Dean Koontz [Archive] - Horror.com Forums

avenger00soul

10-27-2003, 06:16 AM

I've only read one book by Koontz. It was Watchers. I really liked it and would enjoy looking at more of his stuff. The problem is he's written so damn many I don't know where to start. What are his best novels?

dmihatmttl

10-27-2003, 06:58 AM

Dude, you *must* check out LIGHTNING! It's fantastic. My favorite Koontz novel, hands down, as well as one of my favorite novels of all time.

Others worth checking out: WHISPERS, STRANGERS, MIDNIGHT, PHANTOMS, TWILIGHT EYES, and SERVANTS OF TWILIGHT.

Man, I miss the old Koontz. These days I can't get through 50 pages of his books. He's become self-parody, almost. But back in the day . . . amazing.

J.N.
http:///members.tripod.com/~NEWMANATOR/index.html

avenger00soul

10-27-2003, 07:11 AM

I kinda knew you'd give me the heads up on what to check out. We seem to have very similar tastes so I will definitely check out Lightning. I almost bought Phantoms over the weekend too. Thanks, dmihatmttl

dmihatmttl

10-27-2003, 08:21 AM

Heehee . . . cool, man. Glad to be of service. I almost didn't post, 'cause I didn't want you to think I'm a know-it-all or something. :)

Very cool. Check 'em out!

J.N.
http://members.tripod.com/~NEWMANATOR/index.html

avenger00soul

10-27-2003, 08:23 AM

Originally posted by dmihatmttl
Heehee . . . cool, man. Glad to be of service. I almost didn't post, 'cause I didn't want you to think I'm a know-it-all or something. :)

Very cool. Check 'em out!

J.N.
http://members.tripod.com/~NEWMANATOR/index.html

No, I'm glad you posted. You like McCammon and that's very cool to me. I respect your opinion. So if there is any books you think I should check out, let me know. I'll be busy for a bit with the Dark Tower stuff but after that the possibilities are endless I suppose.

dmihatmttl

10-27-2003, 08:26 AM

Funny you should ask, bro.

Check out Bentley Little. I promise you will NOT be disappointed. Imagine Stephen King without a conscience -- that's a good way to describe Bentley Little's writing. ;)

Check out UNIVERSITY, THE STORE, THE MAILMAN, THE ASSOCIATION, and his collection THE COLLECTION.

I promise you will *not* be disappointed.

J.N.
http://members.tripod.com/~NEWMANATOR/index.html

avenger00soul

10-27-2003, 08:29 AM

Originally posted by dmihatmttl
Funny you should ask, bro.

Check out Bentley Little. I promise you will NOT be disappointed. Imagine Stephen King without a conscience -- that's a good way to describe Bentley Little's writing. ;)

Check out UNIVERSITY, THE STORE, THE MAILMAN, THE ASSOCIATION, and his collection THE COLLECTION.

I promise you will *not* be disappointed.

J.N.
http://members.tripod.com/~NEWMANATOR/index.html

I've seen his novels plenty of times. King w/o a conscience...sounds great. I'll give Little and Lansdale and old Koontz a go then.

mudsliptones

11-14-2003, 09:46 AM

Originally posted by dmihatmttl
Dude, you *must* check out LIGHTNING! It's fantastic. My favorite Koontz novel, hands down, as well as one of my favorite novels of all time.

Others worth checking out: WHISPERS, STRANGERS, MIDNIGHT, PHANTOMS, TWILIGHT EYES, and SERVANTS OF TWILIGHT.

Man, I miss the old Koontz. These days I can't get through 50 pages of his books. He's become self-parody, almost. But back in the day . . . amazing.

J.N.
http:///members.tripod.com/~NEWMANATOR/index.html

oooh phantoms, much much better then the movie, aww yeah, that book rules

avenger00soul

11-14-2003, 10:06 AM

Originally posted by mudsliptones
oooh phantoms, much much better then the movie, aww yeah, that book rules

Affleck was da'bomb in Phantoms yo!

Sorry, someone had to do it.

dmihatmttl

11-15-2003, 10:00 AM

LOL!

JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, right?

J.N.
http://members.tripod.com/~NEWMANATOR/index.html

avenger00soul

11-15-2003, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by dmihatmttl
LOL!

JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, right?

J.N.
http://members.tripod.com/~NEWMANATOR/index.html

That would be the one. "Phantoms like a muhfucker."

