Summary
Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes stands as one of the most influential and enduring dark fantasy novels of the 20th century. First published in 1962, this chilling tale of a sinister carnival that arrives in a small Midwestern town has captivated readers for generations with its poetic prose and exploration of the conflict between good and evil.
The story centers on two 13-year-old boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, as they confront the mysterious and malevolent Mr. Dark and his traveling Pandemonium Shadow Show. Bradbury masterfully blends elements of horror, fantasy and coming-of-age drama to create an unforgettable meditation on the loss of innocence and the power of friendship in the face of darkness.
While the novel has inspired numerous adaptations over the years, the most famous is Disney's 1983 film version, which Bradbury himself adapted for the screen.
Plot
In Something Wicked This Way Comes, two 13-year-old boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, become entangled with a mysterious traveling carnival that arrives in their small Midwestern town. The carnival, led by the sinister Mr. Dark, appears one week before Halloween, bringing with it an air of unease and foreboding.
As Will and Jim explore the carnival, they witness strange and terrifying events. They see the carnival's carousel aging people backwards and forwards, and encounter townspeople who have been transformed by the carnival's dark magic. The boys soon realize that Mr. Dark and his carnival prey on people's deepest desires and fears, trapping them in nightmarish fates.
Determined to stop the evil carnival, the boys turn to Will's father, Charles Halloway, the town librarian. Together, they must confront their own fears and weaknesses as they face off against Mr. Dark and his supernatural minions. The conflict comes to a head in a series of intense confrontations at the carnival grounds, where the power of laughter and love is pitted against the carnival's malevolent forces.
In a climactic showdown, Charles Halloway discovers that positive emotions are the key to defeating the carnival's evil. Using joy, laughter, and genuine affection, he is able to overcome Mr. Dark and his cohorts. Will and Jim narrowly escape being enslaved by the carousel, and the carnival is ultimately destroyed. The novel concludes with the characters embracing life and each other, having learned valuable lessons not only about the nature of good and evil but also the importance of facing one's fears.
Themes
Coming of age and loss of innocence
The power of friendship
Temptation and human desires
Fear and courage
The nature of time and aging
The importance of laughter and joy
The triumph of good over evil
Setting
Something Wicked This Way Comes takes place in the mid-20th century in the fictional Green Town, a small, idyllic community reminiscent of Ray Bradbury's own childhood hometown of Waukegan, Illinois. With its tree-lined streets, local library, and tight-knit neighborly bonds, Green Town serves as a quintessential example of wholesome Midwest America.
The novel's events primarily occur during a crisp autumn in October, just before Halloween. This autumnal setting creates an atmosphere of change and impending darkness, mirroring the themes of aging and loss of innocence explored in the story. The carnival's arrival transforms the familiar landscape of Green Town into a sinister playground where reality and illusion blur.
Key locations within Green Town include the local library, where Charles Halloway works, and the homes of Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade. However, the focal point of the narrative becomes Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show—the mysterious carnival that rolls into town. This otherworldly carnival, with its maze of mirrors, sinister carousel, and freak show attractions, serves as a malevolent counterpoint to the otherwise tranquil Green Town setting.
Characters
William “Will” Halloway: One of the two 13-year-old protagonists. Will is cautious, obedient, and practical. Despite his initial wariness, Will takes an active role in fighting against the evil carnival. Will's close friendship with Jim and relationship with his father Charles are central to the story's themes of growing up and confronting your fears.
James “Jim” Nightshade: The other 13-year-old protagonist, Will's best friend. Jim is brash, impulsive, and fascinated by the dark carnival, making him more vulnerable to its temptations. He serves as a foil to Will's caution. Jim's desire to grow up faster propels much of the plot
Charles Halloway: Will's 54-year-old father and the town librarian. Initially distant and melancholy, Charles becomes a key ally in defeating the carnival. His journey involves reconnecting with his own youth and developing a closer relationship with Will. Charles ultimately triumphs through wisdom, courage, and the power of joy.
Mr. Dark: The sinister leader of the carnival, covered in tattoos representing the souls he has captured. Mr. Dark wields supernatural powers and preys on people's deepest desires and fears. His inability to comprehend positive emotions becomes his downfall.
Mr. Cooger: Mr. Dark's red-headed partner who operates the carnival's age-changing carousel. He attempts to lure Miss Foley by posing as her young nephew.
The Dust Witch: A blind fortune teller with magical abilities who is one of the carnival's most dangerous members. She is highly sensitive to emotions, which proves to be her weakness.
Miss Foley: Will and Jim's middle-aged teacher who falls victim to the carnival's temptation of renewed youth. Her transformation serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of vanity and regret.
Tom Fury: A lightning rod salesman who is transformed into a carnival dwarf, losing his memories and identity in the process.
Quick facts
Something Wicked This Way Comes was inspired by Bradbury's real-life encounter with a carnival magician named Mr. Electrico when he was 12 years old.
The title comes from a line in Shakespeare's play Macbeth.
Ray Bradbury wrote the initial story as an 80-page film treatment for Gene Kelly to direct, but it was never produced as a film.
Something Wicked This Way Comes is the second book in Bradbury's “Green Town Trilogy,” following Dandelion Wine.
The fictional Green Town is based on Bradbury's hometown of Waukegan, Illinois.
Bradbury wrote the novel over a five-year period, expanding it from his original short story “The Black Ferris."
Something Wicked This Way Comes explores themes of good vs. evil and the loss of innocence.
Stephen King has cited Something Wicked This Way Comes as a significant influence on his writing, with King discussing the novel at length in his nonfiction book Danse Macabre.
R.L. Stine called Something Wicked This Way Comes “the scariest book I ever read,” and Clive Barker placed it fourth on his list of greatest books about good and evil.
The novel was adapted into a Disney film in 1983, with Bradbury writing the screenplay.
A musical adaptation of the book premiered in 2017 at the Delaware Theatre Company.
About the Author
Ray Bradbury (1920-2012) was one of the most influential and prolific American authors of the 20th century. Though best known for his science fiction, he wrote across many genres, including horror, mystery, and realistic fiction. Over a career spanning seven decades, he published hundreds of short stories and nearly 50 books. His most famous works include the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451, the short story collection The Martian Chronicles, and the dark fantasy novel Something Wicked This Way Comes.
As a storyteller, Bradbury was widely recognized for blending fantastical elements with widely relatable human experiences and emotions. His work often explored themes of censorship, technology, and nostalgia for small-town American life. His novels have been adapted into films, TV shows, and stage productions. Beyond literature, Bradbury worked extensively in other media, including writing screenplays for films like John Huston's adaptation of Moby-Dick and hosting his own television series, The Ray Bradbury Theater.
Bradbury was the recipient of the National Medal of Arts, a special Pulitzer Prize citation, and an Emmy Award, among numerous honors. He consulted on the Spaceship Earth attraction at Disney's Epcot and had an impact crater on the Moon named after his novel Dandelion Wine. A passionate advocate for literacy, he credited libraries with awakening his passion for reading and writing while growing up in the small town of Waukegan, Illinois. Bradbury's imaginative visions of the future—both wondrous and cautionary—and his celebration of the power of imagination have inspired generations of readers and writers. He died at age 91.
