Posts Tagged ‘Dean Koontz’
Posted by Peter Schwotzer in Books, Latest News, Reviews, Terror Tales with Peter D. Schwotzer on December 26th, 2008
Well fellow monster fans we are approaching the end of one year and the dawn of another and what a crazy year it’s been and most of it not in a good way. That’s why books are so important to me. They give me much needed time away from what a disaster this world has become. I can loose myself in these fabulous worlds that these writer’s create and hide away from the real monsters that haunt us; our gov’t, federal and local; our justice system who continue to release monsters onto the streets on a daily basis, the list goes on and on.
I have decided to present a list of my own that will hopefully pique your interest enough to try one of these books. Turn off the TV and video game for a while and give books a chance, they are your best source for outstanding entertainment. You get to exercise the most important part of your body; your brain. You can travel to far away lands and different worlds, you get to mingle with unbelievable people, you get to be the good guy or the bad guy (whichever you prefer); you get to battle monsters, demons and the scariest people this side of Congress. But mostly you get the feeling of being part of something special between you and the author and that my friend cannot be duplicated.
But first I would like to thank Famous Monsters of Filmland for allowing me to work with them in this little section. It has been absolutely fabulous and has been a blast. I have gotten to meet so many new and interesting people that otherwise I would not have. I would like to also thank the publishers and writers for taking time out of their busy schedules to email or talk to me. Without them this all could not be possible. I would like to extend a special thanks to Dorchester Publishing, specifically Erin Galloway for everything they have done for me. Erin has arranged the interviews with the authors (a lot more are coming after the new year) and she has kept me up to date on all that is happening in their Horror line. If there is anyone I missed I apologize, it wasn’t done intentionally.
Now for better or for worse My Top Ten Books of 2008
1. Bram Stoker’s Notes for Dracula: Facsimile Edition - Robert Eighteen-Bisang and Elizabeth MIller - The absolute must companion piece for Bram Stoker’s epic tale. A mind boggling journey through Bram Stoker’s handwritten notes. A must book to own if you own Dracula. Read my review here.
2. Found You – Mary SanGiovanni - The absolutely stunning follow up to her first novel The Hollower. The best first chapter of a book I have read in some years. See my review here and my interview with Mary here.
3. Duma Key – Stephen King - Another horror masterpiece from the legend himself. Mr. King returns to his horror roots in grand fashion. This is one scary book.
4. Just After Sunset – Stephen King - A new short story collection from the master. You must read What They Left Behind…one of the best short stories ever written…period.
5. Your Heart Belongs to Me – Dean Koontz – Another breathtaking thriller by Mr. Koontz. You will never look at yourself in the mirror the same way again.
6. The Fly At Fifty – Diane Kachmar & David D. Goudsward - The authoritative work on this Sci-Fi classic. Read my review and author interview here. Read my interview with David Hedison here.
7. Elsewhere – Peter William Blatty – The man who brought us The Exorcist returns with a an absolutely riveting ghost story. Read my review here.
8. The Reach – Nate Kenyon – Mr. Kenyon returns with his second novel. A terrific tale of a young girl with the power to destroy the wold. Read my review here.
9. Crimson - Gord Rollo – Due to be released in March 2009 but since I read an ARC this year I had to put it in my list. A fantastic coming of age book with a little bit of everything for every horror fan. Read my review here. Author interview coming soon.
10. Black Cathedral – L.H. Maynard & M.P.N. Sims – If you like haunted house stories put this amazing book on your list. One of the most frightening books of the year. Review coming soon.
Honorable Mentions – Moontown by Peter Atkins; People Are Strange by James Newman; Tower Hill by Sarah Pinborough; Covenant by John Everson; Bloodstone by Nate Kenyon
That does it for 2008. I want to wish all you monster fans a safe and Happy New Year and may 2009 be a great year for everyone. I will return in 2009 with more Terror Tales.
Thank You
Peter D. Schwotzer
Posted by Peter Schwotzer in Books, Latest News, Terror Tales with Peter D. Schwotzer on December 24th, 2008
A TIME TO CAST AWAY STONES by Tim Powers
The notebook Percy Bysshe Shelley drowned with in Lerici, Italy…
A fortress 800 feet high on Mount Parnassus, Greece…
A piece of Shelley’s charred jaw bone…
Based on the incredible adventures of Edward John Trelawny…friend of the poets.
Illustrated by Percy Bysshe Shelly
All copies are hand signed by the author and handbound using handmade Cave Paper specially designed to recreate Percy Bysshe Shelly’s water-logged journal. Exquisitely printed in black & metallic gold ink on Mohawk Strathmore Pastelle. Illustrated endleaves.
