Why I love Dean Koontz

Discussion in 'Art & Culture' started by Fraggle Rocker, Apr 19, 2008.

  1. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

    Messages:
    24,690
    I can't find the sales figures but I know Dean Koontz has sold more than a hundred million books and probably three or four times that many since some of them sell more than ten million apiece.

    Sure he invents spellbinding stories, unqiue milieus, likeable protagonists and nail-biting suspense. But his real secret is simply his writing style. Here's a sample from Odd Thomas, the first novel in a trilogy he began in 2003. I'm sure this passage is just a throwaway and we'll never hear about Thomas's grandmother again except a few more pithy homilies, yet he put this much thought and effort into describing her:
    I read the sequel first and Granny is never mentioned, yet Odd Thomas's character shows the influence of having this person fill an important role in his life. It's a nice technique for character development and a very entertaining way to write.

    If you enjoyed this passage then you'll love Dean Koontz's books.
     
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. draqon Banned Banned

    Messages:
    35,006
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. superstring01 Moderator

    Messages:
    12,110
    I stopped reading Koontz about a decade ago. I felt like his stories were stagnating. Of the ten-or-so that I've read, I distinctly remember Lightning and Midnight as top-notch.

    ~String
     
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. RubiksMaster Real eyes realize real lies Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,646
    I've read Midnight and Watchers. I can't decide which one I like more. They're both very good.
     
  8. lucifers angel same shit, differant day!! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,590
    i love koontz i am now reading "fear nothing" he is excellent
     
  9. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    I like Intensity the best. I also LOVE the Odd Thomas ones. The first Odd Thomas one...I cried and cried and cried.

    I quit reading Stephen King because I found his stories to be boring/repetitive.
     
  10. superstring01 Moderator

    Messages:
    12,110
    Ah... yes. I forgot about Intensity. 'Twas a good book. And very--well--intense!

    ~String
     
  11. Carcano Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    6,865
    Check out his autobiography called 'On Writing'.
     
  12. lucifers angel same shit, differant day!! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,590
    Koontz is a master of writing!

    i lvoe all his books and he is never boring, he is funny, scary, and intense! i wish more writters were like him
     
  13. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    I did. But it has been close to 8 yrs since I read anything by him. And I'm one to buy the hardcover as soon as it hits the bookstore. With King, I never waited til it came out in paperback or went to the library.
    The ending of Dreamcatcher pissed me off so bad, I never a story by him again. :zzz:
     
  14. lucifers angel same shit, differant day!! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,590
    why did it piss you of? i thought it was great, mind you i love king's books!
     
  15. Alorus Registered Member

    Messages:
    30
    I don't like how Koontz over-exaggerates everything, but I like him overall. The books I've read by him do seem to always seem to get a similar frantasy physics type of thing going which gets boring after the first book (for me anyways, I want new ideas). He really does do an excellent job characterizing his characters, and he is the only author that ever wrote anything that scared me (which led me to realize what horror is).

    I like Stephen King too alot except for "The Colorado Kid". "The Colorado Kid" was such an awful book... I was so angry. Its not even a story. Its a boring philosophical discussion about stories. However, the rest of king's books were excellent. I've read way more King than Koontz.
     
  16. toolzombie Registered Member

    Messages:
    62
    I guess maybe I'm just always going to be the odd one out on this one...Koontz bores me! I'm a huge Stephen King fan, I've read all of his work, (and I must agree that The Colorado Kid was lame...) and maybe I'm just holding Koontz to the standard that I hold King, and he's failing. I've read several of his books, because I get so many reccomendations for him, but I never can get into them. Odd Thomas was pretty good, but..I don't know..it's like he tries so hard to be unpredictable, that he's too predictable! I read one...I can't remember the name off-hand...it was about this group of people who had all experienced an alien visit, and had been brain-washed by the government. It was a decent read, and I really dug his thoroughness involving the hypnosis, that book actually really got me into studying hypnosis, but all of the characters were far too perfect! There were like 7 main characters, and they were just all so perfect. Beautiful, smart, rugged, tough, etc. It kind of pissed me off! I don't know...I'm always willing to read more, and give him another chance....so if theres something totally amazing that you think would change my mind..let me know!
     
  17. Shmoo The CzarnaChapka Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    101
    Yes, I picked up a Koontz novel recently and what irritated me was the flawless nature of the characters. I could not finish the book. The characters were so annoyingly "perfect" that I had to put down the book in disgust.
     
  18. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    dammit toolzombie!! I just got that book. It Strangers, isn't it. Well, I don't have to read it now that I know they were abducted and hypnotized. crap crap crap
     
  19. toolzombie Registered Member

    Messages:
    62
    Haha!Yeah, that's it. I'm so sorry! Actually, though...maybe I've saved you a huge bore!
     
  20. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

    Messages:
    24,690
    Just put it away for a couple of years and you won't remember. He writes so many books it's easy to lose track. Nonetheless:

    * * * * NOTE FROM THE MODERATORS COMMUNITY * * * *

    If you are going to include a spoiler in a post, then please put SPOILER in bold on a separate line at the very beginning, as a courtesy to others. This includes books, movies, TV, theater, etc.

    Thanks.
     
  21. visceral_instinct Monkey see, monkey denigrate Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,913
    I LOVE Dean Koontz.
     
  22. Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    37,884
    Not a big fan

    Koontz is part of what some writers are now referring to as "plug and play" (John Saul apparently lectures on the concept at conventions and conferences now); it's a kind of format story. Perhaps he's gotten better in recent years, but I haven't bothered to find out.

    It always struck me how many books he put out under pseudonyms; none of those titles struck me as being particularly different from books published under the Dean Koontz name.

    And I once saw Dean Koontz on some talk show; he looked so different from the classic picture of him that either it was a different person altogether, or he's had some serious work done. Night and day. The guy I saw could give the weather reports on our local FOX outlet. Perfect teeth, tanned, a full head of well-styled hair, and considerably more aesthetic than the photo. What the hell is up with that?

    Anyway, like String, I stopped reading Koontz years ago.
     
  23. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

    Messages:
    24,690
    I suppose I enjoy the format. Considering that several of his stories are series about the same characters, you can depend on even greater similarity. I just like his style of prose, the way he turns a phrase, his point of view.
    Popularity and money bring conceit. The guy's almost as old as I am, I guess he isn't willing to look like I do.
     

Share This Page