Rating: 
Summary: OOPS!!
Review: I goofed! In my original review, I made references to a character named "Spider" -- who does not exist in the novel! You'd think someone who'd read the bloody thing as many times as I have would know better! Oh well...The character I meant to name was, of course, Skeleton Ridpath, son of the school's football coach, the "heavy" of the piece and a major character. I called him "Spider" because...well, never mind. You'll find out on your own. My apologies for any grievous mental confusion I might have caused.
Rating:
Summary: The Key To The Treasure
Review: Peter Straub's Shadowland is one of the pinnacles of the horror/ fantasy genre, a symbolic, unsettling, expertly-written journey into the country of magic, a coming-of-age story that surprises, enlightens, and terrifies -- sometimes all at once. It follows the journey of two boys, Tom Flanagan and Del Nightingale, first in their experiences at school, discovering that magic is far more than the art of illusion...and then their travails at the house of Del's uncle, the legendary (and dangerous) Coleman Collins, aka Herbie Butter. Much of the story is revealed in flashback form, and sometimes in flashbacks within flashbacks, a literary device Straub loves to employ, and uses to great effect here, choosing just the right moment to provide a little illumination, a little atmosphere, or a little terror. As I noted above, the story is about magic (magic here being symbolic of manhood to Straub's young protagonists), about its discovery and its uses...as well as its perversions. Indeed the entire novel is largely a work of symbolism and allegory, echoing the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm (who even make an appearance in the story) and, to a lesser degree, Hans Christian Anderssen. Straub loves to drop such literary allusions all over his novels, and in Shadowland he does it very well indeed, using his mythic backgrounds to echo and inform the story, providing color and shading much as a painter does. Often a fairy tale that has just been related will happen again as part of Tom's experiences, or the opposite will happen; sometimes the fairy tales are part of a tableau, staged by Coleman Collins for Tom and Del's benefit. Sometimes they become literal events, as they do in the case of Rose, about whom I will reveal nothing save to say that the revelation of who (or what) she really is will shock you down to your toes. This is a novel, as I also said, about comings-of-age and awakenings, both sexual and otherwise, with magic used as metaphor for this to a large degree (the sequences where Tom lifts the tree and flies being key examples of what I mean; his exhaustion afterwards is almost a sexual one), though there is a true sexual awakening for Tom in Shadowland that is just as telling in its way, and just as revealing about Rose's character, as all of the allegorical goings-on that I've been going on about (at some length) above. It is a dangerous moment for both of them, and Straub pulls it off beautifully, missing not a beat as he relates what could have been a clumsy passage in other hands. And speaking of danger, the villains in the story, from the enigmatic and menacing Collins to the troll-like Wandering Boys, to the ugly and utterly evil character of Spider (surely one of the best villans in all of fantastic literature) are portrayed to perfection, adding not just menace to the story but outright moments of terror; there are also three encounters with a mysterious character known only as M., whose confrontations with Tom echo certain elements of the New Testament, and which give the reader one of the clearest indications where Straub is going. Of course it's also worth noting that not all of the story is quite so serious and grim; there are moments of fine, if twisted, humor, as there are in all of Straub's novels. In one memorable sequence, during a hallucinatory magical revue put on by Collins in his Herbie Butter incarnation, Del and Tom meet up with Bugs Bunny, Jesus, and the Apostles (who sing a rousing rendition of -- of all things -- "Fish For Supper"!), all within a few pages. I could go on and on -- I haven't even touched on the novel's more hallucinatory aspects, or the wonderful depiction of life at a boys' school in the novel's early stages, surely one of the best, most realistic descriptions of such an experience I've ever read. There is also Collins' amazing tale of his days as a surgeon in World War I, and how he discovered magic under the tutelage of Speckle John, which will amaze and startle you as much as anything in the book. To sum up, Shadowland is essential reading for anyone interested in the horror/fantasy genre. I read it as a teeneager, and as I've grown older it's gained more and more resonance with each successive reading; I have no doubt that it'll do the same for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Hard to follow, disappointing
