The Auctioneer

Joan Samson's "The Auctioneer" is one of those books I had never heard of before I read it. This past October, I was looking online at forgotten 1970's horror novels to read for the Halloween season. In this search, I came across "The Auctioneer" and its review on Will Errickson's "Too Much Horror Fiction" blog. After being convinced to pick it up by that and other great reviews, I bought an original hardback copy and read it over late October-November of this year. In the regard of being a bloody, disgusting, make-you-queasy splatfest like some of its contemporaries, this book fails spectacularly. However, in the regard of being an incredibly well-written, engaging, and hard to put down thriller, this book will not disappoint you. The book does take its time getting to the thrills, but its so well written the whole way there that even as a 17 year old in 2023, I never once got bored. I won't bore you with a plot summary... the book does a great enough job by itself introducing its ideas. All you really need to know is yes, you should pick this one up.

I decided to read this book based on recommendations I'd read. At first I thought there is no way I'm going to like this, or even be able to get into it. It was a slow start, but gradually the insidious horror began to consume me. I could feel their frustration and helplessness right to my core. It's a pity this is the only book from this author, (aside from Watching the new baby). A must read!

When I read this book, decades ago, I was a malleable, impressionable teenager. It pointed out how something greatly evil can begin innocently, as when people ignore indications of the erosion of principals of freedom and charity when it starts small, then gradually ratchets up in easy-to-dismiss steps until it is in control of - and destroying - your life. What I see today, decades later, is that its premise is applicable - and is actually unfolding - with regard to U.S. government today. We have an out-of-control, bail-out intoxicated Congress, a President (GW Bush) unwilling to veto anything, and now he will hand the "reins of reckle$$ne$$" over to a tax-and-spend liberal, the likes of which we have never seen before. Inexperienced but cunning President-elect Obama (as of this writing, 1/10/09) could be author Joan Samson's auctioneer. Stepping down from a political soap-box, this book awakened me to be more aware that the innocent beginnings of what appears to be charity can soon become a burdensome tax on one's life. I am forever glad to have read this book. It opened my eyes. The auctioneer who posted a review here understandably did not like this book. Of course he wouldn't! Read this book, an American Classic in my eyes, even if you get it at the library. You won't regret it. It's an easy book to read, and should get you to think about your possessions, your rights and your freedoms, and about keeping them from being taken away by others.

ISBN 0380008424 - They only let me give it 5 stars, so that's what I'm giving it. There's no product description on this book right now, so from the back cover: "Harrowing tensions explode in a series of events that could happen anywhere, to anyone, just as they do to John Moore - whose days of freedom run out, who is stripped of his possessions, his courage, and his hopes, by the ominous presence of a stranger impossible to resist." On the acres outside Harlowe that have been owned by several generations of Moores, John and Mim take care of his mother, raise their daughter and live life close to the land they love. One Thursday, when the local law, a one-man force, comes calling for donations to an auction to benefit the police, they laugh but donate. The Auctioneer is Perly Dunsmore, a worldly man who suddenly descends on quiet, sleepy Harlowe. As Thursday after Thursday passes, the requests for donations turn to demands and Harlowe's police force grows along with the power Dunsmore has over the town. What the townspeople end up giving goes far beyond the old furniture and rusty tools of the first auction. How far they have to be pushed before they fight back will shock you. This book is truly a horror story and, if you begin by thinking this sort of thing could never happen, as you read, you'll be shocked at how easily it unfolds. The cover says "soon to be a major motion picture" - I don't think that ever happened, but it would make a great movie! - AnnaLovesBooks

Read this book, if you can find a copy. Buy a used copy, borrow it from someone, or obtain a copy of this book at your local library. It's a fairly fast read, and riveting. A novel, yes ... but you can't help but wonder, "Could it happen today? In the 21st Century?" I encourage high school English teachers to not only read this book, but find a way for their class to read it and discuss it. This book is (IMHO) a modern day classic. The implications, lessons, and warnings inherent in this story are applicable, even today ... decades after the story was set in a fictitious small town in New Hampshire in the late '60's. Topics that could be discussed and touched on are: bullies, extortion, and the expression: "All that is needed for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing." For a good scare that will leave you pondering human nature: READ THIS BOOK!

absoute evil,this book will slowly but surely curdle your blood.dynamite from start to finish,with an ending you will not forget.