Vampires Stephen King Style

 'Salem's Lot Stephen King 

                                                                        

       It's hard to believe that 'Salem's Lot is Stephen King's second novel or maybe it isn't so hard to believe. When we think of King now a lot of words come to mind, but back then, he was simply a new writer trying to find his voice. Carrie was a great introduction to King's writing style and what an introduction it was. Carrie is a classic horror novel and showed us how great horror could be if done correctly. 'Salem's Lot was King's attempt at story about vampires invading a small town and it includes a few Easter Eggs as a nod to Bram Stoker's classic novel. I remember reading this as a kid and not liking it all that much so I hadn't bothered to reread it. One day I picked it up and thought why not read it again. Look at it with a pair of adult eyes? Is it really as good as everyone says it is? What did I miss the first time around?

       It's not an easy book to read but that's not due to any violence or real terror. King loads up the first half of the novel with the town of 'Salem's Lot so you begin to feel a connection to the town and its people When you hit the second half of the novel you really feel a sense of dread as people begin to dissappear and the idea of vampires becomes painfully real. Matt, and Ben treat this as fiction, a story created by someone and couldn't possibly exist. What King has done here is create something unique without rehashing all the territory already ventured upon. At its core, Salem's Lot is more than just a story about vampires it's about a town and how evil can invade event the safest of places. At the center of it all it the Marsten house which is a ligtning rod fot all of it. It's easy to dimis this as a book as overwritten, and boring but the second half shows us that King is truly a force to be reckoned with. 

       His attention to detail is what creates those feelings of dread. The shocking moments he creates are even more shocking because we're not simply reading a book, we feel a connection to these characters. King could have given us a horrifying vampire novel but instead he's given something else.  A nod to the past while keeping it fresh. As far as King novels go this is truly one if his best books. He's found his footing and his voice which is unique and unlike anyone else in horror. It's certainly not a novel that moves quickly. It moves slowly, methodically right up until the end. True horror doesn't have to gory to be good. It's all about pacing, allowing the novel to slolwy build tension. That's exactly what King has done here. A true classic that has aged remarkably well. When you read older King novels you can see why he was once called the Master Of Horror. For a second novel, this is one that sticks with you long after you read it. 

5 out of five stars