Something Wicked This Way Comes (Greentown Book 2) by Ray Bradbury (EPUB)

Description

Few American novels written this century have endured in th heart and mind as has this one-Ray Bradbury’s incomparable masterwork of the dark fantastic. A carnival rolls in sometime after the midnight hour on a chill Midwestern October eve, ushering in Halloween a week before its time. A calliope’s shrill siren song beckons to all with a seductive promise of dreams and youth regained. In this season of dying, Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. And two inquisitive boys standing precariously on the brink of adulthood will soon discover the secret of the satanic raree-show’s smoke, mazes, and mirrors, as they learn all too well the heavy cost of wishes — and the stuff of nightmare.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Ray Bradbury (1920-2012) is perhaps best known for his novel Fahrenheit 451, and some other science fiction/fantasy books. My own personal favourite by him is Dandelion Wine * (1957), though – inspired by the author’s own childhood, and a quite charming “summery” coming-of-age book.When I recently saw “Something Wicked…” introduced as a sequel to Dandelion Wine (set in the same fictional town – Green Town, Illinois), I should probably have gathered from the title that it would be a darker story. But somehow, when I started reading it, I initially forgot about that. Will Halloway and his friend Jim (both 13 on the verge of turning 14) seemed to have quite a lot in common with Douglas Spaulding & co. from the first book; and for the first few chapters, I just put the partly sinister atmosphere down to the boys’ vivid imagination, nighttime, and upcoming Halloween…”First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys. — it seems Halloween will never come in a fall of broomsticks and a soft flap of bed sheets around corners. But one wild dark long year, Halloween came early.”That year (I don’t think a specific year is given, but in the late 1920s or so), on October 24, a carnival arrives in town in the middle of the night; and both boys sneak out (as they were obviously in the habit of doing now and then) to have a look. They see some weird things, and find the atmosphere quite spooky – but then who wouldn’t, when one is 13/14 and sneaking out in the middle of the night seeking adventure…I’m not sure myself exactly when in the book I started to realize that things were really getting too spooky to just be coming from the boys’ imagination. It may not have been until Will’s father (janitor of the town library) begins to take them seriously as well.Anyway, it gets worse before it’s over. Not easy to quite pin down the genre; but a sort of mix of surrealism, fantasy and horror – with obvious themes of good vs evil, and pros and cons (and longings and fears) of youth vs old age.If you enjoy spooky tales at Halloween time, you might want to try it. If you’re not a fan of that genre, I’d recommend you stick with Dandelion Wine.A few quotes. The man does have a way with words!!! “Three in the morn, full wide-eyed staring, is living death! You dream with your eyes open” “The merry-go-round was running, yes, but . . . It was running backward.” “Yet he knew that, during this night, unless he lived with it very well, he might have to live with it all the rest of his life.” “Nothing extraordinary about me except I’m fifty-four, which is always extraordinary to the man inside it.” “Really knowing is good. Not knowing, or refusing to know, is bad, or amoral, at least.” “We’re more afraid of Nothing than we are of Something. You can fight Something. But . . . Nothing? Where do you hit it?”

⭐Stephen King recommended this book in his latest Fairy Tale. I am so happy to have read this book. It is not only about what (the story), but even more about how (how it is written). Magically woven storytelling and language. And a warm Autumn feeling at the end.

⭐An interesting tale and poetic in style. Its been many years since I read this and it was like reading it for the first time. Definitely worth reading more than once.

