Dean Ray Koontz is a prolific American author best known for his
novelA novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s which could be described broadly as suspense thrillers. He also frequently incorporates elements of
horrorHorror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
,
science fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, mystery, and
satireSatire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
. A number of his books have appeared on the
New York Times Bestseller List, with 12 hardcovers and 14 paperbacks reaching the number one slot. Early in his career, Koontz wrote under an array of
pen nameA pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
s, such as David Axton, and Brian Coffey.
Early life
Koontz was born on July 9, 1945, in
Everett, PennsylvaniaEverett is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,905 at the 2000 census.Everett's original name was Bloody Run, after a creek which was the site of a battle between settlers and Native Americans...
. In his senior year at
Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburg University of Pennsylvania, commonly known as Ship, or SU, is a public university located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, 40 miles west-southwest of Harrisburg...
, he won a fiction competition sponsored by Atlantic Monthly magazine. After graduation in 1967, he went to work as an English teacher at
Mechanicsburg High SchoolMechanicsburg Area Senior High is a secondary school located on 500 South Broad Street in the borough of Mechanicsburg, west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania...
in
Mechanicsburg, PennsylvaniaMechanicsburg is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA, eight miles west of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Mechanicsburg was settled in 1806 and incorporated as a borough on April 12, 1828...
. In the 1960s, Koontz worked for the Appalachian Poverty Program, a federally funded initiative designed to help poor children. In a 1996 interview with
Reason Magazine, he said that while the program sounded "very noble and wonderful, . . . [i]n reality, it was a dumping ground for violent children . . . and most of the funding ended up 'disappearing somewhere.'" This experience greatly shaped Koontz's political outlook. In his book,
The Dean Koontz Companion, he recalled that he:
realized that most of these programs are not meant to help anyone, merely to control people and make them dependent. I was forced to reconsider everything I'd once believed. I developed a profound distrust of government regardless of the philosophy of the people in power. I remained a liberal on civil-rights issues, became a conservative on defense, and a semi-libertarian on all other matters."
Career
In his spare time, he wrote his first novel,
Star QuestStar Quest was Dean R. Koontz's first novel. Originally published in 1968, by Ace Books, Inc. This book was 127 pages and was published as an Ace Double paperback together with Doom of the Green Planet by Emil Petaja and was priced at $0.60.-Plot introduction:"In a universe that had been ravaged...
, which was published in 1968. Koontz went on to write over a dozen
science fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novels. Seeing the Catholic faith as a contrast to the chaos in his family, Koontz converted in college because it gave him answers for his life, admiring its "intellectual rigor" and saying it permits a view of life that sees mystery and wonder in all things. He says he sees the Church as English writer and Roman Catholic convert G.K. Chesterton did. Koontz notes that spirituality has always been part of his books, as are grace and our struggle as fallen souls, but he "never get[s] on a soapbox".
In 1970 Koontz collaborated with his wife on 30 erotic novels; in an article for the fanzine Energumen 8 (1971) Koontz described the period and named some of the titles, others have only been identified in recent years. In the 1970s, Koontz began writing suspense and
horror fictionHorror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
, both under his own name and several
pseudonymA pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s, sometimes publishing up to eight books a year. Koontz has stated that he began using pen names after several
editorCopy editing is the work that an editor does to improve the formatting, style, and accuracy of text. Unlike general editing, copy editing might not involve changing the substance of the text. Copy refers to written or typewritten text for typesetting, printing, or publication...
s convinced him that authors who switched back and forth between different
genreGenre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
s invariably fell victim to "negative crossover" (alienating established fans and simultaneously failing to pick up any new ones). Known pseudonyms used by Koontz during his career include Deanna Dwyer, K. R. Dwyer, Aaron Wolfe, David Axton, Brian Coffey, John Hill, Leigh Nichols, Owen West, Richard Paige and Anthony North. As Brian Coffey he wrote the "Mike Tucker" trilogy [
Blood Risk,
Surrounded,
Wall of Masks] in acknowledged tribute to the Parker novels of Richard Stark (
Donald E. WestlakeDonald Edwin Westlake was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers, with an occasional foray into science fiction or other genres...
). Many of Koontz's pseudonymous novels are now available under his real name. Many others remain suppressed by Koontz, who bought back the rights to ensure they could not be republished; he has, on occasion, said that he might revise some for re-publication, but only 3 have appeared -
Demon Seed and
Invasion were both heavily rewritten before they were republished, and
Prison of Ice had certain sections bowdlerised.
After writing full time for more than ten years, Koontz's acknowledged breakthrough novel was
Whispers, published in 1980. The two books before that,
The Key to MidnightThe Key to Midnight is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1979 under the pseudonym Leigh Nichols.-Overview:In the 1995 paperback edition, Dean Koontz mentions that this novel is not like anything else he's done. In August 2010 Koontz releases "better" version in...
and
The FunhouseThe Funhouse is a 1980 novelization, by best-selling author Dean Koontz, of a Larry Block screenplay, which was made into 1981 film The Funhouse directed by Tobe Hooper. Koontz originally published the novel under the pseudonym Owen West.-Plot:...
, also sold over a million copies, but were written under pen names. Thus although
Whispers is Koontz's third paperback bestseller, it was the second credited to Koontz. His very first bestseller was
Demon SeedDemon Seed is a 1977 American science fiction–horror film starring Julie Christie and directed by Donald Cammell. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Dean Koontz, and concerns the imprisonment and forced impregnation of a woman by an artificially-intelligent...
, the sales of which picked up after the release of the film of the same name in 1977, and sold over two million copies in one year.
Demon Seed's success may have been a fluke, but from 1979 on, Koontz's books regularly became paperback bestsellers. His first hardcover bestseller, which finally promised some financial stability and lifted him out of the midlist hit-and-miss range was his book
Strangers-Story:It is about a group of people who are brought together by their different and equally strange maladies. These people gather to meet in the middle of the Nevada 'high-desert' to try to figure out what was done to them, and who could have done it, while at same time being watched by the...
.
