Move Over Stephen King: Dan Simmons’ Summer of Night Is Horror Done Right

Dan Simmons is one of my favourite authors of all time. He’s incredibly consistent in quality and can successfully write across so many genres and styles.

I’ve never really been the biggest fan of horror, at least not in novel form. For that reason, Stephen King hasn’t clicked with me yet. I’d love to find something of his that works for me, but reading The Shining and The Dead Zone didn’t quite do it.

I discovered Dan Simmons through the Hyperion Cantos. Science fiction is my genre—it speaks to me—so it’s no surprise that Hyperion left an incredible first impression. I followed it up with The Fall of Hyperion but haven’t yet continued the series with Endymion or The Rise of Endymion. This isn’t because of a lack of interest; I just haven’t gotten to them yet. Then I read Ilium, which blew my mind. I loved it, though, like with Endymion, I haven’t read its sequel (Olympos) yet. Finally, I picked up Drood, and that’s when I discovered a completely different side of Dan Simmons. It was clear how talented he is—he tailors his writing to the style and story he’s telling. After falling in love with his versatility, I decided to read Summer of Night.

Summer of Night was fantastic—probably my least favourite of Simmons’ works so far, but still a fantastic read. His writing elevates the story tremendously. If another author had written this, I don’t think it would have been nearly as impactful.

The imagery in this book is stunning. Simmons paints masterful pictures of sunsets over cornfields in Illinois, making the setting feel vivid and alive. These descriptions hit especially close to home for me because I’ll be starting school at the Illinois College of Optometry this summer. I couldn’t have picked up this book at a better time.

This was the most straightforward story I’ve read by Simmons. It lacked some of the ambition his other works typically have, but that didn’t take away from the experience. The smaller scope made it more intimate, and it was just as impactful as his larger-scale stories, thanks to his incredible writing.

Despite its smaller scale, there’s a sense of history woven into the story. The book opens with an amazing chapter about the town of Elm Haven and Old Central School, giving the setting a lived-in quality. I’m not sure if Elm Haven is a real town, but it definitely feels like it could be.

There’s also a powerful sense of nostalgia in these pages. I can’t fully explain why it resonated so deeply with me, but I think it comes down to the brilliance of Simmons’ writing. The book is about a time far removed from my own, yet it captures childhood so perfectly—the whirlwind of emotions, the way kids can move from being terrified one moment to carefree and playing baseball the next. It feels incredibly genuine.

The characters are another highlight. Each child has such a distinct personality, and Simmons makes them all interesting to read about, whether as individuals or as a group.

That said, this is still a horror novel, and it’s very dark. While I enjoyed this, I understand it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

One thing I’ll say is that the book is at its best when things are shrouded in mystery. As the story neared its conclusion, mysteries were unravelled, and while the ending was satisfying, I found the suspense leading up to it more compelling than the payoff. This isn’t to say the book goes downhill—it doesn’t. It’s just that the first 90% or so was the strongest part for me.

Overall, Summer of Night is fantastic. If you haven’t read it, I urge you to give it a try. I feel like this is a story that will resonate with a lot of people. At its core, it’s about childhood and growing up—something we can all relate to. It’s a lot of fun and absolutely worth your time.

I’ve loved and appreciated everything I’ve read by Dan Simmons. Every story I’ve mentioned here is worth seeking out, especially Hyperion, which is probably my favourite book ever. If anyone has suggestions for what to read next by Simmons, I’d love to hear them. Also, I’m still looking for Stephen King recommendations—I’d love to find one of his books that finally clicks for me.