⭐This book is part of Bradbury’s loosely constructed Green Town trilogy (there’s also a collection of related short stories). A sort of classic tale in its telling, the story unfolds as a nostalgic coming of age yarn mixed with horror involving two young boys. The main struggle explored by the author is that of desire and temptation. Chiefly this evolves between the contrasting main characters. The protagonists, Will and Jim, are best friends, with the main difference being that Will is a bit more cautious and Jim is a bit more adventurous with a slightly edgier worldview than his friend. Will’s father (another main character), is old–to put it simply. Charles has come into fatherhood later in life and doesn’t know how to make amends with that, as the youth of his son seems only to be a constant reminder of how aged he is. This dynamic sets the stage for things to come. Enter the horror.Bradbury’s language is flowery, purple-colored prose from an older time. In looking at other reviews, it seems that this style is off-putting to some readers. Bradbury does not take a “window pane” approach to describing things (as author Brandon Sanderson might describe the style). His words fall from the abstract and are more akin to poetry. The author paints the scene with notes and chords and melody. The wording is thick and may take some chewing, depending on your mood or frame of reference. It’s is rife with allusion. That’s not to say that the story is not there–nor is it boring or stylized. There is real tension and suspense. But, Bradbury coats the story in vivid hues to invoke tone, mood and perhaps the nostalgia he must have been thinking of when he wrote this. Indeed, the story itself is inspired by the author’s own real life childhood experience from when a carnival came to his hometown.Still, no matter the author’s style, there is a clear framework of a story. At times, it may seem a bit long–but not much. It’s easy to see how other authors (like Stephen King for instance) were inspired by someone like Bradbury, when you have scenes involving sewer hideaways and sideshow freaks stalking through town on ill intent missions to find the two pesky young boys. Each time the protagonists escape the clutches of the Carnival, a new struggle ensues with solid reversals of fortune. And there is also the ever-present worry, that nobody will ever believe what is really go on here.Another thing to note of Bradbury’s style is his use of the language to construct scenes. His prose may be purpled–but it is not so verbose. He has a wonderful way of describing these evil things lurking about the town as they tangle with the protagonists, and he does this without resorting to overwrought, visceral descriptions of violence. I felt particularly creeped out by the Dust Witch, Mr. Dark and even the eviscerated Mr. Electro who drolled out stoic declarations like a half-dead toad. All the characters of this dark Carnival had a presence, though not described in complete physical detail-I still had a sense of them. I could feel the mood, the fear they put into the protagonists.The story is a tad romanticized, and perhaps the voice of the young boys feels out of age at times. Yet, it pretty much works. All the capers the two get into seem realistic enough and appropriate for their age. The evil of the Carnival provides a stark contrast to the idyllic air around the boys, which keeps the nostalgia from going overboard.Also wonderful is the way that Bradbury creates problems between the boys, who are the best of friends in every sense of the word (at times they seem like they are right out of a 1950’s sitcom). However, the absence of Jim’s father coupled with his curious and more daring side give him a darker edge and we are genuinely worried about him–just as Will is. This also rings true for Charles (Will’s father) who starts off as a nice fellow, but weak. We get to know Charles and understand his feeling of helplessness and struggle through this with him as he must put aside all his neurotic worrying about getting old, embrace life, and understand that his age is what it is (and that it is not even close to as bad as he has convinced himself it is).This story started out as a short story first (check out the slightly darker version called “Black Ferris”) and then morphed into a screenplay which Bradbury hoped his friend Gene Kelly would produce. That never happened so Bradbury took the time to turn the treatment into a full novel–which is what we have here.The book is a story of boyish adventure, yet Bradbury’s style makes the stakes much grander. The Carnival is not just some group of street criminals meant to rip off the good townspeople. There is something more sinister at work. Jim, Will, Charles and the citizens of Greentown come face to face with the physical manifestations of evil of the world and learn that even their small idyllic town is not safe. The struggle is eternal, for today’s struggle will be yesterday’s battle. The war lasts a lifetime. Yet, it’s not so heavy as all that, when the protagonists learn that they must trust to life’s good graces to keep evil at bay. They find the necessary strength within themselves to arm against the evil “Autumn People” of the world.Lastly, the elixir of life plot device, which Bradbury plays with in this story, is also refreshingly simple and yet a wonderfully unique take on this common trope. What dangerous consequences lie behind the glorious promises of a fountain of youth? Read and find out.A heartfelt tale through and through.Podcast: If you enjoy my review (or this topic) this book and the movie based on it were further discussed/debated in a lively discussion on my podcast: “No Deodorant In Outer Space”. The podcast is available on iTunes or our website.

