Lightning

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Summary: Everybody Should have a Guardian Angel
Review: Violent bolts of lightning blast through the sky just before Laura Shane is born. Inside the hospital Bob Shane, Laura's father to be, is shaken, tense and at wits end because the birth is running into complications. Then a strange man appears out of nowhere at the doctor's house to stop the drunken man from attending Laura's birth, had the doctor been allowed to deliver Laura, she would have died in childbirth along with her mother. Other doctors deliver her, she lives, sadly her mother does not.

Eight years later a drug addict holds up her father's grocery story. Money isn't enough for him though, he wants to take Laura into the back room. Then all of a sudden out of nowhere a strange man is on the scene and he dispatches the junkie. Before the vanishes back to wherever he came from, he tells Laura that he is her guardian angel.

Laura next gets a fleeting glance of the stranger when her father dies and she gets some comfort knowing that he is out there, watching over her. However her faith in her guardian angel is put to the test as she runs into tragedy a plenty in the children's home she is sent to. Then years later, when she's married with a family, she can almost put him out of her memory, just a childhood fantasy. But one night lighting blasts, things are happening, someone wants to hurt Laura and now the stranger is back and nobody could ever believe, least of all Laura, what happens next.

This book is as gripping now as it was when I read it as a little girl. I completely identified with Laura. The action is tense, the intrigue is tense, the whole darn book is tense. I couldn't put it down way back than and I couldn't put it down last night, either. If you haven't read "Lightning," I suggest you do so. You won't be disappointed.

Ms. Mindy Adams

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Summary: Long Time Fan
Review: I have been a Fan of Dean Kootnz since i was in 9th grade which was about 7 or 8 years ago. The first book i read was Intensity, and I thought it was the best until, I read Lighting. Actully I am still reading it but I only have like 10 pages left. I would recommend and Kootnz Fan that hasn't read this book should read it.

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Summary: Amazing time travel story!!!
Review: "Lightning" focuses on a woman named Laura Shane. The story begins with the night that she is born. Lightning strikes and a stranger appears out of nowhere to save Laura from a fatal delivery. As time passes in Laura's life, the same stranger would always appear following a bolt of lightning to save her from tragedy. Laura would always ask herself why the man never seemed to age, where he came from, and what his motivations were for constantly saving her. She even comes to think of him as her guardian angel. But Laura would learn the true nature of her destiny, when the stranger appears on her 30th birthday, and asks for her help.

This book really impressed me. You are literally hooked from the first page, because the first thing Koontz does is make you ask the question of why the stranger wants Laura alive. The story unfolds extremely well, because you slowly learn the answer to that question over the course of the story. Not only was I constantly trying to guess the stranger's intentions, but I also found myself on the edge of my seat with the endless amount of suspense that the story brings. This is due mainly to Koontz's take on time travel. The stranger is forced to repeatedly travel through time to save Laura. However, anytime that you change a person's destiny through time travel, it can seriously affect their future. The reason that Laura's life continues to become tougher and tougher is because of the stranger's involvement in her life. It creates what is known as a paradox. No matter how honorable his intentions may be, they cause something far worse to happen. The suspense and non-stop action that follows is incredible. Koontz's overall take on time travel - how it is achieved, where it originated from, and what its ultimate purpose is, is all very interesting and it actually makes sense.

"Lightning" is a combination of a great time travel story, and an action packed chase novel. The characters are well developed, there are tons of twists and turns, and the suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is definately one of Koontz's best books.

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Summary: Not your ordinary time travel novel
Review: Koontz has produced a fine read in Lightning. Not only is the storyline original and exciting, but this book is also filled with heart and humor. When Koontz writes about the Ackerson twins and their friendship with Laura, you would swear that he is in fact a witty 12 year old girl because he so beautifully portrays their delicious humor (think the nun remark from Thelma)but also their pain. This is not just an oridinary science fiction/suspense book due to all the tenderheartedness that is present in the first half of the book. This book is just the right mix of intrigue and human warmth. It's a great read!

