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craiggors 's review for:
The Secret History of Twin Peaks
by Mark Frost
"I'll see you again, in 25 years"
Now the cryptic promise from Laura Palmer/David Lynch & co. is about to be fulfilled, and this book is the perfect bridge back into the strange, twisted world of Twin Peaks. Written by Mark Frost, co-creator of the early 90's cult hit, the novel is structured as an in-universe dossier recovered from the scene of a crime in the summer of 2016, composed of letters, journal and diary entries, newspaper clippings, interviews, and classified documents detailing the history of the town and prominent inhabitants of Twin Peaks, Washington. The dossier has been handed off to a modern day FBI agent with initials "TP" whose assignment is to determine the identity of the dossier's composer, known only as The Archivist.
In true Peaks style, every "answer" provided here raises more questions, but yet it's still so satisfying to read. The TV show, as most people know, ended on an infuriating cliffhanger in 1991, with only a small sense of resolution provided by the follow-up film, Fire Walk With Me , leaving spans to speculate on the fates of major and minor characters, not to mention the deeper meanings and mysteries of the show's complex mythology, for over two decades. With the announcement that the show would return for the long-awaited third season also came the announcement that a novel would come first to prep the audience for a return to this world.
For people expecting a straight-forward "bridge" to connect the series finale to the new continuation, this could be a bit of a disappointment. Though there's a decent amount of time exploring previously unknown backstories for favorite characters from the show, there's also a healthy dose of stories centering around non-Twin Peaks residents, real-life historical figures, and minor supporting roles from the show. It can be confusing at times as to how these stories of the Lewis and Clark expedition, UFO sightings, and government conspiracies relate to the story lines from the show, but it's there. Plus there are concrete resolutions to certain cliffhangers from the finale; for instance, who survived (if anyone) the explosion at the bank. But mostly it's quick teases that still leave you in the dark about what will be going on in the new season.
This book definitely isn't meant or designed for casual viewers of the show, or even for newer fans who just now binge-watched both seasons on Netflix. Of course those types of fans could, and I think would, still enjoy it (there's tons of fun nods to the show and the fandom throughout), but in the end it's really for the obsessive superfan. The fan that theorized and agonized over unanswered questions and unexplained riddles without ever being sure they'd get their answers. Or, realizing they may have had their answers but unsure how to interpret them.
This book is, ultimately, a deepening of the mythology surrounding the mysterious, menacing presence in the woods around Twin Peaks. It is at times quirky, unpredictable, outrageous, creepy, and uplifting, a perfect reflection of the show itself. If you've always had a special place in your heart for Twin Peaks, this novel will feel like the comfort of a damn good cup of coffee and a slice of cherry pie.
Just remember, the owls are not what they seem.
Now the cryptic promise from Laura Palmer/David Lynch & co. is about to be fulfilled, and this book is the perfect bridge back into the strange, twisted world of Twin Peaks. Written by Mark Frost, co-creator of the early 90's cult hit, the novel is structured as an in-universe dossier recovered from the scene of a crime in the summer of 2016, composed of letters, journal and diary entries, newspaper clippings, interviews, and classified documents detailing the history of the town and prominent inhabitants of Twin Peaks, Washington. The dossier has been handed off to a modern day FBI agent with initials "TP" whose assignment is to determine the identity of the dossier's composer, known only as The Archivist.
In true Peaks style, every "answer" provided here raises more questions, but yet it's still so satisfying to read. The TV show, as most people know, ended on an infuriating cliffhanger in 1991, with only a small sense of resolution provided by the follow-up film, Fire Walk With Me , leaving spans to speculate on the fates of major and minor characters, not to mention the deeper meanings and mysteries of the show's complex mythology, for over two decades. With the announcement that the show would return for the long-awaited third season also came the announcement that a novel would come first to prep the audience for a return to this world.
For people expecting a straight-forward "bridge" to connect the series finale to the new continuation, this could be a bit of a disappointment. Though there's a decent amount of time exploring previously unknown backstories for favorite characters from the show, there's also a healthy dose of stories centering around non-Twin Peaks residents, real-life historical figures, and minor supporting roles from the show. It can be confusing at times as to how these stories of the Lewis and Clark expedition, UFO sightings, and government conspiracies relate to the story lines from the show, but it's there. Plus there are concrete resolutions to certain cliffhangers from the finale; for instance, who survived (if anyone) the explosion at the bank. But mostly it's quick teases that still leave you in the dark about what will be going on in the new season.
This book definitely isn't meant or designed for casual viewers of the show, or even for newer fans who just now binge-watched both seasons on Netflix. Of course those types of fans could, and I think would, still enjoy it (there's tons of fun nods to the show and the fandom throughout), but in the end it's really for the obsessive superfan. The fan that theorized and agonized over unanswered questions and unexplained riddles without ever being sure they'd get their answers. Or, realizing they may have had their answers but unsure how to interpret them.
This book is, ultimately, a deepening of the mythology surrounding the mysterious, menacing presence in the woods around Twin Peaks. It is at times quirky, unpredictable, outrageous, creepy, and uplifting, a perfect reflection of the show itself. If you've always had a special place in your heart for Twin Peaks, this novel will feel like the comfort of a damn good cup of coffee and a slice of cherry pie.
Just remember, the owls are not what they seem.