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Jonathan Janz's Reviews > Phantoms
Phantoms
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I'm fiercely competitive. Like, ridiculously competitive. To the point where I choose a favorite, and from that point on I'm squarely behind that favorite until the bitter end.
The Chicago Cubs.
Star Wars.
Stephen King.
You get the picture.
Problem is, this causes me to miss out on things that threaten the supremacy of my favorites. For several months I avoided The Lord of the Rings movies because I was afraid they'd be better than the original Star Wars trilogy. Ultimately, I ended up loving LOTR, and that hasn't adversely affected my love of Star Wars.
I'm also as a big a fan of Stephen King as you can imagine, and it's no secret that on any bookstore shelf, King and Koontz are situated right there together, each with his own section of literary real estate. For many years I've been told I should read Koontz, but that silly, childish, competitive side of me dug its heels in and refused. *King* was my favorite, so I didn't need to read Koontz. So there!
*shakes head at self*
Pitiful.
Well, I'm happy to report that I've finally matured enough to give Koontz a try. My opinion of him?
He's really, really good.
While Stephen King will always be my favorite writer, I will unquestionably be reading more Koontz novels. His prose is deceptive. At first glance I thought, "What's the big deal? This is good, but it's not *that* good. It's not I-get-my-own-bookshelf good."
Then Koontz sucked me in. By the time the lawmen from the neighboring town came to investigate the problems in Snowfield, I was hooked good and proper. I enjoyed where Koontz took the story, and I found his writing more and more engrossing the further and further I delved into the narrative. I also found the tale quite creative, which is saying a great deal. The whole affair reminded me a little of the marvelous Preston and Child novel THE RELIC, which I absolutely loved.
So...I give this epic novel the rating it deserves--five stars. And I recant my embarrassing stubbornness and promise to keep maturing so I don't miss out on great writers and movies.
But I still won't root for anyone but the Cubs.
The Chicago Cubs.
Star Wars.
Stephen King.
You get the picture.
Problem is, this causes me to miss out on things that threaten the supremacy of my favorites. For several months I avoided The Lord of the Rings movies because I was afraid they'd be better than the original Star Wars trilogy. Ultimately, I ended up loving LOTR, and that hasn't adversely affected my love of Star Wars.
I'm also as a big a fan of Stephen King as you can imagine, and it's no secret that on any bookstore shelf, King and Koontz are situated right there together, each with his own section of literary real estate. For many years I've been told I should read Koontz, but that silly, childish, competitive side of me dug its heels in and refused. *King* was my favorite, so I didn't need to read Koontz. So there!
*shakes head at self*
Pitiful.
Well, I'm happy to report that I've finally matured enough to give Koontz a try. My opinion of him?
He's really, really good.
While Stephen King will always be my favorite writer, I will unquestionably be reading more Koontz novels. His prose is deceptive. At first glance I thought, "What's the big deal? This is good, but it's not *that* good. It's not I-get-my-own-bookshelf good."
Then Koontz sucked me in. By the time the lawmen from the neighboring town came to investigate the problems in Snowfield, I was hooked good and proper. I enjoyed where Koontz took the story, and I found his writing more and more engrossing the further and further I delved into the narrative. I also found the tale quite creative, which is saying a great deal. The whole affair reminded me a little of the marvelous Preston and Child novel THE RELIC, which I absolutely loved.
So...I give this epic novel the rating it deserves--five stars. And I recant my embarrassing stubbornness and promise to keep maturing so I don't miss out on great writers and movies.
But I still won't root for anyone but the Cubs.
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Reading Progress
February 14, 2016
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Started Reading
February 14, 2016
– Shelved
April 1, 2016
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Finished Reading
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by
Justin
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rated it 5 stars
Apr 01, 2016 07:44PM
Phantoms is AMAZING! Koontz hasn't written like this for years and years though, so I wouldn't worry about losing your loyalty to King.
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Justin wrote: "Phantoms is AMAZING! Koontz hasn't written like this for years and years though, so I wouldn't worry about losing your loyalty to King."Ah, interesting. Well, I'll definitely be checking out more of his stuff, but maybe I should stick with the earlier books?
Yeah the older books are closer to the 'Phantoms' experience. I'll check out one of his newer ones every now and then. Still a very engaging author, but the plots are getting pretty thin
Justin wrote: "Yeah the older books are closer to the 'Phantoms' experience. I'll check out one of his newer ones every now and then. Still a very engaging author, but the plots are getting pretty thin"Thank you for the info, Justin! For now, I'll definitely stick to his older stuff.
