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'Salem's Lot
Also contains: One For the Road, Jerusalem's Lot. For standalone novel see ISBN 9780450031069.
Stephen King's second novel, the classic vampire bestseller 'Salem's Lot, tells the story of evil in small-town America. For the first time in a major trade edition, this terrifying novel is accompanied by previously unpublished material from King's archive, two short stories, and eerie photographs that bring King's fictional darkness and evil to vivid life.
When Stephen King鈥檚 classic thriller 'Salem's Lot hit the stands in 1975, it thrilled and terrified millions of readers with tales of demonic evil in small-town America. Now, thirty years later and still scaring readers witless, 'Salem's Lot reemerges in a brilliant new edition, complete with photographs, fifty pages of deleted and alternate scenes, and two short stories related to the events of the novel.
While the original edition of 'Salem's Lot will forever be a premier horror classic, 'Salem's Lot: Illustrated Edition, with the inclusion of material from King鈥檚 archive, is destined to become a classic in its own right and a must-have for all Stephen King fans. In this edition, the hair-raising story of Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot, a small town in Maine whose inhabitants succumb to the evil allure of a new resident, is told as the author envisioned it, complete with fifty pages of alternate and deleted scenes. With a new introduction by the author, two short stories related to the events and residents of Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot, the lavishly creepy photographs of Jerry Uelsmann, and a stunning new page design, this edition brings the story to life in words and pictures as never before.
No library will be complete without this ideal collector鈥檚 item for any King aficionado, the definitive illustrated edition of the great 'Salem's Lot.
Stephen King's second novel, the classic vampire bestseller 'Salem's Lot, tells the story of evil in small-town America. For the first time in a major trade edition, this terrifying novel is accompanied by previously unpublished material from King's archive, two short stories, and eerie photographs that bring King's fictional darkness and evil to vivid life.
When Stephen King鈥檚 classic thriller 'Salem's Lot hit the stands in 1975, it thrilled and terrified millions of readers with tales of demonic evil in small-town America. Now, thirty years later and still scaring readers witless, 'Salem's Lot reemerges in a brilliant new edition, complete with photographs, fifty pages of deleted and alternate scenes, and two short stories related to the events of the novel.
While the original edition of 'Salem's Lot will forever be a premier horror classic, 'Salem's Lot: Illustrated Edition, with the inclusion of material from King鈥檚 archive, is destined to become a classic in its own right and a must-have for all Stephen King fans. In this edition, the hair-raising story of Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot, a small town in Maine whose inhabitants succumb to the evil allure of a new resident, is told as the author envisioned it, complete with fifty pages of alternate and deleted scenes. With a new introduction by the author, two short stories related to the events and residents of Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot, the lavishly creepy photographs of Jerry Uelsmann, and a stunning new page design, this edition brings the story to life in words and pictures as never before.
No library will be complete without this ideal collector鈥檚 item for any King aficionado, the definitive illustrated edition of the great 'Salem's Lot.
594 pages, Hardcover
First published October 17, 1975
19.1k people are currently reading
289k people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,578听books871k听followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 24,689 reviews
November 21, 2018
4.5 stars
I feel like there has been a lot of debate over Stephen King's last few books about what genre he might be considered anymore. Mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, general fiction, etc. etc. etc. - you just don't hear Stephen King = horror all that much anymore. Well, if you want to get back to the roots, Salem's Lot is pure, raw, old school Stephen King horror at its finest!
I am doing a re-read of most of Stephen King's books chronologically and Salem's Lot was the next after Carrie. I read it originally sometime back in the 90s. I am so glad I did because, honestly, I don't remember any of it!
Salem's Lot is a vampire story influenced by vampire fiction, like Stoker's Dracula, as well as vampire horror flicks. The influence of both these mediums is very evident, while at the same time King crafts a new, unique, and terrifying vampire story of his own. If you are a fan of the original, raw, pure evil vampire (not ones that sparkle), you need to make sure and read this book!
Those of you out there who have heard about King, haven't read him before, and are wondering where to start, this would be a great place to do so! I think many would agree that this is up there with King's horror fiction at its best.
I feel like there has been a lot of debate over Stephen King's last few books about what genre he might be considered anymore. Mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, general fiction, etc. etc. etc. - you just don't hear Stephen King = horror all that much anymore. Well, if you want to get back to the roots, Salem's Lot is pure, raw, old school Stephen King horror at its finest!
I am doing a re-read of most of Stephen King's books chronologically and Salem's Lot was the next after Carrie. I read it originally sometime back in the 90s. I am so glad I did because, honestly, I don't remember any of it!
Salem's Lot is a vampire story influenced by vampire fiction, like Stoker's Dracula, as well as vampire horror flicks. The influence of both these mediums is very evident, while at the same time King crafts a new, unique, and terrifying vampire story of his own. If you are a fan of the original, raw, pure evil vampire (not ones that sparkle), you need to make sure and read this book!
Those of you out there who have heard about King, haven't read him before, and are wondering where to start, this would be a great place to do so! I think many would agree that this is up there with King's horror fiction at its best.
Read
July 13, 2022Jahoobies...iykyk
November 26, 2023
2023 reread:
And so I reread it again 鈥� thank you, Fiona, for a wonderful buddy read! 鈥� and this time it鈥檚 like I was transported back to being young and discovering this book for the first time. I loved it again.
This time I was really taken by King鈥檚 ability to paint the setting. His prose is excellent, and the way he brings the small town with all its secrets to life is almost unparalleled. He just has this way with words, zeroing right on to the defining qualities of people and places. Even a very young King understood the darkness of people and small isolated places. Because there鈥檚 not too much of a supernatural push is even required to unleash the inner monsters of people; the inner low level of nastiness in the ordinary folks can only be outweighed by the inner decency of the others.
鈥淭he Lot鈥� chapters are what those looking for 鈥渁 great American novel鈥� need to read.
4.5 stars.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
2022 reread through older eyes:
In my teens and early 20s I inhaled King鈥檚 books. He was THE writer, to the point when I actually disappointed my university literature professor who would have liked if I had preferred Dostoyevsky instead. And as I got older, King鈥檚 books mostly held up, and some even gained extra appreciation (ahem, , you got better as you got older).
鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot is a very young King, apparently started when he was 25, and it shows. It鈥檚 still good though, and is full of all that I like in King鈥檚 stories as even back then he was first and foremost a gifted storyteller: the creepy vibe of small towns and their inhabitants, and nastiness that lives inside regular people even before any actual 鈥渂ig鈥� evil comes into their lives. And if there鈥檚 a hint of immaturity there 鈥� well, duh, the guy wasn鈥檛 born 75.
I was still fascinated by his signature meanderings that tell stories within stories, and the gradual ratcheting up of tension that鈥檚 better than any pay-off there can be.
3.5-4 stars on reread which I鈥檓 rounding up because, well, whaddya want from Constant Reader of Uncle Stevie鈥檚 yarns here?
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌�
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌�
Review from circa 2014 based on a few feverish reads of this book back in my teens:
There was a time once when vampires were ruthless predators and not the misunderstood brooding and essentially harmless creatures. Ahhhh, good old scary times...
Vampire stories have been around for a long time - after all, people love a good scare, and what is more terrifying than a monster showing up at night and sucking the life essence out of you? But leave it to Stephen King to turn the terror up a notch, add a whole new layer to it. How? Simply - using the winning formula that he continues to employ in the vast majority of his work.
In addition to showing us the monsters of the night, he also brings into the picture the monsters and the darkness that are already with us, that live in the deep dark recesses of everyone's soul.
The eponymous 'Salem's Lot is a small town in Maine, and it is not a stranger to secrets and darkness. It's quaint and pastoral on the surface, but once you look deeper you are bound to discover what lurks behind its respectable surface. And trust me, that's the discoveries that you can easily go without for the darkness of the human soul as presented by Stephen King beats everything that any monster or boogeyman can ever send your way. The small town of 'Salem's Lot can boast your usual lies, bullying, corruption, and prejudice - and spices it up with well-hidden child abuse, violence, and murders. Not so quaint, is it?
It is this portrayal of everyday people's secrets, of the towns being almost like living breathing organisms that is one of the big reasons why I am a huge fan of Stephen King's works.
From the very first pages of the novel we know that some terrible fate made 'Salem's Lot a ghost town with apparently only a couple of survivors. It doesn't take the reader long to realize, as we go back in time to see how the events unfolded, that the mysterious menacing Marsten House welcomed new evil that tends to lurk at night, floating past your (hopefully, tightly shut) windows.
The story itself is rather straightforward, steadily moving along to its almost-conclusion that we have glimpsed in the first few pages, and we watch with bated breath as our bunch of good guys - Ben, Mark, Susan, Matt - are trying to take on the supernatural horror. Oh, and did I forget Father Callahan?
King is excellent with the plotting and the pacing (since this was only his second novel, he was still a stranger to writing larger-than-life brick-sized tomes). The story never lags, the suspense and sense of foreboding are rampant, and there are quite a few truly nailbiting situations. Nothing distracts the reader from the vampire story unfolding on the background of small-town horrors. There are no heavy-handed lessons to be learned, no deep morals to take out of the story - all we get is a thrilling and quite scary ride that may make you (a) sleep with a light on, and (b) be very careful about who you invite into your home.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺€�
Also posted on .
And so I reread it again 鈥� thank you, Fiona, for a wonderful buddy read! 鈥� and this time it鈥檚 like I was transported back to being young and discovering this book for the first time. I loved it again.
This time I was really taken by King鈥檚 ability to paint the setting. His prose is excellent, and the way he brings the small town with all its secrets to life is almost unparalleled. He just has this way with words, zeroing right on to the defining qualities of people and places. Even a very young King understood the darkness of people and small isolated places. Because there鈥檚 not too much of a supernatural push is even required to unleash the inner monsters of people; the inner low level of nastiness in the ordinary folks can only be outweighed by the inner decency of the others.
鈥淭he Lot鈥� chapters are what those looking for 鈥渁 great American novel鈥� need to read.
4.5 stars.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌�
2022 reread through older eyes:
In my teens and early 20s I inhaled King鈥檚 books. He was THE writer, to the point when I actually disappointed my university literature professor who would have liked if I had preferred Dostoyevsky instead. And as I got older, King鈥檚 books mostly held up, and some even gained extra appreciation (ahem, , you got better as you got older).
鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot is a very young King, apparently started when he was 25, and it shows. It鈥檚 still good though, and is full of all that I like in King鈥檚 stories as even back then he was first and foremost a gifted storyteller: the creepy vibe of small towns and their inhabitants, and nastiness that lives inside regular people even before any actual 鈥渂ig鈥� evil comes into their lives. And if there鈥檚 a hint of immaturity there 鈥� well, duh, the guy wasn鈥檛 born 75.
I was still fascinated by his signature meanderings that tell stories within stories, and the gradual ratcheting up of tension that鈥檚 better than any pay-off there can be.
3.5-4 stars on reread which I鈥檓 rounding up because, well, whaddya want from Constant Reader of Uncle Stevie鈥檚 yarns here?
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌�
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌�
Review from circa 2014 based on a few feverish reads of this book back in my teens:
There was a time once when vampires were ruthless predators and not the misunderstood brooding and essentially harmless creatures. Ahhhh, good old scary times...
Vampire stories have been around for a long time - after all, people love a good scare, and what is more terrifying than a monster showing up at night and sucking the life essence out of you? But leave it to Stephen King to turn the terror up a notch, add a whole new layer to it. How? Simply - using the winning formula that he continues to employ in the vast majority of his work.
In addition to showing us the monsters of the night, he also brings into the picture the monsters and the darkness that are already with us, that live in the deep dark recesses of everyone's soul.
""The town knew about darkness."
"The town has its secrets, and keeps them well."
"The town cares for devil's work no more than it cares for God's or man's. It knew darkness. And darkness was enough."
The eponymous 'Salem's Lot is a small town in Maine, and it is not a stranger to secrets and darkness. It's quaint and pastoral on the surface, but once you look deeper you are bound to discover what lurks behind its respectable surface. And trust me, that's the discoveries that you can easily go without for the darkness of the human soul as presented by Stephen King beats everything that any monster or boogeyman can ever send your way. The small town of 'Salem's Lot can boast your usual lies, bullying, corruption, and prejudice - and spices it up with well-hidden child abuse, violence, and murders. Not so quaint, is it?
It is this portrayal of everyday people's secrets, of the towns being almost like living breathing organisms that is one of the big reasons why I am a huge fan of Stephen King's works.
From the very first pages of the novel we know that some terrible fate made 'Salem's Lot a ghost town with apparently only a couple of survivors. It doesn't take the reader long to realize, as we go back in time to see how the events unfolded, that the mysterious menacing Marsten House welcomed new evil that tends to lurk at night, floating past your (hopefully, tightly shut) windows.
The story itself is rather straightforward, steadily moving along to its almost-conclusion that we have glimpsed in the first few pages, and we watch with bated breath as our bunch of good guys - Ben, Mark, Susan, Matt - are trying to take on the supernatural horror. Oh, and did I forget Father Callahan?
King is excellent with the plotting and the pacing (since this was only his second novel, he was still a stranger to writing larger-than-life brick-sized tomes). The story never lags, the suspense and sense of foreboding are rampant, and there are quite a few truly nailbiting situations. Nothing distracts the reader from the vampire story unfolding on the background of small-town horrors. There are no heavy-handed lessons to be learned, no deep morals to take out of the story - all we get is a thrilling and quite scary ride that may make you (a) sleep with a light on, and (b) be very careful about who you invite into your home.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺€�
Also posted on .
February 9, 2017
Well this is annoying times two. I just wrote a review and lost it, and then there's the *other* issue.
What other issue?
Oh, the one where my 14 year old self of infinite wisdom and experience remembered a boring tale lacking truly epic blood and guts from what should be a vampire tale in a small town. If that 14 year old could have had his way, then 80% of the novel would have been excised for being too-character driven, too-focused on hundreds of characters only set up to be knocked down in gruesome death (or undeath), and too detail-driven and poorly-paced for a thriller.
Damn, I was a dipshit. I'm not saying that I'm no longer a dipshit, mind you, just that I think that kid was a real idiot. I mean, I'd only been reading anything at all for less than a year and 8 months of that was focused on learning *how* to read. Of course I was going to be influenced more by the all the slasher movies rather than novel construction. I even watched the crapfest that I considered the made for tv movie based on this book, and I think I might have been a *little* too harsh on it, too.
So flash-forward to now, when I jump up the rating from a scathing 3 stars to a full-blown 5, an adult reading an adult novel of suspense, emotionally invested characters, subtle humor, more high-brow words than I remember Stephen King usually using in his novels, and beautifully crafted passages of hometown life falling into what might as well have been a modern retelling of a medieval town falling under the spell of the Black Plague, with all the horror and sadness and superstition that entails.
This novel was gripping and intense to my adult sensibilities. Do I feel like a fool for my old memories? Yes. Am I embarrassed? Yes. Am I absolutely impressed and amazed that the very first "trash" novelist I got into as a kid actually turned out to be a consummate master of the writing craft? Yes.
All the things I hated as a kid happen to be the things I love the most, here. The characters were absolutely gorgeous. I fell into them, and later, I fell into love with the whole town. The fact that it had a cancer that was eating away at it from the inside, slowly, was only a tension-driver. This may be a vampire novel, but it is really a tragedy, through and through. We expect to love and lose our loved ones, and this is the true horror. Not just the eyes like stars or the breath that smells of pure putrescence or the image of a supernatural horror that no longer needs keys because, now, the dead can squeeze between door jams.
Of course, Part 3 was all action all the time, with the stakes as high as it can be. It was all for the sake of pure survival. But Part 1 (the get to know you) and Part 2 (something isn't right) were some of the best readings of Stephen King, like, ever. :) Believe me, he has a personal formula when it comes to his writing, but I know of no one who's able to pull off exactly what he pulls off. He makes everyone so damn real to me. :)
Fun fact! There's a dead John Snow who knows nothing in this novel! Isn't that fun?
So, I've eaten crow and said that I'm sorry for being an childhood idiot, but what I really mean is that There Are No Sparkles. This is a novel of horrible anticipation and and deep sadness, of exciting vampire hunting with truly intelligent foes. There are no levelled-up vamps or long antihero arcs or Master Vampire Hunters. And best of all, there are no werewolves.
There is, however, a sense of reality and loss and fear, and if you are missing a huge dose of that in your life, if only to hold up as a mirror to your own life to say that things aren't so bad with you, then you really ought to jump out there and pick up a copy. I can't believe this is only SK's second novel! Wow!
What other issue?
Oh, the one where my 14 year old self of infinite wisdom and experience remembered a boring tale lacking truly epic blood and guts from what should be a vampire tale in a small town. If that 14 year old could have had his way, then 80% of the novel would have been excised for being too-character driven, too-focused on hundreds of characters only set up to be knocked down in gruesome death (or undeath), and too detail-driven and poorly-paced for a thriller.
Damn, I was a dipshit. I'm not saying that I'm no longer a dipshit, mind you, just that I think that kid was a real idiot. I mean, I'd only been reading anything at all for less than a year and 8 months of that was focused on learning *how* to read. Of course I was going to be influenced more by the all the slasher movies rather than novel construction. I even watched the crapfest that I considered the made for tv movie based on this book, and I think I might have been a *little* too harsh on it, too.
So flash-forward to now, when I jump up the rating from a scathing 3 stars to a full-blown 5, an adult reading an adult novel of suspense, emotionally invested characters, subtle humor, more high-brow words than I remember Stephen King usually using in his novels, and beautifully crafted passages of hometown life falling into what might as well have been a modern retelling of a medieval town falling under the spell of the Black Plague, with all the horror and sadness and superstition that entails.
This novel was gripping and intense to my adult sensibilities. Do I feel like a fool for my old memories? Yes. Am I embarrassed? Yes. Am I absolutely impressed and amazed that the very first "trash" novelist I got into as a kid actually turned out to be a consummate master of the writing craft? Yes.
All the things I hated as a kid happen to be the things I love the most, here. The characters were absolutely gorgeous. I fell into them, and later, I fell into love with the whole town. The fact that it had a cancer that was eating away at it from the inside, slowly, was only a tension-driver. This may be a vampire novel, but it is really a tragedy, through and through. We expect to love and lose our loved ones, and this is the true horror. Not just the eyes like stars or the breath that smells of pure putrescence or the image of a supernatural horror that no longer needs keys because, now, the dead can squeeze between door jams.
Of course, Part 3 was all action all the time, with the stakes as high as it can be. It was all for the sake of pure survival. But Part 1 (the get to know you) and Part 2 (something isn't right) were some of the best readings of Stephen King, like, ever. :) Believe me, he has a personal formula when it comes to his writing, but I know of no one who's able to pull off exactly what he pulls off. He makes everyone so damn real to me. :)
Fun fact! There's a dead John Snow who knows nothing in this novel! Isn't that fun?
So, I've eaten crow and said that I'm sorry for being an childhood idiot, but what I really mean is that There Are No Sparkles. This is a novel of horrible anticipation and and deep sadness, of exciting vampire hunting with truly intelligent foes. There are no levelled-up vamps or long antihero arcs or Master Vampire Hunters. And best of all, there are no werewolves.
There is, however, a sense of reality and loss and fear, and if you are missing a huge dose of that in your life, if only to hold up as a mirror to your own life to say that things aren't so bad with you, then you really ought to jump out there and pick up a copy. I can't believe this is only SK's second novel! Wow!
March 21, 2021
I am so nostalgically looking back to a better time when certain fantasy creatures were still true monsters and not twinkling, soft, freaking feeling emo snobs.
Somehow the Lovecraftian, subtle, rising horror aspect King was so strong at the beginning of his career diminished over the years and there was not much of it left in the newer books I麓ve read. Characterization, descriptions, action scenes, suspense, everything great as usual in the new works, but this special meta cosmic existential horror vibe and feeling of the first few and the drug fueled King years went missing afterward. Especially his first short story collections show this, they are epic, gothic horror masterpieces, while his new ones are much more dealing with human related meta topics dipped in some mystery and horror ghost magic. I love all, fanboy for life, jay, but somehow this old school style was more unique, especially because it sadly isn麓t manufactured anymore nowadays, shame on you, damn mainstream ruining everything.
Some soft spoilers ahead, but nothing too specific worth mentioning, just meta.
So enjoy it even more if it麓s the first time, look at all the red herrings, McGuffins, and Chekhovs King is throwing around to mix them with symbolism and innuendos, enjoy how the pathetic, weak humans stagger towards perdition, laugh whenever evil scores the next bloody goal, and be a happy witness of the moment when the legend of the greatest horror writer of all times starts unfolding by using the ancient trope of rabies symptoms made folk tales.
Google that, by the way, it麓s so cool, the time until someone infected with rabies dies, how they behave to smell and light, what happens to their brains and libido, nature is amazing. It must have been so much fun to be locked up during long, cold, mountain winters with no change to escape, knowing that a few of the citizens and families may turn into real, freaking vampires. 鈥濵ommy is eating daddy, I fear she'll come for us when she is hungry again.鈥� Thanks to stupid rabies vaccination and general scientific, social, and medical progress, these amazing massive real life zombie vampire role playing games are now sadly just a reminiscence of the past, but at least literature can let one undergo it again.
Did I read Dracula? I am not sure, but the pop culture reference potential of both the original and this darker retelling is immense and how King let it escalate seems to be much more entertaining than what I know about the original. Sorry, classic literature, King just owns you. This idea of whatever evil coming to town, or always being in town and waking up again, becoming more and more extreme in its manifestations is one of the core elements of both King麓s work and humankind itself. Could also be seen as an allegory about a snowball effect, tiny origin, huge massacre style. Or, how appropriate and contemporary, a virus.