Review: You will recognize each word. You will understand each sentence. But you will have no earthly idea what is going on. The problem with this book is that the events are described too vaguely. You'll read a sentence and wonder if it's a metaphor or a hard description. For example, if he says an audience's faces are animals staring at the main characters, is that just a metaphor or do they really have animal-faces? This kind of thing happens over and over and makes it a real chore to read this book. When I got to the last 50 pages, I finally fixed myself a pot of coffee, and after having set it aside for a couple months (finding the 2000 Election more exciting to follow), I resolved to finish the thing. It was a 50-yard dash up a cliff. (That was a metaphor, folks). All I can say is that it isn't worth the time invested. It's got an interesting concept, but it has boring characters, a boring plot, and a boring conclusion. One exception: The very beginning of the novel, which is set in a boy's school, is written in a more conventional style. You will be able to follow what is going on, but once you get to the meat of the novel - the Shadowland - you might as well hang it up. You'll find yourself struggling through pages, rereading paragraphs, flipping back to ask yourself, "Have I missed some pages? I don't remember meeting this character, Mr. Peet." Stephen King is head and shoulders above this guy.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: This is an exceptional novel, although it is difficult to classify. The characters are intriguing and complex. The use of interwoven story lines and memorable imagery makes the book one that will hold your interest to the last page. Although Straub's "Ghost Story" is more widely read, and a fine novel, this book is the superior of the two. I strongly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting...and it COULD have been scary...but it wasn't
Review: At the age of, oh I don't know, I'd say 13; I picked up Staub's Ghost Story and just could NOT finish it because it was so...well, boring. So now, 21 years later, I decided to give Pete a try again. After all I reasoned, maybe I was just too young. Maybe the nuances were lost on me. Maybe I didn't get it. And I must report, Shadowland had me SCARED TO DEATH. Yup terrified that I could lapse into a coma any moment out of utter boredom. Ok it did pick up about 2/3's of the way through and it was interesting, as well as creative, well written and stylistically sophisticated. (not that I'm a writer...those are just my impressions). An interesting book by a skilled and talented author. But it was not, repeat NOT scary which is truely unfortunate because it possessed several elements that, properly nurtured could have produced a terrifying story.
Rating: 
Summary: In the Shadows
Review: Shadowland is one of the finest books in the horror genre. At under 500 pages, Straub has written a more compelling book than King ever has. Read this book, and learn why Straub is better than King.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favourite books of all time
Review: As mentioned, the plot of this novel is quite hard to summerise. It is a book of two halves, the first part a brilliant, page turning tale of a sadistic school which hints at the horrors to come. The second part and the crux of the novel is set at Del's myserious uncles huge estate 'Shadowlands.' Here stories within stories mix and mingle, and nothing is what it seems. The hero, Tom, is brilliant creation who you cheer for all long. Long, complex and brilliantly written this is a multilayered fantasy masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: THE CREEPIEST BOOK EVER.
Review: THE END IS REALLY FREAKY WITH THE GORE ALL OVER THE WALLS. BUY IT!
Rating:
Summary: A dream during an acid trip
Review: This is Straub at his best. Marvellous and trippy. As the babysitters say, "Just go with it." He weaves a nightmarishly possible world, and his characters are likeable and three dimensional. This is a book I can re-read every couple of years & still be frightened and entertained! Turn on....you'll be glad you did!
Rating:
Summary: This book is seriously creepy!
Review: Hmm...let's see. The title of this book is SHADOWLAND. Sound's creepy. Well, I don't know if I should buy it. Well, the main setting of the story is in a deep dark forest where a young boy's uncle lives, an uncle who happens to be a magician and gets drunk often. CREEPY YET! So you have never heard of this guy: Peter Straub So.....WHAT! I'VE NEVER READ A BOOK IN MY ENTIRE LIFE SO CREEPY AND WELL-WRITTEN! Part 1 Tom, a young boy who starts high school. He meets Del, who is studying magic. They have many mishappenings, and, while defending Del from bullies, Tom learns that the school itself is part of Shadowland. When I finished Part 1 I rolled right along to Part 2. Part 2 Del and Tom go spend the summer at Del's uncle's house, IN THE WOODS. Tom already suspects Del's uncle when he tells Tom never to go into certain rooms. (HMMMM) During this time Tom is also taught the basics of magic, and he comes to realize that magic is not made up of illusions, but it is real. Tom also falls in love with Rose, a girl he meets there who is controlled by Del's uncle. Part 3 Del, Tom, and Rose decide to leave. But during their escape, they get caught and sent back to the house for their punishments. Del's punishment: Getting beaten up by his uncle's massive servants. Extremely strong. Tom's punishment: Crucifixion. With nails. Read the book to find out what happens next. I highly recomment it! JUST LOOK AT THE FRONT COVER OF THE BOOK!
|
