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Summer of Night
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
This masterfully crafted horror classic, featuring a brand-new introduction by Dan Simmons, will bring you to the edge of your seat, hair standing on end and blood freezing in your veinsIt's the summer of 1960 and in the small town of Elm Haven, Illinois, five twelve-year-old boys are forging the powerful bonds that a lifetime of change will not break. From sunset bike rides to shaded hiding places in the woods, the boys' days are marked by all of the secrets and silences of an idyllic middle-childhood. But amid the sundrenched cornfields their loyalty will be pitilessly tested. When a long-silent bell peals in the middle of the night, the townsfolk know it marks the end of their carefree days. From the depths of the Old Central School, a hulking fortress tinged with the mahogany scent of coffins, an invisible evil is rising. Strange and horrifying events begin to overtake everyday life, spreading terror through the once idyllic town. Determined to exorcize this ancient plague, Mike, Duane, Dale, Harlen, and Kevin must wage a war of bloodagainst an arcane abomination who owns the night...
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Lauranahe
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Favorite book of the month! Second place goes to Insurrection.

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Lauranahe
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

This was a big boy! Took a while to get through (also March madness takes a lot of my time), but I loved it. It‘s often compared to It, and I can see that. Epic tale of kids battling evil—great. It‘s genuinely spooky and I enjoyed all the ghosts and creatures and the backstory of the evil.

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JusttoReview
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Few events in a human being‘s life – at least a male human being‘s life – are as free, as exuberant, as infinitely expansive and filled with potential as the first day of summer when one is an eleven-year-old boy. The summer lies ahead like a great banquet and the days are filled with rich slow time in which to enjoy each course. #dansimmons #summerofnight #horrorfiction

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DavidDiamond
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

If you're a fan of Stephen King's IT, STRANGER THINGS and childhood nostalgia...then this is the book for you. It is a very male-centric book where all of the kids that are central to the story (except for 1 girl who appears sporadically) are boys.
That aside, it's 600 pages of scary fun.

35 likes3 stack adds
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bookishdawg
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

“Stranger Things” is one of my favorite series and this read is the closest I‘ve found to it... maybe even served as an inspiration?
Any other ST fans that could recommend similar books?

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bookishdawg
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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My July stack for #bookspin 👍🏻 Adding five more titles randomly from my Nook app for #bookspinbingo as I finally have this stack down to a manageable level... for now 😊

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4y
Melismatic I spy N K Jemisin! I read that one for a previous book spin too - it was so good! 4y
17 likes2 comments
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EadieB
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Day 18 - #SummerNight #JamminJune
#SummerOfNight #DanSimmons

Read and enjoyed this in 2016.

Eggs Sounds super creepy👏🏻👏🏻 4y
EadieB @Eggs My Review
If you liked Stephen King's The Body, then you will enjoy Summer of Night. Dan Simmons has done a great job with this horror story. The characters are well developed and the book is hard to put down. I will definitely be reading the sequel, A Winter Haunting.

