Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962) is a horror novel by Ray Bradbury that follows two 13-year-old boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, as they encounter a sinister carnival, Cooger and Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show, which arrives just before Halloween. Set in a small Midwestern town, the story explores themes of good and evil, the fear of aging, and the journey of growing up. The carnival’s leaders, Mr. Dark and Mr. Cooger, possess the ability to manipulate time through a magical carousel that can make people older or younger. While Jim is drawn to the allure of growing older, Will, along with his father Charles, grows increasingly suspicious. As the boys investigate, they uncover the carnival’s dark secrets and battle against its supernatural powers. Ultimately, the novel emphasizes the strength of human emotion—laughter, love, and joy—as a means to combat evil.
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