Customer Reviews

Dragonfly

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K.R. Dwyer is actually a pen name for Dean Koontz (the initials, KRD, are Koontz's initials backwards). This is an unremarkable, but somewhat enjoyable short novel that Koontz did early in his career. The plot centers around some right-wing extremists who are intent on starting a conflict with China using an device carrying a biochemical agent that is implanted in a Chinese national. There is a lot of hypnotizing and off the cuff political theorizing, which is fine but pretty silly when it comes down to it. The characters are shallow, but the novel is more about solving the mystery and exploring the political intrigue than about understanding and humanizing its characters.

It's a fine book to spend an afternoon or two breezing through, but clearly not something you should go out of your way to find or pay more than a dollar or two for. It is interesting to see Koontz trying some different genres before he was became famous and wealthy writing horror/sci fi.

To date I've read over 50 Dean Koontz books, and I have to say that out of his obscure, out of print 70's books that I've read so far, this one is the best. It reads like a classic Koontz, not amatureish, as you'd expect. I definetely think this should be reprinted. Very enjoyable book.