Haven't read the sequel yet but I still own it.
4y
Eggs Nice review 👏🏻 @EadieB 4y
See All 17 Comments
EadieB @Eggs Thanks! 4y
Mistermandolin A fine, fine writer. I‘ve always rated him. The Terror is another classic (apart from the ending). Simmons is what I‘d call a ‘writer‘s writer‘. Makes it all seem effortless when it‘s anything but. 4y
EadieB @Mistermandolin I agree that Simmons is a great writer. I'll check out the Terror. Thanks for the tip and welcome to Litsy. It's a great place full of great readers. I hope you enjoy it here as much as I do! 4y
Mistermandolin @EadieB Thanks for the welcome! Do you have a writer or writers that you absolutely recommend? 4y
EadieB @Mistermandolin In regards to horror I would suggest Chris Carter. I read mostly Mystery/Suspense Thrillers and would suggest Peter May, Ann Cleeves, Adrian McKinty, Jane Casey, Simon Beckett, Kate Ellis, David Baldacci, Peter Robinson, Ian Rankin, James Oswald, Matthew Reilly, Robert Goddard, Peter James, Greg Iles, Scott Mariani, Michael Koryta, Denzil Meyrick, Luca Veste, Ken Follett, Angela Manson‘s, William Kent Krueger and many more! 4y
Mistermandolin @EadieB Thanks! That‘s great and very helpful. I‘ve just finished writing my first novel - my fifth book to date. A kind of horror/time travel/romance hybrid. The others have been non-fiction: spirituality, mostly. I‘m at www.markfox.co.uk if you‘re curious. 4y
EadieB @Mistermandolin Your books look interesting. I have had some remarkable experiences happening in my life too that are hard to understand. 4y
Mistermandolin @EadieB By all means share them - if you‘d like to, of course. Via the website if you‘d prefer. Have a great day! 4y
EadieB @Mistermandolin My mom passed away on March 16, 1998 and my dad on March 16, 2006. On March 12, 2006 5:30 am, I was woken by my mom's voice telling me that my father had died. I waited until about 8:00 am and called my dad. He answered the phone and said he was fine. He said that he was mailing out DVD's to all his friends and family that he found in the supermarket for $1.00 each. I didn't mention about my mom. I was just glad that he was alive. 4y
Mistermandolin Wow. That‘s so interesting. Thanks for sharing. I have some - not dissimilar- accounts in Lightforms and The Fifth Love. I always feel humbled and grateful to hear of such things - so thanks! (edited) 4y
EadieB My daughter called from Virginia on Thursday, March 16 to say that she was trying to call my dad to thank him for the DVD's but he was not answering the phone. I told her to keep trying as it was the anniversary of my mom's death and he may have gone to the cemetery or church as he often did on the anniversary. Again she called me later in the day with the same message. I called my husband who was his office and he went to Philadelphia to check. (edited) 4y
EadieB My father had died in his sleep and the emergency people said it was just when the day changed to March 16. When I called everyone to tell them my father passed, they were all watching the DVD that he had sent them. My DVD's came to my house on the day he died. The movies he sent me were The Pajama Game and he was found in his pajamas. One was an old movie and on the bottom of the DVD it said, “Two hearts take flight.“ I've saved the DVD's. 4y
Kammbia1 I have this one on the iBooks reader. I read Hyperion by him years ago and was told Summer of Night is his other masterpiece. I don't read a lot of horror but I'm going to try this one. 3y
EadieB @Kammbia1 I think you will enjoy it! 3y
32 likes17 comments
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Addison_Reads
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

#BookSpinBonanza @TheAromaofBooks

Great vintage style horror about a group of 6 boys who spend their summer trying to discover what keeps happening to their friends. Yes, this book does have a similar feel to It or Boy's Life, and although personally I didn't feel it was as good as either one of those books, it is still a great, spooky read.

TheAromaofBooks Great review!!! 4y
37 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TheLibrarian
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Order this book immediately after having a conversation with one of the students at work. He is a big horror lover and recommended this book. Said it was similar to IT by Stephen King.

#bookmail

vivastory I've heard that before, keep meaning to check it out. I loved his book 5y
tessavi This book reminded me of IT as well. 5y
BookishTrish I loved this book when I was a kid 5y
58 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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night_shift
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

Took me a while to read, but I finished it last night. The crawling dread of this is just on point and the fact that a group of 10-yr-olds have to deal with it makes it so much worse 😩 also, just their normal daily life was so nostalgic. Kids just can't have summers like that anymore. I mean, before the monster.

3pts. 2 for the monster, 1 for this post.
#TeamStoker #Scarathon @TheReadingMermaid

night_shift #scaryscavengerhunt where a character dies 5y
IamIamIam ooooOOOOOOoooo.... this looks great!!!! 5y
BeansPage 🧟‍♀️ 5y
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llcoolnate Loved this one! Man can write! Starting A Winter Haunting soon! 5y
night_shift @IamIamIam it so was! 5y
night_shift @llcoolnate I agree! I'm looking forward to the sequel! 5y
47 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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JoScho
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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It's the summer of 1960 in Elm Haven, Illinois, and five 12-year old boys are forming the bonds that a lifetime of changes will never erase. But then a dark cloud threatens the bright promise of summer vacation: on the last day of school, their classmate vanishes. Soon, the group discovers stories of other children who once disappeared from Elm Haven. And there are other strange things happening in town.
#summernights #songsosummer

Eggs Oo oo stacked!! 5y
Kaye Sounds good ! I‘ve never tried this one. 5y
OriginalCyn620 😎📚🎶 5y
JoScho @Eggs @kaye It sounds good. 5y
85 likes7 stack adds4 comments
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PaperbackPirate
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Today‘s #songsofsummer challenge is The Boys of Summer which made me think of the friends in this book.
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620
#theboysofsummer