Since then, 12 hardcovers and 13 paperbacks written by Koontz have reached #1 on the
New York Times Bestseller List.
Bestselling science fiction author
Brian HerbertBrian Patrick Herbert is an American author who lives in Washington state. He is the elder son of science fiction author Frank Herbert....
has stated, that "I even went though a phase where I read everything that Dean Koontz wrote, and in the process I learned a lot about characterization and building suspense."
In 1997
psychologistPsychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
,
Katherine RamslandKatherine Ramsland is an author who has published 37 books and over 900 articles, most of which are in the genres of crime, forensic science, and the supernatural. She holds graduate degrees in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, and philosophy, and teaches forensic psychology at DeSales...
, published an extensive biography of Koontz based on interviews with him and his family. This "
psychobiographyPsychobiography aims to understand historically significant individuals such as artists, political leaders, and so on, through the application of psychological theory and research...
" (as Ramsland called it) often showed the conception of Koontz's characters and plots from events in his own life.
Early author photos on the back of many of his novels show a balding Koontz with a mustache. After Koontz underwent
hair transplantationHair transplantation is a surgical technique that involves moving individual hair follicles from one part of the body to bald or balding parts . It is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness. It this case, grafts containing hair follicles that are genetically resistant to balding are...
surgery in the late 1990s his subsequent books have featured a new clean-shaven appearance with a fuller head of hair. Koontz explained the change by claiming that he was tired of looking like
G. Gordon LiddyGeorge Gordon Liddy was the chief operative for the White House Plumbers unit that existed from July–September 1971, during Richard Nixon's presidency. Separately, along with E. Howard Hunt, Liddy organized and directed the Watergate burglaries of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in...
.
Koontz does not spend much time on partisan politics, and doesn't believe politics solves many problems. Since 1988, however, he has contributed almost $73,000 to conservative,
RepublicanThe Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidates and causes. He donated to the
2008 US Presidential campaignsThe United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
of
Mitt RomneyWillard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
and
John McCainJohn Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
. He and Mrs. Koontz have contributed over $138,000 to Republican candidates for federal office and Republican organizations (1991–2009). In 2005, he supported
Governor of CaliforniaThe Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
with $5000 in cash donations and more than $100,000 for a fund-raising dinner for 123 guests.
Many of his novels are set in or near
Newport Beach, CaliforniaNewport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
. As of 2006 he lives there with his wife, Gerda. In 2008 he was the world's sixth most highly-paid author, tied with
John GrishamJohn Ray Grisham, Jr. is an American lawyer and author, best known for his popular legal thrillers.John Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University before attending the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981 and practiced criminal law for about a decade...
, at $25 million annually.
Inspiration
One of Dean Koontz's pen names was inspired by his dog,
Trixie Koontz, a
golden retrieverThe Golden Retriever is a medium-sized breed of dog. They were historically developed as gundogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties. As such, they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and have an instinctive love...
, shown in many of his book-jacket photos. Trixie originally was a service dog with
Canine Companions for IndependenceCanine Companions for Independence is a non-profit organization that trains and provides assistance dogs. - Foundations :CCI was founded in Santa Rosa, California in July 1975 by Bonnie Bergin. Since then, it has grown to a national organization...
(CCI), a
charitable organizationA charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
that provides service dogs for people with disabilities. Trixie was a gift from CCI in gratitude of the Koontz's substantial donations, totalling $2,500,000 between 1991 and 2004. Koontz was taken with the charity while he was researching his novel
Midnight, a book which included a CCI-trained dog, a black
Labrador retrieverThe Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
, named Moose.
In 2004 Koontz wrote and edited
Life Is Good: Lessons in Joyful Living in her name, and in 2005 Koontz wrote a second book credited to Trixie,
Christmas Is Good. Both books are written from a supposed canine perspective on the joys of life. The
royaltiesRoyalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
of the books were donated to CCI. In 2007 Trixie contracted terminal
cancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
that created a
tumorA tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
in her heart. The Koontzes had her
put to sleepAnimal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
outside of their family home on June 30. After Trixie's death Koontz has continued writing on his website under Trixie's names in "TOTOS", standing for Trixie on the Other Side.
It is widely thought that Trixie was his inspiration for his November 2007 book,
The Darkest Evening of the YearThe Darkest Evening of the Year is a novel by the author Dean Koontz, released on November 27, 2007. The title is a possible allusion to Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening".-Premise:...
, about a woman who runs a golden retriever rescue home, and who rescues a 'special' dog, named Nickie, who eventually saves her life. In August 2009 Koontz published "A Big Little Life," a memoir of his life with Trixie.
In October 2008 Koontz revealed that he had adopted a new dog, Anna. It eventually was learned that Anna was the grandniece of Trixie.
Screenplays
- 1979 – CHiPs episode 306: Counterfeit (as Brian Coffey), screenplay
- 1998 – Phantoms, screenplay
- 2005 – Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, screenplay
Characters
- Art dealer and professional thief (Tucker appeared in the novels Blood Risk, Surrounded, and The Wall of Masks, all written under the pseudonym Brian Coffey); and the (as yet unfinished) Moonlight Bay Trilogy
The Moonlight Bay Trilogy is a proposed trilogy of three novels by Dean Koontz. They revolve around the mysterious events in Moonlight Bay that are investigated by the main character Christopher Snow, who suffers from the genetic disorder Xeroderma pigmentosum.Only the first two books have been...
, whose hero, Christopher Snow, appears in the novels Fear NothingFear Nothing is a novel released in 1997 by the best-selling author Dean Koontz. The book is the first installment in what is reported to be a three part series of books, known as the Moonlight Bay Trilogy, featuring Christopher Snow, who suffers from the rare disease called XP . The second of...
and Seize the NightSeize the Night is a novel written by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1998. The book is the second in a trilogy of books known as the Moonlight Bay Trilogy, involving Christopher Snow, who suffers from the rare disease called XP...
(a proposed third entry, Ride the StormRide the Storm is the final book in the Moonlight Bay Trilogy written by NYT best-selling author Dean Koontz. The book is the third installment featuring Christopher Snow, a young man who suffers from the rare disease called XP...
, has yet to appear). In recent years, however, Koontz has written four novels featuring the character of Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas, Forever OddForever Odd is a 2005 novel by Dean Koontz, and the sequel to Odd Thomas. The plot takes place six months after the events of Odd Thomas.-Plot summary:...
, Brother OddBrother Odd is a novel by Dean Koontz, published in 2006. The novel is the third book in Koontz's series focusing on a young man named Odd Thomas.-Plot summary:...
, and Odd HoursOdd Hours is the fourth novel in the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz. It was released on May 20, 2008.-Plot summary:The story begins with Odd finding a woman who featured prominently in his dream, a young, pregnant woman who calls herself Annamaria. After being assaulted and nearly killed by a...
), as well as the ongoing Dean Koontz's FrankensteinDean Koontz's Frankenstein is the collective title of five novels co-written by Dean Koontz. Though technically of the mystery or thriller genres, the novels also feature the trappings of horror, fantasy, and science fiction....
series, based on a concept for a failed television series that Koontz was briefly involved with. The show's pilot episode wound up being repackaged as a direct-to-DVD movie. Additionally, the Christopher Snow novels are loosely connected to WatchersWatchers is a 1987 suspense novel by American author, Dean Koontz. Along with Strangers, Lightning, and Midnight, Watchers is credited with cementing Koontz's status as a best-selling author.-Plot Summary:...
, and the Tranquility Motel of Strangers appears in the Odd Passenger web series. Odd Thomas also had a link to the Christopher Snow series via a sweatshirt with the words "mystery Train." Deucalion of the Frankenstein series made an appearance at St. Bart's monastery which was the backdrop for Brother Odd.
- The female lead is often intelligent, beautiful, witty, and assertive, and is just as often paired with a more sensitive and easygoing male counterpart (for example, Bobby and Julie Dakota in The Bad Place
The Bad Place is a novel written by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1990. It includes elements of horror, suspense, and mystery, and is presented partially as a twist on the private eye drama.-Synopsis:...
, Detectives Michael Madison and Carson O'Conner in Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, Tommy and Del in TicktockTicktock, a novel by best-selling author Dean Koontz, has as its protagonist a Vietnamese-American named toung/Tommy Phan who one day finds a mysterious doll on his doorstep. He soon discovers that the doll contains an evil creature, which is determined to kill him.-Plot summary:The story opens...
, and Jimmy and Lorrie Tock in Life ExpectancyLife Expectancy is a novel by suspense/horror writer Dean R. Koontz. The plot centers on five pivotal moments in the life of a self-proclaimed "lummox" named James "Jimmy" Tock.-Plot summary:...
, and Odd and Stormy in Odd Thomas, to name a few).
- Several of Koontz's female protagonists are single mothers bringing up their children against all the odds.
- Male protagonists are usually tough and capable, often either police officers (as in Phantoms
Phantoms is a novel written by best-selling author Dean Koontz, first published in 1983.-Plot summary:Jenny and Lisa Paige, two sisters, return to Jenny's hometown of Snowfield, California, a small ski resort village nestled in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains where Jenny works as a doctor, and finds no...
, Dragon TearsDragon Tears is a 1993 paranormal/horror novel by the best selling author Dean Koontz.-Plot:Harry Lyon is a cop who embraces tradition and order. The biggest bane of his life is his partner, Connie Gulliver. Harry doesn't like the messiness of her desk, her lack of social polish or her sometimes...
, or The Door to DecemberThe Door to December is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1985. It was originally released under the pseudonym Richard Paige.-Plot Synopsis:...
) or seemingly mild mannered sorts who are revealed to have police or military experience in their background (as in The Good GuyThe Good Guy is a thriller novel by American author Dean Koontz, which was released on May 29, 2007.- Summary :Timothy Carrier is an unassuming stonemason who, while having a beer at his regular bar, is accidentally mistaken for a hitman by a stranger who hands him an envelope containing $10,000...
, Dark Rivers of the Heart-Plot:Spencer Grant is a man with a tainted past and a lovable dog, Rocky, who together embark on a quest to find a life in a woman named Valerie Keene, whom he meets in a nightclub. Grant and his dog come back to the club later to find out that the woman is late for work.When Grant attempts to...
, The Eyes of DarknessThe Eyes of Darkness is a best-selling novel written by Dean Koontz, released in 1981. The book focuses on a mother who sets out on a quest to find out if her son truly did die one year ago, or if he was still alive — somewhere.-Characters:...
, WatchersWatchers is a 1987 suspense novel by American author, Dean Koontz. Along with Strangers, Lightning, and Midnight, Watchers is credited with cementing Koontz's status as a best-selling author.-Plot Summary:...
, Shadow FiresShadowfires is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1987. Koontz's attempt at a straightforward horror novel, it was originally released as Shadow Fires under the pseudonym Leigh Nichols, and tells the story of a young woman who, in the process of getting a divorce from her...
, and others).
- Many of Koontz's heroes come from abusive (or at least dysfunctional) backgrounds, but are nonetheless portrayed as successful, financially independent, strong-willed, and emotionally stable.
- Conversely, his antagonists are often sociopath
Psychopathy is a mental disorder characterized primarily by a lack of empathy and remorse, shallow emotions, egocentricity, and deceptiveness. Psychopaths are highly prone to antisocial behavior and abusive treatment of others, and are very disproportionately responsible for violent crime...
ic monsters with no redeeming or humanizing qualities whatsoever, who are invariably destroyed by the story's end; many of Koontz's villains are delusionA delusion is a false belief held with absolute conviction despite superior evidence. Unlike hallucinations, delusions are always pathological...
al, and consider their extremely warped and elaborate worldviews to be philosophically transcendent (for example, Edgler Vess from Intensity-Plot summary:Chyna Shepard is a college student visiting the family of her friend, Laura Templeton, for a long weekend. Chyna, who was abused and neglected by her mother as a child, finds the Templeton house provides something she has yearned: acceptance...
