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Summary: Truffles for the mind and soul
Review: This is a magical book following in the tradition of his last offering, One Door Away From Heaven. It lifts and moves and allows us to believe in wonder. Koontz uses words they way we all thought that faries and and wizards use magic in ways that that take our breath and inspire wonder and most always work for the good and the just, making life just ever so much better for having been said.
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Summary: Hard to Swallow at First
Review: ... but I liked it. What seemed so extraordinarily unrealistic at first is some of the super powers the main characters have. I highly doubt that an enhanced mind could give you 'Star Trek' like powers (you know what I am talking about if you have read the book).THIS PARAGRAPH CONTAINS A SLIGHT SPOILER
One thing I really like is when Dean Koontz finally explained how it was that the 'stuff' gave Dylan, Shephard, and Jilly their super powers. It was almost like he knew that Michael Crichton was writing the book 'Prey', and wanted to correspond his book within a month of Crichton's.
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Summary: BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON - Dean Koontz is back in form
Review: As a long time reader of Dean Koontz books, I have been somewhat disappointed with his most recent novels. Although by most standards they are very readable, they lack much of what has made Dean Koontz a solid best-selling author for so many years - strong characters, tight storytelling. I found the author's recent books to be overly descriptive and somewhat flowery (sorry, but it's hard to describe the exact nature of the problem - also note, I still read them all!).
I am very pleased then to say that his most recent novel, By The Light of the Moon is not only his best in recent years but may be his best since Dark Rivers of the Heart.
The characters - Dylan, Shepherd and Jilly - are brought together after they have been injected with nanobots, microscopic biological machines, which bring about unique changes in our characters. Dylan is able to identify events already happened or yet to come in the residue left by a person's touch on various objects. Jilly develops precognition. Shep, Dylan's autistic brother, develops the most exciting ability. He can "fold" from "here" to "there". He seems to be able to grasp the edge of reality where he is and fold it out of the way while folding into another location. While this "folding" can be accomplished in either space or time, the ability to "fold" into other dimensions is hinted at, creating exciting possibilities for these characters in the future. The author describes this process so eloquently that it reminds one of Stephen King and Peter Straub's young Jack Sawyer "Flipping" into the Territories in The Talisman and Dark House.
The author follows these character's actions with little interruption by the band of black Suburbans following them (full of thug golfers (you'll see!)). This is somewhat unusual for Dean Koontz who usually keeps the tension up by moving frequently from one cast of characters to another. Not so in this book. It works very well, however. The action is fast paced and "can't put it down" exciting.
Some might be disappointed by the ending which sets us up for additional stories, but I loved these characters so much that I can't wait for more.
Dean Koontz has with this novel created a new band of superheroes, but done so in a way that we care greatly about them and look forward to getting together with them in the (hopefully, near) future.
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Summary: Another fun ride by Koontz
Review: Read the first page and you'll keep on reading. By the Light of the Moon is typical Dean Koontz, a page turner that will keep your finger wet. Like other Koontz stories, this one is full of drama, suspense, and a thrill a second. It incorporates an extensive chase that lasts most of the book which is similar to One Door Away From Heaven. And like One Door Away From Heaven, By the Light of the Moon is full of inspiration, believable characters and wonderful locations.
The novel begins with young artist Dylan O'Conner, his autistic brother Shep both being attacked by a demented scientist at a motel and injected with a mysterious substance. Also attacked and injected is Jillian Jackson, an attractive young comedian. They are warned to take off immediately because, the doctor informs them, he is being hunted down by people who want him and his discovery killed. And the chase is on.
If the book has a problem it is the ending. But, as others have pointed out, this may set up a sequel to this story. That would make most Koontz readers very happy. You'll want a full pot of coffee and lots of munchies for this book.
