Horror Fiction: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

Stephen King's The Shining is a classic. Both the book and the movie have endured for decades, and for good reason. Originally, I had no plans to read Dr. Sleep, or even see the movie, even though I finally read The Shining a few years ago and loved it. But of course, things change, and now I am here to talk about the sequel to a beloved horror classic.

The Situation: Dan Torrance is all grown up, and his life is a mess. It would make sense for a man who experienced what he did as a child to be a little messed up, but from the looks of it, it would seem that Dan is actually trying to wreck himself and any future he could possibly have. After yet another night full of mistakes, and an even more regrettable morning, Dan finds himself in New Hampshire. With the help of new friends, and a lot of support, Dan begins to attend Alcoholics Anonymous, finds a job, a place to live, and even begins to hear from of his old friend Tony every once in awhile. It is through Tony that Dan gets connected to Abra, a young girl who can shine even more powerfully than he ever did. She will occasionally leave messages on the chalkboard in his room, most of them short and sweet, only to say hi or ask how he is doing. It is only when of them reads "redrum" through the reflection of his bathroom mirror that he begins to worry.

The Problem: What Abra can do is scary to those who do not understand it, specifically her parents. To others, it is a valuable life force that can aid in near immortality. When a group that calls itself the True Knot learn about Abra, they know they must have her. What keeps the, alive, known as 'steam,' has been running in short supply, but a child as powerful as Abra could keep them going for a good long while. With their leader, Rose the Hat, doing her best to track Abra down, the time has come for Dan to do for her what Dick Hallorann did for him back at the Overlook Hotel. Though over the years he has tried to turn down what he can do, mostly through alcohol, now it is back, and he has been able to use it at his job, earning him the nickname "Dr. Sleep." But Rose the Hat is strong, and she has friends. And Abra may be powerful, but she is still just a kid. To be rid of this particular kind of evil, Dan will have to confront what he has been running from, which is more than just old memories.

Genre, Themes, History: This is the sequel to King's 1977 classic The Shining, and it follows Dan Torrance into adulthood after years of alcoholism and aimlessness. The book also follows Abra Stone, a young girl with an extraordinary gift that has gained the attention of a life-sucking cult. This cult has more or less discovered the secret to eternal life, but unfortunately for them (and Abra), their supply of that secret is running dry. While they may be the primary villains of the book, there are also the nightmares, memories, and of course, actual ghosts that continue to haunt Dan. What happened years ago at the Overlook was terrifying enough. The ghosts (though that is not quite what they are) that followed him after were even worse. But the thing he cannot let go of - something from his blackout drunk days - may actually be his undoing. Much like with The Shining, alcoholism is front and center here, as is regret, power, and death.

My Verdict: As is often the case when a movie is made from a book, the book is so much better. I saw Dr. Sleep with Ewan McGregor, and it was good, but the book provides more answers, more details, a better overall story, and more fleshed out characters. It is no small thing to attempt a sequel to a long-standing classic, but King did it, and I was not disappointed. Many wondered what life was like for Dan and Wendy Torrance after the events of The Shining, and King answers that question with heartbreaking honesty, revealing that the years have not been kind to Dan, but that there is hope. And the introduction of Abra and the True Knot makes for a world that continues to be full of evil, but also growing powers that can stop it. Fans of King's work will love this one, as will fans of horror and suspense novels in general.           

Favorite Moment: *spoiler alert* When it is discovered that one of the kids the True Knot has fed on was carrying the measles, a disease their bodies are not ready to fight. 

Favorite Character: Everyone needs someone like Billy Freeman in their life. He is the guy that is willing to take a chance on someone because he has a "good feeling" about them, and always turns up when most needed.

Recommended Reading: King has written a lot of books, and in all honesty, I have read very few of them. So with that said, I recommend The Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler.