Watchers
by Dean Koontz
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A "superior thriller"(Oakland Press) about a man, a dog, and a terrifying threat that could only have come from the imagination of #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz--nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read. On his thirty-sixth birthday, Travis Cornell hikes into the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. But his path is soon blocked by a bedraggled Golden Retriever who will let him go no further into the dark woods. That morning, Travis show more had been desperate to find some happiness in his lonely, seemingly cursed life. What he finds is a dog of alarming intelligence that soon leads him into a relentless storm of mankind's darkest creation... show lessTags
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jamaicanmecrazy Also features members of Koontz's beloved Golden Retriever species. Intelligent dogs save the day.
20
Member Reviews
*SPOILERS*
So my first experience with this story is the Corey from the late 80s early 90s. I loved it and when I realized it was based on a novel it was immediately added to my TBR. I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator brought Fur Face to life. And yes, I realize his name is Einstein, but he was Fur Face in the movie and will always be that for me. The performance was excellent. I could really picture everything thing happening and I felt the emotion of the situations.
So Fur Face is a genetically engineered golden retriever that escapes the lab he was created in. He finds his way to Travis who is a lonely man at the end of his rope. He's not quite suicidal, but he's pretty much given up on life. Fur Face is just what he show more needs to bring him back to life, especially when the dog reveals his human-like intelligence. Travis instantly falls in love with Fur Face. Travis now has a companion to love and care for, and Fur Face gets the same on top of having freedom from the tests and cage he was in at the lab.
Fur Face leads Travis to Nora, a woman who was raised almost entirely by her miserable, horrible aunt. She never went to school or had friends, her life was completely controlled by her aunt until the woman's death. While Nora is attempting to learn how to live a life free of her aunt, she is targeted by a creepy man who wants to control and use her until he's had his fill. Fur Face leads Travis to her and together they rescue her from the horrible man. The two develop a friendship that eventually develops into love.
Together Travis and Nora discover just how intelligent Fur Face actually is and create a means of communication. They learn about his past and that he was not the only experiment that escaped the lab. The Outsider is an abomination that has a deep hatred for Fur Face. Somehow they are bonded and can sense other another. The Outside is searching for Fur Face because he wants to destroy him. And then there's the problem of the NSA and a hired hitman on Fur Face's trail.
The trio go on the run getting far enough away to give them time for The Outsider eventually finding them. They have a final battle where the Outsider nearly kills Fur Face, and Travis kills both the hitman and The Outsider.
This is so ridiculously well written I could literally listen to the audiobook all over again. I felt the emotions and humanity in Fur Face, but also you felt empathy for the Outsider. He was created to be a monster, a killing machine. He grew to hate himself for being an ugly monster and his hatred toward Fur Face was really his envy at being the beloved child while The Outsider was clearly feared and even hated. In the end I felt for the Outsider and wished that he could have been saved. His death was actually very sad.
I enjoy the heck out of this book. It was excellent from start to finish. I felt completely satisfied with the ending. I don't know why anyone would need a sequel. Travis and Nora lived happily ever after. And Fur Face lived, got a mate of his own and had children. What more was needed? show less
So my first experience with this story is the Corey from the late 80s early 90s. I loved it and when I realized it was based on a novel it was immediately added to my TBR. I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator brought Fur Face to life. And yes, I realize his name is Einstein, but he was Fur Face in the movie and will always be that for me. The performance was excellent. I could really picture everything thing happening and I felt the emotion of the situations.
So Fur Face is a genetically engineered golden retriever that escapes the lab he was created in. He finds his way to Travis who is a lonely man at the end of his rope. He's not quite suicidal, but he's pretty much given up on life. Fur Face is just what he show more needs to bring him back to life, especially when the dog reveals his human-like intelligence. Travis instantly falls in love with Fur Face. Travis now has a companion to love and care for, and Fur Face gets the same on top of having freedom from the tests and cage he was in at the lab.
