Customer Reviews

Phantoms

5 star:		(166)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I avoided Dean Koontz like the plague since the day some years ago when I attempted to read his novel "Mr. Murder." I found that book so formulaic and tedious that I swore never to read another of his books. I did not even finish "Mr. Murder," a rarity for me because I always strive to finish any book I pick up. When I recently decided to cast my nets a little wider into the vast seas of the horror genre, I looked for something by Koontz that other readers praised. Repeatedly, I found that his book "Phantoms" came highly recommended by nearly everyone who read it. So, with my sense of smell ready to detect the slightest hint of staleness or boredom, I dove right into this 1983 Koontz novel. My analysis: of the many horror novels I have read over the years, "Phantoms" may be the best of the batch, ranking right up there with Stephen King's "It" as one of my all-time favorites.

The author wastes little time getting right into the story. Dr. Jennifer Paige and her little sister Lisa are driving to Jennifer's house in Snowfield, California. Jenny was never close to her sister due to the rigorous demands of medical school and the headache of establishing a practice in the small town. When their mother dies suddenly, Jenny steps in to take care of Lisa. The poignancy of this action quickly shatters when the two arrive in Snowfield. The town appears to be completely uninhabited. Jenny and Lisa realize that no one is walking around town and that no cars are on the streets. An even ruder shock overwhelms the two women when they find Jennifer's housekeeper dead on the kitchen floor. Even eerier is the condition of the dead body, which has uniform bruising over every inch of the skin. At first Jenny surmises that a disease could be the culprit so the sisters decide to pay a visit to the neighbors, a visit that produces more questions than answers. Jenny and Lisa begin a mad dash through town, finding corpses everywhere they go. In some houses, they discover that the residents have simply disappeared without a trace. It quickly becomes apparent that something sinister has occurred in Snowfield, and it is up to Jennifer and Lisa to find out exactly what happened before they become victims themselves.

Enter the Sheriff's Department of Santa Mira, a town just down the road from Snowfield. Unaware of the unfolding terror in Snowfield, Sheriff Bryce Hammond and his deputy Talbert Whitman are questioning a murder suspect named Kale about a gruesome double homicide. Koontz uses the Kale interrogation to give us some background on Sheriff Hammond, revealing that this cop is a brilliant investigator and a great man in a crisis but that he lost his wife in an automobile accident and his son to a coma. Very quickly, Hammond gets a call from Jenny in Snowfield about the strange events in that doomed town. The sheriff sets off with a handful of deputies, most of whom Koontz describes in sufficient detail for the reader to care about what happens to them, and the book starts moving at breakneck speed. Eventually, an English academic named Timothy Flyte, the media, and a chemical weapons team from the federal government become involved in the unfolding events in Snowfield. Because whatever stalked the town is still very much present, as those unlucky enough to remain in Snowfield realize. The author masterfully blends these disparate elements together into a tale that is both suspenseful and horrific.

The first part of the novel works best, as Jennifer, Lisa, and the Santa Mira deputies slowly experience the horrors raging through Snowfield. Each scene of the book ratchets up the horror by revealing a little more information than the previous scene, which creates a growing sense of unease in the reader. The back-story involving Flyte and the "Ancient Enemy" explains the horrific incidents in Snowfield and is a welcome addition to the tale. The end of the story loses some of the excitement of the beginning, as once we understand what these people are up against the suspense dies down appreciably. This in no way should prevent you from seeking this story out, since the tale is still great fun.

Koontz wrote an afterword in 2001 about his opinions on "Phantoms." He avers that while he enjoyed writing the novel, he wished he never wrote it because it classified him as a horror writer when he prefers to see himself as a suspense author. The author mentions that "Phantoms" has never gone out of print since its 1983 release and has sold roughly six million copies. I think most authors could care less what label stuck to them if they could have that many sales! Regardless of Koontz's attitude towards his story, this is an excellent tale and a tremendous contribution to the horror genre.

"Phantoms" is just one of Koontz's many fine horror stories. It offers an imaginative explanation for a tantalizing historical mystery: the mass disappearance (such as the famous Roanoke colony in the early seventeenth century). Koontz tells the story of the almost instantaneous depopulation of an isolated California mountain village, discovered by the town's doctor and her teenaged sister upon their return from attending their mother's funeral some miles away. These two find a terrifyingly quiet Snowfield, devoid of residents, dining room tables set with still-warm suppers. The mystery deepens when the county sheriff and deputies arrive and discover a few dreadfully bruised bodies sprawled lifeless in tightly locked rooms. As dark falls, it becomes clear that something is stalking the entire town of Snowfield--and its would-be rescuers--and that this hunter delights in savoring every morsel of fear it can extract from its prey. I do not want to give away any more of the plot, because Koontz paces the story of the discovery of the identity of the murderous "Ancient Enemy" so well that reading the book is a rollercoaster of an experience.

