Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

When two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, heard that a carnival was coming to town, they sneaked out one night to watch Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show set up. A sense of foreboding surrounded the town even before the carnival arrived; they felt something was wrong. They were right to suspect however as excitement became apprehension when they discovered Mr. Dark's, the owner of the carnival, secrets.

A mix of horror and fantasy, Something Wicked This Way Comes is slow-paced at the beginning but the action picks up when Mr. Dark discovered the boys' intrusion and the chase began. Bradbury however was able to establish early in the novel the differences in character between the boys and Charles', Will's father, role in the events to come. The characters are well-defined. Mr. Dark as the "bad guy" is a striking contrast to the boys, the "good guys," in his physical appearance and persistence to capture the boys. Mr. Dark embodies the desires of his victims and would-be victims; the desire to become young again or to become old and escape the limits of a child's body. Will and Jim, although best friends, are contrasting characters as well. Will is contemplative while Jim is unpredictable. Lastly, Charles' character serve as the synthesis.

Despite the fantastical and peculiar features in the story, Bradbury was able to highlight the characters' emotional growth by focusing on themes such as good vs. evil, growing up and nostalgia, contentment and regret. The final struggle against unhappiness brought by loss captures well man's fear of and struggle against (often on the losing side) death. Old age and death cannot be avoided and most often those who have lived with regrets wish that they could turn back time so they can live as carefree, happy children. Jim on the other hand wants to become an adult. Both Jim and Charles, who is a middle-aged man, feel trapped in their bodies. Charles realizes however that as you come closer to death, the experiences you gain over the years are things that should be celebrated and enjoyed.

I enjoyed this novel for its fascinating characters and Bradbury's expert handling of the themes.

Rating: 8 out of 10