'Salem's Lot

This book is one of Kings best novels, might be an old one but still brilliant.

smaller than expected but otherwise good product

De las mejores obras de King me la leí tras ver en los 90s la miniserie y aun tengo pesadillas con el capítulo del niño y el sepultador en el cementerio

Stephen King's Salem's Lot is a horror masterpiece that has captivated readers for decades. This reissue edition is a must-have for fans of the King's work, offering a fresh look at a timeless tale of terror. The story follows a small Maine town as it is plagued by a sinister vampire. King's writing is both chilling and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the town and its inhabitants. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their fates. What sets Salem's Lot apart is its ability to build suspense and tension. The atmosphere is thick with dread, and the reader is constantly on edge, waiting for the next horrific event to unfold. King's masterful storytelling ensures that the story never loses its momentum. The reissue edition is beautifully packaged, with a striking cover design that captures the essence of the novel. The print quality is excellent, making it a joy to read. If you're a fan of horror, or simply looking for a gripping read, Salem's Lot is a must-read. This reissue edition is a perfect opportunity to experience this classic novel in all its glory.

I first read this under the duvet at the tender age of fourteen and have re-read it many, many times over the last two decades, which should give you an idea of just how much I love this book. Although only his second publication, Salem's Lot is King at his very best. There's just so much I love about this book, from the descriptive prose, to the way it gave me nightmares after reading it for the first time. This was the book that first ignited my fascination with horror novels and is the one against which all others are judged (by me at least). I love the way that King brings each of the characters to life, whether they are major or minor players in the story. I love the way that all of the characters are just so believable, with none of the heroes being too perfect and invulnerable. Yes some of them are caricatures, but they are caricatures of people that you would see in any small town, which adds to the sense of foreboding throughout the book. Anyone who has lived in a small town will be able to recognise someone they know, whether it be the priest that likes the bottle a little too much, or the local gossip. Because the characters are so familiar it makes caring about what happens to them extremely easy, which again pulls me into the story. I also love the way that the story develops, almost as soon as I start reading I find myself hooked and the pace picks up relentlessly until I reach the last page. This is a book that I genuinely find hard to put down once I start reading it, there's not one point where I don't want to know what happens next, (even though have read it countless times, I already know what happens next). And I'm never tempted to skim, flick a few pages ahead or (god forbid) take a peaky look at the final page. Out of all the hundreds of books I've read, in all the different genres, Salem's Lot is by far my favourite, and while others may find it strange, for me this book and the characters within it are almost like old friends. It's no spoiler, to tell you that this is a book about vampires, my copy has a picture of a vampire on the front. But to me this is about far more than just the vampire (who is fantastically written, with just the right amount of mystery about him). For me the vampire is only a part of the horror, it's hard to explain, but it was the realisation of how easily a town could die that hit me, even at the tender age of fourteen. The mark of a good horror is when it's not so fantastical that it can no longer plant the little seed of possibility into your mind. As a sane, adult, I know that vampires don't exist, but Salem's Lot is so well written that I am able to suspend belief for the time that I'm reading. In a world that seems full of books and films about `good' vampires who have human emotions and can walk in daylight, Salem's Lot is a completely different kettle of fish. In this book, the rules governing vampires are of the old-fashioned variety, which means this is a far scarier read. Looking back, fourteen was probably a little too young to read it for the first time, especially as I have a very vivid imagination. There are a few points within the pages where deaths are very vividly described, but funnily enough I didn't find them as disturbing as the book as a whole. It was the premise of how easily a town could be taken over by the un-dead that really disturbed my sleep, not the descriptions of the un-dead rising. And so down to the crux of the matter, would I recommend Salem's Lot and if so who to? The answer is of course a resounding yes, in my eyes this is the ultimate horror novel, and by far the best of King's works. Although some of the background is a little dated (this was first published in 1975), it's still very easy to immerse yourself in the story. But as to the question of who I would recommend the book to, well I will say that fourteen is probably too young, but any horror fan of about sixteen and over should definitely add this to their reading list (why haven't you read it already). And if you're a Twilight fan, then why not read a book, where the vampires aren't all lovey-dovey. As with all of King's books, I would also recommend this to anyone who has read his Dark Tower series. In fact, I would say that in this case this is required reading, as it fills in the back story of a very important character in the later books. So, I'm giving Salem's Lot a blood-sucking five stars out of five, simply because it is not only my favourite King novel, but it is also my all-time favourite horror novel.

Stephen King ist bekanntlich der Meister der Horrorgeschichten - und der Titel scheint nicht unverdient zu sein. In 'Salem's Lot legt er eine Vampirgeschichte vor, die mehr Schrecken durch die gruselige Kleinstadtatmosphäre als durch die tatsächlichen Wesen der Nacht verbreitet. In 'Salem's Lot geht es in erster Linie um eine kleine Stadt - Jersualem's Lot - dessen Bewohner und deren Gewohnheiten detailliert dargestellt werden. Die Routine dieser kleinen Stadt wird erschüttert, als Ben Mears - Schriftsteller mit traumatischer Vergangenheit - auftaucht und bald darauf Kinder vermisst werden. Der erste Verdacht fällt natürlich auf den Außenseiter, doch bald ist klar, dass nicht Ben am Verschwinden der Kinder Schuld ist und auch sonst scheint einiges in 'Salem's Lot schief zu laufen. Die Spannung der Geschichte baut King sehr geschickt auf. Zu Beginn wird sehr genau beschrieben wie das Leben in 'Salem's Lot abläuft, die einzelnen Bewohner werden nach und nach vorgestellt, sodass man ein recht gutes Gefühl für die Eigenheiten der Stadt bekommt. Und es sind genau diese detaillierten Beschreibungen, die es dem Leser ermöglichen, die Veränderung in der Stadt und bei den Menschen festzustellen. Nach und nach verändern sich die Bewohner, Routinen werden nicht mehr eingehalten, Familien verstecken sich tagsüber in Schränken und unter Betten ... Dabei ist jeder so sehr mit seinen eigenen Problemen beschäftigt, dass niemand die Veränderung in der Stadt zu bemerken scheint. Doch irgendwann lässt sich die Wahrheit nicht mehr leugnen - das Böse lauert in der Stadt. Eine der gruseligsten Szenen ist wohl jene zu Beginn, als zwei Brüder sich abends durch den Wald auf den Heimweg machen und dann von etwas angefallen werden - ohne, dass man erfährt, um was es sich handelt - es dauert eine Weile, bis alle Geheimnisse der Stadt aufgedeckt werden. 'Salem's Lot ist sicher nichts für schwache Nerven, doch so mancher Gewillter lässt sich vielleicht von der Seitenzahl und den detaillierten Beschreibungen abgeschrecken. Wer durchhält, wird mit einer tiefschichtigen und erzählerisch ausgeklügelten Geschichte belohnt, die so manche Überraschung bereit hält.

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