Dean Koontz

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**Dean Koontz**

Born:	July 9, 1945 Everett, Pennsylvania
Occupation(s):	novelist, short story writer, screenwriter
Genre(s):	Suspense, Horror fiction, Science fiction
Influences:	John D. MacDonald, Charles Dickens, Walker Percy, James M. Cain, C. S. Lewis, T. S. Eliot, James Kirkwood, William Goldman, Ray Bradbury, Robert A. Heinlein, Elmer Kelton
Website:	http://www.deankoontz.com

Dean Ray Koontz (born July 9, 1945 in Everett, Pennsylvania), also known under a number of pseudonyms, including Leigh Nichols, is an American writer.

[edit] Biography

Koontz grew up in desperate poverty under the tyranny of a violent alcoholic father. Despite his traumatic childhood, Koontz put himself through Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (then known as Shippensburg State College), and in November, 1967 went to work as an English teacher at Mechanicsburg High School. In his spare time he wrote his first novel, Star Quest, which was published in 1968. From there he went on to write over a dozen more science fiction novels.

In the 1970s, Koontz began publishing mainstream suspense and horror fiction, under his own name as well as several pseudonyms. Koontz has stated that he began using pen names after several editors convinced him that authors who switched back and forth between different genres invariably fell victim to negative crossover (alienating established fans and simultaneously failing to pick up any new ones). Known pseudonyms used by Koontz during his career include Deanna Dwyer, K. R. Dwyer, Aaron Wolfe, David Axton, Brian Coffey, John Hill, Leigh Nichols, Owen West, Richard Paige, Leonard Chris, and Anthony North. As of 2006, most of Koontz's pseudonymous novels are now available under his real name.

Koontz's acknowledged breakthrough novel was Whispers, published in 1980. Since then, ten hardcovers and thirteen paperbacks written by Koontz have reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List.

He has often quipped that he encourages fans to collect his novels and stories, as long as they don't actually read them.

As of 2006, Koontz resides in Newport Beach, a city in Southern California (where most of his novels are set) with his wife Gerda and their dog Trixie Koontz, under whose name he published the book, Life is Good: Lessons in Joyful Living, in 2004. Trixie is also often referenced in Koontz' official newsletter, Useless News.

Early author photos on the back of many of his novels show a balding Koontz with a mustache. After Koontz underwent hair transplantation surgery in the late 1990s, his subsequent books have featured a new clean-shaven appearance with a fuller head of hair. A Rolling Stone profile confirmed this. Koontz explained the change by claiming that he was tired of looking like G. Gordon Liddy.

[edit] Plot staples and formulas

Koontz is an avid dog lover, and canines often feature prominently in his works: Fear Nothing, The Taking, Watchers, Dark Rivers of the Heart, and One Door Away from Heaven are prime examples. Cats have often fared worse in his books (Koontz is allergic to felines), though he has occasionally included cats as characters, most notably the smart feline Mungojerrie in the Christopher Snow novels.

Koontz's protagonists often arm themselves with guns to combat the various monsters and madmen they are forced to do battle with. Koontz himself is a lifelong gun owner.

Until recently, Koontz had only rarely written more than one novel featuring the same characters, the two exceptions being the Black Bat Mystery' series featuring Mike Tucker, art dealer and professional thief (Tucker appeared in the novels Blood Risk, Surrounded, and The Wall of Masks, all written under the pseudonym of Brian Coffey); and the Moonlight Bay Trilogy, whose hero, Christopher Snow, appears in the novels Fear Nothing, Seize the Night, and a proposed but as yet unwritten third entry, Ride the Storm. In recent years, however, Koontz has written three novels featuring the character Odd Thomas (namely, Odd Thomas, Forever Odd, and the upcoming Brother Odd), as well as the ongoing Dean Koontz's Frankenstein series, based on a concept for a failed television show that Koontz was briefly involved with.

He is renowned for his skill at writing suspenseful page-turners, crafting memorable characters, and blending elements from numerous different genres (including horror, science fiction, mystery, and satire), Koontz has a tendency to moralize heavily, and frequently uses similar character types and plot structures. Some common elements found among many of Koontz's novels include:

A setting in southern California
A protagonist whose upbringing was either abusive (or at least extremely dysfunctional), or conversely, extremely idealistic, but who is in either case independently wealthy or remarkably successful in his or her chosen field
An irredeemable, sociopathic antagonist who is invariably destroyed by the story's end; usually someone who considers his or her warped, often delusional worldview to be philosophically transcendent (Edgler Vess from Intensity, Corky Laputa from The Face, Vassago from Hideaway, Ticktock from Dragon Tears, and Vince Nasco from Watchers are just a few examples)
attempts at plausible, logically consistent explanations for the seemingly fantastical events that occur in most of his novels (very few of Koontz's novels involve the overtly supernatural), often explained by unique genetic traits and natal conditions.
The ideal that love and compassion can save one from the apparent absurdities of existence and the cruelties of life
A pre-adolescent (more often than not a girl) possessing "adult wisdom" as a secondary protagonist; Mr. Murder has two such characters in the protagonist's daughters
Reflection (sometimes at length) on the supposed societal decline of modern society in the past twenty to thirty years, either in a dialogue between two characters or in the private musings of the protagonist, sometimes centering the blame on supposedly liberal-based tolerance of criminal and/or undesirable activity; free love, drug use, and political correctness are frequent targets (The antagonist of Dragon Tears, for instance, evidently owes not only his superhuman abilities but also his pathological personality to his mother's use of illicit drugs while he was in utero.)
A Ford SUV
A "happy ending" for most of the main characters
Love for children by their parents
A single mother bringing up her child superbly against all the odds, and a strong male character with the inevitable 'love at first sight'
A dog (typically an unusually smart Labrador)

[edit] Film and television adaptations

Though several of his novels have been adapted either as motion pictures or television movies, Koontz is generally unhappy with most of these adaptations.

According to a 1996 interview, Koontz was so unhappy with the final cut of the film adaptation of his novel Hideaway that he now insists on keeping creative control over all subsequent films based on his books.

Film adaptions

The Husband (2007-8) - Focus Features [1]
Sole Survivor (2000) – Fox - starring Billy Zane, John C. McGinley, and Gloria Reuben
Phantoms (1998) - Miramax/Dimension Films - starring Peter O'Toole, Ben Affleck, Rose McGowan, and Joanna Going.
Mr. Murder (1998) – ABC – starring Stephen Baldwin, Thomas Haden Church, and James Coburn
Intensity (1997) – Fox – starring John C. McGinley, Molly Parker, and Piper Laurie
Hideaway (1995) – Tristar Pictures – starring Jeff Goldblum, Christine Lahti, Jeremy Sisto, and Alicia Silverstone
The Servants of Twilight (1992) – Trimark – starring Bruce Greenwood
The Face of Fear (1990) – CBS – starring Pam Dawber and Lee Horsley
Whispers (1990) - Cinepix – starring Victoria Tennant, Chris Sarandon, and Jean LeClere
Watchers (1988) – Concord Pictures - starring Corey Haim, Barbara Williams, and Michael Ironside
The Intruder (1979) - MGM - starring Jean-Louis Trintignant (French film adaptation of Koontz's novel Shattered)
Demon Seed (1977) - MGM - starring Julie Christie, Fritz Weaver, and Robert Vaughn as the voice of Proteus

[edit] Mailing address

Koontz includes his mailing address in the "About the Author" section of most of his books:

  Dean Koontz
  P.O.Box 9529
  Newport Beach, CA  92658

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Novels

The Good Guy (Hardcover - May 29, 2007)
Brother Odd (November 28, 2006)
The Husband (May 30, 2006)
Forever Odd (November 29, 2005)
City of Night w/ Ed Gorman (Book two in the Dean Koontz's Frankenstein series) (July 26, 2005)
Velocity (May 24, 2005)
Prodigal Son w/ Kevin J. Anderson (Book One in the Dean Koontz's Frankenstein series) (January 25, 2005)
Life Expectancy (December 7, 2004)
The Taking (May 25, 2004)
Odd Thomas (December 9, 2003)
The Face (May 27, 2003)
By the Light of the Moon (December 24, 2002)
One Door Away from Heaven (December 26, 2001)
From the Corner of His Eye (December 26, 2000)
False Memory (December 28, 1999)
Seize the Night (December 29, 1998)
Fear Nothing (January 14, 1998)
Sole Survivor (January 29, 1997)
Demon Seed (1997) (revised)
Ticktock (1996)
Intensity (1996)
Icebound (1995) (extensive revision of Prison of Ice)
Dark Rivers of the Heart (1994)
Winter Moon (1994) (extensive revision of Invasion)
Dragon Tears (1993)
Mr. Murder (1993)
Hideaway (1992)
Cold Fire (1991)
The Bad Place (1990)
Midnight (1989)
Lightning (1988)
The Servants of Twilight (1988, as Leigh Nichols)
Shadow Fires (1987, as Leigh Nichols)
Watchers (1987)
Strangers (1986)
The Door to December (1985, as Richard Paige)
Twilight Eyes (1985) (reissued in 1987 with a second half)
Darkfall (1984)
Phantoms (1983)
The House of Thunder (1982, as Leigh Nichols)
The Eyes of Darkness (1981, as Leigh Nichols)
The Mask (1981, as Owen West)
The Funhouse (1980, as Owen West) (novelization of The Funhouse, a Tobe Hooper film)
The Voice of the Night (1980, as Brian Coffey)
Whispers (1980)
The Key to Midnight (1979, as Leigh Nichols)
The Face of Fear (1977, as Brian Coffey)
The Vision (1977)
Night Chills (1976)
Prison of Ice (1976, as David Axton), reissued as Icebound (1995)
Invasion (1975, as Aaron Wolfe), reissued as Winter Moon (1994)
Demon Seed (1973) (later revised and reissued)
Shattered (1973, as K. R. Dwyer)
Chase (1972, as K. R. Dwyer) (included in short fiction collection Strange Highways
The Flesh in the Furnace (1972)

[edit] Early novels (out of print)

Dragonfly (1975, as K. R. Dwyer)
The Long Sleep (1975, as John Hill)
Nightmare Journey (1975)
Wall of Masks (1975, as Brian Coffey)
After the Last Race (1974)
Surrounded (1974, as Brian Coffey)
Blood Risk (1973, as Brian Coffey)
Dance with the Devil (1973, as Deanna Dwyer)
Hanging On (1973)
The Haunted Earth (1973)
A Werewolf Among Us (1973)
Children of the Storm (1972, as Deanna Dwyer)
The Dark of Summer (1972, as Deanna Dwyer)
A Darkness in My Soul (1972)
Demon Child (1972, as Deanna Dwyer)
Starblood (1972)
Time Thieves (1972)
Warlock! (1972)
The Crimson Witch (1971)
Legacy of Terror (1971, as Deanna Dwyer)
Anti-Man (1970)
Beastchild (1970)
Dark of the Woods (1970)
Dark Symphony (1970)
Hell's Gate (1970)
Hung (1970, as Leonard Chris)
The Fall of the Dream Machine (1969)
Fear That Man (1969)
Star Quest (1968)

[edit] Children's books

Robot Santa: The Further Adventures of Santa's Twin (October 1, 2004)
Every Day's a Holiday : Amusing Rhymes for Happy Times (October 1, 2003)
The Paper Doorway : Funny Verse and Nothing Worse (October 1, 2001)
Santa's Twin (November 1, 1996)
Oddkins: A Fable for All Ages (1988)

[edit] Non-fiction

Christmas Is Good!: Trixie Treats And Holiday Wisdom w/ Trixie Koontz (October 31, 2005)
Life is Good! Lessons in Joyful Living w/ Trixie Koontz (October 31, 2004)
How To Write Best-Selling Fiction (1981)
Writing Popular Fiction (1972)
The Pig Society w/ Gerda Koontz (1970)
The Underground Lifestyles Handbook w/ Gerda Koontz (1970)

[edit] Essays and introductions

Foreword to Love Heels: Tales from Canine Companions for Independence (October 1, 2003)
Introduction to Great Escapes: New Designs for Home Theaters by Theo Kalomirakis (October 15, 2003)
"Ibsen's Dream" (Reflector, 1966)
"Of Childhood" (Reflector, 1966)

[edit] Collections

Soft Come the Dragons (1970, short story collection)
Strange Highways (1994, short story collection) {reissued in September 2002}

[edit] Short fiction

"Black River" (1999)
"Pinkie" (1998)
"Trapped" (1989) {re-issued as a graphic novel in 1992}
"Graveyard Highway" (1987)
"Twilight of the Dawn" (1987)
"Miss Atilla the Hun" (1987)
"Hardshell" (1987)
"The Interrogation" (1987)
"The Black Pumpkin" (1986)
"The Monitors of Providence {collaboration}" (1986)
"Snatcher" (1986)
"Weird World" (1986)
"Down in the Darkness" (1986)
"Night of the Storm" (1974) {re-issued as a graphic novel in 1976}
"We Three" (1974)
"The Undercity" (1973)
"Terra Phobia" (1973)
"Wake Up To Thunder" (1973)
"The Sinless Child" (1973)
"Grayworld" (1973)
"A Mouse in the Walls of the Global Village" (1972)
"Ollie's Hands" (1972) {revised and re-issued in 1987}
"Altarboy" (1972)
"Cosmic Sin" (1972)
"The Terrible Weapon" (1972)
"Bruno" (1971)
"Unseen Warriors" (1970)
"Shambolain" (1970)
"The Crimson Witch" (1970)
"Beastchild" (1970)
"Emanations" (1970)
"The Mystery of His Flesh" (1970)
"The Good Ship Lookoutworld" (1970)
"Nightmare Gang" (1970)
"A Third Hand" (1970)
"Muse" (1969)
"The Face in His Belly" Part Two" (1969)
"Dragon In the Land" (1969)
"The Face in His Belly" Part One (1969)
"Where the Beast Runs" (1969)
"Killerbot" (1969) {revised and re-issued in 1977 as "A Season for Freedom"}
"Temple of Sorrow" (1969)
"In the Shield" (1969)
"Dreambird" (1968)
"The Twelfth Bed" (1968)
"The Psychedelic Children" (1968)
"To Behold the Sun" (1967)
"Love 2005" (1967)
"Soft Come the Dragons" (1967)
"A Miracle is Anything" (1966)
"Some Disputed Barricade" (1966)
"This Fence" (1965)
"The Kittens" (1965)

[edit] Screenplays

Dean Koontz's Frankenstein (2005 - Charnel House 2006)
Phantoms (1998) – Dimension – Ben Affleck, Peter O'Toole
The Bad Place
CHiPs episode 306: Counterfeit (20 October 1979) – as by Brian Coffey

[edit] Poetry

[edit] Collections

[edit] Poetry

The Book Of Counted Sorrows Published in 2003 by Charnel House Publications 1250 copies in a signed and slipcased edition Including 26 leather bound lettered state edition A-Z signed by the author(1) 1224 slipcased and numbered state edition signed by the author. 1 slipcased and numbered signed by the author,publisher & designer(2) The complete and unabridged collection of poems & epigraphs from Dean's many novels.