Koontzland - Dean Koontz discussion

Midnight is our February 2011 Group Read! Please consider joining fellow Koontzlanders as we discuss Midnight in February and beyond. Feel free to post your thoughts in this thread, using SPOILER ALERTS as needed. Happy Reading!


Midnight by Dean Koontz

This is one of my favorites. I wonder what others think.

Maciek wrote: "This is one of my favorites. I wonder what others think."

I didn't like it when I read it in 2005, I'm curious to re-visit it and see how my opinion might have changed.

I hope to be part of this read. I missed January because the new release wasn't available at the library, but I should be able to get a 2004 release without a problem. Here's hoping!

Hi Sheila, I think this came out in '89, so you should be able to get it at you library w/ no trouble!

NEED, WANT, NEED!!!

love this book!

I really enjoyed Midnight and consider it among my favorites. It might be considered one of Koontz's few true horror novels, though I personally don't think it quite fits that bill, like Phantoms, The Taking, and Winter Moon do. I really liked the science fiction element of this story, though not the antitechnology tone Koontz adopts in this one. Surprise, surprise, the villain is an evil scientist. He suffers from psychosis and delusions of grandeur--doing what he does to fulfill his destiny as the chosen one. One of the things I didn't like about Midnight was that I didn't really feel anything for the protagonists--I was even sort of rooting for the regressives to get them. Also, the romance that evolves between the two primary protagonists is not very believable. I had to laugh every time I heard the regressives express their cravings with "Need, want, need!" :-D

I just want to be sure I download the right book. It's Midnight not The Key to Midnight, right?

Maicie wrote: "I just want to be sure I download the right book. It's Midnight not The Key to Midnight, right?"

Correct.

I can't believe it! My library doesn't carry it and it isn't available on Nook. Here I come bookstore.

Kobo doesn't carry it either. Off to the indoor fleamarket - hopefully it's there....

Amazon (Marketplace) is a good bet. And, if all else fails, Audible.com offers it on audio.

I've got a printed copy and audiobook on CD FREE from my local library :-)

This was my first Dean Koontz novel......had me spell bound!

Just got the only ratty copy from our local 2nd hand store - here's my first "quotable quote": "...he was a genius. TIME magazine had said he was, so it must be true." Ha! Love it!

Happy that the 'weirdness' begins right off in the first chapter. Also really happy that it's not raining - yet (only on Chapter 10 though).

Suey wrote: "...Also really happy that it's not raining..."

Why would you expect it to be raining and, furthermore, why do you care whether it is raining in the story?

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "Suey wrote: "...Also really happy that it's not raining..."

Why would you expect it to be raining and, furthermore, why do you care whether it is raining in the story?"

Because it ALWAYS rains in California in Koontz books! Come on - you KNOW it's true!!!

Good Point Suey :-) I don't know if it's true - I hadn't noticed, but it's a good point. I think Jason here would appreciate some quotes to back it up. If you post a couple of quotes showing it rains in California in Dean Koontz novels, I'm telling you Jason will be so impressed with you!!! (but if you don't care & don't feel like spending the time, I'll be fine and just take your word for it. Jason, however..... you know.)

Rain in a story does make a difference though. Suey, I'm Wishing you Bright Sunshiny Settings for all your California stories!

Suey wrote: "Because it ALWAYS rains in California in Koontz books!..."

Hmm, I never noticed that. Dustin's right, I would appreciate and be impressed by some quotes from the books to provide supporting evidence for you claim. What can I say: scientist is as scientist does. ;-) By the way, I'll be in SoCal for the first time next weekend, for a conference.

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "Suey wrote: "Because it ALWAYS rains in California in Koontz books!..."

Hmm, I never noticed that. Dustin's right, I would appreciate and be impressed by some quotes from the books to provide supp..."

...Better bring your umbrella!!!

Yah - I just MIGHT do that at some point. Although - I thought it was obvious to everyone reading Koontz books - you can be sure - it's gonna RAIN!!! In Midnight - it starts in Chapter 56. And doesn't let up till right before the end of the book....didn't you notice?!?!

Of course, we CAN'T have sunny days, Dustin, because of the author we read and love. Koontz uses his descriptions of nature SO well in helping to create the atmosphere of impending horror and DOOM! You guys have noticed THAT, right? Or am I going to have to give supporting evidence on that one, too?!?! I thought scientist were the ones who loved to do research projects...just saying.

Suey wrote: "Yah - I just MIGHT do that at some point. Although - I thought it was obvious to everyone reading Koontz books - you can be sure - it's gonna RAIN!!! In Midnight - it starts in Chapter 56. And does..."

*scientists!!!

JUST finished reading MIDNIGHT.

Moral of the story (IMO):

Have Hope, Be Responsible, and DON'T spend too much time in front of your computer screen! :^}

Suey wrote: "...I thought scientist were the ones who loved to do research projects..."

