Through the years I have read many a Stephen King novel. Most of these I've greatly enjoyed, a few have been good although not quite up to "King" standards …whatever that means. Yes, it does seem that Stephen King is an author who has very successfully, over the past three decades, created a world of self-competition for himself. He is always writing against the "standards" of his previous work. This may seem unfair to most, but, for me—I think it suits Mr. King just fine. Because not only is this amazingly talented author up to the challenge, in most cases—he wins!

Such was the case with BAG OF BONES, a real WOW of a novel that I reviewed within these electronic pages not to long ago. Such was also the case with King' s superb take on his career and on writing in general, ON WRITING—A Memoir Of The Craft, that just landed with a very satisfied thump on one of my ALREADY READ bookshelves last Sunday. So, with that fantastic dose of King still jumping around inside my head, I decided to move on to one of his fiction books, FROM A BUICK 8, that I had picked up at the local Waldenbooks about a month earlier.

As usual when it comes to this old Grand Master, I was not disappointed. Actually, I was not disappointed in the least. FROM A BUICK 8 is another one of King's novels that immediately lets you know that you are in for something different, something new, something surprising. It's also one of those books that hooks you in good and tight within the first few pages and doesn't really let go.

This isn't one of those "shiver in fear" or "look back over your shoulder" types of horror books that King does so very well. Instead, it is a very subtle story about a father and a son and what the son finds out after his father leaves this Earth, also leaving behind a lot of unanswered questions. It is a gentle story, a story of dealing with grief, a story of dealing with past demons, a story of people trying to help a young man come to terms with the death of his father.

And it all takes place on the grounds of the Troop-D Barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police. Ok, with that said, don't go thinking that this is simply a slow tale of human nature and nothing more because it isn't. No, sir, this is a fast-paced tale that grips the reader quickly and holds on through nearly 500 pages. The story twists and turns from THEN to NOW and, towards the end, to LATER, but the story stays true and the plot flows smoothly throughout.

Don't be fooled by the reference to a car in the title and the image of the car on the book jacket either. This is not CHRISTINE-II or another story of a demon-car possessed. Once again, this is something different. Not quite straight horror, not quite straight science fiction, more like a unique blending of the two. FROM A BUICK 8 is a great story and one that I found myself very satisfied with.

For Stephen King, I believe that his talent may also come from a place not of this Earth, for his ability to churn out these masterpieces consistently over nearly thirty years is remarkable. I first read Stephen King back in the early 1980's, devouring his many hits back then, and still going through more of his stuff as the 1990's reached the 2000's. I remember having nightmares of vampires after reading SALEM'S LOT. I remember living the complete terror of CUJO as if it were happening to me. I remember the creepiness of CHRISTINE and THE DEAD ZONE, remember the epic quality of THE STAND and the great fun of THE DARK TOWER Series featuring Roland the Gunslinger.

King has been writing great books for three decades now. Books that most of us have also read and still remember reading to this day. He has a unique quality when it comes to writing that few have come close to matching. After reading his ON WRITING Memoir, I came to understand—at least a little—exactly where his inspiration comes from and how his ideas flow from his brain. If you've been thinking about picking up a copy of King's FROM A BUICK 8 but haven't done so yet because you just aren't sure...do yourself a favor and lay down the eight bucks, almost nine with tax, maybe less if you're a MEMBER of one of those Book Clubs. It's worth the ride and it's worth the price... FROM A BUICK 8 is King at the top of his form. Here's to hoping that he still has many more like this in that head of his.

Reviewed by Shawn P. Madison

This book is set solely in the state police barracks in Statler, Pennsylvania. Ned is the son of an police officer who was tragically involved in a car accident and killed by a drunken driver.

He works in the evenings after college and in the holidays at the barracks, to be near his fathers' friends and hold his memory near to him.

One day, Ned peers through the grimy windows of Shed B in the yard and sees a Buick 8 automobile, well, "almost" a Buck 8. He is intrigued and persuades the troopers to relate its story.

This involves his father and some bizarre happenings related to the car. It also becomes clear that even after many years, the whole incidents and occurrences have, and have still to be a police barracks secret.

This has to be one of my favourite books. Stephen King usually writes really absorbing stories, but this one is most unusual. The characters are real. He has researched both the workings of a police barracks and the minds and warped humour of policemen. (I speak from experience) It is not really horrific in any way but does have some rather gory descriptions at times. There are moments of extreme sadness, pathos and real humour, all told within the recounting of the story of the car.

The ending is excellent. It could have finished in a really horrific way, but the ending chosen is more subtle and totally perfect for the book.

A book to go straight out and buy!