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În cea mai fascinantă creaţie a sa, John Saul propune cititorilor o dilemă: Oare înzestrarea intelectuală ieşită din comun constituie un avantaj sau un handicap? Numai un thriller psihologic, scris cu un nerv deosebit, putea trata o asemenea problemă în toată complexitatea ei. Mai ales că, din umbră,cineva foloseşte aceste calităţi pentru scopuri din cele mai obscure.
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
134 people are currently reading
5582 people want to read
About the author
John Saul
149 books2,829 followersJohn Saul is an American author best known for his bestselling suspense and horror novels, many of which have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. Born in Pasadena and raised in Whittier, California, Saul attended several universities without earning a degree. He spent years honing his craft, writing under pen names before finding mainstream success. His breakout novel, Suffer the Children (1977), launched a prolific career, with over 60 million copies of his books in print. Saul’s work includes Cry for the Strangers, later adapted into a TV movie, and The Blackstone Chronicles series. He is also a playwright, with one-act plays produced in Los Angeles and Seattle. In 2023, he received the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. Openly gay, he has lived with his partner—also his creative collaborator—for nearly 50 years. Saul divides his time between Seattle, the San Juan Islands, and Hawaii, and frequently speaks at writers’ conferences, including the Maui Writers' Conference. His enduring popularity in the horror genre stems from a blend of psychological tension, supernatural elements, and deep emotional undercurrents that have resonated with readers for decades.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 289 reviews
October 13, 2021
Ten-year-old Josh MacCallum doesn’t fit in. He is extremely intelligent and he keeps skipping ahead grades in school. The kids don’t like him because he’s too smart. Josh is younger than his other classmates and they pick fights with him and they think the teachers favor him. Josh’s mother (Brenda) is barely getting by. Her no-good husband has left and she has another kid to feed (Melinda, Josh’s baby sister). After Brenda gets called in to talk to the principal about Josh getting into another fight at school, the principal suggests a school that would be interested in Josh, the Barrington Academy, a cliff-top mansion overlooking the pacific coast. Eventually Brenda gives it some serious thought and takes Josh there to check it out. Josh finally feels like he fits in and decides to stay. But what about strange Dr. Engersol and his weird experiments. And some people at the school aren’t what they seem. As time goes by, many people are turning up dead…
I really enjoyed this book. As the story progressed, and I found out what the experiments were all about, it was quite creepy. I liked some characters, like Josh, his young friend Amy, and their English teacher Mr. Connors. Then there were some annoying and evil characters that I hoped would eventually get what they deserved. The story had good atmosphere, especially the Academy, with its creaky old elevators, secret basement rooms, etc… I found myself quickly turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
Another captivating read by John Saul.
I really enjoyed this book. As the story progressed, and I found out what the experiments were all about, it was quite creepy. I liked some characters, like Josh, his young friend Amy, and their English teacher Mr. Connors. Then there were some annoying and evil characters that I hoped would eventually get what they deserved. The story had good atmosphere, especially the Academy, with its creaky old elevators, secret basement rooms, etc… I found myself quickly turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
Another captivating read by John Saul.
October 28, 2021
Джош е много умно дете. И знае, че след като е прескочил за втори път клас напред, ще има проблеми с новите си съученици. Възможността да постъпи в частно училище за надарени деца идва точно на време.
Но много добро не е на добро, казваме българите и Джош ще научи това по трудния начин.
По-ниската ми оценка е заради провлачения в началото стил и остарялата информация в книгата. За тези 25 години, светът в който живеем се е променил драстично.
Приятно е да се прочете, без да е нищо особено.
Моята оценка - 2,5*.
Но много добро не е на добро, казваме българите и Джош ще научи това по трудния начин.
По-ниската ми оценка е заради провлачения в началото стил и остарялата информация в книгата. За тези 25 години, светът в който живеем се е променил драстично.
Приятно е да се прочете, без да е нищо особено.
Моята оценка - 2,5*.
October 8, 2015
Description: They call it the Academy. A secluded, cliff-top mansion overlooking the rugged Pacific coast. A school for children gifted -- or cursed -- with extraordinary minds. Children soon to come under the influence of an intelligence even more brilliant than their own -- and unspeakably evil. For within this mind a dark plan is taking form. A plan so horrifying, no one will believe it. No one but the children. And for them it is already too late. Too late, unless one young student can resist the seductive invitation that will lead... into the Shadows.
How about this for an oxymoron, there is a John Saul LitGroup on grramazon. Although this was a baby-step up from the 'Brain Child' encounter of last week, I can say, hand on heart, that Saul is not my man.
A month of Halloween 2015 reads:#1: 3* Nobody True by James Herbert: fraudio
#2: 4* The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard: fraudio
#3: 1* Brain Child by John Saul: fraudio
#4: 3* Domain (Rats #3) by James Herbert: fraudio
#5: 3* The Mourning Vessels by Peter Luther: paperback
#6: 2* The Doom of the Great City: ebook short-story
#7: 5* Long After Midnight by Ray Bradbury: fraudio
#8: 5* The Dead Zone by Stephen King: fraudio
#9: CR The Chalice: hardback
#11: CR Tales of Men and Ghosts: gutenberg
#12: 2* Shattered by Dean Koontz: fraudio
#13: 5* The Dunwich Horror: e-book: gutenberg
#14: CR Death At Intervals: paperback
#15: 3* Alone: gutenberg
#16: CR The Shunned House: gutenberg
#17: CR The Thing on the Doorstep: ebook
#18: 2* Shadows by Saul: fraudio
January 26, 2016
La trama se desarrolla muy bien, fluye y no se hace pesada, sin que te tenga temblando de miedo logra adentrarte en esos pasillos, ese campo, ese tren, ese...mejor no hablar de eso. Los personajes, no diria que son entrañables en sí mismos, pero en su esencia, en lo que representan sí lo son, pasan a ser un elemento más en este mundo, pero ese mismo papel podría haberlo personificado alguien más.
Algo a destacar es que los niños tienen un caracter infantil, si vas a hacer una historia de terror con niños de 8-11 años no los hagas parecer que actúan como personas de 50 años, dejálos llorar, temer, pedir por sus padres...esa parte aquí esta bien lograda.
