Dean Koontz - Exclusive Video Interview

[fireshshadow92]

i am Currently Reading Odd Thomas i have Forever Odd, Brother Odd, Odd Hour's...i really like The First one its a must Read, a Must have to Read Gotta love a Good Book when their is nothing else to do.

[itswhat3v3r]

Steven King looks up to Dean Koontz though.. Dean Koontz is even mentioned by Stephen King in his book entitled " Desperation " , but I haven't heard Dean Koontz ever mention Stephen King.

[ElMakz]

But I think though that Dean Koontz are much more intelligent.

[ElMakz]

Stephen King and Dean Koonts are the greatest horror writers but at the same time the biggest nerds ever.

[jsalnut]

I really enjoyed Odd Thomas. I'm reading his earlier one, "the Mask" right now. This man is the KING OF TERROR!

[ZimVader0017]

These are the books I have from Dean Koontz: "The Voice of the Night', 'Phantoms', 'Strangers', 'The Door to December', 'The Servants of Twilight', 'Dragon Tears', 'The Face', 'Winter Moon' and 'The Taking'.

[ZimVader0017]

How many books of 'Odd Thomas' has he published? I just found out about this series today, I must find the first book somewhere!!!!!

[flamingfishbone]

@ZimVader0017 Just start with the first one, it's amazing!! What the Night Knows is the one I'm currently on, but Odd Thomas is still fresh in my mind, a really strong character and plot

[101truthhurts]

I liked a lot his books. The fact that he has silly hair and is a republican wasn't enough to put me of him.

[highheadjester]

I start this book tomorrow!! Koontz has earned my Respects... I put him up there with King anyday!! AND I LOVE STEPHEN.. Read ON PEEPS!!

[ZimVader0017]

@highheadjester I love Stephen King too, the way he narrates his stories is really entrancing, once you pick up one of his books you can't let go of it until you finish. Same thing happens with Koontz and Mary Higgins Clark. I can never let go of their books, some I have read more than five times!

[TheAtheistviking]

Dean Koontz is one of the few popular writers whose writing can actually be literate. Too bad he has never gotten the recognition he deserves in the literary world and also when it comes to movie adaptions.

[repelghosts]

and my Mother of 88 years is just devastated ....all love ,truth and hope...Gemma

[repelghosts]

Dean , we were and are shocked and upset to learn of the untimely passing of your dear,dear companion Trixie..We will say a prayer for her this evening...All love and hope from beautiful Toronto,Canada....Gemma and all your fans here...

[Tennowey]

Creeper...

[fireshshadow92]

anyone know any good book blogs? if so please let me know.

[fireshshadow92]

i just baught Dean koontz: Odd Thomas book 1 of 5 i heard he is a very talented,very creative writer,also his books aren't Boring like some where they hit you with all the good Juicy detail's,then the rest of the book is how or why it happend. i love books that grasp my attention all the way through.

[BLClaudia]

i am reading shadowfires now and im loving it! i just finished the eyes of darkness which was my first one by him =) and i have velocity intensity and the voice of the night waiting for me!=)

[guitardwight]

Odd Thomas is my favorite book of all time. I've read it through 7 times and I've started it again. Dean Koontz, you are amazing.

[bloodwish99]

OMG!!! I LOOOOOOOOVVVEEE DEAN KOONTZ!!! XD thats it. i want an autogragh and a hug from him. he's like the MOST AMAZING WRITERS OF ALLLLLL TTTIIIIIMMMEEEE! my stories PALE in the sight of his. he's my INSPIRATION and his books are awesome! im like his fangirl (not in the creepy way)! i just LOVE his books! XD (p.s. working on the book "The Face" right now. just finished "Night Chills".)

[tiemo25]

I actually just got through Shadowfires

Love the way he developed Eric Leben throughout the book

[BLClaudia]

@tiemo25 im actually reading it now =)

[tiemo25]

@BLClaudia

How do you like it so far?

It was one of his earlier books, however it was one of my favorites.

[BLClaudia]

@tiemo25 i am actually on page 46 only im getting a sense that i will like it ! its my second book by him and i am getting hooked! =) any reccomendation besides odd thomas lighting intensity watchers and phantoms? =)

[tiemo25]

@BLClaudia

I would recommend the book Mr. Murder

again it's one of his earlier books (early 90's)

His ideas back then were much more fresh and much better writing, IMO, than his later books.

[BLClaudia]

@tiemo25 thanks alot! im gonna buy it! =)

[tiemo25]

@BLClaudia

awesome, it's a great book. 

[Cairothejackal]

@BLClaudia I would also recommend Darkfall. I liked it a lot.

[philipdoroy]

@BLClaudia i've read his books, i liked it and currently im still buying any books as long as it's his, but i have many choice to choose if you would ask me about what do i want to suggest to, but the first book that always pops on my head was his "the bad place", a very good and suspenseful book..

[tiemo25]

Dean Koontz is a BOSS

he can wear wigs all he wants. 

[RUAV2TWIN]

In my opinion, DK novels run hot and cold.. But when it clicks, his books take you a real journey..

[TheNightsMoon]

People compare Koontz with King, and that is weird because they aren't even the same genre... their writing styles are completely different...

[Eviette100]

I think it was very astute and well aportioned,I would look forward to his work.

[FesteringHeadsFilm]

Odd Thomas should team up with Christopher "X-P Man" Snow.

[Guytar100]

Odd Thomas is such a wonderful and amazing character.

[Chickyrock54]

I love this author, he went through alot; unlike king, Koontz still includes some "happy endings", not 100% horror guys.

[NameConcealed]

@Chickyrock54 isnt that the point of a horror novel?horror XD

[TrollingTNT]

I hate whenever people argue over who is better. King or Koontz? It really doesn't matter. They both are amazing authors who have their own styles. Let it be at that.

[1bobo1]

Some of his books are great, some are horrible, but I think Stephen King is far better

[FesteringHeadsFilm]

@1bobo1 I've only read a small percentage of his books. Which do you think are horrible?

[1bobo1]

@FesteringHeadsFilm I really didn't like Darkfall

[FesteringHeadsFilm]

@1bobo1 What did you think of Fear Nothing and Seize The Night?

[1bobo1]

@FesteringHeadsFilm I actually haven't read those yet, but I loved Lightning and i also like shadow fires

[crumbtrey]

Great imagination. I love his stuff.

[dltanner99]

Horror novel see video book trailer

[castingtherunes]

I enjoy Dean Koontz. I don't always need convincing, hole-proof plotlines. I have no trouble suspending belief . I love his metaphors and descriptions. He is a master of the English language.

[hearts76100]

@castingtherunes

Completely agree with you

[thedon420333]

Dean koontz is quite possibly the most redundant author I know of.

[ProRanting]

@thedon420333 He's one of the poorest author's I've ever read. The Face was one of the worst novels I've ever read wrriten by a author of profound popularity.

[thedon420333]

@ProRanting I don't mind some of it. It's just the same essential story everytime: protagonist gets in trouble with the evil government, runs and meets the love of their life on the way, defeats or escapes evil government and lives happily ever after.

[ProRanting]

@thedon420333 When I was younger and I admit Stupid I liked a couple of his books. Lately I re-read them and was more then unsatisfied. I was little Piss off. I've dabbled in some better authors works like Hemmingway, Matheson, and Orwell. This may be the reason why my standards have raised, but I read King's Under The Dome and was blown away at how good it was. Koontz just plain sucks. There is no hiding it.

[thedon420333]

@ProRanting Yeah, koontz is definitely nothin' compared to king.

[ProRanting]

@thedon420333 Yeah I'm glad you realize that. You should read Under The Dome if you eve lose faith in King. Like if you read Geralds Game Rose Madder ect ect. Under The Dome was to put it in lamest terms. FUCKING BRILLANT!

[thedon420333]

@ProRanting Yeah, I know most of his out of this world. So far I've read: Carrie, Salem's lot, needful things, it, Insomnia and the dark tower series.  So far my favorite is insomnia.

[StephenKingFan100]

@PhaintPhan Have you ever read The Face by Dean Koontz? I personally think it's one of his best!

[jimmysudar]

i love koontz. the odd books are wonderful, the frankensteins are thrilling. . . . 'your heart belongs to me' left me cold. first time i was seriously disappointed in him.

[TheHistoricalfibber]

I bet that new book "Your heart belongs to me" twist at the end is that his deep conscience which is controled by the heart donor is sending him those gifts and he isn't aware of it or it could just be the dead donor's lover.

[DarthSideous63]

Give up the bad rug Dean.

[arlsbs]

odd thomas is my fave book EVER!

[568661]

@arlsbs I cried at the end of odd thomas. It's says alot about a writer who can get you that caught up in a book where [spoiler alert] a character dies and you feel the same pain as if you were there. It was a great book. Probably the best I have read in a long time.

[fushagals]

Does anyone eles want to sleep with him?

[wardka]

It's great to hear him mention he was inspired by some science fiction writers. In fact I thought of him as an SF writer before he became a household name, having read some of his old Ace Doubles in the 1960's. They were good too.  I think he still writes science fiction -- it's just not marketed as such. Watchers is my favorite. I want a canine friend like Einstein.

[crazycaleb92]

dean koontz is just awsome.

my fav book by him is voice of the night

[Cml725]

I just read Relentless. That was a good one, I liked it a lot better than The Darkest Evening of the Year, but I also did like Your Heart Belongs to Me. :) Velocity is one of my all-time favorites. :)

[avidaweek]

Koontz and King are my favorite authors. Imagine a joint effort of Koontz and King on a book......... The mysteries..........

[PhaintPhan]

@avidaweek Doubt that would work. Koontz and King apparently respect each other professionally, but their political and religious views are irreconcilable; I can't imagine they could find enough commonality in their worldviews to collaborate on a book. King's a liberal Democrat, Koontz is a conservative Republican.

[Savior20061]

@PhaintPhan I would also like to point out that their writing styles are completely different. Koontz=more fanciful prose, more metaphors, shorter paragraphs, more sentences starting with dependant clauses. King=simpler, even hokey prose. Less metaphors. Thicker paragraphs. Fewer sentences starting with dependant clauses. Just the way I like it.=D

Everyone would be able to tell who wrote what from a mile away. Not to mention Koontz never writes the word "fuck" in his books.

[PhaintPhan]

@Savior20061 Well, Straub and King have very different writing styles, too, but they worked it out for their two books together. Actually, I think Koontz and King are closer in terms of storytelling style--if not in syntax--than King and Straub are. Koontz and King have unfortunately moved toward broad, kooky, over-the-top supporting characters (and sometimes main characters) that seem like they've wandered into the novel from a dopey sitcom. Straub's a bit more restrained.

[Savior20061]

@PhaintPhan In that case maybe I should start reading some of him. Lisey's Story was too boring too much of the time, and Cell was okay. These older books from his won't last forever, although I will probably go onto Koontz early works as well after I am done with King. I read the first chapter of Lightning in a bookstore and thought to myself "This shit awesome". And after that, there's always Robert McCammon, who I hear is really good.

[PhaintPhan]

@Savior20061 Many of Koontz's earlier novels are terrific. The one that stands out in my memory is "Sole Survivor." His more recent novels, though, are incredibly bad. I recently read "Relentless" and I swear it was like an act of aggression against the very concept of entertainment.  Robert R. McCammon is better than any of them, IMO. Too bad he got bored with it all and retired early.

