Dean Koontz - Good and Bad?

[Ratna]

I read Hideaway, Whispers & False Memory which were all quite good. I don't really enjoy reading thrillers/horror nowadays, but I used to love nothing else 10 years ago.

[Mia]

I read all of Koontz's work, but I could not stand The Taking. I would not recommend it to anyone (except perhaps someone I really disliked).

 

I was pleasantly surprised by his Frankenstein books - has anyone else read these? I avoided them for a long time as I am not a fan of anything to do with Frankenstein, but I really enjoyed these. (I would say they are only loosely related to a Frankenstein plot.)

[Michelle]

Yes, I liked those ones. I read the first two, then lost track.. is the 3rd out?

[Mia]

I don't know if the third is out yet or not... I'll pop over to Amazon later and have a look.

 

One quick trip to Amazon later...

 

Book 3 is called Dead and Alive and it's not out until 6 May 2008!

[Michelle]

wow - that is a big gap!

[Ruth]

I like Dean Koontz's later books - Life Expectancy, The Taking, The Face....all brilliant. However, I read an earlier one of his called The Eyes Of Darkness, and I really didn't think it was that good.

[Guest]

Bit of threadomancy going on here; hope that's okay.

 

I much prefer Dean Koontz's earlier books - the first one I recall reading was Lightning. Absolutely loved it. And Dragon Tears was the next, I think. However, stylistically, I believe DT was where it all started going 'wrong'. His novels these days read like a treatise of "Look how many big words I know". I get the feeling sometimes he's trying to make the reader think, "Wow, look at all the pretty words," to the detriment of any story.

 

I know his Odd Thomas series has been praised to the skies and while I found it to be oh-kay, as I said, I much prefer Lightning and other earlier books.

 

However, as I was born contrary, I like The Taking, despite it being one of his less popular books. I don't jump on his books as soon as they appear in hardback now; I'll get them out of the library and if I don't find them available, I'll buy them in paperback. From the supermarket, where they're cheaper. I have The Face, Velocity and The Good Guy on Mount TBR at the moment and I think he has a new pb due out soon.

 

I loved, loved, loved his books as a teenager and in my 20s and only feel regret that I've lost that Koontzlust when he publishes a new novel.

 

I blame the hair-weave. He's the anti-Samson. He's lost his powers now he has more hair.

[Kell]

Lightning remains my favourite Koontz to date. I haven't enjoyed his more recent ones nearly so much as the ones that were released further back.

[Owen]

The Face is a really good book, a very entertaining read.

[~Andrea~]

Ooh I have that on my bookshelf (along with two others of his) Maybe I will read that one first.

 

E.T.A.

In fact I have these three:

 

Shadowfire

Dark Rivers of the Heart

The Face

 

Does anybody have any recommendation as to which I should read first?

[Guest]

I got The Darkest Evening of the Year out of the library this week and I keep wanting to call it The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul.

[Mia]

FishandChips - Dark Rivers of the Heart is easily my favourite out of those three. A very tense and compelling read.

[~Andrea~]

Thanks Mia

 

I am really looking forward to reading these now!!

[roddglenn]

My favourites are Phantoms, Twilight Eyes and Mr Murder. I have enjoyed most of his books, but some are certainly better than others and generally I have preferred his earlier books (writing with the 'R') than his later ones.

[Gamgee]

Watchers was the first book of his I read, and still the one I remember most vividly and fondest. Off the back of reading that I ploughed through 20 odd (excuse the pun - not actually read any of the Odd Thomas ones) of his novels up to the late 1990s (Seize the Night, being the last I think), but seem to have lost touch with him since then. Have always enjoyed what he wrote and found him an incredibly easy read - but having just flicked through the past titles I've read I'm pushed to remember what actually happened in almost half of them.

[Mia]

I think Koontz changed his writing themes dramatically some years ago. His earlier novels tended to feature conspiracy theory type plots and evil government organisations up to all sorts (usually involving recombinant DNA). Then he seemed to stop writing these and move towards a slightly more spiritual theme, with less supernatural stuff or paranoia.

 

I liked his earlier books a lot, but I also like his more recent stuff and still buy everything he writes. But I think his earlier work is the stuff I prefer.

[Colin Jacobs]

I found some of his novels samey I am not a great fan of his chase novels so have given him a rest. Watchers was my first of his which I really enjoyed

[Ruth]

I loved The Face (it was the first book of his I had read). I also really liked Life Expectancy. The Taking was pretty good, but The Eyes of Darkness was dire. Generally I think his earlier stuff was not so good as the stuff he is doing now.

[Loopyloo100]

I remember really enjoying Midnight and this got me back into reading again a long time ago, but I really did not enjoy The Taking - I found it a bit dull. I have read many of his books, but ask me what they're about and I couldn't remember!

[Sedge]

I've only read Midnight and thought it was fantastic. For some reason I've never followed up on any of his other work. Is Midnight typical of his novels?

Edited August 3, 2008 by Sedge
Poor typing!

[Loopyloo100]

I've only read Midnight and thought it was fantastic. For some reason I've never followed up on any of his other work. Is Midnight typical of his novels?

 

I read Midnight over 20 years ago and I can't even remember the storyline, however - it's stuck with me as a really good read and I then followed it up with: The Key to Midnight - which is the follow on book ( Ignore this I am talking rubbish!) - I enjoyed that one too! I would say that most of his earlier books I enjoyed, but I couldn't say if Midnight was typical as my memory isn't up to it I'm afraid!

Edited August 3, 2008 by Loopyloo100
( Ignore this I am talking rubbish!)

[Sedge]

I read Midnight over 20 years ago and I can't even remember the storyline, however - it's stuck with me as a really good read and I then followed it up with: The Key to Midnight - which is the follow on book - I enjoyed that one too! I would say that most of his earlier books I enjoyed, but I couldn't say if Midnight was typical as my memory isn't up to it I'm afraid!

 

 

Thanks Loopyloo. I didn't know there was a sequel - it'll be added to my shelves soon!

[Loopyloo100]

Actually ignore my previous - My memory is playing tricks and The Key to Midnight is not the follow on at all! Sorry my memory is a pain!!!

Edited August 3, 2008 by Loopyloo100

[Witt]

The Bad Place - The first ever book I read by Koontz, I was really young and had not ever read anything like it I guess it stays with me.

[Mia]

I've just finished The Darkest Evening of the Year and wasn't that impressed. He seems to be suffering from Stephen-King-itis - ie his earlier stuff was great and his latest stuff is comparatively poor.

 

At the moment, he seems to be fixated on God and the divine loveliness of dogs, particularly golden retrievers(!). He needs to pull his socks up, methinks.