Dean Koontz?

[Abob Teff]

Originally Posted by Dick

...but, as was pointed out earlier in this thread, the author has a tendency (which I've seen in a number of his books) to resolve his stories poorly. He seems to have had no idea what the ending might be when he began writing, and no better idea as he nears the climax, and so drums up some very lame plot developments to "explain" the events of his story. Suspension of disbelief goes out the window. If he developed more skill with the final chapters of his novels, he'd be a formidable foe for Mr. King.

Well, this is a more polite way of putting it than I have . . . I discovered Koontz early on with Twilight and the Watchers ("Phantoms was the bomb, yo!" -- had to throw that in). After that, the stuff I picked up got a little weirder and a little weirder, until I became convinced that Koontz was on crack and looked to the pipe for inspiration when he got stuck.

SPOLIER WARNING (Dark Rivers of the Heart):I developed this theory: "When the conflict comes to a boil, what is the strangest, most outlandish thing you can think of?" Years ago I worked a data entry job and we listened to a LOT of books on tape. My cubicle neighbor gave me "Dark Rivers of the Heart" to listen to. At one point I hit "stop" on my player and leaned over to her and said "Alien death ray from Mars." I explained my theory to her and then hit play. Lo and behold, the hero and heroine are trapped by the bad guys . . . the heroine gets on her laptop and reconfigures a satellite in space and fires a laser . . . do I really have to continue? The characters were great, the story was pretty interesting, but once again, the lady of the boiling spoon called again.

And am I the ONLY person who hated Intensity!? Come on, I started rooting for the bad guy (which, BTW, John C McGinley was the best part)!

I keep saying I need to go back and give Dean-o another chance . . .

[djmont]

Koontz's last several books now have been rather un-weird, so you might enjoy them more than some of the earlier ones. On the other hand, of course, the relative straight-forward nature of most of his recent books have turned off other fans. So there's no pleasing everyone.

It's funny that the above quoted post says Koontz would be a rival of King's if he wrote better endings -- isn't there another active thread in this forum where people complain that King writes lousy endings? (The thread for Lisey's Story, I believe.)

[Geofferson]

If anyone is interested, Dean Koontz' Frankenstein has been issued in comic book form (similar to Stephen King's Dark Tower series). Two issues published thus far (three more to follow):

[mhg83]

Originally Posted by Geofferson

If anyone is interested, Dean Koontz' [i]Frankenstein[i] has been issued in comic book form (similar to Stephen King's Dark Tower series). Two issues published thus far (three more to follow):

All i want is book three in the Frankenstein trilogy. Is that too much to ask Dean!

[Geofferson]

Originally Posted by mhg83

All i want is book three in the Frankenstein trilogy. Is that too much to ask Dean!

Same -- I believe the new pub date is 12/08.

[djmont]

The book is done, but Bantam won't be publishing it until next year.

[celmendo]

Another vote for The Strangers. I've read many of his books and enjoyed a lot of them but that's the only one that's stuck with me.

[cracksky]

Strangers
Watchers
Shadowfires (Leigh Nichols)
Invasion (Aaron Wolfe) (haven't read the expanded Winter Moon)
Whispers
Darkfall
Twilight Eyes

Rad all these in the '80's and loved 'em. Haven't read any new stuff. No time.

[Abob Teff]

I haven't picked up the latest Odd Thomas book yet ... but does anybody else feel that each one is a little worse than the one before it ... the first one was great, the next one OK, the 3rd one -- meh.

[movielib]

Originally Posted by Abob Teff

I haven't picked up the latest Odd Thomas book yet ... but does anybody else feel that each one is a little worse than the one before it ... the first one was great, the next one OK, the 3rd one -- meh.

I think the last one is better than the second or third. But I'm not as enamored with the character as Koontz seems to be.

[djmont]

I loved #1, liked #2 & #3, didn't care at all for #4. So yeah, I'm ready to move on.

[SuckaMC]

I wish he would revisit Christopher Snow and all that Mystery Train business...that was intriguing. (those were the Fear Nothing and Seize the Night books, btw)

[Darth Maher]

I own From the Corner of His Eye and False Memory.

I got about halfway through FTCOHE, but couldn't finish it. I thought i just didn't like Koontz's writing style. Never even started False Memory.

But since a lot of people have expressed a dislike with FTCOHE, but liked his other stuff, maybe I'll give False Memory a try.

[Rival11]

Do yourself a favor and run out to get Twilight Eyes - some VERY creative writing there.

