Summer of Night by dan Simmons (Audiobook Review)

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Title: Summer of Night
Author: Dan Simmons
Narrator: Dan John Miller
Copyright: 2011, Brilliance Audio
Duration: 22 hours
Genres: supernatural, suspense, horror
Filed in: Audiobook Reviews
Review copy provided by Brilliance Audio.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: : It’s the summer of 1960 and in the small town of Elm Haven, Illinois, five twelve-year-old boys are forging the powerful bonds that a lifetime of change will not break. From sunset bike rides to shaded hiding places in the woods, the boys’ days are marked by all of the secrets and silences of an idyllic childhood. But amid the sun-drenched cornfields, their loyalty will be pitilessly tested. When a long-silent bell peals in the middle of the night, the townsfolk know it marks the end of their carefree days. From the depths of the Old Central School, a hulking fortress tinged with the mahogany scent of coffins, an invisible evil is rising. Strange and horrifying events begin to overtake everyday life, spreading terror through the once-peaceful town. Determined to exorcize this ancient plague, Mike, Duane, Dale, Harlen, and Kevin must wage a war of blood — against an arcane abomination who owns the night.
Copyright 2011, Brilliance Audio

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Dan Simmons hit the nail on the head with Summer of Night. As his heroes, Simmons chose a small band of eleven and twelve-year-old boys, and for his horror elements, he chose all the things that would be most distressing to children of that age: an old and funny smelling school building slated for demolition, an equally old and funny smelling teacher, a rendering plant truck that drives around town always full of animal carcasses, and of course a cemetery. Oh, and let’s not forget the man who’s dressed like a World War I soldier who keeps showing up here and there, and disappearing just as quickly.
Simmons doesn’t stop there, though. We also learn, in bits and pieces, of the unique history of the bell that may or may not still reside in the old school building. One of the main characters does some research at the library and discovers that the bell was created in the 1500’s by a pope who had made a deal with the devil. It is this mysterious bell that begins to take center stage as the story progresses. And when that bell begins to ring out in the night? B-r-r-r!
On his website, Dan Simmons revealed that the boys in Summer of Night are modeled on actual people from his own youth. Dale and his younger brother Lawrence are based on Simmons himself, and Simmons’ younger brother. The other boys are based on Simmons’ childhood friends and bear the same first names as their real-life counterparts.
Dan John Miller is a good narrator; he’s a good reader and does a fair job with the character voices. In my opinion, however, he may not have been the best choice for this audiobook. Miller’s voice is very clear and almost sweet sounding, but Summer of Night could have used someone whose voice was a bit rougher and edgier.
Dan Simmons has proven himself to be very capable in the horror genre. In Summer of Night, I think he also shows us that he can develop some strong characters that the reader can really relate to and empathize with. I was particularly fascinated by the boys in this book, and their relationships with their parents, and with each other. Summer of Night is another great story from an old pro.

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If you like this audiobook review, you can purchase the audiobook here:
Get “Summer of Night” by Dan Simmons (Unabridged Audiobook) from Brilliance Audio.

This audiobook review is based on the unabridged audiobook.
Audiobook review by Steven Brandt
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