[Savior20061]

@PhaintPhan It's better he got bored with it and retired than got bored with it and still write, which seems to be the problem with too many authors these days. I liked Koontz's Frankenstein 1. Gave me some of that blown-away-feeling I got from reading my first King novel. Although I found myself caring more about Randal Six than anyone else, since he was miserable, OCD, and trying to find the meaning of happiness.

[Savior20061]

@PhaintPhan I'm reading Lightning right now and I'm totally hooked and interested, and its not even page 100 yet. Laura Shane and the Ackerson twins have to be one of the best Koontz characters I've ever met.

I can't understand why Koontz can't make books like this anymore.

[PhaintPhan]

@Savior20061 I suspect one reason is that, in his early years, Koontz probably had editors and others who were willing to challenge him if something he wrote sucked. Can you imagine an editor doing that now? No matter how terrible the novel is, the publisher will make millions if his name is on it. So he probably doesn't get honest feedback and can delude himself that everything he writes is brilliant.

[Savior20061]

@PhaintPhan Somewhere along the line, I think he became a born again Christian which in and of itself wasn't the problem. But then according to his fans started noticing his views coming up time after time in his books. The Odd books are full of social commentary, which wouldn't be that bad either if it was just Odd but it seems every other late-period character has the exact same views on modern society.

I'll probably pick up Watchers or Strangers next.

[jimmysudar]

@PhaintPhan 'relentless' was weird, huh? although a full-lengthed novel, it seemed like a sketch; there was something pro-forma about it... i felt ripped off...but i can't put my finger on why exactly. any thoughts?

[PhaintPhan]

@jimmysudar I felt totally ripped off. The whole story is meant to advocate conservative Christian, right-wing ideas, though he shoehorns them into the narrative with shocking ineptness. Like Fox News pundits, Koontz demonizes liberals, turning them into villains that would be ridiculous by Saturday morning cartoon standards. He also inadvertently makes his conservative hero seem like a clueless idiot. Without the plot's stacked deck and deus ex machina, "Cubby" and family would've been dead.

[PhaintPhan]

@jimmysudar One eg. of many: If you and your family are being pursued by a murderer with seemingly unlimited resources and you're on the run, you want to make sure you can move as quickly and inconspicuously as possible. So why do they bring the DOG? Cuz in Koontz's world, sentimentality trumps reason. In reality, the dog makes the family more conspicuous, makes travel more complicated and fast getaways more difficult. Their sentimentality would get them killed, but Koontz sees it as a strength.

[jimmysudar]

@PhaintPhan great point. plus, you mention the unlimited resources. i guess that's another thing that irked me: it was almost supernatural, but it was supposed to be a reality- based tale. waxx was practically omnipotent, which was not only implausible but diminished the suspense. overall, i guess i think this: with both this novel and 'your heart belongs to me,' you get the idea that koontz rushed through the writing and applied his cookie cutter to very thin dough. thanks for your thoughts.

[Actuallysalemslot]

@PhaintPhan He didn't get bored; his books weren't selling and everytime he published his books, Stephen King had to look back over his shoulder to see which one of his books that was almost plagiarized this time. Swan Song was a (worse) copycat of the Stand, Boy's Life was a combination of the Body and IT etc etc. He got very angry that he was shadowed by King's enormous talents and success that he had to give up. Later on he come back but in an another area, historical thrillers,

[ProRanting]

@Actuallysalemslot Not to mention "Whispers of the night" took a small chapter of a socio boy from IT and made a whole novel over it.

[Actuallysalemslot]

@PhaintPhan IMHO these new books are much better than his diluted Stephen King reworkings; at least he found his nice voice and I like Matthew as a character very much.

[Actuallysalemslot]

@PhaintPhan Not to mention that Koontz cannot write good dialogue even his life depended on it.

[ProRanting]

@Actuallysalemslot AGREED

[WebSlingah]

He talks completely differently from how I imagined he would from the photos on the bank of his books.

