The Dean Koontz Companion [Paperback]

Martin H. Greenberg (Editor), Ed Gorman (Editor), Bill Munster (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1994

His brilliant imagination and startling novels have captured the attention of the American pubic and won the praise of critics natonwide. This first ever look at the author and his career includes an exclusive interview, his first published short story, a complete annotated guide to his work, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-The curious, the devoted, as well as students of Dean Koontz will all find something to please them here. Beginning with an interview that concentrates on the author's life, Greenberg then offers a broad selection of the subject's work: his first published story ("Kittens"); a collection of essays in which he introduces other authors; a collection of his short, short stories for an imaginary magazine, Weird World; and his tightly woven essays on the ghost story, horror genre, and the craft of writing. Partisan articles on his style and on film versions of his work and an annotated bibliography of films and books that include stylistic/production notes round out this title. Teens in need of assistance as they begin critical analysis of popular fiction, who wonder "How does he do it?," or who just want to spend a little time with a friend should enjoy this book.
Barbara Hawkins, Oakton High School, Fairfax,
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

A little something for the fans. Even Ed Gorman's long interview, kicking things off, has a canned quality, as if Koontz were selecting--and polishing--his responses with complete control. We learn that Koontz grew up in a poor household in the Pennsylvania hills, the offspring of a philandering father and long-suffering mother. Koontz was an indifferent scholar but loved reading science fiction; he credits his success to his wife, Greda, who supported him through his apprenticeship. Koontz comments on his work, on writing under pseudonyms, and on the difficulties he's had with publishers. Rarely, he talks about other writers, such as Thomas Harris. Matt Costello rounds up film and TV adaptations, summarizing and criticizing the productions on the basis of their fidelity to Koontz's stories; Koontz himself rounds up stray pieces, many of them short, odd, broadly humorous tales excerpted from an imaginary magazine called Weird World. The concluding pages are devoted to an annotated, thorough bibliography of Koontz's 60-odd novels, including the February 1994 paperback original, Winter Moon. This guide is pure, uncritical publicity, but it will circulate wherever the novels do, and that's everywhere. John Mort

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade; First Edition edition (March 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425141357
• ISBN-13: 978-0425141359
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,453,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( M ) > Martin, Dean

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Needs a revision..., March 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dean Koontz Companion (Paperback)

This book was really good. I am a big Dean Koontz fan, and was wicked excited to see this book. However, this book has it's flaws: one major flaw is that it tells WAY too much stuff about his novels, i.e. secrets that you learn in the climax of the suspense are told throughout the book. What's more, it was made in 1994, it has missed a lot of newer books since then, including Dark Rivers of the Heart, Intensity, TickTock, Sole Survivor, Fear Nothing, Seize the Night, and False Memory. It should be revised every time Koontz comes out with a new book. There is plenty more I need to know about Koontz than is told here, therefore it could stand some improvements. Oh, well. All in all it was good.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book kicks! Funny man!, November 12, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dean Koontz Companion (Paperback)

If you are a Dean Koontz reader, you must be curious where he got his unique imagination and peculiar style. This is a funny and creative explanation of his life and work. It is not just a chronological biography, but a creative touch of this and that. FULL OF HUMOR!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story-behind-the-man-behind-the-stories!, July 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dean Koontz Companion (Paperback)

Anyone who enjoys Mr Koontz's work should get a real kick out of this book. You come to know the forces that shaped him into the writer we have all come to love. If you're curious about what impact the grep had in his life, this book will tell you the answers (actually, it wont tell you anything...you have to read it...unless you get the book on audio cassette, then it will tell you) Seriously, this is a book I would highly recommend to anyone who would like to read a story of one mans struggle to recieve a paycheck for something he loves (an what a paycheck it must be!!) And he must be a hell-of-a-guy for his wife to do what she did for him. PLEASE BUY THIS BOOK AND ENJOY.