A word about my rating: Koontz is one of my favorite authors, and I have read quite a few of his books. Phantoms is one of his early novels and is imaginative and entertaining. Compared to some of his later stories, however ("Dark Rivers of the Heart" and "Twilight Eyes" immediately spring to mind), it is not as richly characterized and the level of suspense is not quite as nightmarish. It is like comparing two tornadoes from the movie "Twister": one may suck up cows, but the other swallows cows and barn whole. Each is a frightening experience, but the one is a more intense--and deadly--event. Thus, the seven.

Judith Abendschei

I just read Dean Koontz's book, Phantoms. From the first page it catches you attention then holds it TO THE LAST PAGE! On the first page, you are taken to a small out-of-the-way town in northern California, called Snowfield. Here, Jenny Paige, the doctor, goes home to find her house keeper...Dead. a sheriff from a close town, there to help, calls for backup, and asks for 500 bodie bags. Dean Koontz is the author of many best selling books, I like his writing because he describes the setting, people, weather, mood, and whatever else, SO WELL. i recommend Dean Koontz's Phantoms to any one who wants to read a real page turner.

I bought Phantoms years ago (When the movie came out), and I've just gotten around to reading it now...I'm glad I waited.

In the years since Phantoms was released theatrically, I've read a few Koontz books, and haven't really cared for any of them. I thought Phantoms would be more my cup of tea, but......

Phantoms tells the story of Snowfield, California, a small ski town that becomes a small GHOST town overnight. Every single man, woman, & child either vanishes without a trace, or dies mysteriously. The town Doctor and her younger sister were away when the disaster struck, and now they find themselves, along with the local Sheriff and his men, trapped by the evil creature behind the slaughter.

All of this sounds pretty good. The problem is that Koontz mercilessly pads the story; It takes almost 300 pages to get to the Monster. After, say....200 pages of people wandering around from house to house finding dead bodies, I had already gotten the point. The stereotypical "Monster Expert" is by far the most interesting character, and he doesn't get into the town until around page 350. And after slogging through all of that, Koontz has the nerve to pop a new sub-plot into the book with a mere 20 pages left!! Enough, already! Some of the dialogue the characters spout is just ridiculous...Try saying some of it out loud for a good laugh.

On the plus side, the dialogue between "The Ancient Enemy" and the scientists, conducted via computer, was absolutely chilling; very scary stuff...too bad it's only 10 pages out of 428....Phantoms would have made a GREAT novella or short story; as it is, it seems like Koontz gets paid by the word. And Dean- could you get a new photo taken???

My guess is that most folks my age who are fans of the horror genre were probably introduced to the genre by Stephen King. I wasn't. As a pre-teen I discovered Dean Koontz and all things horror by "Phantoms". I loved this book, and not only do I credit "Phantoms" for opening my eyes to the horror genre, I credit "Phantoms" for instilling in me a love to read. Since reading "Phantoms", I've of course branched out to many authors, genres and styles. I've read the classics, I read bestsellers, and basically just about anything I can get my hands on these days, and I feel I owe a debt of gratitude to Koontz and this fantastic novel for introducing me to the written word as no one else had.

The basic storyline of "Phantoms" is that the town doctor is returning home after her mothers funeral along with her little sister. When they arrive in the small ski community they find it deserted. The discover several dead bodies and call in the state police. I hate to give any spoilers, so won't get more specific than that. What happened to the town, why are some of the corpses mutilated while others are blackened with universal bruising? Once the police arrive and the nightmare begins unfolding, you won't be able to put the novel down!

That said, I was a little leery of re-reading what to me, was a landmark novel. Would it hold up? Did it still carry the magic I so fondly remember? The great news is that "Phantoms" is still a great novel. At times chilling, and full of suspense. The characters are so well crafted that you truly care whether the will make it out of Snowfield alive. Koontz can build tension and crafts such a wonderfully scary tale, its no wonder I was so eager to read more of the authors work after finishing this novel.

If you are a fan of Koontz's writing, then I'm sure you are familiar with this novel. If, however, you've missed this title, pick it up right away. As a longtime fan of Koontz, I can honestly say "Phantoms" is one of his best.

Don't get me wrong: I'm a huge Dean Koontz fan. But this relatively early effort, despite being imaginative and scary, felt a bit rote to me. The story itself was clever and inventive, but some of the characters just weren't up to par. There's the requisite nasty guy who's one of the first to go (isn't it always that way?), the old-timer who's been on the force for years, the sensitive soul...they just weren't believable to me, and that tarnished some of the book's credibility. It's a worthwhile book with a very interesting premise (Koontz's explanation for mass disappearances is truly frightening), but this extremely prolific author has much better books to offer. If you want an example of his best work, try "Watchers" (my personal favorite, and one of my favorite books of all time) or "Dark Rivers of the Heart". Overall, "Phantoms" is a worthwhile read, but don't expect too much in terms of characters.

Phantoms is perhaps one of Dean Koontz's most well regarded books. While having to come up with a book to follow Whispers, he wrote Phantoms. A story of horror and suspense that takes place in a small town in California. The ride is a pleasant and often scary one that moves at a breathtaking pace and leaves no stone unturned.