[mike1964180]

I used to like this guy a lot but one of the odd books went from a sewer to some abandoned casino and my god it was bad. Problem with him is that he puts books out before he has worked out the kinks, his editor is either bad, intimidated or very lazy.

[StephenKingFan100]

Reading Icebound.

[JRedd5000]

I'm just starting part three of Your Heart Belongs to Me right now. I have no worries that the end will be good. Of the many Koontz novels I've read I've yet to be disapointed.

[kuapo]

So he heard him speaking during every book, eh?

I guess Thomas must've been drunk when Koontz started writing Forever Odd...

[RMN1904]

in Your Heart Belongs to Me, he doesn't get the things in the mail. they just appear in different places. my favorite's are Velocity, The Face, the Odd series, and a couple more. only thing i don't like much about some books is that he get too much into detail about certain things. so it's either sick or boring. i like his style of writing though.

[DrPoon]

Breathless was great.

[teresachristine]

His hair looks real and ok to me.

[peisley01040]

It's his own hair. He had hair transplants years ago. He could use a new style,though.

[St0rms0fHail]

Watchers was fantastic.

[uncleboggo]

I love him but he has the worst wig ever!!

[BluntBoy007]

THe Bad Place is my favorite...so far...

[SuperThetruthhurts]

Hands down....my favorite author!!!

Dean Koontz rocks!

[Ilovehayleywilliams1]

I love dean Koontz! :) Hes my favorite author :)

[MrDje91]

He's my favorite author too. I have almost 50 of his novels and he has way much more than 50. I will have them all someday. I love Koontz's novels because they're not like anyone else's and he's funny. His novels crack me up!

[TheMenenkoFiles]

Wow, 50 novels. I don't know how old he is, but I sat in a library in Long Beach, CA a few years ago and read a novel of his, and according to the dust jacket he was 27 when it was published. It must have been one of his earliest works.

[MrDje91]

@TheMenenkoFiles Dean Koontz is 64, going to be 65 this year. He published so far 91 novels, BREATHLESS being his latest. His first was titled STAR QUEST, published in 1968 when he was 23. But yes, he's 64 going on 65. He was born on July 9, 1945 in Everett, Pennsylvania.

*I'm one of his biggest fans :)*

[Stunatra]

@MrDje91 91? That sounds low. I'd say it's at LEAST 100.

[MrDje91]

@Stunatra At first I thought you were commenting on the "91" part of my username. But now I know what you're saying. I know it's 91 novels by Mr. Koontz, because I've been on his website and his website shows all the novels he's written. I'm not including THE BOOK OF COUNTED SORROWS or any of his nonfiction works like BLISS TO YOU or anything like that. Just visit his website, you'll see what I mean.

[Templarofsteel18]

@Ilovehayleywilliams1 same here, have never read a book that i dident like by him

[anotherdrunkguy]

@Ilovehayleywilliams1 he's great, but I always feel like he gets bored at the end of the novel and says "well here's how it ends".... Except maybe the Odd series. The TAKING was GREAT.

[Grantmcdaniel]

I'm 12, have written three books, and now am currently working on a book called "Gambler's Game" which is kinda of close to "Cirque Du Freak" but has a different setting, a different way of becoming a vampire,a different Evil the main character has to defeat over the 7 book series.

[endo191]

12 yrs old and you written 3 books?You're a pretty accomplished author.Best of luck to you.Hope to read some of your writings soon.

Where can we find your work?

[Grantmcdaniel]

they're just written, not published

[EnvyAbomination]

Do you have a DeviantArt account? o.o I'd love to read some of your stuffles

[latasha201]

is your stories publshed

[Grantmcdaniel]

no

:^(

[ColdInTheStudio]

I'm a writer and I'm writing a book called "Sting" about a girl who learns that she has a special nitrogen base in her DNA that gives her powers if she's injected with sulfur water, and she has to use these powers with the help of others that have the same powers, to defeat these immortal beings that are after their DNA to force evolution around the world. It's really exciting, and this is my first book (I'm 15) and Dean Koontz is my inspiration. The way he writes is intriguing!

