The contrast of the passing of the seasons and the small town setting with the monthly attacks of a werewolf make for a cosy yet creepy story. Reads like a graphic novel due to its short chapters and Berni Wrightson's excellent illustrations. ( )

A novella that started as a calendar, Cycle of the Werewolf has got to have one of the most interesting backstories of any Stephen King work.

King was challenged to write a story made up of twelve short chapters, one for each month. Each chapter would be paired with an illustration by Bernie Wrightson in a 'Stephen King Calendar'. As a result, each chapter had to be short.

King tells of the year the small Maine town of Tarker's Mills spent under siege by a maniac who would kill under the full moon.

The first few months are self contained scenes, showing what the werewolf was up to the night of the full moon. About half way through, we meet our hero, wheelchair bound Marty Coslaw, the first person to survive an attack.

Marty manages not only to escape, but even manages to wound the wolf. The rest of the novel is spent setting the scene for Marty to take on the werewolf.

This is a quick, short read. Due to the length, there isn't the depth of character you would get in a Stephen King novel, but he still manages in quick sketches to pull off characters that are better than you will find in most horror fiction.

King's writing here is punchy and viceral, his use of the holidays marking certain months is fun, the discovery of the werewolf's identity is handled very well and Bernie Wrightson's illustrations (a remainder from the calendar origins) are fantastic. Easily one of the best werewolf tales I've read. ( )

This book was great. Better than a classic werewolf tale. I loved the artwork too. ( )

Not one of King's stronger efforts. It seems a little contrived. ( )

This book is written very different. I believe that it's done in 12 chapters, each one having the title of a month. The story is very short so even if you don't like it you don't waste too much time on it. ( )