Doctor Sleep

A Novel

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 18 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, Fiction, 2014

Audie Award Nominee, Solo Narration - Male, 2014

Stephen King returns to the characters and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy protagonist of The Shining) and the very special 12-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals.

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless - mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky 12-year-old Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the "steam" that children with the "shining" produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father's legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant "shining" power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes "Doctor Sleep."

Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan's own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra's soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of hyper-devoted fans of The Shining and wildly satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon.

©2013 Stephen King (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Will Patton's delivery enhances King's prose in ways that make King's work so much more enjoyable in audio than just reading it…Patton's narrative voice captures the rhythm of King's words. His character voices, filled with a variety of regional American accents, remain consistent. Most importantly, the sinister aspects that embody characters and moments of this novel are superbly executed and will certainly leave listeners on edge." ( AudioFile)

"King, not one given to sequels, throws fans a big, bloody bone with this long-drooled-for follow-up to The Shining." ( Booklist)

"…a gripping, taut read that provides a satisfying conclusion to Danny Torrance's story." ( Publisher’s Weekly)

Love!

I had just finished listening to "The Shining", and that story was fantastic, but due to the narration of this book, I think this was even better. This one isn't as scary, but it is super creepy, and the narrator portrayed that MUCH better than the narrator in "The Shining" did for the actual scary parts (that narrator was a bore and that made the scary parts super toned down). But this story was awesome, I was so intrigued about what would Danny would have been like!

King at his best

Would you consider the audio edition of Doctor Sleep to be better than the print version?

I didn't read it only listened to it...but i can imagine reading it was even close to listening

What did you like best about this story?

i was on the edge of my seat for the whole book

another fantastic book but...

10/10 on the creative story and its telling, but probably just a 3/10 on the spook factor.

It begins again

This is a brilliant follow up to the Shining. Steven Kings draws you back into Danny Torrence's world all over again. With such a masterful plot. That you are on the edge of your seat the whole way through. It is one of those novels that once you start you are hard pressed to put down. For you are just biting at the bit to see what happens just around the bend. If you are a fan of the Shining this is a must-have in your collection. But don't take my word for it find out for yourself!

Noice

Wow
It’s a great book gotta say I just wonder how the 911 call went

Perfectly chilling in every way.

This book was real ear candy and the narrator was absolutely perfect for the role. Once I started, I couldn't put it down and I can't imagine a better sequel to one of my all-time favorite books: The Shining.

Stephen King still has IT

It was so not very to revisit Danny From the Shinning. It was like seeing a long lost friend again. I loved every page and would love to have the story continue with Abra. But if that is not in the works I am still happy. Hollywood I hope you are thinking Movie with one it will be Awesome.

Ka is a wheel

It all connects and everytime it does I tear up. What a story, I've been absolutely blown away!

Love Will Patton and Stephen King together!

There’s nothing better to me than a Stephen King novel read by Will Patton! It blows my mind when I hear anything to the contrary! The story was really good and the characters were so real that I can see myself thinking about them for years to come.

Great follow up to The Shining!

Stephen King as usual doesn’t disappoint. Will Patton (whom I always see as the #8 Leader in The Postman.) is outstanding. He brings the characters to life and one of them sounds like an imitation of Mr. King himself. The description of addiction (though mine was only to tobacco) seems very real and haunting in itself.
Great book, give it a listen if you’re a Stephen King fan or just like a scare.