La trama es interesante, pero no excepcional; desde la prémisa te dice que el instituto no será normal, qien es el villano y, por lo mismo, hay momentos en que abusa de los cliches (los gemelos, el director, el lloriqueo incesante, el niño que descubre el plan), pero su punto salvador es el final, a pesar de que no es excelso ni completamente original. el último twist es bastante destacable, principalmente por el cambio en el personaje, además de que te dejá pensando "Demonios, ese niño quedara traumatizado de por vida".
Es un historia imprecindible, no. La recomiendo, sí, especialmente si quieres algo ligero que utilice a las personas más vulnerables como protagonistas.
Algo a destacar es que los niños tienen un caracter infantil, si vas a hacer una historia de terror con niños de 8-11 años no los hagas parecer que actúan como personas de 50 años, dejálos llorar, temer, pedir por sus padres...esa parte aquí esta bien lograda.
La trama es interesante, pero no excepcional; desde la prémisa te dice que el instituto no será normal, qien es el villano y, por lo mismo, hay momentos en que abusa de los cliches (los gemelos, el director, el lloriqueo incesante, el niño que descubre el plan), pero su punto salvador es el final, a pesar de que no es excelso ni completamente original. el último twist es bastante destacable, principalmente por el cambio en el personaje, además de que te dejá pensando "Demonios, ese niño quedara traumatizado de por vida".
Es un historia imprecindible, no. La recomiendo, sí, especialmente si quieres algo ligero que utilice a las personas más vulnerables como protagonistas.
August 3, 2018
This book had a bit of a slow start but then it got really eerie. You feel for the main characters Josh and Amy and only wonder why no one found out about Dr Engersoll and his experiments as the number of the dead is rising. It clearly shows that science has to be controlled otherwise it gets out of hand as it is shown with this academy for extremely gifted children. In my opinion not Saul's best novel but an interesting subject. Recommended, when you're interested in artifical intelligence and aren't offended by animal experiment (cat) or theft of organs. It's a science thriller and not a ghost story or a story with superhuman content. Some passages were not for the faint hearted.
March 31, 2023
Когато прочетох анотацията на тази книга, няма да лъжа, много ми напомни на "Институтът" на Стивън Кинг - един от любимите ми романи. Затова нямаше как да не дам шанс и на "Сенки" от Джон Сол. И не съжалявам. Завърших романа за отрицателно време, няма и два дни.
Сюжетът се завърта около деца, които са интелектуално надарени, трудно се вписват в традиционната семейна и училищна среда, съответно ежедневно се сблъскват с редица трудности и предизвикателства.
Голяма част от тези деца не успяват да се адаптират в социалната рамка, родителите им не могат да намерят начин да се справят с техните потребности и това води до опити за самоубийства сред голяма част от тях.
Решението се явява в лицето на Академията - специално училище, създадено с цел да обучава именно деца с такива дарби. Училище, което дава на учениците си не само подходящо образование, но и необходимата среда за тяхното развитие. Академията е нещо повече от училище, тя е дом, в който тези деца остават доброволно.
Дотук всичко звучи идилично. Но... кой има интерес да събере на едно място даровити деца, повечето от които са правили опити да отнемат живота си. И защо въпреки, че Академията им осигурява най-добрата среда за живот и развитие - самоубийствата продължават. И то при доста странни обстоятелства.
Много скоро става ясно, че децата не са там случайно ами са част от един чудовищен, смразяващ кръвта експеримент.
Сюжетът се завърта около деца, които са интелектуално надарени, трудно се вписват в традиционната семейна и училищна среда, съответно ежедневно се сблъскват с редица трудности и предизвикателства.
Голяма част от тези деца не успяват да се адаптират в социалната рамка, родителите им не могат да намерят начин да се справят с техните потребности и това води до опити за самоубийства сред голяма част от тях.
Решението се явява в лицето на Академията - специално училище, създадено с цел да обучава именно деца с такива дарби. Училище, което дава на учениците си не само подходящо образование, но и необходимата среда за тяхното развитие. Академията е нещо повече от училище, тя е дом, в който тези деца остават доброволно.
Дотук всичко звучи идилично. Но... кой има интерес да събере на едно място даровити деца, повечето от които са правили опити да отнемат живота си. И защо въпреки, че Академията им осигурява най-добрата среда за живот и развитие - самоубийствата продължават. И то при доста странни обстоятелства.
Много скоро става ясно, че децата не са там случайно ами са част от един чудовищен, смразяващ кръвта експеримент.
December 9, 2018
Honestly speaking, I don't remember one bit of the plot line of this book. I read this a long time ago, when I was in the 9th or 10th grade in school but I remember being completely 'wowed' by the book so my rating of 4.5* for this book is based alone on that 'wow' factor! I definitely need to re-read this book again and since I don't remember the plot at all, it probably will be a fresh read for me...
September 25, 2016
3/5
The reasoning behind my rating is due to several things that irked me about this book.
For starters, this book starts off extremely slow paced and takes almost the entire first half of the book character building. I think Saul could've clearly eliminated 50-100 pages of the beginning to move the plot instead of boring us with backstories.
The other thing that really irked me was the head hopping. Head hopping is already an iffy thing in the realm of writing, but Saul will head hop within the same paragraph, giving any reader a strong whiplash. You can't just do that and expect the reader to not get pissed off.
I will say, once the plot picks up in the later half of the book, things do get better, but for me the reading never truly got fluid. I don't think I'll read another of his books, but this was a decent read overall.
The reasoning behind my rating is due to several things that irked me about this book.
For starters, this book starts off extremely slow paced and takes almost the entire first half of the book character building. I think Saul could've clearly eliminated 50-100 pages of the beginning to move the plot instead of boring us with backstories.
The other thing that really irked me was the head hopping. Head hopping is already an iffy thing in the realm of writing, but Saul will head hop within the same paragraph, giving any reader a strong whiplash. You can't just do that and expect the reader to not get pissed off.
I will say, once the plot picks up in the later half of the book, things do get better, but for me the reading never truly got fluid. I don't think I'll read another of his books, but this was a decent read overall.
May 21, 2022
"Σκιές θανάτου", εκδόσεις Plaza.
