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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I rated this book three stars out of five. I consider each star to represent about twenty points worth of credit out of a hundred, with one star ranging from anywhere between a 1 to a 20 out of 100; two stars from 21 to 40; and so on. Watchers, for me, is a low 3.
If you’re looking for dumb fun or an easy pick-me-up, this is probably the kind of book you’re looking for. If you’re looking for something with nuance, or something thought-provoking, or even something with real scares, then I’m sorry—somewhat genuinely—to say it, but I think you’ve come to the wrong place.
Watchers came highly recommended—by a family member who hadn’t read it in at least a smooth two decades. Dean Koontz is among those authors whose broad appeal becomes easily explicable within the first few chapters of one his more popular stories, and Watchers is among his bestselling.
The whole thing is such an unapologetically maudlin affair from even the first few pages. We’re introduced to a pair of protagonists who are oh, so possessed of such theatrical levels of sentimental sadness—obviously calculated to produce maximum tugs on the reader’s heartstrings—while also clearly set up to be one another’s perfect missing piece and the answer to a lifetime’s worth of noble and blameless suffering—oh, and did I mention the book also makes damn sure we know that they’re both super super hot? It’s all cemented in place by the most ooey-gooey thing imaginable: a dog—a golden retriever, to be exact—so smart that his undying innocence and love for hoomans can be communicated on every level except verbal.
And the villain? Oh, man, is he ever a villain. He is, like, sooooooo evil, you wouldn’t even BELIEVE it, dude. His ultimate goal is literally to kill a baby. Not even a specific baby, he is *literally* just beyond desperate to kill any baby at all that he can get his hands on. I feel like I’m joking typing this out, and I actually read the book.
Oh, yeah, and there’s also a monster sometimes.
Look, I didn’t hate it as much it may seem like I did at this point, okay? I just had to take a moment to chuckle at the ham-fistedness of it all every few pages. Dean Koontz writes books for suckers, and I myself am an occasional self-incriminating sucker. The book also isn’t a thematic black hole, and every now and it manages to pull off a nice moment of synthesis. It just feels fairly uninspired, but a part of me wants to say it actually takes a certain level of skill to hit so many emotionally manipulative high points in just 400-something pages. Also, any attempt at something beyond the rheumy-eyed innocence that constitutes the protagonists’ face time feels like it was written by a professional writer equivalent of a seventh-grader who’s just learning how to use swear words.
If you’re looking for dumb fun or an easy pick-me-up, this is probably the kind of book you’re looking for. If you’re looking for something with nuance, or something thought-provoking, or even something with real scares, then I’m sorry—somewhat genuinely—to say it, but I think you’ve come to the wrong place.
Watchers came highly recommended—by a family member who hadn’t read it in at least a smooth two decades. Dean Koontz is among those authors whose broad appeal becomes easily explicable within the first few chapters of one his more popular stories, and Watchers is among his bestselling.
The whole thing is such an unapologetically maudlin affair from even the first few pages. We’re introduced to a pair of protagonists who are oh, so possessed of such theatrical levels of sentimental sadness—obviously calculated to produce maximum tugs on the reader’s heartstrings—while also clearly set up to be one another’s perfect missing piece and the answer to a lifetime’s worth of noble and blameless suffering—oh, and did I mention the book also makes damn sure we know that they’re both super super hot? It’s all cemented in place by the most ooey-gooey thing imaginable: a dog—a golden retriever, to be exact—so smart that his undying innocence and love for hoomans can be communicated on every level except verbal.
And the villain? Oh, man, is he ever a villain. He is, like, sooooooo evil, you wouldn’t even BELIEVE it, dude. His ultimate goal is literally to kill a baby. Not even a specific baby, he is *literally* just beyond desperate to kill any baby at all that he can get his hands on. I feel like I’m joking typing this out, and I actually read the book.
Oh, yeah, and there’s also a monster sometimes.
Look, I didn’t hate it as much it may seem like I did at this point, okay? I just had to take a moment to chuckle at the ham-fistedness of it all every few pages. Dean Koontz writes books for suckers, and I myself am an occasional self-incriminating sucker. The book also isn’t a thematic black hole, and every now and it manages to pull off a nice moment of synthesis. It just feels fairly uninspired, but a part of me wants to say it actually takes a certain level of skill to hit so many emotionally manipulative high points in just 400-something pages. Also, any attempt at something beyond the rheumy-eyed innocence that constitutes the protagonists’ face time feels like it was written by a professional writer equivalent of a seventh-grader who’s just learning how to use swear words.
I read this book once back in high school and remembered absolutely loving it, but forgot much of the plot aside from there being an incredible dog and a monster. I’m so glad I got to reread it almost like it was my first time again! Pacing throughout the book is really solid and sets up for a very fast but explosive finale. It was so fun imagining being able to communicate with Einstein the way Travis and Nora could. I’m so glad this book was still able to evoke the same feelings I remembered from reading it 13+ years ago. Highly recommend!
