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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Well, there's nothing quite like re-reading a favorite book only to discover that it's no longer a favorite...
I honestly think that this book is the reason that I love supernatural horror so much. It's been a favorite for many, many years. Unfortunately the writing is merely average, which is good normally, but I've gotten so spoiled on Koontz's later writing that average wasn't quite good enough this time. It's really amazing to see how much his writing has changed over the years. The things that I think of as trademarks are completely absent in this book. Mainly it's humor and hope that is missing. And without humor and hope Koontz is just another author to me. Albeit one who writes some totally cool and terrifying stories. But it's the humor and hope that gives Koontz "Favorite Author" status in my mind. Anyway, it's still actually a good story.
At the start of this book we have a 17 year old boy named Slim sneaking into a carnival in the dead of night (couldn't resist saying that), intending to get some sleep and try to join up the following day. He's been on the run for six months because he killed his uncle who was systematically murdering Slim's extended family. His uncle was what Slim calls a "goblin" . Goblins are creatures that can mask themselves as human but live to rain pain, destruction, and despair down on humans.
He makes friends at the carnival - and actually, he's attacked by a zombie goblin at one point. I haven't seen that one before. So he makes friends at the carnival and falls madly in love with Rya Raines. Unfortunately, with his psychic mojo, he can also tell that there's going to be a goblin attack on their ferris wheel. In order to help his new friends he travels into Yontsdown to help grease the wheels for the upcoming carnival stop. In Yontsdown he finds a terrifying number of goblins and comes to realize that they're more organized than he realized.
The attempt at a sci-fi explanation didn't work for me so I shall forever consider this to be supernatural fantasy horror, my favorite theme. Despite the demotion from my favorites shelf, this is actually a first rate tale and is entirely responsible for my love of supernatural horror stories. I've read it many times and I'll read it many more.
I honestly think that this book is the reason that I love supernatural horror so much. It's been a favorite for many, many years. Unfortunately the writing is merely average, which is good normally, but I've gotten so spoiled on Koontz's later writing that average wasn't quite good enough this time. It's really amazing to see how much his writing has changed over the years. The things that I think of as trademarks are completely absent in this book. Mainly it's humor and hope that is missing. And without humor and hope Koontz is just another author to me. Albeit one who writes some totally cool and terrifying stories. But it's the humor and hope that gives Koontz "Favorite Author" status in my mind. Anyway, it's still actually a good story.
At the start of this book we have a 17 year old boy named Slim sneaking into a carnival in the dead of night (couldn't resist saying that), intending to get some sleep and try to join up the following day. He's been on the run for six months because he killed his uncle who was systematically murdering Slim's extended family. His uncle was what Slim calls a "goblin" . Goblins are creatures that can mask themselves as human but live to rain pain, destruction, and despair down on humans.
He makes friends at the carnival - and actually, he's attacked by a zombie goblin at one point. I haven't seen that one before. So he makes friends at the carnival and falls madly in love with Rya Raines. Unfortunately, with his psychic mojo, he can also tell that there's going to be a goblin attack on their ferris wheel. In order to help his new friends he travels into Yontsdown to help grease the wheels for the upcoming carnival stop. In Yontsdown he finds a terrifying number of goblins and comes to realize that they're more organized than he realized.
The attempt at a sci-fi explanation didn't work for me so I shall forever consider this to be supernatural fantasy horror, my favorite theme. Despite the demotion from my favorites shelf, this is actually a first rate tale and is entirely responsible for my love of supernatural horror stories. I've read it many times and I'll read it many more.
Growing up, my favorite time of the year was when the carnival came to town. It was a small one and those were the olden days so my parents were fine with giving me an allowance to spend and sending me off to explore it with 3 of my best friends. There was always a sense of magic with a little touch of danger.
This book captures that perfectly for me - and then mixes in thrills and danger that I truly hope are only science fiction ... or are they???
The beauty of Dean Koontz's early works is that if you just stretch the edges of belief just a little - his horror becomes suspiciously possible.
Loved this book on the first read many years ago, love it still now.
This book captures that perfectly for me - and then mixes in thrills and danger that I truly hope are only science fiction ... or are they???
The beauty of Dean Koontz's early works is that if you just stretch the edges of belief just a little - his horror becomes suspiciously possible.
Loved this book on the first read many years ago, love it still now.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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:
Yes
This one turned out to be a decent read. If you like Koontz then you will probably like this one. It is by no means his best work but it is good enough.
Another good re-read. I hadn't read this one in a long time and completely forgot the story. A compelling tale!
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As much as I love Dean Koontz books, this one wasn't for me.
There's so much I love about Koontz books but one of my favorite things is that, even in the midst of tragedies or potential "end of the world" scenarios, the characters find comfort in the great things in life; love, good food, a cozy place to call "home". I absolutely love the sense of community in this story with the description of carnie life and I love that the enduring theme in nearly every Koontz story is this; hope.