Αυτό είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο του Τζον Σολ που διαβάζω και νομίζω ότι είναι και το μοναδικό που έχει μεταφραστεί στα ελληνικά, από τα τριάντα και βάλε μυθιστορήματα που έχει γράψει. Σαν συγγραφέας θρίλερ με στοιχεία τρόμου και ίσως επιστημονικής φαντασίας, θα μπορούσε να είναι στα ίδια ράφια με τον Ντιν Κουντζ, τον Στίβεν Κινγκ και άλλους τέτοιους, όμως στην Ελλάδα δεν του έδωσαν και ιδιαίτερη σημασία. Τέλος πάντων, το "Σκιές θανάτου" μου φάνηκε ένα αρκούντως ενδιαφέρον και εθιστικό θρίλερ με στοιχεία τρόμου και επιστημονικής φαντασίας, με τους βασικούς πρωταγωνιστές να είναι κυρίως κάποια ευφυή παιδιά που φοιτούν σε μια σχετική ακαδημία, στην οποία όμως πολλά παράξενα πράγματα συμβαίνουν. Γενικά θα έλεγα ότι στην αρχή η όλη πλοκή κινείται αρκετά αργά, αλλά από ένα σημείο και μετά αρχίζουν διάφορα σκληρά και ανατριχιαστικά περι��τατικά και στο τέλος γίνεται ένας μικρός χαμούλης. Βέβαια, ορισμένα πράγματα στους χαρακτήρες (π.χ. στα παιδιά) αλλά και σε κάποια επιμέρους στοιχεία της πλοκής και της κοσμοπλασίας δεν με έπεισαν απόλυτα, αλλά εντάξει, αυτό θα έλεγα ότι συμβαίνει και με τα περισσότερα ανάλογα θρίλερ εκεί έξω. Η γραφή είναι αρκετά καλή και σίγουρα ευκολοδιάβαστη και εθιστική, αλλά δεν έχει και κάτι το φοβερό και το τρομερό. Τέλος, μου άρεσε πάρα πολύ η ατμόσφαιρα, αλλά και το όλο σκηνικό της ακαδημίας. Γενικά, δεν ξετρελάθηκα κιόλας, αλλά πέρασα καλά! 7.5/10
Αυτό είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο του Τζον Σολ που διαβάζω και νομίζω ότι είναι και το μοναδικό που έχει μεταφραστεί στα ελληνικά, από τα τριάντα και βάλε μυθιστορήματα που έχει γράψει. Σαν συγγραφέας θρίλερ με στοιχεία τρόμου και ίσως επιστημονικής φαντασίας, θα μπορούσε να είναι στα ίδια ράφια με τον Ντιν Κουντζ, τον Στίβεν Κινγκ και άλλους τέτοιους, όμως στην Ελλάδα δεν του έδωσαν και ιδιαίτερη σημασία. Τέλος πάντων, το "Σκιές θανάτου" μου φάνηκε ένα αρκούντως ενδιαφέρον και εθιστικό θρίλερ με στοιχεία τρόμου και επιστημονικής φαντασίας, με τους βασικούς πρωταγωνιστές να είναι κυρίως κάποια ευφυή παιδιά που φοιτούν σε μια σχετική ακαδημία, στην οποία όμως πολλά παράξενα πράγματα συμβαίνουν. Γενικά θα έλεγα ότι στην αρχή η όλη πλοκή κινείται αρκετά αργά, αλλά από ένα σημείο και μετά αρχίζουν διάφορα σκληρά και ανατριχιαστικά περι��τατικά και στο τέλος γίνεται ένας μικρός χαμούλης. Βέβαια, ορισμένα πράγματα στους χαρακτήρες (π.χ. στα παιδιά) αλλά και σε κάποια επιμέρους στοιχεία της πλοκής και της κοσμοπλασίας δεν με έπεισαν απόλυτα, αλλά εντάξει, αυτό θα έλεγα ότι συμβαίνει και με τα περισσότερα ανάλογα θρίλερ εκεί έξω. Η γραφή είναι αρκετά καλή και σίγουρα ευκολοδιάβαστη και εθιστική, αλλά δεν έχει και κάτι το φοβερό και το τρομερό. Τέλος, μου άρεσε πάρα πολύ η ατμόσφαιρα, αλλά και το όλο σκηνικό της ακαδημίας. Γενικά, δεν ξετρελάθηκα κιόλας, αλλά πέρασα καλά! 7.5/10
November 28, 2020
Not as shocking as it was in 1992....however still a good thriller! Don't enroll your kids in "The Academy".
Here is a link to my video review of this book from my Youtube channel; AreYouIntoHorror? :
https://youtu.be/Oc2CRilUyKc
For the 389 pages, this books pacing takes you on a high speed trip into Scientific messed up Child Horror as only John Saul could do, back then! You had to have read this YEARS ago, or really be into science bred horrors dealing with the human brain.....for this to not be too dated to where it effects the storyline. Josh is a young teen age boy, who has lost his twin Adam, and his dealing with this loss is taking a toll on him. With both he and Adam being extremely smart, his parents enroll him in The Academy...a huge old mansion that has been converted on an oceanside cliff into a prestigous school for uniquely smart and very different kids. Upon arrival there is a scene that will stick with you forever.....it is that creepy. Josh notices a very different and strange tropical huge fish tank, where he immediately notices and feels something is not right with it, but he does not know what.
Josh becomes friends with another new student Amy. They hit it off right at the beginning in the lunchroom on Amy's first day.....while she is being tormented by other 'students'. Now, you have to remember that this was released in 1992 at the beginning of what we know now as 'the Internet' and everything computer based, so there are times where Saul is describing 'dial up modems' and what not that just took me out of the plotlines. Now, remember I have not read this in over 25 years. When Josh's mother one day, gets a 'message' from her dead son Adam, all hell at the Academy breaks loose. What is going on there; can the kids communicate with people and students that have suddenly disappeared or committed suicide? The suspense and story is spun like only Saul could do it......it gets a 4 🔪🔪🔪🔪 rating.....just ignore the dated timelines and you will really be creeped out. This is a classic.
