the existing reviews I thought, okay let's go with something different, everyone loves a good page turner now and then. (I have read The Terror and enjoyed it although did find it a bit long winded.) I liked the introduction - various studies on the loss of childhood roaming area, I grew up in the 60's and had an enormous amount of freedom on my bike and could really identify with that and see very clearly the differences today. *Spoiler alert* By the way the author states in the introduction that he will not let slip which of his child characters dies in the book and goes on almost immediately to say that he based his one very brainy character on a friend of his who was "STILL alive and well" which kinda gave it all away as soon as we are far enough into the book to realize who that character is! Skimmed then through to the end of the introduction.

Summer of Night started off well enough, well drawn characters, a lot of reminiscent-type descriptions of boyhood which were not out of place. Then we move on into the events taking place; a tacky monster, caricature-like adults intervening and wholly illogical and unbelievable happenings that make body-snatchers look tame. The true mindless monster, to give a monster some credence I think you have to make it at least, if not partially human, motivated by something that we can identify with. The whole devil premise fell totally flat, no substance was given to this at all, the library research done by the most endearing character is too feeble (not his research, which is excellent but what comes out of it). I think the author tried too hard to make the monster revolting and does not convince us - even during that moment of suspension of belief that every reader knows - of anything at all. So it all became quite trivial and lost me along the way. I continued through sheer stubborness to the end and not because I needed to find out what happened (this is a big minus point in my opinion). The only vague chance of maintaining my interest occured when the boys were hatching their plan - very gauchely done, very clunky writing to avoid giving away the plot here, and as soon as I knew the plan it was really just pure stubborness which made me finish the book. I only realized what the title referred to (yes I was a bit slow here) after I finished the book, sorry but there just wasn't enough physical darkness to warrant it, and psychological well... I suppose so.

I didn't want to read a bad Stephen King novel, there are enough of those around (I do not include in this list the Gunslinger series and The Stand) and remembering Mr Simmons portrayal of a very human, tortured poet and tackling religious symbolism with flair in Hperion et al. I was extremely disspointed with this little, childish romp.

A rare blend of Lovecraft and Hesse makes this not just a good read but a learning experience. The untimely death of Duane felt like the real loss of actual person who's genius would never be appreciated nor developed. The other boys and girls were nicely fleshed out characters. Nice work.

I read this after it was recommended toe. It takes place near where I live now in a time I grew up in. The memories were great! I couldn't wait until I found time to sit down a read more.Dan Simmons is an accomplished writer.