Cold Fire Review

Cold Fire

Published: 1991

Author: Dean Koontz

Genre: American, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Psychic, Psychological, Romance, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:

Cold Fire Summary

The Review

Dean Koontz wrote the best-selling novel Cold Fire in 1991. Some would argue that the narrative is bad since this is a newer and softer Dean Koontz, but I like him! This is the story of a guy who is compelled to save several people by an unexplainable psychic conversation. He gives up all to follow what he believes are Godly communications. A reporter is interested when he arrives at one of his rescues. She attempts to interview him but receives no substantive responses. She uses her vacation time to look into him and how he knows where to go and who to help. Their lives become intertwined, and she urges him to look into psychic connections and why they choose some individuals over others. Both are taken aback by the answer.

The rich story unravels in delectable tangles of mystery, keeping your interest throughout. No one (that I am aware of) writes a book about strange supernatural phenomena as well as Dean Koontz. 

His writings are so well-written and convincing that you almost believe there must be some aspect of reality in what he wrote, and you wonder whether he has ever encountered similar occurrences in his personal life or the lives of individuals he knows.

Koontz at his finest once more. His stories are a great delight to escape into, juggling suspense, science fiction, romance, and the occult. In his writings, there are no sluggish rides. He manages to seize your throat and hurtle you as quickly as you can flip the pages. I realize some of these things are repeated in one review and virtually all of his book reviews because he is that amazing.

I love good heroes, and this one fits the bill. I liked Jim Ironheart and would want to see a sequel where he and Holly become a powerful team. I saw Jim as a knight in sparkling armor riding on a sleek motorbike rather than a white horse, since he was modern and bright, and he learned all types of martial arts and read books about all faiths throughout the world.

Holly was single and in her thirties, with a straight head on her shoulders and a cool attitude without trying too hard, and even though you know throughout the book that Jim doesn't want any distractions as we read about how he saves some lives, it was obvious that them coming together would make for more interesting reading.

As we meet Jim, we learn that he is haunted by something horrible that haunts his nightmares and warns him of The Enemy's impending arrival. 

When Holly wants to learn everything she can about him, she becomes stuck in his nightmares, forcing her to investigate his odd predictions and terrible dreams in order to rescue both of their lives.

Things go from amazing to bizarre in the middle of the book. You have no idea where the ending will lead you. Personally, I was pleased with the finish; it was wonderful while being out of the norm.

I liked that I didn't know what was going to happen next and that I couldn't predict the finale, which is unusual for me. 

I enjoy it when a writer or actor breaks the boundaries, both in books and in films! For example my favorite Harrison Ford film is the one in which he plays the evil guy! 

I'm not sure why people are so obsessed with deadlines. How much more enjoyable would the experience be if the author, painter, or whatever the case may be, did not have a deadline and could take their time perfecting their work? Consider some of the finest (or at least stunning) works that did not adhere to any timeline. The Sistine Chapel or China's Great Wall? What miracles could some of these great individuals do if they had unlimited resources and no time limitations?

According to Koontz in the afterword to a 2004 paperback reissue, he and an unknown filmmaker independently adapted the book into a screenplay. They then pitched the concept to several studios. Koontz was surprised that every CEO had the same idea: make the fictitious aliens in Ironheart's life story real. The project was never completed because they couldn't find someone who would support the script as-is and not demand revisions. Koontz is absolutely correct in his Afterword; one minor alteration in the screenplay would have given the film a D+ at best! Hopefully, someone out there understands this and steps forward to develop a film based on the book's tale. It was an enjoyable read.

This book was really nicely written in my opinion. It gets going quickly and holds me interested throughout. I've read practically all of Dean Koontz's works, and just a couple have ever disappointed me in technical ways, otherwise, all of them are great. This had several unexpected twists and turns, which I quite loved. 

If you're a Dean Koontz fan or haven't read one of his books yet, this is a terrific introduction to his writing and great works.

Final Thoughts

I don't believe Cold Fire was much better or worse than other Koontz faves like Intensity or Watchers, but it was certainly entertaining! The author is able to blend the realm of reality with pure science fiction while still creating a plausible plot.

I appreciate how Koontz gets you like the characters and builds up the tale so you think you know what's going on, but then he deftly twists it around and nothing is as it appears. Then he makes you fear that the characters you care about won't make it out alive. I can't put it down because I adore it.