[MrDje91]

@ColdInTheStudio That sounds like a very interesting book. I'd love to read it. Dean Koontz is my inspiration too. I haven't written any of my own books yet because right now I'm focusing on college, but after I'm done and I graduate, I'll be writing full time.

[nysongbird]

Oh I loved "The Face"!!! That book was great! I love all of Dean! I am actually reading "Whispers" and I cannot wait to read "Your heart belongs to me", it sounds fantastic! I can't wait to see what the risk is that he took. I am sure whatever it is it will leave me thinking and loving it!

[LynyrdSkynyrdLover]

Love Koontz. Even though I've only read seven books by him I can tell he's my favorite author. I live in Sweden and therefore I've read seven Koontz-books in swedish, and I can tell you that they're awesome whatever language.

I've recently ordered an eighth Koontz-book in english. Well, that'll be a challenge for me. It'll certainly take a while but what the heck; I have to improve my english skills!

[Grantmcdaniel]

It's good to learn a different lanquage through a book since they give you a challenge and help you learn the language.

[LynyrdSkynyrdLover]

Well. I read 200 of 700 pages, translated the words I didn't understand and got tired in the end. The best way of learning a language is to live in a country where the language is used. Just for a short while. You will learn more during one year in the country using the language, than reading 10 books a year.

It's hard, how we are fighting with english around 10 years in school. What we learn in these 10 years, we would have learnt in just a few months in an english speaking country. How hard.

[szymonwoj1]

In my opinion a foreigner being in an English speaking country does not learn the language by merely being there - it is a very popular misconception (except for children). Learning is an active process. You have to practice. I know plenty of people from my country who have lived in Germany or the USA but they speak German or English with Polish grammar, they make mistakes, they know vocabulary, but that is all.

[szymonwoj1]

You can learn a lot abroad if you are advanced in a given language - basic knowledge is essential. And you are right - the are many more opportunities to practice.

[EdiKRUL]

Is "Brother odd" Better than "Forever odd"?

[nanako9chan]

Ah, now I really want to read "Your Heart Belongs to Me." Dean Koontz is really an amazing writer.

[deanpk48]

Dean Koontz here again. I just discovered another coincidence about the author, Dean Koontz, that his middle name is my fathers first name. This is really "Odd", wouldn't you agree?

[LynyrdSkynyrdLover]

Haha, great pun ;)

[deanpk48]

It would be interesting to talk with Dean Koontz because he and I have the same name (exact spelling) and because he parts his hair on the right side, as I do, which is also not very common, nor is the name. Odd don't you think?

Best regards,

Dean Koontz

[LynyrdSkynyrdLover]

Wow. That's odd :)

[Robyn1757]

Cool that you have the same name as Dean Koontz. Just wanted to let you know.. he doesn't part his hair at all, because he is bald. The "hair" that you see is a "rug". With or without it, he's the greatest writer of all time!

[chowder41]

dean is god i can wait for his next odd and franknstin novel

[grapefruitm00n]

there is a new odd Manga out. In Odd we Trust

[OneBigBlank]

I love Dean and love Odd. BTW, I am so jealous of Dean's hair, especially since I am going bald! Cannot wait to read all the new novels

[nysongbird]

I don't think that is his real hair!!! I was shocked to see an old interview in 1996 with Tom Snyder and he was bald! Take a look.

[Inkdraft]

So What!? People fix their hair and their teeth and lots of other stuff all the time. You watched this interview with one of the best writers of this century and all you can comment on is his hair?

WTF?

[nysongbird]

Your right.

[CastleRockFan]

'Your Heart Belongs To Me' sounds great. Can't wait.