, Corky Laputa from The FaceThe Face is a novel by Dean Koontz published in 2003 by Bantam Books.- Plot summary:The main plot of the story follows Ethan Truman, an ex-cop who now works as the head of security for the most famous actor in Hollywood, Channing Manheim, a.k.a "The Face." Ethan is trying to track down the sender...
, Vassago from Hideaway, Bryan Drackman from Dragon Tears, Vince Nasco from WatchersWatchers is a 1987 suspense novel by American author, Dean Koontz. Along with Strangers, Lightning, and Midnight, Watchers is credited with cementing Koontz's status as a best-selling author.-Plot Summary:...
, Preston Maddoc from One Door Away from HeavenOne Door Away From Heaven is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 2001.-Plot summary:A shapechanging alien has come to Earth with others of his kind to save us from ourselves. After witnessing the slaughter of his entire family by evil aliens bent on stopping him, he takes...
, Valis in VelocityVelocity is a novel by Dean Koontz first published in 2005. Set in Napa County, California, it is about a man in his thirties who takes the law into his own hands when, out of the blue, he is threatened by an anonymous adversary....
, Thomas Shaddack in Midnight, Junior Cain in From the Corner of His EyeFrom the Corner of His Eye is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 2000. It is the story of a boy named Bartholomew Lampion, a ruthless killer named Enoch Cain, and a girl named Angel, born by the result of a rape.-Synopsis:...
, Krait in The Good GuyThe Good Guy is a thriller novel by American author Dean Koontz, which was released on May 29, 2007.- Summary :Timothy Carrier is an unassuming stonemason who, while having a beer at his regular bar, is accidentally mistaken for a hitman by a stranger who hands him an envelope containing $10,000...
, and Alton Turner Blackwood in What the Night Knows).
- Many of Koontz's novels feature sympathetic portrayals of characters who suffer from some mental or physical abnormality (for example, Christopher Snow from the Moonlight Bay Trilogy, Regina from Hideaway, Shepherd in By the Light of the Moon
By the Light of the Moon is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 2002.-Synopsis:An amoral doctor forever changes the lives of Dylan O'Conner, his autistic brother Shepherd, and a comedienne named Jillian Jackson, and instigates a new force for good from his evil...
, Thomas in The Bad PlaceThe Bad Place is a novel written by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1990. It includes elements of horror, suspense, and mystery, and is presented partially as a twist on the private eye drama.-Synopsis:...
, and Harry in Midnight, which smoothly combines with Koontz's common theme of dogs, as portrayed by Harry's helpful service dog who also provides him with friendship).
- Koontz is an only child
An only child is a person with no siblings, either biological or adopted. In a family with multiple offspring, first-borns, may be briefly considered only children and have a similar early family environment, but the term only child is generally applied only to those individuals who never have...
, and many of the protagonists in his stories are only children (for example, Christopher Snow, Odd Thomas, Jimmy Tock – although born a twin, he was raised an only child – from Life Expectancy, Laura Shane from LightningLightning is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1988. A 2003 reprinting includes a new afterword by the author, discussing editorial politics.-Overview:...
, Fric from The FaceThe Face is a novel by Dean Koontz published in 2003 by Bantam Books.- Plot summary:The main plot of the story follows Ethan Truman, an ex-cop who now works as the head of security for the most famous actor in Hollywood, Channing Manheim, a.k.a "The Face." Ethan is trying to track down the sender...
).
- While in Koontz's early novels like The Haunted Earth the protagonist may still be a pot-smoking, highly sexual cynic with no respect or patience for traditional moral authorities, in his later bestsellers like Whispers or Midnight the protagonist is already a morose, conservative-minded individual who shrinks back in disgust at elements of contemporary life like extreme metal, street graffiti, magical literature and psychological explanations for the motivation of 'evil' deeds.
Plot
- Though Koontz's books often feature fantastical plot elements, he usually offers plausible, logically consistent science-based explanations for these bizarre events. Very few of Koontz's novels involve the overtly supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
, instead often relying on unique genetic traits and congenital conditions. Exceptions, however, are found in the following: The TakingThe Taking is a 2004 novel written by Dean Koontz.-Plot summary:In the midst of an oddly sudden rain storm, author Molly Sloan awakens in the middle of the night. Unable to return to sleep, she leaves her husband Neil slumbering in bed and goes downstairs to work on a manuscript in progress.Dark...
, which features 'nightmarish alien-like & ethereal' creatures which are primarily organic, with the majority of them being 'fungal' and 'insectile' by nature. PhantomsPhantoms is a novel written by best-selling author Dean Koontz, first published in 1983.-Plot summary:Jenny and Lisa Paige, two sisters, return to Jenny's hometown of Snowfield, California, a small ski resort village nestled in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains where Jenny works as a doctor, and finds no...
, as well as Midnight, make mention of an 'amoebic' being; however, though the general basal characteristics are varying, their principal function is congruent. Neither being consists of functioning organs; these are living beings who thrive on the consumption of other living creatures and human beings. The creature from PhantomsPhantoms is a novel written by best-selling author Dean Koontz, first published in 1983.-Plot summary:Jenny and Lisa Paige, two sisters, return to Jenny's hometown of Snowfield, California, a small ski resort village nestled in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains where Jenny works as a doctor, and finds no...
is able to embody the consumed beings and in turn take any form it wishes, simultaneously assuming the consciousness and intelligence of the consumed beings as almost an 'evolved' higher-being. The opposite applies to the creature from Midnight, as the amoebic being is viewed as almost a 'devolution' of the human race, taking on a basal primitive (simplest) form of basic human needs. The creatures who form the main storyline thread throughout BreathlessBreathless is a novel by bestselling author Dean Koontz. Published November 24, 2009....
are both somewhat alien and somewhat genetically engineered. Though their origins are left a mystery and open to each readers interpretation (be it 'alien' or a bizarre genetic experiment), the image of an 'ewok' is almost conjured in the mention of their characteristics.