Publisher: Charnel House
Edition: Limited Edition Hardcover in Slipcase
Release Date: May 30, 2009
Page Count: 108
Print Run: 250
Price: $169.00
You Save: $6.00
Order Here
YOUR HEART BELONGS TO ME by Dean Koontz
Read my review here
From the #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense comes a riveting thriller that probes the deepest terrors of the human psyche—and the ineffable mystery of what truly makes us who we are. Here a brilliant young man finds himself fighting for his very existence in a battle that starts with the most frightening words of all…
At thirty-four, Internet entrepreneur Ryan Perry seemed to have the world in his pocket—until the first troubling symptoms appeared out of nowhere. Within days, he’s diagnosed with incurable cardiomyopathy and finds himself on the waiting list for a heart transplant; it’s his only hope, and it’s dwindling fast. Ryan is about to lose it all…his health, his girlfriend Samantha, and his life.
One year later, Ryan has never felt better. Business is good and he hopes to renew his relationship with Samantha. Then the unmarked gifts begin to appear—a box of Valentine candy hearts, a heart pendant. Most disturbing of all, a graphic heart surgery video and the chilling message: Your heart belongs to me.
In a heartbeat, the medical miracle that gave Ryan a second chance at life is about to become a curse worse than death. For Ryan is being stalked by a mysterious woman who feels entitled to everything he has. She’s the spitting image of the twenty-six-year-old donor of the heart beating steadily in Ryan’s own chest.
And she’s come to take it back.
This is a 250 copy limited edition hardcover bound in white-Aqua Sukiya-Donsu Silk. Foil and blind stamping on spine and front board. Slipcase bound in Blue Miyabi Tsumugi cloth. Fabriano Ingres endleaves.
Publisher: Charnel House
Edition: Limited Edition Hardcover
Release Date: Mar. 30, 2009
Print Run: 250
Price: $189.00
You Save: $11
Order Here
Posted by Peter Schwotzer in Books, Latest News, Reviews, Terror Tales with Peter D. Schwotzer on December 24th, 2008
Dean Koontz, one of my favorite authors gives us another tour de force with Your Heart Belongs to Me.
Just how well do you know yourself? Is the person you look at in the mirror every morning really you? If you were to experience a devastating life changing moment would you react the way you think you would?
These and more Mr. Koontz tackles in his latest book. He takes you on a roller coaster ride through the human psyche, that will leave you wondering if you really know yourself at all.
Ryan Perry is filthy rich, but his riches are from his own hard work as an internet entrepreneur. At 34 he has the world at his feet. He has a beautiful girlfriend Samantha and is in perfect health until some medical symptoms arise and he is diagnosed with incurable cardiomyopathy. He is put on a waiting list for a heart transplant with less than a year to live.
Mr. Koontz interweaves an intricate love story with the ethical issues of human organ transplants. From the first page Mr. Koontz draws you in with the back and forth banter of Ryan and Samantha. They clearly love each other but Samantha has held off on accepting Ryan’s engagement. There is something holding her back and Ryan does not know what it is.
Mr. Koontz again shows why he is a master of his craft with a story that manages to reach deep inside you and leave you wondering….what would I do?
As with all of Mr. Koontz’s books he manages to use his vast talents to twist you around, knock you over and in the end leave you thinking, and that my friends is what a good book should do.
If you have read his books you know exactly what I am talking about. If not, do yourself a favor and buy this one. Definitely one of my top books of the year.
Posted by EricC in Latest News, Movies on July 27th, 2008
Dean Koontz announced a screenplay adapting his 2003 novel Odd Thomas is completed, telling the fans at Comic-Con International he is pleased with the outcome. The author chose not to name the screenwriter just as he teased the fans with news that some actor has already signed on to star but refused to divulge that name, too.
He declared the adaptation as “so perfect”.
Odd Thomas is a short order cook with the ability to speak with the dead. His exploits have been chronicled in three other books and he told his fans that the entire Odd Thomas series should be wrapped in seven volumes. “I know how it ends,” said Koontz. “But I don’t know how he gets there yet.”
Posted by EricC in Comics on June 4th, 2008
Dean Koontz is literally the dean of horror fiction these days, with an armload of books that consistently hit the bestseller list. That it took this long for his works to be adapted into comics is a bit of a surprise. But, this month the Dabel Brothers released the first issue of a six-part adaptation of Koontz’s Frankenstein: Prodigal Son, translated into comics form by Chuck Dixon and Brett Booth. Recently, Chuck spoke to us from his Florida home.
FM: So Chuck, you’re usually known for other genres, notably super-heroes and war. Horror and Chuck Dixon are not synonymous leading me to wonder, how’d this come about?
Chuck: I had done work previously for the Dabel Brothers, adapting Robert Jordan’s New Spring. So, they asked if I’d be interested in adapting some Dean Koontz. We settled on the Frankenstein books. And I’m not really a stranger to horror. Some of my earliest comics work was for Eclipse’s various horror anthologies as well as Seven Block with Jorge Zaffino for Epic. And I recently did an eight issue run of Nightmare on Elm Street for WildStorm and a werewolf mini for Platinum called Big Badz. So, I do the scary.
FM: How familiar were you with Dean Koontz’s work before beginning this assignment
Chuck: I read a few of his earlier novels many years ago.
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