Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding! Incredibly Stephen King-like.
Review: Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down until I read the ENTIRE thing. It was several years ago and I was on summer vacation and I found the book to be quite compelling and fascinating. I have read almost all of the Dan Simmons collection and I highly recommend his books.
Rating:
Summary: A world you'll yearn for....
Review: I am about to read this book again, for the third time. It creates a world that I actually miss almost like a piece of my own life. The dramatic climax of the book is weak, that's true, but the actual ending of the book is as poignant as the first orange leaves you see on trees in August. Simmons clearly loved this world he created, and leaves it gently and reverently.
Rating: 
Summary: Find this book if you can!
Review: I know it's out of stock, but you can still get a hold of it. Keep checking used bookstores, e-bay, half.com... it's definitely worth reading.I cut my teeth on Dan Simmon's CARRION COMFORT, and while this isn't up to par with that absolute masterpiece, it's still a worthy pickup. For anyone who was a sixth-grader once, it will bring back great memories of horsing around, sharing friendships and adventures, and making those bonds that last a lifetime. The book is a great suspense book in its own right, although a little shaky at the end (as previous reviews indicate, it's one of those Mission: Impossible things that they pull off when the bad guys suddenly and surprisingly falter). What makes Mr. Simmons utterly fantastic, however, is his great style of prose. Simmons moves back and forth among several intriguing characters, each with a great voice and story. His storytelling skills are on par with Stephen King, and you actually come to care about what is happening to each character. An interesting aside, after you finish this book, check out CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT. It's not a bona fide sequel, but it takes place 20 years later, and you'll get a glimpse of what happened to the characters (especially the charismatic and caring Mike O'Roarke). Catch a copy if you can.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible read
Review: This the scariest book I've ever read. It starts with a nostalgic look at the sixties, and ends with gutwrenching horror. I highly recomend leaving a light on when you decide to crack this book open.
Rating:
Summary: holy moly, talk about being creeped out!!!!!!
Review: Well, I thought that this was the most frightening book I have ever read, and that covers a lot of ground. I can identify with Lawrence's fear of under the bed, and also with Dale's of the basement. I think what got me the most is when Mike felt the coldness of the spirit through the floorboards, I mean talk about chills while reading. I'm 25 and i had to sleep with the light on for a couple of nights, that's how well Dan Simmons captures the fear in all of us. Thank you Mr. simmons for the best and scariest book I have ever read and probably ever will.
Rating:
Summary: Very Scary
Review: I picked up this book not quite knowing what to expect, and ended being creeped out by the end of it more than any other book has done. The evils haunting this town and destroying the children is very well thought out and most of the deep secrets hidden until the climax which builds to a satisfying end. The images of the old school and the sleepy small town will hit a chord with anyone who's lived in those sleepy summer days when anything is possible.
Rating:
Summary: Summer of Night in 4 Nights
Review: I picked Summer of Night up at a garage sale for a dime. All I wanted was a little entertainment to fill in the week before school started. What better than a book about a haunted school? On the cover Stephen King called it a "must read" book. After one chapter the reason was obvious. Summer of Night is the characters from "The Body" (Stand By Me) fighting the evil from IT. Regardless of the similarities, I had nightmares for two nights, compelling me to read the 600 pages in about 4 nights. As another reviewer pointed out and I agree, the wrap up was sappy. But, as I turn out the lights tonight, I may appreciate that often scoffed literary strategy. Very Scary. Read it.
Rating:
Summary: Summer of Night is one of Dan Simmons BEST!
Review: If you are the engrossed reader of the HYPERION Chronicles, I advise you to ( if you haven't already), read this offering by Dan Simmons. This is a fantastic read, folks! I am a veteran peruser of this book and I still find gems within.Stephen Spielberg could not do this as a film. There is too much compacted in these too few pages(600). Take a Summer to read this book if need be but read it. This is a fun, nostalgic, tragic, heart tugging book not-to-be missed. Be warned... Evil is a real presence here. Chilling, Thrilling...Sooooo GOOD. Give it a read and take care of your copy. It's hard to find.
Rating: 
Summary: so good ?
Review: Well after having read all those reviews i must say that i do not really agree whith what has been said. The fact that Simmons is a literary genius is a fact that noone can deny. Nevertheless, summer of night is not his best book in many aspects. Not having enough space to widen my opinion, il just mention the end of the book, which is rather hasty and really"american". The plot is also a bit simple with that story of the Borgia's bell connected with... egyptian mithology ! No, no, if you really want to discover Simmons at his best, read lovedeath or song of kali which are far more interesting and less commercially oriented !
Rating:
Summary: Bradbury meets Stephen King
Review: This was out of print when I first got it, fortunately it seems to have gone back into print (especially since the sequel is still in print, I think) and that's a good thing. I'm not a gigantic Stephen King fan (only read Cujo, only mildly impressed), but I am a huge Dan Simmons fan and after reading the impossibly good Hyperion (totally different genre though) I figured that just about anything with his name on it has to be at least decent. I knew he had written horror before and so I grabbed this hoping for a good read. And I got it. Telling the story of a pack of boys in the midwest during the sixties (new events at random times on radios remind you of the time period) basically it attempts to convey the wide open promise of summer in a more innocent time. Of course the contrast of that feeling and the utter horror that the boys experience makes for good reading and Simmons pulls out all the stops. This was highly atmospheric though, introducing each character and giving them separate personalities and then revealing the horror slowly, building the intensity up. It wasn't horribly frightening but there were plenty of good suspenseful moments and once one of the kids gets bumped off (I'm not telling who) I realized all bets were off. The only complaints I had were that the kids seemed to curve waayyy too much, I mean I'm nearly twice their age and I don't consider myself a prude and heck my friends do their fair share of cussing but not as much as these twelve year olds. It made them sound more like much older folk. But it's a minor quibble, though I think the purpose of the horror in the school could have been elaborated on a bit more too, it was just sort of there. But then the essence of horror is in what you don't know rather than what you do know. If you know everything about something, you can't be scared can you now? Not on par with Hyperion of course but a fine horror novel nontheless and well worth your time.
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