The Retort

Stephen King Classic Melds Gore and Religion Perfectly

October 22nd, 2010 by Leah Campbell Of The Retort Staff

An abandoned mining town, miles of road and deserted desert, a sadistic cop, six unsuspecting travelers and the evil “tak,” a body-hopping demon - all part of the gripping set created in the mind of the infamous Stephen King in his book Desperation. The story is gruesome and gory but with no lack of twisted turns (and in some cases, twisted-off heads). However, among the horror and gore King mingles love, hope and a beam of faith in a seemingly dark place, although the gripping plot line would leave any reader feeling just as desperate as the innocent victims of the story.

In Desperation, evil comes in the form of a cop who lures in travelers who he asserts have broken laws on a long, lonely road through the Nevada desert. His first victims, a young family, are held prisoner by the officer just as he himself is at the mercy of an ancient evil demon from the pits of a local, abandoned mining town. King sets the stage for a good versus evil battle and the hero arises in a very young, but wise, boy, who has powers in faith far beyond the ancient evils of the haunted town. King creates relatable characters as they discover they must first resolve the demons within themselves before conquering the evil that awaits them and, in doing so, delves into the essence of splendor and infamy in human nature.

Like most of King’s books, Desperation is quit a fistful of pages (close to 600) which may lead some readers to stray from the horror of too much reading (God forbid!). But, face the words without fear. Desperation is quit the page-turner and each new twist will leave you wanting more blood, guts and gore. At the same time, it offers an insightful glimpse into human cruelty and despair and a sweet mix of hope and love (and, of course, an epic climax).

King’s amazing writing abilities are illustrated perfectly in this book as he is able to bring together horror and faith in God in a seemingly effortless way. His insight and detail go far beyond the blood and guts sprawled through the pages, making this a book not to be overlooked. If nothing else, you will either not be able to put the book down trembling with every page turn, or form an abrupt phobia of police officers, or at least look really studious carrying around a really thick book.