FangoFan

11-17-2003, 03:33 PM

Strangers was my personal favorate

evil_deadman

03-22-2004, 01:10 PM

i agree on both McCammon.. and Bently Little.. and I have"Stinger","Mine","Blue World",and..well. used to have "They Thirst"..still a mystery what happened to it..lol:confused: and Bently Little is awesome.got only"The Collection", and "Revelations" so far..but..plan to get more..Especially "The House"... As for Koontz..i have many of his books.but..His collection "Strange Highways"as well as "Midnight","Twilight Eyes",Darkfall",and "Winter Moon".. are some of my favorites.

heapodd

03-24-2004, 10:01 AM

I like 'Midnight'. His back list is quite intimidating but worth ploughing through. Some of the books are inevitably quite similar to others and a couple of them are quite frankly rubbish.
Generally I have enjoyed his stuff very much - but you do start seeing patterns if you read enough of them - eg the ubiquitous dog (usually a yellow lab).

evil_deadman

10-13-2004, 07:52 AM

hmmm..ya definatively got a point there..especially about the recurring dog content in his books..and yes,usually a lab or golden retriever or some similar breed,as well as other similarities in his stories,but i suppose some of it is plain fiction Koontz-style, while the dogs and other themes constantly appearing in his stories ,can be be a little too repetitive.However..to sum it up,I still enjoy Koontz's fiction.

Dark_Hero

10-15-2004, 04:42 PM

Ive only read 2, ad loved the both. Neither have been mebtioned here

Night Chills
Cold Fire

Im in the process of reading Winter Moon and Strange Higways....But since I picked up The Shining, theyve been on the back burner;)

theshadow

10-15-2004, 07:03 PM

i have read most of his books. there was only one i didn't like. something with moon in the title? just wasn't believable.

evil_deadman

10-16-2004, 11:09 AM

you must be speaking of Winter Moon..which i think was ok..my favorites by Koontz are Twighlight eyes,Midnight,Watchers,Darkfall,Strange Highways,and the Funhouse..recently got Cold Fire..and havent read it ..Yet!!!!

theshadow

10-17-2004, 03:18 PM

yes winter moon. i just don't get into the alien stuff. I liked voices in the night and watchers best

horrifying

10-31-2004, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by theshadow
i have read most of his books. there was only one i didn't like. something with moon in the title? just wasn't believable.

that would probably be winter moon probably

my favs
voice of the night
intensity
there are more but i can't think of any other ones i've read almost all of his books
avoid icebound at all cost

theshadow

11-01-2004, 12:57 PM

why? what's it about...I mean besides the obvious.

horrifying

11-01-2004, 02:04 PM

its really bad trust me. i forget what it is exactly about

horrifying

11-03-2004, 03:17 PM

some helpful links to those of you who haven't read that much of koontz
http://home.earthlink.net/~abdk-faq/faq.htm#books

synopsis (http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/glenda/koontz/books.htm)

this is probably the most interesting link for me
commentary (http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/lmc/kotker/default.htm)

ButterflyKate09

11-12-2004, 04:29 PM

Is Koontz's book
"From the corner of his eye "
any good

ButterflyKate09

11-13-2004, 11:39 AM

what about the strangers also they were both given to me and i want to know if either are wotrh the read...?

nine9

11-13-2004, 12:39 PM

I like Dean Koonz's ideas but I don't think he is a particularily good writer......I think SK is much better. IMO.....

I read some Harlen Ellison along time ago..was told if I liked SK I would really like his stuff. It was excellent, but I can't find his books anymore.

urgeok

11-13-2004, 01:40 PM

Originally posted by nine9
I like Dean Koonz's ideas but I don't think he is a particularily good writer......I think SK is much better. IMO.....

I read some Harlen Ellison along time ago..was told if I liked SK I would really like his stuff. It was excellent, but I can't find his books anymore.

Ellison is fantastic .. blows King and Koonts away.
More of a short story writer though .. and more 'alternative fiction' than horror.

Koontz wrote some decent sci-fi ages ago .. which is why i dont mind the newer stuff he wrote with a sci-fi bent ..

But as far as his other books go .. they're the same as most of the big seller horror author - full of tired cliches and poorly drawn characters. Light bathroom reading ...

MichaelMyers

11-13-2004, 05:23 PM

I liked Lightning. Otherwise I'm a King man.

theshadow

11-13-2004, 06:13 PM

i like both authors. i've been reading stephen king since i was 16. Koontz is more of a suspense writer with an intellectual edge. king writes horror with better character studies.

jedicow

11-13-2004, 06:34 PM

Originally posted by ButterflyKate09
Is Koontz's book
"From the corner of his eye "
any good

i read it and while the "meat" of the story is very well written and very good, IMO, the ending kinda left me flat. but i would still reccomend it, just be prepared for a "blah" ending.

other koontz books which i enjoyed are "watchers" (the best IMO), "phantoms", "intensity" (HIGHLY recommended), "servants of twilight" and "the face of fear".