Watchers & Lightning are my Koontz faves, but Phantoms is up there, too. :) Nice review.
This is my favorite Koontz book, but King will always rule! You should check out Joe Hill though (King's real life son). The apple didn't fall far from the tree and you won't be disappointed!
And I agree with Justin, the older Koontz books are the best.
Be sure to check reviews or publishing dates of Koontz's books, though. Some of his "I couldn't get this published before I was famous" books were printed, and they're HORRIBLE. That's what stopped me from reading him--I couldn't tell from covers and blurbs which was which.
I'm also a King fan. I've read several Koontz novels in the past and even though I didn't like any of them I have considered giving him one more try. Maybe this will be the one. Thanks for the review.
HAHAHA! You sound like me. :D Now go read FALSE MEMORY by Koontz. WHOA! :O
I hope that you are a Tarheel... God is! *lololol* ;)
Great book to start on Koontz. He hasn't really written much genuine horror, though, so if you're looking for something like "Phantoms" in his oeuvre you won't really find it.
I'm in the same boat you are, having ignored Dean Koontz based upon some poorly formed preconceptions. I've enjoyed most of what I've read so far. I suggest giving Intensity a try (it was the unofficial basis of the film High Tension.)
Fact: Cubs Will win the series this year (already 2-0). Fact: King IS better than Koontz and Phantoms IS the best Koontz novel. Fiction: Harry Potter better than Star Wars or LOTR? No way
The same thing happened to me years ago....Stephen King is my absolute favorite, ever since I was in high school.....then one day I picked up Koontz's Intensity....omgosh....that is now one of my all time favorite books.... I highly recommend Intensity...
Heather wrote: "Watchers & Lightning are my Koontz faves, but Phantoms is up there, too. :) Nice review."Thank you for the kind words, and thank you so much for the recs! One of my best friends recommended Lightning recently, so that one is definitely in the running for my next Koontz read.
J.M. wrote: "This is my favorite Koontz book, but King will always rule! You should check out Joe Hill though (King's real life son). The apple didn't fall far from the tree and you won't be disappointed!"Thanks for the rec, J.M. I'll be checking out THE FIREMAN soon. I hear it's incredible.
J.M. wrote: "And I agree with Justin, the older Koontz books are the best."One of my friends/pre-readers loves Koontz, but mainly his older stuff, so this echoes that sentiment. I'll probably keep to the older books, at least at first.
Tim wrote: "You could root for the Mets."Not after last year's NLCS. ;-)
J.H. wrote: "Be sure to check reviews or publishing dates of Koontz's books, though. Some of his "I couldn't get this published before I was famous" books were printed, and they're HORRIBLE. That's what stopped..."Ah, that's interesting. Yeah, once you do achieve a certain measure of fame, I imagine getting one's other stuff published does become easier.
Wayne wrote: "I'm also a King fan. I've read several Koontz novels in the past and even though I didn't like any of them I have considered giving him one more try. Maybe this will be the one. Thanks for the review."No problem, and thanks for commenting. It's always awesome meeting another Constant Reader. King rules! :-)
Urs wrote: "HAHAHA! You sound like me. :D Now go read FALSE MEMORY by Koontz. WHOA! :O
I hope that you are a Tarheel... God is! *lololol* ;)
"
Hah! No, I'm worse than a Tarheel--I'm a Boilermaker, which means I got to watch a grand total of one tournament game while you got to watch six. :-)
Johnny wrote: "Great book to start on Koontz. He hasn't really written much genuine horror, though, so if you're looking for something like "Phantoms" in his oeuvre you won't really find it."Hmm...after PHANTOMS, which one would you say is closest to horror? Then again, that doesn't bother me much because I read all kinds of stuff. It doesn't have to be horror. It just has to be good. :-)
Doug wrote: "I'm in the same boat you are, having ignored Dean Koontz based upon some poorly formed preconceptions. I've enjoyed most of what I've read so far. I suggest giving Intensity a try (it was the unoff..."Man, High Tension was pretty freaking intense (particularly the closet scene). That makes me want to read the book.
Robjr73 wrote: "Fact: Cubs Will win the series this year (already 2-0). Fact: King IS better than Koontz and Phantoms IS the best Koontz novel. Fiction: Harry Potter better than Star Wars or LOTR? No way":-)
I love that prediction. On the page I prefer HP to LOTR, but for films, while I really enjoy the HP movies, they don't hold a candle to LOTR and the best Star Wars films (Episodes four, five, and seven).
Lisa wrote: "The same thing happened to me years ago....Stephen King is my absolute favorite, ever since I was in high school.....then one day I picked up Koontz's Intensity....omgosh....that is now one of my a..."Okay, you all have pretty much sold me on Intensity. I've always loved that title anyway, and now I'm intrigued by the story. Thanks!
Koontz is the one that made me love reading and I have been a fan for 30 years. Whenever a friend has not read Koontz, I will give him "Watchers" and they have always loved it and always say they are going to read more of Koontz. I agree with the consensus of Lightning and I will have to add one more recommendation. Hideaway is my personal favorite and is underrated.
Whatever you do, don't watch the movie. ;) I don't want it to ruin your opinion on Koontz. Funny thing is, I remember talking to you about Koontz (I talk to anyone who will listen about that man, and even a few who don't listen) at the Samhain booth one year. Reading your review reminds me that I was the EXACT same way in regards to King. And while Koontz is still my favorite, there is no doubt that King is a master and he and Koontz share a bookshelf at my house too. :) I have a really hard time picking a favorite Koontz book because then I just end up naming them all.
King is nowhere near, not even remotely close to being a great writer. Harlan Ellison was a great writer. King is a very successful businessman. Period.
You’re not so much COMPETITIVE, as you are LOYAL!! I get it, I’m the same way � definitely a problem ;)
Robin falbo wrote: "You’re not so much COMPETITIVE, as you are LOYAL!! I get it, I’m the same way � definitely a problem ;)"Hahahahaha! I will go with that!
Intensity is absolutely brilliant. If you want to see how to write a thriller that's the prototype for me. It's one hundred miles an hour from start to finish.
It was literally this book and Preston and Child’s RELIC that introduced me to “grown up� horror, and I wouldn’t be a writer if it weren’t for their indelible inspirations and influences on my imagination and writings.
I fell in love with Koontz after reading Phantoms in the early 90's. I enjoy his writing more than King. I do agree that Koontz's older stuff is much better. You must read the Bad Place if you haven't already.
Always awesome to welcome a brand new Koontzmaniac!
I love King, but Koontz is great too, glad you gave him a chance. I absolutely loved Relic too
I feel that I can boast “Told you so!� Glad you got around to trying him out, Brother! Also, I miss our “book talks.� 🙂
I haven't read much koontz, but i THINK i remember reading and enjoying Intensity
Koontz is a hit and miss more so than king plus he's written at Least over #150 books dating back to (1968) so you are gonna find some bad ones regardless of the Era. He's coming out with one next may that really sounds good to me. So yes read his newer ones I wouldn't read the other Emily though but for me the mask is his worst but than I've only read #8 books of his and those are 1. Strangers (1986) it's worth a read, #2 The Mask (1981) stay away from that one it's awful. 3. Cold fire (1991) I read this years ago I remember nothing about it only that I didn't like the ending. #4. Sole Surviver (1997) I loved this one. #5?. The house of thunder (1982) the only thing I remember about it was it's awful ending. 6. The face of fear (1976) that one was decent I'd say read that one you may like it. 7. The other Emily (2021) this one had its moments and the very last thing in it I liked once the big bad was taken care of & The Door to December I just finished it the other nite thar was a good one. This one I just started tonight
Lmao, I'm the exact same way when it comes to King. I don't even know when or why the two were lumped together as "competition", but that's how I viewed it for many years and King has always been my favorite. After reading this one though, I find that silly now, especially in the afterward where Koontz was like, "I don't even consider myself a horror writer."
Kylie wrote: "Lmao, I'm the exact same way when it comes to King. I don't even know when or why the two were lumped together as "competition", but that's how I viewed it for many years and King has always been m..."Hah! I'm glad I'm not the only one who has those thoughts. And it's funny that Koontz doesn't consider himself horror. I need to pick up another of his books soon...
Stimpson wrote: "Koontz is a hit and miss more so than king plus he's written at Least over #150 books dating back to (1968) so you are gonna find some bad ones regardless of the Era. He's coming out with one next ..."Thanks for this info and sorry for the late reply!
Could be Koontz's best book. Definitely give Intensity a whirl. That's my personal favourite.
Like some of you, Koontz is hit and miss for me. One of my problems with him is his titles. They are mostly so meaningless I can never tell if I’ve read a particular book before or not. I read a bunch of his books in the early 90s, but no clue which ones. Don’t even know the name of my favorite one, but it’s the dog one. Definitely the dog one. Fans know the one I’m talking about.
Oh, and King and Ann Patchett are my favorite living writers.
