Under the Dome

Under the Dome

I have often said that there is much more to the writings of Stephen King than an attempt to scare the reader out of his or her wits. I have no doubt that Mr. King enjoys terrifying people but there is much more to this artist than a flare for horror. Stephen King understands people and their individual pathologies better than most professional therapists. Stephen King’s major talent is to make his fictional characters seem so real that you can imagine them walking down the street in front of your house.

The master of characterization is in top form once again in his novel, Under the Dome. After you have read a chapter or two it will be hard to get Big Jim Rennie out of your head, Talk about a larger than life character. Big Jim reminds me of JR from the Dallas television show. In other words he is the consummate villain.  Third Selcctman Rennie is tall, overweight, mean and devious and craves total power over the residents of Chester Mills. The strange part is that I have some admiration for this character. He is one of those rare individuals who is eager and willing to take charge of a situation when no one else is. Big Jim Rennie is also supremely confident of his own abilities. He believes that it is God’s will for him to save Chester’s Mill from its terrible crisis.