“DEUCALION SELDOM SLEPT, but when he did, he dreamed. Every dream was a nightmare.”
14 words in, and you are already demanding answers to the questions:
– Who is Decaulion? // What does “Decaulion” mean ? // Why such a name? // What kind of insomnia gets you to “seldom” sleep? And when he does, why is it always a nightmare? // How does he handle all of this? // Why am I making so many questions?
Welcome to a Dean Koontz’s book! (Buckle up, because this is going to be bumpy!)
This time, with the “Frankenstein” Series, Dean Koontz manages not only to re- create Mary Shelly’s classic “Frankenstein”, but to “explain” and “continue” the tale, that starts off at New Orleans, where the world is about to end, because a silent war is being wagged against the human race because none other than Victor Frankenstein wants to replace it with his human-like creations.
If you are new to the author and you wonder why you should be excited about reading his works, let me tell you that Dean Koontz is, well, in a nutshell, one of the GODS of thriller, sci-fi and horror, alongside names like Stephen King and Alfred Hitchcock, with more than 10 best-sellers on his belt.
(Back to the book.)
After a few pages, you get introduced to one of the most badass, female protagonists ever written: Carson O’Connor! How badass, you ask?
– “Carson liked the heat but not the humidity. Maybe one day she’d move somewhere nicer, hot but dry, like Arizona. Or Nevada. Or Hell.”
…. And, the second main character, Mr. Smooth, Michael Maddison. Now, Michael isn’t big, buff, nor rich. He is literally…. plain, and that’s what makes him so damn amazing! He is as smooth as a baby’s ass on Sunday. Just to give you a small idea….
– “He looked wry and easy, but like certain deceptive cocktails, he had a kick.
Carrying a white paper bag in one hand, holding an unbitten doughnut in his mouth with the delicacy of a retriever returning to a hunter with a duck, Michael got into the passenger’s seat and pulled the door shut.”
And if you love romance, Dean Koontz gives you the best!
– Carson said, “What’s that growth on your lip?”
Taking the doughnut from between his teeth, intact and barely marked, he said, “Maple-glazed buttermilk.”
“Gimme.”
Michael offered her the white bag. “One regular glazed, two chocolate. Take your pick.”
Ignoring the bag, snatching the doughnut from his hand, Carson said, “I’m crazy for maple.”
Tearing off a huge bite, chewing vigorously, she swung the car away from the curb and rocketed into the street.
“I’m crazy for maple, too,” Michael said with a sigh.
The yearning in his voice told Carson that he longed not only for the maple-glazed doughnut. For more reasons than merely the maintenance of a professional relationship, she pretended not to notice. “You’ll enjoy the regular glazed.”
BUM! You already want them to make babies and live happily ever after, but fortunately… Dean Koontz is too good for clichés.
In this novel (and many others), he masterfully covers several mental disorders and behavior patterns in an intriguing, complex, but yet easily understandable way such as anxiety, claustrophobia, narcissism, dementia, autism, depression, with a sharp focus on egotism and delusion.
Masterfully, Dean Koontz guides you , as he keeps you on the tip of your toes, to several detailed worlds, plots and schemes without ever leaving you confused, as they crisscross, tumble, fade and come running at you from the background with plot twist after plot twist taking your breath hostage with your eyes transfixed in search for the next word.
Pros:
- World-class narrative
- Zero clichés
- Top-notch geeky sense of humor
- Intense romance build-up
- Exemplary character development and build
- Delightful story details when it comes to scenarios and characters
- Consistent ambient atmosphere
- Dean Koontz makes you forget that you are in the real world
- Unique characters with strong identifiable traits
- Great action scenes
- Deep philosophical depth
- Enlightening approach to mental illness and disorders
- (I will stop here, for the sake of length)
Cons:
- It is mildly graphic and has explicit (brutal) sex scenes, making it inappropriate for those under 16.
Our Rating: 9.8/10
– “Randal keeps saying about “Father”, well, who is father?” – Find out in this Thriller masterpiece, “The Prodigal Son”.
PS: If you don’t want to wait, you can get all the five books of this series at once here. Enjoy.
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– Written by Julio Carlos.
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