Here is a link to my video review of this book from my Youtube channel; AreYouIntoHorror? :
https://youtu.be/Oc2CRilUyKc
For the 389 pages, this books pacing takes you on a high speed trip into Scientific messed up Child Horror as only John Saul could do, back then! You had to have read this YEARS ago, or really be into science bred horrors dealing with the human brain.....for this to not be too dated to where it effects the storyline. Josh is a young teen age boy, who has lost his twin Adam, and his dealing with this loss is taking a toll on him. With both he and Adam being extremely smart, his parents enroll him in The Academy...a huge old mansion that has been converted on an oceanside cliff into a prestigous school for uniquely smart and very different kids. Upon arrival there is a scene that will stick with you forever.....it is that creepy. Josh notices a very different and strange tropical huge fish tank, where he immediately notices and feels something is not right with it, but he does not know what.
Josh becomes friends with another new student Amy. They hit it off right at the beginning in the lunchroom on Amy's first day.....while she is being tormented by other 'students'. Now, you have to remember that this was released in 1992 at the beginning of what we know now as 'the Internet' and everything computer based, so there are times where Saul is describing 'dial up modems' and what not that just took me out of the plotlines. Now, remember I have not read this in over 25 years. When Josh's mother one day, gets a 'message' from her dead son Adam, all hell at the Academy breaks loose. What is going on there; can the kids communicate with people and students that have suddenly disappeared or committed suicide? The suspense and story is spun like only Saul could do it......it gets a 4 🔪🔪🔪🔪 rating.....just ignore the dated timelines and you will really be creeped out. This is a classic.
April 25, 2011
April 2011 Group Read in the John Saul LitGroup. I read this as a teenager and was excited to revisit the story :-)
I really liked this book - it still lives up to my brilliant memories :-) There is a scene early in the book when Josh is first arriving at the academy and sees this pristine fish tank. I love how this is a glimpse of things to come. I had to return my copy of the book to the library or I'd post the passage. I'm giving the book 5 stars. I did notice that there seemed to be more focus on Josh's mom earlier in the book with all her struggles as a waitress and then not so much mentioning of her after Josh gets accepted into the academy. Anyway, I loved the book, it remains one of my favorites.
Link to the discussion thread - feel welcome to join us anytime. We read at least one John Saul book every month:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...
I really liked this book - it still lives up to my brilliant memories :-) There is a scene early in the book when Josh is first arriving at the academy and sees this pristine fish tank. I love how this is a glimpse of things to come. I had to return my copy of the book to the library or I'd post the passage. I'm giving the book 5 stars. I did notice that there seemed to be more focus on Josh's mom earlier in the book with all her struggles as a waitress and then not so much mentioning of her after Josh gets accepted into the academy. Anyway, I loved the book, it remains one of my favorites.
Link to the discussion thread - feel welcome to join us anytime. We read at least one John Saul book every month:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...
October 4, 2016
Think Re-Animator, or wiring Frankenstein up to a Commodore 64 and bringing that bastard to life with a dial-up modem.
Classic 80's B-grade, right?
I think that is how you have to read this novel to enjoy it.
My seal of approval is the one thing I rarely bestow on novels that take me a week to complete. I have things to do and usually prefer those books I can finish over the weekend. Shadows took me a while to finish, but not because it's a very thick book. Firstly, I'm a chronic student -- still studying at the age of forty -- and I'm writing exams this month. Secondly, I got a bit annoyed by the dodgy science driving the plot, since the subject explored is actually my field of expertise.
Without spoiling it too much I'll say that John Saul pretty much nailed the weird science of Lovecraft while using his own voice. Like I said, the science doesn't always make sense, but you learn to deal with it. The reason is the character development, where you can see a clear arc for each character. The result is that you tend to look past the ridiculous science because you follow the arc.
The pace is also perfect. The plot doesn't drag and each chapter is a scene, which drives the story all the way up to the denouement, which wraps the story up perfectly.
The one big negative I can draw from Saul's style is the head-hopping, which is not a pun. Sometimes Saul puts you in a character's head for a single paragraph and then jumps to another character in the same room during the same scene. It does throw you out a bit. Narrative voice is pretty easy to understand and he's been in the game for years, so I'm not sure why he keeps doing it.
Nevertheless, this story is engaging enough to get you over the bumps without too much of a headache. It's definitely a weird tale, certainly horror, and I'm sure it's a good novel to start the month of October with before we get to Halloween. John Saul is up there with the best in this genre, and this is probably one of his most kick-ass novels.
Classic 80's B-grade, right?
I think that is how you have to read this novel to enjoy it.
My seal of approval is the one thing I rarely bestow on novels that take me a week to complete. I have things to do and usually prefer those books I can finish over the weekend. Shadows took me a while to finish, but not because it's a very thick book. Firstly, I'm a chronic student -- still studying at the age of forty -- and I'm writing exams this month. Secondly, I got a bit annoyed by the dodgy science driving the plot, since the subject explored is actually my field of expertise.
Without spoiling it too much I'll say that John Saul pretty much nailed the weird science of Lovecraft while using his own voice. Like I said, the science doesn't always make sense, but you learn to deal with it. The reason is the character development, where you can see a clear arc for each character. The result is that you tend to look past the ridiculous science because you follow the arc.
The pace is also perfect. The plot doesn't drag and each chapter is a scene, which drives the story all the way up to the denouement, which wraps the story up perfectly.
The one big negative I can draw from Saul's style is the head-hopping, which is not a pun. Sometimes Saul puts you in a character's head for a single paragraph and then jumps to another character in the same room during the same scene. It does throw you out a bit. Narrative voice is pretty easy to understand and he's been in the game for years, so I'm not sure why he keeps doing it.
Nevertheless, this story is engaging enough to get you over the bumps without too much of a headache. It's definitely a weird tale, certainly horror, and I'm sure it's a good novel to start the month of October with before we get to Halloween. John Saul is up there with the best in this genre, and this is probably one of his most kick-ass novels.
June 12, 2011
This book has single-handedly made me a Saul anti-fan.
I love suspense and horror stories. But something about this story just rubbed the wrong way. It may just be the trouble getting into an out of date technology-driven suspense. I also remember really disliking the prose, specifically the sentence fragment repetition used throughout.
I love suspense and horror stories. But something about this story just rubbed the wrong way. It may just be the trouble getting into an out of date technology-driven suspense. I also remember really disliking the prose, specifically the sentence fragment repetition used throughout.
