What would happen if your town was suddenly cut off from the outside world by an invisible force field that nothing - bullets, laser beams, acid, cars or cruise missiles – could breach? That is what occurs at Chester’s Mill, Maine. Planes fall from the sky when they crash into this barrier, animals are cut in two and a gardener’s hand is severed as the dome comes down on it.
For Big Jim Rennie, politician, car dealer and secret drug baron, the dome is a golden opportunity to grab total control of the town. Ranged against him are the “good guys”: Iraq veteran Dale Barbara, newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician’s assistant at the hospital and three kids.
It is long (more than 900 pages) and there are scores of characters yet the pace is brilliant and many moments are tense. If you liked The Stand and The Mist you won’t be disappointed with this King offering.
Book: UNDER THE DOME by Stephen King (R235, Hodder & Stoughton)
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Andre J Brink