Rating: 
Summary: Better than S. King
Review: Koontz, like Stephen King, is amazingly prolific -- it seems like he's written 300 books. And I wasn't crazy about his earlier stuff, which was often overly melodramatic, cliched, and overwrought. But lately he's on an amazing roll. His last few novels are better than the recent stuff King has been writing. "One Door Away From Heaven" is a great book. Great characters, great scenes, great dialogue, great energy -- and an amazing combination of humor and passion. Many sci-fi and horror novels are ultra-dramatic (which can be a good thing or a bad thing)), and occasionally they are humorous. But I've never read a novel that has me literally laughing out loud one minute, and moved to tears the next. I consider myself to be a sophisticated reader -- I've chowed down on Hemingway, Faulkner, V, the Crying of Lot 49, and the usual gang of literary suspects. But in many ways "Heaven" blows those other guys out of the water. It's unbelievably funny, it's genuinely poignant, and each scene seems to top the one that came before it. In many ways, it's an updated "Stranger in a Strange Land" (Grok?), but even better. Buy this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Long and boring
Review: Koontz has written a pretty good 250-300 page thriller, but unfortunately, it took him 600 pages to do it. Virtually nothing happens for the first 300 pages, and the book then picks up a little speed but still moves slowly, You almost get the feeling that Koontz is being paid by the word. That or he is trying to be "artsy." He goes into endless and tangential harangues on every person, object or animal that appears anywhere on the periphery of the book. The only way I could get through it was with lots of skimming.
Rating: 
Summary: Complex, intriguing, entertaining
Review: I almost feel as though I should apologize for liking this book, in light of what other reviewers have said. Perhaps I am just a simpleton, easily amused by almost anything. I don't really see myself that way however...
OK, onto the book. There are 4 separate story lines running concurrently here, equally interesting in their own right. I found it a bit frustrating to jump back and forth: just as I was really getting into one, I jumped off to another one. It was like playing ping-pong with me as the ball. That said, I never felt any of the characters/story lines were so much better than the others that I felt cheated. I liked to think of it as a bit of a challenge to keep it all straight, knowing that the further I got into the book, the chances of the story lines merging increased. Mentally, you have to stay on top of things. But c'mon, isn't that what makes reading fun? Something different?
Equally interesting were the different themes, each of which could have been made into a separate story. Sure, they could have, but why not combine bioethicism, child abuse, alcoholism/codependence, prenatal drug exposure, and extraterrestrial activity into one big story? This seemed to upset a lot of reviewers, but I found it an interesting way to touch on all these subjects without being oversaturated with any of them. OK, maybe I'm just as quirky as the book. All I ask for out of FICTION is that it entertain me, that I can follow the storyline, and that the writing is engaging. Koontz scores in all categories. If I don't fall out of my chair rolling my eyes at the dialogue, then it's OK by me. I found the dialogue, especially that of Mickey's aunt and Leilani to be hilarious.
The villains in this story remain largely unexplored. But who wants to psychoanalyze these freaks anyways? I'd rather read about the people I like than the meaning behind the deep subconscious Hitler-like need of "Dr. Doom" to eradicate imperfection from his world. Koontz has earned the luxury of writing what he wants. A little editing might have been in order, but overall this is an intriguing novel. It's refreshing to read a complex set of stories and see how they will eventually all intermingle. I recommend this book to anyone with at least a partially developed sense of humour whose brain can operate in several directions at once, who enjoys a good mystery.
Rating:
Summary: One Door Away From My Own Heaven
Review: To start out, I LOVED this book. Not just because of the ever-so-elusive storyline(s), but because of how much the book really spoke to me. Now, I've read some other reviews, some that praise it, some that say this is "nothing new", but I really think that Koontz has written something outstanding. The storyline intrigued me, not just because the quick little summary on the jacket cover was very confusing, but also because Koontz has done this type of thing before, and he does it well. He brings groups of people together from all different places and ages. His intertwining of storylines in One Door Away From Heaven is what makes him my favorite author to date. Another thing I love about his books is his underlining meanings. At the end of the book, I was so into his deeper descriptions, bedazzling storylines, and imaginative characters, that I literally hated having to finish the last page. I wanted it to go on forever, because it really speaks to me. It sums up what goes through a person's head when they feel the worst about themselves, and it then points them to a higher One that is the almightly lover of good. He does this is such description that if you were any polytheistic worshiper, you would most likely question your religion upon finishing the book. Overall, I would definitely reccomend this book to anyone who just needs to set themselves on a better course, anyone who needs a new perspective on life. Why not anyone better than a dangerous mutant whose life is in danger every moment of every day?
Rating:
Summary: One door away from insight!
Review: Beautiful, but emotionally 'de-spiritualized' Michelina Bellsong; her name an anathema to her soul; struggles to disassociate the spirituallity of crippled Leilani Klonk, the 9 year old girl staying in a trailer next door, with her own.
Micky soon finds that the cruelty bestowed upon her as a child, though painful, has very little in common with the murder of a brother!
A fantastical journey through the paranormal to the otherworldly, via insanity and rapture!
This book will give you faith in humanity, faith in your self and a beatific peace within yourself that we all lack!!
Rating:
Summary: Could have done better
Review: Is it my imagination or does Koontz's characters get kookier and more unbelievable with equally unusual names with each book? His writing is also beginning to get (overly) descriptive and slightly tedious. The book explores the concept of bio-ethics, one that is particuarly interesting given the recent debate over euthenesia. I've enjoyed his previous books tremendously, they've explored interesting concepts with a good dose of humor and leave you with that "feel-good" feeling. I especially love his lines from "the Book of Counted Sorrows". I can't help but feel cheated by "One Door Away From Heaven". This time, he doesn't seem to focus much on the villain. There are way too many characters, each one more complicated by the other and you can't help but feel that by cutting back on a few unimportant ones, he could have done a better job exploring the more important one's personality and history, especially Preston and Micky. The concept of bio-ethics is intriguing, but I wished he'd have focused more on that rather then interweave aliens and the government conspiracy into the plot. It leaves the book rather messy with a sudden ending. Fans of Koontz's earlier books might enjoy this latest offering but I would recommend new readers to read his earlier work.
Rating:
Summary: More than one door actually ...
Review: Either Dean Koontz has been replaced by a computer or he's forgotten everything he ever knew about writing suspense novels. A potentially great storyline (bioethics) is smothered in overwritten eccentric characters, stupid subplots about aliens, superintelligent dogs etc etc. Dean my advice to you is to get a good editor ... Still why bother with such inessentials as a coherent plot, believable characters and genuine suspense when the DK name will sell millions anyway?
Rating: 
Summary: One Door Away From Heaven
Review: My first Dean Koontz. Pulled me in immediately. Story within a story each a book of its own but the joy ride is as they come together. Couldn't wait for the next part. 13 tapes, lots of involving story telling.Full of suspense Reader is a supurb story teller.
Rating:
Summary: Trademark Kootz
Review: Koontz writes a "different" novel here, but he is one of the best writers, regardless of genre, and has the skills to pull it off. Koontz has developed a writing style that takes some getting used to. He has written novels a long time and is a master wordcrafter; I think he like's experimenting with wordplay. This novel revolves around Micky Bellsong, who has led a difficult life and is currently living with her aunt in a trailerpark. Leilani comes along and is a special little girl with a handicap. Leilani's stepfather belives aliens will take her before her 10th birthday. Suddenly the family leaves the trailerpark and the race is on. Micky is frustrated and has already talked to social services about the little girl. She is forced by her own personal demons to try and save the little girl. This is a great novel by Koontz and he shows no sign of slowing down after 30-plus novels!!!
Rating:
Summary: THIS MAY BE DEAN KOONTZ'S BEST WORK!
Review: I believe that Dean Koontz has reached a new peak with "One Door....". It is funny, touching and haunting, and at the end it reaffirms the reader's sense that there is indeed goodness in the world to counteract all the bad. I have rarely been so moved by a line in a novel as when Koontz wrote of little Leilani, when it was proved to her that there is indeed a God, "Curtis (was) able to prove to Leilani what she thus far only dared to hope is true: that although her mother never loved her, there is One who always has." A great book. I cannot believe all these bad customer reviews. You guys and gals must've read this book with your hearts turned off and your brains in neutral. This is LITERATURE. This will endure.
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