It麓s kind of making me twinkle in anger when I think about how true, hard topics have been mainstream flanderized
until nothing of the cool, original content was left to fit to appeal to the teeny target audience. Shame on you, americanization and disneyfication, you murdered evil, torturing monsters to turn them into sensible, romantic love interests that freaking understand woman, what麓s wrong with you? That麓s so sick and disgusting, I will possible once unsubscribe my Disney+ account in a beer ridden anger act of defiance. Just joking, they have Marvel and Star Wars too. Wait, my long time memory is just telling me in one of its rare appearances that I don麓t watch TV anymore. Damn.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
Somehow the Lovecraftian, subtle, rising horror aspect King was so strong at the beginning of his career diminished over the years and there was not much of it left in the newer books I麓ve read. Characterization, descriptions, action scenes, suspense, everything great as usual in the new works, but this special meta cosmic existential horror vibe and feeling of the first few and the drug fueled King years went missing afterward. Especially his first short story collections show this, they are epic, gothic horror masterpieces, while his new ones are much more dealing with human related meta topics dipped in some mystery and horror ghost magic. I love all, fanboy for life, jay, but somehow this old school style was more unique, especially because it sadly isn麓t manufactured anymore nowadays, shame on you, damn mainstream ruining everything.
Some soft spoilers ahead, but nothing too specific worth mentioning, just meta.
So enjoy it even more if it麓s the first time, look at all the red herrings, McGuffins, and Chekhovs King is throwing around to mix them with symbolism and innuendos, enjoy how the pathetic, weak humans stagger towards perdition, laugh whenever evil scores the next bloody goal, and be a happy witness of the moment when the legend of the greatest horror writer of all times starts unfolding by using the ancient trope of rabies symptoms made folk tales.
Google that, by the way, it麓s so cool, the time until someone infected with rabies dies, how they behave to smell and light, what happens to their brains and libido, nature is amazing. It must have been so much fun to be locked up during long, cold, mountain winters with no change to escape, knowing that a few of the citizens and families may turn into real, freaking vampires. 鈥濵ommy is eating daddy, I fear she'll come for us when she is hungry again.鈥� Thanks to stupid rabies vaccination and general scientific, social, and medical progress, these amazing massive real life zombie vampire role playing games are now sadly just a reminiscence of the past, but at least literature can let one undergo it again.
Did I read Dracula? I am not sure, but the pop culture reference potential of both the original and this darker retelling is immense and how King let it escalate seems to be much more entertaining than what I know about the original. Sorry, classic literature, King just owns you. This idea of whatever evil coming to town, or always being in town and waking up again, becoming more and more extreme in its manifestations is one of the core elements of both King麓s work and humankind itself. Could also be seen as an allegory about a snowball effect, tiny origin, huge massacre style. Or, how appropriate and contemporary, a virus.
It麓s kind of making me twinkle in anger when I think about how true, hard topics have been mainstream flanderized
until nothing of the cool, original content was left to fit to appeal to the teeny target audience. Shame on you, americanization and disneyfication, you murdered evil, torturing monsters to turn them into sensible, romantic love interests that freaking understand woman, what麓s wrong with you? That麓s so sick and disgusting, I will possible once unsubscribe my Disney+ account in a beer ridden anger act of defiance. Just joking, they have Marvel and Star Wars too. Wait, my long time memory is just telling me in one of its rare appearances that I don麓t watch TV anymore. Damn.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
October 13, 2022
鈥淎nd all around them, the bestiality of the night rises on tenebrous wings. The vampire鈥檚 time has come.鈥�
Spook-tacular, Fang-tastic and 4 鈥榖loodthirsty鈥� stars for a book by an author that needs no introduction, and this time delivers a vampire-ology story about a town under siege from a growing number of vampires in Jeru-salem鈥檚 Lot.
Chilling, haunting and horrifyingly fang-tastic 鈥� once it got going!!! and my first addition to my spooky month reading list.
The Plot
With the image of Marsten House still haunting his mind, Ben Mears returns to his home town to finally put the ghosts of his childhood to rest, by writing a book about this seemingly haunted house.
鈥淭he town kept its secrets, and the Marsten House brooded over it like a ruined king.鈥�
However, Ben鈥檚 arrival coincides with the disappearance of more of the town鈥檚 folk 鈥� but only slowly and with no connection which helps supress the towns hysteria and suspicion, and creates that perfect hunting atmosphere. Add to this, Marsten House finds itself a new owner. The strange and reclusive Straker who brings his own brand of mystery and menace, but it is the investigation, discovery and hunt for the vampires that delivers the most in suspense, thrills, and chills.
With Susan, his new love and former college student, and Matt (the schoolteacher), all three embark on this classic hunt for answers and ultimately the vampires. Although not an easy task because this breed, unlike other vampire stories, can operate in daylight which added to the ever-present sense of doom and evil.
Review and Comments
We had a lot of peripheral characters in this story, which was probably needed for the numbers the vampires eventually kill off 鈥� a blood thirsty lot!!! Other than that, the characters did not add much to the story. It was this and the very slow pace at the start that brought this down to a 4 star read. However, the rest of the book was spook-tacular.
The pacing in the rest of the novel was just right, which helped create the perfect atmosphere and tone for this spine-chilling book. The evil was accretive, gradual, and penetrating and the events were so well articulated and put together, that on occasions I found myself at the edge of my seat or doing my Meerkat impersonation with every noise around me. Ok, horror is not my thing for a reason.
I do love authors who dare to kill off some of the main characters, instead of playing safe. So, in all a wonderful and compelling book for Halloween month, a timeless, eerie, and creepy classic and a recommendation to anyone who enjoys a bit of yearly fright or horror stories in general.
Lingering, ominous, and spine chilling without the gore.
鈥淚f a fear cannot be articulated, it can鈥檛 be conquered.鈥�
Ok I confess my fear - this scared the pants of me, in some chapters - now I鈥檝e conquered. Sorted!!!
Spook-tacular, Fang-tastic and 4 鈥榖loodthirsty鈥� stars for a book by an author that needs no introduction, and this time delivers a vampire-ology story about a town under siege from a growing number of vampires in Jeru-salem鈥檚 Lot.
Chilling, haunting and horrifyingly fang-tastic 鈥� once it got going!!! and my first addition to my spooky month reading list.
The Plot
With the image of Marsten House still haunting his mind, Ben Mears returns to his home town to finally put the ghosts of his childhood to rest, by writing a book about this seemingly haunted house.
鈥淭he town kept its secrets, and the Marsten House brooded over it like a ruined king.鈥�
However, Ben鈥檚 arrival coincides with the disappearance of more of the town鈥檚 folk 鈥� but only slowly and with no connection which helps supress the towns hysteria and suspicion, and creates that perfect hunting atmosphere. Add to this, Marsten House finds itself a new owner. The strange and reclusive Straker who brings his own brand of mystery and menace, but it is the investigation, discovery and hunt for the vampires that delivers the most in suspense, thrills, and chills.
With Susan, his new love and former college student, and Matt (the schoolteacher), all three embark on this classic hunt for answers and ultimately the vampires. Although not an easy task because this breed, unlike other vampire stories, can operate in daylight which added to the ever-present sense of doom and evil.
Review and Comments
We had a lot of peripheral characters in this story, which was probably needed for the numbers the vampires eventually kill off 鈥� a blood thirsty lot!!! Other than that, the characters did not add much to the story. It was this and the very slow pace at the start that brought this down to a 4 star read. However, the rest of the book was spook-tacular.
The pacing in the rest of the novel was just right, which helped create the perfect atmosphere and tone for this spine-chilling book. The evil was accretive, gradual, and penetrating and the events were so well articulated and put together, that on occasions I found myself at the edge of my seat or doing my Meerkat impersonation with every noise around me. Ok, horror is not my thing for a reason.
I do love authors who dare to kill off some of the main characters, instead of playing safe. So, in all a wonderful and compelling book for Halloween month, a timeless, eerie, and creepy classic and a recommendation to anyone who enjoys a bit of yearly fright or horror stories in general.
Lingering, ominous, and spine chilling without the gore.
鈥淚f a fear cannot be articulated, it can鈥檛 be conquered.鈥�
Ok I confess my fear - this scared the pants of me, in some chapters - now I鈥檝e conquered. Sorted!!!
February 28, 2025
As with many King's, I loved this even more upon reread.
This story will always hold a special place in my heart, but more than that, I'm considering proclaiming it my FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME!!!
馃枻馃挌馃枻馃挌馃枻馃挌馃枻馃挌馃枻馃挌馃枻馃挌馃枻
'Salem's Lot was the first King novel I ever read. I'm not being hyperbolic when I say it shaped who I am as a Reader.
The year was 1987, I was 9-years old and I have never turned back. Surprisingly, this is one of the few early-Kings that up until now, I had only read once. I'm so excited that I finally revisited this childhood favorite!
The standout to me, as with most King novels, is the detailed character work and incredibly-palpable sense of place. This book also has some terrifying scenes as the drama builds, and it's truly hard to put down once you start.
I love this entire cast, Ben and Mark, as well as Father Callahan, being personal favorites. As luck would have it, MAX is set to release an new adaptation of this one and I am anxiously-anticipating it. I can't wait to see how they choose to bring it to the screen.
King's stories are always better as books, but the trailer looks promising. I'm willing to give it a shot.
If you haven't read this before, you should. An absolute classic and besides Dracula, arguably the best vampire novel ever written. It's perfect for this time of year, as you can sit back and truly let the atmosphere overtake you.
There's nothing else I really feel compelled to say about this. I love it so much, it would be impossible to capture in words how special this story is to me. This won't be the last time I read it, that's for sure.
This story will always hold a special place in my heart, but more than that, I'm considering proclaiming it my FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME!!!
馃枻馃挌馃枻馃挌馃枻馃挌馃枻馃挌馃枻馃挌馃枻馃挌馃枻
'Salem's Lot was the first King novel I ever read. I'm not being hyperbolic when I say it shaped who I am as a Reader.
The year was 1987, I was 9-years old and I have never turned back. Surprisingly, this is one of the few early-Kings that up until now, I had only read once. I'm so excited that I finally revisited this childhood favorite!
The standout to me, as with most King novels, is the detailed character work and incredibly-palpable sense of place. This book also has some terrifying scenes as the drama builds, and it's truly hard to put down once you start.
I love this entire cast, Ben and Mark, as well as Father Callahan, being personal favorites. As luck would have it, MAX is set to release an new adaptation of this one and I am anxiously-anticipating it. I can't wait to see how they choose to bring it to the screen.
King's stories are always better as books, but the trailer looks promising. I'm willing to give it a shot.
If you haven't read this before, you should. An absolute classic and besides Dracula, arguably the best vampire novel ever written. It's perfect for this time of year, as you can sit back and truly let the atmosphere overtake you.
There's nothing else I really feel compelled to say about this. I love it so much, it would be impossible to capture in words how special this story is to me. This won't be the last time I read it, that's for sure.
October 25, 2024
鈥�The town kept its secrets, and the Marsten House brooded over it like a ruined king.鈥�
Stephen King is a master of weaving together the narrative of a community with the aesthetics of horror. It鈥檚 part of what makes him so truly frightening: his horrors lurk in every day realities and often the community at large is just as threatening as the monsters that infiltrate in secret. 鈥�We鈥檇 all be scared if we knew what was swept under the carpet of each other鈥檚 minds,鈥� King writes in 鈥橲alem鈥檚 Lot, and in this tale of good vs evil the ways the everyday folks of the town silently allow their neighbor鈥檚 traumas to brood and boil over onto each other becomes just as unsettling as the vampires drawn to the bad vibes. The watching eyes of a predator is just as eerie be it an undead monster or the judgemental gaze from a neighbors window.
It鈥檚 a perfect set-up of small town scaries that tap into the real fears of small towns quite literally dying out, a topic that fueled a lot of political discourse in rural areas in the last few decades of 20th century in the US. A factory would close or an industry would dry up and suddenly the infrastructure of a town would cave in on itself with no jobs and no future prospects. Kids would flee the moment they could to avoid being pulled under with it. So begins 鈥橲alem鈥檚 Lot, with the flight from a small town in Maine seeming like another victim of a collapsed local economy on the surface, but with a darker secret bruising within. 鈥�The town knew about darkness,鈥� King writes, 鈥�it knew about the darkness that comes on the land when rotation hides the land from the sun, and about the darkness of the human soul.鈥� The bad behavoirs of the town, with the abusers, affairs, and general selfish fuckery have opened an opportunity for far worse predators to nestle in and take control.
Which brings us to the title and name of the town. Jerusalem's Lot. This may be a stretch but King does frequently play with biblical elements, and the shortened version, 鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot sure feels adjacent to Sodom and Gomorrah as well as Lot from Genesis (one could also argue Salem where the witch trials occurred, seeing as a religiously tinged 鈥減urifying by fire鈥� plays into the ending but more on that later). In reality, the town is based on Durham, Maine where King explored the real Marsten House (an abandoned home of the same name there) as a kid. But the story of Sodom and Gomorrah involves a town being destroyed because of鈥攁ccording to Isaiah and Jeremiah鈥攇reed, adultery, inhospitality, and lies. In Ezekial 16:49 it is written: 鈥�Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.鈥� The larger context here is that Jerusalem is as bad, if not worse, than Sodom. I鈥檝e had people also tell me the 鈥渞eal鈥� reason is lack of remnant, basically failure of the church, which is sort of happening here as well though Father Callahan does some ass kicking later on. So here we are in Jerusalem's Lot, where pretty much everyone is lying, cheating, and inhospitable. Bam, vampire time. I do love a good vampire time (and as vampires are often written as some lusty folks, SO DO THEY).
This is a genuinely creepy novel that maintains a growing tension of terrors through it鈥檚 hefty length. King is an author that can thrill and chill in the moment of reading but, like the monsters lurking out of sight, the lingering terror always strikes from your mind later on when you realize how you too could have walked right into the frights that occur in his books. Like I wrote about for Pet Sematary, the scariest bits are dropped into normal, mundane reality. Each October I love to over indulge in horror novels. I love the genre, it really works for me, and I always think 鈥渨hy don鈥檛 I read more like this all year?鈥� But then something will happen, my imagination will run wild and I鈥檒l swear off horror novels until the wheel of seasons rolls around again. This year I didn鈥檛 really have that moment and was just blissfully downing scary stories, thrilled to keep going into November while reading this book along with Nataliya (read here excellent review here). I had to feed my neighbor鈥檚 cat last weekend, and their electronic door lock isn鈥檛 working so getting it to unlock and lock was a bit of a hassle. It was late in the evening as I was walking down into the darkness of their basement where the cat dish is when suddenly my mind decided to pelt the intrusive thought 鈥渄on鈥檛 think about the Marsten House鈥� at me like a brick. Well, fuck, now I鈥檓 hoping I don鈥檛 turn around for Marsten鈥檚 dead ass chasing after me down the stairs. I did my chore SO fast and as I鈥檓 trying to lock the door, which isn鈥檛 cooperating, the windy night is creating a draft that makes it feel like the door is trying to be pulled back open from the inside. 鈥�The basis of all human fears,鈥� King says here, 鈥�a closed door, slightly ajar.鈥� YUP. So you got me King, that was my memorable imagination-run-wild fright of 2022.
鈥�Small towns have long memories and pass their horrors down ceremonially from generation to generation.鈥�
I love the atmosphere of this novel. It鈥檚 a small town vibe that reminds me of the small towns in Michigan鈥檚 upper peninsula where I would spend my summers as a kid. The town itself is creepy and oppressive though. Everyone knows everyone else鈥檚 business (a bit too much), everyone is kind of a shit, and generational trauma is running rampant. It becomes sort of a question of were the people being shits the reason the town became evil or was the town being evil the reason the people are shits. Once the vampires get someone they sort of become the worst version of themselves, which is rather in keeping with the first vampire novel: The Vampyre by . In it, anyone who is drawn to the enigmatic vampire is met with ruin and becomes terrible versions of themselves on their descent. The vampire was based on and this whole road to ruin was pretty expected for anyone who decided to buddy themselves with him. There is a lot of standard vampire lore in this book that sort of lets the reader鈥檚 predisposition towards vampire knowledge fill in a lot of gaps, though the use of it is all a bit muddy.
It鈥檚 King鈥檚 early work and it shows. The writing is great but some of the book exists without much clarifications because, well, that鈥檚 just what makes the plot work. The crucifix is a key tool for fighting vampires because thats just how fighting vampires works. There is a lot of symbolism around the church, though Barlow does inform us 鈥�the Catholic Church is not the oldest of my opponents.鈥� It just happens to be a tradition that is also an effective weapon against him. It is less that it is a tool from God, but, as Ben observes, 鈥�a direct pipeline to the days when werewolves and incubi and witches were an accepted part of the outer darkness and the church the only beacon of light.鈥� It also opens the opportunity for some great moments with Mark getting vampire murdering down with a toy cross. King always does utilize childhood innocence in a great way, something that is very characteristic of a lot of his works. A very 'suffer the little children' vibe juxtaposed with the power of their innocence.
In the vibes of a small town dying out, there is a large theme about the part and reclaiming memory. Marsten House is largely a symbol for the trauma鈥檚 of Ben鈥檚 past that he has come to revisit. Why? He did it for literature (see also: profit鈥斺€�tapping into the atmosphere鈥o write a book scary enough to make me a million dollars鈥�) Ben wants to dig into his past and write a good book, but also because he wants to reclaim the magic of time now gone.
This resonates with the ideas of dying towns and wanting to reclaim the past, or where people hold to a golden age nostalgia to resist change or progress. You can鈥檛 reclaim the past though, and memory is often much rosier than the reality. The house becomes the general base for the vampiric plot, but its also convenient to the plot because Ben can center all the evils into one idea: Marsten House. 鈥�If a fear cannot be articulated, it can鈥檛 be conquered,鈥� King writes (I love this line, and have written frequently elsewhere about how naming a thing takes away its power or gives you power over it as seen in fairy tales) and there鈥檚 almost a metafictional aspect of articulating all the evil into Marsten House in a book about writing a book about evil. It鈥檚 King winking at us seeing if we catch the references to fairy tale theory more or less.
鈥�Purification should count for something.鈥�
Okay, we gotta talk about the ending. Or non-ending really. I mean, this book hits some HIGHS that are truly terrifying (those teeth, ahhhhh!) but, as is the complaint about King so common they spoofed on it in the new film remake of , King often struggles to stick the landing. While I鈥檓 into the On that note, also contains the story Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot, written as an homage to and connects the town to the Cthulhu mythology (it was written before the novel but appeared in print after). But I would have been into the book abruptly ending when Ben says 鈥�I鈥檒l be back鈥� like he鈥檚 Vampire Terminator. Imagine him riding out of town on a motorcycle if you want. I鈥檝e always been into King鈥檚 tongue-in-cheek warning going into the end of Dark Tower, and with many of his books you can probably quit and write your own final few pages and he鈥檇 be into that.
鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot is a wild ride of frights and fun that is worth the hefty size of the narrative. It鈥檚 early King and a few parts read as clunky (Ben鈥檚 interactions with women are a bit awkward too) but it鈥檚 a well told story that is worth the price of admission. There's a lot to talk about here and I do really appreciate the efforts made here to make horror into a work of literature by having a lot of symbolism and references that give some good depth to it. So enter, if you dare.
3.75/5
Stephen King is a master of weaving together the narrative of a community with the aesthetics of horror. It鈥檚 part of what makes him so truly frightening: his horrors lurk in every day realities and often the community at large is just as threatening as the monsters that infiltrate in secret. 鈥�We鈥檇 all be scared if we knew what was swept under the carpet of each other鈥檚 minds,鈥� King writes in 鈥橲alem鈥檚 Lot, and in this tale of good vs evil the ways the everyday folks of the town silently allow their neighbor鈥檚 traumas to brood and boil over onto each other becomes just as unsettling as the vampires drawn to the bad vibes. The watching eyes of a predator is just as eerie be it an undead monster or the judgemental gaze from a neighbors window.
It鈥檚 a perfect set-up of small town scaries that tap into the real fears of small towns quite literally dying out, a topic that fueled a lot of political discourse in rural areas in the last few decades of 20th century in the US. A factory would close or an industry would dry up and suddenly the infrastructure of a town would cave in on itself with no jobs and no future prospects. Kids would flee the moment they could to avoid being pulled under with it. So begins 鈥橲alem鈥檚 Lot, with the flight from a small town in Maine seeming like another victim of a collapsed local economy on the surface, but with a darker secret bruising within. 鈥�The town knew about darkness,鈥� King writes, 鈥�it knew about the darkness that comes on the land when rotation hides the land from the sun, and about the darkness of the human soul.鈥� The bad behavoirs of the town, with the abusers, affairs, and general selfish fuckery have opened an opportunity for far worse predators to nestle in and take control.
Which brings us to the title and name of the town. Jerusalem's Lot. This may be a stretch but King does frequently play with biblical elements, and the shortened version, 鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot sure feels adjacent to Sodom and Gomorrah as well as Lot from Genesis (one could also argue Salem where the witch trials occurred, seeing as a religiously tinged 鈥減urifying by fire鈥� plays into the ending but more on that later). In reality, the town is based on Durham, Maine where King explored the real Marsten House (an abandoned home of the same name there) as a kid. But the story of Sodom and Gomorrah involves a town being destroyed because of鈥攁ccording to Isaiah and Jeremiah鈥攇reed, adultery, inhospitality, and lies. In Ezekial 16:49 it is written: 鈥�Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.鈥� The larger context here is that Jerusalem is as bad, if not worse, than Sodom. I鈥檝e had people also tell me the 鈥渞eal鈥� reason is lack of remnant, basically failure of the church, which is sort of happening here as well though Father Callahan does some ass kicking later on. So here we are in Jerusalem's Lot, where pretty much everyone is lying, cheating, and inhospitable. Bam, vampire time. I do love a good vampire time (and as vampires are often written as some lusty folks, SO DO THEY).
