Tag Archives: Cycle of the Werewolf

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“Cycle of the Werewolf,” by Stephen King

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There was a time in Stephen King’s career when he focused on familiar movie monsters (vampires, werewolves, blobs and boogeymen), instead of more abstract horrors.  “Cycle of the Werewolf” is an example of that, and it’s great fun — perfect for a late night horror fix that appeals to the kid at heart.  If you’re a fan of King’s work in books like “Salem’s Lot” or “Night Shift,” you ought to enjoy this.

It IS more of a long story than a novel or a novella — it’s brief.  The illustrations by Berni (Bernie?) Wrightson, of comic book fame, are perfect.

I thought it would be fun to read this and then revisit its 1985 film adaptation, “Silver Bullet,” which I remember loving as a kid.  Gonna have to hunt that one down.

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“Dancers from the iron sky.”

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“At last, as the gray November afternoon tightens down toward an early anvil-colored dusk, he bounds into the kitchen, snatches the Volare’s keys from the peg by the door, and almost runs toward the car.  He drives toward Portland fast, smiling, and he does not slow when the season’s first snow skirls into the beams of his headlights, dancers from the iron sky.”

— from Stephen King’s “Cycle of the Werewolf”

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“Life was such a circle that no man could stand upon it for very long.” (Except maybe Tim Gatto.)

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I might just post a picture of Randall Flagg every time a friend tells me that they are either reading or rereading Stephen King’s “The Stand.”  (This one’s for you, Tim Gatto.)

He really is the greatest villain of all time, beating out even Heath Ledger’s Joker, Hannibal Lecter, Two Face, Nina Meyers, Felix Cortez, and the Hunter Rose incarnation of Grendel.  (I’m talking about Flagg, here — not Tim.)

We know that Tim is REreading the tome (he got the extended version, good on him), because he actually read the book before I did.  As far back as 1989 or so, Tim and I scribbled quotes from the novel on our textbooks at Longwood High School.

Tim even quizzed me once in the cafeteria to test my reading retention.  I passed with flying colors:

“What’s the dog’s name?”

“Kojak.  Formerly Big Steve.”

(Do you remember that conversation in the lunchroom, Buddy?)  😀  Whatever.  It was more fun than the SAT equivalent.

Anyway, I myself have been stricken with the urge over the past year or so to revisit King’s “IT.”  I don’t know why.  I’m not afraid of clowns — at all.  Clowns are probably  the only popular horror archetype whose asses I think I could actually kick (clowns and sparkly vampires, that is).  Clowns aren’t scary … they’re really more … punchable.  Or … y’know — NOT bulletproof.  Also mimes.  All human beings, save the full sociopaths, have an active moral center in their brains, and I know that we all privately harbor the truth there that mimes DESERVE to die.  (You call yourselves ENTERTAINERS?!  F***ing SAY something!!  Hello!! Goodbye!!  Shakespeare’s sonnets!! The Gettysburg Address!!  For God’s sake, just STOP!!)

But I can’t get to “IT” just yet, because my pile of loaned or gift books is high.  There are Toby Barlow’s “Sharp Teeth” and King’s “Cycle of the Werewolf,” lent to me by Super Smart Art Girl.  Then there are a few books that Crunchy Girl gave me, about … spellcasting?  Or something?  (Is she technically a Wiccan?  We don’t know, because she equivocates on a lot of things.)

Anyway, Tim, safe journey.  And because we know the kind of guy you are, we know you’re headed to Nebraska and not Las Vegas (or CIBOLA).

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