Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't put it down....
Review: ... from the first page to the last (at the risk of using a cliche). I'm not going to reconstruct the book for you because I believe that in doing that, you will inadvertently develop a certain bias towards the book. But I will say that, personally, I felt this was reminiscent of Stephen King's earlier work ("It" and "Tommyknockers" spring to mind, even though King tended to be wordy). I'll admit that it is not a unique formula used here, but I haven't seen this STYLE of writing in a while. It made me think. Not too many contemporary horror books these day can do that because too many of these type novels instantly go for the jugular and try to drag you though the plot instead of leading you, slowly, subtly, to the climax. Lots of blood and gore is not necessary for good story telling. Dimension and development of characters, is. Taking the time to set up the nuances and plotline, is. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you expect an "in your face" novel, then this isn't for you. If you're looking for slasher, "stuffing naked body's in closets with eyes sewn shut" at every possible turn kinda stuff, then, at the risk of sounding redundant, this book isn't for you. That seems to be what most of today's audiences feed off of according to the "best seller's lists" these days (strictly my personal observation). I urge you to take the novel slowly and enjoy the ride. And put your expectations on the shelf before you dive in.
Rating: 
Summary: Godawful
Review: How could the man who wrote the Hyperion books pen this terrible, mindnumbing, unfinishable novel? It takes an awful mess to make me dislike a book so strongly that I am unable to read it through to the end, but sadly, Dan Simmons' work, outside of Hyperion, consistently disappoints. This plot is so tired- preadolescent kids lose their innocence whilst battling against a sinister force in a small town- and has been done a thousand times better by Stephen King, Clive Barker, Ray Bradbury, to name a few. Arrgh. Save your money, or spend it on Hyperion and its' sequels.
Rating:
Summary: A Blockbuster!
Review: Refreshing and original. Each character in this book is so involving and unique: at one point, I was afraid to pick up the book and continue reading because I was so invested in the fate of one of them--I couldn't bare anything happening to him! How's that for an engaging story? This begs to be translated for cinematic presentation. I just hope they do the story and characters proud.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but I've had better
Review: ...on the strength of this book (and only this book) Dan Simmons is not fit to spellcheck Stephen King's typos. This may sound a little harsh ..."SoN" lends a lot from "It" but, in the end, it doesn't come close to achieving what King did (which was to create some of the most memorable characters and storytelling that I have ever read, not to mention a ...time portal back to childhood!) - even if SK did probably use three times as many words to do this...The gist of "Summer of Night" (if you don't already know that) is this: as school breaks for summer a couple of kids come to realise that something spooky is going on in their small town, that something evil is preying on their friends, and so they decide that they damn well better do something about it (sound familiar?). This 'evil', they soon realise, is centred around the old abandoned school ... and the old bell that lies within it ... and it is an 'evil', again they soon realise, that is after THEM.Terror ensues. Every book has its own small irritations - characters suddenly and inexplicably going against their nature, the odd line of corny movie dialogue, a distinct lack of sex scenes, etc - and I can think of a few that annoyed in "SoN" (I swear to God, if I hear the word "watchamacallit" used one more time an ancient haunted bell will be the least of the kids problems! Also, once - just once - couldn't Dan have used "didn't" rather than "did not" when it came to the crucial parts - ie, when his refusal to abbreviate only succeeded in drawing attention to the fact that a writer was writing this important scene, refusing to abbreviate? That may sound irrelevant and rather colloquial to some of you but, trust me, it really starts to chafe after a while), but for awhile I couldn't put my finger on the main problem in this book ... and then it came to me, like a watchamacallit from the blue: there was something missing with the characters; they're not awful but ... something was missing. Duane's too smart (an 11 year old wannabe writer who writes his notes in Latin to encrypt them only made me feel really, really dumb and really, really inadaquate, which is never a good thing); Mike's too straight-laced; Harlen's too much of a dick - and yet he suddenly isn't (sorry, "is not") towards the end; Kevin's too anonymous; Lawrence is too fearless (but where did his glasses come from?); and Dale ... well, he's not bad, I guess. Despite all of this, "SoN" is actually not a bad book. It has its moments: the Rendering Truck was always fun and in my opinion, the "corny, James Cameron" ending that...was actually not very corny at all - certainly no less than the rest of the book - and was one of the best parts of the book. "Summer of Night" isn't the worst book that I've ever read ... but it certainly isn't the best...how about judging him on his books and not his sales or film adaptations?...
