45 pages • 1 hour read
Ray BradburySomething Wicked This Way Comes
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1962A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes, two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, encounter a mysterious carnival that arrives in their small town just before Halloween. As they explore the carnival’s dark secrets, they face various perils, including enchanted attractions and sinister figures like Mr. Dark and the Dust Witch, leading to a battle between good and evil. Topics include the human fear of mortality and the complexities of coming of age.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes is lauded for its lyrical prose and atmospheric tension, capturing the blend of childhood wonder and fear. Critics praise its vivid imagery and deep themes of good versus evil. However, some find the pacing uneven and the character development lacking depth. Overall, it remains a hauntingly imaginative tale.
Who Should Read Something Wicked This Way Comes?
Fans of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes will likely enjoy dark fantasy tales filled with rich, poetic language. Readers of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane or Stephen King's It will appreciate the blend of nostalgia, horror, and the battle between good and evil.