- Koontz's protagonists often arm themselves with guns to combat the various monsters and madmen they are forced to do battle with. Often a Chief's Special
The Smith & Wesson Model 36 is a revolver chambered for .38 Special. Like nearly all other "J-frame" Smith & Wesson revolvers, it has a 5-round capacity in a swing-out cylinder, and features an exposed hammer. It features a nickel-plated or blued finish and either wood or rubber grips...
or Combat Magnum Heckler & Koch P7 appear as handguns (Koontz himself is a lifelong gun owner). An exception to this rule has been the recurring character Odd Thomas who is said, in fact, to dislike guns due to his childhood trauma of his mother threatening suicide by using her favorite gun.
- A protagonist having to hide a dead body.
- A desperate struggle for survival that leads to a final confrontation where good completely vanquishes evil, usually leading to a "happy ending" for the main characters.
- A shadowy conspiracy of assassination or illicit and unethical scientific research – or both – involving the police or a government agency, or rogue elements within them.
Themes
- Koontz employs serious themes about the importance of faith, especially faith in God. While in his early science fiction Koontz may describe God as an evil amoeba with delusions of grandeur, as in Fear That Man, 15 years later it is Satan who is the evil amoeba with delusions of grandeur (Phantoms
Phantoms is a novel written by best-selling author Dean Koontz, first published in 1983.-Plot summary:Jenny and Lisa Paige, two sisters, return to Jenny's hometown of Snowfield, California, a small ski resort village nestled in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains where Jenny works as a doctor, and finds no...
); and in his 2009 book BreathlessBreathless is a novel by bestselling author Dean Koontz. Published November 24, 2009....
the plot follows a creationist logic of new species just appearing suddenly, positive characters discussing their issues with the theory of evolution , and evil characters admitting to themselves that they are evil because they do not believe in divine justice and thus have no values save seeking pleasure at the expense of others.
- Duality, such as Mr. Murder or a key point in House of Thunder.
- Characters who follow an unwavering moral compass, but do not conform to organized religion or depend on the law.
- The ideal that love and compassion can save one from the apparent absurdities of existence and the cruelties of life.
- Love for children by their parents.
- Reflection (sometimes at length), in his post-1970s books on the decline of modern society in the past 20 to 30 years, either in a dialogue between two characters or in the private musings of the protagonist, sometimes centering the blame on liberal
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
-based tolerance of criminal and/or undesirable activity; free loveThe term free love has been used to describe a social movement that rejects marriage, which is seen as a form of social bondage. The Free Love movement’s initial goal was to separate the state from sexual matters such as marriage, birth control, and adultery...
, drugA drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
use, and political correctnessPolitical correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
are frequent targets (the antagonist of Dragon Tears, for instance, evidently owes not only his superhuman abilities but also his pathological personality to his mother's use of illicit drugs while he was in utero).
- A particular high respect for humanity and repugnance for those who degrade any human. Sometimes (as in One Door Away from Heaven) taking a critical stance against "life" issues like Utilitarian bioethics
Utilitarian bioethics is a branch of utilitarian ethics and bioethics that recommends directing medical resources where they will have most long-term effect for good....
.
- A lack of atonement or redemption from the villains and antagonists, coinciding with main characters who are (eventually) clearly depicted as either good or evil with little moral ambiguity. Little sympathy is elicited for the antagonists. However, some exceptions to this are Watchers, Whispers, and Mr. Murder.
- Scientific themes such as Quantum Theory
Quantum theory may mean:In science:*Quantum mechanics: a subset of quantum physics explaining the physical behaviours at atomic and sub-atomic levels*Old quantum theory under the Bohr model...
and Quantum MechanicsQuantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
have emerged in many of Koontz's novels, providing a new territory of subject matter.
- A recurrent theme is the power and immutability of Fate or Destiny. Koontz's Fate is a singular entity which is very hard, if not impossible to change. A central theme in Lightning
Lightning is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1988. A 2003 reprinting includes a new afterword by the author, discussing editorial politics.-Overview:...
, to paraphrase, "Fate will always struggle to reassert itself."
Other trademarks
- Koontz is an avid dog lover, and canines (typically an unusually smart Golden or Labrador Retriever) often feature prominently in his works: Fear Nothing, Seize the Night
Seize the Night is a novel written by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1998. The book is the second in a trilogy of books known as the Moonlight Bay Trilogy, involving Christopher Snow, who suffers from the rare disease called XP...
, The TakingThe Taking is a 2004 novel written by Dean Koontz.-Plot summary:In the midst of an oddly sudden rain storm, author Molly Sloan awakens in the middle of the night. Unable to return to sleep, she leaves her husband Neil slumbering in bed and goes downstairs to work on a manuscript in progress.Dark...
, WatchersWatchers is a 1987 suspense novel by American author, Dean Koontz. Along with Strangers, Lightning, and Midnight, Watchers is credited with cementing Koontz's status as a best-selling author.-Plot Summary:...
, Dark Rivers of the Heart, Dragon Tears, One Door Away from HeavenOne Door Away From Heaven is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 2001.-Plot summary:A shapechanging alien has come to Earth with others of his kind to save us from ourselves. After witnessing the slaughter of his entire family by evil aliens bent on stopping him, he takes...
, TicktockTicktock, a novel by best-selling author Dean Koontz, has as its protagonist a Vietnamese-American named toung/Tommy Phan who one day finds a mysterious doll on his doorstep. He soon discovers that the doll contains an evil creature, which is determined to kill him.-Plot summary:The story opens...
, Twilight EyesTwilight Eyes is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1985 and 1987 . Twilight Eyes begins with a character with the self-appointed name, "Slim MacKenzie". Slim mainly uses his psychic powers to hunt Goblins, a kind of monster that seems to have the ability to mimic human...
(Towards the end of the book) and The Darkest Evening of the YearThe Darkest Evening of the Year is a novel by the author Dean Koontz, released on November 27, 2007. The title is a possible allusion to Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening".-Premise:...
are prime examples. Cats have often fared worse in his books (Koontz is allergic to felines), though he has occasionally included cats as characters, most notably the smart feline Mungojerrie in the Christopher Snow novels, Terrible Chester in the Odd Thomas novels and Aristophanes in The MaskThe Mask is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz originally released under the pseudonym Owen West in 1981. Koontz later re-released the novel under his own name.-Plot summary:...