December 25, 2018
Страхотен роман от един невъзпят майстор на психологическия хорър. Съвременник на Стивън Кинг и често сравняван с него (обикновено неблагосклонно). Но за разлика от другия автор, когото прекалено често сравняват с Кинг, Дийн Кунц, Сол влага много повече смисъл, патос и психологически реализъм в книгите си (с цялото ми уважение към Кунц).
December 2, 2019
O carte care nu dezamageste, mai ales daca esti fan Saul! Este un thriller psihologic scris cu marele talent al lui John Saul, care, mai ales daca esti parinte, iti va lasa un gol in stomac si o umbra in suflet....
January 23, 2014
Тежка ми беше тази книга, най-вече заради замесените деца. Не че експериментите с живи хора са оправдани по какъвто и да било начин, но когато са с деца, ми свирят по най-тънката струна. Епизодите с родителите им ме разплакаха на няколко пъти. Усетих болката им много дълбоко.
Динамична и добре написана история, искаше ми се да не я оставям чак до самия край. И въпреки, че действието и краят донякъде бяха предсказуеми (малки забележки от страна на Джон Сол за създаване на подходящо настроение издаваха накъде отиват нещата), все пак имаше изненадващи обрати. Няма някаква дълбока философия, разчепкване на етичните проблеми, свързани с експериментите в името на науката. Но пък се потвърди едно мое схващане (може би защото навсякъде търся да го открия) - колко е важно за децата, а и за възрастните да са емоционално интелигентни. Да разбират чувствата си, да си дават сметка как действията им се отразяват на останалите хора, да умеят да се справят емоционално с трудностите. Високият коефициент на интелигентност не бива да бъде проклятие, даже и свръх умни децата си остават деца и имат нужда да израстнат емоционално, преди да започнат да се товарят с отговорностите на възрастните. Едва ли това е основното послание на книгата, но всеки намира това, което търси. На неочаквани места.
Динамична и добре написана история, искаше ми се да не я оставям чак до самия край. И въпреки, че действието и краят донякъде бяха предсказуеми (малки забележки от страна на Джон Сол за създаване на подходящо настроение издаваха накъде отиват нещата), все пак имаше изненадващи обрати. Няма някаква дълбока философия, разчепкване на етичните проблеми, свързани с експериментите в името на науката. Но пък се потвърди едно мое схващане (може би защото навсякъде търся да го открия) - колко е важно за децата, а и за възрастните да са емоционално интелигентни. Да разбират чувствата си, да си дават сметка как действията им се отразяват на останалите хора, да умеят да се справят емоционално с трудностите. Високият коефициент на интелигентност не бива да бъде проклятие, даже и свръх умни децата си остават деца и имат нужда да израстнат емоционално, преди да започнат да се товарят с отговорностите на възрастните. Едва ли това е основното послание на книгата, но всеки намира това, което търси. На неочаквани места.
March 6, 2024
..........."4.30 in the morning....... What a miserable time to die'.....
Starting a book with the death of a child is always a good thing... no, that does not sound right. Starting the book with the death of a child always sets the tone. Lets you know what you might be letting yourself in for... and this book does not disappoint.
Set in this school for 'gifted' children (made me think of The Institute by one Stephen King, but that soon faded away thankfully) and kids dont come more gifted than Josh. He is so clever that his previous school kept pushing him up a year - which of course made him prime suspect for some good old bullying..
But this school is different. All the kids are just like him and he loves it, he fits right in and he makes friends from day one. There is this strange 'ghost' story going around the school which kind of throws you off the scent of what is really going on but keeps you interested. We have some strange classes taking place with one poor cat being sort of tortured which was a bit surreal and we get kids committing 'suicide' (quite a bit of that) but I stuck with it........ and just when I started to question where the book was going... WHAM, it takes one unexpected, horrific, terrifying turn and this turns into a sort of twisted horror.
Great Fun!
Starting a book with the death of a child is always a good thing... no, that does not sound right. Starting the book with the death of a child always sets the tone. Lets you know what you might be letting yourself in for... and this book does not disappoint.
Set in this school for 'gifted' children (made me think of The Institute by one Stephen King, but that soon faded away thankfully) and kids dont come more gifted than Josh. He is so clever that his previous school kept pushing him up a year - which of course made him prime suspect for some good old bullying..
But this school is different. All the kids are just like him and he loves it, he fits right in and he makes friends from day one. There is this strange 'ghost' story going around the school which kind of throws you off the scent of what is really going on but keeps you interested. We have some strange classes taking place with one poor cat being sort of tortured which was a bit surreal and we get kids committing 'suicide' (quite a bit of that) but I stuck with it........ and just when I started to question where the book was going... WHAM, it takes one unexpected, horrific, terrifying turn and this turns into a sort of twisted horror.
Great Fun!
January 28, 2023
Novela de terror y ciencia ficción de 369 páginas, publicada en 1992, en la que una serie de sospechosas muertes de niños están ocurriendo en un instituto especializado en niños prodigio. La llegada de un nuevo alumno, Josh, dará inicio a esta tenebrosa historia tras la que se oculta un misterio aterrador.
De lectura ágil y amena, vas disfrutando del estilo de Saul, y entiendes porqué censuraron toda su obra. Suicidio de niños, inteligencia artificial, y el fracaso de una sociedad enferma. He vuelto a disfrutar de éste mítico y polémico escritor. De muy recomendada lectura para los amantes del género.
De lectura ágil y amena, vas disfrutando del estilo de Saul, y entiendes porqué censuraron toda su obra. Suicidio de niños, inteligencia artificial, y el fracaso de una sociedad enferma. He vuelto a disfrutar de éste mítico y polémico escritor. De muy recomendada lectura para los amantes del género.
October 3, 2018
Spannend tot de laatste pagina!
May 19, 2019
Ciudățică rău a fost cartea asta, dar mi-a plăcut.
Am ajuns în posesia acestei cărți datorită prietenei mele care este absolut obsedată de scrierile acestui autor și care mi-a făcut-o cadou doar pentru a citi și eu ceva de la el. A meritat să citesc această carte.
Școala. Acel loc în care mergi să înveți lucruri noi, să socializezi cu colegii/prietenii tăi, să te maturizezi într-un stil frumos. Pentru unii este așa.
