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A Book Review; "Watchers" by Dean Koontz
Topic Started: Jan 30 2006, 06:58 PM (292 Views)
Tails_FoxPrower
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Bahaha
Yah, yah. It's cool to finish a book and enjoy every last minute of it. "Watchers" was a book like that for me. Finally got to finishing last night. And what a heck of a book, too. o-o

Aaanyways, I promised y'all a review and I'm gunna give you one.

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Dean Koontz has been known for Hybrid type books that range from romance, horror, sci-fi and adventure all in the same book. Even within a few pages. That's only one of many things that brought Koontz out into the world of writing. Reading and writing stories since the 5th grade, he grew up to write various books in various genres under various pseudonyms. "Watchers" is perhaps the book that gained him an audience among young adult readers such as myself. It's a story about Recombinant DNA experiments gone horribly wrong, yet horribly right at the same time.

To everything, there is a yin, and there is a yang. That is true even with genetic experiments. Even though this book was published in 1987, its content about DNA is accurate. Don't try and create a thinking dog for a science project, though.

In Southern California, there was a research facility that spawned two animals from its long research. One, an affectionate golden retriever gifted with thought beyond all imagination for a dog. The Other, a killing machine that wants only to kill. One day, they break out, and all heck breaks loose for the offices of the NSA and changes the lives of a man and a woman forever. As with many Koontz books, there are many main characters. The protagonists we focus on are Travis Cornell, an Ex-Air Force Elite force member, Nora Devon, A recluse that thought that life outside her four walls was more frightening than even her most horrific books and the Golden Retriever who saves them both and becomes a companion to both of them as Travis and Nora become life long companions.

However, we always find ourselves feeling more for animals than for humans. The retriever is no exception. That dog may well be the most developed character in the book. If a dog can tell when it's master wants a beer and gets him one when he needs it most, of course he can have a personality. And what a personality he has. Not only is he affectionate, he's a crack-shot wise-crack. A pooch that any person would adore.

However, there are forces that would want to see that dog back in custody. Or dead. Among that lot would be the National Security Agency. Not only need they track the dog, but the Killing machine as well. Vince Nasco, a Professional hitman that believes he can absorb the life force of those whose brains he blows out and will one day become immortal. The Other. The Yang of the Genetic research. Leaving behind a wake of mindless death, it searches for the Retriever so it can rend the dog limb from limb.

With tension building throughout the book, Romance sneaking in when one least expects it and an enjoyable and sometimes hilarious narrative style brought to us by none other than Dean Koontz himself and the sheer wit of the dialouge in areas, this is 400 pages that is well worth the time of reading and enjoying.
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And there we have it. Go out and find the book somewhere and have at it. =D
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Project: Shadow
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Egg Robo
Wow ! That sounds really interesting. I like the whole genetic altering thing (in fiction only) as much as the next tech nut but I really love animals. I might have to look for that book. It doesn't have a sad ending, does it ? ^_^
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Tails_FoxPrower
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Not to worry. Though Koontz knows how to build enough suspense to get you real worried about someone, his stories often end quite happily. This is one of those happily ending stories. Which is good for me. I hate sad endings. xP
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Egg Robo
Tails_FoxPrower
Jan 30 2006, 09:56 PM
Not to worry. Though Koontz knows how to build enough suspense to get you real worried about someone, his stories often end quite happily. This is one of those happily ending stories. Which is good for me. I hate sad endings. xP

That's good to hear. It's alright for stories to have their sad points, but if it's not going to end happy, especially for the animal, I'd rather stay away from it. I may look into it then.
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Tails_FoxPrower
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Yeah. Though every once in a while, a good sobering sad ending tale is just what the doctor ordered. "Flowers For Algernon" is one of those books. C.S. Lewis was the author of that one if I remember correctly. Another good book about altering the brain to allow heightened thinking. This time in a human. Hmm... Could be an idea for another book review. o-o
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