Fur Face leads Travis to Nora, a woman who was raised almost entirely by her miserable, horrible aunt. She never went to school or had friends, her life was completely controlled by her aunt until the woman's death. While Nora is attempting to learn how to live a life free of her aunt, she is targeted by a creepy man who wants to control and use her until he's had his fill. Fur Face leads Travis to her and together they rescue her from the horrible man. The two develop a friendship that eventually develops into love.
Together Travis and Nora discover just how intelligent Fur Face actually is and create a means of communication. They learn about his past and that he was not the only experiment that escaped the lab. The Outsider is an abomination that has a deep hatred for Fur Face. Somehow they are bonded and can sense other another. The Outside is searching for Fur Face because he wants to destroy him. And then there's the problem of the NSA and a hired hitman on Fur Face's trail.
The trio go on the run getting far enough away to give them time for The Outsider eventually finding them. They have a final battle where the Outsider nearly kills Fur Face, and Travis kills both the hitman and The Outsider.
This is so ridiculously well written I could literally listen to the audiobook all over again. I felt the emotions and humanity in Fur Face, but also you felt empathy for the Outsider. He was created to be a monster, a killing machine. He grew to hate himself for being an ugly monster and his hatred toward Fur Face was really his envy at being the beloved child while The Outsider was clearly feared and even hated. In the end I felt for the Outsider and wished that he could have been saved. His death was actually very sad.
I enjoy the heck out of this book. It was excellent from start to finish. I felt completely satisfied with the ending. I don't know why anyone would need a sequel. Travis and Nora lived happily ever after. And Fur Face lived, got a mate of his own and had children. What more was needed? show less
I had met 'Watchers' when we were both much younger, way back in the Eighties, I think we'd have had a good time. Now, more than three decades later, we're both showing our age.
I can see the appeal 'Watchers' had when it first hit shelves but I'm distracted by the literary equivalent of Eighties hairstyles and jackets with padded shoulders. I'm also more cranky and harder to impress than I was back then, so 'Watchers' now presses my buttons, both about voyeuristic violence and paper-thin characterisations of women. Yeah, I know, grumpy old git talking.
But then there was Einstein, the genetically enhanced Golden Retriever with language skills and a brain bigger than our ex-Delta Force (why are they always ex-Delta Force?) hero. Einstein show more was wonderful. Einstein justified the whole book. Anyone not liking Einstein needs a personality transplant.
I know that 'Watchers' is a favourite Koontz book for many of his readers and I can see why: Einstein, a scary monster, Einstein, outwitting the NSA, Einstein, triumphing over broken pasts and building a hopeful future, Einstein, defeating bad guys who really deserve it and finding good guys who will help in adversity because of ... well, Einstein.
I tried hard to give myself up to this book and to Einstein and to the long-time-coming confrontations and I mostly made it, except for the times when I got distracted or had my buttons pressed.
At the start of the book, I was sure I was going to have fun. I was one chapter in and I'd already had one murder, one almost-encounter with a menacing something and a meeting with a very bright dog. I was hooked.
Then I started to have doubts.
There was too much relish in the descriptions of how the contract killer does his job. I felt like I was in a Jack Reacher novel only without a good guy to save the day.
I hated the subplot of the TV Repair Man turned stalker. I'm not sure if it just hasn't aged well of if Koontz doesn't write women who seem real but I'm I didn't buy Nora's internal dialogue,
That's not to say the writing was bad. I hated both the assassin and the stalker. In my youth I'd have been glad to hate them and wait for the moment when they got theirs but my older, crankier self kept going, 'This level of detail seems exploitative, don't ya think? I mean, why else is it there?'
'Watchers' is definitely of its time. A lot of the plot has an 'only in the 80s' feel: the Russians are killing people rather than buying the President, the NSA are the good guys and no one has a phone. When our hero explains computers to Nora and tells her that they make everything more fluid and that they'll make it more difficult for governments to control individuals, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. None of this is a criticism of Koontz. I just wish I read this in the Eighties when I'd have seen the same world he did.
By modern standards, the pace is leisurely but I don't think it suffers because of it The pacing reminded me of dancing the flamenco, starting with slow, stylised posturing, leading into fast, hot-blooded action.
