Not Quite A Topless Robot Book Club discussion

To start things off on a personal note, I'm so glad that we decided to read something of Bradbury's. It's not like I ever need an excuse, but it's the first book of his that I've read since his death, and it seems remarkably appropriate somehow.

As a more thoughtful analysis, reading Something Wicked This Way Comes in this particular frame of mind has just reinforced the themes of youth and age present in this book. The relationship between Will and his father is especially poignant, because Charles' fears that he's too old to be the father that Will deserves seems to parallel the fears of loss, particularly of lost time.

And that's what Something Wicked is all about, isn't it? You've got Jim, who is impatient to grow up, and Will, who is in no hurry to get older before his time. When they discover the potential inherent in the carousel of Cooger and Dark's carnival, Jim is easily seduced at the prospect of getting older without the growing pains. But in all instances of the carousel's use, it leads to disastrous results. Mr. Cooger tricks Miss Foley and tries to get Jim and Will in trouble. When Mr. Cooger next meets the carousel, it eventually ends in his death, delayed only by his stint as Mr. Electrico.

Another theme that ties in with the novel's focus on time is the loss of childhood innocence. Jim and Will are in the golden summer of their childhood, which will end all too soon. Charles has already left that far behind.

Then there's the concept that evil and fear can only be conquered through joy and laughter. Indeed, that's Charles' only defense against the Dust Witch and Mr. Dark. This seems like a simplistic idea on its face, but there is absolutely truth behind it. Examples of this can be found even before the climax of the book, such as when Will and Charles play together for a bit after Will is caught sneaking back into the house.

And the last thing that seems quite significant to me is that intelligence and knowledge completely useless if they're not put to some kind of use. Being plagued by self-doubt and indecisiveness, it's possible that he could have saved Will and Jim from the carnival earlier, or prevented them from getting in so deep.

So here are some discussion questions:

Jim and Charles seem to be opposite characters, with Will caught between them. How do you think the differences between these two characters manifest themselves within the main themes of the book?

What are some examples of the way that Bradbury uses mood to reinforce the overall mood of the book, and the sense of loss regarding the passage of time?

For those of you who have read Dandelion Wine, how could Something Wicked be interpreted as the dark side to that work? Both of them deal with childhood, but what are the differences?

Okay, now discuss! Feel free to talk about anything in the novel without fear of spoilers.

I felt that this was Bradbury's worse work. The characters felt one dimensional and had a very serious lack of growth. The story and plot felt rushed and incomplete. Will seemed like a whiny little boy, while Jim felt out of place in the story. The Menace of the carnival felt trivial and the "villains" of the story felt like cardboard cuts outs. In a way it did take me back to childhood. Back to the 9th grade grinding my way through the English reader just to get the grade needed. While I love the Martian chronicles and his other works, Something Wicked this Way Comes was unpleasant and boring at best, down right insulting at worst.