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billymac1962's review
4.0
I got this as a gift and wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. This guy pumps out novels like King and I tend to avoid churners so what a pleasant surprise this novel was.
This has great characterization, and a (dare I say for Koontz) realistic story of how much control the government could have over our lives, using electronic surveillance from telephones to bank machines, Internet, etc. This is information paranoia at its best.
Actually, there's very little horror here. Just frightening in a paranoid kinda way...you know?
This has great characterization, and a (dare I say for Koontz) realistic story of how much control the government could have over our lives, using electronic surveillance from telephones to bank machines, Internet, etc. This is information paranoia at its best.
Actually, there's very little horror here. Just frightening in a paranoid kinda way...you know?
kathythelibraryteacher's review
5.0
I had forgotten how much I enjoy Koontz! A mentally tortured man, a mysterious woman, a shadowy arm of the government, a faithful dog, not one but two serial killers and a dang good story. I found this tale to be thought provoking and honestly terrifying in that it could be true.
ofearna's review against another edition
5.0
There's an image of the chicken dog in the middle of a dangerous off-road chase scene doing a bobble-head impersonation that sticks with me and makes this one of my 5 favorite Koontz novels.
wombat_88's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
reading_rainy's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
“No one’s more dangerous than a man who’s convinced of his own moral superiority,”
This story reads as classic Koontz and it should since it was originally published in 1994! Action packed, PNR feel to it, a man and his dog on a mission to find a woman, a dark entity of the government after him, and multiple side characters.
A chance meeting between Spencer and Valerie one evening leads to the love of a lifetime. Their story feels very ethereal (this is not a love story, it just happens to have love in it). Let’s not forget Spencer’s dog, Rocky, who has severe PTSD from a former owner, but loves high-speed car chases and orange juice.
This story is packed full of depressing and frightening US government facts. Like how our elected officials are exempt from assets seizure laws, and have their own retirement account (they don’t pay into Social Security like the rest of us povvos).
Political and corporate corruption is something every country knows about.
“Somehow we’ve allowed ourselves to be ruled by the greediest and most envious among us.”
I won’t even get into the serial killer bad guy and his gf. They are craaaazy.
Overall fun, but a little wordy. Easily could be 200 pages shorter and still get the same information across.
This story reads as classic Koontz and it should since it was originally published in 1994! Action packed, PNR feel to it, a man and his dog on a mission to find a woman, a dark entity of the government after him, and multiple side characters.
A chance meeting between Spencer and Valerie one evening leads to the love of a lifetime. Their story feels very ethereal (this is not a love story, it just happens to have love in it). Let’s not forget Spencer’s dog, Rocky, who has severe PTSD from a former owner, but loves high-speed car chases and orange juice.
This story is packed full of depressing and frightening US government facts. Like how our elected officials are exempt from assets seizure laws, and have their own retirement account (they don’t pay into Social Security like the rest of us povvos).
Political and corporate corruption is something every country knows about.
“Somehow we’ve allowed ourselves to be ruled by the greediest and most envious among us.”
I won’t even get into the serial killer bad guy and his gf. They are craaaazy.
Overall fun, but a little wordy. Easily could be 200 pages shorter and still get the same information across.
raemelle's review against another edition
2.0
Painfully drawn out novelization of a giant political rant. Treats his readers like idiots by over explaining every character’s thoughts and actions. The main character becomes obsessed over a waitress and stalks her - but luckily he’s a “good” guy, so it’s okay. The story overall relies too much on technology, so did NOT age well in the 26 years since it’s been written. And in typical Koontz style, it of course pays to hoard your money and hide from the government, even if you’ve done nothing wrong. Just in case.
I wasn’t at all surprised to read in the afterward that most of his plot points are based on his real (at the time) concerns. Basically it’s a fantasy novel set in a world where libertarians are justified for being paranoid.
I wasn’t at all surprised to read in the afterward that most of his plot points are based on his real (at the time) concerns. Basically it’s a fantasy novel set in a world where libertarians are justified for being paranoid.
kathijo63's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Another good read from one of my favorite authors. It's creepy when you think how much of this could actually be happening and we just don't know about it.
hotsake's review against another edition
4.0
3.75/5
The book turned out to be one of Koontz's goofier adventure thrillers more in line with his novel Tick Tock than his more serious work such as Intensity. The pace was fast and most of the POVs were fun to read. The epilogue chapters were dumb but maybe a little too timely, who knows?
An enjoyable read nonetheless.
The book turned out to be one of Koontz's goofier adventure thrillers more in line with his novel Tick Tock than his more serious work such as Intensity. The pace was fast and most of the POVs were fun to read. The epilogue chapters were dumb but maybe a little too timely, who knows?
An enjoyable read nonetheless.