This is a genuinely creepy novel that maintains a growing tension of terrors through it鈥檚 hefty length. King is an author that can thrill and chill in the moment of reading but, like the monsters lurking out of sight, the lingering terror always strikes from your mind later on when you realize how you too could have walked right into the frights that occur in his books. Like I wrote about for Pet Sematary, the scariest bits are dropped into normal, mundane reality. Each October I love to over indulge in horror novels. I love the genre, it really works for me, and I always think 鈥渨hy don鈥檛 I read more like this all year?鈥� But then something will happen, my imagination will run wild and I鈥檒l swear off horror novels until the wheel of seasons rolls around again. This year I didn鈥檛 really have that moment and was just blissfully downing scary stories, thrilled to keep going into November while reading this book along with Nataliya (read here excellent review here). I had to feed my neighbor鈥檚 cat last weekend, and their electronic door lock isn鈥檛 working so getting it to unlock and lock was a bit of a hassle. It was late in the evening as I was walking down into the darkness of their basement where the cat dish is when suddenly my mind decided to pelt the intrusive thought 鈥渄on鈥檛 think about the Marsten House鈥� at me like a brick. Well, fuck, now I鈥檓 hoping I don鈥檛 turn around for Marsten鈥檚 dead ass chasing after me down the stairs. I did my chore SO fast and as I鈥檓 trying to lock the door, which isn鈥檛 cooperating, the windy night is creating a draft that makes it feel like the door is trying to be pulled back open from the inside. 鈥�The basis of all human fears,鈥� King says here, 鈥�a closed door, slightly ajar.鈥� YUP. So you got me King, that was my memorable imagination-run-wild fright of 2022.
鈥�Small towns have long memories and pass their horrors down ceremonially from generation to generation.鈥�
I love the atmosphere of this novel. It鈥檚 a small town vibe that reminds me of the small towns in Michigan鈥檚 upper peninsula where I would spend my summers as a kid. The town itself is creepy and oppressive though. Everyone knows everyone else鈥檚 business (a bit too much), everyone is kind of a shit, and generational trauma is running rampant. It becomes sort of a question of were the people being shits the reason the town became evil or was the town being evil the reason the people are shits. Once the vampires get someone they sort of become the worst version of themselves, which is rather in keeping with the first vampire novel: The Vampyre by . In it, anyone who is drawn to the enigmatic vampire is met with ruin and becomes terrible versions of themselves on their descent. The vampire was based on and this whole road to ruin was pretty expected for anyone who decided to buddy themselves with him. There is a lot of standard vampire lore in this book that sort of lets the reader鈥檚 predisposition towards vampire knowledge fill in a lot of gaps, though the use of it is all a bit muddy.
It鈥檚 King鈥檚 early work and it shows. The writing is great but some of the book exists without much clarifications because, well, that鈥檚 just what makes the plot work. The crucifix is a key tool for fighting vampires because thats just how fighting vampires works. There is a lot of symbolism around the church, though Barlow does inform us 鈥�the Catholic Church is not the oldest of my opponents.鈥� It just happens to be a tradition that is also an effective weapon against him. It is less that it is a tool from God, but, as Ben observes, 鈥�a direct pipeline to the days when werewolves and incubi and witches were an accepted part of the outer darkness and the church the only beacon of light.鈥� It also opens the opportunity for some great moments with Mark getting vampire murdering down with a toy cross. King always does utilize childhood innocence in a great way, something that is very characteristic of a lot of his works. A very 'suffer the little children' vibe juxtaposed with the power of their innocence.
In the vibes of a small town dying out, there is a large theme about the part and reclaiming memory. Marsten House is largely a symbol for the trauma鈥檚 of Ben鈥檚 past that he has come to revisit. Why? He did it for literature (see also: profit鈥斺€�tapping into the atmosphere鈥o write a book scary enough to make me a million dollars鈥�) Ben wants to dig into his past and write a good book, but also because he wants to reclaim the magic of time now gone.
鈥�What was he doing, coming back to a town where he had lives for four years as a boy, trying to recapture something that was irrevocably lost? What magic could he expect to recapture by walking roads that he had once walked as a boy and were probably asphalted and straightened and logged off and littered with tourist beer cans?锟斤拷
This resonates with the ideas of dying towns and wanting to reclaim the past, or where people hold to a golden age nostalgia to resist change or progress. You can鈥檛 reclaim the past though, and memory is often much rosier than the reality. The house becomes the general base for the vampiric plot, but its also convenient to the plot because Ben can center all the evils into one idea: Marsten House. 鈥�If a fear cannot be articulated, it can鈥檛 be conquered,鈥� King writes (I love this line, and have written frequently elsewhere about how naming a thing takes away its power or gives you power over it as seen in fairy tales) and there鈥檚 almost a metafictional aspect of articulating all the evil into Marsten House in a book about writing a book about evil. It鈥檚 King winking at us seeing if we catch the references to fairy tale theory more or less.
鈥�Purification should count for something.鈥�
Okay, we gotta talk about the ending. Or non-ending really. I mean, this book hits some HIGHS that are truly terrifying (those teeth, ahhhhh!) but, as is the complaint about King so common they spoofed on it in the new film remake of , King often struggles to stick the landing. While I鈥檓 into the On that note, also contains the story Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot, written as an homage to and connects the town to the Cthulhu mythology (it was written before the novel but appeared in print after). But I would have been into the book abruptly ending when Ben says 鈥�I鈥檒l be back鈥� like he鈥檚 Vampire Terminator. Imagine him riding out of town on a motorcycle if you want. I鈥檝e always been into King鈥檚 tongue-in-cheek warning going into the end of Dark Tower, and with many of his books you can probably quit and write your own final few pages and he鈥檇 be into that.
鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot is a wild ride of frights and fun that is worth the hefty size of the narrative. It鈥檚 early King and a few parts read as clunky (Ben鈥檚 interactions with women are a bit awkward too) but it鈥檚 a well told story that is worth the price of admission. There's a lot to talk about here and I do really appreciate the efforts made here to make horror into a work of literature by having a lot of symbolism and references that give some good depth to it. So enter, if you dare.
3.75/5
January 18, 2015
A novel about a creepy town and deadly vampires. This should've received 5 stars from me, but I was a bit disappointed with this novel.
I swear I wanted to love this novel, but it was an okay read for me. An okay read from the King. I'm 100% sure that something is wrong with me, and not the novel.
My main problem with the novel would be the fact that it took almost 350 pages for it to become really interesting. The character and plot introduction felt 150 pages longer than it should've been. Aside from that, the only character that I really liked would be Ben Mears. I guess it's also a good thing that I really liked the main character, but it's also a bad thing that everyone else were a bit flat and lifeless.
The plot was not bad, and the execution was also quite good. This novel dealt with the mystery of the town more than the creepiness of the vampires. I like a good town mystery story, but the whole mystery of the town was not that interesting for me. I heard that this novel is quite similar to Dracula, so maybe I should've read Dracula first? Similar in a way that the novel doesn't revolve around the vampires, but of the setting. King is good with setting centered novels (Pet Sematary), so I'll be redundant and repeat that I'm probably the problem here, and not the novel.
3.5/5 stars. I made the review short because I know that I'll have a better opinion of this novel after my reread in the future. Looking back, I'm reminiscing violent scenes and picturing the ending vividly. As of now I can't bump it up to 4 stars because it didn't blow me away. I'd be lying if I say that I enjoyed this a lot. I enjoyed some parts, but the most were a bit boring for me. Hoping for a good reread in the future. Go ahead and read this novel, and don't trust my 3 star rating.
I swear I wanted to love this novel, but it was an okay read for me. An okay read from the King. I'm 100% sure that something is wrong with me, and not the novel.
My main problem with the novel would be the fact that it took almost 350 pages for it to become really interesting. The character and plot introduction felt 150 pages longer than it should've been. Aside from that, the only character that I really liked would be Ben Mears. I guess it's also a good thing that I really liked the main character, but it's also a bad thing that everyone else were a bit flat and lifeless.
The plot was not bad, and the execution was also quite good. This novel dealt with the mystery of the town more than the creepiness of the vampires. I like a good town mystery story, but the whole mystery of the town was not that interesting for me. I heard that this novel is quite similar to Dracula, so maybe I should've read Dracula first? Similar in a way that the novel doesn't revolve around the vampires, but of the setting. King is good with setting centered novels (Pet Sematary), so I'll be redundant and repeat that I'm probably the problem here, and not the novel.
3.5/5 stars. I made the review short because I know that I'll have a better opinion of this novel after my reread in the future. Looking back, I'm reminiscing violent scenes and picturing the ending vividly. As of now I can't bump it up to 4 stars because it didn't blow me away. I'd be lying if I say that I enjoyed this a lot. I enjoyed some parts, but the most were a bit boring for me. Hoping for a good reread in the future. Go ahead and read this novel, and don't trust my 3 star rating.
October 14, 2019
From the 1979 movie version of Salem鈥檚 Lot
鈥滻t would be years before I would hear Alfred Bester鈥檚 axiom 鈥榯he book is the boss,鈥� but I didn鈥檛 need to; I learned it for myself writing the novel that eventually became Salem鈥檚 Lot. Of course, the writer can impose control; it鈥檚 just a really shitty idea. Writing controlled fiction is called 鈥榩lotting.鈥� Buckling your seatbelt and letting the story take over, however...that is called 鈥榮torytelling.鈥� Storytelling is as natural as breathing; plotting is the literary version of artificial respiration.鈥�
This nugget of wisdom is shared by Stephen King in the introduction to the 2005 illustrated edition of Salem鈥檚 Lot. I have to say that I completely agree with this philosophy. I have talked to many would-be writers who are so bogged down in getting the outline of their story completely figured out that they never actually get to the writing part of the process. I like having a few concepts in my head before I start whacking away at that mesmerizing whiteness of the blank page, but if I have it all figured out,...then why write it? The fun part is discovering the nuances of the maze before I find the exit.
Stephen King grew up in a small town in New England, and it seems like he has been waging war on small towns every since. 鈥漈here鈥檚 little good in sedentary small towns. Mostly indifference spiced with an occasional vapid evil--or worse, a conscious one. I believe Thomas Wolfe wrote about seven pounds of literature about that.鈥� I, too, grew up in a small town and fully intend, in the scope of my writing, to eviscerate some of the more heinous aspects of small town 鈥渧alues.鈥�
I love Paul Bettany鈥檚 line from the movie Knight鈥檚 Tale. Chaucer: 鈥淚 will eviscerate you in fiction. Every pimple, every character flaw. I was naked for a day; you will be naked for eternity.鈥� I always like to say that my career is littered with the corpses of my enemies.(Hyperbole) Just a word of warning for those still breathing: I will reveal you for the bloody bastards/bitches you are in my fiction. If you think it isn鈥檛 you...it probably is. #evillaughwahaha
Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot is that typical small town that King loves to destroy on a regular basis, and this time his weapon is...vampires. The Marsten House, the scene of unspeakable tragedies, has been left empty for many years. It is a grand mansion falling into ruin by the very evilness that seems to fester in the walls and the rafters clear down to the bedrock. Ben Mears has come back to town to write about the place and intends to actually stay on the premises, but learns on his arrival that the house has been sold. Who would really want to stay there anyway? 鈥漈he house smelled. You wouldn鈥檛 believe how it smelled. Mildew and upholstery rot and a kind of rancid smell like butter that had gone over. And living things--rats or woodchucks or whatever else that had been nesting in the walls or hibernating in the cellar. A yellow, wet smell.鈥�
The Marsten House is the perfect place for a vampire named Barlow and his assistant R. T. Straker to take up residence. The first clue should have been the initials; remember Dracula鈥檚 assistant...R. M. Renfield. The one word name as well...Barlow鈥�. What does he think鈥攈e is Prince?
Yes, he does, and much, much more. He is, ultimately, a God fashioning people in his own image.
As Barlow picks off the residents of Jerusalem's Lot one by one and turns them into an army of hungry vampires, a small band of misfits start to fight back. After all, who else, but the freaks and oddballs would believe that there really are vampires? 鈥滱n old teacher half-cracked with books, a writer obsessed with his childhood nightmares, a little boy who has taken a postgraduate course in vampire lore from the films and the modern penny-dreadfuls.鈥�
Barlow has certainly had better men and women than these who have tried to destroy him. He has become overconfident and underestimates the courage and resolve of this disenfranchised band of eccentrics he is dealing with. Check out this condescending speech he lays on Ben Mears:
鈥滾ook and see me, puny man. Look upon Barlow, who has passed the centuries as you have passed hours before a fireplace with a book. Look and see the great creature of the night whom you would slay with your miserable little stick. Look upon me, scribbler. I have written in human lives, and blood has been my ink. Look upon me and despair!鈥�
No one is more shocked than Stephen King that his idea for a vampire hoard destroying one of his loathed small towns turns into an inspiring, uplifting novel of the weak fighting back against the most powerful. It is a slow burn of a plot. King uses the early pages of the novel to let us get to know these people before we see them tested beyond normal human endurance. Fortunately, his working title of Second Coming was vetoed for the published title by his wife Tabitha who, rightly so, decided it would be a better title for a sex manual. It is a nice ode to the classic vampire myth and manages to add some original stake splattering moments to the genre. Salem鈥檚 Lot has become a classic of fanged literature. King proves his storytelling chops.
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September 14, 2017
Vampires.
Years after I first read it, I can truthfully say that this is still on a short list of scariest books I have ever read.
King at his best.
An American re-telling of , King stays close to the vampire myth but with some of his own storytelling thrown in and some subtle changes that make for an original novel. I cannot help but think that Barlow helped to usher in a new generation of vampire literature, of which we have now been inundated for the past few years.
Years after I first read it, I can truthfully say that this is still on a short list of scariest books I have ever read.
King at his best.
An American re-telling of , King stays close to the vampire myth but with some of his own storytelling thrown in and some subtle changes that make for an original novel. I cannot help but think that Barlow helped to usher in a new generation of vampire literature, of which we have now been inundated for the past few years.
September 12, 2019
1.24.19-I just finished my third read of SALEM'S LOT, this time via audiobook. The narrator, Ron McClarty worked well for me and I found this tale as satisfying as it ever was.
11.1.2014-Original review.
I just finished a re-read of this book with the Horror Aficionados group here at 欧宝娱乐. I'm so glad that I participated!
Remember little Danny Glick?
I first read this book in junior high or high school. It's been about 30 years since then, unfortunately. I've read The Stand and IT a couple of times each, but I never did pick this one up again. Finally, that has been rectified and what a payoff!
I forgot how well this story wrapped its arms around the reader and refused to let them go. We meander through the town, meeting its residents and learning about their daily lives. (I think Stephen King excels at this, mostly because you can tell he knows what he's talking about.) We focus our attentions on a few different characters-some strong, some weak-but they're all human with characteristics, (both good and bad, )that we recognize.
Quote: "The town cares for devil's work no more than it cares for God's or man's. It knew darkness. And darkness was enough."
I feel that's all I need to say. I have nothing new to bring to a review of a book that has thousands of reviews already. If you haven't read this tale, you should.
11.1.2014-Original review.
I just finished a re-read of this book with the Horror Aficionados group here at 欧宝娱乐. I'm so glad that I participated!
Remember little Danny Glick?
I first read this book in junior high or high school. It's been about 30 years since then, unfortunately. I've read The Stand and IT a couple of times each, but I never did pick this one up again. Finally, that has been rectified and what a payoff!
I forgot how well this story wrapped its arms around the reader and refused to let them go. We meander through the town, meeting its residents and learning about their daily lives. (I think Stephen King excels at this, mostly because you can tell he knows what he's talking about.) We focus our attentions on a few different characters-some strong, some weak-but they're all human with characteristics, (both good and bad, )that we recognize.
Quote: "The town cares for devil's work no more than it cares for God's or man's. It knew darkness. And darkness was enough."
I feel that's all I need to say. I have nothing new to bring to a review of a book that has thousands of reviews already. If you haven't read this tale, you should.
July 9, 2022
The note to my 13 years old self: thank you for being wise enough to choose this book and keep reading the King of authors鈥� books for years!
This was my first Stephen King book. I never be a fan of vampires! ( I was a little clueless why the hell people lost their sh*ts when they read and watch the entire Twilight series but there鈥檚 another review to tell) But as you can imagine I was drawn into my King鈥檚 story at first read and I kept suffered from nightmares for years, seeing Danny Flick floating outside my bedroom window!
Nearly three decades later, I鈥檓 rereading this beauty which made me one of the biggest fans of the King of the authors! Another sleepless night is probably waiting for me! But it鈥檚 truly worth it! Damn you Danny Flick!
I recently watched the trailer of latest movie adaptation! It seems so promising with its brilliant cast! It will be released on September 9, 2022. I loved Gary Dauberman鈥檚 previous King adaptations. ( even though the second movie of 鈥淚t鈥� was way too much longer) I鈥檓 looking forward to watch it!
This was my first Stephen King book. I never be a fan of vampires! ( I was a little clueless why the hell people lost their sh*ts when they read and watch the entire Twilight series but there鈥檚 another review to tell) But as you can imagine I was drawn into my King鈥檚 story at first read and I kept suffered from nightmares for years, seeing Danny Flick floating outside my bedroom window!
Nearly three decades later, I鈥檓 rereading this beauty which made me one of the biggest fans of the King of the authors! Another sleepless night is probably waiting for me! But it鈥檚 truly worth it! Damn you Danny Flick!
I recently watched the trailer of latest movie adaptation! It seems so promising with its brilliant cast! It will be released on September 9, 2022. I loved Gary Dauberman鈥檚 previous King adaptations. ( even though the second movie of 鈥淚t鈥� was way too much longer) I鈥檓 looking forward to watch it!
November 18, 2020
A slow build vampire story, which missed the mark for me!
Author Ben Mears returns to Salem's Lot, where he spent some of his childhood, to write his next book, but discovers something evil residing there.
This was my least favourite novel so far. It was about vampires, so why was it so boring and uninteresting?! At least they didn't sparkle though...
did have a few interesting characters, I liked Matt Burke and Mark Petrie, and Ben Mears was okay, but there were way too many other characters! At the start I got them all mixed up, as they were all so one dimensional and flat, and there were just too many of them thrown at me, one after the other! When things started to happen to the town's people, I just didn't care! Call me cold hearted, but I just wasn't invested in their characters.
Barlow and Straker were scary, but they weren't in it enough! Barlow especially!
The pace.. what pace? This was slower than a snail! The introduction was far too long and dull, it was about 200 pages, or so it seemed! Urgh there was just so much unnecessary information, and the author regularly went off on little random tangents, which irritated me, like get to the story damnit!
I did like the Marsten house, that was scary, and well described! I also liked the part with the removal men, that gave me chills!
I feel that King did describe the small town accurately, and it was easy to imagine what it was like there. The few action scenes included were well done, I liked the part at the boarding house. I also liked the scene in Mark Petrie's bedroom, with his visitor at the window.
However, I struggled with this one. The narration was slow and dull, and I had to up the speed of the audio for the first time ever!
To sum up, if you cant scare or interest me with a freaking vampire story, then the book hasn't really done it's job has it? It pains me to rate this low, and everyone else seems to love it, but this book was just not for me 馃し
Author Ben Mears returns to Salem's Lot, where he spent some of his childhood, to write his next book, but discovers something evil residing there.
This was my least favourite novel so far. It was about vampires, so why was it so boring and uninteresting?! At least they didn't sparkle though...
did have a few interesting characters, I liked Matt Burke and Mark Petrie, and Ben Mears was okay, but there were way too many other characters! At the start I got them all mixed up, as they were all so one dimensional and flat, and there were just too many of them thrown at me, one after the other! When things started to happen to the town's people, I just didn't care! Call me cold hearted, but I just wasn't invested in their characters.
Barlow and Straker were scary, but they weren't in it enough! Barlow especially!
The pace.. what pace? This was slower than a snail! The introduction was far too long and dull, it was about 200 pages, or so it seemed! Urgh there was just so much unnecessary information, and the author regularly went off on little random tangents, which irritated me, like get to the story damnit!
I did like the Marsten house, that was scary, and well described! I also liked the part with the removal men, that gave me chills!
I feel that King did describe the small town accurately, and it was easy to imagine what it was like there. The few action scenes included were well done, I liked the part at the boarding house. I also liked the scene in Mark Petrie's bedroom, with his visitor at the window.
However, I struggled with this one. The narration was slow and dull, and I had to up the speed of the audio for the first time ever!
To sum up, if you cant scare or interest me with a freaking vampire story, then the book hasn't really done it's job has it? It pains me to rate this low, and everyone else seems to love it, but this book was just not for me 馃し
October 24, 2019
Salem鈥檚 Lot by Stephen King is a 2011 Anchor Books publication. (Originally published in 1975)
I read a decent amount of horror novels when I was a teenager. My first introduction to Stephen King was with 鈥楥arrie鈥�. But it was the heyday of pulp horror novels, with lots of books to choose from out there and long story short, I never got around to reading this book until the early eighties. I had read other King books by that time, and if memory serves, I鈥檇 watched the made for TV movie before I read this book. Eventually, I got around to getting a paperback copy of the book, and while I鈥檓 sure it would have given me a few restless nights under ordinary circumstances, I had a unique, humorous and unforgettable experience while reading this book, which was truly nightmarish-
I was only a little way into the book, when my roommate invited me to stay at her parents鈥� house one weekend. Apparently, her family had just purchased a fixer upper Victorian and were eager to show off their latest renovations. As it turns out, the house was located out in the middle of nowhere, which is great, during the daylight hours. My room was on the top floor, and as always, even way back then, I鈥檇 packed a paperback with me. As everyone settled in for the night, the quiet, the inky, pitch-black dark, an unfamiliar house, out in the middle of nowhere鈥� and reading Salem鈥檚 Lot, by Stephen King, made for a sleepless night spent tossing and turning and jumping at every little sound. I kept imagining Danny Glick floating outside one of those second story windows. This book scared the crap out of me!! And I loved it!! 馃馃
When I joined 欧宝娱乐, I automatically slapped a five- star rating on the book, but I have only read it the one time. With Halloween approaching, I was in the mood for an old-school horror novel, one from 鈥榤y era鈥�. Several books were up for consideration, and this was one of them. Remembering my experience while reading the book, grinning at how scared silly I鈥檇 been, I had to wonder if the book would have the same atmosphere now鈥� or if I would find it dated, and maybe even a little cheesy? So, I decided to find out. Thankfully, my library had a copy of the book and Scribd came through with the audio- something I thought might be fun to try. (The audio is read by Ron McLarty, a veteran narrator.)