Școala. Acel loc în care mergi să te plictisești, să mai înveți câte ceva uneori, să socializezi cu unicul tău prieten, dacă îl ai și să fi ținta răutăților celor care se cred mai buni decât tine. Pentru alții este așa.
Josh MacCallum este un copil cu o minte briliantă, dar cu o viată socială redusă la zero (familia nu se pune). Fiind mai inteligent decât orice alt copil din micul lor oraș, Josh merge la ore doar pentru a fi prezent, profesorii nu mai au ce să-l învețe, deja știe mai mult decât vor ști ei vreodată. Fiind un copil genial și mereu apreciat de către profesori, el devine ușor ținta glumelor proaste a celor din jur, iar apărarea nu vine de nicăieri, nici măcar din partea celor ce ar trebui să îi ofere siguranța.
Plictisit de școală, rănit de răutatea celorlalți, supărat pe nedreptatea ce-l înconjoară și absolut sigur că a devenit o povară pentru mama sa, care îl crește singură, Josh ia o decizie care îl pune în pericol, dar care îl și trimite departe de casă, la o academie specială, perfectă pentru copiii ca și el.
Personajul lui Josh a fost atât de real încât nu mi-a luat mult să îl îndrăgesc pe micuțul copilaș și să vreau să fiu făptașă la aventurile sale. Și a avut parte de ceva aventuri, credeți-mă.
Academia a fost cea mai bună, dar și cea mai rea decizie a lui și a mamei sale. Deși pare locul ideal în care tinerii supradotați să învețe și să socializeze, el ascunde și multe secrete întunecate. Secrete întunecate și periculoase. Cele șase cazuri de sinucidere din trecut pot să vă demonstreze asta.
Mama lui Josh, Brenda MacCallum a fost genul de mamă pe care eu îl apreciez. Mamă singură a doi copii, deși nu are mai mult de 30 de ani, ea încearcă să le ofere cei mai bun, deși lipsa banilor nu o prea ajută. Când primește oferta de a-și trimite băiatul problematic la o academie specială, unde nu va trebui să plătească nimic, Brenda este sceptică, deși ăsta ar putea fi răspunsul la problemele ei. Asta mi-a plăcut la ea, faptul că în ciuda greutăților își iubea foarte mult copiii și a fost mereu alături de Josh, chiar dacă trebuia să conducă toată noaptea pentru a merge să-l vadă.
Amy Carlson, un alt copil genial și cea mai bună prietenă a lui Josh de la academie. Cred că evoluția ei a fost cea mai plăcută de urmărit. Mi-a plăcut enorm de mult modul în care a ajuns să acționeze Amy după ce „oamenii” răi i-au răpit totul cu forța.
Pentru mine, această carte a fost ceva nou, nu am mai citit nimic de la John Saul până acum și nici nu am mai întâlnit ideea asta nebună în altă lectură.
A fost o lectură ușor de parcurs, cu personaje pe care le-ai îndrăgit imediat sau le-ai urât de la prima întâlnire, cu multe secrete aflate pe parcurs și cu un sfârșit oarecum dubios.
Evident că recomand cartea. Nu se poate să nu vreți să-i întâlniți pe Amy și Josh.
Am ajuns în posesia acestei cărți datorită prietenei mele care este absolut obsedată de scrierile acestui autor și care mi-a făcut-o cadou doar pentru a citi și eu ceva de la el. A meritat să citesc această carte.
Școala. Acel loc în care mergi să înveți lucruri noi, să socializezi cu colegii/prietenii tăi, să te maturizezi într-un stil frumos. Pentru unii este așa.
Școala. Acel loc în care mergi să te plictisești, să mai înveți câte ceva uneori, să socializezi cu unicul tău prieten, dacă îl ai și să fi ținta răutăților celor care se cred mai buni decât tine. Pentru alții este așa.
Josh MacCallum este un copil cu o minte briliantă, dar cu o viată socială redusă la zero (familia nu se pune). Fiind mai inteligent decât orice alt copil din micul lor oraș, Josh merge la ore doar pentru a fi prezent, profesorii nu mai au ce să-l învețe, deja știe mai mult decât vor ști ei vreodată. Fiind un copil genial și mereu apreciat de către profesori, el devine ușor ținta glumelor proaste a celor din jur, iar apărarea nu vine de nicăieri, nici măcar din partea celor ce ar trebui să îi ofere siguranța.
Plictisit de școală, rănit de răutatea celorlalți, supărat pe nedreptatea ce-l înconjoară și absolut sigur că a devenit o povară pentru mama sa, care îl crește singură, Josh ia o decizie care îl pune în pericol, dar care îl și trimite departe de casă, la o academie specială, perfectă pentru copiii ca și el.
Personajul lui Josh a fost atât de real încât nu mi-a luat mult să îl îndrăgesc pe micuțul copilaș și să vreau să fiu făptașă la aventurile sale. Și a avut parte de ceva aventuri, credeți-mă.
Academia a fost cea mai bună, dar și cea mai rea decizie a lui și a mamei sale. Deși pare locul ideal în care tinerii supradotați să învețe și să socializeze, el ascunde și multe secrete întunecate. Secrete întunecate și periculoase. Cele șase cazuri de sinucidere din trecut pot să vă demonstreze asta.
După de H. plecă din birou, E. revăzu dosarele lui. Dădu încet din cap. Erau perfecți pentru seminar.
John MacCallum intenționase deja să se sinucidă.
Dacă o va face din nou, nimeni n-ar avea nimic de comentat.
Mama lui Josh, Brenda MacCallum a fost genul de mamă pe care eu îl apreciez. Mamă singură a doi copii, deși nu are mai mult de 30 de ani, ea încearcă să le ofere cei mai bun, deși lipsa banilor nu o prea ajută. Când primește oferta de a-și trimite băiatul problematic la o academie specială, unde nu va trebui să plătească nimic, Brenda este sceptică, deși ăsta ar putea fi răspunsul la problemele ei. Asta mi-a plăcut la ea, faptul că în ciuda greutăților își iubea foarte mult copiii și a fost mereu alături de Josh, chiar dacă trebuia să conducă toată noaptea pentru a merge să-l vadă.
