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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2009 > October > 25 > Entry
A haunting Halloween read…
“The Gates” by John Connolly, (Atria Books, 296 pages, $24).
Young Samuel Johnson decided to get an early start on Halloween. On the evening of Oct. 28, Samuel and his faithful little dachshund, Boswell, rang the doorbell at 666 Crowley Road, the home of their neighbors, the Abernathys. Mr. Abernathy answered the door.
“Trick or treat” said Samuel. Mr. Abernathy wasn’t amused. He replied to the boy and the dog “No, go away.” Then Abernathy returned to the basement and informed his wife and their guests, the Renfields, that their caller was “that weird kid from number 501.”
Then the Abernathys and the Renfields proceeded with the pagan ritual that Samuel had interrupted. They are unaware that young Samuel and his dog are observing them through the window.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Switzerland, scientists are experimenting with the Large Hadron Collider, “a particle accelerator, the largest ever constructed, a device for smashing protons together in a vacuum.”
These two seemingly unrelated events form the premise for a charming new book for young adults. The Irish writer John Connolly has written “The Gates,” a bizarre but amusing trip through science and the supernatural. At the very moment that Samuel was spying on his neighbors these scientists in Switzerland noticed something odd was happening with the Hadron Collider.
Some energy escapes and opens a portal into another dimension. This gateway, “the gates” of the title, allows creatures from this other place to cross over into Samuel’s English village. These were not the gates of heaven that were opening. These gates go to the bad place. Not to heaven, that’s for sure.
The Abernathys and Renfields are absorbed through the portal. They return as demons. Mrs. Abernathy is the most powerful of these creatures. She has it in for Samuel and the dog. Thus begins a wild adventure as boy and dog try to sound the alert that forces of evil are plotting the total conquest of our planet.
“The Gates” is the perfect book for Halloween. Swarms of horrible demons surge through the portal. They blend in among those human ghosts and goblins attired to celebrate the holiday. The author scribbles a fanciful fable of good versus evil. There are generous servings of humor throughout.
Not every demon is evil. Samuel befriends one named Nurd. This becomes the crucial relationship of the story. Nurd loves sports cars. One of the funniest sections of the book involves Nurd’s theft of a Porsche. His exchanges with the police officers who pull him over for speeding are hilarious.
The cops think he’s wearing a costume. He tries to prove otherwise. “Nurd stuck out his tongue, which was three feet long at its fullest extension.”
Humanity fights back against these demonic invaders. One fellow becomes particularly upset when the demons trample his rose bushes.
“The Gates” is a frivolous froth of science, fantasy and pure heroism. The author is best known for a crime fiction series set in Maine. “The Gates” reveals that he has some other tricks in his bag of literary treats.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: clearing the cobwebs
Comments
By victor mickunas
October 25, 2009 7:33 PM | Link to this
No offense taken. I review books so readers can have some idea of what new books are coming out. Reader interest or lack thereof is entirely an individual response.
By Insider
October 25, 2009 4:16 PM | Link to this
Oh, Mr. Mickunas, I forgot to say, “no offense, but the theme (not the review) sounds boring.” I don’t know why it is so hard to be polite these days. Thank you for the info (anyway) :-)
By Insider
October 25, 2009 3:08 PM | Link to this
Maybe I’ve been over-exposed to the paranormal, it sounds boring… Take more than that to get my sauce simmering.
By prose
October 25, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this
Almost sounds a bit like Tolkien. You really find some interesting nuggets, Vick.