According to Amazon, this sequel to Odd Thomas was released today. So... heads up! I'll be picking it up later in the week probably once I finish my other book.
Geofferson
11-30-05, 09:55 AM
My copy should be arriving any day. :up:
nemein
11-30-05, 10:06 AM
Is he still a very formulaic writer? I used to love his books until I could no longer really tell/remember one from the other. I think I read everything up to Mr. Murder so I guess I've missed a lot in the mean time. Is it worth going back and reintroducing myself.
Geofferson
11-30-05, 09:22 PM
I would say it is worth a reintroduction. He has written some great books the past few years (surprised me actually).
3 of his newer books that I enjoyed:
Life Expectancy
Velocity
The Face
djmont
12-03-05, 04:28 PM
Formulaic is probably the last term I would use to describe Koontz's work. I could identify certain themes that he uses in his work, but his plots are varied enough to make them fresh from book to book.
Maybe some of the earlier stuff was formulaic (I haven't read his older stuff, so I can't comment), but his books in recent years have been wonderful. The quality of his storytelling surpasses anyone else currently writing that I can think of. He really is that good.
For anyone looking to read Forever Odd, I would definitely recommend you read Odd Thomas first. You'll appreciate it a lot more if you do.
innocentfreak
12-03-05, 05:25 PM
Yeah I stumbled across it in Sam's Club today and picked it up. I need a good read.
movielib
12-03-05, 10:16 PM
Formulaic is probably the last term I would use to describe Koontz's work. I could identify certain themes that he uses in his work, but his plots are varied enough to make them fresh from book to book.
Good call, I agree. And he doesn't have a dog in every book any more. ;)
Although he's pigeonholed as a horror writer, very few of his books are really horror. He's done many genres and handled them all well.
I thought Odd Thomas was good but Life Expectancy was his best book in almost a decade (since Dark Rivers of the Heart, my all-time Koontz favorite). Looking forward to Forever Odd.
Eric D.
12-04-05, 01:08 AM
Picked this up today. I loved Odd Thomas so I can't wait to read this one. I'll have to wait until finals are over to read it though. Way too many deadlines.
abrg923
12-04-05, 03:38 AM
I REALLY wish Koontz would do more of the Christopher Snow novels.
djmont
12-04-05, 10:56 AM
He's currently writing the 3rd Christopher Snow book (to be titled Ride The Storm), but last I heard he didn't know when it would be finished. (There will also be a third Odd Thomas book.)
His next book, though, will be a Velocity-like thriller called The Husband.
Ms. M
12-05-05, 12:14 PM
Koontz is an odd case as writers go. Usually, an author's best work is in his early years and then he declines. But I find Koontz's early work to be relatively rough and more formulaic, while his most recent work has been full of creativity.
On another subject, while he has had little success with movies, he might want to consider making a TV series out of the Christopher Snow and Odd Thomas series, as they seem well-suited for the medium. Although he failed to get his Frankenstein series on the air, so that might put him off TV!
movielib
12-06-05, 12:51 AM
Koontz is an odd case as writers go. Usually, an author's best work is in his early years and then he declines. But I find Koontz's early work to be relatively rough and more formulaic, while his most recent work has been full of creativity.
On another subject, while he has had little success with movies, he might want to consider making a TV series out of the Christopher Snow and Odd Thomas series, as they seem well-suited for the medium. Although he failed to get his Frankenstein series on the air, so that might put him off TV!
Intensity, Mr. Murder and Sole Survivor have been made into TV miniseries.
Ms. M
12-06-05, 06:29 AM
I did mean more ongoing TV series, but now that I think about it, Frankenstein probably was meant as a miniseries. And an Odd Thomas ongoing series would probably be judged too close in premise to Medium and The Ghost Whisperer to go on the air anytime soon.
schmedy
12-06-05, 07:31 PM
I REALLY wish Koontz would do more of the Christopher Snow novels.
I agree, have read all his stuff and Christopher Snow is bay far my favorite of his characters. I got the Odd Thomas and plan to read it while I am on vacation this week, its a little thin though I have to say. I was pissed earlier this year he put the first two of the Frankenstein's out fast then a year till #3, that sucks.
Geofferson
12-07-05, 02:09 PM
His next book, though, will be a Velocity-like thriller called The Husband.
It will be released 5/30/2006.
I was pissed earlier this year he put the first two of the Frankenstein's out fast then a year till #3, that sucks.
Well, the good news is that the third installment will not be co-authored.
ShallowHal
12-14-05, 02:12 AM
Is he still a very formulaic writer? I used to love his books until I could no longer really tell/remember one from the other.
I agree. The Bad Place, Servants of Twilight, Strangers, Trapped, and The Face of Fear were great. Shattered was pretty good, too. Ticktock and Dragon Tears were too different from his normal style for me to enjoy.
SuckaMC
12-26-05, 02:08 AM
Life Expectancy is probably one of my top 5 fave books now. I loved it. Does anyone know why the Koontz TV miniseries haven't ever been release on home video? I really wanted to see Sole Survivor because I liked the book alot, but it never even re-aired. It was like a one time deal... so sad :(
n0fear88
12-26-05, 05:39 PM
I've seen the TV mini series of Intensity, that was very good :D
I've read: Intensity and Strangers, and am currently reading False Memory.