The emotional palette in 'Watchers' is limited but effective, like a graphic novel done in black and white with splashes of red à la 'Sin City'. People are either very bad or very good and blood flows often and copiously.
Women don't feature heavily, except for Nora who starts as a broken flower and evolves into someone comfortable with using an Uzzi at close range. I didn't find her convincing in either role. I could see why she like Einstein but I was less clear on why she fell so hard and fast for our ex-Delta Force hero (did I mention I didn't like him much? I was hoping he'd make The Ultimate Sacrifice).
I recommend the audiobook version of 'Watchers'. It's a recent recording with strong narration by Edoardo Ballerini. Click on the SoundCloud link below to hear a sample.
https://soundcloud.com/audiobooksalive/watchers-by-dean-koontz-audiobook-excerpt show less
I can see the appeal 'Watchers' had when it first hit shelves but I'm distracted by the literary equivalent of Eighties hairstyles and jackets with padded shoulders. I'm also more cranky and harder to impress than I was back then, so 'Watchers' now presses my buttons, both about voyeuristic violence and paper-thin characterisations of women. Yeah, I know, grumpy old git talking.
But then there was Einstein, the genetically enhanced Golden Retriever with language skills and a brain bigger than our ex-Delta Force (why are they always ex-Delta Force?) hero. Einstein show more was wonderful. Einstein justified the whole book. Anyone not liking Einstein needs a personality transplant.
I know that 'Watchers' is a favourite Koontz book for many of his readers and I can see why: Einstein, a scary monster, Einstein, outwitting the NSA, Einstein, triumphing over broken pasts and building a hopeful future, Einstein, defeating bad guys who really deserve it and finding good guys who will help in adversity because of ... well, Einstein.
I tried hard to give myself up to this book and to Einstein and to the long-time-coming confrontations and I mostly made it, except for the times when I got distracted or had my buttons pressed.
At the start of the book, I was sure I was going to have fun. I was one chapter in and I'd already had one murder, one almost-encounter with a menacing something and a meeting with a very bright dog. I was hooked.
Then I started to have doubts.
There was too much relish in the descriptions of how the contract killer does his job. I felt like I was in a Jack Reacher novel only without a good guy to save the day.
I hated the subplot of the TV Repair Man turned stalker. I'm not sure if it just hasn't aged well of if Koontz doesn't write women who seem real but I'm I didn't buy Nora's internal dialogue,
That's not to say the writing was bad. I hated both the assassin and the stalker. In my youth I'd have been glad to hate them and wait for the moment when they got theirs but my older, crankier self kept going, 'This level of detail seems exploitative, don't ya think? I mean, why else is it there?'
'Watchers' is definitely of its time. A lot of the plot has an 'only in the 80s' feel: the Russians are killing people rather than buying the President, the NSA are the good guys and no one has a phone. When our hero explains computers to Nora and tells her that they make everything more fluid and that they'll make it more difficult for governments to control individuals, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. None of this is a criticism of Koontz. I just wish I read this in the Eighties when I'd have seen the same world he did.
By modern standards, the pace is leisurely but I don't think it suffers because of it The pacing reminded me of dancing the flamenco, starting with slow, stylised posturing, leading into fast, hot-blooded action.
The emotional palette in 'Watchers' is limited but effective, like a graphic novel done in black and white with splashes of red à la 'Sin City'. People are either very bad or very good and blood flows often and copiously.
Women don't feature heavily, except for Nora who starts as a broken flower and evolves into someone comfortable with using an Uzzi at close range. I didn't find her convincing in either role. I could see why she like Einstein but I was less clear on why she fell so hard and fast for our ex-Delta Force hero (did I mention I didn't like him much? I was hoping he'd make The Ultimate Sacrifice).
