Rating: 
Summary: The Best King In Years!!!
Review: Dreamcatcher is the best King in years! Here he takes us on a wild ride thru the New England woods during hunting season. Having read all of his published works, some of which were less than great, this book makes up for all of those. Kings ability to create characters and flesh them out, so that you can SEE them and KNOW them is unbelievable. Devoted King readers will see some familiar places and names and new King readers will be introduced to things that they will never forget. This book hooked me by about page 8. I plowed through it in 3 days and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this one, dear readers, Stephen King is back!
Rating: 
Summary: Not his best, but still good
Review: For my money, Hearts in Atlantis is King's best work, narrowing out Pet Semetary, the Dark Tower series and the first half of It by a little bit. Dreamcatcher isn't quite as good as those, but it's still a good read (above all else, King is one of the best storytellers alive).Things I liked: * The kids in his story are utterly believeable - he certainly hasn't lost touch with his childhood. * As always, his references to other stories are clever in-jokes (and having this story set partially in Derry, I'd have been disappointed if there weren't any at all) * The interior battle between Mr. Gray and Jonesy was VERY well written - another thing King can capture quite believably is the not-quite-reality of dreams. * (very minor spoiler alert) The evolution of Mr. Gray from an alien 'intelligence' into something with human emotions/desires (bacon!) was nicely and subtly done. * One thing I have always liked about King's work (and my wife doesn't) are his little sidepaths he takes his story down. The little ancedotes that let us get into his characters heads are essential, I think, to character development (my wife thinks they distract from the plot). * Duddits was a fantastic character - even though he's essentially the same guy as the Wolf in Talisman, and Tom "M-O-O-N spells moon" Cullen from the Stand, it's a character I really like. Sort of like an old friend popping up unexpectedly :-). Things I didnt like (and they're minor): * It reminded me a little of Tommyknockers, which I didn't enjoy at all. That has nothing to do with this book, actually, but I still don't forgive him for that one. * Same thing with the last 200 pages of It, which was an absolutely fantastic story until he dragged in all that Spider and Turtle crap. * His military people are very basic goons - even Kurtz isn't particularly well-drawn. The most significant insight we're given into his personality is that he never dreams and is thus 'unsane'. That's a wonderfully evocative way of describing the character, but I would've liked more of that. I suppose that King wanted to keep him sort of unknowable (we're frightened by what we don't understand, which is why Dr. Lecter was so scary in Silence of the Lambs, and so ridiculous in Hannibal when Thomas Harris gave him a back story). However, for Kurtz, it just didn't gel for me - I just got the impression he was a cranky military asshole, not some sort of insane, random monster. * Same thing with the hunters and other victims/refugees in the paddock of Blue Area - very poor sketched out (although, admittedly, they really didn't need much character depth). Still, it would've been nice to get a little back story on a handful of them - maybe follow them through to get a little perspective (I don't think it would've distracted from the story too much). * The only military character who got a little depth was Owen, and that's mostly because conflicted characters *have* to be given depth, or they make no sense. That said, I actually ended up liking him, but I would've liked to know more about him (in addition to the platter-breaking ancedote). In the end, like almost all of King's books, I highly recommend it, flaws and all - it's an entertaining read, and will make you think a little bit :-)
Rating: 
Summary: I'm a huge King fan, but this one just didn't cut it....
Review: Well...I was delighted to see Stephen King return to his classic horror roots after some literary tangents that were great reads but not really "Stephen King" books, if you know what I mean. And I agree that this book is closer to the likes of "It" and "Tommyknockers", and I truly did enjoy it...(don't get me wrong...I've never read a King book that I didn't enjoy)...but compared to his other novels, this one was sort of sub-par. It was a lot like "The Tommyknockers", and I kept flashing back to the telepathy and loose teeth from that story. King does an pretty good job with character and dialogue in this novel, like he always does. He is a master at creating people that you like and can connect with, and his children characters are so engaging that I still consider the "Losers Club" from "It" to be my close, personal friends...but the characters in this story, aside from Duddits, just weren't that engaging. In the end, the novel turns into a long chase scene that takes 200 pages to end. If you are a Stephen King fan, you'll love this book and rank it somewhere in the middle of all the rest. If you've never tried Stephen King, don't start here...go buy "The Stand" or "Salem's Lot"...get hooked...then come back.
Rating:
Summary: Back In Full Force
Review: Finally, Stephen King reverts back to the style (or topics) that made him one of my favorite authors. Recent books like Bag of Bones and Hearts in Atlantis to me came across as a forum for King's own maturation and reflections on the development of his life through childhood, adulthood and current events. Good, but not the stuff that kept me reading and re-reading earlier books like The Stand, It and The Tommyknockers. This book sounds more like the Stephen King I know and love (although you definitely see signs of the ordeal he conquered after the car accident) -- it has a great voice, quick pace, and utterly horrifying plot developments and scenes. I literally had to put the book down several times because I was so scared/horrified by the scene playing out. Plus, the characters are captivating, funny and completely human. Overall, a great read to the very end. Definitely a book you will read late into the night, and then have dreams (or nightmares) about. King is the master and is back in full force!
Rating:
Summary: Not his best
Review: Shades of the Tommyknockers, vampires, the incubus/succubus approach. His reference to "The Horror!" is well taken. References to his other works, tastefully given as in a private joke add to the richness. Well written. Seems to be about madmen dealing with alternative madness. Not as good as most of King's work, but pretty good. King's treatment of children is as good as ever (outstanding, hardly anyone better!). However, the military people (National Guard/Reserve, central to the plot) evidently assigned to run the show (Where are the Active Duty folks?) seem to be mostly portrayed as goons and madmen, which does little to aid the plot. Tom Clancy, he ain't.
