Lightning [Paperback]

Dean Koontz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 1989

The first time the lightning strikes Laura Shane is born...The second time is strikes the terror starts...though eight-year-old Laura is saved by a mysterious stranger from the perverted and deadly intentions of a drug-crazed robber. Throughout her childhood she is plagued by ever more terrifying troubles, and with increasing courage she finds the strength to prevail -- even without the intervention of her strange guardian. But, despite her success as a novelist, and her happy family life, Laura cannot shake the certainty that powerful and malignant forces are controlling her destiny. Then the lightning strikes once more and shatters her world. The adventure -- and the terror -- have only just begun...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Since the night she was born, Laura Shane has been continually saved by a mysterious guardian who appears and disappears without a trail. Through the years, these random encounters prove more and more life-threatening, sending Shane down a dark path to which her savior, Stefan, has unintentionally led her and her family. But as Shane realizes when not where Stefan is from, she must scramble for her life as her enemies seek her out. Her only hope is in the knowledge that when lightning strikes, her enemies are near. Koontz isn't the first author to incorporate lightning with time travel, but he certainly shines new light on the subgenre of time travel. Koontz's 1988 novel gains new life in this unabridged production. Christopher Lane captures listeners with a stern and serious voice that can still lighten up, especially when voicing Shane's son, Chris, or other colorful characters. Lane's vocalizing of characters proves impressive, authentic and even amusing for everyone but Shane, whose voice is adequate but fades in comparison to the other characters. Regardless, Lane's narration improves upon the book by adding a tonal edge that will keep listeners' attention throughout all 14 hours. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From Library Journal

On the night of Laura Shane's birth, a stranger appears from the lightning to prevent her delivery's being botched by an alcoholic physician. Throughout Laura's childhood the stranger reappears at times of danger. He protects rather than threatens, yet menace seems to follow him. Thirty years later another storm flashes and the stranger collapses, shot, at Laura's door. Now Laura protects her erstwhile guardian from mysterious hunters. He reveals that he and the hunters are time travelers. Laura, quick-witted and brave, leads the way to a bloody showdown. The paradox in time travel's tampering with history provides an interesting twist in this gripping thriller by a popular writer. Literary Guild selection.A.M.B. Amantia, Population Crisis Committee Lib., Washington,
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Headline Feature (March 6, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747231648
• ISBN-13: 978-0747231646
• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 1.3 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (350 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,529,282 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born and raised in Pennsylvania where I graduated from Shippensburg State College (now Shippensburg University). When I was a senior in college, I won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition and have been writing ever since. My first job after graduation was with the Appalachian Poverty Program, where I was expected to counsel and tutor underprivileged children on a one-to-one basis. During my first day on the job, I discovered that the previous occupier of my position had been beaten up by the very kids he had been trying to help and had landed in the hospital for several weeks. The following year was filled with challenge but also tension, and I was more highly motivated than ever to build a career as a writer. I wrote nights and weekends, which I continued to do after leaving the poverty program and going to work as an English teacher in a suburban school district outside Harrisburg. After a year and a half in that position, my wife, Gerda, made me an offer I couldn't refuse: "I'll support you for five years," she said, "and if you can't make it as a writer in that time, you'll never make it." By the end of those five years, Gerda had quit her job to run the business end of my writing career. Gerda and I, along with our dog, Trixie, live in southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is it fate...destiny...or something much more dangerous?, August 5, 2004

By 

DanD - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lightning (Mass Market Paperback)

Laura Shane has been a haunted woman all her life. From a violent delivery in a stunning thunderstorm, to her mortifying days in the orphanage. Someone has been looking out for her, keeping her safe and out of danger, from the womb...but what are these stranger's intentions? Does he really mean her well? Just where does he come from, and why doesn't he seem to age?

Now, Laura is a happily married woman with a somewhat happy life. But that's all about to change, because now someone has come to kill her...and the stranger, her guardian angel, will expose himself for who he really is. Will Laura believe him? Can she trust him? Will he actually keep her safe this time?

Dean Koontz scores yet again. "Lightning" is a science fiction/suspense/romance thriller to top all others. No one writes like Koontz, no one can hope to write like Koontz, and "Lightning" is a perfect example of his craftsmanship. A rivetting novel that'll leave you glued to the pages and wanting more.

70 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, not Great, August 8, 2006

By 

Thriller Lover (Las Vegas, Nevada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lightning (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm a big fan of Dean Koontz, and some people consider LIGHTNING to be one of his best novels. I've seen some people even describe this book as the best Koontz novel ever. I respectfully disagree.

LIGHTNING starts off very well. Laura Shane, the protagonist of the book, is one of Koontz' most likable characters, and her remarkably tough childhood makes her very sympathetic. But she changes pretty dramatically in the second half of the book, and becomes more of an two-dimensional action hero.

The second part of this novel is basically one large chase scene with a lot of shootouts. It's reasonably entertaining, but I didn't feel it measured up to the first half of the book.

I also found much of the dialogue in this book to be remarkably unrealistic, especially from the children. There is an eight-year old child in this novel, for example, who talks like a miniature adult. Koontz injects a lot of humor in the dialogue, but much of it seems forced and unrealistic. I like humor in a novel, but I don't like characters that talk like stand-up comedians.

Again, I love Koontz, and strongly recommend books like WATCHERS, MR. MURDER, INTENSITY, ODD THOMAS, VELOCITY, and THE HUSBAND. This book is reasonably entertaining, but I wouldn't recommend it as your first Koontz novel.

Please keep in mind, though, that some people just adore this novel, so it just shows how tastes can differ. The great thing about Koontz is that not all of his books are the same, so you never know what to expect.

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Second Koontz Novel..and a Great One!, January 8, 2004

By 

Monkdude (Hampton, Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lightning (Mass Market Paperback)

I got two Dean Koontz books for X-mas, because I heard he was a good Suspense/Horror writer, and I was tired of just reading Stephen King. I am sure glad I took a chance on this guy! The first book I read was Intensity, which is still my favorite of the two. The very day I finished that book, I opened up my second gift, Lightning, and got sucked into the characters and the mystery surrounding them. I read this book in about 8 days which is very fast for me, and I had trouble putting it down most nights. Some of the reviews here state that the second half wasn't nearly as good as the first, but I actually liked the second half better. Not only was it more action oriented (I'm a guy!), but it took the time travel ideas to a whole new level that I didn't see coming. Some of the time traveling issues did get so confusing that I found myself re-reading certain sections over again to finally make some sense of it. The characters are fleshed out extremely well, especially Laura and Stefan. I agree that most pre-teen girls and eight-year-old boys are not gonna talk in the manner or the intelligence of these kids, but the dialogue is so amusing I can overlook these minor flaws. Since reading these two novels, I now consider myself a Koontz fan and have bought four more of his most popular novels. If your into Sci-Fi, Action, Drama, Romance, or WWII history, give this novel a try. Its got a bit of everything for everyone. And go read Intensity if you haven't yet. Now it's time for me to start my third Koontz novel, Phantoms.