I recommend the audiobook version of 'Watchers'. It's a recent recording with strong narration by Edoardo Ballerini. Click on the SoundCloud link below to hear a sample.
https://soundcloud.com/audiobooksalive/watchers-by-dean-koontz-audiobook-excerpt show less
4.25 stars
36-year old Travis is lonely and out for a hike when he comes across a dog, who seems to be warning him of trouble on the trail. The two of them get out of there, and Travis takes in the dog, who he later learns is extremely, unnaturally intelligent. Nora has been sheltered her entire life by her spinster, people-hating aunt. Meanwhile, a hired killer is murdering multiple people in one day because he thinks the more people he kills, the better chance he has of becoming immortal.
I absolutely loved the dog! I did find following Travis and Nora more interesting than the other storylines, but certainly when the focus was on them, I wanted to keep reading. This is probably my favourite book by Koontz, and a good portion of that is show more due to the dog. show less
36-year old Travis is lonely and out for a hike when he comes across a dog, who seems to be warning him of trouble on the trail. The two of them get out of there, and Travis takes in the dog, who he later learns is extremely, unnaturally intelligent. Nora has been sheltered her entire life by her spinster, people-hating aunt. Meanwhile, a hired killer is murdering multiple people in one day because he thinks the more people he kills, the better chance he has of becoming immortal.
I absolutely loved the dog! I did find following Travis and Nora more interesting than the other storylines, but certainly when the focus was on them, I wanted to keep reading. This is probably my favourite book by Koontz, and a good portion of that is show more due to the dog. show less
I'm so ashamed, but yes, five stars. It was so '80s, so emotionally manipulative, so schlocky. I got to around half-way through this book and couldn't put it down.
I blinked every time there was a reference to the "Soviets" (it didn't seem odd to me until I digested it for a few seconds) and grinned when someone had to find a pay phone. The references to gene manipulation even seemed quaint.
But, I loved on this book so hard. I loved the wonderful dogs, the stoic hero, the woman who emerged from the shadows, the bad guys who were worse than the monster, the lawmen that wanted to do the right thing...
No great lit here, just a lot of fun reading on the porch.
I blinked every time there was a reference to the "Soviets" (it didn't seem odd to me until I digested it for a few seconds) and grinned when someone had to find a pay phone. The references to gene manipulation even seemed quaint.
But, I loved on this book so hard. I loved the wonderful dogs, the stoic hero, the woman who emerged from the shadows, the bad guys who were worse than the monster, the lawmen that wanted to do the right thing...
No great lit here, just a lot of fun reading on the porch.
I'm reading this one because of the dog. The horror sections are nasty, and the other story expositions are eye-rollingly bad. There isn't anyone in the book who thinks well, not even the hero. Nope, not even the guvmint agent. But then, I guess, if they did, that would blow the entire plot. I am not sympathetic to the conundrum. Nor to any of the human characters. The dog gets the star.
Well damn, a Dean Koontz book made me cry. The last one that made me cry was "Odd Thomas." This book hits me everywhere. Though I could have done without the whole ssnap guy (Vince) the rest of the book just works perfectly. I loved the characters (Travis and Nora) I fell in love with Einstein and also with everyone along the way who wanted to keep Einstein free. This book hits all the feels and I can see now why after the success of this book Koontz had to just have a dog in every book he put out. I still wish he stop that though.
"Watchers" starts off with Travis Cornell out in the mountains when he comes across a golden retriever. The animal will not allow Travis to cross down a path in the woods and feeling something ominous, Travis show more ends up taking the dog home with him. Over time Travis starts to realize that the dog he nicknames fur face and then calls "Einstein" is quite special.
We then transition over to Nora Devon who is living alone in her dead aunt's home. Nora's aunt was not loving and constantly told Nora how she was not pretty enough, a mouse (not a cat) and how she would be better off staying away from men. Now that she's gone Nora feels adrift, but wants to change her life. Things do change for her when she comes across Travis and Einstein in a park after a terrible encounter with a man who is hell-bent on stalking Nora.
And then Koontz introduces a crazed killer (Vince) who has ties to Einstein in some way we don't know and then a mysterious agency man who is tracking to track down Einstein as well.
Koontz develops all of the characters (except Vince) quite well. We even are able to get shifting points of views about something darker than Vince that appears to be after Einstein as well. Koontz always goes over board in my opinion with his villains and Vince was definitely too much for me.
The writing really works here and a few times can move a reader to tears. The flow actually works as well though I admit I started skipping Vince's sections because they were too grim even for me. Also Vince seems to be a precursor to the killer in Koontz's "Intensity" novel. One of these days I will get around to posting a review for that book too.
Good lord. I love books but this whole sentiment had me wanting to hug Nora. Her aunt was vile.
We do and this sentence actually made me cry.
The setting of the book takes place in the late 1980s. Half the things that Travis and Nora do to avoid detection would probably be impossible now and I pretty much laughed at Travis making a ton of money in real estate. That said, the heart of the story (two people who love a dog) is what keeps this story so timeless. At least in my head.
The ending was delightful and I loved every bit of this terrific book. show less
"Watchers" starts off with Travis Cornell out in the mountains when he comes across a golden retriever. The animal will not allow Travis to cross down a path in the woods and feeling something ominous, Travis show more ends up taking the dog home with him. Over time Travis starts to realize that the dog he nicknames fur face and then calls "Einstein" is quite special.
We then transition over to Nora Devon who is living alone in her dead aunt's home. Nora's aunt was not loving and constantly told Nora how she was not pretty enough, a mouse (not a cat) and how she would be better off staying away from men. Now that she's gone Nora feels adrift, but wants to change her life. Things do change for her when she comes across Travis and Einstein in a park after a terrible encounter with a man who is hell-bent on stalking Nora.
And then Koontz introduces a crazed killer (Vince) who has ties to Einstein in some way we don't know and then a mysterious agency man who is tracking to track down Einstein as well.
Koontz develops all of the characters (except Vince) quite well. We even are able to get shifting points of views about something darker than Vince that appears to be after Einstein as well. Koontz always goes over board in my opinion with his villains and Vince was definitely too much for me.
The writing really works here and a few times can move a reader to tears. The flow actually works as well though I admit I started skipping Vince's sections because they were too grim even for me. Also Vince seems to be a precursor to the killer in Koontz's "Intensity" novel. One of these days I will get around to posting a review for that book too.
“Plain, homely women like you and me will never lead a glamorous life, never go to exotic places. So books have a special value to us. We can experience most everything vicariously, through books. This isn’t bad. Living through books is even better than having friends and knowing . . . men.”
Good lord. I love books but this whole sentiment had me wanting to hug Nora. Her aunt was vile.
"We have a responsibility to stand watch over one another, we are watchers, all of us, watchers, guarding against the darkness."
We do and this sentence actually made me cry.
The setting of the book takes place in the late 1980s. Half the things that Travis and Nora do to avoid detection would probably be impossible now and I pretty much laughed at Travis making a ton of money in real estate. That said, the heart of the story (two people who love a dog) is what keeps this story so timeless. At least in my head.
The ending was delightful and I loved every bit of this terrific book. show less
*SPOILERS*
So my first experience with this story is the Corey from the late 80s early 90s. I loved it and when I realized it was based on a novel it was immediately added to my TBR. I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator brought Fur Face to life. And yes, I realize his name is Einstein, but he was Fur Face in the movie and will always be that for me. The performance was excellent. I could really picture everything thing happening and I felt the emotion of the situations.
So Fur Face is a genetically engineered golden retriever that escapes the lab he was created in. He finds his way to Travis who is a lonely man at the end of his rope. He's not quite suicidal, but he's pretty much given up on life. Fur Face is just what he show more needs to bring him back to life, especially when the dog reveals his human-like intelligence. Travis instantly falls in love with Fur Face. Travis now has a companion to love and care for, and Fur Face gets the same on top of having freedom from the tests and cage he was in at the lab.
Fur Face leads Travis to Nora, a woman who was raised almost entirely by her miserable, horrible aunt. She never went to school or had friends, her life was completely controlled by her aunt until the woman's death. While Nora is attempting to learn how to live a life free of her aunt, she is targeted by a creepy man who wants to control and use her until he's had his fill. Fur Face leads Travis to her and together they rescue her from the horrible man. The two develop a friendship that eventually develops into love.
