Watchers - Dean Koontz

...FACTS ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

WATCHERS was first published in 1988 by Headline Book Publishing. Dean Koontz himself is a prolific writer in the horror/thriller genre and has written over forty novels - these do not include many of his early works, which were written under various pseudonyms. Each of his books tell us that Dean himself had a poor upbringing and that his parents scorned his love of books - he learned to escape into fiction ...
...abusive childhood, if you read between the lines. He is now one of America's more successful authors and has sold more than ninety million copies worldwide as well as becoming a fixture on the international bestseller lists. Other titles include: 'Lightening' - a favourite of mine and one that I have written a previous review on (spot the plug!); 'The Vision' - another favourite of mine and one of his early novels; 'Chase' - another early novel and ... more

I am a great fan of Dean Koontz and have always bought any new books that he may bring out. This particular book is one of the few I haven't read and as WHSmith are currently offering 3 for 2 on all adult fiction, I decided to treat myself at the weekend. I know it is now only Tuesday but I read very fast!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* SOME FACTS ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

WATCHERS was first published in 1988 by Headline Book Publishing. Dean Koontz himself is a prolific writer in the horror/thriller genre and has written over forty novels - these do not include many of his early works, which were written under various pseudonyms. Each of his books tell us that Dean himself had a poor upbringing and that his parents scorned his love of books - he learned to escape into fiction from an early age - presumably to escape an essentially abusive childhood, if you read between the lines. He is now one of America's more successful authors and has sold more than ninety million copies worldwide as well as becoming a fixture on the international bestseller lists. Other titles include: 'Lightening' - a favourite of mine and one that I have written a previous review on (spot the plug!); 'The Vision' - another favourite of mine and one of his early novels; 'Chase' - another early novel and a cracking read; 'Odd Thomas' - a recent novel and one which I shall write about shortly, I feel and many, many more - though I feel I could write a little on each, that really is not the point of this review. Onwards.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* THE PLOT ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"They escape from a secret government: two mutant creatures, both changed utterly from the animals they once were. And no one who encounters them will ever be the same again."

Travis Cornell is a loner - we join him on his thirty-sixth birthday - May 18th, as he sets out to spend the day in the wilderness. Alone and essentially depressed by the apparent meaninglessness of his life he desires nothing but time to reflect on his empty life. By reliving time spent in his youth, he hopes to grasp some of the joy that he feels is missing from his life.

He has not gone far when he encounters a Rattler sunning itself on a rock. As a child he killed many snakes and his disgust for the creature is such that he pulls his revolver and aims it at the snake. However, he is surprised to find that he can't pull the trigger and end the reptile's life and further astonishes himself by reflecting that the Rattlesnake probably took more pleasure in it's life than he did in his own - a realisation which depresses him further.

Further along in his trek, he meets a dog, a Golden Retriever. The dog is dirty, uncared for and bloody and at first, Travis gets along with the dog well. Then, as he tries to take a trail which leads into a dark, wooded area, the dog becomes aggressive and refuses to let him carry on. It soon becomes apparent that the dog is mortally afraid of something in the woods and is protecting Travis. When the hear the creature whom the dog is so afraid of, they run and Travis feels an unusual fear so great that he is later ashamed of himself. Travis is ex Delta Force and with his experience, as well as his depression, has little in life he fears.

The man and dog reach Travis' pick up truck and Travis drives back to civilisation with every intention of letting the dog go his own way or taking him to the pound. It soon becomes clear, however, that the dog is more intelligent than most dogs and can exhibit some amazing tricks - Travis decides to take him home where the animal astonishes him further.

Nora Devon is a thirty-year-old woman who is essentially a recluse. She was raised by her vicious Aunt Violent who, it becomes apparent, has traumatized Nora to the extent that she has no social skills, due to her lack of contact with people in general, no self-esteem, due to be told that she is ugly for most of her life and a crippling sense of shyness and lack of experience of the real world. But Aunt Violet is dead. Nora has begun a small rebellion by painting her room a different colour. When the TV repair man calls though, she begins to wonder if all that Aunt Violet told her about the world is true as he is a cruel and confident bully who is determined to have her for himself - Nora feels that he knows she is a 'mouse' who will not fight him and is afraid.

Despite this, she decides to sample the world one day and venture to the park - the longest journey she has made outside of Aunt Violet's house in her life.

Travis has taken the dog, now named Einstein, to the park also.

Streck, the TV repairman has been stalking Nora and is ready to pounce.

Einstein senses trouble and saves Nora from Streck as he makes his intentions towards her crystal clear. Nora is grateful but her fear of other people is stronger and she runs away from Travis in the park. Later, Einstein leads Travis to her when Streck has another try and this time, a friendship is formed.

Now there are the basics in the form of the beginning of the book - I won't give too much more away, just a taste.

Einstein is special. This is made obvious very early in the story so I feel I'm not revealing too much here. He is a special mutt - but for how good he is and how wonderful, there is a counterpart - the thing chasing Travis and Einstein in the woods that day. What is it? We don't know but it's dangerous and connected with Einstein in some way.

A government agency is involved - that should tell you something - but why?

A deadly assassin kills three scientists and their families; he discovers information that he feels will change his life - but what?

And how do all of these factors meet to make a great plot?

Well, they do but frankly not a brilliant one. Perhaps if this were the first Dean Koontz I had ever read, I may feel different but for me it was very similar to other books I have read of his, albeit in a subtle way.

I found the way the two main characters, Travis and Nora, shook off their neuroses so quickly pretty unbelievable - ok, if they stayed with them, it wouldn't move the characters on at all, but why then give them such deep flaws initially? Travis and the snake was such a clear 'HEY, I'M A GOOD GUY!!!' that I was almost embarrassed. Nora and her crippling shyness was cute and whilst there was an attempt to draw her out slowly, it didn't ring true for me.... people that have been damaged as badly as that don't come out of it over a period of months - more like years.

On the other hand, Einstein the dog charmed me totally - just the thought of such an intelligent dog is charming in itself, but to have it described was great - I thoroughly enjoyed the dog's character!

The other creature, which was called 'The Outsider?, did inspire some pity at times but, as the bad guy, not much - this is a good thing.

The government agent, I found to be bland to the point of barely remembering him between chapters.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* CONCLUSION ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A good book. One to lose yourself in when you feel like a good dose of escapism (I quite often do!) but not a book to provoke a great deal of thought. I enjoyed the book and found the plot kept me turning the pages and yes, I found it hard to put down. Saying this, when I attack a book, I rarely put it down until I have finished, though silly things like sleep and work often get in the way.....

I think this was a demonstration in an author's formula, he has/had found something that worked and stuck to it. Although I enjoy some authors who stick to a formula, I do expect plots to vary to the extent that they are unrecognisable from one another and I feel that Koontz didn't do this here. It reminded me of too many of his other books and even spoiled some of them for me because of that fact.

If the characters had been a little stronger and believable, I don't think I would have felt this way, but as I mentioned, I think that he should have made them less damaged in the first place because all the losing of inhibitions and learning to love again etc. etc. lessened the characters and made it a little too fairy tale for me. The dog was fairy tale enough for one book!

To sum up - I would read it again, but it's not up there with any of my favourites. I have a large book collection and because I read so fast, I often go back to a book time and time again but it will be a long while before I read this one again.

Hope this is helpful to you book lovers out there!

Thanks for reading. Kes:)
 

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