DANSE MACABRE

If narrator Holter Graham's youthful exuberance seems an unlikely match for King's master class on popular horror, keep in mind the timeline. King wrote this analysis of film, radio, and literary horror during the late 1970s--when he was in his early 30s. It makes for a fascinating listen for multiple reasons. As King's own star was rising, high- and lowbrow pop culture were in open conflict, with THE EXORCIST and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE sharing space in the public consciousness. The audiobook doesn't sound out of date as King deconstructs what makes a story terrifying, or just laughable. Graham makes it all sound fresh and current, capturing the spirit of a young author with ideas to spare. S.P.C. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2024]