The Bazaar of Bad Dreams
Publishers Weekly
š 09/14/2015
Renowned author Kingfs impressive latest collection (after 2010fs Full Dark, No Stars) wraps 20 stories and poems in fascinating commentary. Each workfs preface explains what inspired it and gives readers insight into Kingfs writing methods, with occasional tidbits of his daily life. The stories themselves are meditations on mortality, destiny, and regret, all of which showcase Kingfs talent for exploring the human condition. Realistic and supernatural elements sit side by side. The tragic gHerman Wouk Is Still Aliveh contrasts the charmed lives of two world-famous poets enjoying a roadside picnic with the grim existence of two single mothers who are taking one last road trip. gUnder the Weatherh tells of a manfs fierce love for his wife and the terrifying power of denial. gSummer Thunder,h a story about a man and his dog at the end of the world, is a heart-wrenching study of inevitability and the enduring power of love. Other standouts include gUr,h about a Kindle that links to other worlds, and gBad Little Kid,h about a terrifying murderous child (complete with propeller hat). This introspective collection, like many of Kingfs most powerful works, draws on the deepest emotions: love, grief, fear, and hope. Agent: Chuck Verrill, Darhansoff and Verrill. (Nov.)