As stated in the first paragraph of this review, the novel is about two people: Jim Ironheart, who is mysteriously warned of impending accidents, and Holly Thorne, a reporter who had an experience with him and couldn't get him out of her head.

From the first page, Jim was a strong but brilliant and lovable figure who saved lives and captured female hearts. In a nice sense, it's unsettling. Mental instability is conveyed in a bizarre yet convincing way. A fantastic investigation of the power of the human imagination!

It's a real page-turner. Great idea, plot, suspense, and overall excellence. It's fantastic. I wholeheartedly suggest this book.

Synopsis

“A man on a mission must come to terms with his forgotten past in this gripping thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.

In Portland, he saved a young boy from a drunk driver. In Boston, he rescued a child from an underground explosion. In Houston, he disarmed a man who was trying to shoot his own wife. Reporter Holly Thorne was intrigued by this strange quiet savior named Jim Ironheart. She was even falling in love with him. But what power compelled an ordinary man to save twelve lives in three months? What visions haunted his dreams? And why did he whisper in his sleep: There is an Enemy. It is coming. It’ll kill us all...?”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Character Development, Great Read, Highly Recommend, Holly Thorne, Jim And Holly, Jim Ironheart, Koontz Books, Koontz Novels, Odd Thomas, Page Turner, Stephen King

Rating: 90/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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Phantoms (1998) (R)

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The Servants Of Twilight (1991) (R)

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The Bad Place Review

The Bad Place

Published: 1990

Author: Dean Koontz

Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Mystery, Psychic, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:

The Bad Place Summary

The Review

Dean Koontz's horror book The Bad Place contains elements of horror, suspense, and mystery and is portrayed in part as a spin on the private eye narrative. Leave it to Dean Koontz to come up with new and unusual settings for his stories. This is one of those quick and simple readings. Koontz keeps his half of the agreement by always keeping the reader intrigued and wanting to know more. Mini mysteries and questions keep springing up, and you want to know the solutions. He introduces characters that you want to get to know and identify with. Both personally and socially.

In this story, the Dakotas are pitted against the Pollards. Koontz gets to touch on an aspect of biology that I have rarely seen in other stories with the Pollards. But I'm not going to say anything about it here. 

The Dakotas symbolize the poor American family attempting to live a relatively normal existence, particularly for Julie's brother, who also has his own biological condition, Down's syndrome. 

Within the numerous interwoven riddles brought on by brother Frank Pollard, the individuals all become entangled. Frank awakens in an alley, unsure of how he got there or who he is.

This is a fun book to read. Mr. Koontz, in my opinion, has surpassed many other authors as the finest horror, science fiction, and thriller writer living today. I admire Mr. Koontz's efforts to both educate and frighten his audience. Many times while reading his works, he inspires a frisson of enthusiasm. Some of his writings are on par with ancient literature. "The Taking" is my favorite of his books among many others. But I enjoy all of his work and have a library full of his Hardback, Paperback, Audiobook, and Kindle or digital copies. What a delight he provides to the reader who seeks an escape from the stresses of the world.

I'm a huge Dean Koontz fan who enjoys novels about vampires and other supernatural creatures. In my perspective, the true hero of this book is a young man with Down's syndrome. 

The primary protagonists are a married couple who are saving money for their "dream." The wicked man is absolutely terrifying; as is his ill, horrible, sick family (their mother is to blame). I'm an animal lover, and I didn't enjoy the cats being used as psychological demons.

If you're the queasy kind, skip this story. This was a roller coaster trip that was both unsettling and horrifying at points. Similar to a Stephen King book. I really enjoyed this book but I am basically immune to being queasy.

I really enjoy this one, especially the superbly created, super creepy twin girls. I'm curious if the primary characters, husband, and wife private investigators Bobby and Julie, were named after Bobby Troup and Julie London.

There is never a dull minute in this novel. I believe that would make an excellent film. It contains nice guys and an enticing, yet terrifying, the tiny family of evil guys who are more than dysfunctional. There's action, love, mystery, sci-fi, and horror... so you never go overboard. It did come to an end soon, but I doubt I would have appreciated it any other way.

Warner Bros. obtained film rights to The Bad Place in 1990, according to Koontz in the Afterword of a 2004 paperback release. Don Johnson and his wife Melanie Griffith sought for the roles of Bobby and Julie Dakota. The screenplay was written by Koontz, and it generated a lot of talk within the studio until the then-studio boss judged it unclear, but the studio refused to sell the script back to Koontz.

Chuck Russell was hired to helm the picture in 1991, while Richard Jefferies wrote the screenplay. Lee Rich Productions would have produced the movie. However, Jefferies quit the project after three drafts, claiming "burnout." Andrew Wolk was hired as a writer after he left. This variant was likewise never realized.

It was written and took place in the early 1990s, and so much has changed since then that the reader is occasionally jarred by the thought "use your mobile phone!!" But Mr. Koontz is such a fantastic writer that he just takes you on great trips with his equally amazing and captivating characters, who keep you going because you have to know what happens to them. If you like Dean Koontz, you should read this book since it's a bizarre yet interesting novel.

Final Thoughts

This is one of those rare books that you hope never ends. It is quite tough to put down. From start to finish, it was thrilling. 

I've yet to read a Dean Koontz novel that I didn't appreciate. It's the unsettling twist of strangeness that keeps you guessing how things will end out. There is never a dull page in this book, which is packed with captivating, loveable, and disgusting characters. But that is how practically all of this author's works are meant to be.

Do you need a good retreat as well as a moderate challenge? Pick up this book. It is remarkable in that the notion is so realistic, but could this happen? Thank you, Dean, for another amazing experience.

It's basically a classic Dean Koontz novel. He writes a fantastic tale that combines suspense, science fiction, horror, and a touch of romance. From start to finish, action. I've read nearly all of his works, and this is up there with Watchers, Lightning, Phantoms, and Strangers as one of his greatest. It's a little more than 400 pages long, but I couldn't put it down. I finished it in three days since I was reading many other novels at the same time, but I dedicated the majority of the third day and night to it. It is most definitely worth your and my time to read this book.

I love a good Dean Koontz novel. I find his writing style to be riveting and nail-biting, while yet being simple to read with few dull passages. This novel has a few unexpected twists and turns; you hardly know what to anticipate or where the characters would probably finish. I suggest it to everyone who likes scary literature as well as fast-paced tales.

It contains a lot of violence and sexual perversity, thus it's not appropriate for younger readers. But, in any case, it was an excellent read for me. If you can withstand the brutality, I strongly suggest this book.

Synopsis

“#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz delivers terrifying thrills in this novel about a man caught in a never-ending nightmare.

Frank Pollard is afraid to fall asleep. Every morning he awakes, he discovers something strange—like blood on his hands—a bizarre mystery that tortures his soul. Two investigators have been hired to follow the haunted man. But only one person—a young man with Down's syndrome—can imagine where their journeys might end. That terrible place from which no one ever returns...”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Bad Place, Bobby And Julie, Downs Syndrome, Ever Read, Frank Pollard, Great Book, Julie Dakota, Koontz Books, Roller Coaster, Years Ago

Rating: 95/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

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Free With Free Audible Trial

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Phantoms (1998) (R)

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The Servants Of Twilight (1991) (R)

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Midnight Review

Midnight

Published: 1989

Author: Dean Koontz

Genre: American, Fiction, Genetic Engineering, Horror, Literature, Political, Science Fiction, Spy, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:

Midnight Summary

The Review

Midnight is a cross-genre novel written by Dean Koontz. Suspense, science fiction, a love tale, and horror are all present. Midnight, like many other Koontz works, is separated into sections. Part One: Along the Night Coast covers chapters one through fifty-seven. Part Two: Daybreak in Hades has 37 chapters but, like Part One, opens with its own 'Chapter One.' Part Three: The Night Belongs to Them, which opens with its own Chapter One and comprises forty-one chapters.

Midnight was Dean Koontz's first No. 1 hardback on the New York Times bestseller list. Even though I only intended to read a chapter or ten pages like I typically do with most novels, the day I got it and began reading it, that night became another amazing all-night read for me. Started at ten o'clock at night and was completed at five a.m. I was useless the next day since I was so sleepy, but I still read other novels because it is what I enjoy doing, so I was content. 

Having said that, revisiting the novel many years later is still as fascinating and delightful as the first time. Because it's 4 a.m., my reading pace has also increased. This book introduced me to Dean Koontz in a new way, and it is still one of my favorites.

Midnight combines two classic plots: the excellent 1950s picture Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the classic H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr. Moreau. And, fact, Koontz discusses both of them later in the narrative.

