In his latest book, Stephen King transports readers to a magical world where good and evil are at war. His ability to bring the strange to life makes it an immersive tale with a hopeful heart.
The story follows 17-year-old Charlie Reade, who finds himself caring for an aging recluse named Howard Bowditch. Over time, Bowditch tells him a mysterious tale.
The Story
Legendary author Stephen King goes into the deepest well of his imagination in this spellbinding novel about a seventeen-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a hidden, otherworldly realm and finds himself leading the battle between good and evil.
Fairy Tale is one of the many books written by Stephen King that feature a young hero on a quest into an unknown world. In this case, the protagonist is 17-year-old Charlie Reade. He has a slew of issues, from a father who is an alcoholic to his mother who passed away when he was a child.
But Charlie is determined to be a hero despite his own limitations, which makes him an excellent candidate for the hero’s quest. And he’s also a great fit for the sexy-looking fox he encounters when he’s hiding from the wrath of Radar, an evil dog who’s after him.
The best fairy tales offer a glimpse of a magical world where magic happens. This is certainly true in this story, where a shed full of old books and folktales leads to an adventure unlike any we’ve ever experienced before.
And although the premise is a bit cliched, King does an impressive job of pulling off the old trick of using familiar motifs and stories to create something original. The main gimmick here is the nifty little device of the owl’s ocular lens that changes Charlie’s sight from a dog to a fox – not the first time this has been done, but it is still one of the most effective and memorable.
Throughout the tale, there are plenty of other gimmicks to keep the reader glued to the pages. Firstly, King does a good job of incorporating the famous rule of three into his narrative.
A crooked hat, a pixie hairdo and a golden shoe are all part of the story. Ultimately, though, what is most impressive is the way that King uses these tricks to tell an uncomplicated and entertaining story about a boy who finds himself on a quest to save his beloved dog from a wicked lord.
The Plot
Plot is a major component of any novel, short story, play, or film. It reveals the cause-and-effect relationships between events in a narrative and explains how the story advances. It is an essential element of a good story and helps readers understand why the main characters behave the way they do.
Plotted stories often make for stronger narratives and more compelling characters because they help writers capture the reader’s attention and keep them engaged in the story. Understanding the basic elements of plot can help you write more effective stories, even if you are not a professional writer.
The basic elements of a plot are a topic, an inciting incident (an event that causes a change in the character’s status quo or world order), complications, rising action, climax, and resolution. The inciting incident could be something as simple as a love interest leaving the protagonist or it could be a huge conflict that prevents them from achieving their goal.
Some people believe that there are a limited number of plot types, but this is not necessarily true. In fact, there are many different types of plots that have been used since the dawn of storytelling.
One of the most popular plot structures is a linear plot, in which the story moves from beginning to end without any deviations. This type of plot works best for movies and TV shows because it creates a clear path through the story.
Another common plot structure is a circular plot, which has a twist at the end. This can be used to create an interesting surprise at the end of the book and make it more likely that readers will want to read more.
This type of plot is very common in fantasy novels because it allows the author to tell a story about a fantasy realm without having to create one from scratch. It also allows authors to incorporate their favorite motifs into the story and avoid having the story feel derivative or unoriginal.
In Fairy Tale, Stephen King uses his own leitmotifs to tell a tale of a boy who ventures into a fantasy realm. It is a dark and fantastical story that takes a few cues from other stories by King, such as The Dark Tower and The Stand. However, it is still very much a story by King.
The Characters
King is a master at world-building, sketching in the little details that make setting and place come to life. Whether it’s a horror story, an epic fantasy, or anything else, King always succeeds in providing a convincing world where the reader can step into the action.
Fairy Tale is a good old-fashioned Stephen King fantasy-horror epic that’s a lot of fun to read. The characters are enjoyable and the plot combines Grimmian fairy tale elements with Lovecraftian cosmic horror.
The book follows a young boy, Charlie Reade, who helps an old man named Howard Bowditch when he is injured. While helping him, Charlie falls in love with the old man’s dog, Radar. As Charlie and Howard grow closer, they form a friendship that’s at first surprising, but turns out to be an important one.
While the book is a little long, it’s still a very satisfying read. The main character, Charlie, is a good guy who genuinely cares for others. He isn’t perfect, and his self-imposed mission isn’t straightforward, but he does what’s right for the greater good.
Like all of King’s stories, Fairy Tale borrows from the mythological roots of human storytelling. It follows the monomyth, which suggests that a hero must travel from the real world to a magical realm and acquire new wisdom.
King also owes much to the Brothers Grimm, who wrote some of the earliest fairy tales. This explains the motifs of a kingdom, a princess, and strange creatures that appear in the story.
However, while this could have been an exciting book to read, it’s a shame that it lacks some of the magic and wit that made other King novels such memorable reading experiences. It’s also a bit pedestrian and too much of a standard portal fantasy for its own good.
King’s other books have been more successful in this genre, if only because they are a lot less cynical and deceptive than Fairy Tale. His best horror novels, from Pet Semetary to From a Buick 8, aren’t just scary; they’re gripping and entertaining, too.
The Writing
It’s no secret that the author has a fondness for a good story with a hint of the supernatural. His oeuvre is littered with a variety of fairy tale homages, some as old as the proverbial graveyard and some as new as the next door neighbor. As for the novel’s main characters, they’re a ragtag collection of misfits, all of which make their presence known in their own way. But it’s the aforementioned protagonists and their shady sidekicks that stand out in a cluttered universe, aided by the clever author’s keen eye. This is a book that requires a close reading to really appreciate, and it would take a great deal of forethought to recommend any of its many nuggets of wisdom. It’s an entertaining read for the most part, and you might just find yourself wishing the aforementioned a sleeve of gum next time you’re at the pub. if you have the stomach for a dark fantasy romp, it’s certainly one for the bucket list.