Amy Carlson, un alt copil genial și cea mai bună prietenă a lui Josh de la academie. Cred că evoluția ei a fost cea mai plăcută de urmărit. Mi-a plăcut enorm de mult modul în care a ajuns să acționeze Amy după ce „oamenii” răi i-au răpit totul cu forța.
-N-ar fi trebuit să faci așa ceva, … , rosti ea cu o voce dură. Doar ți-am spus că nu mai doream să vin la cursul tău. Dar tu nu ai vrut să-mi dai drumul. Ar fi trebuit s-o faci însă, căci, punându-mă aici, n-ai reușit decât să mă faci mai inteligentă decât am fost eu vreodată.
Pentru mine, această carte a fost ceva nou, nu am mai citit nimic de la John Saul până acum și nici nu am mai întâlnit ideea asta nebună în altă lectură.
A fost o lectură ușor de parcurs, cu personaje pe care le-ai îndrăgit imediat sau le-ai urât de la prima întâlnire, cu multe secrete aflate pe parcurs și cu un sfârșit oarecum dubios.
Evident că recomand cartea. Nu se poate să nu vreți să-i întâlniți pe Amy și Josh.
October 3, 2014
Great concept, unique book, but overall some aspects do not hold up well to time.
Without spoilers, this review is nothing, so I'll just say that it was well-written, naturally paced, and super unique.
The biggest thing that dates this book, however, is the talk of computers from the 1990s. It's hilarious to hear about C:/ command prompts, cable modems connecting a phone line to the internet, and "text boxes" and images forming on the screen. It is really funny, but takes me out of the story. I bet that in 1992 when this book was published, it was really cutting edge, but now with modern technology, the book is antequated. That said, it wouldn't work in today's society, so I'm glad it was written in the 90s.
Overall, definitely worth a read. It's a quick 392 pages but feels shorter.
Without spoilers, this review is nothing, so I'll just say that it was well-written, naturally paced, and super unique.
The biggest thing that dates this book, however, is the talk of computers from the 1990s. It's hilarious to hear about C:/ command prompts, cable modems connecting a phone line to the internet, and "text boxes" and images forming on the screen. It is really funny, but takes me out of the story. I bet that in 1992 when this book was published, it was really cutting edge, but now with modern technology, the book is antequated. That said, it wouldn't work in today's society, so I'm glad it was written in the 90s.
Overall, definitely worth a read. It's a quick 392 pages but feels shorter.
April 27, 2014
What a fantastically unnerving story, the best John Saul I've read yet.
The characters were sound, the descriptions were good, the imagination concerning the ability of computers was great considering the impossibilities of the future and the relentless killing typical of his work was awesome, as usual. You just never know who will make it, if anybody, with this guy.
The story moved at a quick pace and I tore through the entirety in only four or five sittings.
Quality shit for sure.
There is something about the loss of senses that rattles me, it's one of my horror soft spots and when Amy awoke in the void, the black vacuum... oh shit yeah!
Great. Great. GREAT!
The characters were sound, the descriptions were good, the imagination concerning the ability of computers was great considering the impossibilities of the future and the relentless killing typical of his work was awesome, as usual. You just never know who will make it, if anybody, with this guy.
The story moved at a quick pace and I tore through the entirety in only four or five sittings.
Quality shit for sure.
There is something about the loss of senses that rattles me, it's one of my horror soft spots and when Amy awoke in the void, the black vacuum... oh shit yeah!
Great. Great. GREAT!
March 18, 2012
One of the worst translations I have ever read. Almost ruined the reading experience.
The book was filled with cringe-worthy cliches, but I could forgive it for trying to go into too many technical details for 1992.
Reinforces my opinion that Stephen King is The King.
The book was filled with cringe-worthy cliches, but I could forgive it for trying to go into too many technical details for 1992.
Reinforces my opinion that Stephen King is The King.
November 4, 2023
In zijn genre best te pruimen, maar helaas ietwat gedateerd. Een boek over AI uit de jaren 90 kan ook niet anders dan dat zijn. Verrassend dat er al over VR wordt gesproken... Een boosaardige professor gebruikt hoogbegaafde kinderen om hun hersenen aan te sluiten op een computer (anno 1996). Klinkt slechter dan het is: de personages zijn aardig uitgewerkt en je bent als lezer wel mee met Josh en Amy, de twee buitenbeentjes die elkaar vinden op school voor hoogbegaafde kinderen.
Zelfs het 'hersenen-aan-computer'-concept werkt beter dan het zou moeten en de over de mogelijke consequenties heeft de auteur goed nagedacht. Over de morele dan toch, want hoe hij het internet ziet en hoe computers werken daar zijn toch wat vraagtekens bij te zetten (wat mensen medio de negentiger jaren wellicht niet deden).
Ook de uiteindelijke boodschap is twijfelachtig: de hoogbegaafde/gepeste/ongelukkige jongen keert uiteindelijk terug naar zijn oude omgeving en is daar nu plots wel tevreden (en sociaal vaardig). Alsof het probleem (onvoldoende uitdaging op school, kinderen die hem uitsluiten omdat hij een jaar voorop zit,...) bij hemzelf te zoeken was. Over victim blaming gesproken... En nog het vreemdste is dat Josh uiteindelijk zijn computer aan de deur zet omdat er iets gebeurt wat hem niet zint (en wat niet opgelost kan worden door gewoon het toestel uit te zetten - struisvogeltechniek lijkt me niet echt eigen aan hoogbegaafde jongens). Zijn moeder/de auteur concludeert dat her wel goed zal komen met hem, nu hij de pc heeft afgezworen... Is dit het equivalent van ouders in de jaren 2000 die de gameconsoles afzweren en ouders die nu sociale media vingerwijzen?
Kortom: leuk vertier in deze Halloween-periode, maar gedateerd en weinig memorabel.
Zelfs het 'hersenen-aan-computer'-concept werkt beter dan het zou moeten en de over de mogelijke consequenties heeft de auteur goed nagedacht. Over de morele dan toch, want hoe hij het internet ziet en hoe computers werken daar zijn toch wat vraagtekens bij te zetten (wat mensen medio de negentiger jaren wellicht niet deden).