The book gets off to a good start and as the story progressed, my memory kicked in and many details I鈥檇 long forgotten started to come back to me. King follows the traditional vampire lore in the novel. An old house, rumored to be haunted is purchased by a wealthy man, whose assistant is seen a lot more often than the owner. Meanwhile, a boy goes missing, then his brother comes down with strange anemia-like symptoms and pretty soon, the entire town is gripped in terror. Crucifix鈥檚, stakes through the heart, and all the customary vampire traditions apply here. For its time this was a gripping, updated spin on the conventional vampire tale. Through the years, vampires have morphed into something less confined, with the power to enjoy light and withstand the sight of a crucifix鈥� and some of them even sparkle. 馃榿馃榿
But I miss the time-honored folklore of bloodsucking vampires, the scary undead creatures who never age, kill indiscriminately, can鈥檛 walk around in the daylight, and can only be conquered by beheading them and driving a stake through the heart. King鈥檚 vampires are more ruthless and are in no way conflicted or remorseful. They are pure evil.
This second reading of the book was a different experience, of course. Although I had both an e book and the audio version, the story was bit too long and lost momentum on several occasions. Of course, a book written back in 1975 will have some references that are dated now, but by no means was the book cheesy. The story is as atmospheric as I recall and stands the test of time- and yes, it still scared the crap out me!! 馃槰馃槗馃槺
4.5 stars
I read a decent amount of horror novels when I was a teenager. My first introduction to Stephen King was with 鈥楥arrie鈥�. But it was the heyday of pulp horror novels, with lots of books to choose from out there and long story short, I never got around to reading this book until the early eighties. I had read other King books by that time, and if memory serves, I鈥檇 watched the made for TV movie before I read this book. Eventually, I got around to getting a paperback copy of the book, and while I鈥檓 sure it would have given me a few restless nights under ordinary circumstances, I had a unique, humorous and unforgettable experience while reading this book, which was truly nightmarish-
I was only a little way into the book, when my roommate invited me to stay at her parents鈥� house one weekend. Apparently, her family had just purchased a fixer upper Victorian and were eager to show off their latest renovations. As it turns out, the house was located out in the middle of nowhere, which is great, during the daylight hours. My room was on the top floor, and as always, even way back then, I鈥檇 packed a paperback with me. As everyone settled in for the night, the quiet, the inky, pitch-black dark, an unfamiliar house, out in the middle of nowhere鈥� and reading Salem鈥檚 Lot, by Stephen King, made for a sleepless night spent tossing and turning and jumping at every little sound. I kept imagining Danny Glick floating outside one of those second story windows. This book scared the crap out of me!! And I loved it!! 馃馃
When I joined 欧宝娱乐, I automatically slapped a five- star rating on the book, but I have only read it the one time. With Halloween approaching, I was in the mood for an old-school horror novel, one from 鈥榤y era鈥�. Several books were up for consideration, and this was one of them. Remembering my experience while reading the book, grinning at how scared silly I鈥檇 been, I had to wonder if the book would have the same atmosphere now鈥� or if I would find it dated, and maybe even a little cheesy? So, I decided to find out. Thankfully, my library had a copy of the book and Scribd came through with the audio- something I thought might be fun to try. (The audio is read by Ron McLarty, a veteran narrator.)
The book gets off to a good start and as the story progressed, my memory kicked in and many details I鈥檇 long forgotten started to come back to me. King follows the traditional vampire lore in the novel. An old house, rumored to be haunted is purchased by a wealthy man, whose assistant is seen a lot more often than the owner. Meanwhile, a boy goes missing, then his brother comes down with strange anemia-like symptoms and pretty soon, the entire town is gripped in terror. Crucifix鈥檚, stakes through the heart, and all the customary vampire traditions apply here. For its time this was a gripping, updated spin on the conventional vampire tale. Through the years, vampires have morphed into something less confined, with the power to enjoy light and withstand the sight of a crucifix鈥� and some of them even sparkle. 馃榿馃榿
But I miss the time-honored folklore of bloodsucking vampires, the scary undead creatures who never age, kill indiscriminately, can鈥檛 walk around in the daylight, and can only be conquered by beheading them and driving a stake through the heart. King鈥檚 vampires are more ruthless and are in no way conflicted or remorseful. They are pure evil.
This second reading of the book was a different experience, of course. Although I had both an e book and the audio version, the story was bit too long and lost momentum on several occasions. Of course, a book written back in 1975 will have some references that are dated now, but by no means was the book cheesy. The story is as atmospheric as I recall and stands the test of time- and yes, it still scared the crap out me!! 馃槰馃槗馃槺
4.5 stars
October 28, 2022
鈥淭hin clouds form, and the shadows lengthen out. They have no breadth, as summer shadows have; there are no leaves on the trees or fat clouds in the sky to make them thick. They are gaunt, mean shadows that bite the ground like teeth. As the sun nears the horizon, its benevolent yellow begins to deepen, to become infected, until it glares an angry inflamed orange. It throws a variegated glow over the horizon.鈥�
Salem鈥檚 Lot is the story of a small town being overtaken by vampires, and a brave band of people who come together to fight an ancient evil. The story centers around Ben Mears. Ben has returned to Salem鈥檚 Lot in hopes that exploring the history of the Marsten House, an old mansion long the subject of rumor and speculation, will help him cast out his personal devils and provide inspiration for his new book. But when two young boys venture into the woods, and only one returns alive, Ben begins to realise that something sinister is at work, in fact, his hometown is under siege from forces of darkness far beyond his imagination. And only he, with a small group of allies, can hope to contain the evil that is growing within the borders of this small and fragile town鈥�.
Salem鈥檚 Lot builds slowly and this is where Stephen King uses his time to do what he does best, build great characters and create fascinating back stories. The town of Salem鈥檚 lot feels like a soap opera with characters that will make you feel nostalgic and disgusted at the same time. They beat their children, cheat on their husbands, drink and bully. Yet its hard to pin them on a good vs bad board, there are shades of grey with everyone you meet.
Once this entire foundation has been laid Stephen King ups the ante and unveils the full horror of the vampires and it unravels like a dream!
Salem鈥檚 Lot is a brilliant work of vampire/horror fiction. It is genuinely scary at times, it has the ability to raise the hairs on your arms and neck and gives you a genuine sense of foreboding.
This town is more a charcter than a setting and you realise the evil man can do is more destructive to society than a thousand year old vampire. It鈥檚 the townspeople that drive the action and turn Salem鈥檚 Lot into an apocalypse.
This is a rich story full of great themes about society, the power of faith, men vs boys and even love and salvation.
It was an absolute dream to read!
I Highly recommend 馃憣馃徎
Salem鈥檚 Lot is the story of a small town being overtaken by vampires, and a brave band of people who come together to fight an ancient evil. The story centers around Ben Mears. Ben has returned to Salem鈥檚 Lot in hopes that exploring the history of the Marsten House, an old mansion long the subject of rumor and speculation, will help him cast out his personal devils and provide inspiration for his new book. But when two young boys venture into the woods, and only one returns alive, Ben begins to realise that something sinister is at work, in fact, his hometown is under siege from forces of darkness far beyond his imagination. And only he, with a small group of allies, can hope to contain the evil that is growing within the borders of this small and fragile town鈥�.
Salem鈥檚 Lot builds slowly and this is where Stephen King uses his time to do what he does best, build great characters and create fascinating back stories. The town of Salem鈥檚 lot feels like a soap opera with characters that will make you feel nostalgic and disgusted at the same time. They beat their children, cheat on their husbands, drink and bully. Yet its hard to pin them on a good vs bad board, there are shades of grey with everyone you meet.
Once this entire foundation has been laid Stephen King ups the ante and unveils the full horror of the vampires and it unravels like a dream!
Salem鈥檚 Lot is a brilliant work of vampire/horror fiction. It is genuinely scary at times, it has the ability to raise the hairs on your arms and neck and gives you a genuine sense of foreboding.
This town is more a charcter than a setting and you realise the evil man can do is more destructive to society than a thousand year old vampire. It鈥檚 the townspeople that drive the action and turn Salem鈥檚 Lot into an apocalypse.
This is a rich story full of great themes about society, the power of faith, men vs boys and even love and salvation.
It was an absolute dream to read!
I Highly recommend 馃憣馃徎
May 8, 2022
This was Stephen King's second published novel - the very haunting Salem's Lot sees his second venture into getting underneath the reality of a small town. What very quickly became a King trademark, sees him set the scene of an idyllic American town on the surface with something a lot darker going on underneath seemingly emanating from an isolated mansion and the people therein. The story is seen through the eyes of people new in town. No hanging about for King after his debut novel looked at the supernatural, this second published novel goes for the jugular... literally! :). 8 out of 12.
2016 read; 2006 read; 2003 read
2016 read; 2006 read; 2003 read
December 30, 2019
鈥淎t three in the morning the blood runs slow and thick, and slumber is heavy. The soul either sleeps in blessed ignorance of such an hour or gazes about itself in utter despair. There is no middle ground.鈥�
Once again, I am left speechless by King. I am without speech. I think that when a period of times passes by wherein you haven鈥檛 read much classic King, you kinda forget what he is capable of. Rereading The Shining and 鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot these past two months has really reinforced for me why King is the goddamn Master.
No one writes a small town like King. The way he carefully crafts and builds a town and all its residents is incredible, and 鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot is one of his best. To learn about and to become part of this small town, only to watch it disintegrate and fall victim to a dominant evil force, is one of the most addictive reading experiences! It鈥檚 a slow burner, but it really needs to be in order for King to gradually increase the dread and terror.
October is the optimal time to read 鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot, as it means you鈥檒l pretty much be reading it in real time. The descriptions of autumn are some of my favourite pieces of King鈥檚 writing. He just nails it. He honestly just nails this entire book in my opinion.
Prior to my reread I often thought of Ben and Susan in a negative light, like 鈥渙h Salem鈥檚 Lot is awesome, shame about some of the characters..鈥� but this time around, I appreciate them more. Susan may be quite one-dimensional but I really admired the way she stood up to her mother at times. As for Ben, he isn鈥檛 the most exciting either, but he doesn鈥檛 shy away when the horrors unfold, he鈥檚 pretty badass.
And Mark Petrie!! Still one of my favourite King child characters. He goes through so much, some of his sections really bring me the feels. And shout-out to Father Callahan, as well! And Jimmy... and Matt... the whole crew basically!
I also had forgotten how chilling this book could be. Matt hearing someone upstairs... the childish giggle... the visitor at the window... the knives... I loved how spooked I felt at times!
Truly a favourite King of mine. 5 stars.
Once again, I am left speechless by King. I am without speech. I think that when a period of times passes by wherein you haven鈥檛 read much classic King, you kinda forget what he is capable of. Rereading The Shining and 鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot these past two months has really reinforced for me why King is the goddamn Master.
No one writes a small town like King. The way he carefully crafts and builds a town and all its residents is incredible, and 鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot is one of his best. To learn about and to become part of this small town, only to watch it disintegrate and fall victim to a dominant evil force, is one of the most addictive reading experiences! It鈥檚 a slow burner, but it really needs to be in order for King to gradually increase the dread and terror.
October is the optimal time to read 鈥楽alem鈥檚 Lot, as it means you鈥檒l pretty much be reading it in real time. The descriptions of autumn are some of my favourite pieces of King鈥檚 writing. He just nails it. He honestly just nails this entire book in my opinion.
Prior to my reread I often thought of Ben and Susan in a negative light, like 鈥渙h Salem鈥檚 Lot is awesome, shame about some of the characters..鈥� but this time around, I appreciate them more. Susan may be quite one-dimensional but I really admired the way she stood up to her mother at times. As for Ben, he isn鈥檛 the most exciting either, but he doesn鈥檛 shy away when the horrors unfold, he鈥檚 pretty badass.
And Mark Petrie!! Still one of my favourite King child characters. He goes through so much, some of his sections really bring me the feels. And shout-out to Father Callahan, as well! And Jimmy... and Matt... the whole crew basically!
I also had forgotten how chilling this book could be. Matt hearing someone upstairs... the childish giggle... the visitor at the window... the knives... I loved how spooked I felt at times!
Truly a favourite King of mine. 5 stars.
October 27, 2024
5/5 猸�
King has done it 鉁╝gain鉁�
I don't even understand why I'm still surprised when another Stephen King novel becomes my new favourite, but here we are again...in utter shock and awe...
Jokes aside, this book is fantastic and proves to me one more time that 70s and 80s King was something else.
There is something about vampire stories in a junk food kind of way. You realise it's not good for your health, but you can't stop because it's just so good. That was me with vampire books this year. This one however was more of a Dracula-Nosferatu crossover rather than a Twilight-TVD one. But hey, it was juicy
King is a natural storyteller and here, he managed to tell the story of a whole town by just having special chapters where we followed different inhabitants of this said town, Jerusalem's Lot, throughout their cursed little days. And you could very well see how, as the story moved on, the daily activities of the townspeople became darker and more unusual.
You could really witness the change.
The downside is that there were so many characters at some point you couldn't keep up with them, not really. But after some time passes, you start to get the hang of it so fret not!
I loved the eerie atmosphere, I loved the mystery and the kind of internal pressure you get to feel right in your chest while reading something that you know very well that might frighten you. The psychological horror in this is extraordinary, the suspense is excellent and the scary bits come at you when you least expect them (aka when it's night and you are home alone and nothing really scary happened and you're allowing yourself one more chapter and that chapter proves to be the scary one).
Given the fact that Salem's Lot is one of King's early works if you read it after you read his other masterpieces such as The Shining and IT , you realise what inspired what and where and how because there are many common ideas and leitmotifs in all these three works that really seem to tie all of his stories together in one big universe.
I do believe that this is the perfect read for those of you who love spooky October reads and maybe consider celebrating KINGtober each year as I've been doing for the past few years. If this is on your list somewhere, move it to the top for this KINGtober, because it's going to be your new favourite!
King has done it 鉁╝gain鉁�
I don't even understand why I'm still surprised when another Stephen King novel becomes my new favourite, but here we are again...in utter shock and awe...
Jokes aside, this book is fantastic and proves to me one more time that 70s and 80s King was something else.
There is something about vampire stories in a junk food kind of way. You realise it's not good for your health, but you can't stop because it's just so good. That was me with vampire books this year. This one however was more of a Dracula-Nosferatu crossover rather than a Twilight-TVD one. But hey, it was juicy
King is a natural storyteller and here, he managed to tell the story of a whole town by just having special chapters where we followed different inhabitants of this said town, Jerusalem's Lot, throughout their cursed little days. And you could very well see how, as the story moved on, the daily activities of the townspeople became darker and more unusual.
You could really witness the change.
The downside is that there were so many characters at some point you couldn't keep up with them, not really. But after some time passes, you start to get the hang of it so fret not!
I loved the eerie atmosphere, I loved the mystery and the kind of internal pressure you get to feel right in your chest while reading something that you know very well that might frighten you. The psychological horror in this is extraordinary, the suspense is excellent and the scary bits come at you when you least expect them (aka when it's night and you are home alone and nothing really scary happened and you're allowing yourself one more chapter and that chapter proves to be the scary one).
Given the fact that Salem's Lot is one of King's early works if you read it after you read his other masterpieces such as The Shining and IT , you realise what inspired what and where and how because there are many common ideas and leitmotifs in all these three works that really seem to tie all of his stories together in one big universe.
I do believe that this is the perfect read for those of you who love spooky October reads and maybe consider celebrating KINGtober each year as I've been doing for the past few years. If this is on your list somewhere, move it to the top for this KINGtober, because it's going to be your new favourite!