OriginalCyn620 Nice photo! 😎 5y
PaperbackPirate Thanks @OriginalCyn620 ! I took it in my backyard. 🌺 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome photo ❤️❤️ 5y
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Parisbookworm
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
Pickpick

This book is one of my favorite books. I usually read Stephen King's books and wanted to try another author. Summer of Night kept me wanting more and kept me awake during some nights lol. If you're looking for a good horror book then Summer of Night is for you. #dansimmons #stephenking #horror #genre #summerofnight

WolfGirl16 Welcome buddy. You are going to be obsessed 6y
rather_be_reading welcome to litsy! 📚☕📚 @LitsyWelcomeWagon 6y
RaimeyGallant Nice review. :) And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. 6y
Chelleo Welcome 🤗 6y
7 likes1 stack add4 comments
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BekahB
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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These are some of my favorite books I read in 2018! I was able to get through 108 books, which is the most I‘ve ever read in a year.

I‘m setting my 2019 goal at 60 so I can try to knock out some of my chunky books (500+ pages).

I also want to reduce my physical TBR. I have 3 tall bookcases full of unread books and I‘d like to clear off at least 1. I‘m planning to buy less and DNF more freely this year. Happy New Year everyone! 🎉🎉

ShananigansReads I really enjoyed Retta‘s book too. 6y
74 likes1 comment
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tricours
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

Not at all bad, but I couldn‘t stop thinking about IT while listening to this book (a bunch of kids battling evil during their summer holiday), and it didn‘t quite grab me the same way The Terror did. I also found it difficult to keep all the boys apart.

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toofondofbooks
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

Really good. If you're a Stephen King fan you will enjoy Dan Simmons. Great #spookyreads for October.

NikkiRobson73 I loved this ! 6y
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Minervasbutler
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

Creepy horror story, reminiscent of King's IT and McCammon's Boy's Life, with its pre-teen heroes battling an unspeakable horror. The kids are all well-drawn and believable and the portrait of small-town America in the long-vanished 1960 is wonderfully rendered.

Readingismyescape Ooh. Sounds good. 6y
68 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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bookcollecter
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Less organized than I would like, but this is the downside of having TOO many books

9 likes2 stack adds
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Ephemera
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
Pickpick

I really liked this book. Simmons writes lengthy books, but every word is necessary. This is a book about a group of young boys who discover evil in their small rural town and set out to defeat it. Reminiscent of Stephen King, the horrors multiply until the face to face battle at the end. All the characters are well written and sympathetic. If you like horror, you will enjoy this book.

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MrBook
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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#TBRtemptation post 1! This is the first installment in the Seasons of Horror series. Summer 1960, Elm Haven, Illinois. 5 12-year-old boys form a tight friendship. On the last day of school, their classmate Tubby Cooke vanishes. Then they discover that other kids have vanished over time. Then, there's other strange happenings: holes appearing in the ground, a stranger dressed as a WWI soldier, a trick following them. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

julieloverofbooks Loved this book! 6y
CouronneDhiver Poor kid... with a name like Tubby Cooke? 😂😂 6y
TheRiehlDeal Been meaning to read The Terror. Do you know the other books in the Seasons of Horror series? 6y
MrBook @TheRiehlDeal He's got 2 others in it so far: "Children of the Night" and "A Winter Haunting". ? 6y
dragondrool I love this book! A Winter Haunting, not as much. I don't remember Children of the Night being part of this, though. I thought that was separate. Anyhoo, Summer of Night, It, and Boy's Life all complement each other nicely in the horror coming of age category. 6y
55 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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BekahB
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
This post contains spoilers
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So last night I got to the part in this book where my favorite character died. 😫 I knew in my heart it was going to happen. I saw the foreshadowing - but it was still devastating. It was such a terrifying, lonely death too. Definitely a punch to the gut.

I‘m looking forward to the remaining friends destroying the creatures responsible for this character‘s death (at least I hope that‘s how this book ends). 🙂

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tessavi
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

A solid story about kids discovering something evil lurking in their town. I might have enjoyed it more if I hadn't read King's It yet.
#audiobook

59 likes1 stack add
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Marmie7
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Finished these books today. I highly recommend both of them! I listened to Summer of Night, narrated by Dan John Miller- excellent 🙌 Dan Simmons is an amazing writer. This is the fourth book I've read by him, and they were all ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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CindyMyLifeIsLit
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

Why is it that when presented with a story about 10- and 11-year old kids battling the forces of evil in the shape of horrific monsters, I am totally on board, but when reading a book about teenagers saving the world, my reaction is skepticism? I think it‘s because the first incorporates the magic of childhood. The adults, blind to magic, are unaware that a battle is raging. This book reminds you of It, but only in the bare bones. Loved it!

robinb Nice review! 7y
CindyMyLifeIsLit @robinb Thank you!! 7y
FlowerFairy An all time fave! 7y
24 likes3 comments
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annkuch13
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
Bailedbailed

I'm just having a hard time with this one. I think I need to pick it up again later when I'm more in the mood for it.