Rating: 
Summary: SSDD
Review: I am a big SK fan, but this is just IT meets TOMMYKNOCKERS .. I loved both of those novels, but DREAMCATCHER is kind of tired stuff. I started to lose interest with the first falling tooth - been there, done that. Duddits is an intriguing character; in fact, I liked all of their gang, but the book just didn't hold my interest.
Rating: 
Summary: A $... Disappointment
Review: As a fan of Stephen King for over 20 years, I bought this bookwith high expectations but have been heartily disappointed by it. Across between "The Tommyknockers" and "Invasion of theBodysnatchers," "Dreamcatcher" chronicles the tiredworld of ET's attempting to take over the world. Two-dimensionalcharacters do not help the story. I knew and cared about every singlecharacter in "The Stand" but I kept getting the relativelyfew characters in "Dreamcatcher" mixed up. Stephen King'sfascination with secret government operations is also gettingold. This book reads like a first draft and lacks the carefulcharacterizations and brilliant plots of books like "TheTalisman," "The Shining", and so many of King's earlyworks. I do not recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a new 'old' King!
Review: Having read practically all of Stephen King's book, I'm a huge fan. His books almost never fail to get me turning the pages at a feverish pace (The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon was a notable and thankfully short exception). And although I loved The Green Mile and Bag of Bones, it is only after having finished The Dreamcatcher that I realize how much I crave this kind of book. The Dreamcatcher is old-fashioned King; a kind of combination of The Tommyknockers (didn't care much for that one) and It (absolutely loved it). I don't know why so many reviewers keep comparing The Dreamcatcher to The Stand, because it's nothing like it! The story is about four boyhood friends that meet every year to hunt in the woods. But this year things go horribly wrong and before you know it, you're in the middle of some wonderful SF-horror. Particularly the way Jonesy survives in his own mind by creating his own little room and the way he interacts with the outside world is absolute mind-blowing (especially considering the revelation at the end of the book...). The story is less of a psychological novel than some of the reviewers want you to believe, but a very satisfying read for any horror/King fan. Some of the scenes are truly gruesome and reminded me of some scenes in Misery (my personal favorite). So, thumbs up for Steve, buy this one and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: The Claret Is Definitely Flowing In This One!
Review: I had almost given up on Stephen King. I haven't read any of his new stuff since Rose Madder and Insomnia. I felt he had veered way off into the land of touchy-feely feminism. When I read the description for Dreamcatcher, I immediately got the old feeling, a feeling that maybe this one was going to delve into true bone chilling horror. I certainly wasn't disappointed, either. This is the best Stephen King novel I've read in eons. It certainly harkens back to his groundbreaking work in such novels as It, The Tommyknockers, and even his masterpiece The Stand. I don't know where the magic went, but Stephen King found it and is back in true style. He'll make your spinal column vibrate like a weather vane struck by lightening with this gruesome tale. Since many may have not read this book yet, I'll coast quickly through the plot details. Four friends gather together for their annual hunting trip in the Maine woods, not far from their childhood home, Derry (home of Pennywise the clown from It). These four friends were brought together during their childhood by a boy with Down's syndrome. Something amazing happened that has linked them together ever since. When a stranger comes into their cabin and unleashes something truly horrible, the roller coaster ride begins. Apparently, some space aliens have crash landed in Maine, and all heck is breaking lose, with the locals and the military caught up in the hijinks. As usual, King dwells on childhood and it's innocence as a major theme of the book. The destruction of the Hole in the Wall is symbolic for the destruction of childhood innocence (you can never go home again). King also ties in other books to the story, such as It. I loved this, as It is one of my favorite books by Stephen King (is Pennywise actually still around?!!?!). We even have the office of the Tracker brothers playing a big role in this one. I actually expected Richie Tozier or another member of the Loser's Club to stick his head into the picture! And what else can you say about some of King's hilarious phrases? You get several in this book, such as "The claret is starting to flow"! Classic! It also wouldn't be a Stephen King book without the major sociopath/freak. We get one in the guise of Abraham Kurtz, the honcho in charge of cleaning up the mess that the aliens have started. Kurtz (gotta love that name! The horror, the horror!) is a serious nutcase, and every time King gives us an insight into him is just pure fun. The last part of the book is a gut wrenching car chase that leads up to an amazing end. It was really tough to put this book down. It is that good. I also have to comment on some of the gore in this book. I can't remember the last time I was so nauseated. King has really topped himself with some of the sick scenes in this novel. The s**t weasels are absolutely gross, and I still cringe when I think of the scenes with them doing their destructive work. There are also plenty of heads and other body parts either being blown up or shot off to keep any gorehound's attention. There are plenty of chills as well. The scenes with Beaver and Jonesy at the Hole in the Wall encountering the alien presence for the first time is downright scary. Anyone who loves horror/scares will not go wrong with this book. Also, King works in, through the character Jonesy, much of the agony he experienced when he was struck by a van while walking in Maine in 1999. This makes the book, in my opinion, much more of a personal work. I actually got a feel for how King must have felt as he went through the painful steps of rehab after his operations. Thank goodness King is still in this mortal coil doing what he does best! Highly Recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Dreamcatcher is Your Worst Nightmare
Review: Stephen King is one of a kind, and this novel about an alien invasion is a true King horror story. I have all of King's novels, and have read most of them several times. Like all King fiction, this one held me spell-bound, reading when I should have been doing other things. The story is fabulous, the characters very well developed and lovable. But I probably won't read it a second time. It is too frightening, too gruesome, and too possible. And I live too far back in the woods. Alone. Is that light on the wall a reflection from the distant highway? Why are there so many deer in the yard? If you read this novel, you might be asking yourself the same questions. But don't bother with trying to hide. They can find you when they read your mind.
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