.
- A setting in southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
- A Smith and Wesson .38 caliber Chiefs Special or Heckler and Koch P7.
- Use of the words "blacktop
Blacktop may refer to:* asphalt concrete, a composite material commonly used for construction of pavement, highways and parking lots* bituminous macadams* tarmac...
", "heretofore", "ozoneOzone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
", "preternaturalThe preternatural or praeternatural is that which appears outside or beyond the natural. In contrast to the supernatural, preternatural phenomena are presumed to have rational explanations that are, as of yet, unknown....
", "spoor," "susurration", "malocholy", "malevolent", and "momentous" is prevalent in his books, and the phrase "from the corner of his/her eye".
- Vivid, detailed descriptions of the settings' architectural and interior design elements, such as beveled glass
Beveled glass is usually made by taking thick glass and creating an angled surface cut around the entire periphery. Bevels act as prisms in the sunlight creating an interesting color diffraction which both highlights the glass work and provides a spectrum of colors which would ordinarily be absent...
.
- Street lights being described as "Sodium Vapor lights".
- Bitumen is described as McAdam(macadam)frequently
- Amoral scientists using brutalizing techniques (sometimes upon children) to further their research (Sole Survivor
Sole Survivor is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, published in 1997. It is about a woman named Rose, who is being pursued by a company called Teknologik.-Plot summary:...
, Midnight, Frankenstein, The Key to MidnightThe Key to Midnight is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1979 under the pseudonym Leigh Nichols.-Overview:In the 1995 paperback edition, Dean Koontz mentions that this novel is not like anything else he's done. In August 2010 Koontz releases "better" version in...
, The Door to DecemberThe Door to December is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1985. It was originally released under the pseudonym Richard Paige.-Plot Synopsis:...
, The Eyes of DarknessThe Eyes of Darkness is a best-selling novel written by Dean Koontz, released in 1981. The book focuses on a mother who sets out on a quest to find out if her son truly did die one year ago, or if he was still alive — somewhere.-Characters:...
)
- References to literature and poetry of which Koontz is a fan. The poetry of T. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
plays a prominent role in The TakingThe Taking is a 2004 novel written by Dean Koontz.-Plot summary:In the midst of an oddly sudden rain storm, author Molly Sloan awakens in the middle of the night. Unable to return to sleep, she leaves her husband Neil slumbering in bed and goes downstairs to work on a manuscript in progress.Dark...
, and many of the same lines by Eliot are seen in VelocityVelocity is a novel by Dean Koontz first published in 2005. Set in Napa County, California, it is about a man in his thirties who takes the law into his own hands when, out of the blue, he is threatened by an anonymous adversary....
. Fear Nothing includes a character named Tom Eliot, another reference to the famous poet. Little Ozzie from the Odd Thomas series often quotes T.S. Eliot and Shakespeare.
- Plants and flowers are described in horticultural detail, and bougainvillea
Bougainvillea is a genus of flowering plants native to South America from Brazil west to Peru and south to southern Argentina . Different authors accept between four and 18 species in the genus...
flowers often feature in Dean Koontz's books.
- Small references to Japan are often made. Such as plants and characters with a Japanese name, or people having Japanese gardens, furniture or enjoying Japanese food and drink.
- Strange, quirky descriptions, for example, The Darkest Evening of the Year
The Darkest Evening of the Year is a novel by the author Dean Koontz, released on November 27, 2007. The title is a possible allusion to Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening".-Premise:...
"...but a pair of lamps shed light as lusterless as ashes and the colors were muted as though settled smoke from a long-quenched fire had laid a patina on them."
- Frequent references to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures...
.
- Frequent quotations from The Book of Counted Sorrows
The Book of Counted Sorrows was originally a nonexistent book "quoted" in many of Dean Koontz's books. Koontz subsequently wrote a book of poetry by the same title.-Nonexistent book:...
, a book that Koontz made up. Aside from the quotes, he personally wrote, Koontz wrote one book of poetry, entitled "The Paper Doorway."
- Frequent instances of characters with minor wounds self-administering or being treated with Neosporin
Neosporin is the product branding & formulas now owned by Johnson & Johnson of an antibiotic over-the-counter topical created under Warner-Lambert Consumer Healthcare, now a part of Pfizer...
.
- Main characters drive a Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a sport-utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Chicago, Illinois...
in several novels.
- Frequent references to The United States Marine Corps.
- Male characters often wear Rockport boots.
- Use of a lugwrench/tire iron as a weapon.
- Use of the word "elfin" to describe a female character's looks.
- Many of his characters are often seen eating tacos.
Film adaptations
- Frankenstein
- The Husband
The Husband is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 2006. Focus Features, in conjunction with Random House Films, has announced that a film adaptation has been greenlit...
(TBA) – Focus FeaturesFocus Features is the art house films division of NBC Universal's Universal Pictures, and acts as both a producer and distributor for its own films and a distributor for foreign films....
- Frankenstein
Frankenstein is a 2004 made-for-television USA Network production starring Thomas Kretschmann as Victor Helios and Vincent Pérez as his creature. It was produced by Martin Scorsese and based on Dean Koontz's version of Frankenstein...
(2004) – USA NetworkUSA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
– starring Adam GoldbergAdam Charles Goldberg is an American actor, director, producer, and musician.-Early life:Goldberg was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Donna and Earl Goldberg, a former lifeguard. His father is Jewish and his mother is a "lapsed" Roman Catholic of Irish, French, and German descent...
, Parker PoseyParker Christian Posey is an American actress. She became known during the 1990s after a series of roles in several well-received independent films. As a result, she has often been referred to as the "Queen of the Indies"....
, Michael MadsenMichael Søren Madsen is an American actor, poet, and photographer. He has appeared in more than 150 films, most of them small independent films, though he has starred in central roles in such films as Reservoir Dogs, Free Willy, Donnie Brasco, and Kill Bill, in addition to a supporting role in Sin...
, Vincent PerezVincent Pérez is a Swiss-born French speaking actor and director. He is best known internationally for playing the title character Ashe Corven in The Crow: City of Angels, and for starring in Queen of the Damned, playing Marius de Romanus...
, and Thomas KretschmannThomas Kretschmann is a German actor best known for playing Leutnant Hans Von Witzland in the 1993 film Stalingrad, Hauptmann Wilm Hosenfeld in The Pianist, Hermann Fegelein in Der Untergang, and Captain Englehorn in the 2005 remake of King Kong.-Early life:Kretschmann was born in Dessau, former...
(Koontz pulled out of the project midway through production because he did not like the direction the film was headed. He ended up writing his own books with the storyline he had originally created. The project continued without him.)
- Black River
Black River is an American television movie about a writer who comes upon the town of Black River, only to find that it will not let him leave. Based on a short story by Dean Koontz, the film premiered July 6, 2001 on Fox.-Synopsis:...
(2001) – FoxFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
– starring Jay MohrJay Mohr is an American actor and stand up comedian. He is known for his role as Professor Rick Payne in the TV series Ghost Whisperer, the title role in the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, which ran from 2008 to 2010, and the back-stabbing sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire.-Early life:Mohr was...
, and Stephen TobolowskyStephen Harold Tobolowsky is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, as well as portraying Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood for nine episodes and Bob Bishop in Heroes for eleven episodes over the second and third seasons...
- Sole Survivor
Sole Survivor also known as Dean Koontz's Sole Survivor is a Canadian Thriller film/mini-series adaptation of Dean Koontz's novel of the same name, made and released in 2000 and directed by Mikael Salomon.-Plot:...
(2000) – FoxFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
– starring Billy ZaneWilliam George "Billy" Zane, Jr. is an American actor, producer and director. He is probably best known for his roles as Caledon Hockley in Titanic, The Phantom from The Phantom, John Wheeler in Twin Peaks and Mr...
, John C. McGinleyJohn Christopher McGinley is an American actor, most notable for his roles as Perry Cox in Scrubs, Bob Slydell in Office Space, Sergeant Red O'Neill in Oliver Stone's Platoon and Marv in Stone's Wall Street. He has also written and produced for television and film...
, and Gloria ReubenGloria Reuben is a Canadian singer and actress of film and television, known for her role as Jeanie Boulet on the popular medical drama ER and for her role of Rosalind Whitman in the TV show Raising the Bar.-Life and career:...
- Watchers Reborn
Watchers Reborn is the 1998 sequel to the Canadian horror film Watchers. Starring Star Wars veteran Mark Hamill, the film is loosely based on the novel Watchers by Dean Koontz.-Plot:...
(1998) – Concorde Pictures – starring Mark HamillMark Richard Hamill is an American actor, voice artist, producer, director, and writer, best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy of Star Wars. More recently, he has received acclaim for his voice work, in such roles as the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, Firelord...
- Phantoms
Phantoms is a 1998 American horror film adapted from the 1983 novel Phantoms by Dean Koontz. Joe Chappelle directed the film, and Koontz wrote the screenplay. The film takes place in the peaceful town of Snowfield, Colorado, where something evil has wiped out the community...
(1998) – Miramax/Dimension Films – starring Peter O'ToolePeter Seamus Lorcan O'Toole is an Irish actor of stage and screen. O'Toole achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and then went on to become a highly-honoured film and stage actor. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and holds the record for most...
, Ben AffleckBenjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt , better known as Ben Affleck, is an American actor, film director, writer, and producer. He became known with his performances in Kevin Smith's films such as Mallrats and Chasing Amy...
, Rose McGowanRose Arianna McGowan is an actress and singer. She is known for her role as Paige Matthews in The WB Television Network supernatural drama series Charmed. She played Ann-Margret alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Elvis Presley in the CBS mini-series Elvis...
, and Joanna GoingJoanna C. Going is an American actress.-Early life and education:Born in Washington, D.C., she is the oldest of six children of Lorraine M...
.
- Mr. Murder
Mr. Murder is a horror novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1993.-Plot:This story has two intervening plots occurring throughout. One of an assassin, who is a clone....
(1998) – ABC–starring Stephen BaldwinStephen Andrew Baldwin is an American actor, director, producer and author. One of the Baldwin brothers, he is known for his roles as William F. Cody in the western show The Young Riders and as Stuart in the movie Threesome...
, Thomas Haden ChurchThomas Haden Church is an American actor. After co-starring in the 1990s sitcom Wings, Church became well known for his film roles, including his Academy Award-nominated performance in Sideways and his role as the Sandman in Spider-Man 3.-Early life:Church, the fourth of six children, was born...
, and James CoburnJames Harrison Coburn III was an American film and television actor. Coburn appeared in nearly 70 films and made over 100 television appearances during his 45-year career, and played a wide range of roles and won an Academy Award for his supporting role as Glen Whitehouse in Affliction.A capable,...
- Intensity (1997) – Fox–starring John C. McGinley
John Christopher McGinley is an American actor, most notable for his roles as Perry Cox in Scrubs, Bob Slydell in Office Space, Sergeant Red O'Neill in Oliver Stone's Platoon and Marv in Stone's Wall Street. He has also written and produced for television and film...
, Molly ParkerMolly Parker is a Canadian actress, notable for her roles in Canadian and American independent films and the HBO television series Deadwood.Parker won a Genie Award in 1997 as Best Actress in a Leading Role for Kissed...
, and Piper LauriePiper Laurie is an American actress of stage and screen known for her roles in the television series Twin Peaks and the films The Hustler, Carrie, and Children of a Lesser God, all of which brought her Academy Award nominations...
- Hideaway
Hideaway is a 1995 horror film directed by Brett Leonard and based on the novel of the same name by Dean Koontz. It stars Jeff Goldblum, Alicia Silverstone, Christine Lahti, and Jeremy Sisto. In the movie Goldblum plays a man who dies in a car accident, only to be revived two hours later. After...
