The Watchers

[hodor]

I thought this was a good book. However, I think it fringes on the border of horror. I just finished it and found it much different than Koontz's other novel Intensity. I was totally involved in it and really liked it, despite the fact I was expecting something as (odd as it may sound) intense as Intensity.

[Circus Cranium]

Despite his reputation of being 'formula', his books have some real diversity to them I think.

[AdzeybuB]

definately one of koontz greatest novels.

if you liked this check out bad place which is superb.

[IrishWriter]

If there's any Koontz book you should put top of your list, then make it From The Corner Of His Eye.It's severely good

[AdzeybuB]

oops i forgot also false memory

[WhiteWolf]

If you are looking for straight horror fiction by Koontz, then I would recommend MIDNIGHT, PHANTOMS and DARKFALL from that era. He is technically not a horror writer, but gets put on that shelf anyway, and alphabetically always under King, which is an unfortunate irony.

I would say Koontz is more of a suspense writer who mixes elements from other genres into his fiction.

Personally, my favorite book by him (I've read about 50) is DARK RIVERS OF THE HEART, followed by MIDNIGHT.

His newest book is called THE GOOD GUY, but another will be released here in the US in just a few weeks titled THE DARKEST EVENING OF THE YEAR. Next yeat a fourth Odd Thomas books will be published called ODD HOURS.

[biodroid]

Is False Memory and From the Corner of His Eye any good? Is it as action packed and creepy like his older work like Phantoms or Midnight or Lightning?

[Ice fyre]

I found Dean Koontz to be a mixed bag. I enjoyed watchers and Intensity is a thriller second to none but I didnt like one he did called Tick Tok (at least I think thats the name) which wasnt very good at all. From what I've read of his work his quality is variable! It runs from neing brilliant (Intensity) to not very good at all! (Tcik tok) has anyone read his Odd novels I am interested but wary, what are they about?

[BookStop]

Try the first Odd Thomas book, it's excellent. The others are a bit of a letdown after the brilliance of the first. know what you mean about Mr. Koontz quality being mixed. ut, hey, you can't expect everything one author writes to be brilliant can you? I like his Frankenstein book, but I've only rea the first one. Watcher's is my favorite. Mr. Murder is pretty good.

Odd Thomas is a cook in the small California town of Pico Mundo. He has a special talent where he sees dead people. He can't speak with the dead, but they have ways of communicating him nonetheless, usually wanting him to help them. Odd can also see ominious shadows that precede death, and sometimes he can affect outcome. The story, while not free from cliche, does have surprising bits, but the best part is the prose. It's charming; it's light despite the subject matter, and the character's are extrememly likeable, especially Odd himself. This isn't a horror book, or an intense thriller, but it is just as engaging as anything else I've read. The other books int he series pale in comparison, but I keep reading them hoping for the 'wow' feeling I got from the first. It really is a case of the first book is so good, I'll be forever inclined to read the rest.

[Ice fyre]

Thanks Bookstop htats made me want to pop out and get it, if you like Prose try a fella called John Connelly, he writes a bit of fantasy(book of lost things) and some Horror (Nocturnes) but mostly crime thrillers with a slight supernatuiral twist (your not really sure if the suprnatural actually is there) but I think imight check out Odd Thomas now.

Ta Ice

[biodroid]

I read basically all of Dean Koontz's books in high school except for Whispers and Shattered, Night Chills and maybe one or 2 more. I think Servants of Twilight was very good, anyone read Twilight Eyes? I think his best has to be Lightning. That was such an awesome story and lots of twists with cool action. Phantoms scared the krap out of me and Midnight was eerily freaky from what I can remember. I stopped from Fear Nothing, just could not get into it. Mr Murder was my first book by him like Stephen Kings was Pet Sematary.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by BookStop

Try the first Odd Thomas book, it's excellent. The others are a bit of a letdown after the brilliance of the first. know what you mean about Mr. Koontz quality being mixed. ut, hey, you can't expect everything one author writes to be brilliant can you? I like his Frankenstein book, but I've only rea the first one. Watcher's is my favorite. Mr. Murder is pretty good.

Odd Thomas is a cook in the small California town of Pico Mundo. He has a special talent where he sees dead people. He can't speak with the dead, but they have ways of communicating him nonetheless, usually wanting him to help them. Odd can also see ominious shadows that precede death, and sometimes he can affect outcome. The story, while not free from cliche, does have surprising bits, but the best part is the prose. It's charming; it's light despite the subject matter, and the character's are extrememly likeable, especially Odd himself. This isn't a horror book, or an intense thriller, but it is just as engaging as anything else I've read. The other books int he series pale in comparison, but I keep reading them hoping for the 'wow' feeling I got from the first. It really is a case of the first book is so good, I'll be forever inclined to read the rest.

I thought there was emotional horror in the first Odd book. Somethings that happen like the young girl early in the book and what happened to her. Somethings was creepy cause the emotion you got from the story.

I agree i loved the prose, it was charming,fun. It fit the story well.

I hope i dont think the others books pale in comparison. Its natural if they arent as strong as the first fresh book. I look forward to reading what happens with Odd and his gift.

[BookStop]

Originally Posted by Connavar

I thought there was emotional horror in the first Odd book. Somethings that happen like the young girl early in the book and what happened to her. Somethings was creepy cause the emotion you got from the story.

I agree i loved the prose, it was charming,fun. It fit the story well.

True, emotionally horrific I suppose, but not scary or gory. Even the crimes that are very horrific are written lightly so that, while one feels for the characters, it's not the kind of book you are going to put under the covers at night just to get it out of your sight. (Watchers creature was scary)

My (big chicken never going to read horror or watch horror because it will give me nightmares) teenagers read Odd too. They didn't have nightmares, and loved the books.

[Tickle]

Watchers is one of my favorite books by Koontz. I've read it several times. The story makes you feel good, while keeping you in suspense regarding some of his nastier characters.

My other favorite of his is Strangers. These are the only books by him that I actually purchased. All the other titles of his I've read were from the library and I've never had the inclination to go and purchase any others as of yet.

[biodroid]

Hodor - you should read Phantoms, that was one scary/freaky book. I lost sleep over that with the nightmares.