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Summary: Excellent
Review: This is my first Koontz novel even though writing friends have suggested him to me for years. It will not be my last! Loved it! (And yes, did get a minor headache from the paradox)

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Summary: My Second Koontz Novel..and a Great One!
Review: I got two Dean Koontz books for X-mas, because I heard he was a good Suspense/Horror writer, and I was tired of just reading Stephen King. I am sure glad I took a chance on this guy! The first book I read was Intensity, which is still my favorite of the two. The very day I finished that book, I opened up my second gift, Lightning, and got sucked into the characters and the mystery surrounding them. I read this book in about 8 days which is very fast for me, and I had trouble putting it down most nights. Some of the reviews here state that the second half wasn't nearly as good as the first, but I actually liked the second half better. Not only was it more action oriented (I'm a guy!), but it took the time travel ideas to a whole new level that I didn't see coming. Some of the time traveling issues did get so confusing that I found myself re-reading certain sections over again to finally make some sense of it. The characters are fleshed out extremely well, especially Laura and Stefan. I agree that most pre-teen girls and eight-year-old boys are not gonna talk in the manner or the intelligence of these kids, but the dialogue is so amusing I can overlook these minor flaws. Since reading these two novels, I now consider myself a Koontz fan and have bought four more of his most popular novels. If your into Sci-Fi, Action, Drama, Romance, or WWII history, give this novel a try. Its got a bit of everything for everyone. And go read Intensity if you haven't yet. Now it's time for me to start my third Koontz novel, Watchers.

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Summary: A good read, but not memorable
Review: I liked this book in that it kept me reading and intrigued with what will happen next, and that is all I really ask of a book. The plot kept moving and the action was brisk. There was also a bit of a mystery to keep you interested about Laura's guardian angel and what that was all about. I was a little disappointed in his reason for "guarding" her, but I won't spoil that part.

Time travel is really tough to pull off without plot holes. I usually look past them because there are just so many ways to find loopholes in time travel stories, but for those that read the book, do you honestly believe they were using the portal to its fullest? I really don't think Koontz thought through the whole time travel aspect and really nailed it down. When Stefan made 2 trips to the location of 2 specific famous people (I'm trying not to give anything away here), why didn't the members of the institute just do the same and blow them away? Seems much more useful than what they used the portal for.

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Summary: Excellent Writing
Review: After reading a book like Lightning, I have such high esteem & respect for Dean Koontz. I've been a fan for many years, this was one of the first books of his I read. It's left an impression.

While again, the plot isn't likely, somehow Koontz drags you in & makes you think that it is happening. In a town not far from you...

Time travel has always been an interesting topic & Koontz manages to pull it off!

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Summary: "Jeez, Shane!"
Review: This, my first Koontz book, has left me startled and amazed. After one of my friends pestered me to read it for over a year I finnally gave in. I don't usually read this kind of book, but after "Lightning" I seriously need to reconsider what I "usually read." although there is a certain predictability about this book, my eyes were literally glued to the page, I did not even want to blink my eyes for fear I may miss the action, and after all you are kept guessing where Laura's guardian angel is from, why he is so interested in her, and why he is so intent on saving her. There is another "fault" to this book, and that is that in my opinion the ending is too abrupt. Still, considering how wonderful the rest of it is, and the unusual yet endearing writing style, I would highly recommend it to anyone, whether you are a lover of Koontz's novels or are just bored with what you "usually read." After this my mind is more open to different things.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: After reading The Face, which I enjoyed for the most part, I returned to Amazon.com and picked out another one of Koontz's books based on the customer reviews. Unfortunately, I didn't read enough of them. Lightning has an intriguing beginning, but is marred by, among other issues, poor writing, unbelievable dialogue, and far too many words. I gave it three stars because it is a fairly entertaining concept and story. The poor writing is characterized by Koontz's tendency to tell instead of show; explaining every tiny thought a character has instead of showing reactions is, or should be, #1 on an author's "Do not do" list. Dialogue. Twelve-year old girls and eight-year old boys do not talk in the manner that Koontz portrays. It is possible that there might be a few exceptional children who do, but not three twelve-year old girls being brought up in an orphanage. Another problem the book has is the constant reference to various upscale products: Ray Ban sunglasses, Yyes St. Laurent suits, etc., etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseam.

In my opinion it is understandable why so many people like this book: Laura Shane is a beautiful, spunky heroine; Stephan is a hunky, admirable "guardian"; the concept of time travel is fun; and, there is an appealing love story. However for the reader who might be annoyed by the problems I've mentioned, please be forewarned.