Together Travis and Nora discover just how intelligent Fur Face actually is and create a means of communication. They learn about his past and that he was not the only experiment that escaped the lab. The Outsider is an abomination that has a deep hatred for Fur Face. Somehow they are bonded and can sense other another. The Outside is searching for Fur Face because he wants to destroy him. And then there's the problem of the NSA and a hired hitman on Fur Face's trail.
The trio go on the run getting far enough away to give them time for The Outsider eventually finding them. They have a final battle where the Outsider nearly kills Fur Face, and Travis kills both the hitman and The Outsider.
This is so ridiculously well written I could literally listen to the audiobook all over again. I felt the emotions and humanity in Fur Face, but also you felt empathy for the Outsider. He was created to be a monster, a killing machine. He grew to hate himself for being an ugly monster and his hatred toward Fur Face was really his envy at being the beloved child while The Outsider was clearly feared and even hated. In the end I felt for the Outsider and wished that he could have been saved. His death was actually very sad.
I enjoy the heck out of this book. It was excellent from start to finish. I felt completely satisfied with the ending. I don't know why anyone would need a sequel. Travis and Nora lived happily ever after. And Fur Face lived, got a mate of his own and had children. What more was needed? show less
So my first experience with this story is the Corey from the late 80s early 90s. I loved it and when I realized it was based on a novel it was immediately added to my TBR. I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator brought Fur Face to life. And yes, I realize his name is Einstein, but he was Fur Face in the movie and will always be that for me. The performance was excellent. I could really picture everything thing happening and I felt the emotion of the situations.
So Fur Face is a genetically engineered golden retriever that escapes the lab he was created in. He finds his way to Travis who is a lonely man at the end of his rope. He's not quite suicidal, but he's pretty much given up on life. Fur Face is just what he show more needs to bring him back to life, especially when the dog reveals his human-like intelligence. Travis instantly falls in love with Fur Face. Travis now has a companion to love and care for, and Fur Face gets the same on top of having freedom from the tests and cage he was in at the lab.
Fur Face leads Travis to Nora, a woman who was raised almost entirely by her miserable, horrible aunt. She never went to school or had friends, her life was completely controlled by her aunt until the woman's death. While Nora is attempting to learn how to live a life free of her aunt, she is targeted by a creepy man who wants to control and use her until he's had his fill. Fur Face leads Travis to her and together they rescue her from the horrible man. The two develop a friendship that eventually develops into love.
Together Travis and Nora discover just how intelligent Fur Face actually is and create a means of communication. They learn about his past and that he was not the only experiment that escaped the lab. The Outsider is an abomination that has a deep hatred for Fur Face. Somehow they are bonded and can sense other another. The Outside is searching for Fur Face because he wants to destroy him. And then there's the problem of the NSA and a hired hitman on Fur Face's trail.
The trio go on the run getting far enough away to give them time for The Outsider eventually finding them. They have a final battle where the Outsider nearly kills Fur Face, and Travis kills both the hitman and The Outsider.
This is so ridiculously well written I could literally listen to the audiobook all over again. I felt the emotions and humanity in Fur Face, but also you felt empathy for the Outsider. He was created to be a monster, a killing machine. He grew to hate himself for being an ugly monster and his hatred toward Fur Face was really his envy at being the beloved child while The Outsider was clearly feared and even hated. In the end I felt for the Outsider and wished that he could have been saved. His death was actually very sad.
I enjoy the heck out of this book. It was excellent from start to finish. I felt completely satisfied with the ending. I don't know why anyone would need a sequel. Travis and Nora lived happily ever after. And Fur Face lived, got a mate of his own and had children. What more was needed? show less
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ThingScore 75
Dean Koontz: Ääniä yössä
Alkuteos: Watchers
Kustantaja WSOY. 488 s.
