Koontzland - Dean Koontz discussion
Dean's Writing & Story Elements
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The Two K's: Dean Koontz and Stephen King
Betsy.....I agree....I don't think King and Koontz should co author however.....King and Peter Straub did a fantastic job together with Talisman!!!
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and how they relate to each other?there this passage on Desperation:
“I’ve heard of him,” Cynthia said, “but I never read anything by him. I like Dean Koontz and Danielle Steel, mostly. I just read for pleasure. Nice bike, though. And the guy had great hair. Rock-and-roll hair, you know?”
...
He snorted. “‘Might have saw him.’ Did you learn that reading Dean Koontz and Danielle Steel?”
some not to King in a Koontz book?
I'm with you Betsy. I like King but I tend to watch his stuff more than read and I like to read Koontz. Well in all fairness not all of Koontz work is in film but I would read and watch his stuff. I don't think their writing is alike much. Yeah they write in the same genre and their humor is that dry "OMG can't believe you said that" kind of humor but other than that they are really different.
I am setting a goal to read all King and Koontz in the next 5 years.Will I overload?
...and then I will read Dickens.
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Oh, here a Koontz quote that reminded me of King's ChristineDeeply Odd:
I’m not one who believes that a vehicle can be possessed by a demonic spirit and, driverless, speed around town to run down people for the thrill of tasting blood with its tires
Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Good Luck. You might overdose but it will be fun :-)"Have you read most of them both?
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Christine is one of my least favorite King novels........when he is "ON"..... there are few who can compete with King.....but he also has written some pretty awful stuff......I'm very happy with his newest book.....Revival.....D K has rarely disappointed me!!!
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Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I don't think Koontz and King would ever write something together :-) but to have them both contribute to a short story collection might be a possibility."That's too bad. I'd read it for sure! They are my 2 favorite authors.
Betsy wrote: "I am reluctant to post this because I am clearly in the minority but.... I would not like King/Koontz to collaborate on a book together, and I really don't like co-authoring. In my mind, I want the..."I agree, Betsy.
In a way I think it is strange that DK and SK are so often compared, because they have very different styles. I know thst SK several times has mentioned or recommended works by DK, but I can not say that I have ever read anywhere that DK recommends or mentions SK. Would be cool if he has done it though.
DK said in an interview years ago that he has read, and will continue to read SK. Please forgive me that I dont remember what DK interview that comes from but it's at LEAST a decade old. Speaking of SK...his latest book comes out ina week and sounds terrific.
I enjoy both writers and think their styles are very different. Still, both tell a great story so I will continue to read them both. I am looking forward to SK's new book and it has already been preordered.
It's funny to me that readers seem to perceive a Koontz/King rivalry much more so than the authors themselves do. Being enormous fans of books and reading themselves (of course!) Koontz and King appear to enjoy each other's works along with those of many, many others.
Truth. I personally never thought that it needed to be one or the other. I enjoy many authors, and several genres.
I do understand the one or the other idea. Stephen King can make me physically ill. The spirit in the books is just...wrong.
Totally disagree. I love the way he tells a story.
To each their own. Glad you find enjoyment in Mr. King's work. I'd rather not be sick.
I have read some Stephen King and don't remember why I stopped. I did give 11/26 something or other and found it it somewhat boring. Good, but repetitive. The last before that was either Christine or Cujo, I think...or Misery and Dolores Claiborne The two latter, I especially liked.
Does anyone have a suggestion for where I should start again. I am intimidated by the number of books that he has written!
On Sept. 10, he has a new book out, The Institute. It looks great and I can't wait to read it. I can never wait to read Dean Koontz books either.
Mary, Night Shift is King's first collection of short stories. It's a good primer on the building of his universe. There are some very memorable stories there. My favorite is "The Last Rung on the Ladder." One of the most haunting stories ever and not even a hint of the supernatural.
Agree with the above. The Institute will be great! Apart from that I will recommend The Outsider, Needful Things or Revival. To mention a few to start with.
Louie and Thomas,I forgot to mention that I don't like horror at all. Would your recommendations stay the same?
Thanks, Mary
Well Mary, then I would probably stay away from Needful Things. The Outsider is basically a crime novel (with a King twist). Revival should be OK also, but it's quite dark. The novel 11/22/63 should be great for you, I think. It's fantastic storytelling. :-)
Mary, I agree with Thomas, although I would add the Eyes of the Dragon. It's a fantasy story that King wrote for his daughter and Peter Straub's son.
Louie and Thomas,Thanks for the time and thinking. I am excited to try him out.
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Same here, just started Billy Summers. First finished possibly best novel of the year Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. Highly recommend!!
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Billy Summers is absolutely on my TBR list. As for Mr. King generally--I read Dreamcatcher over the winter and I need a King break after that. I now understand why the Dreamcatcher movie is pretty terrible...it's a straaaange book and probably hard to adapt.
I don't like Stephen King's horror books, but he is a fine writer, and Billy Summers is an absorbing book -- noir-ish but heartwarming. What a character study -- will remember Billy Summers for a long time.
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I'm behind on my book reviews, so have to give priority to books I borrowed from the library. I ended up buying a copy of Billy Summers because the wait list was moving too slow at the library.
Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I'm giving Billy Summers 5 Stars. Still need to write my review. I'm behind on my book reviews, so have to give priority to books I borrowed from the library. I ended up buying a copy of Billy Sum..."
I agree, five stars. I have to admit SK is right up there with DK on my list of must reads.
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Overall, Dean's novels are shorter with the action happening quicker.
Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Stephen King is a great storyteller. He writes some lengthy books and goes deep into character development. Some parts of his stories move slow. Overall, Dean's novels are shorter with the action ..."
Agreed. Still love them both.
At a young age, I was scared off king by The Shining. So my mom and I read Koontz and loved him. But as I got older I have read King and have loved many--and have many more to go. Still have not reread the Shining, though!
I've read many books by both authors. The Stand, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, The Shawshank Redemption and 11/22/63 are among my favorites by King. Lightning, Watchers, Intensity, Dark Rivers of the Heart, One Door Away from Heaven, and Life Expectancy are some of my favorite Koontz books. They are different in style; King sometimes sounds like he is verbally telling a story and thus his stories run longer. I'm not sure if this is the best way to describe Koontz's books, but I find them a bit more emotional. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this but due to their politics, I doubt they would ever collaborate. King's books are somewhat political and right-wingers are often the villains in his books like in Insomnia among others. Koontz is libertarian and he writes about abuses of government power in books such as Dark Rivers of the Heart.
Karl wrote: "I've read many books by both authors. The Stand, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, The Shawshank Redemption and 11/22/63 are among my favorites by King. Lightning, Watchers, Intensity, Dark Rivers of ..."I mostly agree, recognizing their politics and styles are different. That is not the reason I choose them. I love their writing styles and the stories they tell; their politics has no bearing for me. I will continue to read both authors, and I have many more favorites, not all in this genre.
Betsy, I agree. I love Koontz, but hate King. I can watch a King movie but not read his books. Koontz, I can read his books any time AND watch the movies. I think their styles are just too different to collaborate.
I like some Stephen King and not others. I generally find Koontz early works more consistently likable, but not so much now.
I love Stephen King and I love Dean Koontz!! They have made some really good movies from SK's stories, but not such great ones from DK's movies. I was a SK reader before a DK reader. The first DK I read was Strangers and my thought while reading it was, "Wow! This guy writes a lot like Stephen King!" Meaning, he engages the reader with the characters and their feelings and emotions while telling an intriguing story. Love them both. No need to hate one and love the other. They are both GREAT!!
Vicky wrote: "I love Stephen King and I love Dean Koontz!! They have made some really good movies from SK's stories, but not such great ones from DK's movies. I was a SK reader before a DK reader. The first DK I..."Totally agree.
Karen wrote: "Vicky wrote: "I love Stephen King and I love Dean Koontz!! They have made some really good movies from SK's stories, but not such great ones from DK's movies. I was a SK reader before a DK reader. ..."Agree...
Paul wrote: "I enjoy both of these wonderful writers and simply love the contrast between their stories and writing style."yes!
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Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado
(last edited Apr 04, 2022 08:35PM)
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I think Dean Koontz is done collaborating. He tried collaborating with Kevin J. Anderson with idea of getting the Frankenstein series adapted for television - didn't work out so well.
Earlier in his career, Dean tried collaborating with film makers adapting his books to film. I think the only movie he was really happy with was Odd Thomas.
Notably, Dean Koontz has been able to collaborate successfully with Graphic Novels, although Fear Nothing only released one volume, Odd Thomas had three installments.
See our Graphic Novel Discussions (which haven't had much activity recently): https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
Koontzland - Dean Koontz
Books mentioned in this topic
Dean Koontz' Fear Nothing Volume 1 (other topics)In Odd We Trust (other topics)
Prodigal Son (other topics)
Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, Volume 1: Prodigal Son (other topics)
Odd Is on Our Side (other topics)
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King has written novellas and short stories and I am happy with those; I don't need a King/Koontz short story collection. I say let them do what they do best and what we enjoy from each of them but.... that's just me. Mea culpa!