Stephen King Book Reviews:

BLACK HOUSE

BAG OF BONES

BLOOD AND SMOKE

COLORADO KID

CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF

CARRIE

CUJO

CELL

CHRISTINE

DANSE MACABRE

DARK HALF

DEAD ZONE

DESPERATION

DIFFERENT SEASONS

DOLORES CLAIBORNE

DREAM CATCHER

DRAWING OF THE THREE

EYES OF THE DRAGON

EVERYTHINGS EVENTUAL

FIRESTARTER

FROM A BUICK 8

FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT

GERALDS GAME

INSOMNIA

HEARTS IN ATLANTIS

IT

MISERY

Stephen King Book Reviews:

NEEDFUL THINGS

NIGHTMARES AND DREAMSCAPES

ON WRITING

PET CEMETERY

RAGE

REGULATORS

RIDING THE BULLET

ROADWORK

ROSE MADDER

SALEM'S LOT

SKELETON CREW

SONG OF SUSANNAH

STORM OF THE CENTURY

THE DARK TOWER

THE GREEN MILE

THE GUNSLINGER

THE LONG WALK

THE PLANT

THE RUNNING MAN

THE SHINING

THE TALISMAN

THE TOMMYKNOCKERS

THE WASTE LANDS

THINNER

TOM GORDON

WIZARD AND GLASS

WOLVES OF THE CALLA

If one were just beginning to read the works of Stephen King and, as such, chose Cycle of the Werewolf as their first King fiction, they might be a bit confused as to why so many people adore the work of Stephen King. It’s not that Cycle of the Werewolf is a bad book. To the contrary, it bridges the worlds of literature, pulp and art quite well. However, it’s more so a work that a fan already familiar with King’s work would enjoy than that of a late night read.

Cycle of the Werewolf originally began as a calendar. That’s right. A calendar. Illustrated by comic book artist, Berni Wrightson, each month was to contain one illustration by the artist and a short, almost flash fiction, piece by King.

As is the case with many writers, King couldn’t contain his writings to only five hundred words and before long, the project became the book we now know as Cycle of the Werewolf. A compilation of short stories that differs from other compilations such as Night Shift and Skeleton Crew in that all stories surround the same event in the same location.

Like Creepshow before it, Cycle of the Werewolf is complimented by the art work of a talented comic artist and brings to life a story that might otherwise be categorized as forgettable. The story itself surrounds the non-existent, yet charming town of Tarker’s Mills, Maine – a state that has much to owe to King in the ways of literary based tourism.

Taking a cue from classic werewolf based horror films, the town soon becomes the playground of the maniacal beast which no one can seemingly stop. It’s formula, but it’s fun albeit confusing sometimes. As the chapters read as short stories instead of actual chapters, some readers might find themselves wishing for a more all encompassing story.

Cycle of the Werewolf is still a fun read and fans of the genre will have as much fun with the accompanying illustrations as with the story itself.