I have just completed reading Stephen King’s ‘Under the Dome’.

It is yet another fascinating story in the typical King style.  20 or so people dead by the end of the first chapter and you just know your off to a great start.

By the end of the book 10,000 + dead.  Stephen has outdone himself here.  Reminiscent of The Stand I can’t remember when he has killed off more people so fast.

Apart from that aspect of it King likes to keep the dialog as earthy as possible.  Now I don’t mind that but I wonder if sometimes he is doing it for effect rather than realism.  Surely Americans are not as profane as that.  This is the home of envangelism after all.  Perhaps it’s just a reflection of how Stephen feels about it rather than the general public.

All that aside the concept of the story is excellent and the storyline is about as authentic as you could get in such an unusual environment.  This is a study of human nature when put under extreme pressure and he does a great job of playing all sides as far as he is able.

The characters are diverse but well developed and have a solid ring of authenticity as you would expect from someone as experienced as Stephen.

I was totally engrossed in the reading and had to be dragged away from it several times.  It is a very difficult book to put down, Stephen King has a mastery of mixing up the sections and storylines which keep you focussed and engrossed.

Have you read it?  What do you think?