Thirty-six years after its initial release, Stephen King has recently put out a sequel to “The Shining” entitled “Doctor Sleep.” The book follows Danny Torrence, now known as Dan, through his life after the struggles he faced at the Overlook Hotel, and a young girl who also has the shining. The shining, as displayed in the book and movie adaptation of the same name, is some sort of supernatural prowess, usually most powerful in children. It can be displayed through telekinesis, telepathy and a variety of other powers. This is definitely King’s greatest supernatural thriller in the past few years, creating fear in places you never expected and a light at the end of the tunnel when all seems consumed in darkness.
“Doctor Sleep” opens with a glimpse into Torrence’s current life, riddled with the same alcoholism that destroyed his father. Liquor helps soothe the memories of the Overlook and dims his shining from coming out too often. It is only when Torrence decides to seek help that the story truly begins. The same week he starts attending Alcoholics Anonymous, a young girl named Abra Stone communicates with him. She is only an infant at this point, and a decade later, the two will finally meet as Stone finds herself needing the same guidance little Danny received from Dick Halloran in “The Shining”.
Stone is one of the most powerful children with the shining, terrifying her parents with her seemingly omniscient knowledge and telekinetic skills. As she grows older, the girl attempts to mute her abilities to protect her parents; they begin to believe she is safe, when in reality, the trouble is yet to begin. A group called the True Knot, immortal parasites that look like humans, feed off of children with the shining; many of the children that are seen on the back of milk cartons and magazines are the ones that have been taken and killed by this group. King’s true magic in storytelling is evidenced in this novel by his ability to convert something completely non-threatening into creatures of nightmare, like the True Knot. Rather than being creepy villains hidden in the dark, they are part of a pack of elderly men and women who travel round in their RVs, dressed liked tourists.
By presenting both points of view from the sides of good and evil, King is able to depict an even more horrifying premise. “Doctor Sleep” flows seamlessly throughout, each chapter becoming more of a page-turner than the last. As Stone and Torrence work together to strengthen their powers and prepare for the final showdown, those in the True Knot organize as well, drawing on the powers of other children with the shining. Just as our protagonists have made mistakes, these point of view switches sometimes make the reader slightly sympathize with the bad guys as they too face predicament after predicament.
Even though this book was a sequel, King’s writing style makes it comprehensible for both types of people- those who have read “The Shining” and those who have not. The flashbacks throughout the novel manage to give more than simply a solidification of Torrence’s past- it develops him more fully as a character and gives each decision he makes a deeper meaning. The readers get to peer into his past, wince at his mistakes and feel the overwhelming dread about returning to the site of the Overlook for one final showdown.
King is truly a masterful storyteller, but this book exceeds all expectations. Its horrifying villains strike at the core, making it seem like you are not alone in the darkness, while still presenting likeable and identifiable characters whose future you hope for. “Doctor Sleep” is definitely a book you should read- but you may want to leave the lights on.