[db27]

I just read Odd Thomas, my first ever Koontz book and loved it. The reviews for the rest of the series are just ok, I wonder if I should bother...

[benedict]

Just read this explanation on an Amazon page somewhere:

I recently read an interview with Koontz where he explained that the release date is currently up in the air for a number of reasons.

First, Hurricane Katrina created problems with the storyline, which is set in New Orleans. Koontz decided that he would have to take the after effects of Katrina into consideration, thus, had to scrap most of what had already been written.

Second, after going back and reviewing the story, Koontz decided that it would be best of he simply wrote it himself, rather than work with a collaborator. He seems to feel more comfortable this way. As such, he needed to go back and finish Brother Odd first, and was then planning on tackling the third Frankenstein installment.

Sounds like he may have been consorting too much with a certain Mr Ellison

See also:

This has to be the question you get most often. Frankenstein three, where is it?

"The third Frankenstein book, Dead and Alive, will be ready for publication in 2009. Thanks for your patience. Now put down those torches and pitchforks."
Best regards,
Dean Koontz

[DeputyDave]

Originally Posted by db27

I just read Odd Thomas, my first ever Koontz book and loved it. The reviews for the rest of the series are just ok, I wonder if I should bother...

I'm a Koontz fan. He seems to be that old reliable standby that never challenges and never really disappoints. His books to me are like pizza.

That said, I really enjoyed Brother Odd. I would put it as number 3 or 4 or my favorites by Koontz (definitely in the top 5 behind Watchers, Lightning, and maybe 1 or 2 I've forgotten). Unfortunately the books seemed to go downhill from there with each one being less enjoyable. The last I just finished three weeks ago was a bit of a chore.

I do recommend reading them if you're looking for something safe and familiar to read. Especially if, like me, you get them from the library for free.

[Geofferson]

I definitely make sure to pepper a Koontz novel into my reading cycle every other month or so -- most recently I've been including his Berkley re-releases -- just love those afterwards included.

[db27]

Originally Posted by DeputyDave

I'm a Koontz fan. He seems to be that old reliable standby that never challenges and never really disappoints. His books to me are like pizza.

That said, I really enjoyed Brother Odd. I would put it as number 3 or 4 or my favorites by Koontz (definitely in the top 5 behind Watchers, Lightning, and maybe 1 or 2 I've forgotten). Unfortunately the books seemed to go downhill from there with each one being less enjoyable. The last I just finished three weeks ago was a bit of a chore.

I do recommend reading them if you're looking for something safe and familiar to read. Especially if, like me, you get them from the library for free.

Well, I picked up book number two (Forever Odd) and flew through it on a lazy day. I have not once in my life read a book in a day, I'm certainly not much of a reader but I'm really enjoying it. I stopped by B&N today and picked up Brother Odd which I'll start this evening on the way to see the White Sox woop on the Yankees

[jack999]

I've just started Frankenstein: Prodigal Son and it's too early to comment on it. I do have a question: how do you pronounce Deucalion, the name of a featured character in the book.

Every time I read the name, I am unable to come up with a satisfying pronunciation for the name.

[flair]

I really started liking him again with the first Odd Thomas. I read the next two and just was waiting for it to get good, which never seemed to quite happen. I got about 50 pages into the new one and haven't picked it up since. I really liked Watchers as a kid but I read that one again a year or so ago and it was just OK. I should probably check out some of his earlier work some time...

[benedict]

Originally Posted by jack999

[....] how do you pronounce Deucalion, the name of a featured character in the book. Every time I read the name, I am unable to come up with a satisfying pronunciation for the name.

Out of nowhere I would suggest Juice or Duke Alien. However, given that it is plucked from Greek mythology....

due-kay'-lee-uhn or dū-kā'lē-ən

ə = schwa (can't "force" screen to display the upside down "e", unfortunately!)

[jack999]

Originally Posted by benedict

Out of nowhere I would suggest Juice or Duke Alien. However, given that it is plucked from Greek mythology....

due-kay'-lee-uhn or dū-kā'lē-ən

ə = schwa (can't "force" screen to display the upside down "e", unfortunately!)

That's the one pronunciation I didn't try, but it works for me. Thanks.

[scarface983]

i like dean koontz, ive read most of his books

[djmont]

For those interested in the Frankenstein trilogy, the 3rd book just landed on my doorstep -- so it really exists!

It'll be in stores on the 28th.