God is cruel. That’s what this book tells me.
I remember buying this book, and its companion piece, The Regulators when they came out. I also know I read them, but some twenty years later, I have no memory of what happened in either of them. So it seemed like a great time for a re-read. The plan is read Desperation, cleanse the palette, and then read The Regulators.
At its core, Desperation is very much a good vs. evil story. Under that, it ties, tangentially, with the Dark Tower series with its mention of the Can-toi, and the evil presence in the film, Tak, seems to be kin to It in some fashion or other.
Set in the desert mining town of Desperation, an act of possession, evil and murder has taken place, and its spreading through the animals, and led by a giant hulking police officer, possessed by the presence of Tak. And Tak is cruel, brutal and honest in its violence.
A group of wayward travelers get pulled into Tak’s circle, whether through its actions or something else. There’s young David, who will be brutalized forever by the events he takes part in, and may be touched by god or God (does he Shine?), and his family. There’s Johnny, an aging author working on new book while he motorcycles across country, his backup Steve driving a support truck, Cynthia, a hitchhiker, and Mary and her husband.
They all get drawn into events larger themselves, ordinary people pulled into extraordinary circumstances, and none of them will be ready for where it takes them.
Filled with horrific images, King doesn’t hold back as he puts his characters through the physical and emotional ringer. Alternately sweeping and then poignantly intimate, King weaves together a series of moments from a multitude of lives that show how each of them came to be at this place at this particular moment.
I really liked this one, and none of it seemed familiar to me. I didn’t recall anything from my first reading of it so many years ago. This time through, I got a kick out of it, and tried to pay attention to little nods to other King works.
Tak is terrifying, and singular in its intention in pursuit of evil and violence. Whereas It/Pennywise is all about fear, Tak, and all the little Can-Tah, that are unearthed in the mining town, seems more intent on violence in all its forms.
As the book races towards its climax, a group of thrown together friends fighting a powerful evil (familiar), there are surprises laid out, and a solid ending. I know King has occasionally futzed the landing, but not this time out. It works nicely.
I can’t wait to dig into The Regulators and see how it reflects and plays to and against Desperation. Thoughts?