Arvio: 9 -
Dean Koontz on amerikkalaisten jännityskirjailijoiden parhaimmistoa, tosin muutamia huonompiakin juttuja mahtuu herran tuotantoon, niin kuin melkein kaikilla kirjailijoilla. Koontzia lukiessaan tietää kuitenkin joutuvansa harvoin pettymään, eikä Ääniä yössä ole millään muotoa poikkeus tällä show more saralla. Tarina vie mukanaan heti ensimmäisten sivujen alusta lähtien, ja tunnelma kestää voimakkaana koko kirjan ajan.
Tarina alkaa, kun Travis Cornell kohtaa aamulla liikuskellessaan erämetsässä likaisen ja takkuisen kultaisennoutajan, joka on selkeästi pakenemassa metsässä rymistelevää epäinhimillistä olentoa. Travis häipyy koiran kanssa aavistaen vaikeuksia, joita metsässä rymyävä olento ilmeisesti aiheuttaa. Kotona Travis alkaa huomata, että koira on poikkeuksellisen älykäs, lähestulkoon ihmisen tasolla. Hän päättää pitää koiran, jonka nimeää Einsteiniksi. Siitä näyttää olevan yllättävää hyötyä: se järjestää Travisille muun muassa vaimon Noran. Samaan aikaan toisaalla kuumeiset tutkimukset ovat käynnistyneet Einsteinin löytämiseksi - eläin on itse asiassa karannut valtion salaisesta tutkimuslaitoksesta tulipalon yhteydessä. Mikäs siinä, tilanne olisi muuten varsin helppo tapausta tutkivalle turvallisuuskoneistolle, ellei laitoksesta olisi lähtenyt samaan aikaan karkuun myös siellä luotu epäinhimillinen tappokone, hirviö, jota kutsutaan Sivulliseksi. Sivullisella on vain yksi missio: koiran löytäminen ja tappaminen. Luonnollisesti Sivullisen tielle tahattomasti osuvat ihmiset eivät saa nauttia elämästään kovin pitkään. Poliiseilla on siis kova kiire ehtiä koiran luokse ennen murhanhimoista petoa. Asiaa ei myöskään auta se, että hiukan ennen tutkimuslaitoksen tuhoa kuolivat siitä vastuussa olevat viisi lääkäriä perheineen ja kuolemista vastuussa ollut palkkamurhaaja Vince Nasco haluaa myös innokkaasti päästä hyötymään koirasta. Lopulta Travis vaimoineen huomaa, että nämä kolme tahoa ovat auttamattoman kiinnostuneita koirasta ja he päättävät nostaa kytkintä. Alkaa pakomatka toiseen osaan USA:a.
Juoni on kiistatta varsin nokkela ja toistaa Koontzille tyypillisesti teemaa “Kun ihminen leikkii Jumalaa”. Henkilöhahmot ovat varsin kiinnostavia, ja etenkin palkkamurhaaja Vince Nascon ilmeisen pakkomielteisen persoonan kuvauksessa Koontz onnistuu varsin hyvin tehden miehestä varsinaisen arkkiroiston. Nascosta annetaan hyvin määrätietoisen ja pikkutarkan ihmisen kuva, joka arvostaa rutiineja ja tarkkaavaisuutta ja äärimmilleen vietyä raakaa voimaa. Myös ristiriitaisen ja alussa hyvinkin masentuneen Traviksen luonteesta saa hyvän kuvan ja mies tuntuu aidolta. Traviksen vaimon Noran henkilöhahmo jää kenties hiukan ohuemmaksi, mutta on sanomattakin selvää, että kirjaa lukiessa huomaa, että sekä Travis että Nora täydentävät toisiaan loistavasti, ts. jos jompikumpi hahmoista puuttuisi, kirjasta jäljelle jäävä tuntuisi epäpätevältä. Kansallisen turvallisuusviraston NSA:n tutkijana toimiva Lemuel Johnson on myös varsin todentuntuinen hahmo kamppaillessaan jatkuvien työpaineiden ja omien korkealle asetettujen tavoitteidensa vuoksi. Hahmojen osalta kirjan kaksi tärkeää valttikorttia ovat ehdottomasti Einstein ja Sivullinen, joilla molemmilla on selkeästi omat henkilöhahmonsa: Einstein (vaikka hiukan etäiseksi jääkin) on selkeästi empaattinen ja älykäs hauva, joka pitää huolta läheisistään. Kirjan hauskimpia osuuksia ovatkin kiistatta ne, joissa Einstein opettelee lukemaan tai esittää joululahjatoiveitaan (Mikki Hiiri -videoita). Sivullinen taas vaikuttaa alussa pelkästään tunteettomalta eläimeltä ja onnistuu olemaan varsin karmiva etenkin uhriensa kannalta. Mutta takaumien myötä Sivullisestakin löytyy sen verran ihmisyyttä, että lukijan sääli herää viimeistään traagisen loppunäytöksen aikana. Sivuhenkilöt ovat myös varsin näppäriä ja tukevat kokonaisuutta varsin hyvin: Noran asianajaja ja eläinlääkäri ovat varsin sympaattisia ja hyväntahtoisia hahmoja ja täydentävät kirjaa osuvasti.