Ook de uiteindelijke boodschap is twijfelachtig: de hoogbegaafde/gepeste/ongelukkige jongen keert uiteindelijk terug naar zijn oude omgeving en is daar nu plots wel tevreden (en sociaal vaardig). Alsof het probleem (onvoldoende uitdaging op school, kinderen die hem uitsluiten omdat hij een jaar voorop zit,...) bij hemzelf te zoeken was. Over victim blaming gesproken... En nog het vreemdste is dat Josh uiteindelijk zijn computer aan de deur zet omdat er iets gebeurt wat hem niet zint (en wat niet opgelost kan worden door gewoon het toestel uit te zetten - struisvogeltechniek lijkt me niet echt eigen aan hoogbegaafde jongens). Zijn moeder/de auteur concludeert dat her wel goed zal komen met hem, nu hij de pc heeft afgezworen... Is dit het equivalent van ouders in de jaren 2000 die de gameconsoles afzweren en ouders die nu sociale media vingerwijzen?
Kortom: leuk vertier in deze Halloween-periode, maar gedateerd en weinig memorabel.
September 11, 2025
3.25
Reading this now, when artificial intelligence is publicly and widely available, is wild. Such an interesting concept and good execution. A few plot lines left uncovered at the end but it was a quick read — action packed.
The real question is, was Jeff changed because of Dr.Engersol or was he truly just evil from the start? 👀 Also, Hildie deserved all that she got.
Reading this now, when artificial intelligence is publicly and widely available, is wild. Such an interesting concept and good execution. A few plot lines left uncovered at the end but it was a quick read — action packed.
The real question is, was Jeff changed because of Dr.Engersol or was he truly just evil from the start? 👀 Also, Hildie deserved all that she got.
March 12, 2025
I've yet to read a bad Saul! Shadows was spectacular, and in today's world... kinda relevant with AI. Definitely had classic scifi as well as the expected horror and suspense! Won't forget this one for a while
March 17, 2021
It was good. A typical John Saul, people doing bad things to children, this time in the name of science. I did see it coming though, what happens to the kids and the ending, was not a surprise.
August 21, 2024
A bit slow to start but ultimately a pretty good read. Not sure how I feel about the ending but it was fun if nothing else. Solid 3 star.
August 13, 2013
Summary: The Academy was created for children that were extremely smart and didn't fit in any where else. OR at least that's what Dr. Engersol and Head Mistress Hildie wanted their students and their parents to think.
THey have been experimenting with artificial intelligence. Their objective is to try and keep only the brain alive with out it's body. Transferring the brain to a tank and hooking it up to a computer.
The first student they used died shortly after they moved his brain to a tank. But then they found Adam. He is classified as a "nerd" and never had many friends, mostly just his twin brother Jeff.
He had never been happy anywhere and that's why he was sent to the Academy in teh first place. But even there he didn't feel like he fit in. So when he found out about the doctor's experiment he wanted to do it.
They put him to sleep and removed his brain. They took his body and placed it on the train tracks staging a suicide. Jeff was the only one who knew the truth besides Engersol and Hildie.
But soon Many got tired of the school and wanted to leave. They didn't want her to go so they killed her and placed her brain in a tank as well. But she wasn't as easily controlled as Adam. And when the doctor threatened to shut down the tank she said she would kill both Adam and herself along with destroying all the data.
Josh, Amy's best friend figures out what is going on and tries to stop it. They order Adam to kill him and make Amy obey. Amy kills Hildie in order to protect Josh. Adam scares Amy into a coma but once the doctor discovers that Josh knows whats going on and will surely tell he informs Adam that he must stop the program and therefore kill both Adam and Amy.
Adam doesn't want to die and the power he has gotten makes him too strong to stop. He kills both the doctor and his mean twin brother before they smash his tank and he dies.
The police come and Amy wakes only to tell her parents that she's going to kill herself before she becomes corrupt like Adam did. Everyone thinks she's gone until Josh leaves the Academy with his computer and she contacts him at home. She tells him there's another experiment going on somewhere else and she is lonely and wants him to join her. He throws out his computer. He doesn't want that, she has changed.
Thoughts: Pretty crazy to think that technology could ever allow such a thing. Perhaps Saul was beyond his time in thinking it was possible when this book was written but I wouldn't be surprised if it were possible now or in the future. To even think that, is the most interesting part to me so I really enjoyed this book. Creepy as it was, I'd definitely recommend it to others to judge for themselves.
THey have been experimenting with artificial intelligence. Their objective is to try and keep only the brain alive with out it's body. Transferring the brain to a tank and hooking it up to a computer.
The first student they used died shortly after they moved his brain to a tank. But then they found Adam. He is classified as a "nerd" and never had many friends, mostly just his twin brother Jeff.
He had never been happy anywhere and that's why he was sent to the Academy in teh first place. But even there he didn't feel like he fit in. So when he found out about the doctor's experiment he wanted to do it.
They put him to sleep and removed his brain. They took his body and placed it on the train tracks staging a suicide. Jeff was the only one who knew the truth besides Engersol and Hildie.
But soon Many got tired of the school and wanted to leave. They didn't want her to go so they killed her and placed her brain in a tank as well. But she wasn't as easily controlled as Adam. And when the doctor threatened to shut down the tank she said she would kill both Adam and herself along with destroying all the data.
Josh, Amy's best friend figures out what is going on and tries to stop it. They order Adam to kill him and make Amy obey. Amy kills Hildie in order to protect Josh. Adam scares Amy into a coma but once the doctor discovers that Josh knows whats going on and will surely tell he informs Adam that he must stop the program and therefore kill both Adam and Amy.
Adam doesn't want to die and the power he has gotten makes him too strong to stop. He kills both the doctor and his mean twin brother before they smash his tank and he dies.
The police come and Amy wakes only to tell her parents that she's going to kill herself before she becomes corrupt like Adam did. Everyone thinks she's gone until Josh leaves the Academy with his computer and she contacts him at home. She tells him there's another experiment going on somewhere else and she is lonely and wants him to join her. He throws out his computer. He doesn't want that, she has changed.
Thoughts: Pretty crazy to think that technology could ever allow such a thing. Perhaps Saul was beyond his time in thinking it was possible when this book was written but I wouldn't be surprised if it were possible now or in the future. To even think that, is the most interesting part to me so I really enjoyed this book. Creepy as it was, I'd definitely recommend it to others to judge for themselves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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