Something Wicked This Way Comes

Ray Bradbury is the pinnacle of genius when it comes to the great American novel. His writings always pertain to the abnormal, fantastic, almost science fictional outlook on what a story represents. Bradbury's work is rooted in high spirits of satire, to low spirits of horror. His work flows smooth, almost too smooth, that it may slip from one's grasps at a time, but is nevertheless where many have put to practice, and few have ever equaled. "Something Wicked This Way Comesis a novel that truly gives you a vivid picture, if not a physical picture of just what life was like for a teenaged boy growing up in the mid- 20th Century.
Jim Nightshade, the name alone speaks of the depths of just how far Bradbury can take his work, and take it fast, so the story is not held up by jargon. In fact, you get so fast into the novel, you're almost afraid you've missed out on something before you ever turn to the second page, but you haven't! Bradbury just rights that good, no bullshit, no misconception, he is in no lack of discipline with his fluent prose. Read on, dear reader, and do not fear the turn of the page, it only leads into a greater ecstasy that is Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes".
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The story is about two boys having a strong friendship, that seem to be polar opposites of one-another. Jim Nightshade, the sly, fast-paced out-going kid, and Will Halloway, the more timid, if not weaker-willed character. Both are born on the same year of the same day (which happens to be Halloween). This in turn is also less than two weeks away at the beginning of the novel. The book opens up with Will and Jim relaxing on a nice fall day, with the cool air in the breeze so they are dressed warm when a lighting rod salesman stops by and talk to them. This in-turn leads onto the foreshadowing of the Dark Carnival, and that lighting would strike Jim's house. Jim being the fearless, more risky sort laughed off the threat, while Will was sure that something awful was afoot, seeing as a drastic change in the weather was occuring, and in fact that a storm was brewing.

The insidious Mr. Dark leads his parade of freaks, mystics, and magicians. His dear friend Mr. Cooger, The Illustrated Man wants blood, and they so aptly go forth, no emotion, just pure evil with emotionless gazes down the street, searching for our heroes. These two forces are the heart and soul of the Dark Carnival. The Carnival offers those with no hope a chance to redeem themselves, whether it be youth, wealth, power, they give hope to the hopeless. Of course, with every offer, comes a price to pay, and that price is the recipient's mortal soul. Now there are two pre-teen boys, and one Over-the_hill father that seeks peace through library books to stop this treacherous show of horror, and fantastic magnitude. Can Jim and Will prevail with the help of Jim's father and save the town, or will the locals get all their desire they ever wanted for the price of their soul? To find out just how Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway do against their arch nemesis, read Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes

The novel's themes are light and dark, good and evil, but also compel the notion of how important a child's laughter can be to the world. Bradbury wrote this, and other titles such as The Illustrated Man, which Image from http://images.amazon.com/images/P/055327449X.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg speaks from his childhood, the carnival in which he befriended the freaks and sideshow attractions. His inquisitive and question behavior opened his mind up to the sureality of these people, and their career choice. Bradbury humanizes these people in a world that still questions the unknown and fantastic in both a positive and negative light.
Bradbury's other works include: The Martian Chronicles, R is For Rocket, Fahrenheit 451, From the Dust Returned, and Dandelion Wine's sequel, Farewell to Summer. I recommend fully reading this great American Authors work, and please watch some of video interviews and college speeches on how to write, and why you should write. He is the voice for the young writers of tomorrow, as he has been for many years, so listen to what this modern legend has to say, for he is often imitated, but never matched in his abilities.
For more Bradbury information, please do not be shy and check out for more information on his novels, upcoming events, and more.