Under the Dome

A Novel

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Raul Esparza

Length: 34 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener's hand is severed as "the dome" comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when - or if - it will go away.

Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens - town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician's assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing - even murder - to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn't just short. It's running out.

©2009 Stephen King (P)2009 Simon & Schuster

Awesome Stephen King...

I had quit reading Stephen King for several years because his novels were coming out so fast and the quality of his writing seemed to decline instead of getting better. I felt that the publishers were pulling everything he'd ever written from dusty old closets just to get one more book on the market to cash in on his name. I decided to take a chance on "Under the dome" and was so glad I did! This is classic King and I've loved every minute of it. I had a pleasant surprise when I heard references to one of my favorite characters by an entirely different author, and used accurately! I stopped my ipod and thought "did he really say ____" (don't want to kill the surprise for you!). I am in the 5th download and do not want the story to end. Will it be too far out there for some people? Probably, but I read for pure entertainment and don't get my knickers in a knot when plot lines seem implausible. Is it good entertainment? Yes! Would I recommend it? Absolutely!

check this one out

Excellent narrator, juggling some 50 voices, many of which added a depth to the character development that I would not have otherwise had by actually reading it. The plot is intriguing and unfolds, or rather, descends into an Orwellian nightmare at a rapid pace. I can't understand some of the other reviews saying otherwise. I have read many SK books, and would have to say that this is the best one I've read since I finished the Dark Tower series.

incredible story

human behavior is such an interesting topic. Stephen king is the master of horror.

Best voice work ever!

Good story although "we all support the team" became tiresome.

What carried me through the 29 hours was Raul Esparza's voice work. I believed him as bunches of men, several woman including a cranky elderly gal, a crew of teenagers, and a couple of female children. What a talent!

Vintage King

I started reading King with Pet Semetary which I considered a morality tail (ie., what would you do if you could bring a loved one back from the dead). That volume really interested me. Later I went through Cujo which was entertaining. I put this current volume in the same group as The Stand which really approaches the human condition. Here King aptly presents ordinary people in an ordinary town facing an extraordinary circumstance and their resulting behavior. If you have not read King in the past you might want to give this volume a listen. If you are a King fan, you will not be disappointed. King written and well read by Raul Esparza.

NOT "The Stand"

this is the closest I know of Steven King coming to what he created in THE STAND but he doesn't quite get there. Interesting characters but they are not that real or interesting. In audio form anyway, it is sometimes hard to keep track of the characters (but not impossible). I finished the book and enjoyed the story, but it wasn't a memorable book.

Good book, better narrator

Had trouble turning it off at times although there were parts of the story I could have done without. The narrator's character voices kept running through my head long after I had finished the story. I also kept casting the movie version while listening. Wouldn't Matt Frewer make a great Phil Bushey?

Under the Dome

It may have been my mood, but the book was way too long. I couldn't wait until it was over. I even had to skip some of it.

Best in Years

I have been reading Stephen King for over 30 years and this is his best in many years. It rivals "The Stand" and "It" and any King reader knows that means it is great. This is the first of King's books I listened to instead of reading, and the narration added to the enjoyment.

Yum

Wonderful, King spins a terrific yarn as always.
And King is tired of the disgusting Republican right, as is a very large part of America. Good for him - his characters are delicious, and, as always (under the crazed story), they celebrate the still-beating, commonly-decent American heart. It's huge fun in every way.