(1995) – Tristar Pictures–starring Jeff GoldblumJeffrey Lynn "Jeff" Goldblum is an American actor. His career began in the mid-1970s and he has appeared in major box-office successes including The Fly, Jurassic Park and its sequel Jurassic Park: The Lost World, and Independence Day...
, Christine LahtiChristine Lahti is an American actress and film director. Lahti has had a successful career in television and film. Throughout her career she has garnered 2 Golden Globe Awards from 8 Nominations, An Emmy Award from 6 Nominations and 2 Academy Award nominations...
, Jeremy SistoJeremy Merton Sisto is an American actor. Sisto has had recurring roles as Billy Chenowith on the HBO series Six Feet Under and Detective Cyrus Lupo on Law & Order on television and also starred in the films Jesus, Clueless and Thirteen.-Early life:Sisto was born in Grass Valley, California, the...
, and Alicia SilverstoneAlicia Silverstone is an American actress, author, and former fashion model. She first came to widespread attention in music videos for Aerosmith, and is perhaps best known for her roles in Hollywood films such as Clueless and her portrayal of Batgirl in Batman & Robin .-Early life:Silverstone...
- Watchers 3
Watchers 3 is the 1994 sequel to the Canadian horror film Watchers directed by Jeremy Stanford. Starring B movie veteran Wings Hauser, the film is loosely based on the novel Watchers by Dean Koontz...
(1994) – Concorde Pictures – starring Wings HauserWings Hauser is an American actor, director and film writer.-Life and career:Hauser was born Gerald Dwight Hauser in Hollywood, California, the son of Geraldine and Academy Award-winning director and producer Dwight Hauser...
- The Servants of Twilight
The Servants of Twilight is a novel by best-selling American suspense author Dean Koontz. The book's plot revolves around a single mother being tormented by members of a religious cult whose leader believes the woman's son to be the Antichrist. A film adaptation was released in 1991.The book was...
(1991) – Trimark–starring Bruce GreenwoodBruce Greenwood is a Canadian actor and musician. He is generally known for his roles as U.S. presidents in Thirteen Days and National Treasure: Book of Secrets and for his role as Captain Christopher Pike in the 2009 Star Trek film...
- The Face of Fear
The Face of Fear is a novel by best-selling author Dean Koontz, first published in 1977. It was originally released under the pseudonym Brian Coffey.-Plot summary:...
(1990) – CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
–starring Pam DawberPam Dawber is an American actress best known for her lead television sitcom roles as Mindy McConnell in Mork & Mindy and Samantha Russell in My Sister Sam .-Life and career:...
and Lee HorsleyLee Arthur Horsley is an American film, television, and theater actor known for starring roles in the television series, Nero Wolfe , Matt Houston , and Paradise . He starred in the 1982 cult film, The Sword and the Sorcerer, and recorded the audiobook edition of Lonesome Dove...
. Also includes Kevin ConroyKevin Conroy is an American stage, screen, and voice actor, best known for his acclaimed voice role as Batman in numerous animated television series, feature films, and video games that make up the DC Animated Universe.-Early life:...
.
- Watchers II
Watchers II is the 1990 sequel to the Canadian horror film Watchers. Starring Marc Singer and Tracy Scoggins, the film is loosely based on the novel Watchers by Dean Koontz.-Plot:...
(1990) – Concorde Pictures – starring Marc SingerMarc Singer is a Canadian-born American actor best known for his roles in the Beastmaster film series and as Mike Donovan in the original 1980s TV series V.-Personal life:...
and Tracy ScogginsTracy Dawn Scoggins is an American actress known for her roles as Cat Grant in the television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Monica Colby in the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty, and its spin-off series The Colbys...
- Whispers (1990) – Cinepix–starring Victoria Tennant
Victoria Tennant is an English film and television actress.-Early life:Tennant was born in London, England. Her mother, Irina Baronova, was a Russian prima ballerina who appeared with the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo, and her father, Cecil Tennant, was an English producer and talent agent who ran...
, Chris SarandonChris Sarandon is an American actor who was married to actress Susan Sarandon between 1968 and 1979. He is best known for playing Prince Humperdinck in the film The Princess Bride, the vampire Jerry Dandridge in Fright Night and Detective Mike Norris in the first entry of the Child's Play series,...
, and Jean LeClere
- Watchers (1988) – Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
– starring Corey HaimCorey Ian Haim was a Canadian actor, known for a 1980s Hollywood career as a teen idol. He starred in a number of films such as Lucas, Silver Bullet, Murphy's Romance, License to Drive and Dream a Little Dream...
, Barbara Williams, and Michael IronsideMichael Ironside is a Canadian-born actor. He has also worked as a voice actor, producer, film director, and screenwriter in movie and television series in various Canadian and American productions. He is best known for playing villains and "tough guy" heroes, though he has also portrayed...
- The Intruder (1977) – MGM – starring Jean-Louis Trintignant
Jean-Louis Trintignant is a French actor who has enjoyed an international acclaim. He won the Best Actor Award at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival.-Career:...
(French film adaptation of Koontz's novel ShatteredShattered is a 1973 novel by Dean Koontz; it was previously published for Random House under his pseudonym, K.R. Dwyer.The Berkeley edition was published in February 1985, the second printing was in June 1985, and the third printing was in November 1985.For the 1985 printing, the author's name is...
)
- Demon Seed
Demon Seed is a 1977 American science fiction–horror film starring Julie Christie and directed by Donald Cammell. The film was based on the novel of the same name by Dean Koontz, and concerns the imprisonment and forced impregnation of a woman by an artificially-intelligent...
(1977) – MGM – starring Julie ChristieJulie Frances Christie is a British actress. Born in British India to English parents, at the age of six Christie moved to England, where she attended boarding school....
, Fritz WeaverFritz William Weaver is an American actor and voice actor.-Life and career:Weaver was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Elsa W. and John Carson Weaver. His mother was of Italian descent and his father was a social worker from Pittsburgh. Weaver attended Peabody High School...
, and Robert VaughnRobert Francis Vaughn, , is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. His best known roles include the suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s television series The Protectors, Albert Stroller in...
as the voice of Proteus
External links