Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes is lauded for its lyrical prose and atmospheric tension, capturing the blend of childhood wonder and fear. Critics praise its vivid imagery and deep themes of good versus evil. However, some find the pacing uneven and the character development lacking depth. Overall, it remains a hauntingly imaginative tale.

Fans of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes will likely enjoy dark fantasy tales filled with rich, poetic language. Readers of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane or Stephen King's It will appreciate the blend of nostalgia, horror, and the battle between good and evil.

In Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes, two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, encounter a mysterious carnival that arrives in their small town just before Halloween. As they explore the carnival’s dark secrets, they face various perils, including enchanted attractions and sinister figures like Mr. Dark and the Dust Witch, leading to a battle between good and evil. Topics include the human fear of mortality and the complexities of coming of age.

Ray Bradbury

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Green Town

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore Something Wicked This Way Comes reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read Something Wicked This Way Comes | SuperSummary

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Overview

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Something Wicked This Way Comes Summary and Study Guide

Background

Something Wicked This Way Comes Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Arrivals”

Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 12

Something Wicked This Way Comes Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 12 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 13-24

Something Wicked This Way Comes Part 1, Chapters 13-24 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Pursuits”

Part 2, Chapters 25-35

Something Wicked This Way Comes Part 2, Chapters 25-35 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 36-44

Something Wicked This Way Comes Part 2, Chapters 36-44 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Departures”

Part 3, Chapters 45-54

Something Wicked This Way Comes Part 3, Chapters 45-54 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

Something Wicked This Way Comes Character Analysis

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Themes

Something Wicked This Way Comes Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Something Wicked This Way Comes Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

Something Wicked This Way Comes Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

Something Wicked This Way Comes Essay Topics

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Something Wicked This Way Comes?

Reading Age

Book Details