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Summary: Somewhat formulaic, but still pretty good
Review: (3 & 1/2 stars) I definitely enjoyed this new Koontzbook, but not quite as much as his last one, One Door Away From Heaven. The plot unfolds in a manner very familiar to the author's regular readership. Three people are thrown together by mysterious circumstances, and then they're on the run, fleeing from a faceless and vaguely menacing enemy. As in nearly all of Koontz's novels, there is an unknown phenomenon at work, something that is not really explained until the book is at least two-thirds complete. When it is finally explained, I was dismayed to find out that the secret involves the same theme as Michael Crichton's latest book, Prey. Having just read that one a couple of weeks ago, it was frustrating to see that the two writers based their stories on the same idea. Despite the bestseller redundancy, though, By The Light does have several positive aspects that kept me reading it. The "powers" developed by the three characters are intriguing to think about (although Jilly's power is poorly established in the first half of the book). The relationships between the characters are generally gratifying to experience as they are happening. There is genuine suspense and excitement along the way. All in all, this is not one of Mr. Koontz's best novels, but still decent enough. One final thing that I pondered while reading this book.... Dean Koontz creates these (usually) likeable characters in his books, but then we never see them again once the particular book is finished (with a couple of exceptions). It would nice if he would bring some of the best ones back again in future stories.
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Summary: the best yet
Review: My all time favorite Koontz was Dark Rivers of the Heart, but he has surpassed that with this new novel. I absolutely could not put it down. Very different from Crichton's Prey which also deals with nanotechnology. A must read for Koontz fans, and if you've never read him, what a place to start!!
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Summary: Screams for a sequel
Review: Let's face it...there's a lot to love about Dean Koontz's writing. Some people become his ardent fans because of his unbelievable imagination. He can take the reader on a journey so filled with vivid detail that it feels like being transported right into the book's setting. Where does he get the ideas? Although the plot and imagery would be reason enough to read his novels, the thing I enjoy most is the characterization in his better books--and this is one of them! These characters live and breathe, and make you like them (or hate them). In By the Light of the Moon, the relationship of two brothers is portrayed so beautifully that I wish I could know them. The younger, autistic brother Shep is unforgettable. How I hope there will be a sequel to this wonderful story. I heartily recommend it!
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Summary: The Old Formula
Review: I have read Koontz's books and for a hile had been a little disappointed, however By the light of the Moon lives up to all my expectations of a Dean Koontz novel :) I really enjoyed the fast (which is reminent of Dark Rivers of the Heart)pace and the awesome technology (Nanobots, which make all Koontz novels just that bit more believable? who knows what will happen in the future). However the ending was very superhero-ish and made me think of Mutant X (TV Show) with all their special powers and wanting to use them for good. Koontz hasn't done very many sequels, but this has a feel of part 2 coming up. I really enjoyed the characters in this novel and how they jelled together. Koontz often writes to a loose "formula" and this fits right in to it. Man, Woman and Dog (This case autistic brother)find trouble with new technology and must keep one step ahead at all times. Shep (autistic brother) brings a lot of light humour to the novel which breaks up the intencity of the action, just at the right moments. I laughed a lot during this novel. I highly recommend it.
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Summary: Great Book!!!
Review: Dean Koontz's new novel goes to the heart of what it means to be good in a time beset by malice. The story of two brothers, Dylan and Shepherd O'Conner, and Jillian Jackson, the traveling companion whom evil chance - or divine design - bestows upon them, BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON unfolds over twenty-four hours as these intrepid souls race to puzzle out a vicious violation committed against them. Dylan, an itinerant artist, has devoted his life to caring for Shep, an autistic whose challenges may lead them to disaster as they traverse perilous paths only steps ahead of deadly pursuers. Jilly now sees nightmares before them, and her visions prove prescient as they move together through darkness and light toward a destiny beyond the realm of imagination.This is a really great novel, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in a good read. Also good is steven king's dreamcatcher and Paul Omeziri's Descent into Illusions.
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Summary: Dean does it again!
Review: Seems like Dean Koontz has done it again. With By the Light of the Moon Koontz adds another title to a genre he seems to be trying to perfect: That of the seemingly unfinished book. Take From the Corner of His Eye, One Door Away from Heaven and add them to By the Light of the Moon and what do you get? Three novels with insanely long titles that just leave the reader hanging after the last page. After I finished reading Moon I honestly expected there to be an author's note at the end telling me how Koontz wants to spend more time with Dylan, Shep and Jilly. I was extremly disappointed. Never mind the fact that his three protagonists are the most undeveloped characters I've ever read about. Why is it that, even though they are being "pursued" by the men in the suburbans, most of the time you can forget the antagonists even exist. Also, is it just me or does it seem like Koontz has a contract with Ford and needs to promote their SUV line at every opportunity. I don't know, maybe I'm just frustrated waiting for a new Dark Tower or Christopher Snow novel or maybe I'm not old enough to fully grasp the "ambitious exploration of the intricacies of human relationships" by the new "thought-provoking" Dean Koontz
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