45 pages • 1 hour read
Something Wicked This Way Comes
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Book Brief
293
Novel • Fiction
Green Town, Illinois • 1960s
1962
YA
14+ years
Super Short Summary
In Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes, two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, encounter a mysterious carnival that arrives in their small town just before Halloween. As they explore the carnival’s dark secrets, they face various perils, including enchanted attractions and sinister figures like Mr. Dark and the Dust Witch, leading to a battle between good and evil. Topics include the human fear of mortality and the complexities of coming of age.
Mysterious
Dark
Suspenseful
Reviews & Readership
144,085 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes is lauded for its lyrical prose and atmospheric tension, capturing the blend of childhood wonder and fear. Critics praise its vivid imagery and deep themes of good versus evil. However, some find the pacing uneven and the character development lacking depth. Overall, it remains a hauntingly imaginative tale.
Who Should Read Something Wicked This Way Comes?
Fans of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes will likely enjoy dark fantasy tales filled with rich, poetic language. Readers of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane or Stephen King's It will appreciate the blend of nostalgia, horror, and the battle between good and evil.
144,085 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Jim Nightshade
Jim Nightshade
Jim is Will's adventurous best friend, also nearly 14, with wild dark hair, who is easily tempted by the carnival's darker forces.
Charles Halloway
Charles Halloway
Charles, Will's 54-year-old father, works as a janitor at the local library and provides guidance and wisdom to both his son and Jim.
Mr. Dark
Mr. Dark
Mr. Dark, also known as the "Illustrated Man," is the antagonist of the story, running the ominous carnival and using his tattooed skin to exert supernatural control over others.
293
Novel • Fiction
Green Town, Illinois • 1960s
1962
YA
14+ years
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