When Jenny and Lisa Paige return to Snowfield, California, something is amiss. The town is strangely devoid of any human life and things are just too quiet. The situation isn't helped any when the two stumble upon a corpse. They stumble upon even stranger things. Severed hands, severed heads. Those that don't seem to be murdered in Snowfield, are missing. There are no pets roaming around either. It's too strange. Eventually Jenny calls in the local Sheriff, Bryce Hammond, from Santa Mira. Bryce and a few of his officers come into town to check things out. But what's really happening in Snowfield? Was it a biological attack? Terrorism? A mad killer? No. It's something much worse. Much eviler... and they don't know how to stop it.

Dean Koontz's novel sends chills down the spine as his characters do battle with an enemy that can not be stopped. Dean Koontz does a fantastic job of developing his characters and making them believable. Even better is how he manages to make you care for even the ones you don't like. His dialog is crafty and his sense of humor can't be beat.

What works even better in the story is how his characters come to understand what they're up against. Koontz has created a monster for which he can justify the existence of. The very realistic explanation for the existence of the monster is what makes it much more frightening. The story is smart and clever from start to finish.

If there was anything wrong with Phantoms, it would be its disappointing ending after such a strong build up. The final few pages of the book are not strong enough when compared to the books opening pages. In short, you'll be absorbed only to be let down by an ending that isn't so stellar.

Despite a let down of an ending, Phantoms is still a great read. Believable and interesting characters thrown into an interesting situation is what makes the book work on so many levels.

Dr. Jenny Paige returns to her small town home of Snowfield after picking up her sister Lisa. Immidately they notice the town is quieter than normal. When they enter Jenny's home, they find the housekeeper dead with some strange affliction. Something strange is going on in Snowfield.

When they're finally able to call the sherrif of a local town into Snowfield, they find even more terrifying clues. Severed hands and severed heads. The entire town is either dead or missing.

More and more it's looking like the Devil himself has visited Snowfield. And he's still there. Playing with them like a cat plays with a mouse before he kills it.

A page-turner and not quite as horrific as it may seem. Koontz always develops his characters extraordinarily well. There's some strong human emotions and even some humor found in this book. I could barely put it down.

This is one of the few that I read for pleasure instead of a school assignment. My friend recommended this to me when I was in fifth grade and always intended to read it, just it was never a top priority. This is a surprisingly good story. And turned out to be my favorite book. I've never read a story from the horror genre (or seen a movie for that matter) that really developed its characters while at the same time make a far-fetched villain seem very real.

This book brings you to a tiny California Mountain town called Snowfield. It's unusually quiet as the two main characters Jenny, and Lisa Paige approach. Then they find the first body, it's very swollen and bruised on every square inch, then another, they then realize everyone in Snowfield is dead. The police arrive but they are as clueless as the sisters are. They find the whole town is missing. Then the truth is uncovered which is even more surprising than the disappearances. What killed them? "The ancient Enemy" did. This all happens within the first seventy-five pages. The next three hundred or so are about discovering the truth and dealing with the problem. This story also has the best villain of all time.

What I really liked about this book was Dean Koontz's use of historical background to make the book seem frighteningly more real, and believable. He uses a misunderstood Professor to tell about the true mass disappearances that have occurred through time, such as the Roanoke Colony during the American colonization, and the Aztec's in South America. I think these element make you think about "The Ancient Enemy" more, and make him seem much more believable. You may also remember the movie that came out around early April. The movie had actors from the likes of Peter O'Toole, and Ben Affleck. Unfortunately the movie never got much publicity and bombed. If you have seen the movie, you will probably like the book much better. Even if you thought the movie was horrible I think you should read the book because it's almost a totally different story than the movie, but still uses the same basic plot that the movie did. This is by far the best book I've ever read. This book even towers over any Steven King story I've heard. The bottom line is this is a great book that really held my interest the whole way through. If you like to be scared and like a good book with great characters this is it.

The book has wonderful character development and the best villain of all time. This is paced perfectly and really brings you to a great 'high noon showdown' at the end. It gives you a really good sense of closure because it doesn't just drop you off at the end; in result leave you wondering about what happened to your favorite character after the story. For example Mr. Koontz gives us a follow up of all the main characters, which I think more stories should do. This book won my approval for Dean Koontz. I give this book a solid five stars, no question.

I love Dean Koontz, and this is one of his best novels. In fact, it is one of the best horror/suspense novels ever written, period.

PHANTOMS is an old fashioned monster novel, where a group of characters are under attack by a supernatural being in a deserted town. This story may sound familiar, but Koontz makes it come alive by the sheer talent of his writing.

This is an old-fashioned roller coaster ride of a novel, where you're constantly on the edge of your seat. I was smiling as I read this book, because I had such a good time reading it. If you're new to Koontz, this is a very good novel to start with. PHANTOMS is pure fun from start to finish.

Ignore the movie based on this book, which is quite bad and does not do the novel justice. Koontz has admitted as much on his website, despite the fact that he wrote the screenplay himself.

If you like PHANTOMS, I recommend reading the following novels by Koontz: WATCHERS, INTENSITY, VELOCITY, and ODD THOMAS.