Light Has Weight, but Darkness Does Not

Nameless: Season Two #4

by Dean Koontz

Instinct and violent visions compel Nameless to embark on an unplanned mission to help a desperate mother and daughter on the run. Why is this rescue so strangely familiar to a man with no memories?

Evie and her daughter, Asteria, are fleeing an abusive cult when they meet a stranger in an abandoned Arizona shopping mall. Fate hasn’t set Nameless on their trail. It’s a premonition, and a chance to make reparations for a failure from his past he can’t even remember. This time, Nameless must do everything in his power not to fail those who trust him with their lives.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz comes Light Has Weight, but Darkness Does Not, part of Season 2 of Nameless, a gripping collection of stories about a man in search of the truth, the past, and those who owe a debt of blood. Follow him through each story, which can be read or listened to in a single sitting.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Short Stories, Mystery, Horror, Audiobook, Suspense

Audible Audio

First published June 10, 2021

About the author

Acknowledged as "America's most popular suspense novelist" (Rolling Stone) and as one of today's most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.

Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.

Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth story in Season Two of the “Nameless” series, and so far I’ve enjoyed this story the most. It had interesting and likable characters, a good setting (an abandoned mall), and an engrossing story about a mother and daughter running away from a retreat/cult.

[Jim C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story that is part of a series. This is part of the "second season" as there were a bunch of short stories with the main character that were published a couple of years ago. This one can actually be read as a stand alone to see if you like the concept. In this one, Nameless stumbles upon a mother and daughter who are being chased by three men. Nameless intervenes.

This one is easily my favorite Nameless story which isn't saying much as I have not been the biggest fan of this series. I believe this one is easily my favorite because it is classic Koontz. There is the chase between good and evil. There was the precocious child. If this book had a dog I would have thought I was reading a Koontz book from thirty years ago. The majority of this book takes place at night in an abandoned mall which just adds to the creepy atmosphere. This one was also my favorite because Nameless was helping people in need instead of being vindictive and vengeful. To me, this was a big difference in the character and in my enjoyment.

My enjoyment of this series is like a roller coaster with more downs than ups. This was the highest up and once again I have hopes for this series. This short story transported me back in time and I was that teenager who was just discovering the joy of reading. That teenager was in love with Koontz books and this felt like one of those early offerings.

[Ginger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going with 3/3.5 stars with this 4th addition to the Nameless: Season Two series.

It wasn't great and it wasn't terrible.
If I had gotten more information on the Retreat and the men running it, I would have been a bit more engaged in this 4th book in the series.
It was just too short and didn't really get a lot of momentum until the final conclusion.

Light Has Weight, but Darkness Does Not goes more into Nameless's amnesia and clairvoyant abilities.

While driving in Arizona, Nameless has this intuition to head to Chandler, AZ. In his clairvoyant abilities, he can see a mother and daughter running for their lives.

Evie and Asteria are running from the Retreat. A survivalist cult that encourages men to take young wives and are in control of all aspects of someone's freedom. When Evie joined, she didn't realize that the man in control, the Guide of Guides wants to take a third wife and it's Evie's daughter Asteria.

Asteria is only 12 years old but very beautiful and wise beyond her years. She loves to read books and has realized way before her Mom that this Retreat was bad news!

Nameless is urged by his visions to head to their rescue.
Will he get there in time?

Looking forward to finishing the last two books in this second series of Nameless!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

No disappointment

As with the previous two books in this second Nameless series it's a a bit different in the respect that he saves three people's lives that is happenstance. Again he has visions of the totalitarianism that is coming and glimpses of who he was in the past.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nameless is a hero... strange world he lives in.

[Dollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman and her daughter are escaping from a “retreat.” The beautiful daughter has attracted too much attention from the Guide (leader) and the mother knows it will lead to nothing good. While driving in Arizona, Nameless has a vision of them and knows he must find and help them. This one was okay, not my favorite.

[crίѕтίŋα•●Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ●• · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The best thing about being rich—not that she ever will be—but the best thing is having all the books you want, with no concern about the cost.”
- Asteria

——

“Who in all the world ever stands up to really outrageous evil? Not many. Most people satisfy themselves by strongly opposing little evils, like hurtful words and unpopular ideas and gluttony, where the risk of angering violent people is low.”
- Asteria

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The excellent Nameless series continues in Book 4.

[Bernard Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young mother and her daughter fleeing an abusive cult is another suspense Nameless story that will keep its readers glued to their smartphones, computers, and e-readers. This unplanned rescue mission isn’t spared new violent, dark visions of totalitarianism.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so the story starts to close in on the final chapters of Nameless and his mission (even if he does not realise it yet).

This book deviates from the earlier instalments and I have to say that the change of direction and focus (although when you stop and examine it - is not that great a change in direction) bely the fact there is a something bigger going on.

After this we have 2 more instalments which from a series of 12 (in two seasons) suggest that something BIG is coming. However for now we need to get all the pieces together and ready for he final denouncement and I suspect the events in this story are just the prelude.

As is often said (myself include) Dean Koontz is a master of suspense and the build up in this story is no change, the question is how much is there to go considering how few more stories there are left.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a bit of an aside from Nameless’ usual adventure. It was still enjoyable and of course good prevailed which is always enjoyable for me. But it was a little bit off for me. I am also overtired so don’t take me too seriously. 😉

[Ed Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable chapter in the life of “Nameless”

I have been a fan of the author a long time. Where many “great” authors write original and fascinating novels but eventually just seem to plug in characters and plots that are very similar, Koontz has stayed an original. The nameless series is one that grabs you until the last page of each story ends. An excellent investment of time to both escape today’s woes, and yet begin to prepare for tomorrow’s problems….

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right place right time

Wow , when fate decides to show off it does it in a spectacular way. I cried a bit at this . Still worried about the totalitarian vision 😟 the story continues

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great episode in the Nameless series...
Koontz at his best!

The Nameless character development is awesome...
This installment sheds more light and grants some answers ...

A young mother and his daughter fleeing from a dangerous cult!!!
But the dangers lurking ahead are more vicious and deathly...

A man without a past, deeply flawed and scared in his soul, searching for the truth and suffering from violent visions...
Enough for changing the tide and stop the nightmare?

Read for yourself...

PS:
Looking very much forwards to the next installment...
Dean;)

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5
This was a nice brisk adventure that break from the usual formula to good effect.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gets scarier and creepier with each story

[Debbie DiFiore]

Depressing but still powerful

A young mother and her daughter running from a lecherous 'spiritual guide' from a cult. He wants the 12 year old daughter and little does he know but so do the two goons with him. nameless has a vision and he is off to rescue them. The security guide who lives in his bunker was so tragic. I loved how Nameless resolved the entire situation. I am very worried about where he's heading. I hope he doesn't die.

[Nyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

No elaborate planning -- no planning at all -- it just happened. Instincts and visions drove this one.
And reality takes another step closer.

*Side note: This is twice in a row now where Nameless's description of a young girl/woman borders on creepy.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still loving this series... will probably finish the other two stories tomorrow! 😂

[Tgordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book in the Nameless series has us the readers and Nameless himself questioning what in the world he really did in the past that got him here. He helps a mother and daughter escape a cult and for some reason feels he owed this to someone in his past.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nameless helps two women being chased by a vicious cult.

[Alan (the Lone Librarian rides again) Teder · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Chance Encounter for Nameless
Review of the Amazon Original Kindle eBook edition (June 2021)

I wasn't that impressed with the first season of Dean Koontz's Nameless (2019). Its main attraction was its being a free offer through Amazon Originals. The stereotypical and predictable tales of a Jason Bourne-like amnesiac vigilante enacting punishment on the wicked became tiresome and I gave up after the 3rd story out of 6. More background to the mysterious Treadstone-like organization behind the scenes and the Nameless character themselves might at least add needed drama and suspense to the proceedings. The 2nd season promised something along those lines.

This 4th episode is a complete diversion from the series as the Nameless character encounters a mother and daughter on the run from an abusive cult. The material is drawn out for the length of the story, although there isn't that much other substance to it. The villains are of the cardboard cult variety. The only hint to the larger saga is that Nameless feels a connection to the mother and daughter, possibly due to his erased memories.

Light Has Weight... is the 4th of the 6 short stories making up the crime fiction series Nameless Season 2, released simultaneously on June 10, 2021 as an eBook by Amazon Originals and as an audiobook by Audible Originals.

[Armand Rosamilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great entry in this series, and I hope they never stop. Another great cast of new characters, with just enough backstory to keep them interesting. The way it unfolds is pretty simple, but with the pacing, the characters and Nameless, it makes it so interesting and original. On to the next one!

[Jerry Winsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nameless enters different territory as we head towards the end of this arc in his saga. Though still seeing visions of an alarming dystopian future (which is for those paying attention, a heads up for the current situation here), a startling vision related to that future or one of his missions guides Nameless to take a detour. Nameless has a vision of a mother and her daughter who are fleeing from some unseen entity. He uses his intuitive instincts to find them, scared, desperate and escaping from a cult called the Retreat.

Ultimately, three men including the cult leader are bearing down on them in a long abandoned mall. And there is yet another individual inside that mall with his own agenda.

Nameless wonders why this mother and daughter bring up such feelings in him, something his enforced amnesia is blocking. But he vows to rescue them.

In the ultimate showdown, as has been the case with Nameless more and more... nothing is quite what it seems to be...

[Karen Mazzaferri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nameless series by Dean Koontz is wonderful. A man who doesn’t know his name is hired by a company,just called Ace, with limitless resources, hires him to do “jobs” to right wrongs done by very bad people. He has premonitions he doesn’t understand and can be a result of his surgical amnesia. He also has some flashbacks of his previous life that give him no meaning. This is a two season series. It must be read in order. They are all short novellas and are on kindle unlimited for free. They come with book and audio. Highly recommend. Hope they have a third season.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so happy with this series of books. Dean Koontz has done a marvelous job throughout this series. They continue to intrigue me. What’s next? Who is going to b helped? Who’s going to die? Will it work out like I want it to? I’d dread this series ending. Maybe he will write a third season. We shall see. Only two more books to go. 💜💜💜

[Kandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike all other Nameless installments, this one has no mission. What happens is strictly an accidental happenstance. Or is it? Nameless has some of his increasing visions about a woman and girl in peril and sets out to find and rescue them. There is a third rescuee that is not very well set up, and I found that jarring since this series has felt like one huge setup for an epic finale.

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you help a stranger running for their life? Nameless does it again and tries to help people who need him, even though it’s outside his job this time. I love the entertaining page-turner. On the next.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was different than the other ones in this season. And I loved it.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good cat and mouse chase in an abandoned mall.