Probably my least favorite of the "dog" books by Koontz, but still a decent read.
My first and most likely last Koontz. The military knight in shining armor who rescues the beautiful virgin who doesn’t know she’s beautiful? Please, the dog who can read is more realistic.
2.5 Stars
For a book that is billed as a suspenseful thriller, the only suspense I had was for finishing it. It was about 100 pages too long for there to actually be any high energy action. The first 50 and last 20 pages were about the only parts I found redeeming.
The only character I enjoyed was Einstein, because how could you not? I really loved that dog and his humor and the joy he brought other people, and he was a fabulous part of the book.
Everything else, however, drove me crazy. The human characters were lacking personality and depth, and as a character driven reader, I was disappointed. The info dumps left out any mystery, and the HUNDRED PAGES OF INVESTIGATION BY THE NSA made me want to DNF it. I was baffled by why there was SO MUCH of Lem and company traveling to all the places The Outsider was and bumbling around saying the exact same things before traveling to the next attack. Also, all of the unresolved issues of the “Soviets” wanting to take out the doctors and who the voices really were could have been played out much more. Koontz set them up to be antagonists in the first pages and then they were just gone?
This could have really benefitted from a perspective from The Outsider. It would have made it more thrilling and drove that debate of morality further. It would have made it creepier as well and built that suspense this was apparently supposed to have.
So needless to say this wasn’t for me. I think the book didn’t necessarily age well as the technology and DNA developments didn’t thrill or excite me the way it would have people reading in the late 80s/early 90s.
For a book that is billed as a suspenseful thriller, the only suspense I had was for finishing it. It was about 100 pages too long for there to actually be any high energy action. The first 50 and last 20 pages were about the only parts I found redeeming.
The only character I enjoyed was Einstein, because how could you not? I really loved that dog and his humor and the joy he brought other people, and he was a fabulous part of the book.
Everything else, however, drove me crazy. The human characters were lacking personality and depth, and as a character driven reader, I was disappointed. The info dumps left out any mystery, and the HUNDRED PAGES OF INVESTIGATION BY THE NSA made me want to DNF it. I was baffled by why there was SO MUCH of Lem and company traveling to all the places The Outsider was and bumbling around saying the exact same things before traveling to the next attack. Also, all of the unresolved issues of the “Soviets” wanting to take out the doctors and who the voices really were could have been played out much more. Koontz set them up to be antagonists in the first pages and then they were just gone?
This could have really benefitted from a perspective from The Outsider. It would have made it more thrilling and drove that debate of morality further. It would have made it creepier as well and built that suspense this was apparently supposed to have.
So needless to say this wasn’t for me. I think the book didn’t necessarily age well as the technology and DNA developments didn’t thrill or excite me the way it would have people reading in the late 80s/early 90s.
This is only my second Dean Koontz novel, but he has become a favorite. I have steered clear of horror for over 20 years - no more Stephen King for me. This is one of Koontz's early novels and it was apparent to me that it was set at least a couple of decades ago because of telling details like characters depending on pay phones to reach people. The story revolves around a runaway golden lab, and another creature on the run who is viciously killing people.
As a dog lover (who doesn't own a dog), I was very taken by the story of Einstein, the golden lab. The human characters were less captivating. But Koontz creates a compelling horror thriller that kept me engaged.
As a dog lover (who doesn't own a dog), I was very taken by the story of Einstein, the golden lab. The human characters were less captivating. But Koontz creates a compelling horror thriller that kept me engaged.
Another Dean Koontz masterpiece that will have you reading from beginning to end, begging you for release, because you're WAY too involved (more than anyone should when it comes to fictional characters) in the lives of those two dogs and the lives of the people they touch
Spoiler
(or rather, one dog and one terribly failed experiment)Spoiler
(or in the case of the experiment, KILLS).
The book started out really strong! The parts between the outsider and other characters were really well written and the tension held strongly throughout. I especially loved the action! My main issue was my strong dislike for the contract killer and his perverse desire for killing. Of course, the fact that I disliked the character so much speaks for the writing skill of Koontz, but certain parts really disgusted me. Also, since the book was written in the 80s there were certain ways the female character was portrayed which I also could only roll my eyes at.
EDIT: Now that I am further along in my reading journey and have had more time to digest this book I have to lower my rating from three to two stars. I remember that I actually skipped/skimmed close to 150 pages in the end because I just could not care less at that point. OVERALL: I will never recommend this book unless I know the person likes traditional old-school thrillers.
EDIT: Now that I am further along in my reading journey and have had more time to digest this book I have to lower my rating from three to two stars. I remember that I actually skipped/skimmed close to 150 pages in the end because I just could not care less at that point. OVERALL: I will never recommend this book unless I know the person likes traditional old-school thrillers.