Rating: 
Summary: superb, evocative thriller
Review: Dan Simmons must have followed the maxim, "Write what you know," for this thriller is an authentic depiction of 12 year olds in a small midwestern town in 1960. Each boy in the group of friends is vividly brought to life in this thriller written for the adult market. You will keep turning all 550 pages, and be sure to leave the light on! As the story unfolds you will be completely caught up by it through the accurately drawn details. Simmons does an excellent job at opening the boys' minds and hearts to us. "Summer of Night" is pitch perfect, and highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Do it
Review: Simply one of the best horror/sci-fi books ever written. If you liked Kink's "It" you'll just go ga-ga over this. If you haven't read "Carrion Comfort," as well--I envy you. Two great books to read.
Rating:
Summary: Small Town Horrors....
Review: ...Set in 1960 in the typically small town setting that seems to breed stories of horror (I grew up in one, trust me, I know), the story centers on several young friends who realize that someone, or something, evil is stalking them. Children vanish, a faceless soldier appears in a window, and from the mammoth old elementary school that has stood like a dark, evil sentinel for countless years in the town, voices call out, tempting the children to enter its dark halls and perhaps meet their doom. The children are all typical characters that anyone who grew up in a similar small town will recognize...as brave as if they were immortal (weren't we all when we were young?) convinced that your best friends are gonna be there for life...and that together there is no danger you cannot face, no obstacle you cannot overcome. Sweetly nostalgic in the midst of unimaginable horrors, Dan Simmons has created a classic of modern horror with Summer of Night. Having recently seen his latest release, which incorporates one of the children of this book later in life, I decided to revisit portions of Summer, and find the magic in its pages once again. Well worth the read, and a perfect prequel to reading Children of the Night, Fires of Eden, and now A Winter Haunting, which all utilize characters from this book. No wonder Stephen King is 'in awe of Dan Simmons'...reading this novel will show you why....
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and riveting. A modern horror classic.
Review: I've spent a lifetime obsessed with and reading horror fiction and SUMMER OF NIGHT is without a doubt one of the finest contributions to the genre I've ever read. Terrifying, heart-wrenching, riveting, magical, and moving. It is on par with Stephen King at his absolute finest and even beyond it. It is as much a journey as it is a book, with characters that you will cheer for, laugh with, fear for, and weep for. And as a horror novel should be, it is genuinely terrifying and harrowing. (Those tentacle-like holes reaching out from the school fueled several nightmares for me.)A stunning acheivement and a book that I want to read again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Superlative
Review: Summer of Night by Dan Simmons is an enthralling horror novel which is beautifully written, extremely scary and full of nostalgia and suspense. Simmons does a wonderful job of recapturing the mood and innocence of a time gone by as a group of young boys from a small town in Illinois battle against an ancient evil in the summer of 1960. Simmons creates interesting, believable characters you care about, whilst at the same time skillfully building the suspense. Some scenes are truly hair raising as the boys encounter an increasingly strange and terrifying sequence of events that occur in and around the town. As they try and piece together what is unfolding before them they are drawn ever deeper into danger until ultimately they must confront the evil which has been stalking them, with their very lives at stake. Summer of Night is comparable to Stephen King's IT, they both share the same basic premise, a group of kids battling against an unspeakable evil. On the front of this book there is a quote from King himself "I am in awe of Dan Simmons". Quite simply, Summer of Night has got to be up there alongside the best horror novels in recent times.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read For All Horror Fans!
Review: I read this book when it was first released. It started falling apart from being read so much, so I had to throw it away. I've been trying to find this book for years, but coudn't remember either author or title. I bought and read Robert R. McCammon's "Boy's Life" at the same time, so sometimes confused the two. I'm glad to have finally found this books again and plan to buy the sequel, "Winter Haunting," once it's in paperback. This book is a good read and well worth your money.
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