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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked this book well enough; it was entertaining and engaging. It feels like the most Stephen King-like Koontz book I've read. Darker than most of his books. I liked the characters and the mystery. Feels like Stephen King meets Sphere meets John Carpenter's The Thing.
There are some religious elements I wasn't a fan of. Koontz is a Christian, so I take his villains' blasphemous words in the understanding that Koontz is writing them to be pathetic, and I appreciate that about him as an author. I don't want to misquote him but he stated in an interview once that he writes his villains to be pathetic. He doesn't want them to be admirable. There are some vile statements made in this book about Jesus Christ by one of the villains. Written by an author that ascribes to nihilism, these would have given me a bit more pause. Written by Koontz, I gave him the benefit of knowing these words emit from the darkness of the evil who believes himself elevated above God. Many Koontz villains believe they are elevated beings, superior to man and akin to gods.
I have heard a couple people in real life talk that way, which is also pathetic. But that's not relevant to this discussion.
Koontz states in the afterward that writing Phantoms is one of the top ten mistakes of his life, though he loves the book and enjoyed the writing and subsequent rereading of it when he was adapting it for film. It's an interesting and quick read after the novel ends, so check it out after you finish the book, if for no other reason than to find out why.
3.5 out of 5, rounded up.
There are some religious elements I wasn't a fan of. Koontz is a Christian, so I take his villains' blasphemous words in the understanding that Koontz is writing them to be pathetic, and I appreciate that about him as an author. I don't want to misquote him but he stated in an interview once that he writes his villains to be pathetic. He doesn't want them to be admirable. There are some vile statements made in this book about Jesus Christ by one of the villains. Written by an author that ascribes to nihilism, these would have given me a bit more pause. Written by Koontz, I gave him the benefit of knowing these words emit from the darkness of the evil who believes himself elevated above God. Many Koontz villains believe they are elevated beings, superior to man and akin to gods.
I have heard a couple people in real life talk that way, which is also pathetic. But that's not relevant to this discussion.
Koontz states in the afterward that writing Phantoms is one of the top ten mistakes of his life, though he loves the book and enjoyed the writing and subsequent rereading of it when he was adapting it for film. It's an interesting and quick read after the novel ends, so check it out after you finish the book, if for no other reason than to find out why.
3.5 out of 5, rounded up.
A mildly entertaining ghost town romp. A lot of telling at the expense of showing. I'm sure Koontz has written better books, but based on this any comparison with Stephen King is plain madness.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated