Summer of Night

By: Dan Simmons

Narrated by: Dan John Miller

Length: 22 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s the summer of 1960 and in the small town of Elm Haven, Illinois, five twelve-year-old boys are forging the powerful bonds that a lifetime of change will not break. From sunset bike rides to shaded hiding places in the woods, the boys’ days are marked by all of the secrets and silences of an idyllic childhood. But amid the sun-drenched cornfields, their loyalty will be pitilessly tested. When a long-silent bell peals in the middle of the night, the townsfolk know it marks the end of their carefree days. From the depths of the Old Central School, a hulking fortress tinged with the mahogany scent of coffins, an invisible evil is rising. Strange and horrifying events begin to overtake everyday life, spreading terror through the once-peaceful town. Determined to exorcize this ancient plague, Mike, Duane, Dale, Harlen, and Kevin must wage a war of blood against an arcane abomination who owns the night....

©2011 Dan Simmons (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Impressive...combines beautiful writing and suspense into a book for which Dan Simmons deserves the bestseller status of King and Koontz.” ( The Denver Post)

“One can only wonder what Simmons will do next, now that he’s shown us he can do everything the best writers in horror and science fiction can do.” ( The Philadelphia Inquirer)

“It stands with the best of King and Straub in the traditional modern horror genre.” ( Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

A most enjoyable and chilling supernatural fright-fest!

I have read this multiple times and it is better every single time! TW: There is some language in here that didn’t age well. Slurs that were casually used in 1960 where this book takes place… but if you can get past that (this book was written in 1991)…

This is a truly terrifying stories surrounding a group of middle school kids through the summer of 1960 in small town Illinois. What is supposed to be the best days of their childhood is filled with horrendous evil and a nail biting adventure.

The evil is otherworldly and ancient, killing adults and kids alike, using and possessing them in its malevolence. And this group of kids are smack dab in the center of it all, in a race against time to fight off this malicious force. And it’s a fight for their lives.

Secrets of the past in their sleepy town of Elm Haven will be unearthed and crimes against innocent souls are discovered. All of this hate and fear are a delectable treat to the evil lurking there. And watching this story unfold was as riveting as it was terrifying.

Excellent entertainment

Boys combating evil. And that is where the similarity between Stephen King's " it" and Don Simmons work ends. Mr. Simmons tale was far more entertaining. Thank you.

One of the best ever!

This book is the only book that ever have me actual chills while reading it, and I've been reading horror for decades. Dan Simmons is a master, and this audiobook brings this jewel to life.

I really enjoyed this adventure...

Great reading, fun, funny, and scary at times.Reminded me of Stephen King's It quite a bit.

good creepy read

I enjoyed this book, the author's description of childhood and it's terrors was well written. I only wished it didn't have the part with Michelle and Mike.

excellent

excellent all the way around. i really enjoyed it. it does not need 15 words to say how good it is.

couldnt finish it

I couldn't finish it. Author got too weird for me! It started very slowly but was good til near the end.

Not my cup of tea but excellent narration

Scary story's just don't do anything for me. But it's excellently written and even better narration.

Some parts of the book drone on a bit too much but it does paint a good picture of 1960 kids playing when it does.

Better than Stephen King in my opinion.

stranger things meets stand by me

the first 1/3 to half was a bit slow though the characters are definitely interesting & likeable. I was hoping for more action a bit sooner. Loved the action once it started.
I get being set in the 1960s but found a particular scenes using racial language that was used back then a bit cringey and hard to listen to.

Overall a good story and good performance.

Good Listen

Very enjoyable story. Loved the kid hero aspect and all the child characters were well defined. The "monster" was well written so as to easily imagine it. Will wait a year or two and listen again.