February 17, 2018
賱賵賴賱丞 馗賳賳鬲 兀賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 毓賳 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍貙 乇毓亘 鬲賯賱賷丿賷 賮丨爻亘貙 賱賰賲 賰賳鬲 賲禺胤卅丕
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 毓賳 丕賱卮乇 賳賮爻賴 賵丕賱馗賱丕賲 丕賱匕賷 賱丕 賳乇丕賴 廿賱丕 亘毓丿 賮賵丕鬲 丕賱兀賵丕賳
"賱賯丿 鬲睾賷乇 賲賮賴賵賲 丕賱賰賳賷爻丞 丕賱賰丕孬賵賱賷賰賷丞 賱賱卮乇 毓賲賵賲丕 亘卮賰賱 噩匕乇賷 賮賷 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱毓卮乇賷賳 亘爻亘亘 賮乇賵賷丿..賮賱賲 賷毓丿 丕賱卮乇 賴賵 匕丕賰 丕賱卮賷胤丕賳 丕賱兀丨賲乇 亘賯乇賵賳 賵匕賷賱 賵丨賵丕賮乇貙 兀賵 孬毓亘丕賳丕 賷夭丨賮 賮賷 丨丿賷賯丞貙 丕賱卮賷胤丕賳 胤亘賯丕 賱廿賳噩賷賱 賮乇賵賷丿貙 賱賴 賴賵賷丞 賲乇賰亘丞 毓賲賱丕賯丞貙 賴賵 丕賱賱丕賵毓賷 兀賵 丕賱毓賯賱 丕賱亘丕胤賳 丕賱禺丕氐 亘賳丕 噩賲賷毓丕"賯氐丞 賲丿賷賳丞 氐睾賷乇丞 賷乇爻賲 賱賰 爻鬲賷賮賷賳 賰賷賳噩 亘卮賰賱 亘丕賳賵乇丕賲賷 丕禺乇 丕賷丕賲賴丕 賯亘賱 丕禺鬲賮丕亍賴丕 丕賱睾丕賲囟
賲賲鬲夭噩 亘賴丕 賮賱爻賮丞 毓賲賷賯丞 賲賯丿賲丞 亘卮賰賱 賲亘爻胤 毓賳 賲禺丕賵賮 丕賱胤賮賵賱丞 賵鬲睾賷乇 丕賱亘卮乇 賵丕賱亘賷賵鬲 丕賱賲賴噩賵乇丞 賵丕賱賰賴乇亘丕亍 賵丕賱賲丿賳 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 賷賴噩乇賴丕 爻賰丕賳賴丕 賵丕賱賰鬲亘 賵丕賱鬲兀賱賷賮 賵丕賱兀爻丕胤賷乇 賵賮乇賵賷丿 賵丨鬲賷 丕賱丨乇賵亘
鬲乇賵賷 賲賳 賵噩賴丞 賳馗乇 賲丐賱賮 賵賯毓 賮賷 丨亘 賮鬲丕丞 丨爻賳丕亍貙 賵賵賱丿 氐睾賷乇 賷鬲睾賱亘 毓賱賷 賲禺丕賵賮賴 亘卮噩丕毓丞貙 賵賰丕賴賳 賷禺鬲亘乇 丕賷賲丕賳賴貙 賵賲丿乇爻 賰亘賷乇 賮賷 丕賱爻賳 賱賲 賷鬲氐賵乇 丕賳 賷丐賲賳 亘賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍 賷賵賲丕
賵丕賱兀賰亘乇 賴賵 賵噩賴丞 賳馗乇 賰賱 爻賰丕賳 賲丿賷賳丞 氐睾賷乇丞 亘兀賰賲賱賴丕...鬲鬲毓乇囟 賱賯氐丞 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍 亘卮賰賱 亘丕賳賵乇丕賲賷 賲鬲賯賳
賲丕匕丕 鬲賯賵賱責 賯賱鬲 賱賰 丕賳賳賷 馗賳賳鬲 丕賳賴丕 乇賵丕賷丞 毓賳 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍
兀毓匕乇賳賷 丕賳賴丕 丕賱匕丕賰乇丞 貙 賳毓賲 賷丕 氐丿賷賯賷 賴賷 毓賳 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍
"賴賵 賲賮賴賵賲 賲匕賴賱 賵賴丕卅賱 亘丕賱胤亘毓 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 丕賱毓賮乇賷鬲 丕賱兀丨賲乇 匕賵 丕賱賯乇賵賳 賵丕賱匕賷賱貙 匕賵 丕賱兀賳賮 丕賱丨爻丕爻丞 丕賱匕賷 賷鬲賲 胤乇丿賴 賵賳賮賷賴 鬲賲丕賲丕 亘賭'乇賷丨' 賲賳 乇噩賱 丿賷賳 賲氐丕亘 亘丕賱廿賲爻丕賰
賲賮賴賵賲 丕賱卮乇 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賮乇賵賷丿 囟禺賲 亘丕賱胤亘毓 賵賱賰賳賴 賲亘賳賷 賱賱賲噩賴賵賱貙 睾賷乇 卮禺氐賷 賯丕爻 亘賱丕 乇丨賲丞貙 賳賮賷賴 賵廿爻鬲卅氐丕賱賴 賲爻鬲丨賷賱 廿爻鬲丨丕賱丞 胤賱亘 鬲丕噩乇 丕賱亘賳丿賯賷丞 廿爻鬲卅氐丕賱 乇胤賱 賲賳 丕賱賱丨賲 丿賵賳 兀爻丕賱丞 丕賱丿賲丕亍"
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 毓賳 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍 賮毓賱丕 ...賵賮賷 3 兀噩夭丕亍 賮賷 650 氐賮丨丞
賰丿鬲 丕鬲乇丕噩毓 毓賳 賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕貙 賮賰賱 賲丕 丕乇丿鬲賴 鬲賱賰 丕賱賮鬲乇丞 賴賵 賮賰乇丞 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲禺鬲賮賷 賵丕賱亘賷鬲 丕賱賲賴噩賵乇 丕賱睾丕賲囟貙 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賱賳 鬲賯丿賲 賱賷 噩丿賷丿丕貙 丕賱兀賮賱丕賲 賴乇爻鬲 賮賰乇丞 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍 賵毓氐乇鬲賴丕 丨鬲賷 賮囟賱丕鬲賴丕 賵亘匕賵乇賴丕 兀賳鬲噩鬲 鬲賵丕賷賱丕賷鬲
賵賷賰賮賷 賯乇丕卅鬲賷 賱亘乇丕賲 爻鬲賵賰乇 丕氐賱 賰賱 賴匕丕 賵丕賱鬲賷 丨鬲賷 賱賲 鬲孬賷乇賳賷 賰乇賵丕賷丕鬲 兀丨丿孬 賲孬賱丕
乇賷賮賷賵 丿乇丕賰賵賱丕 賱亘乇丕賲 爻鬲賵賰乇
賲丕 賷夭賷丿 丕賱兀賲乇 爻賵亍丕 兀賳 賰賷賳噩 賰鬲亘賴丕 賲賳 1972 丕賱賷 1975...賵賴賷 孬丕賳賷 乇賵丕賷丕鬲賴 貙 賷毓賳賷 乇賵丕賷丞 爻亘毓賷賳丕鬲賷 賵賰賲丕賳 鬲丕賳賷 乇賵丕賷丞 賱賱賲丐賱賮
賵賱賰賳 賱丕 卮卅 賷賳鬲賴賷 賰賲丕 賷亘丿賵 馗丕賴乇賷丕賸 貙 賴賳丕賰 爻亘亘 丕賳 賷賰賵賳 爻鬲賷賮賷賳 賰賷賳噩 賴賵 賰賷賳噩 丕丿亘 丕賱睾賲賵囟 賵丕賱乇毓亘...丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賲鬲賯賳丞 賵丕賱兀爻賱賵亘 噩匕丕亘 賵賲孬賷乇 賵賯賵賷 亘毓賰爻 毓丕丿丞 丕賱兀毓賲丕賱 丕賱兀賵賱賷
亘丕賱兀禺氐 賮賷 丕睾賱亘 賲丕 賷賯丿賲 毓賱賷 丕賱爻丕丨丞 丕賱兀賳 賲賳 賴乇丕亍 賷賱賯亘 亘兀丿亘 丕賱乇毓亘 賱亘毓囟 丕賱賲丐賱賮賷賳 丕賱噩丿丿 賰丕賱賲賳丨賵爻 賵丕賱賲乇爻賵爻 賵丕爻鬲禺乇亘賵氐 賵睾賷乇賴貙 賴匕丕 丕賱賴乇丕亍 丕賱匕賷 賲賱兀 賲毓乇囟 賰鬲丕亘 2016 賵亘毓囟賴 丕賱毓賲賱 丕賱孬丕賱孬 賱賲丐賱賮賷賴 丕賱毓馗賲丕亍
丕賱兀爻賱賵亘 賵爻賱丕爻丞 丕賱賱睾丞 賷噩毓賱 賯乇丕亍丞 100 氐賮丨丞 賮賷 丕賯賱 賲賳 4 爻丕毓丕鬲 丕賲乇丕 賱賷爻 賲乇賴賯丕 亘丨賯 賵賰丕賳 乇賯賲丕 賯賷丕爻賷丕 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賷 賮賷 乇賵丕賷丞 賱賷爻鬲 卮亘丕亘賷丞
丕賲丕 丕賱賲賮丕噩兀丞 賮兀孬賳丕亍 賰鬲丕亘鬲賷 賱賱乇賷賮賷賵 丕賰鬲卮賮鬲 丕賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱賲賮囟賱丞 賱爻鬲賷賮賷賳 賰賷賳噩 賳賮爻賴 賵丕賱兀賯乇亘 賱賯賱亘賴
亘賱 賵丕爻鬲禺丿賲 賳賮爻 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 "爻丕賱賷賲 賱賵鬲" 賵鬲賷賲鬲賴丕 賮賷 亘囟毓丞 丕賱賯氐氐 丕賱賯氐賷乇丞 賱丕丨賯丕貙 賵丕丨丿賷 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 丕賱賴丕賲丞 亘賴丕 賮賷 爻賱爻賱丞 亘乇噩 丕賱馗賱丕賲
The Dark Tower
賵賱賰賳 賮毓賱丕 丕賱兀賲乇 賱丕 賷賯鬲氐乇 毓賱賷 丕賱乇毓亘 賵丕賱兀爻賱賵亘 丕賱賲賲賷夭 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 亘賱 賮賱爻賮鬲賴丕 賴賷 兀賰孬乇 賲丕 噩毓賱賳賷 丕卮賷丿 亘賴丕 亘賴匕賴 丕賱賯賵丞.. 賵賱丕 毓噩亘 丕賳 鬲賰賵賳 乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱賲丐賱賮 丕賱丕賯乇亘 賱賯賱亘賴鈥�.賱賲丕匕丕責 賮賱賳亘丿兀 亘賭賭
丕賱兀丨丿丕孬
------
"丕賱賰賳賷爻丞 兀噩亘乇鬲 賱廿毓丕丿丞 鬲賮爻賷乇 賳賴噩賴丕 鬲噩丕賴 丕賱卮乇 ,賯氐賮 賰丕賲亘賵丿賷丕 亘丕賱賯賳丕亘賱 ,丕賱丨乇亘 賮賷 兀賷乇賱賳丿丕 賵丕賱卮乇賯 丕賱兀賵爻胤 ,賯鬲賱 乇噩丕賱 丕賱卮乇胤丞 , 兀毓賲丕賱 卮睾亘 丕賱兀丨賷丕亍 丕賱賷賴賵丿賷丞, 賲賱賷丕乇丕鬲 賲賳 丕賱卮乇賵乇 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 賲賳胤賱賯丞 賮賷 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賰賱 賷賵賲 賰賵亘丕亍 丕賱賳丕賲賵爻
賱鬲鬲禺賱氐 丕賱賰賳賷爻丞 賲賳 噩賱丿賴丕 丕賱賯丿賷賲 賵 賱鬲馗賴乇 亘卮賰賱 丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷 賲毓丕氐乇, 賱鬲孬亘鬲 賯丿賲賷賴丕 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱毓丕賱賲 , 丨賷孬 賱丕 賵噩賵丿 賱賱爻丕丨乇丕鬲 ,賱丕 丕乇賵丕丨 卮乇賷乇丞 賵賱丕 賲氐丕氐賷 丿賲丕亍 .賮賯胤 賲丐匕賵丕 丕賱兀胤賮丕賱 , 夭賳丕 丕賱賲丨丕乇賲 , 賵賴鬲賰 賵鬲卮賵賷賴 丕賱亘賷卅丞"
鬲亘丿兀 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 亘乇噩賱 賲丕 賵卮丕亘 氐睾賷乇 賷爻丕賮乇丕賳 爻賵賷丕 賲賳 亘賱丿丞 賱丌禺乇賷貙 賷丨丕賵賱賵賳 丕賱廿亘鬲毓丕丿 毓賳 丕賱賵賱丕賷丕鬲 丕賱賲鬲丨丿丞 賯丿乇 丕賱廿賲賰丕賳 貙丨鬲賷 賷賯乇兀 丕賱乇噩賱 禺亘乇 丨賵賱 賲丿賷賳丞 爻丕賱賷賲 賱賵鬲貙 賵丕禺鬲賮丕亍 丕睾賱亘 爻賰丕賳賴丕 鬲賲丕賲丕 賵丕賳鬲賯丕賱 丕賱賯賱賷賱 賲賳賴賲 賱賲丿賳 丕禺乇賷 亘毓賷丿丞貙 賵丕賱卮丕卅毓丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賳爻噩 丨賵賱賴丕 賲賳 丕氐賵丕鬲 睾乇賷亘丞 賵丕賳賵丕乇 賵丕禺鬲賮丕亍丕鬲 賱亘毓囟 丕賱爻賰丕賳 亘丕賱賲丿賳 丕賱賲噩丕賵乇丞 賱賴丕
賱賷囟胤乇 丕賱乇噩賱 賵丕賱賮鬲賷 丕賱乇噩賵毓鈥�..賵賳乇噩毓 賳丨賳 丕賷囟丕 賲毓賴賲 亘丕賱匕賰乇賷丕鬲
賱賷亘丿兀 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱兀賵賱
鬲亘丿兀 賯氐丞 丕禺乇 丕爻亘賵毓賷賳 鬲賯乇賷亘丕 賱賱賲丿賷賳丞..賲賳 兀賵丕禺乇 爻亘鬲賲亘乇 丨鬲賷 6 丕賰鬲賵亘乇貙 丨賷孬 賮賷 賷賵賲 亘丕賵丕禺乇 丕賱氐賷賮 賵亘丿丕賷丞 丕賱禺乇賷賮 丨囟乇 亘賷賳 賲賷乇夭貙 賲丐賱賮 賲鬲賵爻胤 丕賱賳噩丕丨貙 賱賱賲丿賷賳丞 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 毓丕卮 亘賴丕 胤賮賵賱鬲賴貙 賱賷鬲毓丕賮賷 賲賳 丨丕丿孬 賮賯丿 亘爻亘亘賴 夭賵噩鬲賴貙 賵賱賷賰鬲亘 乇賵丕賷丞 噩丿賷丿丞 鬲乇鬲亘胤 亘賲賵丕噩賴鬲賴 賲禺丕賵賮 胤賮賵賱丞 賯丿賷賲丞 鬲禺氐 亘賷鬲 賲丕乇爻鬲賳貙 亘賷鬲 賲賴噩賵乇 毓賱賷 鬲賱丞 賮賷 丕賯氐賷 卮賲丕賱 睾乇亘 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 賰卅賷亘 丕賱卮賰賱 賵氐丕乇 賲賴噩賵乇丕貙賮賯丿 賰丕賳 賲卮賷丿賴 乇噩賱丕 賲噩賳賵賳丕 毓匕亘 夭賵噩鬲賴 丨鬲賷 丕賱賲賵鬲 賵丕賳鬲丨乇 賲卮賳賵賯丕...賵馗賱 丕賱亘賷鬲 亘賱丕 爻賰丕賳貙 賵毓賳丿賲丕 丿禺賱賴 亘賷賳 賰鬲丨丿賷 胤賮賵賱賷 賲賳匕 丕賰孬乇 賲賳 20 毓丕賲丕 卮毓乇 丕賳賴 乇兀賷 噩孬丞 丕賱乇噩賱 賲丕夭賱鬲 賲卮賳賵賯丞 賮賷 睾乇賮丞 賳賵賲賴貙 丕賳賴丕 禺賷丕賱丕鬲 丕賱胤賮賵賱丞
賷鬲毓乇賮 毓賱賷 爻賵夭丕賳 亘丕賱氐丿賮丞 賮賷 丕賱丨丿賷賯丞 賵賴賷 鬲賯乇兀 丕丨丿 乇賵丕賷丕鬲賴貙 賵賷丨丿孬 亘賷賳賴賲丕 廿毓噩丕亘 賵丨亘貙 鬲毓乇賮賴 毓賱賷 丕賲賴丕 丕賱賲鬲卮賰賰丞 賵丕亘賷賴丕 丕賱匕賷 賷毓噩亘 亘卮禺氐賷丞 亘賷賳 丕賱賯賵賷丞 丕賱毓賲賱賷丞貙 賵賷爻賰賳 亘賷賳 賮賷 賳夭賱 丕賷賮丕 貙丕乇賲賱丞 賮賯丿鬲 夭賵噩賴丕 賮賷 丨乇賷賯 卮賴賷乇 賰丕丿 賷賯囟賷 毓賱賷 丕賱亘賱丿丞 賮賷 丕賱禺賲爻賷賳丕鬲
賷丨丕賵賱 亘賷賳 丕賱匕賴丕亘 賱賱亘賷鬲 賲乇丞 丕禺乇賷 鬲兀噩賷乇賴 賲賳 賲丨丕賲賷 丕賱亘賱丿丞 賱賷賰鬲亘 亘賴 賵賱賰賳 丕賱賲丨丕賲賷 賷禺亘乇賴 亘兀賳 丕賱亘賷鬲 鬲賲 亘賷毓賴 賲賳匕 兀賷丕賲 賯賱賷賱丞 賱乇噩賱 賳賲爻丕賵賷 貙亘丕乇賱賵貙 賲鬲賵賯毓 丕賳 賷丕鬲賷 禺賱丕賱 丕賷丕賲.. 賵丕賱匕賷 丕卮鬲乇賷 丕賷囟丕 賲丨賱丕 囟禺賲丕 賲毓 卮乇賷賰丕 賱賴 丕賳噩賱賷夭賷丕 賷丿毓賷 爻鬲丕乇賰乇 賱賷亘賷毓 亘賴 丕賳鬲賷賰丕鬲 丕噩賳亘賷丞 賵丕孬乇賷丞
鬲兀鬲賷 丕賱氐賳丕丿賷賯 賲賳 丕賱噩賲丕乇賰 貙 賲賳 亘賷賳賴賲 氐賳丿賵賯 賰亘賷乇 孬賯賷賱 噩丿丕 賷噩丿 毓賲丕賱 丕賱卮丨賳 氐毓賵亘丞 賮賷 丨賲賱賴貙 賱賰賳 爻鬲丕乇賰乇 賷丨賲賱賴 亘賰賱 爻賴賵賱丞...爻鬲丕乇賰乇 賴賵 丕賱賵丕噩賴丞 亘賷賳賲丕 亘丕乇賱賵 賱賲 賷賯丕亘賱賴 丕丨丿 亘毓丿 賮賷 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 丨賷孬 丕賳賴 賮賷 爻賮乇賷丕鬲 毓賲賱
乇亘賲丕 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱賲丕囟賷 丕賱禺丕氐 亘丕賱氐賳丕丿賷賯 賲賳 丿賵賱丞 丕噩賳亘賷丞 爻賷匕賰乇賰 亘乇丕卅毓丞 亘乇丕賲 爻鬲賵賰乇...賵兀毓鬲賯丿 丕賳 爻賷賰賵賳 賱丿賷賰 賮賰乇丞 毓丕賲丕 賲丕 爻賷兀鬲賷 亘賴丕
賵賱賰賳 賱丕 鬲賯賱賯 貙 賮丕賱賲丐賱賮 兀卮丕乇 賱乇賵丕賷丞 亘乇丕賲 爻鬲賵賰乇 亘賳賮爻賴 丕賰孬乇 賲賳 賲乇丞 禺賱丕賱 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 貙 賮賱丕 丕丨丿 賮賷 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 丕卮賷丕亍 爻禺賷賮丞 賰賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍....賴匕丕 卮睾賱 乇賵丕賷丕鬲 賰賲丕 賯賷賱 賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賳賮爻賴丕
兀毓鬲賯丿 兀賳賴 賲賳 丕賱兀爻賴賱 賱賱賳丕爻 丕賱鬲氐丿賷賯 毓賱賷 兀卮賷丕亍 賰丕賱鬲禺丕胤乇 毓賳 亘毓丿 兀賵 丕賱丕爻鬲亘氐丕乇 丕賵 丕賱鬲噩爻丿. 胤丕賱賲丕 廿賷賲丕賳賴賲 賴匕丕 賱賳 賷賰賱賮賴賲 兀賷 卮卅. 賱賳 賷氐賷亘賴賲 亘丕賱兀乇賯 胤賵丕賱 丕賱賱賷賱. 賱賰賳 賮賰乇丞 丕賳 丕賱卮乇賵乇 丕賱匕賷 賯丿 賷賮毓賱賴 兀丨丿賴賲 賯丿 賷毓賷卮 丨鬲賷 亘毓丿 賵賮丕鬲賴 賮廿賳 鬲賱賰 丕賱丕賲賵乇 睾賷乇 賲乇賷丨丞
孬賲 鬲亘丿兀 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賮賷 丕賱爻禺賵賳丞 亘賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱兀賵賱 賵亘丿丕賷丞 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱孬丕賳賷
賱鬲亘丿兀 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賮賷 賲賳毓胤賮丕鬲 禺胤賷乇丞貙 賯鬲賱 賵鬲卮賵賷賴 賰賱亘貙 丕禺鬲賮丕亍 賵賱丿 氐睾賷乇 亘賷賳賲丕 丕禺賷賴 丕賱丕賰亘乇 賵噩丿 賲睾卮賷丕 毓賱賷賴 賱賷賲賵鬲 亘毓丿賴丕 亘兀賷丕賲 賯賱賷賱丞 賲賳 丕賳賷賲賷丕 丨丕丿丞 賵賮賯乇 丿賲 賲賮丕噩卅貙 賲丿乇爻 兀毓夭亘 鬲禺胤賷 丕賱爻鬲賷賳 賷毓賷卮 賵丨賷丿丕 賷賯囟賷 賱賷賱丞 賲賳 丕賱噩丨賷賲 賲毓 丨賮丕乇 賯亘賵乇 丕賱賯乇賷丞 鬲噩毓賱賴 賷卮賰 賮賷 賵噩賵丿 賮毓賱賷 賱賲氐丕氐賷 丿賲丕亍 賰賰鬲亘 丕賱乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丕賱禺賷丕賱賷丞
賱賷爻鬲毓賷賳 亘亘賷賳 賱禺亘乇鬲賴 賰賲丐賱賮 賱賷鬲兀賰丿 賲賳 卮賰賵賰賴 丕賱噩丕賲丨丞...賵賱賰賳 丕賱丕賲乇 賱賳 賷氐丿賯賴 丕賱賰孬賷乇賷賳
賱丕 丕丨丿 賷乇賷 丕賱馗賱丕賲 丕賱丕 亘毓丿 賮賵丕鬲 丕賱兀賵丕賳
賵賱丕賰鬲賮賷 亘孬賱孬 丕丨丿丕孬 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 -丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱兀賵賱 賮賯胤 -賱丕鬲丨丿孬 毓賳賴 賵賱賳鬲丨丿孬 賱賲 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 乇亘賲丕 賲賳 丕噩賲賱 賲丕 賯乇兀鬲 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱鬲賷賲丞貙 鬲賷賲丞 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍 賵賱兀爻鬲毓乇囟 -亘丕禺鬲氐丕乇!!- 亘毓囟 丕賱賳賯丕胤 丕賱賮賱爻賮賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕丨馗鬲賴丕 亘賵囟賵丨 賰賯丕乇卅 毓丕丿賷 賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲賱丨賲丞 丕賱囟禺賲丞 毓賳 丕賱亘賱丿丞 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞
Salem's Lot..
