Dean Koontz...Not Horror?

Wulfere · 02-25-2003, 07:20 AM

Yes that's right. Dean Koontz is not a horror writer in the classic sense. Stephan King is. (imho)
Dean Koontz NOT!

This is going to be a quick and dirty review of the Koontz books I have read.
Most of his books are heavily cross-genre. Borrowing from Fantasy, Sci Fi, Mystery, Horror and Comedy. It's a rare book of his that doesn't have at least some humour in it. They are, for the most part, books filled with equal parts terror, laughter, love, facts and friendship. As a result, they don't always easily fit into that nice, neat, little Horror niche. I currently own 14 of his works and have read another 3, I don't currently own. I'm working on that. He has out something on the order of 50 novels and several collections of short stories. So this is by no means a comprehensive review of his works.

Recently I finished "By the Light of the Moon". His newest novel. I of course enjoyed it very much, being a fan and all. It has Brotherly Love, Romance, Mystery, Gun-Toteing Government types, Nano-Technology and Mad Professors. Not to mention a very large dose of Humor. It was well worth the price. Right now I am re-reading "Sieze the Night" for the 20th time, if I am not miss counting. Which is the second of his Christopher Snow novels and one of his most frightening books. Not because it's full of gore, blood and brain eating zombies. If that's what you want then don't read "Seize the Night". The terror or 'scareyness' of his books comes when you think about what he is using to move the plot along.
In "Seize the Night" it's genetic engineering experiments that have gone much too well. In "Dark Rivers of the Heart" it's secret government agencies, the property forfiture laws and amnesia. "Tick Tock" has demon dolls and Vietnamese(sp) Mothers! Yes it is very funny.

So, before you walk buy that Koontz book saying "I'm not in the mood for Horror." remember that his books are generally uplifting, full of all the things that make us human, the good, the bad and the horrible.

P.S. ... I prefer the audiobooks since I listen at work and you may find that some of these translate very, very well to tape. Only one of his works is available on CD and that is Strange Highways: Chase. The rest are on unabridged audiotape.

AzRaeL StoRmBlaDe · 02-25-2003, 02:49 PM

I have always been a bit of a koontz fan, his books are much more than pure horror he puts a lot of sci fi and even some philosophy in them.

Wulfere · 02-25-2003, 06:46 PM

Which is exactly my point. Seems like everytime I see a book written by Dean Koontz in a store it is in the Horror section.

Oh and he is supposed to actually be putting out the "Book of Counted Sorrows" sometime in the future. He writes those passages as he writes his books so it doesn't actually exsist yet. But, someday it will. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Given his childhood and what he went through it's amazing he is so up-beat and goodhearted.

johnny · 02-26-2003, 05:29 PM

I love Koontz, i've read quite a few books of him. But one thing... it IS horror, no matter how you look at it.

WillowIX · 02-27-2003, 03:47 PM

I have never found a Koontz book scary so I wouldn´t call it horror. Of course I wouldn´t know what genre to call it so horror is as good as any.

I do enjoy most of his books though, but some are a tad too much

shadowhound · 02-28-2003, 04:59 AM

I love to read his work, I just recently finished reading the sequal to Fear Nothing and loved it. I wouldn't classify it as horrer even though hsometimes he tries, I remember reading one about some woman and her sister going into a town where everyone has dissapeared, enjoyed it. But some of his books I find really funny.

Stephen King is what I call horror, am currently reading Insomnia and then moving onto either Anne Rice vampire chronicals or Koontz - Out of the Corner of my eye.

Ladyzekke · 03-06-2003, 09:25 PM

I've read a lot of his books, but not all of them. I read one every once in awhile, I can't get on a Koontz binge because most of his books are all frikken chase scenarios LOL, have you noticed that? He's good at writing about running and escaping and pursuers LOL.

Have you ever read any Robert McCammon by chance? He has a set of maybe 6 or 7 books, hasn't written in ages now, guess he stopped. But his books are the best of the best, even above Stephen King in my opinion. Just try ONE, Swan Song. Just the one book. Read it, and I bet you will be wanting to read all of his books after that, I BET YOU.

