I always approach books that are more than 1000 pages long with some trepidation. As someone who rarely quits on a book once started (I can count the number of times I’ve done that on two fingers), picking up such a brick is a huge commitment and for that the book better be good. In fact, it better be terrific. That usually means I know something about these hefty tomes beforehand, be that a fair idea of the contents or that it has near universal praise from other readers or reviewers. Now it really helped that two of the other 1000 pager ‘bricks’ that I’ve read over the years also happen to be by Stephen King, namely The Stand and more recently It. But even in those cases I had done my homework. But I took a bit of a chance with Under the Dome knowing nothing other than the fact it was written by King and the obvious subject matter given the title and cover art.
Anyone familiar with King’s novels will attest to his knack for creating amazing characters and putting those large books together just means more characters. I’ve whined in the past when novels introduce too many characters but that is when they are either not well defined or too similar to others within the same pages. When it comes to King the essence of the content are his characters. King somehow manages to not only make his characters stand out and thus not get lost in the shuffle, but to have just enough of a background to match their relevance. King does such a great job with characters that the plot and story are relegated to secondary importance, just something to keep the characters moving along. In the case of Under the Dome the big questions are not only secondary but in the end almost inconsequential, and at the risk of spoiling it, culminates in a rethread of a fairly well-known science fiction plot. But don’t let that deter you, as ..
The story is one in which the small New England town of Chester’s Mill suddenly finds itself enclosed within a near impermeable ‘dome’ (a bit of a misnomer in that it is not circular at all but roughly the ‘sock’ shaped outline of the town). The dome extends well into the sky and deep underground, isolating the inhabitants from the rest of mankind. This effectively means that they are left to their own devices and, unfortunately for the citizenry, also means they are at the mercy of those who control the town. In this case, that role falls squarely into the hands of manipulative car salesman and second town selectman “Big Jim” Rennie. The position of ‘second’ selectman is indicative of his tactical heinousness, making sure that he is surrounded by fall persons, cronies and minions to perform the dirty work for him. Those minions include his equally evil, but dim-witted and psychotic son “Junior” Rennie. But the Rennie empire runs much deeper than just taking advantage of a few town resources. Both Rennies and their accomplices have much darker secrets.
The sudden arrival of the dome is seen as godsend to Big Jim who can now expand his control over the town unfettered by any law and order. With the tactical precision of a surgeon he quickly dispatches those few hindrances in his way and manages to exert control over the police force, reshaping and augmenting it to the equivalent of a personal Gestapo.
The only thing standing in the way of both Rennies is town outsider, Dale “Barbie” Barbara, a recent short order cook at the local dinner who was within minutes of leaving town when the dome dropped and Julia, the town newspaper publisher. With the help of a few meddling kids and a small group of their own recruits they slowly form a Rennie counter force while trying to solve the mystery itself.
Aside from slowly meting out the secret evil deeds of Jim and his son, the novel highlights the jarring effect of the presence of the dome, both with immediate casualties and the long term prospects. While those outside the dome, throw all they can at it, it is the internal turmoil that is at the forefront. Big Jim’s influence is vast given his pious facade and tentacled hold on many people who have been corralled to serve him over the years. That power results in a breakdown of societal norms like that in Lord of the Flies. On the other hand we see how Barbie’s predicament gets worse and worse. King really gives us political terror as the element of horror. The segregation scenario he creates provides a convenient petri dish in which the entire environment is isolated from any justice system, normally an integral part of any civilized society.
While I did not give the book much thought at first, I quickly realized it was an eerie selection to read during a pandemic given some of the similar circumstances, and doubly impacted as the delusional direction of Jim Rennie’s state of mind felt all to familiar with that of the recent POTUS. One character laments how the kindly folk rose up, a sight she had observed in other countries but never thought she would see in her own. I happened to read that section right after Washington capitol riots. If that does not qualify as shiver inducing horror I don’t know what does.
I’m aware of the recent Under the Dome television series but aside from hearing that there are quite a number of differences between the two, I can’t comment on it. I would be interested in hearing from others who’ve enjoyed the novel to provide some feedback on whether I should watch that as well.