Shadow Fires
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Demon Seed and The Eyes of Darkness presents a novel of pure terror in which a woman is stalked -- by a man who looks exactly like her dead husband..."Holds readers spellbound". -- Booklist
"His prose mesmerizes...Kontz consistently hits the bull's-eye". -- Arkansas Democrat
"His prose mesmerizes...Kontz consistently hits the bull's-eye". -- Arkansas Democrat
Mass Market Paperback, 528 pages
Published
June 1st 1993
by Berkley
(first published 1987)
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This was one of the earlier Koontz novels that I somehow missed in my youth. It tells the tale of a genetic genius named Eric who, after an ugly argument with his soon to be ex-wife Rachel, dies in an accident. But this is a Koontz novel so you know he doesn't stay dead . . .
Before long Rachel and her new love interest Ben are on the run from a resurrected Eric and men who will do anything to keep Eric's status a secret.
Koontz has always been hit or miss with me and I'm sad to say that this book...more
Before long Rachel and her new love interest Ben are on the run from a resurrected Eric and men who will do anything to keep Eric's status a secret.
Koontz has always been hit or miss with me and I'm sad to say that this book...more
(unabridged audiobook read by Jonathan Marosz): As Rachel and Eric leave the offices of their divorce lawyers, they are arguing viciously about the settlement. Eric gets so angry he storms off directly into oncoming traffic, where he is killed by a garbage truck. After the initial shock wears off, Rachel gets incredibly paranoid and hangs out with her boyfriend Ben, actively not telling him things. When Eric's body disappears from the morgue, her paranoia becomes a reality: Eric's not really dea...more
ISBN 0425136981 - Koontz is an author who has always walked a weird line for me, with Night Chills a prime example. His writing tends to be great, and his sex scenes tend to be aberrant, making me wary of his books. Shadowfires straddles the same line, but with far more finesse than Night Chills - there are sex scenes which are somewhat repulsive (and to go into greater detail would give away too much) but Koontz includes a more "normal" sex scene between hero and heroine that balances it out a...more
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It's a story about chase, exhausted in all its forms: a woman runs away from her ex-husband, good cops go after mad men, haunted pasts attempt to wreck the present, a lunatic sweeps a trail of secrets, a monster flees from his humanity, and love pursues the probability of surviving despite the odds.
But I'm making it sound much better than it actually is -- this is one of my least liked works by Dean Koontz. The whole act of reading the book has become something of a quest in itself, of whether I...more
But I'm making it sound much better than it actually is -- this is one of my least liked works by Dean Koontz. The whole act of reading the book has become something of a quest in itself, of whether I...more
I know that the reviews for this book have been mostly negative, but I am going to break with that and give a positive review. I really enjoyed Shadowfires. Yes, the book had a VERY unlikely premise, and it required a huge suspension of disbelief. But many horror books do. The story was so fast-paced that it kept me turning pages quickly to find out what would happen. The "good" characters were very likable. I really rooted for them and cared about what happened to them. That is essential for an...more
Published in the late 80's,this tale of genetic engineering gone horribly wrong could be something read in the newspaper in just a couple of years.
When a brilliant and powerful man with a fear of hellfire discovers a genetic life extension mechanism using experimental rats, he throws all of his resources into perfecting it. Much to his amazement, not only do the genetic modifications extend life but they also resurrect the dead experimental animals. However, once brought back to life, these rat...more
When a brilliant and powerful man with a fear of hellfire discovers a genetic life extension mechanism using experimental rats, he throws all of his resources into perfecting it. Much to his amazement, not only do the genetic modifications extend life but they also resurrect the dead experimental animals. However, once brought back to life, these rat...more
Rachael Leben's request for a quick and clean divorce left her successful husband, Eric, enraged and humiliated. Seething with anger, he stormed off, straight into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
Eric is pronounced dead at the scene, but Rachael knows the secrets he's left behind. And when his body disappears from the morgue, she knows that her turbulent marriage is far from over...
Dean Koontz was born in Everett, Pennsylvania, and grew up in nearby Bedford. He won an Atlantic
...more
Not very good at all.
In the late 80's and early 90's, I devoured Dean Koontz by the fistful, probably reading 16 to 20 of his books (some of which I actually debated upgrading to hardcover editions) in a 5-year time span before finally burning out on him thoroughly and completely.
Now, as I reread one of these novels every year or two, I wonder what the hell I was thinking? The characters (usually described in terms confined to the card aisle at Hallmark) are virtually the same in every book, the...more
In the late 80's and early 90's, I devoured Dean Koontz by the fistful, probably reading 16 to 20 of his books (some of which I actually debated upgrading to hardcover editions) in a 5-year time span before finally burning out on him thoroughly and completely.
Now, as I reread one of these novels every year or two, I wonder what the hell I was thinking? The characters (usually described in terms confined to the card aisle at Hallmark) are virtually the same in every book, the...more
I first read this book when I was in high school, and then again in college, which was about ten years ago. I recently decided to revisit it again.
