Doctor Sleep (BOOK)

If you are into Stephen King books, and movies as I am you'll have no doubt read, or watched his older masterpiece, "The Shining". The Shining, which got it's name from one of the main character's special abilities told a horrific tale of a haunted hotel getaway in which the Torrence family lived out a truly terrifying ordeal. There were plenty of ghastly guests to keep the family of three on their toes, and the fact that Jack Torrence (The Father) was growing madder with each passing day made the otherworldly predicament all the more dire. Aside from Jack Torrence his young son Danny, and his wife Wendy also took on major roles as guests of the haunted hotel. In the end, and through many nerve racking encounters Danny's imaginary friend gave the family enough warning to enable Mrs. Torrence, and her son to make a proper getaway. It is also this imaginary friend known as Tony who allowed them both to witness the more horrific haunts contained within the confines of the massive hotel during their earlier days there. Both Daniel Torrence, and his Mother Wendy Torrence eventually make a narrow escape leaving Jack to be forever lost amongst the ghostly apparitions of the Overlook Hotel. That of course is where "The Shining" ends, and "Doctor Sleep" picks up.

Dr. Sleep, as it were is Stephen King's follow-up story about what happened to Danny, Wendy, and Dick (The Overlook's Caretaker) years after the events of "The Shining". While Wendy, and Dick get a proper nod of recognition here, and there it is Danny, or Daniel Torrence who ends up being the main focus for a majority of the tale. Now that he's grown, and about middle-aged Danny has learned to heed Tony's (his imaginary friend's) warnings, and has even learned how to lock away the haunting remnants of the old Overlook Hotel in his mental lockbox using a method that his enlightened mentor Dick H. had taught him. One might expect Danny to have grown up into a properly educated, and well groomed lad at this point in his life, but the event's following the Overlook Hotel tragedy have left him in shambles. Following in his father's footsteps he turned to alcohol for comfort, and wandered from state to state enjoying the one night stands with women patrons as well as the night scene of local bars.

It isn't until later on in the story that Daniel decides to set things right, and finally settle down for the remainder of his life. During his offbeat journey he happens upon a town filled with pleasant people, and a job offering that suits his past work details. With the help of a local mayor, and a town train conductor Daniel Torrence straightens up his miserable life, and begins to see a brighter future for himself. Yes, the "Shining (an ability to see things others don't) is still with him as is Tony. Even with Daniel's optimistic outlook on life his past soon returns to haunt him in the form of traveling wanderers with an ungodly appetite for the Shining known as the "True Knot", as well as a little girl named Abra who in her own way also possess a gift like no other.

Through intertwining events the odd couple of Danny, and Abra end up confiding in each other with long distance telepathic messages, and seek each others help as they try to escape the reach of the group known as the "True Knot". Abra who has seen their morbid, and murderous activities through her own special Shining gift has become the object of the True Knot's undivided attention, and for more reasons than one. Like vampires of old these otherworldly men, and women feed off the essence of tortured victims who each have one thing in common, and that thing is the Shining. Seeing as Abra has an overabundance of the preternatural resource she could provide a lifetime supply of what the True Knot seeks. In the end though the battle for survival reaches it's climax as the forces of Danny, Abra, and the true Knot collide for a final stand. Does Danny, and Abra survive? Is the True Knot defeated? These are all questions that will be answered as you read through the pages of Stephen King's, "Doctor Sleep".