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John Saul: A Critical Companion
This is the first book-length study of best-selling writer John Saul's psychological and supernatural thrillers. Author Paul Bail compares John Saul's novels to a (mix) one part , one part The Exorcist , a dash of Turn of the Screw , blend well, and serve thoroughly chillingly. Bail traces John Saul's literary career from his 1977 debut novel Suffer the Children ―the first paperback original ever to make the New York Times best seller list―to his most recent novel, Black Lightning (1995). It features detailed analyses of eleven of his novels. The study includes never-before-published biographical information, drawing an original interview with John Saul, and a chapter on the history of tales of horror and the supernatural and how these genres have influenced Saul's fiction.
Each chapter in this study examines an individual novel. The novels are analyzed for plot structure, characterization, thematic elements, and their relationship to prior and later novels by Saul. In addition, Bail defines and applies a variety of theoretical approaches to the novels―feminist, deconstructionist, Freudian, Jungian, and sociopolitical―to widen the reader's perspective. Bail shows how John Saul enlarged his repertoire from stories of supernatural possession to science-fiction based horror. A complete bibliography of John Saul's fiction and a bibliography of reviews and criticism complete the work. Because of John Saul's great popularity among teenagers and adults, this unique study is a necessary purchase by secondary school and public libraries.
Each chapter in this study examines an individual novel. The novels are analyzed for plot structure, characterization, thematic elements, and their relationship to prior and later novels by Saul. In addition, Bail defines and applies a variety of theoretical approaches to the novels―feminist, deconstructionist, Freudian, Jungian, and sociopolitical―to widen the reader's perspective. Bail shows how John Saul enlarged his repertoire from stories of supernatural possession to science-fiction based horror. A complete bibliography of John Saul's fiction and a bibliography of reviews and criticism complete the work. Because of John Saul's great popularity among teenagers and adults, this unique study is a necessary purchase by secondary school and public libraries.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 4, 2024
I introduced myself to John Saul with Hellfire. It was one of those cases where an exceptional cover lured me into what mostly panned out as a less-than-average story. Short of the shock ending - which I later learned is one of Saul's gimmicks - I cannot remember much about the novel. My second book was Sleepwalk, the author's personal favourite, which I enjoyed even less. Most recently I randomly opened Brainchild which, although medicore in all the same ways, was the most fun I've had with Saul's work so far. That is all my experience with this 20th century "has-been" ... (or, to be somewhat more brutal, "barely was").
To name John Saul a poor man's Stephen King disservices the latter. I would rather call him a poor man's Dean Koontz. Though I don't like to be disrespectful towards him, I have always found it ludicrous that so many place him on a level playing field with such prolific authors. But that's barely Saul's fault. Kind of like the biblical Saul, I have always felt a little sorry for him. Like he was a victim of circumstance, whose lack of greatness was held more against him than most people's would.
He just wanted to make a buck and, as Paul Bail reveals throughout these pages, being the undisputed king of horror was never his ambition. Saul was just lucky that his random foray into horror came about just after Blatty, Levin and King had hit the scene, breathing new life into the genre. There were always a number of less-discerning readers who continued to pay for his "penny-dreadful" paperbacks. Admittedly, guiltily, I have also been one of them. Ensuring, in my own small way, that his name adorns the dusty shelves of used bookstores in country towns.
Anyway, that's my unnecessary reflection on Saul. While I am only mildly interested in him, the idea of a whole book devoted to analysis of his work for some reason intrigued me. Needless to say, I found it highly enjoyable. Paul Bail presents a wonderful, simply-packaged work of literary criticism, rendered all the more engaging as he sifts through John Saul's seemingly mindless work. You have to admire the way he actually gets you excited about going out there and finding the books he explores. Not only does he look deeply into a selection of novels; he guides the reader through a clear and concise summary of several interpretive fields. After providing a basic plot, character and theme analysis, he indulges the reader in a surprisingly complex "alternative" reading. These categories range through deconstructionist, to the feminist, the Jungian, to Freudian and others.
I actually had a blast reading this, and it has renewed an excitement within me to read other John Saul books. At least until I actually read one, at which point I will probably become disillusioned again.
End Note: This is exactly what happened. Saul's debut, Suffer the Children sucks.
To name John Saul a poor man's Stephen King disservices the latter. I would rather call him a poor man's Dean Koontz. Though I don't like to be disrespectful towards him, I have always found it ludicrous that so many place him on a level playing field with such prolific authors. But that's barely Saul's fault. Kind of like the biblical Saul, I have always felt a little sorry for him. Like he was a victim of circumstance, whose lack of greatness was held more against him than most people's would.
He just wanted to make a buck and, as Paul Bail reveals throughout these pages, being the undisputed king of horror was never his ambition. Saul was just lucky that his random foray into horror came about just after Blatty, Levin and King had hit the scene, breathing new life into the genre. There were always a number of less-discerning readers who continued to pay for his "penny-dreadful" paperbacks. Admittedly, guiltily, I have also been one of them. Ensuring, in my own small way, that his name adorns the dusty shelves of used bookstores in country towns.
Anyway, that's my unnecessary reflection on Saul. While I am only mildly interested in him, the idea of a whole book devoted to analysis of his work for some reason intrigued me. Needless to say, I found it highly enjoyable. Paul Bail presents a wonderful, simply-packaged work of literary criticism, rendered all the more engaging as he sifts through John Saul's seemingly mindless work. You have to admire the way he actually gets you excited about going out there and finding the books he explores. Not only does he look deeply into a selection of novels; he guides the reader through a clear and concise summary of several interpretive fields. After providing a basic plot, character and theme analysis, he indulges the reader in a surprisingly complex "alternative" reading. These categories range through deconstructionist, to the feminist, the Jungian, to Freudian and others.
I actually had a blast reading this, and it has renewed an excitement within me to read other John Saul books. At least until I actually read one, at which point I will probably become disillusioned again.
End Note: This is exactly what happened. Saul's debut, Suffer the Children sucks.
January 14, 2020
Informative, scholarly look at one of the most successful, if wildly formulaic, authors of horror boom.
An interesting read, even to those who don't enjoy Saul.
An interesting read, even to those who don't enjoy Saul.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews