Koontzland - Dean Koontz discussion
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Dead and Alive
Frankenstein Series
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Dead and Alive (Group Read - November 2016)
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Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado
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rated it 5 stars
Oct 29, 2016 07:24PM
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This is one that I really enjoyed. Can't wait for the conversation.
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Me too! Hope I feel the same this time around :-)
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From previous readings, this was my favorite of the series mainly because of the hilarious character named Jocko. However, reading the series in order close together gives new perspective.
Everything seems dialed up - the silliness, the relationship between Michael & Carson, the pace that the story is moving. Everything is moving at an accelerated pace. I understand this was the long-waited book 3, and was expected at the time to offer a conclusion to the Frankenstein Series, which must be taken into account.
This is the first book in the series that Dean Koontz wrote alone without the input of Kevin J. Anderson or Ed Gorman. I'm curious if by the end, I will feel Dead and Alive matches the quality of the first two books.
I thought that Dead and Alive surpassed the previous two for quality. I liked the way the introduction was done, getting to know the characters but this one sure played on the growing unrest among the new race. I too liked this one so much because of Jocko. I am looking forward to reading about him in the next volume.
Mr. Koontz isn't much for the cliff-hanger ideas. I do believe book two's ending was inspired by his co-writer. Other than that, I'm back to lurking. :D
I love the little "coincidences" that we found in the first two books so if you find them in this please tell us. I can't think of any off the top of my head but Dustin, I know you picked up on some.
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The phrase (or variation of it) "From The Corner of His Eye" appears in Dead and Alive. Deucalion's abilities are reminiscent of characters in the novel, From The Corner of His Eye.
I am going to be reading Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in the near future. I might pick up on some connections between Dean's and Mary's versions at that point :-)
message 9:
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Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado
(last edited Nov 11, 2016 06:23AM)
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rated it 5 stars
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https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/6...
Note: Currently 2 of the top 6 choices are related to Dean Koontz's Frankenstein Series :-)
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https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...
Note: Currently Frankenstein has the fewest votes.
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This world is a world of stories, of mystery and enchantment. Everywhere you look, if you look close enough, a tale of wonder is unfolding, for every life is a narrative and everyone a character in his or her own drama.
-Dead and Alive, Chapter 72
I had forgotten that Erica 4 rose from the dead. I'm sorry she died with Victor because she became an interesting character. But I guess there could be only one Erica in the final two books.For those of you reading this for the first time, can you imagine how horrifying it was to think that book three was the final book?
I just realized that I never reported that I read the book. This is my favorite book in the series so far :) I love Jocko!!! LOL! Can't wait to start the December book!
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I am a little bit behind but I finished Dead & Alive this week. It is my favorite of the series so far. Here are some of my observations. Sorry if this gets a bit long winded. Koontz always gives us something to talk about. I love that one of the new race called Helios, "the beekeeper". It might have been Ripley that said this: "Families breed individuals. The creation tanks breed worker bees, each with its specific function to fulfill knowing your place and the meaning of your life, you can be content as no member of the old race ever could be. Free will is the curse of the Old, programmed purpose is the glory of the New. The swarm was the family, the hive was the home and the future belonged to the horde" (p.13). I can't help that that there is some allusion to mormonism here.
This was another great quote by Annunciata. This gives us the title of the book: "I'm alive but I have no life. I'm alive but also dead. I'm dead and alive" (p. 30).
"The six-legged pandemonium" (p.149) is the perfect description of the monster that Werner becomes. He is definitely the thing that nightmares are made of. The chameleon is another scary one. I was glad that creature didn't live long, at least I hope he is truly gone.
I can't help that there are religious themes that run through this book. Its definitely a twisted version but some of the language feels like dogma. On p. 151, Werner says this to others in the new race to join him...."Be free. Be free in me. Abandon hopelessness, all you who enter me. Be free in me." The next part when he talks about killing the Old race, definitely not religious dogma, just monster talk, lol.
Resurrection is another theme? The Resurrector? Helios/Victor at the end of the novel? Erika and Jocko?
I do love the humor in the book. Duke! I want that dog! I love Jocko too. I especially love the banter between Carson and Michael.
Deucalion is still the best!
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Yes, and it didn't work out so well for her, lol
Christine wrote: "I am a little bit behind but I finished Dead & Alive this week. It is my favorite of the series so far. Here are some of my observations. Sorry if this gets a bit long winded. Koontz always gives u..."Love your ability to lay out your ideas. Like religious themes, including resurrection and family message.
Amazing how you make things so clear! Thanks, I have something to go back and think about.
Koontzland - Dean Koontz
Books mentioned in this topic
From the Corner of His Eye (other topics)Dead and Alive (other topics)
