King Sorrow by Joe Hill Analysis – A Dragon-Fired Supernatural Epic Is a Tour de Force

A group of six quirky but doughty kids fall into the path of a immense and fearsome supernatural malevolence that has invaded our existence from the outer limits of oblivion. They must spend their lifetimes confronting it, enduring horror after horror in the process.

A Resonant Plot with a New Approach

This is the plot, in essence, of the master of horror’s iconic book It (arguably his finest; no debate). It similarly frames of the celebrated author’s heir Joe Hill’s recent chilling tome, in which six friends summon the primordial, infinitely malicious serpent King Sorrow from the Long Dark to assist them in vanquishing some baddies. As one might expect, their supernatural ritual goes awry.

Acknowledging a Literary Legacy

Joe Hill started his career striving diligently to distance himself from his well-known dad, publishing under the pen name he still uses today and eschewing in-person meetings with his agent (he exhibits a uncanny likeness to his dad). Yet with this recent release, he embraces it. Certain passages that intentionally mirror some of the senior author’s well-known (the famous Dark Tower introduction); a moment that recalls a recurring theme in King’s works (a game of puzzles). Throughout this massive book, the author rejoices in his heritage, and we delight along with him.

The Cast of the Protagonists

Focusing on the companions: five of them are pupils at the imagined this academic setting in Maine. First is Arthur, bookish and brilliant, cracking ancient puzzles in his leisure hours; the character Colin, affluent, clever, and inclined to bulldoze anyone who stands in his way; twins Donna and Donovan; the attractive Allie. Additionally, Gwen appears, who doesn’t study with them, but emerges as crucial of their circle as they dabble, half believing, somewhat doubtful, in the occult.

The Critical Ceremony

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, compelled to pilfer rare books from his beloved college library by a bunch of local criminals. This devastates his scholarly soul, particularly as he’s forced to acquire the library’s most valuable and disturbing work: the diary of adept the historical figure (put to death “for trafficking with the devyll in 1703”; the cover is made from his skin). Our Scooby gang peruse the diary, discover they could summon what Crane describes as a clever snake to assist Arthur with his coercion issue – and devote the remaining story enduring the repercussions. King Sorrow will certainly eliminate those troublesome local drug dealers, but they’ll have to choose a new sacrifice each year or fall prey to the beast. As Arthur later puts it: “You invoke terrible forces, all you get is additional horrors.”

Narrative Dexterity and Creative Breadth

Spanning forty years, the author shifts with effortless ease through various literary forms: as the friends attempt to deal with the situation they find themselves in by, variously, choosing undeniably wicked targets to sacrifice, or searching for methods to slay the beast themselves, we transition from suspense to dark fantasy, clandestine torment to romance to horror. A standout transition was to a quest story, far beneath the surface below Cornwall, a part tinged by JRR Tolkien that was magnificently horrifying.

A Rich Canvas of Horror and Optimism

The novel features trolls – those living under bridges and online ones, truly terrifying and expertly realized. We see enchanted blades and treacheries, pulse-pounding sequences of valor and instances of appalling malevolence, both mortal and otherworldly. It’s a tour de force: a frightening tale that is above all a paean to the imagination, and to affection and camaraderie. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says Colin as the friends gather at the table, preparing to summon their beast into being with the power of their thoughts.

As Hill puts it in his introductory quote: “Hic sunt dracones”. Do not overlook this.