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kylie_abecca 's review for:
Oddkins: A Fable for All Ages
by Dean Koontz
Dean Koontz (also known as Leah Nicholls), is well known for writing dark and mysterious adult fiction, with titles such as 'Mr. Murder', 'The Key to Midnight' and 'Watchers'. However Koontz' fantasy novel 'Oddkins - A Fable for All Ages' Illustrated by Phil Parks, is quite different, although it still holds an aspect of Dean's usual writing; it is assumed to be more directed at children, depicting the main characters as plush toys, however the element of darkness common with Dean's writing is still apparent, posing questions regarding it's true purpose and appropriateness for it's intended audience. 'Oddkins' stands alone as Koontz' only book directed at a young audience, which is possibly why it has made fewer sales than his other works, despite its brilliance.
Right from the first page the reader is plunged into a world of magic, as they become acquainted with the unique creations of the late Isaac Bodkins. Leben Toys is filled with stuffed animals that to the rest of the world look like ordinary plush toys. However these soft, cuddly creatures known as Oddkins, share an amazing secret. They are alive and were specially created for children in need of a true friend. With Amos, the bold and brave teddy bear in charge, the toys embark on an arduous journey to find Isaac's chosen replacement toymaker Colleen Shannon. Meanwhile the stringless puppets Rex and Lizzie, who were created to hurt children, have begun their own journey. Along with the help of the evil Nick Jagg they stop at nothing in their attempts to destroy the Oddkins. Trying desperately to keep their existence a secret, the Oddkins are forced to face their fears, as they fight not only for their own future, but for the future of children everywhere.
The fact that the book was published by Warner Books in 1988 and was never re-released, the classical good versus evil theme, typical of Dean Koontz' work, remains fresh and popular today.
As the Oddkins embark on their journey to finding the new toymaker, as requested by their late creator, Isaac Bodkins, they are continually confronted with dangers from the outside world, whilst also attempting to remain one step ahead of the evil toys pursuing them.
Lacking in street smarts and allies, the Oddkins are often under attack and are constantly on the brink of losing the battle; this keeps readers of all ages enthralled, constantly barracking for the good to overcome evil, especially as the confrontations increase in frequency as the story unfolds.
Throughout the book, each character is confronted with their own demons and forced to discover themselves through confrontations and battles that help them to discover their own bravery, while also giving them direction in their own 'lives', leading them on the path to inner fulfilment and self discovery.
This allows the reader to relate to the experiences of each character through their triumphs and failures and allows the reader to picture the characters as beings, looking beyond the exterior of them being stuffed toys and seeing the personalities of the individual characters, whether they are good or evil.
While Amos is the main character, hailing as the protagonist hero throughout the book, each character is given a chance to stand in the spotlight, depicting that there is a hero in us all. Every character introduced is evenly balanced with an equal opposite, keeping conflicts as even as possible and allowing each character to relate to one another in some way. This unwittingly leads the reader to question which side will win the overall battle, especially for readers who are accustomed to Dean Koontz' writing, as they will be aware that not ever story has a happy ending.
This book is a delight for readers of all ages, although it is a dark piece and had often been critiqued as inappropriate for younger readers, the lessons and messages it delivers are well intentioned. It is quite a large book, with wording that is not entirely appropriate for young children, though it is still a story that would be pleasurable for any child to have read to them, though it may not prove to be a good bed time story. As the title states, 'Oddkins' certainly is 'A Fable for All Ages'.
Right from the first page the reader is plunged into a world of magic, as they become acquainted with the unique creations of the late Isaac Bodkins. Leben Toys is filled with stuffed animals that to the rest of the world look like ordinary plush toys. However these soft, cuddly creatures known as Oddkins, share an amazing secret. They are alive and were specially created for children in need of a true friend. With Amos, the bold and brave teddy bear in charge, the toys embark on an arduous journey to find Isaac's chosen replacement toymaker Colleen Shannon. Meanwhile the stringless puppets Rex and Lizzie, who were created to hurt children, have begun their own journey. Along with the help of the evil Nick Jagg they stop at nothing in their attempts to destroy the Oddkins. Trying desperately to keep their existence a secret, the Oddkins are forced to face their fears, as they fight not only for their own future, but for the future of children everywhere.
The fact that the book was published by Warner Books in 1988 and was never re-released, the classical good versus evil theme, typical of Dean Koontz' work, remains fresh and popular today.
As the Oddkins embark on their journey to finding the new toymaker, as requested by their late creator, Isaac Bodkins, they are continually confronted with dangers from the outside world, whilst also attempting to remain one step ahead of the evil toys pursuing them.
Lacking in street smarts and allies, the Oddkins are often under attack and are constantly on the brink of losing the battle; this keeps readers of all ages enthralled, constantly barracking for the good to overcome evil, especially as the confrontations increase in frequency as the story unfolds.
Throughout the book, each character is confronted with their own demons and forced to discover themselves through confrontations and battles that help them to discover their own bravery, while also giving them direction in their own 'lives', leading them on the path to inner fulfilment and self discovery.
This allows the reader to relate to the experiences of each character through their triumphs and failures and allows the reader to picture the characters as beings, looking beyond the exterior of them being stuffed toys and seeing the personalities of the individual characters, whether they are good or evil.
While Amos is the main character, hailing as the protagonist hero throughout the book, each character is given a chance to stand in the spotlight, depicting that there is a hero in us all. Every character introduced is evenly balanced with an equal opposite, keeping conflicts as even as possible and allowing each character to relate to one another in some way. This unwittingly leads the reader to question which side will win the overall battle, especially for readers who are accustomed to Dean Koontz' writing, as they will be aware that not ever story has a happy ending.
This book is a delight for readers of all ages, although it is a dark piece and had often been critiqued as inappropriate for younger readers, the lessons and messages it delivers are well intentioned. It is quite a large book, with wording that is not entirely appropriate for young children, though it is still a story that would be pleasurable for any child to have read to them, though it may not prove to be a good bed time story. As the title states, 'Oddkins' certainly is 'A Fable for All Ages'.