I always enjoy stories with a high level of adventure, where the characters go from one place to another, discovering and exploring new things on whatever quest they’re undertaking. And in that regard, Shadowfires definitely gave me my fill. What made it even better for me, personally, was that I’ve actually gotten to see some of the areas depicted in...more
I always enjoy stories with a high level of adventure, where the characters go from one place to another, discovering and exploring new things on whatever quest they’re undertaking. And in that regard, Shadowfires definitely gave me my fill. What made it even better for me, personally, was that I’ve actually gotten to see some of the areas depicted in...more
It more or less goes without saying that Koontz books aren't very enjoyable, but this one is actually one of the ones that was relatively fun. It's a pretty basic creature feature. Once the plot is set, you know what you're going to get; there isn't much in the way of suspense.
This novel revisits Koontz's obessesion with secret experiements and genetic tampering. His concerns have not exactly turned out to be prescient. The characters are same basic stock you'll find in any of his work and the...more
This novel revisits Koontz's obessesion with secret experiements and genetic tampering. His concerns have not exactly turned out to be prescient. The characters are same basic stock you'll find in any of his work and the...more
Aug 08, 2010
Suzana Vuksanovic
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who likes mhorror and thrillers, but with intelligence
Dean Koontz is an amazing author. He shows that the macabre does not have to be supernatural to be just as chilling, and each of his books demonstrates this.
In this remarkable book we have a geneticist who has broken the fundamental rule of experimentation - he has administered an untested drug on himself.
His obsession is immortality - and the "drug" he has administered is the formula he and his firm have been working on for longevity.
When Eric Leben (the scientist in question) gets run over by...more
In this remarkable book we have a geneticist who has broken the fundamental rule of experimentation - he has administered an untested drug on himself.
His obsession is immortality - and the "drug" he has administered is the formula he and his firm have been working on for longevity.
When Eric Leben (the scientist in question) gets run over by...more
Not one of Koontz best works. The story, and I do like the unnatural and weird, was incredibly far fetched. If it had been presented as something that was just out there it would have been better. However, the whole story line was based on a scientific line and it made it even that more incredulous. Specifically, the villain in the story shouldn't have been able to remain as coherent as presented and I felt like it was just a cat and mouse story at the end of it. On top of it (even though I did...more
I am really starting to love Koontz's writing. This is a great read, completely worth your time. Koontz seems to have a thing about good vs. evil, with both being active, personified forces. It's a rare thing in today's writing, when "evil" is often merely the absence of "good", or where the "evil" inhabits more of a moral gray area.
This was written in Koontz's early years, and is also published under the pseudonym of Leigh Nichols. While the villain and heroine are both clearly portrayed withi...more
This was written in Koontz's early years, and is also published under the pseudonym of Leigh Nichols. While the villain and heroine are both clearly portrayed withi...more
Actually REREADING...Just KNEW this had to be Dean Koontz or Stephen King. Great story all together, but my favorite characters are Jerry Peake and Julio Verdad, (Spanish for Truth). They really ARE the whole book and why I was REREADING. I have a hardback with JUST Leigh Nichols listed as author. What interested me was how stupid the cover looked for such an intelligent book. The cover is DUMB, like some 70's bad op art. When I first read it I felt sorry for the author to be packaged so inappro...more
A man and woman, recently romantically involved, driving, running, and crawling away from a sadistic killer linked to secret government work. Pretty standard setup for a Dean Koontz novel, "Shadowfires" is not one of his best nor one of his worst.
The main problem with the book is that it's about a hundred, hundred-fifty pages too long. The ending, while satisfying for the most part, is dragged out particularly long, and I feel a lot of the energy was gone at around page 300.
Still, not a bad boo...more
The main problem with the book is that it's about a hundred, hundred-fifty pages too long. The ending, while satisfying for the most part, is dragged out particularly long, and I feel a lot of the energy was gone at around page 300.
Still, not a bad boo...more
Reading all of these one star reviews makes me rather sad considering that Dean Koontz is one of the nicest people who have ever come into my orbit; yes, the writeing in Shadow Fires isn't exceptional. I myself would have some reservations in calling it first rate. However, Koontz's style, at least in this book, was by no means awfull. The plot and charactes and what not are developed well enough, but the best part of this story is simply that it's very entertaining and a just a good,fun read....more
Being one of Koontz's earlier books (I think he originally wrote it under the pen name Leigh Nichols) I didn't have the highest expectations. Still, it was a solid, if somewhat uninspired read.
Story and characters were fairly standard, but it was mostly fast paced and entertaining.
What I most liked about the book:
- good chemistry between the protagonists
- convincing cops. This was a highlight for me, as the policemen in suspense novels often tend to be very superficial
- great buildup to the fi...more
Story and characters were fairly standard, but it was mostly fast paced and entertaining.
What I most liked about the book:
- good chemistry between the protagonists
- convincing cops. This was a highlight for me, as the policemen in suspense novels often tend to be very superficial
- great buildup to the fi...more
Originally written under the pen name of Leigh Nichols, this book tells of a love triangle gone horribly wrong. Rachel Leben has been separated from her brilliant husband for months. Eric Leben is a genetic scientist whose main obsession is youth. Rachel has become tired of her older husband's obsessive lifestyle and is wanting a divorce. After a violent argument, Eric storms out into the street and is killed when he is hit by a truck. Horrified by the situation, Rachel reluctantly leans on Ben...more
Shadowfires is the second Dean Koontz book I’ve read. The first one was Midnight, which was recommended by a friend of mine. Likewise, Shadowfires was also recommended by an acquaintance who told me that it was very scary.