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**丕賱馗賱丕賲 賵賵賴噩 賳賵乇 丕賱賰賴乇亘丕亍 賵賵賴噩 賳賵乇 丕賱廿賷賲丕賳 **
"乇亘賲丕 爻亘亘 丕賱鬲睾賷乇 賮賷 賲賮賴賵賲 丕賱卮乇 賱賷爻 賰賱賴 亘爻亘亘 賮乇賵賷丿 賮丨爻亘 , 乇亘賲丕 噩丕賳亘 賰亘賷乇 賲賳賴 爻亘亘賴 賷乇噩毓 賱廿禺鬲乇丕毓 丕賱兀囟丕亍丞 丕賱賰賴乇亘丕卅賷丞, 賵丕賱鬲賷 賯鬲賱鬲 丕賱馗賱丕賱 賮賷 毓賯賱 丕賱丕賳爻丕賳
丕賱卮乇 賵丕賱馗賱丕賱 賲丕夭丕賱 賲賵噩賵丿丕 賵賱賰賳賴 丕賱兀賳 鬲丨鬲 丕賱賵賴噩 丕賱賯賵賷 丕賱賯丕爻賷 賱賱賲亘丕鬲 丕賱賮賱賵乇賷爻賷賳鬲 賵丕賱賳賷賵賳 丕賱匕賷 亘賱丕 乇賵丨 賵賱賲亘丕鬲 丕賱廿囟丕亍丞 賲丕卅丞 賵丕鬲 丕賱賲賵噩賵丿丞 亘丕賱賲賱丕賷賷賳
丕賱噩賳乇丕賱丕鬲 賷禺胤胤賵賳 丕爻鬲乇丕鬲賷噩賷丕鬲 鬲丨鬲 賵賴噩 丕賱賰賴乇亘丕亍 丕賱賱丕賲毓賯賵賱 賵賰賱 卮卅 禺丕乇噩 毓賳 丕賱爻賷胤乇丞 賰毓乇亘丞 丕胤賮丕賱 鬲賳夭賱 賲賳丨丿乇 亘兀賯氐賷 爻乇毓丞 賵亘賱丕 賮乇丕賲賱
"賱賯丿 賰賳鬲 兀賳賮匕 丕賱兀賵丕賲乇"丨賯丕 賴匕丕 氐丨賷丨 賱賯丿 賰賳丕 噩賲賷毓丕 噩賳賵丿丕, 賮賯胤 賳賳賮匕 丕賱兀賵丕賲乇 丕賱賲賰鬲賵亘丞 賱賳丕 , 賱賰賳 賲賳 丕賷賳 鬲兀鬲賷 丕賱兀賵丕賲乇 毓丕賲丕責 "禺匕賳賷 廿賱賷 賯丕卅丿賰" 賵賱賰賳 兀賷賳 賲賰鬲亘賴責 丕賳丕 賮賯胤 賰賳鬲 兀鬲亘毓 丕賱兀賵丕賲乇, 賱賯丿 兀賳鬲禺亘賳賷 丕賱卮毓亘 賵賱賰賳 賲賳 兀賳鬲禺亘 丕賱卮毓亘責
丕毓鬲賯丿 賴賷 丕賰孬乇 賲丕 兀孬丕乇 丕賳鬲亘丕賴賷 亘鬲賱賰 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱乇丕卅毓丞 丕賱賲孬賷乇丞
丕賱馗賱丕賲 丕賱匕賷 賲賳 丨賵賱賳丕 賵賱賰賳賳丕 賱丕 賳乇丕賴 亘爻亘亘 賳賵乇 丕賱鬲賯丿賲 丕賱匕賷 氐乇賳丕 亘賴
丕賱賰賴乇亘丕亍, 丕賱賳賷賵賳 , 丕賱鬲賱賷賮夭賷賵賳 , 賵丕賱兀賳 丕賱賮賷爻 賵丕賱鬲賵賷鬲乇
賱爻亘亘 賲丕 賴賳丕賰 丕賲乇丕 賲丕 賱丕丨馗鬲賴 賲毓 爻鬲賷賮賷賳 賰賷賳噩 賮賷 乇賵丕賷丞 賰鬲亘賴丕 亘毓丿 鬲賱賰 亘孬賱丕孬賷賳 毓丕賲丕 毓賳 丕賱賰賴乇亘丕亍
乇賷賮賷賵 廿毓丕丿丞 廿丨賷丕亍 賱爻鬲賷賮賷賳 賰賷噩
賷丨丕賵賱 爻鬲賷賮賷賳 賰賷賳噩 賴賳丕 賲丨丕賵賱丞 丕賱鬲兀賰賷丿 兀賳 丕賱馗賱丕賲 賲丕夭丕賱 賲賵噩賵丿丕 亘乇睾賲 賰賱 丕賱鬲胤賵乇 賵丕賱賵賴噩 丕賱賰賴乇亘丕卅賷 丕賱匕賷 賵氐賱賳丕 賱賴 賵丕賱匕賷 賯丿 賷毓賲賷賳丕 賲賳 乇丐賷丞 賴匕丕 丕賱馗賱丕賲..賯丿 賷胤賮卅 丕賱廿賷賲丕賳 賵賵賴噩賴 賵賳賵乇賴 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷
賲丕夭丕賱 賴賳丕賰 卮賷胤丕賳..賵賱賰賳賳丕 賱丕 賳丿乇賰賴..賴賵 賲賳 賷兀賲乇 亘鬲賱賰 丕賱賮賵囟賶
亘丕賱丨乇賵亘 丕賱鬲賷 賲賳 丕噩賱 丕賱毓乇賯 賵丕賱丿賷賳 賵丕賱亘鬲乇賵賱 賵丕賱兀乇囟
亘賯鬲賱 丕賱賲鬲馗丕賴乇賷賳
亘賯鬲賱 丕賱噩賳賵丿 賵丕賱囟亘丕胤
亘賯鬲賱 丕賱卮亘丕亘
賲丕夭丕賱 賴賳丕賰 賲賳 賷丨乇囟 賵賷禺胤胤 賵賷卮賷毓 丕賱馗賱丕賲
賱丕 兀丿乇賷 賱賲 卮毓乇鬲 亘賴匕丕 胤賷賱丞 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 兀賳 鬲賱賰 丕賱鬲賷賲丞 丕賱兀爻丕爻賷丞..亘賱 賵氐丿賯賳賷 丨鬲賷 賰鬲丕亘丞 賴匕賴 丕賱爻胤賵乇 賱賲 兀丨丕賵賱 丕賱亘丨孬 賮賷 鬲賮爻賷乇丕鬲 賱兀賳賰 廿賳 賲丕 賯乇丕鬲 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 爻鬲卮毓乇 亘賴匕丕 ,賮賴匕丕 賵丕囟丨丕 賮賷 丕賱丕噩夭丕亍 丕賱鬲賷 鬲乇噩賲鬲賴丕 丕賱爻丕亘賯丞 賲賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲卮毓乇 丕賳賴丕 賲亘丕卮乇丞 噩丿丕
賴賱 賲毓賳賷 賴匕丕 兀賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 毓賳 丕賱兀賷賲丕賳 賮賷 丕賱丿賷丕賳丞 丕賱賲爻賷丨賷丞 賮丨爻亘責 亘丕賱毓賰爻 貙 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲卮毓乇 賮毓賱丕 丕賳賴丕 毓賳 丕賱賲毓賳賷 丕賱賲胤賱賯 賱賱廿賷賲丕賳 亘丕賱禺丕賱賯 賳賮爻賴 賵賱賷爻 丕賱乇賲賵夭
賮賷 賲卮賴丿 賲賲鬲丕夭 賯乇亘 匕乇賵丞 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賴賳丕賰 卮禺氐賷丞 賲丕 -賰賷 賱丕 丕丨乇賯 賱賰 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬- 賷丨賲賱 丕賱氐賱賷亘 賱賷卮毓 亘賵賴噩 廿賷賲丕賳賴 賵賱賷丨丕賵賱 氐丿 賵賳賮賷 賲氐丕氐 丕賱丿賲丕亍貙 賵賲丕 兀賳 賷鬲乇丿丿 鬲賱賰 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 賵賷亘丿兀 賮賷 丕賱鬲卮賰賰 賵賷丨丕賵賱 兀賳 賷丨賱 丕賱兀賲乇 亘賳賮爻賴 丿賵賳 丕賷賲丕賳賴 賷夭賵賱 丕賱賵賴噩 毓賳 丕賱氐賱賷亘 亘賱 賵 賷賳噩丨 賲氐丕氐 丕賱丿賲丕亍 賮賷 丕賳鬲夭丕毓賴 賲賳 賷丿 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 賵賰爻乇賴 亘爻賴賵賱丞 亘丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 丕賳賴 賮賷 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 賰丕賳 賷禺卮賷 賲賳賴 賵賯鬲 鬲賵賴噩賴
賱丕 賷丕 氐丿賷賯賷 賱賷爻 賲噩乇丿 丕賳 鬲賱锟斤拷丨 亘氐賱賷亘賰 賵丕賱賲丕亍 丕賱賲賯丿爻 爻賷亘毓丿 毓賳賰 丕賱卮乇貙 賰賲丕 兀賳賴 賱賷爻 亘鬲乇丿賷丿 丕賱賲毓賵匕鬲賷賳 賵丨賲賱 賲氐丨賮 爻賷賲賳毓 毓賳賰 丕賱卮乇貙 賱賷爻 賲毓賳賷 乇賰賵毓賰 賵賯賷丕賲賰 賵爻噩賵丿賰 亘卮賰賱 乇賵鬲賷賳賷 賷噩毓賱 賲賳賰 賲丐賲賳丕 亘丨賯
賲丕 賷賲賳丨賰 丕賱賯賵丞 丕賱丿丕禺賱賷丞 賴賵 廿賷賲丕賳賰 賳賮爻賴 亘丕賱乇亘貙 丕賷賲丕賳賰 亘丕賱賱賴 賴賵 賲丕 爻賷氐丿 毓賳賰 丕賱卮乇 貙丕賷賲丕賳賰 亘丿賷賳賰 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷
鬲丐丿賷 賲卮丕毓乇賰 丕賱丿賷賳賷丞 賱禺丕賱賯賰 亘廿賷賲丕賳 賵鬲爻鬲毓賳 亘賴 賱賲賳丨賰 賯賵鬲賰 丕賱丿丕禺賱賷丞 賱賷禺乇噩賰 賲賳 賲賵丕噩賴丕鬲賰 賲毓 丕賱卮乇賵乇 丕賱匕賷 賳賯丕亘賱賴 賮賷 丨賷丕鬲賳丕 賷賵賲賷丕
賴賱 丕賳丕 賵丨丿賷 賲賳 卮毓乇 亘賴匕丕 丕賱賲毓賳賷 毓賳丿賲丕 賯乇兀鬲 匕賱賰 丕賱賲卮賴丿 丕賱睾乇賷亘 丕賱賷 賷囟賷亍 賮賷賴 賷丿 丕賱卮禺氐 亘毓丿 睾賲爻賴丕 賮賷 丕賱賲丕亍 丕賱賲賯丿爻 亘賵賴噩貙賵賰匕賱賰 丕賱氐賱賷亘鈥� 丿毓賰 賲賳 丕賳 丕賱賲卮賴丿 賴賵賱賷賵賵丿賷 賵賲亘丕賱睾 賮賷賴 賵賱賰賳 丕毓鬲賯丿 丕賳 丕賱乇爻丕賱丞 賵丕囟丨丞 賮賷 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 亘毓賰爻 賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丕賱毓賲賷賯丞 丕賵 亘丕賱兀氐丨 鬲鬲氐賳毓 丕賱毓賲賯
賵賴噩 丕賱廿賷賲丕賳 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷 賴賵 賲丕 賷賯賵賷賰
丨鬲賶 賱賵 鬲賲 鬲氐賵賷乇賴 亘賵賴噩 賲卮毓 丨賯丕 ... 賮賱丕 賱丕 鬲賳爻 丕賳賰 鬲賯乇兀 賯氐丞 兀爻丕爻丕 毓賳 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍
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**丕賱乇噩賵賱丞 賵賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍 **
乇亘賲丕 卮毓乇鬲 丕賷囟丕 丕賳賴 賷乇賲夭 賱賳賯氐 毓賳氐乇 丕賱乇噩賵賱丞 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞 賮賷 亘毓囟 丕賱卮亘丕亘 賵賯鬲賴丕 - 鬲匕賰乇 廿賳賴丕 鬲丿賵乇 賮賷 丕賱爻亘毓賷賳丕鬲 貙 賵賱賰賳...賴賱 鬲馗賳 兀賳 丕賱賵囟毓 鬲睾賷乇 丕賱兀賳 鬲賲丕賲丕責 亘賰賱 賴匕賴 丕賱匕賯賵賳 賵丕賱卮毓乇 丕賱賲卮毓孬責
賮賲孬賱丕 賵氐賮 氐丿賷賯 爻賵夭丕賳 丕賱爻丕亘賯 賵丕賱匕賷 賵賯毓 賮賷 丨亘賴丕 丕賱亘胤賱 貙 爻鬲噩丿 丕賳 丕賲賴丕 賲賯鬲賳毓丞 亘匕賱賰 匕賵 丕賱卮毓乇 丕賱賲賲賵噩 丕賱胤賵賷賱 賵丕賱毓賷賵賳 丕賱丨丕賱賲丞 , 丕賱卮丕亘 丕賱乇賯賷賯 丕賱丨爻丕爻貙 亘賷賳賲丕 兀亘賷賴丕 賯丿 丕乇鬲丕丨 賱亘賷賳 丕賱乇噩賱 亘丨賯 賵丕賱匕賷 賱丕 賷賲丕賳毓 丕爻鬲賰賲丕賱 毓賲賱賴 亘毓丿 丕賱毓卮丕亍
乇亘賲丕 乇賲夭 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍 賷毓亘乇 毓賳 丕賱鬲睾賷乇丕鬲 丕賱毓噩賷亘丞 丕賱鬲賷 氐丕乇鬲 鬲鬲賮卮賷 丕賰孬乇 亘賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賲丕囟賷貙 賰丕賱鬲丨乇乇 丕賱賲亘丕賱睾 賮賷賴貙 丕賵 亘丕賱丕禺氐 丕賱鬲丨賵賱丕鬲 丕賱噩賳爻賷丞貙 賴匕丕 賱賲 賷鬲賲 匕賰乇賴 亘丕賱胤亘毓 賲亘丕卮乇丞 賵賱賰賳賷 丕爻鬲卮毓乇鬲賴 毓賳丿賲丕 賯丕賲 丕賱賲丐賱賮 亘鬲卮亘賷賴 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞
丕賱卮賵丕乇毓 丕賱禺丕賱賷丞 噩毓賱鬲賴 賷卮毓乇 亘丕賱亘乇賵丿丞 賮賷 毓馗丕賲賴貙 賵亘丿乇 賱匕賴賳賴 氐賵乇丞 睾賱丕賮 丕賱亘賵賲 乇賵賰 丕賳丿 乇賵賱 賯丿賷賲 毓賱賷賴 氐賵乇丞 賲鬲丨賵賱 噩賳爻賷丕 賮賷 睾賱丕賮賴 丕賱兀賲丕賲賷貙 氐賵乇丞 亘乇賵賮丕賷賱 亘禺賱賮賷丞 爻賵丿丕亍 貙 丕賱賵噩賴 丕賱乇噩賵賱賷 賷丿賲賷 亘丕丨賲乇 丕賱卮賮丕賴 賵亘賵丿乇丞 丕賱鬲噩賲賷賱 貙 毓賳賵丕賳 丕賱丕賱亘賵賲 : 廿賳賴賲 賮賯胤 賷禺乇噩賵賳 賱賷賱丕
賵毓賳丿 乇亘胤 匕賱賰 丕賱賲卮賴丿 亘丕賱賲賯丕乇賳丞 亘賷賳 丕賱卮丕亘 賵丕賱賲丐賱賮 爻鬲噩丿 丕賳 爻鬲賷賮賷賳 賰賷賳噩 賷丨丕賵賱 丕賳 賷氐乇禺 氐乇禺丞 賲丕 賴賳丕
賯賷賲 賲賮賯賵丿丞 乇亘賲丕, 丕賳賴賷丕乇 賱賷爻 賮賯胤 賮賷 丨乇賵亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲 -鬲匕賰乇 丕賳賴丕 丕賱爻亘毓賷賳丕鬲 , 賮賷鬲賳丕賲 , 丕賱卮乇賯 丕賱丕賵爻胤...賵睾賷乇賴丕 , 亘賱 賮賷 賳賲胤 丨賷丕鬲賳丕
賲賳 禺賱丕賱 鬲氐賵賷乇 賳賲胤 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱亘賱丿丞 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 賮賷 亘丿丕賷丞 丕賱爻亘毓賷賳丕鬲
乇亘賲丕 毓賳 鬲丨賵賱 丕賱亘卮乇 毓丕賲丕 賱賱爻賴乇 毓丕賲丕 賱兀賵賯丕鬲 鬲氐賱 丕賱賮噩乇 亘賷賳賲丕 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱氐亘丕丨賷丞 鬲賳賯囟 賵丕賱鬲賷 兀賷囟丕 氐賵乇賴丕 亘亘乇丕毓丞 亘丕賱賲賯丕乇賳丞 亘賷賳 丕賱賮氐賱 丕賱兀賵賱 賰賷賮 鬲爻鬲賷賯馗 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 賲賳匕 丕賱氐亘丕丨 丕賱亘丕賰乇 亘卮賰賱 亘丕賳賵乇丕賲賷 禺賱丕亘 賵亘賷賳賴丕 賵亘賷賳 賮氐賱 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 丕賱兀禺賷乇 賵賴賷 禺丕賵賷丞 鬲賯乇賷亘丕賸 廿賱丕 賲賳 賯賱賷賱
兀賱賷爻鬲 兀毓乇丕囟 丕賱鬲丨賵賱 丕賱鬲賷 爻亘亘賴丕 賲氐丕氐 丕賱丿賲丕亍 賴匕丕 鬲卮亘賴 丕毓乇丕囟 丕賱廿賳鬲乇賳鬲 賵丕賱鬲賱賷賮夭賷賵賳 賮賷 賵賯鬲賳丕 丕賱丨丕賱賷 丕匕丕 賲兀鬲賲 廿爻丕亍丞 丕爻鬲禺丿丕賲賴賲丕...丨賵賱鬲 丕賱亘毓囟 賱賰丕卅賳丕鬲 賱賷賱賷丞責
乇亘賲丕 賰丕賳 賷賯氐丿 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賵乇亘賲丕 賱賲 賷賯氐丿 卮賷卅丕賸. ..賲賳 賷丿乇賷責
賰丕賳 賴匕丕 賮賷 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱丕禺賷乇 賲賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 .."丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 丕賱禺丕賵賷丞" 貙賵丕賱匕賷 亘賴 匕乇賵丞 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賵丕賱丕賰孬乇 乇毓亘丕 賵丕孬丕乇丞 賵賮賱爻賮丞 亘賳賮爻 丕賱賵賯鬲
賰賮丕賳賷 賮賱爻賮丞 賱賴匕丕 丕賱丨丿 鈥� 賵賱賰賳 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賴賳丕賰 丕賷囟丕 賲賯丕乇賳丞 賲賲鬲丕夭丞 亘賷賳 丕賱賲禺丕賵賮 亘賷賳 丕賱丕胤賮丕賱 賵丕賱賰亘丕乇 丕毓噩亘鬲賳賷 噩丿丕
**賲禺丕賵賮 丕賱胤賮賵賱丞**
賯賱鬲 賱賰 賱賳 丕鬲賮賱爻賮 賴賳丕鈥� 爻丕賰鬲賮賷 亘鬲乇噩賲丞 賴匕丕 丕賱賳氐 賵丕賷囟丕 亘賱丕 丨乇賯 丕丨丿丕孬 丨賯賷賯賷
賵噩丿 賳賮爻賴 賷賮賰乇 賵賱賷爻 賱丕賵賱 賲乇丞 毓賳 睾乇丕亘丞 丕賱亘丕賱睾賷賳. 賷兀禺匕賵賳 丕賱賲爻賴賱丕鬲 賵丕賱賲卮乇賵亘丕鬲 丕賱乇賵丨賷丞 兀賵 丕賱丕賯乇丕氐 丕賱賲賳賵賲丞 賱鬲賲丨賷 賲禺丕賵賮賴賲 賵賷爻鬲胤毓賵賳 丕賱賳賵賲, 賵賲禺丕賵賮賴賲 爻賴賱 鬲乇賵賷囟賴丕 噩丿丕 賵兀賱賷賮丞 : 丕賱毓賲賱 , 丕賱賲丕賱 , 賲丕匕丕 爻賷馗賳 丕賱賲丿乇爻 丕匕丕 賱賲 丕爻鬲胤毓 卮乇丕亍 賲賱丕亘爻 丕賮囟賱 賱噩賷賳賷 , 賴賱 夭賵噩鬲賷 賲丕夭丕賱鬲 鬲丨亘賳賷 , 賲賳 丕氐丿賯丕亍賷 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷賵賳. 賴賷 賲禺丕賵賮 卮丕丨亘丞 賲賯丕乇賳丞 亘丕賱賲禺丕賵賮 丕賱鬲賷 賷爻鬲賱賯賷 丕賱胤賮賱 毓賱賷 賲禺丿鬲賴 賮賷 睾乇賮丞 賳賵賲賴 丕賱賲馗賱賲丞 賵賱丕 兀丨丿 賱賷毓鬲乇賮 賱賴 兀賲賱丕 賮賷 兀賳 賷鬲賮賴賲 兀丨丿 亘卮賰賱 噩賷丿 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲禺丕賵賮 爻賵賷 胤賮賱丕 兀禺乇 賲孬賱賴. 賱丕 賷賵噩丿 噩賲丕毓丕鬲 毓賱丕噩 賳賮爻賷 賵賱丕 丿賰鬲賵乇 賳賮爻賷 賵賱丕 噩賲毓賷丕鬲 禺丿賲丕鬲 丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賱賱兀胤賮丕賱 丕賱鬲賷 賷噩亘 丕賳 鬲鬲兀賯賱賲 賲毓 丕賱卮卅 丕賱賯丕亘毓 丕爻賮賱 爻乇賷乇賴 丕賵 賮賷 丕賱丿賵賱丕亘 賰賱 賱賷賱丞. 丕賱卮卅 丕賱匕賷 賷夭丨賮 賵賷賴丿丿 賵賴賵 禺丕乇噩 賳胤丕賯 丕賱亘氐乇. 賳賮爻 丕賱賲毓乇賰丞 賷噩亘 丕賳 賷丨丕乇亘 亘賴丕 丕賱胤賮賱 賵丨丿賴 賱賷賱丞 賵乇丕亍 賱賷賱丞 賵丕賱毓賱丕噩 丕賱賵丨賷丿 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賴賵 鬲毓乇賷丞 賵鬲丨賱賷賱 毓賵丕賲賱 丕賱禺賷丕賱 賵丕賱鬲禺賷賱...賵賴匕丕 賲丕 賷爻賲賷 亘丕賱亘賱賵睾
亘兀禺鬲氐丕乇 ,賴匕賴 丕賱兀賮賰丕乇 賲乇鬲 亘毓賯賱賴. 賮賷 丕賱賱賷賱丞 丕賱賲丕囟賷丞 "賲丕鬲 亘賷乇賰" 賵丕噩賴 卮賷卅丕 賲馗賱賲丕 賵亘毓丿賴 丕氐賷亘 亘兀夭賲丞 賯賱亘賷丞 賲賳 丕賱禺賵賮.. 賵賴匕賴 丕賱賱賷賱丞 "賲丕乇賰 亘賷鬲乇賷" 賵丕噩賴 賳賮爻 丕賱卮卅 , 賵亘毓丿 毓卮乇 丿賯丕卅賯 丕爻鬲賱賯賷 毓賱賷 賮乇丕卮 丕賱賳賵賲 賵賴賵 賲丕夭丕賱 賲鬲賲爻賰丕 亘丕賱氐賱賷亘 丕賱亘賱丕爻鬲賷賰賷 賮賷 賷丿賴 丕賱賷賲賳賷 賰賱毓亘丞 丕胤賮丕賱. 賴匕丕 賴賵 丕賱賮乇賯 亘賷賳 丕賱乇噩丕賱 賵丕賱兀胤賮丕賱.
