Under The Dome (Stephen King, 2009)

My love affair with the works of Stephen King started about eight years ago and whilst my first foray into his world was via one of his lesser efforts (Christine), it was my subsequent reading of Carrie that had me won over. He is an easily accessible writer, probably one of the main reasons he's arguably the most popular author ever, but I will be the first to say that not everything he touches turns to gold. For every 'Salem's Lot there's a Dreamcatcher and for every Needful Things there's a Cell. Many of his novels over the past decade have been questionable and none have hit the dizzying heights of his early career.

Which is why Under The Dome is such a surprise. Not only is it a good novel but it's main trump card is its ability to feel like the King novels of old. Think the apocalyptic notions of The Stand with the small town ways and inevitable social crumbling of Needful Things. It's big, both in scale and page length (877 or 1072 pages depending if you get the British or American prints) and is populated with typical King characters: psychotic teenagers, religious fanatics, an antagonist who's an absolute cunt, etc. Whilst I don't think it'll ever be classed alongside the likes of his other epic works (The Stand, It, Needful Things), it's breezy and surprisingly quick.

But, as with a lot of his work, the build-up is better than the pay-off. The reasons for the dome and the speed in which the story is resolved is disappointing, especially after establishing such a vivid world with the town and the people of Chester's Mill (another fictional setting in the same vein as Derry and Castle Rock). Also, the time frame of the story is 6 - 7 days and I find it very difficult to believe society would crumble so completely in such a short time. But then, that's half the point. The speed of the deterioration of Chester's Mill surprises many of the main characters too. Dale Barbara is also a weak protagonist and pales in comparison to Big Jim Rennie, the absolute son-of-a-bitch that uses the arrival of the dome to bend the town to his will.

But these are trivial complaints. I should be hailing this as an (almost) return to form for an author, my favourite, whom I'd written off shortly after the release of From a Buick 8. It's big, brash and extremely cheesy in places but it is also fun and, for a book as long as it is, it never once bores. Not a masterpeice but well worth your time.

4/5