:-P We were just teasing you. I guess I'm so used to rain from living in Ohio most of my life that I don't even take notice of it in stories, because its so common. I guess it might be more noticeable and relevant for those from sunnier climes, such as SoCal. I probably should take my umbrella with me this week though, because it truly is rainy season there now, right? :-)

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "Suey wrote: "...I thought scientist were the ones who loved to do research projects..."

:-P We were just teasing you. I guess I'm so used to rain from living in Ohio most of my life that I don't e..."

I have NO idea! I live in Maine, so we're only dealing with SNOW right now - although the forecast DID call for rain today - maybe Koontz is in the area - working on his latest book?!?!

I like seeing how Koontz's ideas in this story eventually developed into his retelling (or continuation) of Frankenstein.

Susie wrote: "I like seeing how Koontz's ideas in this story eventually developed into his retelling (or continuation) of Frankenstein."

Yes, I was going to mention that too! very similar to Frankenstein. I'm about 3/4 through Midnight. Quite interesting and freaky - still not one of my very favorites. I'm probably going to give it 4 stars.

*Spoiler*
the part about people becoming one with the machine is why I don't like to sit in front of the computer for long stretches of time. I figure with short computer sessions I will be safe.

**Spoiler**


What the parents and Tucker turned into in the abandoned commune really reminds me of Phantoms. I am so close to finishing this, so I don't know if Koontz makes any allusions to that story or town, and it's been awhile since I read Phantoms, so I do wonder if they're deliberately connected or not.

Susie wrote: "What the parents and Tucker turned into in the abandoned commune really reminds me of Phantoms. I am so close to finishing this, so I don't know if Koontz makes any allusions to that..."

It seems like I remember thinking that too when I read it. I don't think they are deliberately connected, but I'm certain Phantoms was influenced by Midnight. You'll notice that many later Koontz stories have been influenced by earlier Koontz stories, as he seems to like making "upgrades" on earlier themes/plots he has used.

Finished this last week. 4 stars. lots of fog & rain.

A favorite quote (sorry can't reference the chapter - I've returned the book to the library but wrote this down because I liked it):

"Even as a child, she had preferred night to day, had enjoyed sitting out in the yard after sunset, under the star-speckled sky listening to frogs and crickets. Darkness soothed. It softened the sharp edges of the world, toned down the too-harsh colors. With the coming of twilight, the sky seemed to recede; the universe expanded. The night was bigger than the day, and in its realm, life seemed to have more possibilities."

Great quote, Dustin. One of the many things I love about Koontz's writing is that he does have those moments of lyrical sentences and deep thoughts. It's what keeps bringing me back. :-)

Jason said, You'll notice that many later Koontz stories have been influenced by earlier Koontz stories, as he seems to like making "upgrades" on earlier themes/plots he has used.

I've definitely noticed that. This time, however, it just seems so very obvious that this IS the creature from Phantoms. Especially how the reporters are getting drawn in by the siren song.

I have like 3 pages to go (!! LOL), so I don't actually know how it ends or if any direct references to the creature moving on, growing bigger, finding a new town, etc...

Susie wrote: "Great quote, Dustin. One of the many things I love about Koontz's writing is that he does have those moments of lyrical sentences and deep thoughts. It's what keeps bringing me back. :-)"

Too true. I love Dean Koontz Quotes - if you visit my goodreads profile, you'll see from my favorite quotes just how many are from Dean Koontz.

Unfortunately, I'm mostly doing audiobooks and I miss a lot of the great passages.

Susie wrote: "**Spoiler**


What the parents and Tucker turned into in the abandoned commune really reminds me of Phantoms. I am so close to finishing this, so I don't know if Koontz makes any allusions to that..."

Funny. The commune brings to mind a different Koontz book for me besides Midnight and Phantoms - can't remember which one clearly but there was some kind of abandoned community.... and in one of the houses there was a weird thing growing - does this ring a bell with anyone?

The Chris Snow series, Seize The Night?

Maciek wrote: "The Chris Snow series, Seize The Night?"

I don't know - I know Chris Snow goes to an abandoned military operation of some kind. I really don't know. maybe. I just have this vague image in my head and it was in an abandoned house in an abandoned community.

Dustin Crazy wrote: "...I just have this vague image in my head and it was in an abandoned house in an abandoned community."

That has only occurred in Midnight, of any book I've ever read.

I don't know about an abandoned community, but I have heard about the Chris Snow series. I haven't read those books yet and thought I'd wait to read them until they came around in here. And no, as of right now, I haven't checked to see if they've already been discussed... lol
The books I've managed to read since I joined this group have been great, and a couple of them are ones I wouldn't have picked first but have loved anyways, as, compared with some of you, I am definitely still a n00b to Dean Koontz. :-)

**spoiler**
But to keep this somewhat on topic, it does seem like the formless creature was killed when the helicopter flew into the building... and none of the Koontz books I've read so far included an abandoned commune... ;-)

Susie wrote: "...and none of the Koontz books I've read so far included an abandoned commune"

Except for this one, of course. :-)

hee hee hee... yes, except for this one... ;-)

There is another abandoned community I know there is - when I find it, I'll let you know.