Strange Highways (Group Read - June/July 2015)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Strange Highways is Dean's collection of Short Stories and has been selected as our June 2015 Group Read.

There is also an older discussion thread for Strange Highways from 2010 when the volume was last featured as a group read.

Please consider reading this book with us this Summer :-) Thank You!

[Karen B.]

One thing about this book is that it shows the vastness of Koontz's imagination.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Karen B. wrote: "One thing about this book is that it shows the vastness of Koontz's imagination."

Have you read the book before? Last time, I didn't finish all the stories.

[Karen B.]

No I actually haven't because it isn't available in either hard back or large print. But I skimmed through it when it arrived a few years back when I ordered it. For those still looking I got mine on Amazon used. I have found that a lot of Amazon used books are very reasonably priced, especially if you are a Prime member. I buy so much now through them so I don't have to traipse through department stores for things.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Strange Highways is also now available for $7.99 on unabridged Audiobook CD and can be purchased here:
https://www.audiobookstand.com/produc...

[Karen B.]

Thanks for the heads up. Originally I was only looking at what was available from Amazon, but Audible.com is part of Amazon and for some reason they had the audible listed so I got that using one of my book credits.

[Karen B.]

More Heads Up regarding Strange Highways ... It is available in neither large print or Kindle edition so I purchased the Audible "version" as well. This IS NOT the complete book. I was all set reading in the small print of the large hardback book while listening to the story "Strange Highways" on audio, only to discover that one short story (more a short novel) was the only story in the audio version. If you want to listen to just that story and want to get the audio version that's fine, but it does not contain all of the stories in the book! I probably wouldn't have purchased that had I known.

[Diane Lynch]

Karen B. wrote: "More Heads Up regarding Strange Highways ... It is available in neither large print or Kindle edition so I purchased the Audible "version" as well. This IS NOT the complete book. I was all set re..."

I wish I knew. I guess I will be getting some version of the book now. Thank you

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I thought a new full length audiobook had been made. I will look into it.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Looks like you are right Karen. The version I am looking at purchasing (on old school CD) is 7 hours long and the description only gives synopsis of the title story. However, since the title story is the longest story in the book, I still find this a helpful way to read the book. It's funny because I remember getting select stories from the Strange Highways Collection on audio from the library in the past. When I searched recently, I wasn't able to find Strange Highways on audio from the library. I'll have to search a little more thoroughly - might have to buy the audiobook.

[Karen B.]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I thought a new full length audiobook had been made. I will look into it."

Dustin, if you find it please let me know. I actually was able to "return" the audio book after reading it (and it I purchased it when we first decided on Strange Highways) and had my money refunded. That's something I have to give a nod to audible.com for ... you can get your money (or a credit)refunded after reading (listening) and not liking the book. I have to admit I was a little disappointed in the narrator on this one but it may have been Koontz's dialog between the characters. Usually I like Jeff Cummings narration.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I will be reading Strange Highways later in the month - after I hopefully track down the audiobook :-)

[Charissa]

Oh, this was a fun read. Didn't know that it was even in print form anymore.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Charissa wrote: "Oh, this was a fun read. Didn't know that it was even in print form anymore."

Will you be re-reading this month?

[Diane Lynch]

I couldn't believe it wasn't available for my iPad. I got the hardcover new for under $7.00. I got the audiobook but that's not complete. Finishing Sharp Objects today then on to that. It came yesterday

[Fred]

This is the first Koontz book I have seen with "short" stories. Comments on 1. Srange Highways - show P.J. Shannon chases his younger brother, Joey, and Celeste Baker (girl found at his empty dad's grave, Dan Shannon). Coal Valley Road is in Pittsburg. Coal mining has killed many families & 3 are left in Coal Valley. P.J. is Judas, the Betrayer, 13th apostle..... Joey & Celeste are chased by P.J. with a final death(s) at St. Thomas concerned with the P.J.'s flame of Judas. Chase scenes are long and some seemed to repeat...

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

It is strange that this is not available in complete form on audiobook. I swear I once found some of the stories on audiobook from the library, but on a recent search of the library database, I could only find Strange Highways on audio cassette. I went ahead and placed a hold on it and will see if I can dig my cassette player out of storage :-)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Helpful Hint: If you are searching your library for audiobook and don't find it under "Strange Highways" try searching for "Chase" :-)

[Shastina , Koontzland Social Media Moderator]

I need to get this. I'm falling behind on my reading. This move has really halted a lot of my reading. all my books are still in boxes for a while :(

[Charissa]

Maybe, I do a lot of review work as well though, so I'll see what I can pull off.

[Karen B.]

So far, I have only read "Strange Highways" because that was on audio. I will try to get some more of the next one read in the next two days.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Give Kittens a try and see what you think :-) It's a short one.

[Karen B.]