For my bday and xmas gifts i got: The Taking, Velocity, Dragon Tears, and Frankenstein Book 2 (apparently she couldnt find Book 1.... so ill have to get that myself in the new year)
I was in my local Waterstones last Weds, went straight to the horror/thriller section to look at some other Koontz books.... the Odd Thomas one sounds good! So might have to get that, as well as the Forever Odd ^___^
Might as well get Life Expectancy whilst I'm at it eh!? heheh
G x
n0fear88
12-26-05, 05:45 PM
I've seen the TV mini series of Intensity, that was very good :D
I've read: Intensity and Strangers, and am currently reading False Memory.
For my bday and xmas gifts i got: The Taking, Velocity, Dragon Tears, and Frankenstein Book 2 (apparently she couldnt find Book 1.... so ill have to get that myself in the new year)
I was in my local Waterstones last Weds, went straight to the horror/thriller section to look at some other Koontz books.... the Odd Thomas one sounds good! So might have to get that, as well as the Forever Odd ^___^
Might as well get Life Expectancy whilst I'm at it eh!? heheh
G x
Geofferson
05-30-06, 10:52 AM
Read a blurb on Koontz' site that the third Odd installment will be coming Fall 06 titled Brother Odd.
kneijst1
05-30-06, 04:30 PM
Nice! Although I didn't find Forever Odd as good as Odd Thomas, it was still enjoyable and I'll be sure to pick up Brother Odd. Thanks for the heads up!
Geofferson
06-02-06, 09:52 AM
Dean Koontz is Bill Maher's guest on Amazon's Fishbowl video series right now. I've never heard him interviewed before (the guy writes 10 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Check it out. :)
Russ Rubman
06-05-06, 02:42 PM
I hate to disagree with everybody here but I was bored to death by Odd Thomas. I thought the idea was solid and the character was interesting enough but the story was written at a teenage reading level.
I loved INTENSITY, VELOCITY, DARK RIVERS and LIFE EXPECTANCY. All were pageturners IMHO.
Russ
Fok
06-14-06, 11:23 PM
Read Life Expectancy and loved it. Then I read The Taking and Light by the Moon. That ruined it for me, not quite sure if I should give his other books a chance :(
Tom Banjo
06-15-06, 05:32 AM
Read Life Expectancy and loved it. Then I read The Taking and Light by the Moon. That ruined it for me, not quite sure if I should give his other books a chance :(
Koontz is VERY hit or miss. You read a great book followed by 2 mediocre books. If you decided to give him another chance, here's my 3 favorites:
Lightning
Watchers
Strangers
therecanbeonlyone
06-15-06, 05:45 AM
I have just finished reading Fear Nothing which I enjoyed, is there a way of finding out which books have the same characters and which order they should be read?
movielib
06-15-06, 09:10 AM
Koontz is VERY hit or miss. You read a great book followed by 2 mediocre books. If you decided to give him another chance, here's my 3 favorites:
Lightning
Watchers
Strangers
I would add:
Midnight
Dark Rivers of the Heart
Dragon Tears
Phantoms
Mr. Murder
The Bad Place
I thought Life Expectancy was his best book in nearly a decade.
djmont
06-15-06, 01:32 PM
I have just finished reading Fear Nothing which I enjoyed, is there a way of finding out which books have the same characters and which order they should be read?
There are currently 2 books in the Christopher Snow series: Fear Nothing and Seize the Night. Dean is working on the third, so we should see it one of these days.
Dan1boy
06-15-06, 02:47 PM
I'm reading VELOCITY right now...wheeee, what a ride so far !!
therecanbeonlyone
06-19-06, 04:42 AM
There are currently 2 books in the Christopher Snow series: Fear Nothing and Seize the Night. Dean is working on the third, so we should see it one of these days.
Thanks, I'll read Seize the Night next.
Geofferson
06-19-06, 05:47 PM
For those interested, Dean Koontz has an 8 episode podcast available to subscribe to.
Episode 1: On Working with Editors
Available here: http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/koontz/podcast/index.html
Geofferson
11-29-06, 01:36 PM
Brother Odd hit the shelves yesterday.
Anyone pick it up?
n0fear88
11-29-06, 04:28 PM
There's a 3rd book in the Odd series?!?!.. I've only just started reading Forever Odd hehehe :D, but ill put it on my list to get Brother Odd ^______^, when it comes out over here that is o___O
G x
djmont
11-29-06, 06:38 PM
I read <I>Brother Odd</I> a while back. It's good. The sequels can't touch the first one, but this one is at least as good as the second one, which I also enjoyed.
Cusm
11-29-06, 07:45 PM
I have to pick it up at the library this week, can not wait.
Cusm
12-11-06, 12:18 PM
Just poured through this in 2 days. Good read, not as good as the first 2, but I really enjoyed it.
schmedy
01-27-07, 03:39 PM
I just finished this, not as good as the first, but then again you had to learn all about Odd and the other people, now we know him and it is more about the story. I sorta had this one figured out but there were a few twists and it was overall very good, and I look forward to Christopher Snow coming back. Now I just opened the latest Iris Johansen book about Eve Duncan.
There's also a graphic novel coming out later this year.
jack999
02-29-08, 06:31 PM
I've read some Koontz that I really loved (Watchers, Lightning) that I really loved than read some really bad stuff (quite a long time ago, don't remember the titles), so I stopped reading him. Guess I'll have to try one of the recommendations here.
Are the Frankenstein books any good?
Geofferson
03-01-08, 11:52 AM
I enjoyed the Frankenstein books. I believe the third installment is due out sometime this year (as well as a comic book in May).
Buy: