Rating: 
Summary: 500 bodie bags?
Review: I just read Dean Koontz's book, Phantoms. From the first page it catches you attention then holds it TO THE LAST PAGE! On the first page, you are taken to a small out-of-the-way town in northern California, called Snowfield. Here, Jenny Paige, the doctor, goes home to find her house keeper...Dead. a sheriff from a close town, there to help, calls for backup, and asks for 500 bodie bags. Dean Koontz is the author of many best selling books, I like his writing because he describes the setting, people, weather, mood, and whatever else, SO WELL. i recommend Dean Koontz's Phantoms to any one who wants to read a real page turner.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow... Now THAT was a scary book!
Review: I read this during the summer of 1999, and holy spit I was scared by it! This book is vintage Koontz. This is the book that made me love him the way I do. The character analysis is amazingly well done, and the amount of atmosphere that gets created while you read this makes you feel like you're really there. The main characters (Jenny & Lisa Paige, and Bryce Hammond) were, no, *are* unforgettable, the actual scenes where something scary happens are scary as hell (this does not necessarily mean it is gory, though!), and... Well, I suppose I shouldn't mention anything more. It is so scary, though, because this book, among others (The Shining, The Relic, and Reliquary, to name a few), makes you scared of the dark (believe me--I was scared of the dark for months after reading these), because so many scenes take place in the dark. Oops, I've said too much already. Just read this book and find out. Also recommended by Mr. Koontz: Whispers, Darkfall, Twilight Eyes, Night Chills, and Watchers. Recommended by Stephen King: The Shining, Desperation, Night Shift, and The Dark Tower series. Good night... hah-hah-hahhhh...
Rating:
Summary: All alone...
Review: All alone, where has everyone gone? Scarier yet, what has happened to them and if they "return", will they be the same?Koontz takes another out of this world topic and manages to pull it off. It's funny how these things that would never happen manage to keep you up and night & jumping at shadows! Hats off to Koontz for scaring us like no other!
Rating:
Summary: Movie was a bomb...book is the bomb!
Review: Although the movie was a bomb the book is an excellent read. I was hesitant to watch the movie since most movies tend to ruin a great book. I should have followed my instinct and declined the movie. The movie did so badly at the box office that most people would steer clear of the book. A very bad decision. The book was longer than an average Koontz book but progressed wonderfully. Koontz is great when it comes to throwing a reader directly into the story. He doesn't deal with the extensive characterization until it's absolutely necessary. Unlike some authors that will take up 300 pages of a 350-page novel to introduce characters who usually die shortly after. If you've seen the movie and it has left a bad taste in your mouth please give the book a chance. The movie did absolutely nothing for the book so don't base your opinion solely on the movie. Make sure you have plenty of time to sit down and read Phantoms...once you start it will be nearly impossible to put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: Read the Afterward First
Review: Much that puzzled me about this over-the-top Sci-Fi horror story made a lot more sense when I read Dean Koontz's Afterward. (No, it's guaranteed not to "spoil" anything.) "Phantoms" was Koontz's sophomore book after the wide success of "Whispers." Acceding to his publisher's demands and much against his judgment, he wrote the "horror" story they wanted and forever after was known as a "horror" writer. This is what he feared, and it has been a continual thorn in his side ever since. I had the feeling throughout the book that Koontz was saying "You want a horror story? I'll give you the Mother of Horror Stories!" "Phantoms" takes the premise of the empty town where it appears everyone has vanished suddenly into thin air and runs with it. A doctor, her young sister and a band of local policemen try to solve the mystery. They discover a few bodies that have died most mysteriously, hear strange voices and noises, and realize they are being watched and are likely to be attacked -- but by what? Mr. Koontz pulls out all the stops in the creep and gore department and sets up good look-over-your-shoulder-fearfully tension. The dialogue is very bad, and he did better with the characterizations of the supporting cast than he did with the principals, but for the most part they are believable. "Phantoms" is overlong; and because of it, the tension ebbs at times. The babykiller and the biker would never have been missed. Though the reader certainly gets his money's worth in the horror department, I wouldn't call this one of Koontz's better works.
Rating:
Summary: Page turner
Review: Dr. Jenny Paige returns to her small town home of Snowfield after picking up her sister Lisa. Immidately they notice the town is quieter than normal. When they enter Jenny's home, they find the housekeeper dead with some strange affliction. Something strange is going on in Snowfield. When they're finally able to call the sherrif of a local town into Snowfield, they find even more terrifying clues. Severed hands and severed heads. The entire town is either dead or missing. More and more it's looking like the Devil himself has visited Snowfield. And he's still there. Playing with them like a cat plays with a mouse before he kills it. A page-turner and not quite as horrific as it may seem. Koontz always develops his characters extraordinarily well. There's some strong human emotions and even some humor found in this book. I could barely put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Phantoms: One of the best books in the horror genre
Review: This is one of the few that I read for pleasure instead of a school assignment. My friend recommended this to me when I was in fifth grade and always intended to read it, just it was never a top priority. This is a surprisingly good story. And turned out to be my favorite book. I've never read a story from the horror genre (or seen a movie for that matter) that really developed its characters while at the same time make a far-fetched villain seem very real. This book brings you to a tiny California Mountain town called Snowfield. It's unusually quiet as the two main characters Jenny, and Lisa Paige approach. Then they find the first body, it's very swollen and bruised on every square inch, then another, they then realize everyone in Snowfield is dead. The police arrive but they are as clueless as the sisters are. They find the whole town is missing. Then the truth is uncovered which is even more surprising than the disappearances. What killed them? "The ancient Enemy" did. This all happens within the first seventy-five pages. The next three hundred or so are about discovering the truth and dealing with the problem. This story also has the best villain of all time. What I really liked about this book was Dean Koontz's use of historical background to make the book seem frighteningly more real, and believable. He uses a misunderstood Professor to tell about the true mass disappearances that have occurred through time, such as the Roanoke Colony during the American colonization, and the Aztec's in South America. I think these element make you think about "The Ancient Enemy" more, and make him seem much more believable. You may also remember the movie that came out around early April. The movie had actors from the likes of Peter O'Toole, and Ben Affleck. Unfortunately the movie never got much publicity and bombed. If you have seen the movie, you will probably like the book much better. Even if you thought the movie was horrible I think you should read the book because it's almost a totally different story than the movie, but still uses the same basic plot that the movie did. This is by far the best book I've ever read. This book even towers over any Steven King story I've heard. The bottom line is this is a great book that really held my interest the whole way through. If you like to be scared and like a good book with great characters this is it. The book has wonderful character development and the best villain of all time. This is paced perfectly and really brings you to a great 'high noon showdown' at the end. It gives you a really good sense of closure because it doesn't just drop you off at the end; in result leave you wondering about what happened to your favorite character after the story. For example Mr. Koontz gives us a follow up of all the main characters, which I think more stories should do. This book won my approval for Dean Koontz. I give this book a solid five stars, no question.
Rating:
Summary: No one's around....but that doesn't mean they're alone!
Review: Jennifer Paige and her teenage sister Lisa have returned to Snowfield, California. They note how peaceful it is, how quiet it is. Yeah, it's a small town...but it isn't usually THIS quiet. Then the horror begins. When Sheriff Bryce Hammond and a handful of his men get called into town, things escalate. It seems that there is something in Snowfield...something as old as time...something that is very hungry, hungry for something much greater than flesh... Dean Koontz is, bar none, the suspense master. One of the greatest writers of all time (and I kid you not), he can get into your psyche with his elegant descriptions, harrowing plots, and realistic characters. No Koontz book has yet to fail to entertain me, and I doubt I will ever find one. "Phantoms" may not be his most celebrated book, but it is one of his best. Released with a new afterward, this novel will give you an insight into Koontz's writing...and it just might scare the hell out of you!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: This book is very well done and will keep your eyes glued to the page at all times. Koontz sets a frightening mood which makes you feel like you are standing in the silent, seemingly abandoned town. If you are looking for a book which will make you want to read on, Phantoms is definitely what you are looking for. It's one of my favorite books ever written, and Koontz provides a frightening story to entertain.
Rating:
Summary: All alone...
Review: All alone, where has everyone gone? Scarier yet, what has happened to them and if they "return", will they be the same? Koontz takes another out of this world topic and manages to pull it off. It's funny how these things that would never happen manage to keep you up and night & jumping at shadows! Hats off to Koontz for scaring us like no other!
|
