What the Night Knows / Dean Koontz

What the Night Knows

category: horror, author:

Dean Koontz

original copyright 2010

read in January 2012

Agamedes' opinion: 6 out of 10: read to pass the time

The cover of this book has Dean Koontz in big letters. So far so good. Koontz is good -- and well known.

Then there's the title: what the night knows. No argument there. A readable size font. The title does need to be on the cover.

Then, in smaller font, "[A NOVEL]".

"A novel" ? What else would it be ?!

Actually... as I read the book... that's a good question.

No, seriously, it really is a novel. No doubt about that. But what else is this book ?

Night is a positive and inspirational message... An argument for niceness, and its ability to overcome evil.

Unfortunately the message is slathered on like sweet icing on a fancy decorated cake. Far too heavy. Far too sweet.

Then there are the characters...

Have you ever met children so cute ? So sweet ? So controlled ? So unbearably stupid !

Most of their problems are due to their upbringing. Always knock -- and wait -- before entering... Always do as your parents tell you... Study hard so that you will have a great future career... Believe in magic -- but only in white magic.

Not that that's all bad.

But when it comes to the crunch -- these kids survive only because sweetness and light will always resist the horrors of the night. No, not "resist"... The kids survive because their sweetness and innocence is an automatic protection against evil.

Perhaps natural evil just has a natural fear of the artificiality of saccharine.

Oh well.

I do not like these children. The parents are similarly over-sweet. But it's not enough to make me put down the book.

At times I thought that Koontz was writing for children, a moralistic fable. But the violence is a bit strong for children. I think. Then again, the violence is mostly less (or less graphic) when it happens than when it is anticipated.

And finally... everyone is saved by the deus ex machina. Really ! Koontz actually calls it a Machina ex Deo but that's what he means: God pops out of the machine to save the good guys.

The book is easy to read. Somewhat exciting. Just a bit embarrassing.

Unless, of course, you like a good moral fable.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

PissWeakly: the Index

The Husband / Dean Koontz

The Husband

category: thriller, author:

Dean Koontz

original copyright 2004,
read in September 2010

Agamedes' opinion: 7 out of 10

This book began with a very confronting situation... No need for me to spoil it, just read the front cover of the book. The setup was enough to make me almost afraid to read on... I do not like "nasty" books.

Still, this is Dean Koontz. I enjoy Dean Koontz books. Though I never did finish reading Intensity... it was too intense for me.

The Husband sets up a very -- potentially -- nasty situation. Within a few chapters I realised, The Husband is unbeatable: there will be a happy ending!

With a sigh of relief, I read on...

Despite the nasty setup this is, I believe, a story of the strengths and weaknesses of family. The hero had an awful family upbringing -- yet he survived, with the strength to be a hero when the need arose. We can all overcome our childhood trauma... not everyone does.

This book is about the strengths -- and weaknesses -- of families and of individuals. The hero will triumph, there is no doubt (after the first few chapters) of that. What obstacles will he overcome? How will he overcome them? Those are the questions which kept me reading, almost non-stop, to the very satisfying conclusion.

Koontz presents a very positive view of the world. Yes, there is evil. Yes, niceness will overcome that evil. I may have my doubts -- but Koontz' view of the world makes for a very enjoyable book.

Put aside your doubts. Cheer for the hero, cheer as the villain gets his comeuppance... The message may or may not be believable. So what?! This is a book to be enjoyed.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

The Good Guy / Dean R. Koontz

The Good Guy

(category: thriller)
by

Dean R. Koontz

published by HarperCollins in 2007, read in September 2009

Agamedes' rating: 8 out of 10

Agamedes' opinion:

This is Koontz just starting to turn to optimistic mysticism... Makes me think of Doc Smith’s Lensmen: There are cold, evil baddies with secret organisations ruling the world by stealth. Then there is the good guy, with his heroic friends and -- very Lensmanish -- his heroic family. The evil guy -- chief visible villain -- kills for pleasure. He remembers gruesome rapes and murders and coldly killed complete strangers. Within a few chapters, though, I realised that he would never harm the main characters, so I could relax and enjoy the read. The theme of the book is, that this is a wonderful world (mostly in the good ol’ USA) with just one group trying to gain control by making us believe that we are under all sorts of threats. Yet the “wonderful world” idea is totally contradicted by the existence of the villains! Perhaps the chief villain’s idea that he himself came from “somewhere else” is meant to be true? His evil comes from his “mirror world” origins, just as Doc Smith’s Lensmen universe evil is from Eddore...? Either a positive message of hope, or thrilling escapism...

..o0o..

This blog is supported by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your own documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.