"Dreamcatcher" is not a great Stephen King book and even while it rehashes some familiar elements once all the pieces are in place the guy knows how to tell a story. The idea that the right people are in the right place at the right time can come across as either heavy-handed coincidence or another instantiation of King's faith in the hand of the divine. Certainly, it does not work as seamlessly as it does in "The Stand." Be warned: this book contains some of the grossest scenes King has ever created (i.e., do not read parts of this book while eating). This is not a book for King neophytes, but for his fans. In the final analysis, the important thing is the man is up and writing again.