賴匕丕 賴賵 丕賱卮卅 丕賱匕賷 賵丕噩賴丞 丕賱胤賮賱 賲丕乇賰..兀毓夭 丕氐丿賯丕亍賴 賷賳丕丿賷賴 賲賳 禺丕乇噩 卮亘丕賰 丕賱丿賵乇 丕賱孬丕賳賷 賵賷胤賱亘 賲賳賴 丕賳 賷丿毓賵賴 賱賱丿禺賵賱 賱賱毓亘 爻賵賷丕
賳毓賲 賴賵 丕丨丿 丕賱賲卮丕賴丿 丕賱賲賯亘囟丞 亘賴丕
賲丕匕丕 鬲賯賵賱 賷丕氐丿賷賯賷 責 賯賱鬲 賱賰 丕賳賴丕 乇賵丕賷丞 毓賲賷賯丞 鬲丨賵賷 亘毓囟 丕賱賮賱爻賮丞責
亘賱 兀賳賴丕 乇賵丕賷丞 毓賳 賲乇毓亘丞 毓賳 亘賷鬲 賲賴噩賵乇 賲爻賰賵賳 亘馗賱丕賱 賲賳 丕賱賲丕囟賷
賵毓賳 賲丿賷賳丞 賷禺鬲賮賷 爻賰丕賳賴丕 賰丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賲丿賳 丕賱兀賲乇賷賰賷丞
賵毓賳 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍
賳毓賲 , 丕賳賴丕 毓賳 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍 賷丕氐丿賷賯賷
賲丨賲丿 丕賱毓乇亘賷
賲賳 2 賮亘乇丕賷乇 2016
丕賱賷 7 賮亘乇丕賷乇 2016
賲賱丨賵馗丕鬲
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亘毓丿 鬲賱賰 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 亘丿兀 賰賷賳噩 賮賷 賰鬲丕亘丞 鬲丨鬲 丕賱賯亘丞 亘賲賳鬲氐賮 丕賱爻亘毓賷賳丕鬲 毓賳 賲丿賷賳丞 氐睾賷乇丞 丕賷囟丕 賵賱賰賳賴 鬲賵賯賮 賱丕賳 丕賱賮賰乇丞 賱賲 鬲禺鬲賲乇 噩賷丿丕 賵賯鬲賴丕 賱賷毓賵丿 賱賴丕 亘毓丿 25 毓丕賲丕
乇賷賮賷賵 鬲丨鬲 丕賱賯亘丞 賱爻鬲賷賮賷賳 賰賷噩
賮賷 賯氐丞 賲賲鬲丕夭丞 丕禺乇賷 毓賳 丕賱賲丿賳 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞
丕賱賲賯丕賱 亘亘丿丕賷丞 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賷乇賵賷 亘毓囟 丕賱賯氐氐 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞 毓賳 賲丿賳 丕賲乇賷賰丞 丕禺鬲賮鬲 賵爻亘亘 丕賱馗丕賴乇丞 賵鬲賮爻賷乇賴丕 丕賱胤亘賷毓賷 賵鬲賱賲賷丨 賱賱鬲賮爻賷乇丕鬲 丕賱賲丕賵乇丕卅賷丞 賱鬲賱丕卅賲 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞
賵賯丿 丕爻鬲禺丿賲賴 亘卮賰賱 賰亘賷乇 丕丨賲丿 禺丕賱丿 鬲賵賮賷賯 賮賷 毓丿丿 噩丿賷丿 賲賳 爻賱爻賱丞 賲丕賵乇丕亍 丕賱胤亘賷毓丞 賮賷 2016
乇賷賮賷賵 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 賱丕丨賲丿 禺丕賱丿 鬲賵賮賷賯
毓賳丿賲丕 亘丿兀鬲 丕賱亘丨孬 毓賳 氐賵乇 賱丕囟賷賮賴丕 賮賷 丕賱乇賷賮賷賵 賮賵噩卅鬲 賱賱賲爻鬲賵賷 丕賱賴賵賱賷賵賵丿賷 丕賱乇禺賷氐 賮賷 鬲氐賲賷賲 卮賰賱 賲氐丕氐賷 丕賱丿賲丕亍 賱賱丕賮賱丕賲 丕賱賲亘賳賷丞 毓賱賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 , 賲亘丕賱睾 賮賷賴 噩丿丕 .. 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 氐賵乇鬲 丕賱賲賵囟賵毓 亘氐賵乇丞 丕賰孬乇 賵丕賯毓賷丞 鬲噩毓賱 鬲禺賷賱賴丕 丕賰孬乇 賯亘賵賱丕 賲賲丕 賷噩毓賱賴 丕賷囟丕 丕賰孬乇 乇毓亘丕, 賵爻賴賵賱丞 賮賷 丕爻鬲禺乇丕噩 丕賱乇賲夭 亘賴
賮兀賳爻 丕賱賮賷賱賲 賵丕亘丿兀 亘丕賱乇賵丕賷丞
賵毓匕乇丕 賱爻賵亍 鬲乇噩賲丞 丕賱賲賯丕胤毓 賲賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞
March 24, 2025
Salem's Lot is one of the few books that might actually warrant a sequel.
Now, I love the way it ended. It was perfect, and I'm glad King didn't double dip with his vampire classic. But a small part of me wants to hear more about this modern-day Van Helsing and his sidekick.
You in the back with your hand up, ready to tell me about One for the Road, sit down. I mean a proper sequel and you know it.
So what makes this one stick to your ribs is that King modernized Dracula.
Which, if you haven't read it, isn't really all that interesting by today's horror standards. I'm not saying it isn't good, I'm just saying most people (especially non-readers) wouldn't be all that impressed with the "real" story. Stephen King would probably be the first to disagree with me on this because he says the book changed his world. But I'm sticking by my opinion that the classic tale wouldn't cut the mustard with the vast majority of today's audience.
And while most of you have probably read some version of an updated Dracula, I think King was one of the first to do it well. Mainly because this works as an excellent vampire tale even if you haven't read Stoker's version. His idea was to tell the story of what would happen to a town if Dracula and Renfield had access to things like electric lights and cars. How quickly could a nest of vampires take over if they were to start chewing on their friends and neighbors in the present day?
And maybe more importantly, who would stop them?
In a world that has forgotten to fear the things that go bump in the night, who will put two and two together and come up with an ancient evil that has been written off as a myth believed by superstitious peasants?
For me, this holds up as an excellent vampire story. <-- whether you're a Stephen King fan or not
Recommended.
Now, I love the way it ended. It was perfect, and I'm glad King didn't double dip with his vampire classic. But a small part of me wants to hear more about this modern-day Van Helsing and his sidekick.
You in the back with your hand up, ready to tell me about One for the Road, sit down. I mean a proper sequel and you know it.
So what makes this one stick to your ribs is that King modernized Dracula.
Which, if you haven't read it, isn't really all that interesting by today's horror standards. I'm not saying it isn't good, I'm just saying most people (especially non-readers) wouldn't be all that impressed with the "real" story. Stephen King would probably be the first to disagree with me on this because he says the book changed his world. But I'm sticking by my opinion that the classic tale wouldn't cut the mustard with the vast majority of today's audience.
And while most of you have probably read some version of an updated Dracula, I think King was one of the first to do it well. Mainly because this works as an excellent vampire tale even if you haven't read Stoker's version. His idea was to tell the story of what would happen to a town if Dracula and Renfield had access to things like electric lights and cars. How quickly could a nest of vampires take over if they were to start chewing on their friends and neighbors in the present day?
And maybe more importantly, who would stop them?
In a world that has forgotten to fear the things that go bump in the night, who will put two and two together and come up with an ancient evil that has been written off as a myth believed by superstitious peasants?
For me, this holds up as an excellent vampire story. <-- whether you're a Stephen King fan or not
Recommended.
August 4, 2021
'Salem's Lot by the legendary Stephen King is genuinely not only one of his greatest novels of all-time but is a horror masterpiece! The way he builds Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot piece by piece and all its interesting characters, you鈥檒l be hooked immediately from the start. I could not put this book down and took my time reading it as it鈥檚 that immersive.
As 'Salem's Lot unfolds, whether you read it many moons ago or are just reading it for the first time, the way King is able to keep you on the edge of your seat is surreal. He set the tone for his incredible writing career back in 1975 when this was originally published and decades later, it still holds up. As a matter of fact, many readers will tell you it鈥檚 the best novel he鈥檚 ever written, yes, even scarier than 鈥淚t鈥�. I鈥檝e read many horror novels in my life and can tell you that 'Salem's Lot is up there in the 鈥渂est of the best鈥� category without even thinking about it twice.
This is 5/5 stars in my book and is something I鈥檇 recommend to anyone that either loves King鈥檚 work or is a fan of horror. If you鈥檙e into reading novels about vampires but written in a way that stands out from anything else, 'Salem's Lot is for you. Just make sure to leave the lights on...
As 'Salem's Lot unfolds, whether you read it many moons ago or are just reading it for the first time, the way King is able to keep you on the edge of your seat is surreal. He set the tone for his incredible writing career back in 1975 when this was originally published and decades later, it still holds up. As a matter of fact, many readers will tell you it鈥檚 the best novel he鈥檚 ever written, yes, even scarier than 鈥淚t鈥�. I鈥檝e read many horror novels in my life and can tell you that 'Salem's Lot is up there in the 鈥渂est of the best鈥� category without even thinking about it twice.
This is 5/5 stars in my book and is something I鈥檇 recommend to anyone that either loves King鈥檚 work or is a fan of horror. If you鈥檙e into reading novels about vampires but written in a way that stands out from anything else, 'Salem's Lot is for you. Just make sure to leave the lights on...
April 9, 2022
'Salem's Lot, Stephen King
'Salem's Lot is a 1975 horror novel by American author Stephen King. It was his second published novel. Ben Mears, a writer who spent part of his childhood in Jerusalem's Lot, Maine, has returned after 25 years to try to write his next novel.
He quickly becomes friends with high school teacher Matt Burke and strikes up a romantic relationship with Susan Norton, a young college graduate with ambitions of leaving town. Ben has returned to "the Lot" to write a book about the long-abandoned Marsten House, where he had a bad experience as a child when he saw a hanging ghost.
He learns that the house (the former home of Depression-era hit-man Hubert "Hubie" Marsten) has been purchased by Kurt Barlow, ostensibly an Austrian immigrant who has arrived in the Lot to open an antique furniture store. Barlow is supposedly on an extended buying trip; only his business partner, Richard Straker, is seen in public.
The truth, however, is that Barlow is an ancient vampire and Straker is his human familiar. The duo's arrival coincides with the disappearance of a young boy, Ralphie Glick, and the death of his 12-year-old brother, Danny, who becomes the town's first vampire turned by Barlow.
Barlow also turns town dump custodian Dud Rogers and telephone repairman Corey Bryant. Danny turns other locals into vampires, including the graveyard digger, Mike Ryerson; a newborn baby, Randy McDougall; a man named Jack Griffen; and Danny's mother, Marjorie. Danny fails to turn his classmate Mark Petrie, who resists him by holding a plastic cross in Danny's face. To fight the spread of the new vampires, Ben and Susan are joined by Matt and his doctor, Jimmy Cody, along with Mark and the local priest, Father Callahan. Susan is captured by Barlow, who turns her. She is eventually staked through the heart by Ben. ...
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮 乇賵夭 賴卮鬲賲 賲丕賴 踿賵乇蹖賱 爻丕賱2020賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 爻蹖賱賲夭 (丕賵乇卮賱蹖賲) 賱丕鬲貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丕爻鬲蹖賵賳 (丕爻鬲賮丕賳) 讴蹖賳诏貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 爻賵丿丕亘賴 鬲氐丕毓丿蹖丕賳貨 賵蹖乇丕爻鬲丕乇 賲丨爻賳 賳蹖讴賵貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丌匕乇亘丕丿貙 爻丕賱1399貨 丿乇580氐貨 卮丕亘讴9786227314076貨 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴20賲
讴鬲丕亘 芦爻蹖賱賲夭 賱丕鬲禄 乇賲丕賳蹖 鬲乇爻賳丕讴貙 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 蹖 芦丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖禄貙 芦丕爻鬲賮丕賳 讴蹖賳诏禄 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 丿乇 爻丕賱1975賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 賳诏丕卮鬲賴 卮丿賴貙 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿賵賲蹖賳 乇賲丕賳 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿賴 丕夭 芦丕爻鬲蹖賵賳 (丕爻鬲賮丕賳) 讴蹖賳诏禄 丕爻鬲貨 丿乇 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 丕蹖 亘賴 賳丕賲 芦亘賳 賲蹖乇爻 (賲蹖乇夭)禄 亘賴 卮賴乇 芦爻蹖賱賲夭 賱丕鬲禄貙 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丕夭 倬賳噩 爻丕賱诏蹖 鬲丕 賳賴 爻丕賱诏蹖 丿乇 丌賳噩丕 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖讴乇丿賴貙 亘丕夭 賲蹖诏乇丿丿貙 丕賲丕 丿乇賲蹖蹖丕亘丿 讴賴 爻丕讴賳丕賳 丌賳噩丕貙 丿乇 丨丕賱 亘丿賱 卮丿賳 亘賴 禺賵賳 丌卮丕賲 賴爻鬲賳丿貨 芦亘賳 賲蹖乇爻 (賲蹖乇夭)禄貙 倬爻 丕夭 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 倬賳噩 爻丕賱 亘丕夭诏卮鬲賴貙 賵 賲蹖禺賵丕賴丿 乇賲丕賳 丿蹖诏乇 禺賵蹖卮 乇丕 亘賳诏丕乇丿貙 丕賵 亘丕 丿亘蹖乇 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳 芦賲鬲 亘賵乇讴禄 丿賵爻鬲貙 賵 蹖讴 丿賱丿丕丿诏蹖 毓丕卮賯丕賳賴 蹖 倬乇卮賵乇 乇丕 亘丕 芦爻賵夭丕賳 賳賵乇鬲賵賳禄 丿乇 丌爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵蹖卮 丿丕乇丿貙 芦爻賵夭丕賳 賳賵乇鬲賵賳禄 噩賵丕賳 丿丕賳卮 丌賲賵禺鬲賴 蹖 丿丕賳卮诏丕賴 丕爻鬲 賵 丌乇夭賵 丿丕乇丿 芦爻蹖賱賲夭 賱賵鬲禄 乇丕 倬卮鬲 爻乇 丕賳丿丕夭丿貙 丕賵 賲蹖禺賵丕賴丿 亘賴 芦賳蹖賵蹖賵乇讴禄 亘乇賵丿貙 芦亘賳 賲蹖乇爻 (賲蹖乇夭)禄 亘乇丕蹖 賳诏丕卮鬲賳 讴鬲丕亘蹖 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 芦禺丕賳賴 蹖 賲丕乇爻鬲賳禄貙 讴賴 賲丿鬲賴丕爻鬲 賲鬲乇賵讴 卮丿賴 亘賴 卮賴乇 芦爻蹖賱賲夭 賱丕鬲禄 亘丕夭诏卮鬲賴貙 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇 讴賵丿讴丕賳诏蹖 鬲噩乇亘賴 亘丿蹖 乇丕 丿乇 丌賳 禺丕賳賴 丕夭 爻乇 亘诏匕乇丕賳丿賴貙 賵 丿乇 丌賳噩丕 卮亘丨蹖 乇丕 丿蹖丿賴 亘賵丿貙 芦賲蹖乇爻 (賲蹖乇夭)禄 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 賲丕賱讴 讴賳賵賳蹖 賵 倬蹖卮蹖賳 禺丕賳賴 倬跇賵賴卮 賲蹖讴賳丿貙 賵 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖蹖 丿乇賲蹖蹖丕亘丿 讴賴 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 丿乇 倬蹖 丿丕乇丿
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 15/06/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貙 19/01/1401賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
'Salem's Lot is a 1975 horror novel by American author Stephen King. It was his second published novel. Ben Mears, a writer who spent part of his childhood in Jerusalem's Lot, Maine, has returned after 25 years to try to write his next novel.
He quickly becomes friends with high school teacher Matt Burke and strikes up a romantic relationship with Susan Norton, a young college graduate with ambitions of leaving town. Ben has returned to "the Lot" to write a book about the long-abandoned Marsten House, where he had a bad experience as a child when he saw a hanging ghost.
He learns that the house (the former home of Depression-era hit-man Hubert "Hubie" Marsten) has been purchased by Kurt Barlow, ostensibly an Austrian immigrant who has arrived in the Lot to open an antique furniture store. Barlow is supposedly on an extended buying trip; only his business partner, Richard Straker, is seen in public.
The truth, however, is that Barlow is an ancient vampire and Straker is his human familiar. The duo's arrival coincides with the disappearance of a young boy, Ralphie Glick, and the death of his 12-year-old brother, Danny, who becomes the town's first vampire turned by Barlow.
Barlow also turns town dump custodian Dud Rogers and telephone repairman Corey Bryant. Danny turns other locals into vampires, including the graveyard digger, Mike Ryerson; a newborn baby, Randy McDougall; a man named Jack Griffen; and Danny's mother, Marjorie. Danny fails to turn his classmate Mark Petrie, who resists him by holding a plastic cross in Danny's face. To fight the spread of the new vampires, Ben and Susan are joined by Matt and his doctor, Jimmy Cody, along with Mark and the local priest, Father Callahan. Susan is captured by Barlow, who turns her. She is eventually staked through the heart by Ben. ...
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮 乇賵夭 賴卮鬲賲 賲丕賴 踿賵乇蹖賱 爻丕賱2020賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 爻蹖賱賲夭 (丕賵乇卮賱蹖賲) 賱丕鬲貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丕爻鬲蹖賵賳 (丕爻鬲賮丕賳) 讴蹖賳诏貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 爻賵丿丕亘賴 鬲氐丕毓丿蹖丕賳貨 賵蹖乇丕爻鬲丕乇 賲丨爻賳 賳蹖讴賵貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丌匕乇亘丕丿貙 爻丕賱1399貨 丿乇580氐貨 卮丕亘讴9786227314076貨 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴20賲
讴鬲丕亘 芦爻蹖賱賲夭 賱丕鬲禄 乇賲丕賳蹖 鬲乇爻賳丕讴貙 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 蹖 芦丌賲乇蹖讴丕蹖蹖禄貙 芦丕爻鬲賮丕賳 讴蹖賳诏禄 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 丿乇 爻丕賱1975賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 賳诏丕卮鬲賴 卮丿賴貙 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿賵賲蹖賳 乇賲丕賳 賲賳鬲卮乇 卮丿賴 丕夭 芦丕爻鬲蹖賵賳 (丕爻鬲賮丕賳) 讴蹖賳诏禄 丕爻鬲貨 丿乇 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳貙 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 丕蹖 亘賴 賳丕賲 芦亘賳 賲蹖乇爻 (賲蹖乇夭)禄 亘賴 卮賴乇 芦爻蹖賱賲夭 賱丕鬲禄貙 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丕夭 倬賳噩 爻丕賱诏蹖 鬲丕 賳賴 爻丕賱诏蹖 丿乇 丌賳噩丕 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖讴乇丿賴貙 亘丕夭 賲蹖诏乇丿丿貙 丕賲丕 丿乇賲蹖蹖丕亘丿 讴賴 爻丕讴賳丕賳 丌賳噩丕貙 丿乇 丨丕賱 亘丿賱 卮丿賳 亘賴 禺賵賳 丌卮丕賲 賴爻鬲賳丿貨 芦亘賳 賲蹖乇爻 (賲蹖乇夭)禄貙 倬爻 丕夭 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 倬賳噩 爻丕賱 亘丕夭诏卮鬲賴貙 賵 賲蹖禺賵丕賴丿 乇賲丕賳 丿蹖诏乇 禺賵蹖卮 乇丕 亘賳诏丕乇丿貙 丕賵 亘丕 丿亘蹖乇 丿亘蹖乇爻鬲丕賳 芦賲鬲 亘賵乇讴禄 丿賵爻鬲貙 賵 蹖讴 丿賱丿丕丿诏蹖 毓丕卮賯丕賳賴 蹖 倬乇卮賵乇 乇丕 亘丕 芦爻賵夭丕賳 賳賵乇鬲賵賳禄 丿乇 丌爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵蹖卮 丿丕乇丿貙 芦爻賵夭丕賳 賳賵乇鬲賵賳禄 噩賵丕賳 丿丕賳卮 丌賲賵禺鬲賴 蹖 丿丕賳卮诏丕賴 丕爻鬲 賵 丌乇夭賵 丿丕乇丿 芦爻蹖賱賲夭 賱賵鬲禄 乇丕 倬卮鬲 爻乇 丕賳丿丕夭丿貙 丕賵 賲蹖禺賵丕賴丿 亘賴 芦賳蹖賵蹖賵乇讴禄 亘乇賵丿貙 芦亘賳 賲蹖乇爻 (賲蹖乇夭)禄 亘乇丕蹖 賳诏丕卮鬲賳 讴鬲丕亘蹖 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 芦禺丕賳賴 蹖 賲丕乇爻鬲賳禄貙 讴賴 賲丿鬲賴丕爻鬲 賲鬲乇賵讴 卮丿賴 亘賴 卮賴乇 芦爻蹖賱賲夭 賱丕鬲禄 亘丕夭诏卮鬲賴貙 噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿乇 讴賵丿讴丕賳诏蹖 鬲噩乇亘賴 亘丿蹖 乇丕 丿乇 丌賳 禺丕賳賴 丕夭 爻乇 亘诏匕乇丕賳丿賴貙 賵 丿乇 丌賳噩丕 卮亘丨蹖 乇丕 丿蹖丿賴 亘賵丿貙 芦賲蹖乇爻 (賲蹖乇夭)禄 丿乇亘丕乇賴 蹖 賲丕賱讴 讴賳賵賳蹖 賵 倬蹖卮蹖賳 禺丕賳賴 倬跇賵賴卮 賲蹖讴賳丿貙 賵 趩蹖夭賴丕蹖蹖 丿乇賲蹖蹖丕亘丿 讴賴 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕蹖 丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 丿乇 倬蹖 丿丕乇丿
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 15/06/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貙 19/01/1401賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
April 2, 2017
I was a bit of a wimp before I entered my teen years...so I stayed away from anything vampire. My first vampire experience was Love at First Bite, and not knowing it was a comedy (yes, it was before you could Google) I put on a brave face for the friend that invited me- and entered the movie theater terrified by what I would see. Luckily the evenly tanned George Hamilton awaited me...along with some mighty impressive disco dancing. The scary blood suckers would have to wait to frighten me.