⭐The carnival comes to Green Town, Illinois – featuring a large cast of what were then called ‘freaks’, such as the Illustrated Man – covered in elaborate tattoos, the blind Dust Witch, and Mr Electrico. But as the title suggests there is a wickedness at the dark heart of the funfair and its proprietors. Soon it’s unleashed – a ‘black tidal wave’ falling upon a sleepy backwater. The two child protagonists – with appropriately portentous names Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway – find themselves pitted against the various carnival monsters, in a story that was originally intended, perhaps surprisingly, as a film project for Gene Kelly – but that didn’t come off, and instead it became a Disney movie in 1983. I read the novel after enjoying Fairy Tale by Stephen King, who openly acknowledges that Something Wicked… was a primary inspiration. Bradbury lacks King’s talent for economy of prose, and his light touch. Indeed Bradbury’s writing is almost poetic – and often as elaborate as the tattoos of the Illustrated Man. There are corny passages of purple prose. But I also highlighted many fantastic lines and phrases. There are moving moments – it’s at least partly a story about fathers and sons, friendships, and growing up (and growing old). It’s also easy to see how King found inspiration in Bradbury’s novel for his other work, perhaps most conspicuously his masterpiece, IT. The plotting in Something Wicked… is clever and full of dramatic twists and turns. It feels ahead of its time, and there are some genuinely chilling scenes. Some of the writing is superb. But overall the prose style is also its biggest weakness – it’s a little too self-indulgent, and might have benefited from some more rigorous editing. That said, too many excisions might have spoiled its charm. It’s a wild ride, but you shouldn’t hesitate to climb aboard …

⭐The book choice for my book club this month was ‘Something wicked this way comes’ by Ray Bradbury, a novel of poetic proportions and a strong moral narrative. It evoked the era of small-town America (as confirmed by two of our members from the States) when curious young boys in search of adventure were able to roam freely through the town at night. On one particular evening approaching Halloween, a carnival arrives in the dead of night with a cast of sinister characters headed by the Illustrated Man, Mr Dark. As well as disturbing entertainment, they offer the town’s folk their deepest desires for the foulest price. The two boys discover this malicious intent and from there on a game of cat and mouse plays out as the carnival sets off to lure the boys to their doom. Since its creation in 1962 the novel has inspired many writers of horror fiction including Stephen King and was made into a film by Disney in 1983.The key themes of the book were clear; the importance of the father figure in childhood, the constant battle to fight temptation and the transition from childhood to manhood as the boys lose their innocence. The book was extremely vivid in its imagery and tone and was immensely pleasurable to read. Although we did not find the novel scary, it had chilling moments of brilliance especially when the chase began. In one chapter, for example, a battle plays out on top of a house between one of the boys and a gypsy fortune –teller called the ‘Dust Witch’. Despite her eyes being sewn shut, she travels by balloon in the darkness and can smell the boys out by the waving of her arms and her incantations. This was really, really thrilling to read.The ending of the novel may seem a little contrived to some particularly as their greatest strength is discovered unwittingly, but the message was strong; good magic harbours in all of us especially in our ability to laugh and heal. This brings us closer together and enables us to fight those who wish to do us harm.Our score: 8/10