02-25-2003, 02:49 PM	#2
AzRaeL StoRmBlaDe Hathor Join Date: October 11, 2001 Location: At My Computer Age: 44 Posts: 2,217	I have always been a bit of a koontz fan, his books are much more than pure horror he puts a lot of sci fi and even some philosophy in them. __________________ Now the swinging bridge<br />Is quieted with creepers. . . <br />Like our tendrilled life. -Basho

02-26-2003, 05:29 PM	#4
johnny 40th Level Warrior Join Date: April 15, 2002 Location: Utrecht The Netherlands Age: 59 Posts: 16,981	I love Koontz, i've read quite a few books of him. But one thing... it IS horror, no matter how you look at it. __________________

02-27-2003, 03:47 PM	#5
WillowIX Apophis Join Date: July 10, 2001 Location: By a big blue lake, Canada Age: 51 Posts: 4,628	I have never found a Koontz book scary so I wouldn´t call it horror. Of course I wouldn´t know what genre to call it so horror is as good as any. I do enjoy most of his books though, but some are a tad too much __________________ Confuzzled by nature.

02-28-2003, 04:59 AM	#6
shadowhound Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: November 24, 2001 Location: Australia Age: 39 Posts: 3,281	I love to read his work, I just recently finished reading the sequal to Fear Nothing and loved it. I wouldn't classify it as horrer even though hsometimes he tries, I remember reading one about some woman and her sister going into a town where everyone has dissapeared, enjoyed it. But some of his books I find really funny. Stephen King is what I call horror, am currently reading Insomnia and then moving onto either Anne Rice vampire chronicals or Koontz - Out of the Corner of my eye. __________________ Carpe Noctem: Ph’nglui mglw’nafh cthulhu r’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn.

03-06-2003, 09:25 PM	#7
Ladyzekke Ironworks Atomic Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Virginia, U.S.A. Age: 58 Posts: 9,005	I've read a lot of his books, but not all of them. I read one every once in awhile, I can't get on a Koontz binge because most of his books are all frikken chase scenarios LOL, have you noticed that? He's good at writing about running and escaping and pursuers LOL. Have you ever read any Robert McCammon by chance? He has a set of maybe 6 or 7 books, hasn't written in ages now, guess he stopped. But his books are the best of the best, even above Stephen King in my opinion. Just try ONE, Swan Song. Just the one book. Read it, and I bet you will be wanting to read all of his books after that, I BET YOU. __________________ Reality Show Recaps

02-25-2003, 07:20 AM	#1
Wulfere Red Wizard of Thay Join Date: March 20, 2001 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska USA Age: 64 Posts: 893	Yes that's right. Dean Koontz is not a horror writer in the classic sense. Stephan King is. (imho) Dean Koontz NOT! This is going to be a quick and dirty review of the Koontz books I have read. Most of his books are heavily cross-genre. Borrowing from Fantasy, Sci Fi, Mystery, Horror and Comedy. It's a rare book of his that doesn't have at least some humour in it. They are, for the most part, books filled with equal parts terror, laughter, love, facts and friendship. As a result, they don't always easily fit into that nice, neat, little Horror niche. I currently own 14 of his works and have read another 3, I don't currently own. I'm working on that. He has out something on the order of 50 novels and several collections of short stories. So this is by no means a comprehensive review of his works. Recently I finished "By the Light of the Moon". His newest novel. I of course enjoyed it very much, being a fan and all. It has Brotherly Love, Romance, Mystery, Gun-Toteing Government types, Nano-Technology and Mad Professors. Not to mention a very large dose of Humor. It was well worth the price. Right now I am re-reading "Sieze the Night" for the 20th time, if I am not miss counting. Which is the second of his Christopher Snow novels and one of his most frightening books. Not because it's full of gore, blood and brain eating zombies. If that's what you want then don't read "Seize the Night". The terror or 'scareyness' of his books comes when you think about what he is using to move the plot along. In "Seize the Night" it's genetic engineering experiments that have gone much too well. In "Dark Rivers of the Heart" it's secret government agencies, the property forfiture laws and amnesia. "Tick Tock" has demon dolls and Vietnamese(sp) Mothers! Yes it is very funny. So, before you walk buy that Koontz book saying "I'm not in the mood for Horror." remember that his books are generally uplifting, full of all the things that make us human, the good, the bad and the horrible. P.S. ... I prefer the audiobooks since I listen at work and you may find that some of these translate very, very well to tape. Only one of his works is available on CD and that is Strange Highways: Chase. The rest are on unabridged audiotape.

02-25-2003, 06:46 PM	#3
Wulfere Red Wizard of Thay Join Date: March 20, 2001 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska USA Age: 64 Posts: 893	Which is exactly my point. Seems like everytime I see a book written by Dean Koontz in a store it is in the Horror section. Oh and he is supposed to actually be putting out the "Book of Counted Sorrows" sometime in the future. He writes those passages as he writes his books so it doesn't actually exsist yet. But, someday it will. [img]smile.gif[/img] Given his childhood and what he went through it's amazing he is so up-beat and goodhearted.

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