Next was Fright Night...again not so scary- I would have welcomed Christopher Sarandon nibbling at my neck for all eternity. A year later I was hooked on Interview with a Vampire's beautiful and tragic characters....but nothing to panic about yet...
Enter into my life- the book SALEM'S LOT!!! Now these were vampires that kept me awake at night- pulling my covers up just under my nose. Not that flimsy cotton sheets would be enough to protect me from impending doooooooooooom...but so far no blood has been spilled. Knock on wooden cross.
Writer Ben Mears has come back home to Jerusalem's Lot after twenty-five years, to write a book and face his fears...
The Marsten House, an abandoned house- that has haunted Ben since he was a child has recently been purchased by a Kurt Barlow- and Ben is curious about both house and owner.
...but as he settles into town- one boy goes missing and another turns up dead...or undead should I say....
Hands down my favorite Stephen King- and no matter how many newer, shinier, sparkly vampires- come along to try to tempt me- none can compare to SALEM'S LOT.
Next was Fright Night...again not so scary- I would have welcomed Christopher Sarandon nibbling at my neck for all eternity. A year later I was hooked on Interview with a Vampire's beautiful and tragic characters....but nothing to panic about yet...
Enter into my life- the book SALEM'S LOT!!! Now these were vampires that kept me awake at night- pulling my covers up just under my nose. Not that flimsy cotton sheets would be enough to protect me from impending doooooooooooom...but so far no blood has been spilled. Knock on wooden cross.
Writer Ben Mears has come back home to Jerusalem's Lot after twenty-five years, to write a book and face his fears...
The Marsten House, an abandoned house- that has haunted Ben since he was a child has recently been purchased by a Kurt Barlow- and Ben is curious about both house and owner.
...but as he settles into town- one boy goes missing and another turns up dead...or undead should I say....
Hands down my favorite Stephen King- and no matter how many newer, shinier, sparkly vampires- come along to try to tempt me- none can compare to SALEM'S LOT.
October 31, 2007
I hate vampires. I hate them and I hate books about them. I hate the way they're romanticized and sexualized and just generally presented in modern fiction. That's why I loved this book. King doesn't shy away from the fact that vampires are creatures of horror and he presents them as such. They are vile, violent, and everywhere, and that's the way I like them.
The characters pitted against them, particularly the priest, are compelling and almost too human to face the vampires. And, in the end, they don't actually triumph. They escape but that's about it. It's tragic and horrible and the perfect vampire book.
The characters pitted against them, particularly the priest, are compelling and almost too human to face the vampires. And, in the end, they don't actually triumph. They escape but that's about it. It's tragic and horrible and the perfect vampire book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2022
October 2022 -
You know a book is great when it鈥檚 accidentally become an annual reread. I always love coming back to this one in October. I snuck in a reread of Carrie last month, and this is such a huge step forward for just King鈥檚 second book. I guess I have to reread The Shining soon and just keep rolling through early King books in order. This wasn鈥檛 part of the plan, but everything is eventual.
October 2021 - Spooky Season Reread.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.
It鈥檚 always nice to revisit old school Stephen King.
Like Ben Mears, it was great to come back to the Lot and see some old friends, make some new ones, check out the old Marsten House.
Until the second half of the book when playtime is over and all hell breaks loose.
My old review is below. Still a solid four stars for me.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺€斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺€斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺€斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺€斺€�
Hey.
I鈥檓 not a vampire fan, okay?
I mean, I am cool with scary books, and I read scary books, but vampires...
They鈥檙e just not really my thing.
If I had to power rank my favorite types of horror novels, and I can鈥檛 imagine a time where I would have to do that, except now, obviously...
Vampires would be near the bottom of the list.
Vampires would be one or two spots above werewolves.
Werewolves are stupid, and so are books about them.
Werewolves, give me a break.
Now, I am a Stephen King fan.
Not all the time, but his early stuff especially. This is his second book.
And in his second book Stephen King wrote a story about vampires.
Thank God he didn鈥檛 write a story about werewolves for his second book. If he did that, he would probably not even be a thing today. He would have probably had to stop being a writer and get a job doing something else. Selling insurance or Lyft or something.
Anyway, I鈥檓 not giving this story four stars because of the vampires.
I鈥檓 giving this book four stars because he managed to take something I鈥檓 not really crazy about, namely vampires, and built a pretty fantastic story.
He best parts of Salem鈥檚 Lot have very little to do with vampires anyway.
After writing Carrie, King added a lot more pages to his next book, and he really takes his time with this one.
There are whole chapters called The Lot, and they are about the town and the people in it, and those are some of the best chapters in the book.
King creates this amazing world set into a small town with characters who inhabit it and have meaning and importance. Even the minor characters get their moments to shine and breathe a little bit.
King spends pages just talking about the Lot and how it came to be, how it鈥檚 changed, what kind of people live there and why...
... and vampires.
The terror builds slowly. You know what鈥檚 happening. You know where the story is going. But in the end it goes there and then way, way past what you think, and...
... oh man.
I think in every King review I write I say this. I say something along the lines of King being a better writer than a horror writer. He鈥檚 at his best when he isn鈥檛 trying to scare you.
I always say that, and I still agree with myself.
However...
In this book he excels at both. He takes the time to build up the horror and suspense in the first half, and the second half really pays off.
Even with vampires.
Hopefully, you鈥檝e read this before. If not, read it in October. Or now. Or whenever. Don鈥檛 read it even. You should read it, but not reading it is your choice. It鈥檚 not the right choice, but it鈥檚 yours. You get to make it.
However, and this is my last 鈥渉owever鈥� and the last thing I鈥檓 going to write...
However... oops...
If you don鈥檛 read this, and you read a book about werewolves, and I can make an exception for Book 5 of the Dark Tower series. It has wolves in the title, so it鈥檚 fine. That鈥檚 the only exception.
If you do that, we can鈥檛 be friends. I鈥檓 sorry. We can be friends. It鈥檚 fine. We shouldn鈥檛 be, but let鈥檚 be friends anyway. Choices are great, aren鈥檛 they?
Good night guys.
You know a book is great when it鈥檚 accidentally become an annual reread. I always love coming back to this one in October. I snuck in a reread of Carrie last month, and this is such a huge step forward for just King鈥檚 second book. I guess I have to reread The Shining soon and just keep rolling through early King books in order. This wasn鈥檛 part of the plan, but everything is eventual.
October 2021 - Spooky Season Reread.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.
It鈥檚 always nice to revisit old school Stephen King.
Like Ben Mears, it was great to come back to the Lot and see some old friends, make some new ones, check out the old Marsten House.
Until the second half of the book when playtime is over and all hell breaks loose.
My old review is below. Still a solid four stars for me.
鈥斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺€斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺€斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺€斺赌斺赌斺赌斺赌斺€斺€�
Hey.
I鈥檓 not a vampire fan, okay?
I mean, I am cool with scary books, and I read scary books, but vampires...
They鈥檙e just not really my thing.
If I had to power rank my favorite types of horror novels, and I can鈥檛 imagine a time where I would have to do that, except now, obviously...
Vampires would be near the bottom of the list.
Vampires would be one or two spots above werewolves.
Werewolves are stupid, and so are books about them.
Werewolves, give me a break.
Now, I am a Stephen King fan.
Not all the time, but his early stuff especially. This is his second book.
And in his second book Stephen King wrote a story about vampires.
Thank God he didn鈥檛 write a story about werewolves for his second book. If he did that, he would probably not even be a thing today. He would have probably had to stop being a writer and get a job doing something else. Selling insurance or Lyft or something.
Anyway, I鈥檓 not giving this story four stars because of the vampires.
I鈥檓 giving this book four stars because he managed to take something I鈥檓 not really crazy about, namely vampires, and built a pretty fantastic story.
He best parts of Salem鈥檚 Lot have very little to do with vampires anyway.
After writing Carrie, King added a lot more pages to his next book, and he really takes his time with this one.
There are whole chapters called The Lot, and they are about the town and the people in it, and those are some of the best chapters in the book.
King creates this amazing world set into a small town with characters who inhabit it and have meaning and importance. Even the minor characters get their moments to shine and breathe a little bit.
King spends pages just talking about the Lot and how it came to be, how it鈥檚 changed, what kind of people live there and why...
... and vampires.
The terror builds slowly. You know what鈥檚 happening. You know where the story is going. But in the end it goes there and then way, way past what you think, and...
... oh man.
I think in every King review I write I say this. I say something along the lines of King being a better writer than a horror writer. He鈥檚 at his best when he isn鈥檛 trying to scare you.
I always say that, and I still agree with myself.
However...
In this book he excels at both. He takes the time to build up the horror and suspense in the first half, and the second half really pays off.
Even with vampires.
Hopefully, you鈥檝e read this before. If not, read it in October. Or now. Or whenever. Don鈥檛 read it even. You should read it, but not reading it is your choice. It鈥檚 not the right choice, but it鈥檚 yours. You get to make it.
However, and this is my last 鈥渉owever鈥� and the last thing I鈥檓 going to write...
However... oops...
If you don鈥檛 read this, and you read a book about werewolves, and I can make an exception for Book 5 of the Dark Tower series. It has wolves in the title, so it鈥檚 fine. That鈥檚 the only exception.
If you do that, we can鈥檛 be friends. I鈥檓 sorry. We can be friends. It鈥檚 fine. We shouldn鈥檛 be, but let鈥檚 be friends anyway. Choices are great, aren鈥檛 they?
Good night guys.
November 7, 2021
Don't know why this is marked as unread, I've read it four times.
It's one of the best horror novels of all time.
It's one of the best horror novels of all time.
May 18, 2020
Closer to a 3.5
I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I vlogged my experience reading it:
I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I vlogged my experience reading it:
November 9, 2016
I don鈥檛 read a lot of horror, so it鈥檚 taken me a bit longer than most to recognize the genius of Stephen King. Belated as it might be, I am finally making my way through his surprisingly versatile oeuvre. At this point, I think I鈥檝e skimmed off much of the cream, having read several of his undisputed classics (The Stand, It, Pet Sematery, etc). Now I鈥檓 ready to bore down into the second level. Salem鈥檚 Lot is definitely a step down from King鈥檚 best, most enduring novels. That being said, horror done by King can really only be compared to horror done by King.
King is so ubiquitous (he鈥檚 written over 50 books) and so much a part of popular culture that it鈥檚 become hard to read one of his books without knowing everything about it before the first sentence. Take The Shining, for instance. You might not have tried the novel, but you鈥檝e probably run across Kubrick鈥檚 classic film (which King hates), The Simpsons鈥� spot-on parody (鈥淣o beer and no T.V. make Homer go something, something鈥�), or had the ending spoiled as the punch-line to a joke on Friends (Joey does not do well with spoilers).
Salem鈥檚 Lot has not had that same widespread cultural impact. It鈥檚 been adapted twice for television, as a movie and a miniseries. Despite this, I didn鈥檛 know anything about it when I started. This ignorance made for a better reading experience, so I鈥檒l try to tread lightly, just in case you鈥檙e as late as I am to the Stephen King show.
Salem鈥檚 Lot is set in the small Maine town of Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot. A writer named Ben Mears, who grew up there, comes into town to write a novel and exorcise his demons. He starts canoodling with a young artist named Susan, and befriends an aging schoolteacher named Matt. Strange things start happening, emanating from the haunted Marsten House that overlooks the community. Those strange things, you will not be surprised, take a turn for the violent.
I think that鈥檚 about all I can safely say, plot-wise. I could probably stop writing right now, review complete. But then what excuse would I have for ignoring my family, specifically the child knocking on my office door right now?
Published in 1975, Salem鈥檚 Lot was King鈥檚 second novel, after Carrie. You can see early on many of the hallmarks he would work into his later efforts. There is the struggling writer as the lead character. There are children, both in danger and as heroes. There is care and detail taken into constructing Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot, which is given both geography and history. As he did later with Derry and Chester鈥檚 Mill, King gives you such a comprehensive rendering of Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot that you feel you can navigate its streets in your mind.
Salem鈥檚 Lot is written in the aggressively third-person omniscient style that he utilizes so well. King leaps from person to person, from consciousness to consciousness, giving you a story from an eclectic collection of viewpoints. Ben might be the moral and plot-necessitated hub, but there are many spokes. Among the dozens of characters, King gives us a small-town constable struggling with his courage; a young mother who abuses her newborn child; a couple engaging in a discrete affair; and a Catholic priest whose struggle is more with the bottle than his faith. Are all these characters necessary to the storyline? No, absolutely not. Many, if not most, could have been shorn. The 653 pages in my trade-paperback edition could easily have been halved, without losing any of the essence. But the excess is what sets King apart. It is what makes him great.
This is not, however, a great Stephen King novel. He is still experimenting with the themes that he鈥檇 nail later on. He does not have the complete and utter grasp of his material yet. There are lurches and sudden, jarring stops in the pacing.
Here, more than in his other novels, I strongly felt the outside literary influences guiding King鈥檚 hand. (It鈥檚 impossible not to, since King name-checks many of them within the story). Salem鈥檚 Lot feels like an amalgam of Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Richard Matheson. Elements from those authors鈥� works are thrown into a pot and set to boil. King then adds his own secret sauce, that sauce being blood, and lots of it. It鈥檚 entertaining, but not seamless. There were times I was more interested in literary comparisons of early verses later King than I was in the tale unfolding on the pages before me.
The characterizations are just not there. King has the ability 鈥� think Jack Torrance, in The Shining 鈥� to create characters of incredible depth and complexity. Characters that are unforgettable. That鈥檚 not present in Salem鈥檚 Lot. More importantly, the connections between the characters is lacking. Ben saunters into town and quickly falls in love with a woman and becomes BFFs with a guy. This happens overnight, with no real explanation except expediency. As the plot reaches its endgame, and people find themselves in mortal danger, King desperately needs us to believe in the bonds 鈥� love, affection, loyalty 鈥� between his characters. But it鈥檚 just not there. I didn't believe in Ben鈥檚 humanity beyond his role as a pawn in King鈥檚 chess match. Thus, I didn't feel any stakes when Ben, and the people around him, found themselves struggling with their very lives.
Perhaps it鈥檚 not necessary to think so deeply about Salem鈥檚 Lot. It鈥檚 just a genre throwaway, right? A guilty pleasure worth a cheap thrill? Something to be read at the turning of the season, when leaves change and fall, when the air sharpens like knives, when the long dark of winter begins whistling in the wind?
I don鈥檛 think so.
King is an American treasure. He is a master. He has a gift for baking complex and knotty themes into deceptively simple spook stories. His unmatched skill has probably made it easier for us to take him for granted. The guy churns out 800-page blockbusters by the gross, books that鈥檒l be read by millions for years to come. Yet he鈥檒l never get the same fawning attention that some Iowa Writers Workshop alum receives for delivering a slim, affected deconstruction of suburban ennui, or the laurels heaped upon some Harvard-grad twenty-something for capturing the acute travails of being young, sardonic, and overeducated in New York City.
In that spirit, I can say that Salem鈥檚 Lot is not King at his best. It is, however, better and more effective than most books you鈥檒l read. And I don鈥檛 mean just horror novels. I mean novels in general.
King is so ubiquitous (he鈥檚 written over 50 books) and so much a part of popular culture that it鈥檚 become hard to read one of his books without knowing everything about it before the first sentence. Take The Shining, for instance. You might not have tried the novel, but you鈥檝e probably run across Kubrick鈥檚 classic film (which King hates), The Simpsons鈥� spot-on parody (鈥淣o beer and no T.V. make Homer go something, something鈥�), or had the ending spoiled as the punch-line to a joke on Friends (Joey does not do well with spoilers).
Salem鈥檚 Lot has not had that same widespread cultural impact. It鈥檚 been adapted twice for television, as a movie and a miniseries. Despite this, I didn鈥檛 know anything about it when I started. This ignorance made for a better reading experience, so I鈥檒l try to tread lightly, just in case you鈥檙e as late as I am to the Stephen King show.
Salem鈥檚 Lot is set in the small Maine town of Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot. A writer named Ben Mears, who grew up there, comes into town to write a novel and exorcise his demons. He starts canoodling with a young artist named Susan, and befriends an aging schoolteacher named Matt. Strange things start happening, emanating from the haunted Marsten House that overlooks the community. Those strange things, you will not be surprised, take a turn for the violent.
I think that鈥檚 about all I can safely say, plot-wise. I could probably stop writing right now, review complete. But then what excuse would I have for ignoring my family, specifically the child knocking on my office door right now?
Published in 1975, Salem鈥檚 Lot was King鈥檚 second novel, after Carrie. You can see early on many of the hallmarks he would work into his later efforts. There is the struggling writer as the lead character. There are children, both in danger and as heroes. There is care and detail taken into constructing Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot, which is given both geography and history. As he did later with Derry and Chester鈥檚 Mill, King gives you such a comprehensive rendering of Jerusalem鈥檚 Lot that you feel you can navigate its streets in your mind.
Salem鈥檚 Lot is written in the aggressively third-person omniscient style that he utilizes so well. King leaps from person to person, from consciousness to consciousness, giving you a story from an eclectic collection of viewpoints. Ben might be the moral and plot-necessitated hub, but there are many spokes. Among the dozens of characters, King gives us a small-town constable struggling with his courage; a young mother who abuses her newborn child; a couple engaging in a discrete affair; and a Catholic priest whose struggle is more with the bottle than his faith. Are all these characters necessary to the storyline? No, absolutely not. Many, if not most, could have been shorn. The 653 pages in my trade-paperback edition could easily have been halved, without losing any of the essence. But the excess is what sets King apart. It is what makes him great.
This is not, however, a great Stephen King novel. He is still experimenting with the themes that he鈥檇 nail later on. He does not have the complete and utter grasp of his material yet. There are lurches and sudden, jarring stops in the pacing.
Here, more than in his other novels, I strongly felt the outside literary influences guiding King鈥檚 hand. (It鈥檚 impossible not to, since King name-checks many of them within the story). Salem鈥檚 Lot feels like an amalgam of Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Richard Matheson. Elements from those authors鈥� works are thrown into a pot and set to boil. King then adds his own secret sauce, that sauce being blood, and lots of it. It鈥檚 entertaining, but not seamless. There were times I was more interested in literary comparisons of early verses later King than I was in the tale unfolding on the pages before me.
The characterizations are just not there. King has the ability 鈥� think Jack Torrance, in The Shining 鈥� to create characters of incredible depth and complexity. Characters that are unforgettable. That鈥檚 not present in Salem鈥檚 Lot. More importantly, the connections between the characters is lacking. Ben saunters into town and quickly falls in love with a woman and becomes BFFs with a guy. This happens overnight, with no real explanation except expediency. As the plot reaches its endgame, and people find themselves in mortal danger, King desperately needs us to believe in the bonds 鈥� love, affection, loyalty 鈥� between his characters. But it鈥檚 just not there. I didn't believe in Ben鈥檚 humanity beyond his role as a pawn in King鈥檚 chess match. Thus, I didn't feel any stakes when Ben, and the people around him, found themselves struggling with their very lives.
Perhaps it鈥檚 not necessary to think so deeply about Salem鈥檚 Lot. It鈥檚 just a genre throwaway, right? A guilty pleasure worth a cheap thrill? Something to be read at the turning of the season, when leaves change and fall, when the air sharpens like knives, when the long dark of winter begins whistling in the wind?
I don鈥檛 think so.
King is an American treasure. He is a master. He has a gift for baking complex and knotty themes into deceptively simple spook stories. His unmatched skill has probably made it easier for us to take him for granted. The guy churns out 800-page blockbusters by the gross, books that鈥檒l be read by millions for years to come. Yet he鈥檒l never get the same fawning attention that some Iowa Writers Workshop alum receives for delivering a slim, affected deconstruction of suburban ennui, or the laurels heaped upon some Harvard-grad twenty-something for capturing the acute travails of being young, sardonic, and overeducated in New York City.
In that spirit, I can say that Salem鈥檚 Lot is not King at his best. It is, however, better and more effective than most books you鈥檒l read. And I don鈥檛 mean just horror novels. I mean novels in general.
November 2, 2021
When I first picked up this book at a used book store, I was surprised at how many pages it was. But then it was a Stephen King book, after all. As I began to read, many of those pages went by and the story seemed to be moving at a crawl. I was thinking this will be a three-star read at best. Just a redo of the classic "Dracula".
Then I began to fall under its spell. The pace picked up and the writing was amazing. Then I was in a trance seeing nothing but a five-star book ahead. Count Stephen had made me a believer.
A modern day Dracula story.
Then I began to fall under its spell. The pace picked up and the writing was amazing. Then I was in a trance seeing nothing but a five-star book ahead. Count Stephen had made me a believer.
A modern day Dracula story.
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