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Insomnia
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Plot Summary of Insomnia
"In this thriller, Stephen King's seventy-year-old protagonist, retired salesman Ralf Roberts, discovers that strange beings have descended upon his hometown, Derry, Maine, when a friend and neighbor begins to behave in an uncharacteristically violent and abusive manner. Before long, the lives of Ralph's friend Bill McGovern; his lover, Lois Chasse; Ralf's own--and those of hundreds of other Derry citizens--hang in the balance. The waking nightmare won't end until the three "little bald doctors" from another dimension have killed those who are designated as belonging to the Purpose or the Random, even if it means that everyone in Derry must also die. It is up to Ralf and Lois to save the day--or die trying."
Gary L. Pullman, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Insomnia
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 40%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%




Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Horror story? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Age: - 60's-90's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - mind reading - can see into the future - can fly - Invisibility - is very quick - can read emotions
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - magical being
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status: - killer
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - mind reading - can see into the future - can fly - Invisibility - can read emotions - is very quick
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - healthy but a geeky weakling

Setting
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to Insomnia
The Horror of Lighthouse Hill by Jim Catapano
Hunter's Moon by C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp
Wolf's Trap by William D. Gagliani
Rose Red by Stephen King
Child of Twilight by Margaret L. Carter


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Stephen King Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Sue Jeffrey  

SCHOLARS:
Joseph DeMarco  Dylan Blender  Elana Starr  Steve Sitter  Alyssa Jayne  Linda Hahn  Colby Sullivan  Deborah Stoops  C. L. Rossman  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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