I’m sure that most people are familiar with the story of the Ring either through the original Japanese movie or the American remake, but what of the book that inspired it all? Is the novel worth seeking out on its own merits? In a word: yes, especially for anyone interested in seeing a variation on the story presented in the films. One of the differences that is immediately obvious is that the novel features protagonists at odds with what you might remember from the movies: the reporter in Koji Suzuki’s Ring is male and is aided by a friend instead of an estranged lover. Also, the characters in the novel are a bit seedier than their filmic counterparts; Asakawa stumbles through the plot in a haze of impotent confusion, while Ryuji is possibly a nihilistic rapist. Even the character of Sadako is different. Here she is less of a vengeful entity, more of a malevolent force. The themes of the novel also run a little deeper, even if their significance isn’t ever fully explained. Of course, this book isn’t without its faults. Some of the writing is a bit odd, but this could be due to the fact that this is a novel in translation. Also, the main characters jump to conclusions regarding what is going on with the cursed video tape a bit more quickly than easy to believe. Nevertheless, this is a fine book overall with some genuinely scary moments.

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