Between the two, there are definitely a bit of similarities, namely the use of a megalomaniac character and the use of a crazed science experiment. In this case, the science experiment is performed by Eric Leben, a hell-fearing man who wishes to gain immortality. After he is ki...more
Between the two, there are definitely a bit of similarities, namely the use of a megalomaniac character and the use of a crazed science experiment. In this case, the science experiment is performed by Eric Leben, a hell-fearing man who wishes to gain immortality. After he is ki...more
This book made me afraid of the trunk of my car. I had to resist the urge to fling it open, poking around and saying, "Hello...are there any murderously reanimated maniacs hiding out in here? I'm just going down the street to Wal-Mart...try not to kill me as I'm shifting gears, mmm-kay?"
The fact that Eric is smart enough to create something that could potentially stop death, but is stupid enough to test it on himself should have been my first clue about how this novel would go.
I struggled with E...more
The fact that Eric is smart enough to create something that could potentially stop death, but is stupid enough to test it on himself should have been my first clue about how this novel would go.
I struggled with E...more
Review update: 12-29-08
So I finally finished this book. For some reason I just felt that I had to. I bought it and all. Anyway... I took it in short doses and made my way through it. It's a new addition with a new afterward by the author, but in checking out the copyright, I see that it's one of his earlier published works from 1987. It was first published under a female pseudonym even. So I thought... hey... Koontz a big-time auther now... this was early stuff. Maybe it shouldn't be representat...more
So I finally finished this book. For some reason I just felt that I had to. I bought it and all. Anyway... I took it in short doses and made my way through it. It's a new addition with a new afterward by the author, but in checking out the copyright, I see that it's one of his earlier published works from 1987. It was first published under a female pseudonym even. So I thought... hey... Koontz a big-time auther now... this was early stuff. Maybe it shouldn't be representat...more
To be fair, I didn't read this book. I mostly skimmed it, ignoring the subplots about the detectives (human interest) and the government dark ops (horror) and stuck to the main plot: what to do if your abusive controlling soon-to-be ex-husband comes back from the dead and mutates into a giant iguana? I would have been more than happy to just stick to the suspense of whether or not her husband had come back from the dead but apparently that wasn't enough. Koontz had to run with the concept by aba...more
Lovely woman is divorcing wealthy man, not taking ANY of his vast wealth. Outside the courthouse, he's grasping her arm too tightly, and they argue. He walks away in a rage, and is hit by a garbage truck. Too bad that's not the the end of it. He and his company have been up to some top secret stuff. Stuff that brings life threatening danger from two sources, and the police can't offer any help or protection. This nailbiter will keep you up!
I never understood all the criticism of this book, I found it to be very good. It tells the story about a woman named Rachel who is close to divorcing her husband, Eric. In the middle of a heated argument Eric is killed by a speeding car. When Rachel returns home she hears that Eric's body has disappeared from the morgue.
If you like good horror novels with good character development, I recommend this book.
If you like good horror novels with good character development, I recommend this book.
This book is one of his earlier novels and obviously a precursor to the Frankenstein series. (which I liked immensely). It is violent, a little pedestrian and odd to read because it references "technology" that we've surpassed. (mentions someone using a car phone, for example). I like Dean and if you like him, it's a worthy read that you can read in two days, but not one of his tighter, better written stories.
Haven't read a Koontz book in a long time. This is one of his older books (with one of his usual unmemorable titles) and it kind of suffers from his habit of stretching out a story to its breaking point. No reason this book had to 500+ pages given the rather simple story - but it was still readable and entertaining and the end action sequence was pretty riveting. Overall, pretty average for Koontz which is usually a good page-turner.
Another of Koontz's earlier books originally published under the pseudonym Leigh Nichols (he gives a very humerous afterword relating Leigh's demise), this book probably sowed the seeds in Koontz's mind for his subsequent Frankenstein series. A top genetic researcher has died unexpectedly, but what did he leave behind? Somewhat predictable in the resolution but still very suspenseful along the way.
I'm currently reading this book because I am finding it very difficult to finish. The story line is very predictable and the characters are very shallow. Usually, I enjoy this author which is why I'm giving it a chance, but the book is sitting next to me and I'm on the computer. I am giving it 2 stars only because I will finish it, but I doubt the ending will be a surprise.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koontzland - Dean...: Shadowfires (Group Read - May 2013) | 51 | 51 | Jun 03, 2013 09:59am | |
| The Bloody Book C...: Shadowfires by Dean Koontz | 2 | 3 | Jan 31, 2013 06:43pm |
Leigh Nichols is a pen name of Dean R. Koontz.
More about Leigh Nichols...
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“Now, sprawled comfortably in his motel bed, Anson Sharp enjoyed the sleep of the amoral, which is far deeper and more restful than the sleep of the just, the righteous, and the innocent.”
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