Lirael

11-30-2004, 04:39 AM

The vision, Tick Tock, Phantoms And Intensity are my personal favorites. But Phantoms has be suggested a lot it is a good book to start and was much much better the movie. But was better then hideway. Alicia Sliverstone? What were they thinking!

theshadow

11-30-2004, 06:28 PM

if you go real slow mo in that movie...you can see all the little tricks they did. like a rubber knife and the dummies in the car when it rolls.:o

Lirael

12-07-2004, 04:43 AM

Well Don't get me started on "Watchers". Heck they didn't even try to follow the story on that one.:(

theshadow

12-08-2004, 06:24 PM

and that book was so good.

Lirael

12-17-2004, 02:53 AM

Yes it was. And the fact that they made 2 sequels to that movie. Sad. It's no wonder Koontz won't let hollywood do anymore of his movies.

Vodstok

12-23-2004, 06:22 AM

My wife noticed that in every one of Koontz's books that she read, there was always a young girl character that is threatened with rape at some point (midnight, darkfall, lightning, phantoms, and one more that escapes me)

evil_deadman

12-23-2004, 09:28 AM

In "Twighlight Eyes"..the "goblin".. is about to rape (and torture..murder..mutilate..etc..)a woman til Slim and Rya intervene.

theshadow

12-23-2004, 04:25 PM

yes and most take place in ca, his home state. most also have golden retrievers. funny but you can tell me a book title and i won't be able to discern it from any of his other books.

horrifying

12-28-2004, 07:27 AM

Originally posted by Vodstok
My wife noticed that in every one of Koontz's books that she read, there was always a young girl character that is threatened with rape at some point (midnight, darkfall, lightning, phantoms, and one more that escapes me)

voice of the night has a rape scence in it

theshadow

01-12-2005, 06:45 PM

i'm currently reading odd thomas and am really liking it.

the meat wagon

02-08-2005, 10:37 AM

I need some help. A while ago i saw a book written by him but i can only remember the cover... its about some ambulance that got offroad, i know this isnt helping a lot but there might be some fans who know?

The_Return

02-11-2005, 08:38 AM

Im about half way through Watchers....amazing book!

theshadow

02-11-2005, 06:49 PM

watchers had to be my favorite

lee challenger

02-17-2005, 05:05 AM

In reply to your question, Dean Koontz's From The Corner Of His Eye is one of his best novels. It differs from his typical type of story. Also if you haven't already check out Intensity.

horrifying

05-09-2005, 11:44 AM

i liked his more recent novels like the taking and odd thomas.

tom-tom

05-20-2005, 01:33 AM

Anybody read Odd Thomas or Life expectancy?
Decent books but Deans old books are the best.

theshadow

05-20-2005, 10:10 AM

i did love odd thomas

jenna26

05-21-2005, 09:08 PM

Originally posted by theshadow
i did love odd thomas

I did like Odd Thomas but I wasn't as impressed as I was told I was going to be.

Life Expectancy was interesting; there was a little more humor than I used to in Koontz's books and love that circus people were the villians....(see? Clowns really are evil!)

But Dark Rivers of the Heart and Intensity are my favorites. Strangers and Lightening are both good as well.

theshadow

05-23-2005, 06:35 PM

i've read so many..i can't remember which is which anymore..there are few i don't like..just not into alien stuff.

tom-tom

06-14-2005, 01:41 AM

Did any of you realize that Stormy was actully dead in the final chapter of Odd Thomas? I must confess that I didn't even though the first chapter hints subtly towards her demise when he talks about his life being so empty - without Stormy

Nymphetamine

06-20-2005, 03:39 PM

I liked Tick Tock, Shadowfires, The door to december, Twilight eyes and another one that made me glad I wasn't super smart. Something to do with a "special school" where the man who ran it was taking the childrens brains and making them run a computer. Something like that, or maybe that wasn't him?

Cryptkeeper

06-23-2005, 11:35 PM

Try Night Chills, that one is my favorite. Hmm, I may have to re-read it! I keep all my books and the ones I like, I will read again in a couple of years because I kind of forget parts of the story, so it's almsot like it's new again. I also liked Odd Thomas, the ending really suprised me. I have recently seen that he has a new book coming out called Forever Odd. I cannot seem to find anything else about it except it's to be released in November 2005. I was just wondering if it is a sequel to Odd Thomas?

He is also coming out with a new book on July 26 called Frankenstein. I'm hoping this will be like the old days.