"The Dark Half" is about an author named Thad Beaumont who uses the pseudonym George Stark to writer horror novels. Stark comes to live and goes on a killing spree in Castle Rock Maine, the same town where Beaumont and his wife and children live.
Beaumont becomes a prime suspect in the towns murders, and once he has discovered Stark, an awakened evil twin he inadvertently created is the killer, Beaumont decides to stop writing as Stark, and Stark decays away, and Castle Rock is once again a safe and happy place to live, right?
When Beaumont stops writing as Stark, he indeed starts to decay, but instead of rotting away, he becomes very strong, and seems to be mutating into something far worse then just a psycho killer.
This is one of Stephen King's best novels, at least one of my favorites. The conflicts are strong, especially when Stark kidnaps Beaumont's wife and eight month old twins, Wendy and William.
"Be careful Thaddeus, no man controls the agents of the after-life, and there's always a price to pay. What will your price be and when does it come due?" Thad's thoughts haunted him.
Standing next to Thad is like standing next to a cave some nightmarish creature came out of. The monster is gone now, maybe! You still don't like to be close to the cave, even though you know it's gone, but your mind and emotions play a different tune don't they? Even if the cave is empty, the hideous nightmares and memories linger on. Inhale that cigarette deeply as the smoke bites your lungs in its merciless way as the evil Stark tickles your infant babies with the barrel of a loaded .45.
In October, "The Dark Half" will be 30-years-old. Fours stars easy for this King classic.
Izzy Schurr, aka, Mark Schurr