Dustin, actually Kittens was the first thing I read. I didn't like it at all. But partly I think because I am not a short story reader. (except for the classic short stories in my high school English anthologies) I loved re-reading The Monkey's Paw and the Most Dangerous Game and never got tired of them.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I have started reading this collection again from shortest to longest. I have read Kittens and am currently reading We Three. I am enjoying these darker themes :-)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

FYI: I never got around to posting a poll to choose a July Group Read and there hasn't been a lot of activity recently. Looks like we will just hold Strange Highways over through July and if anyone wants to arrange a mini-group read, you are welcome to do so. I will create a poll for August Group Read soon.

[Diane Lynch]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "FYI: I never got around to posting a poll to choose a July Group Read and there hasn't been a lot of activity recently. Looks like we will just hold Strange Highways over through July and if anyone..."

Strange Hifgways is a lot of book to read and enjoy in just 1 month anyway. Unless we r taking a wrong turn that will change the group!

[Charissa]

Personally, I liked "Hard Shell" the best. That was a fun one.

[Diane Lynch]

I have to read Hard Shell and Kittens next. So many stories I never knew about.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Currently Reading Snatcher :-)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

August Group Read Poll is now available for voting during the month of June.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Audiobook Update: I have finally figured out why Strange Highways has been so hard to find in a complete form on Audiobook. It was re-leased in a Brilliance Audio Compilation Wilderness and Other Stories This Collection contains Wilderness, 12 out of the 14 Strange Highways Stories plus 2 new stories. Chase is also available as an audiobook and the Title Story Strange Highways is fairly easy to find. I'm excited to be able to listen to the Strange Highways Stories. I found the Wilderness Collection at the Library. Good Luck Kids! Strange Highways has been extended as a Group Read Through July.

[Karen B.]

Thank you thank you Dustin! I just picked it up with one of my credits at audible.com

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Happy Days are hear again :-)

[Karen B.]

Okay I listened to all of the audio stories and there were a couple not on the audio but that is okay. How is everyone else doing with these stories. My favorite was probably Miss Atilla the Hun. I also liked Seed but I wouldn't read the two back to back. I know I read Trapped somewhere before but can't remember where. Wilderness is a good prequel to Innocent. I found a lot of the stories were written "pre-MKR" (My Koontz Reading) Some of these tales show the darker side of Koontz. Truthfully, I am not really a modern short story fan.

[Diane Lynch]

Karen B. wrote: "Okay I listened to all of the audio stories and there were a couple not on the audio but that is okay. How is everyone else doing with these stories. My favorite was probably Miss Atilla the Hun. ..."

I've been listening to the audio also. Not ready to pick out my favorite. I also got a hard copy for less than $7. I believe some stories are missing off this audio. Dustin had figured out the audio thing in a post above this. I am glad we are spending 2 months on this one.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I haven't listened yet, but I am guessing Chase and the title story Strange Highways are the ones missing since these two are available by themselves.

[Diane Lynch]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I haven't listened yet, but I am guessing Chase and the title story Strange Highways are the ones missing since these two are available by themselves."

Strange Highways is the first one on my audio book. Do
Not kmoe about the other one. I will investigate further.

[Karen B.]

I forgot I liked Hardshell too. I thought it was funny and had a good surprise twist.

[Karen B.]

I may have posted comments on another thread but I didn't care for some of the darker ones.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I am excited to experience some darker themed stories :-) Probably will get to this in July

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

So Strange Highways is also on the Wilderness Audiobook Collection? Curious to know which ones were left out.

[Diane Lynch]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "So Strange Highways is also on the Wilderness Audiobook Collection? Curious to know which ones were left out."

I have the actual hardcover and the audible download for iPhone. I will see what's different tomorrow if their is a table of contents on the audible. the audible app seems different. It just opens and close from where I left off. Get back to u tomorrow

[Diane Lynch]

Diane wrote: "Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "So Strange Highways is also on the Wilderness Audiobook Collection? Curious to know which ones were left out."

I have the actual hardcover and the audible dow..."

Turns out my audible Strange Highways is ONLY Strange Highways! Nothing else. Has their ever been a book by so many names so to speak. You certainly can't judge any of these books by the covers. Is their an actual downloadable version of this book with or without all the stories. I am so confused. Perhaps Strange Highways is missing from the true version of this book.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

You need to get the Wilderness & Other Stories Audiobook Collection.

[Diane Lynch]

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "You need to get the Wilderness & Other Stories Audiobook Collection."

Thank you Dustim. You would think like other books the name is always the same.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

It is rather confusing :-)

[Karen B.]

Diane, I was so glad I got this audio book and am grateful to Dustin for finding the way to get the stories. Interestingly enough, if I remember correctly, if you search for "Wilderness" on Kindle you only get Wilderness and not the rest of the short stories so be sure to get the audio

[Diane Lynch]

Karen B. wrote: "Diane, I was so glad I got this audio book and am grateful to Dustin for finding the way to get the stories. Interestingly enough, if I remember correctly, if you search for "Wilderness" on Kindle ..."

Got it!

[Karen B.]

I am curious to know if anyone else got as much of a kick out of Ms. Attila the Hun as I did? It just gave me a great giggle when I got to the end. I keep getting it mixed up with Seed but I think I felt the same way about the ending of Seed.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I will be traveling down Strange Highways this weekend at FULL SPEED :-)