⭐Something Wicked This Way Comesby Ray BradburyWe’re back in Green Town, Illinois again. If you enjoyed Dandelion Wine, then you’ll enjoy a return visit.Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade are turning fourteen. They’re lifelong best buds who grew up next door from each other. They go everywhere together, including shinning down a makeshift ladder in the middle of the night to explore the graveyard, the lake, the rail tracks. If there’s a place two lads in small-town America would want to explore, you can bet Will and Jim will have been there. The two boys are also united by being born only minutes apart on either side of midnight from 30 October to Halloween. But they’re also as different as chalk and cheese, as Will’s dad knows:”That’s Jim, all breathless and itchweed.And Will? Why, he’s the last peach, high on a summer tree.”A week before Halloween, when the boys are already excited enough with their birthdays and Trick or Treat just around the corner, a travelling carnival pulls into town. As Will’s mother says, it’s too late in the year for a carnival but Cooger and Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show is pitching its tent on the great inland sea of grass all the same. The carnival just sits there waiting for its audience to come””But only the moon looked in at the hollow dark, the deep caverns. Outside, night beasts hung in midgallop on a carousel. Beyond lay fathoms of Mirror Maze which housed a multifold series of empty vanities one wave on another, still, serene, silvered with age, white with time. Any shadow, at the entrance, might stir reverberations the colour of fright, unravel deep-buried moons.”Cooger and Dark’s carousel calliope pipes the Funeral March backwards. It isn’t long before the boys uncover their dark secret. But does anyone in authority ever listen to teenage boys? Heck, no!”‘Said?’ The Illustrated Man barked a laugh. The freaks leaped in a frolic of shock, then calmed as the carnival owner continued with great ease, patting and soothing his own illustrations, which somehow patted and soothed the freaks. ‘Said? But what did he see? Boys always scare themselves at sideshows, eh? Run like rabbits when the freaks pop out. But tonight, especially tonight!'”Like all best yarns, this one is based on a real childhood encounter. The realism of the carnival and its performers is very powerful. We all know what it is to tremble with fear of them. Evil is out there, beyond the town limits, and none of us know when it could cross them and come rolling in to pitch its tents in the very heart of our community. But the strength of this novel lies in the light as much as the darkness. In the gentler portrait of father and son, and of the lifelong friendship of two boys next door who’ve known each other all their lives. A father who, though old, still truly understand what it is to be young. And a friend who’ll always be there for you. Neither are to be taken for granted and both deserve the sincerity of the homage this novel provides.Enjoy!

⭐First published in 1962 this dark novel by Ray Bradbury has influenced many over the years, some of which you will immediately think of when reading this. The story involves two boys who are just short of their fourteenth birthdays, when a carnival arrives in town, but for these two this means that Halloween has come a little bit early. The story is set in a fictional town based very much on the place where the author grew up.We thus have Will and Jim as the main characters, with Will’s father Charles playing a large role. What both the boys witness with the arrival of the carnival though is not something that seems that pleasurable, after all it should be a thing to give the people easy entertainment and a good time out. Instead, this one plays on people’s desires, such as ageing and wanting to be younger, as well as loneliness and all those feelings that are deep in our hearts. As some of the town’s folk are taken in so we see what happens when Will and Jim are deemed to have seen a little too much, and what the carnival intends to do with them.Blending fantasy with horror this still makes for a good read, although at times perhaps a little too frenetic. We have the town appearing quite normal, but with other elements thrown on top to create something eerily different. With the father we have someone who has read extensively and knows what is happening, plus of course he is well grounded, giving the younger two a pillar and anchor to hold on to. Trying to destroy the evil that has arrived in town so this book gives us all a clear message, and that is to make the most of what you have, and not to think you can go straight to the top in anything and thus be happy because of it. A message then that is still just as relevant, plus a fast-paced tale, this is something that even if you are not fully enamoured by, you will still be glad that you have read it.

⭐Ah, the allure of Cooger and Dark’s carnival, the thieves of time preying on curiosity and awakening temptation. Two young friends, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, are eager to see beyond the show’s bright lights, but they should be very careful what they wish for.This story is a living, breathing phenomenon full of motion, awe, and dread. The sheer quality of the writing ensures that. It subtly (and very successfully) taunts the characters by distracting them with their own insecurities before pouncing and taking what it wants.Fear creeps on tiptoes leaving behind it a whisper here, a draught there, to test the opinion they have of themselves and each other. But a few illuminating expressions from an unexpected source attempts to give them guidance and hopefully steer them in the right direction:“Too late, I found you can’t wait to become perfect, you got to go out and fall down and get up with everybody else.”I purchased this book on a complete whim thinking I might like it, only to find that I loved it. This is not just a good book, it’s a GREAT book.

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