This book initially appeared in 1989. It went on to become a huge hit. It has an allegorical sense, as do many of the author's writings. Nonetheless, it's a fascinating horror story that combines several themes: technology, isolation, man's primal human desires, and the moral compass that most of us have. It's a classic horror story about good vs. evil.

It was impossible to put down! Excellent character development and tension, especially at the conclusion. It may even be worth a sequel.

A complicated narrative, with a wide range of characters, each with their own distinct personality, and a wonderful backdrop theme. It discusses human and humane principles, as well as what makes us human and what dehumanizes us. I rejoiced in the triumphs of the "non-converted" characters while fearing for their fate. I think it would make an excellent film with Dakota Fanning as the little girl! One of the greatest fiction (fiction?) novels I've ever read.

Moonlight Cove, a little coastal California community, is experiencing a rebirth in, of all things, murder. It appears that an unusually large number of its residents are being slaughtered and burned. Why is this the case? What exactly is going on? Sam Booker, an undercover FBI agent, is desperate to find out. What he discovers is beyond anyone's wildest dreams.

Because so much of the tale is fairly predictive in terms of technology, the book contains a plethora of awful situations that give the reader pause. The book takes the deterioration and desensitization of humanity through time and through nanotechnology to its logical conclusion. 

The author definitely delivers enough food for thought, as well as some memorable characters and terrifying scenes. Fans of the author will undoubtedly like his new Afterword.

Midnight is both the start of evil and the end of hopelessness. This contradiction is seen in all of Koontz's writings, and as clichéd as it may seem, it is pleasant to leave the book feeling, as Koontz does, that kindness will win and love will triumph in the end. 

The plot appears to foreshadow the fears expressed by other writers, that the creation of nanobots will be or maybe something that will destroy their creator (think of the TV series "Revolution") but not before causing actual physical changes in man, causing him to lose his "humanness" and become capable of terrifying things.

The presence of a "disabled" and unusual "hero" as well as a great, clever dog/ friend adds to the appeal and serves as a recurring central feature in later works. As a result, the narrative is no longer innovative, but it goes quickly and is an easy read, with characters that are both believable and, as a result, either terrifying (the evil guys) or lovable (the hero and heroines). This is suggested for horror fans who enjoy their horror with a hearty dosage of heart!

Final Thoughts

I was pleased that inside a thriller or horror story, there could be such a good message for people who take the time to reflect between the action sections. 

Without giving too much away, the story revolves around the idea that people could be perfected if they were freed of many of their emotions, becoming more like machines. 

However, when humans are engineered in this way, their bodies and minds begin to physically fight back and fall into a more animalistic state where desires rule them completely. 

Liberal Arts majors will recognize the Romantic response to the Rational Enlightenment, and those of a certain age will notice parallels to the film Altered States. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) advances and some of its supporters refer to humans as "wet robots," this book reminds us of the worth of life in all its defects and urges us not to worship the creature while ignoring the creator.

A fantastically well-crafted work of fiction. Amazing in today's technology, but who knows what the future holds? It is evident that Koontz has a solid handle on today's advancements in cyber technology, and he is confident that there will be future gains, as well as some setbacks as in Midnight.

I get the impression that Dean Koontz, particularly in Midnight, is writing a lot about himself: his views of life's purpose, his philosophy of religion, and philosophy in general. Both or and in opposition to his ideas he does this by what he makes his characters do and say. 

It's simple to see why Midnight debuted at the top of the best-seller list when it was first released. I would suggest it to everyone since it was the greatest of Dean Koontz's work that I had read.

Synopsis

“Dean Koontz, the bestselling master of suspense, invites you into the shocking world of Moonlight Cove—where four unlikely survivors confront the darkest realms of human nature.

The citizens of Moonlight Cove, California, are changing. Some are losing touch with their deepest emotions. Others are surrendering to their wildest urges. And the few who remain unchanged are absolutely terrified—if not brutally murdered in the dead of night...”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

FBI Agent, Island Of Dr Moreau, Koontz Books, Love Dean, Moonlight Cove, Page Turner, Sam Booker, Small Town, Stephen King, Strange Things, Vietnam Vet, Years Ago

Rating: 95/100

Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

https://rebrand.ly/Midnight-Kindle

Free With Free Audible Trial

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Phantoms (1998) (R)

https://rebrand.ly/Phantoms-1998-R

The Servants Of Twilight (1991) (R)

https://rebrand.ly/The-Servants-Of-Twilight-1991-R

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