Book Review: Black House

Black House, by Stephen King and Peter Straub

Source: Amazon.com

From the book’s cover:

Former Los Angeles homicide detective Jack Sawyer, now living in a small Wisconsin town, is called on by the local police chief: Can Jack help his inexperienced force solve a string of gruesome murders that has struck the region? Although Jack cannot recall the events twenty years ago that led him to a parallel universe to save his dying mother, he senses an otherworldly force behind the killings. Drawn back to the Territories and his hidden past, Jack must now encounter the ferocious evils sheltered inside a terrifying house at the end of a deserted tract of forest.


The Review:

It was hit or miss with this one. When Black House was on, it was really on. But at times it was kinda slow and seemed... I don't know quite how to describe it, truthfully. Pretentious, perhaps?

Also, the serial killer cannibal who eats kids was a bit gruesome even for me, at times. Yes, there isn't wanton stuff, but close enough. And a few moments of gore described that could turn the stomach. So that is something to keep in mind.

Also, on the one hand it was nice to visit King's Gunslinger universe, as it had some good moments. But on the other hand, it felt a bit like a cash-in. And the part with the boy Tyler's mother being some sort of "twinner" to a queen that the protagonist is in love with? That seemed... a stretch. Ditto on the magic word thing. But then I haven't finished it yet (as of writing this), so maybe this isn't too bad. We'll see.



Authors Stephen King and Peter Straub, who collaborated on Black House / Source: AskMen.com (King) and LuckMedia.com (Straub)

I suppose one major strike this book had against it was that you pick it up and if you haven't read the first collaboration between King and Straub (The Talisman), you might feel like an outsider. More so also if you haven't touched King's Gunslinger books. At least this was my impression.

Then again, the book really knows how to throw some good visuals at you. The land of the Crimson King is one such. The scene in which the bikers ride toward Black House and are devastated by its evil is another. In fact, often when the action picks up, the story seems better. That was my estimation. But when it slows down, it feels clunky.

In the end, it was not the satisfying novel I was looking for. I've read several less than fulfilling books lately, and was hoping a mindless romp into King horror might revive me. As I am still reading even as I make these notes, I can say that unless the end game improves things greatly, that won't be the case here. Take that to mind when deciding on whether my argument is valid in this case. But for me, this one was only half worth it.



There are some really stunning visualizations in Black House from time to time.  One I was most impressed with was the great machine tower that the children slaves work in, but I couldn't find an artist's rendering of it to suit my tastes.  Another image that has great impact is the description of Black House itself, which is quite vivid and ominous.  The fan-art piece above does it some justice, but of course, nothing really fits what you see in your mind's eye when an author describes a scene really well.  But this will do, in lieu of that mental picture. / Source: VincentChongArt.files.wordpress.com

(Having completed the book) Well, the end was interesting. A happily ever after ending followed by a tragic ending. And then the epilogue, which annoyed me. Not to spoil it for those who might want to read Black House, but can't we ever just kill somebody off? I suppose it is tough to get rid of a character you've invested in like this. But still... take that for what it is worth. Still the lead-up to the initial climax (when we're still in the happily-ever-after territory, that is) is full of exciting and striking imagery, that's for sure. It wasn't, in my estimation, high literature, but it was good pulp fun and really compelling to read. So there is that. So I suppose that my parting words on this book are that it sure knows how to turn up the excitement level and spin an exciting yarn when it gets to that, but runs a bit slow in between important parts. For what that is worth.

Learn more about Black House, by Stephen King and Peter Straub, on Amazon.com


The parting comment:

Source: LOLSnaps.com

What goes on in that cat's heart in that moment must be blacker than anything King or any of his ilk can possibly manage to put on paper.  I shiver just thinking of it.