LazyOwl I read this one as well, wasn't a huge fan either 7y
annkuch13 @LazyOwl oh good to hear! So many people seemed to love it but I was just so not feeling it. 7y
22 likes2 comments
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Joshsandaker
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

I really debated between "So-So" and "Pick" on this one. It took me a long time to finish, and I would put it down for periods of time when it got slow. But every time I picked up I wondered why I put it down, and I loved spending the summer with these well defined characters. It's worth a read, especially if you miss Stephen King's characters from 'the Body' and 'It'. These characters are very much their own, but you can't help the comparison.

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annkuch13
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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This one is moving pretty slow for me, but I'm really enjoying it. I like the slow build of tension it's giving off. Also, kitties! #catsoflitsy

Sace Kitties and gorgeous crochet! 7y
Sace That's friendship! @myellenbee - WOW you're talented. 7y
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myellenbee @RestlessFickleBookSlut Thanks.😊 actually it was for a great daughter. It was a sampler to learn several stitches, really fun. 7y
Sace @myellenbee I've tried samplers before. But um atten.... SQUIRREL! 7y
GondorGirl 💟😻😻💟 7y
myellenbee Lol 7y
athorne They look like almost-gingerbrats. Is it the lighting, or are your cats a tease? 😹😹😹 I'm assuming Siamese? 7y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk Trust me, things will kick into gear after some... things happen to... people. 7y
annkuch13 @EMJenkinson They're flamepoint siamese so they have the organs tabby like tail and orange ears! 7y
annkuch13 @TobeyTheScavengerMonk good to hear! I'm noticing it's one that the longer I've been sitting reading the faster it goes. Like I need to acclimate myself to it first. 7y
athorne Ooh! Best of both worlds! 7y
42 likes1 stack add12 comments
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Joshsandaker
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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A little reading by the fire.

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BeckyLeJ
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Finally found a Barb Funko and this shirt too. The checkout person asked if I was excited about the new season of Stranger Things 🤓

In the reading world, I'm craving some good coming of age horror to tide me over til October. Rereading IT is at the top of my list. Maybe BOY'S LIFE as well. If anyone can think of any others, let me know! (SUMMER OF NIGHT is excellent btw, if anyone is craving the same!)

bookwrm526 I love the t-shirt! 7y
merelybookish Poor Barb! 😖 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Barb! I need that shirt and Funko! 7y
See All 6 Comments
EKonrad Where did you get that shirt?! 😄 7y
BeckyLeJ I got both at a store called Box Lunch (they'll be taking LOTS of my money now that I've discovered them!). Here's a link to the shirt: http://www.boxlunch.com/product/stranger-things-team-barb-womens-tee/10933354.ht... 7y
27 likes6 comments
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miamaria_348
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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I am reading Summer of night by Dan Simmons. I had it in my shelf for years, but now when there is a grimdragon readalong I finally will read it together with others. Looking forward to it. The beginning is promising 😊

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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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I've posted about these before but it was too good to pass up for #summerreads and #winterreads The first is very IT-ish, with a group of friends riding bikes and battling a horrifying evil in their idyllic town.

The sequel has one of the kids grown up and returning to town as a successful novelist, encountering a totally different kind of supernatural presence.

