DUMA KEY

by Stephen King

ISBN-10: 1416552510

ISBN-13: 978-1416552512

published by Scribner

reviewed by Adam Armstrong

03.11.2008

Stephen King has suffered more than his fair share of critics over the years, so one more shouldn’t hurt.

Duma Key is the story of Edgar Freemantle, a millionaire owner of a Minnesota construction company who winds up in a freak accident causing mild brain injuries that affect his memory and the loss of his right arm. At his psychiatrist’s advice he changes his location to Duma Key, Florida. His psychiatrist also recommends he pick up an old hobby; Edgar used to sketch. Edgar’s ability to draw and paint quickly take on a life of their own and his arm isn’t the only phantom feeling on the island of Duma Key.

Being a long time fan of King’s work I may be a bit biased in saying that I loved this novel. It has all the great parts of a Stephen King book, most importantly the writing. To paraphrase the great Jonathan Carroll, ‘take away the monsters in King’s writing and you still have great writing’. Another fanatic leash to tug on is the Loveraftian feel of the menace in this story. While not a Cthulhu Mythos story it has a great feel to fans of the mythos. Being a visual artist, the long winded passages about creating drawings and paintings held great appeal to me but may turn some readers off a bit.

This novel holds up to some of King’s earlier, and for most, higher rated work. It’s a longer work that I would compare, not in plot (it’s more horror than sci-fi) nor metaphor but quality, to The Tommyknockers.

5 out of 5, definitely worth reading to any horror, Stephen King, or just good writing fan.

Purchase this book at Amazon.com: Duma Key