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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ahoy there me mateys! In 2024 I reread my favorite book by the author and enjoyed the experience so much that I got a ton of Koontz books on audiobook. Before that, I had last read a book by Dean Koontz in 2011 and in 2018. When I was in middle school, he was one of my favorite authors (introduced to me by my dad) and I read over 60 of his books. He has written at least 120 novels. The “plan” is to slowly reread his books (in no particular order) and maybe some of his newer stuff. At the time, his focus on writing the Odd series is what made me stop reading his new releases. I liked the beginning of the series but it started to grate on me. And I never went back. Until now . . .
phantoms (1983) – spoilers ahead!
This was a favorite back in the day. I also had a fondness for the 1998 movie based on the book even though I now remember nothing about it except for the ending. Apparently I combined the book and movie in my noggin so listening to it was odd given the differences. Though Dean Koontz did adapt the screenplay.
The premise of this one is that the town of Snowfield, California has lost all 500+ of its residents. Some buildings have dead bodies or severed heads. But most people are just outright missing. Where did they go? And who is killing people?
The first part of the book showcases Jenny and her sister, Lisa coming into town and finding one dead body and then another. Then they start searching the town. I would have left and called emergency services on my way out. Jenny doesn’t because she is the local doctor. The book does take a bit to introduce the rest of the characters (around chapter 9) and I wanted there to be a little less searching and a little more action at the beginning.
But once the sheriffs’ office is involved, it moved right along. The creepy monster is creepy. I liked the idea of where it came from and how it manifested throughout history. I loved the idea of how it evolved. Basically any scene it was in was fun. The moth scene in particular was excellent. I am not visual but the description made me almost be able to picture it.
The side characters are fine though I got many of the deputies mixed up. The idea of ancient evil entertains me. The biker gang and the egotistical murder were random at first but are used to good effect at the end. I misremembered the ending but enjoyed it nonetheless. The movie ending is different and I liked how that ended too.
I remember this book as a 4.5 star “really liked it” book and the rating stays the same. Now I want to rewatch the movie. Arrr!
phantoms (1983) – spoilers ahead!
This was a favorite back in the day. I also had a fondness for the 1998 movie based on the book even though I now remember nothing about it except for the ending. Apparently I combined the book and movie in my noggin so listening to it was odd given the differences. Though Dean Koontz did adapt the screenplay.
The premise of this one is that the town of Snowfield, California has lost all 500+ of its residents. Some buildings have dead bodies or severed heads. But most people are just outright missing. Where did they go? And who is killing people?
The first part of the book showcases Jenny and her sister, Lisa coming into town and finding one dead body and then another. Then they start searching the town. I would have left and called emergency services on my way out. Jenny doesn’t because she is the local doctor. The book does take a bit to introduce the rest of the characters (around chapter 9) and I wanted there to be a little less searching and a little more action at the beginning.
But once the sheriffs’ office is involved, it moved right along. The creepy monster is creepy. I liked the idea of where it came from and how it manifested throughout history. I loved the idea of how it evolved. Basically any scene it was in was fun. The moth scene in particular was excellent. I am not visual but the description made me almost be able to picture it.
The side characters are fine though I got many of the deputies mixed up. The idea of ancient evil entertains me. The biker gang and the egotistical murder were random at first but are used to good effect at the end. I misremembered the ending but enjoyed it nonetheless. The movie ending is different and I liked how that ended too.
I remember this book as a 4.5 star “really liked it” book and the rating stays the same. Now I want to rewatch the movie. Arrr!
One of my favorite Koontz books. I love abandoned towns or post-apocalyptic tales, and this one is a good one. What I liked is that while there is a mystery, the book moves along at a good pace, and at the time, coming off of many Stephen King books, whom I like at lot, but has a tendency to be a bit too verbose, this book was very refreshing.
I also liked how the protagonists in the town didn't try to deal with everything but themselves and that law enforcement and the military try and stop what it is happening. It made the premise more realistic (as far as a book about fantastical paranormal things can be realistic).
Thumbs up!
I also liked how the protagonists in the town didn't try to deal with everything but themselves and that law enforcement and the military try and stop what it is happening. It made the premise more realistic (as far as a book about fantastical paranormal things can be realistic).
Thumbs up!
Whatever you do, don't let the movie put you off from reading this book, I promise it's so much better than what the movie made it into! Koontz has a way of painting imagery that Hollywood simply can't grasp and can't do justice to. I forgot how much I loved this book and the questions it brings up about many other mass disappearances in our history.
It had potential. The descriptive writing during the first half creeped me out and then it lost me. I just couldn't wait to finish the book.
What. A. Book!!!
I have just discovered the world of Dean Koontz and now i know why he is the man he is.
The feeling of hopelessness i was in, reading this?? HOW WILL THEY GET AWAY??
how flimsy human lives can seem sometimes, right?
I have just discovered the world of Dean Koontz and now i know why he is the man he is.
The feeling of hopelessness i was in, reading this?? HOW WILL THEY GET AWAY??
how flimsy human lives can seem sometimes, right?
I DNF'd this book at 44% read.
Trying to remember this book 2 months later tells me it didn't really become a memorable read. Many other of Dean's books I read at a much younger age and have a place in my memory many years later. However, this book did not do it for me.
I'm not sure if it was the crude characters speaking in their degrading ways towards a woman or the very random connections that were seemingly lazily made in the book. For example, a name smeared on a mirror some how related to a man half way across the world who had never been to this small town that was being ravaged by a creature that seemingly resembled the Mothman.
I think I would have preferred a story about the Mothman instead.
I am a big fan of Dean Koontz but this one just didn't hit all the attributes I once admired about the writer.
Trying to remember this book 2 months later tells me it didn't really become a memorable read. Many other of Dean's books I read at a much younger age and have a place in my memory many years later. However, this book did not do it for me.
I'm not sure if it was the crude characters speaking in their degrading ways towards a woman or the very random connections that were seemingly lazily made in the book. For example, a name smeared on a mirror some how related to a man half way across the world who had never been to this small town that was being ravaged by a creature that seemingly resembled the Mothman.
I think I would have preferred a story about the Mothman instead.
I am a big fan of Dean Koontz but this one just didn't hit all the attributes I once admired about the writer.
I hadn't read Koontz since I was a teenager, so I wasn't sure how well the story would have aged.
It was a little outdated with technology and science, which is to be expected, but otherwise, I felt it held up pretty well. I especially like how any sexualising of women was written in a disapproving and unacceptable way, which isn't common in books from the early 1980s.
Phantoms was always my favourite Koontz book, and I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting it.
The pacing is just right, the characters are well-developed, and I enjoyed how they generally responded in believable ways to what was occurring.
It was a little outdated with technology and science, which is to be expected, but otherwise, I felt it held up pretty well. I especially like how any sexualising of women was written in a disapproving and unacceptable way, which isn't common in books from the early 1980s.
Phantoms was always my favourite Koontz book, and I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting it.
The pacing is just right, the characters are well-developed, and I enjoyed how they generally responded in believable ways to what was occurring.