"Under the Dome," a novel

by Stephen King

What an interesting concept: what would happen if a small town gets completely isolated from the outside world with a sort of dome-like cover? Speaking about living in a glass cage... I guess it's only natural for Stephen King to bring out the worst in people in such circumstances. Although it's very believable and superbly written, my own experience of the areas under the siege in the war circumstances taught me that people mostly don't react the way King made them behave in the book. Usually, living under the siege brings out the camaraderie and charitable nature of people—they help each other and cope together. Even the bad guys, while trying to take advantage of the situation to advance their self-interests, will still work with the others.

Still, King's cast of characters works well for the plot, and the power struggle in the little town under the dome is both conceivable and entertaining. The long list of characters is given thoroughly, with their virtues and flaws, and are either really likable or dislikable in a very real way. To really get us to know them all, King spun his tale over a thousand pages. The only thing I have problem digesting is the nature of the dome itself. I was so inclined to accept any wild scientific explanation rather than the extra-terrestrial one! All in all, an entertaining read. Slow at the beginning, but ending with a bang, fire and smoke! Literally!