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Summary: One Door Away from Heaven
Review: As a long-time Koontz fan, I thought this book was one of his best (best being reserved for "Watchers" and "Intensity"). It was one of those books you can't put down and the characters will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend this one for any Koontz fan.
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Summary: Carole
Review: I have read nearly all of Koontz's books over the years and enjoyed all of them, but this one is outstanding! I have barely been able to tear myself away from it. In it he balances horror with science fiction and brings in true emotion and gains the readers empathy with the characters. After reading "One Door Away from Heaven I have come to the conclusion that Koontz is like red wine - gets better with time.
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Summary: This one's kind of for the dogs
Review: This was a rather disappointing book from Koontz. I've read most of his books and have always enjoyed them. I found the characters in this book well written and interesting and it did keep me guessing as to where he was going with the plot. However once I got to the end and found out his destination I had a hard time not thinking I just read a 600 pages for this? I won't give away the ending for those who haven't yet read it, but I feel that though the outlook expressed in the ending is admirable it doesn't make for a very satisfying conclusion for a book of this length. If a sequel is in the offing, I sure hope he adds a few more twists.
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Summary: Slow Story Line
Review: Story starts off very slow. I did not get interested in the story until chapter 45. Koontz spends to much time talking about some of the key characters in the first half off the book. I would recommend if you skip the first 44 chapters. Not one of his best books.
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Summary: One Door Away From Heaven
Review: In the seventies, I was teaching in Houston, and a student brought me a book to read. (I really didn't want to read it, but I promised.) That afternoon, I was stuck in a two hour traffic jam, and I started to read Eyes of Darkness. I stayed up all night to finish it. I was hooked. I am saying this because I am an avid fan through all his name changes; however, this is one of the worst of his books. I have had it for three weeks and I am only through the incident with the snake. I am very disappointed. I will read reviews before I shell out that kind of money again. I know a writer cannot pump out books like Intensity time after time but this one is slow, and I cannot see anything but a group of dysfunctional characters and a rambling plot. Now if you want a book that will keep you up, just read Intensity.
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Summary: Knocking on Heaven's Door
Review: What can one say about Dean Koontz? This man is a virtual automaton who cranks out books pretty much as if he were a worker on an assembly line. That comparison falls mute, however, when one realizes that Koontz manufactures pretty incredible, consistent works of literature. One Door Away From Heaven is one of Koontz's strongest literary ventures to date. In substance, it is comparable to his early eighties book Watchers. Yes, there is a cute, loveable dog that can type, albeit for totally different reasons. For a refreshing change, Koontz does not vilify the government too badly. He does take a rather lofty shot at California's governor and the energy problems recently experienced in that particular state. Heaven contains more Koontzisms and raw humor than is normal. Some of the characters, particularly Aunt Gen and Sinsemilla, are refreshingly new types in the Koontz universe. There are the normal "baddy" types like Dr. Doom that are good for typical Hitchcock type suspense. Koontz does his normal trick of telling segments of various peoples' lives and experiences, finally connecting the parallel story lines in typical roller coaster fashion. Most suspense fans will find themselves pulled into Heaven and unable to close the book until the very last page is digested. More than a good read, Heaven is an experience similar to the aftermath of 9/11 and will, like the WTC experience, revive faith in the basic resilience and goodness of the human race.
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Summary: Loved the ride, ready for another one!!!
Review: I never rush through a Koontz novel because I know it will be months before I get my hands on another one. So, I can't speak to it keeping me up nights in order to finish it because I intentionally read only a few chapters a day. In this way I can extend the pleasure derived therefrom. Something like Sting does with sexual enjoyment when he employs the mechanics of yoga. But,I digress. What has brought me back to Koontz book after book is his ability to marry horror, suspense, AND sincere human emotions into one smooth read. I've read other authors who were good writers of horror, or suspense, but who lacked a sense of hope in their stories. I'm like most of you, my life isn't perfect. I'm the mother of a special needs child, my day is full of mundane work and my relatives are driving me to distraction. It's wonderful to read about people who are facing challenges similar to what I'm going through but who manage to survive it. That gives people like me a boost. Another reason I read Koontz is because the women in his books are fierce! His female characters empower me. And they're realistic. I don't know any weak, turn-her-ankle-and-get-killed types. Women fight back in a Koontz novel. Here's a rundown of what you're in store for: Shapeshifters, good and bad. Indomitable cyborg warrior-women--ur,girls. Dogs aplenty. Psychopaths galore. Vile bioethicists. Sweet movie buffs. Angry insectile aliens. Golden retrievers (gotta have at least one of those pups). Triumphant human spirit. Nail-biting suspense. Oh, did I mention twin pistol-packing showgirls? Thanks for the entertainment, Mr. Koontz. Can't wait for the final book in the Christopher Snow trilogy, hint, hint!
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Summary: Dean Koontz Has Made it Through
Review: I have been a great reader of Dean Koontz for years. This book is the very best ever. Though many of his others have kept me on the edge will reading them and not able to wait until I could get back to my book, this one tops them all. It reached me deeply and was full of so much truth and knowledge as I have come to see it. Each character was a real person to me, growing as all of us must, only going through so much. I thank you, Mr. Koontz for writing such a wonderful book.
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Summary: Disappointing
Review: This was a disappointing effort if you ask me. First of all, the story dragged on interminably and most of the plot was very predictable. And the ending? Well, give me a break! I can't comment on how stupid the ending is without giving it away, but suffice it to say that Mr. Koontz's idea of how the world could be saved is just amusing, not inspirational. I have been a Dean Koontz fan for many years. Watchers is still one of my all-time favorites. But his last couple of efforts have not been up to par in my opinion.
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Summary: Why the grudge against bioethics?
Review: As usual with Dean Koontz novels, I have enjoyed this one very much. However, I don't understand his portrayal of bioethicists as modern-day Nazis. As with any field of study, bioethics has its extremists. But saying that all bioethics teaches murdering the weak in favor of the strong is like saying that all Christians advocate the murder of abortion doctors.
After doing some research of my own, I found that bioethics wrestles with ethical questions regarding such diverse topics as living wills, pain management, human cloning, and embryo research. Opinions on these subjects vary widely among bioethicists. They are not like the evil fascists portrayed in Mr. Koontz's book.
I realize that this is a work of fiction, but Mr. Koontz supports his portrayal of bioethics in an author's note at the end of the book inviting the reader to learn more about this field he finds so troubling. So I did. And now I'm wondering where he got his information.
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