I read both of these in their appropriate seasons! #junebookbugs

Jokila I've only read Hyperion but that was some spooky shiz 7y
vivastory It's been awhile since I've read an epic horror novel. I think I'll be starting The Terror later this week 7y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @joklia I've read 7 by him and every one a winner. @vivastory YEEEEEESSSSS I rarely read horror but The Terror would easily be in the top few, if not THE top. 7y
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vivastory @TobeyTheScavengerMonk I've been meaning to read it for awhile. AMC is supposed to be adapting it as a series 7y
RealLifeReading Oh! I've loved some of his other books but somehow haven't heard of this one!! Definitely gonna track them down 7y
DGRachel The Terror was so good!! @vivastory 7y
vivastory @DGRachel It will be my first Dan Simmons (& I'm pretty sure it won't be my last) 7y
vivastory @TobeyTheScavengerMonk I have to ask, what are your top 5 horror novels? 7y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @vivastory Oh man, I am going to spend sooooo much of my day tomorrow pondering this. Will let you know. 7y
vivastory @TobeyTheScavengerMonk I eagerly await your answer (5 is pretty cruel, feel free to expand to 10) 7y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @vivastory Okay, to clarify (because I take my trivial lists very seriously) are we talking favorite to me in terms of writing quality, or what genuinely unsettled me? 7y
vivastory @TobeyTheScavengerMonk What genuinely unsettled you 7y
RohitSawant I added Summer of Night to my kindle when you last posted about this! So looking forward to check this out. 7y
51 likes1 stack add13 comments
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TobeyTheScavengerMonk
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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I don't read much horror, but I immediately thought of this duology by Dan Simmons for #aseasoninthetitle

Summer of Night is very IT-ish with a group of kids in an idyllic town facing truly horrifying supernatural evil.

A Winter Haunting has one of those kids, now an aging novelist, returning to the town. It's more introspective and creepy as opposed to terrifying, and makes you reevaluate what exactly happened in the first book.

Indexasaurus I love Summer of Night. So far I've read all his books relating to SoN except for Fires of Eden, but it's sitting on my shelf now so that'll be rectified soon. Simmons is incredible, IMO. 8y
RohitSawant This sounds great! 8y
Songsofhome As I don't like (okay, maybe I'm just terrified of) horror movies, I never really tried horror books. Hmmm... I have a completely different question though. How do you manage to show what you're currently reading under your screen name? 8y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk @Songsofhome Search for a book, tap the book stack icon under the description, and select Reading. 8y
43 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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julieloverofbooks
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

I adored this book. Nostalgic but terrifying at the same time. I've already bought the sequel (although it's never as good lol). I loved these characters so much that I just have to know what happens to them. Now I think I'm going to check out other Dan Simmons books 😊😱

Bookzombie I had a similar post for the second book today. I really enjoyed it, but I need to read this one and more Simmons. 8y
15 likes1 comment
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Kirstin
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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julieloverofbooks
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons

Sooooo good and scary. I'm savoring it lol

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julieloverofbooks
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons

Just started this and am literally still on the author's intro which is pretty interesting in itself. I get an "IT" by Stephen King vibe and I'm good with that. I've always loved a group of kids facing adversity together story ❤️

SharonGoforth I bought this yesterday 😊 8y
17 likes1 comment
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Craftylikefox
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

This was a rough start for me. The first chapter just talks about the school and there is a reason for it. Once I got through that it slowly picked up. I was given time to meet each boy. 6 boys in 1960 in a small Illinois town. the atmosphere was great and the regular things these boys would be going through plus something evil has woken up in town. creepy value was there and there are some gruesome scenes.

StaceyKondla I absolutely ❤️ Dan Simmons!! 8y
12 likes1 comment
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Craftylikefox
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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when a cold has me in its clutches, the best thing I can do is read. Getting my spooky on! #spookyoctober #allhallowsread

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Craftylikefox
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Getting ready to start this beast of book! Stephen King blurb on the front, hopefully this will give me the spooks :) #spooktober #allhallowsread

Linsy Love the pic! 💚🎃 8y
18 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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LazyOwl
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Mehso-so

The book starts out with a group of sixth graders in 1960 on their last day of school before the summer holidays.

A boy goes missing, and first thoughts are that Van Syke has something to do with it.

The book takes at least half way through to really get any momentum going. Once it did though it was an interesting read. Although not as scary as I would have liked.

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LazyOwl
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Filled with nostaligia for the 1960s. Supposed to be a horror but I'm not feeling it. Still enjoyable enough read to want to see it to the end though.
#summer #nostalgia #1960 #thriller

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OhNoMersault
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Adding australopithecine to my future "yo mama..." jokes.

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OhNoMersault
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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Pickpick

Loving the atmosphere of this book so far. It has a wonderful Stand by Me quality mixed with unmistakeable Midwestern power to ignore all social problems and just whisper about your neighbors under your breath.

Kirstin Loved this book(and Dan Simmons, in general)! 8y
4 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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ASimilarKite
Summer of Night | Dan Simmons
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I have just started this and it is amazing and beautiful and I can't believe I haven't read it. Perfect summer vacation book.

3 likes3 stack adds