Todettakoon vielä, että joidenkin hajanaisten palojen perusteella Koontzilla näyttäisi olevan varsin hyvä tietämys erilaisista aseista.
Kaiken kaikkiaan Ääniä yössä on näppärä perusjännäri, joka sopii hyvin lähes jokaiselle.
Eero show less
Alkuteos: Watchers
Kustantaja WSOY. 488 s.
Arvio: 9 -
Dean Koontz on amerikkalaisten jännityskirjailijoiden parhaimmistoa, tosin muutamia huonompiakin juttuja mahtuu herran tuotantoon, niin kuin melkein kaikilla kirjailijoilla. Koontzia lukiessaan tietää kuitenkin joutuvansa harvoin pettymään, eikä Ääniä yössä ole millään muotoa poikkeus tällä show more saralla. Tarina vie mukanaan heti ensimmäisten sivujen alusta lähtien, ja tunnelma kestää voimakkaana koko kirjan ajan.
Tarina alkaa, kun Travis Cornell kohtaa aamulla liikuskellessaan erämetsässä likaisen ja takkuisen kultaisennoutajan, joka on selkeästi pakenemassa metsässä rymistelevää epäinhimillistä olentoa. Travis häipyy koiran kanssa aavistaen vaikeuksia, joita metsässä rymyävä olento ilmeisesti aiheuttaa. Kotona Travis alkaa huomata, että koira on poikkeuksellisen älykäs, lähestulkoon ihmisen tasolla. Hän päättää pitää koiran, jonka nimeää Einsteiniksi. Siitä näyttää olevan yllättävää hyötyä: se järjestää Travisille muun muassa vaimon Noran. Samaan aikaan toisaalla kuumeiset tutkimukset ovat käynnistyneet Einsteinin löytämiseksi - eläin on itse asiassa karannut valtion salaisesta tutkimuslaitoksesta tulipalon yhteydessä. Mikäs siinä, tilanne olisi muuten varsin helppo tapausta tutkivalle turvallisuuskoneistolle, ellei laitoksesta olisi lähtenyt samaan aikaan karkuun myös siellä luotu epäinhimillinen tappokone, hirviö, jota kutsutaan Sivulliseksi. Sivullisella on vain yksi missio: koiran löytäminen ja tappaminen. Luonnollisesti Sivullisen tielle tahattomasti osuvat ihmiset eivät saa nauttia elämästään kovin pitkään. Poliiseilla on siis kova kiire ehtiä koiran luokse ennen murhanhimoista petoa. Asiaa ei myöskään auta se, että hiukan ennen tutkimuslaitoksen tuhoa kuolivat siitä vastuussa olevat viisi lääkäriä perheineen ja kuolemista vastuussa ollut palkkamurhaaja Vince Nasco haluaa myös innokkaasti päästä hyötymään koirasta. Lopulta Travis vaimoineen huomaa, että nämä kolme tahoa ovat auttamattoman kiinnostuneita koirasta ja he päättävät nostaa kytkintä. Alkaa pakomatka toiseen osaan USA:a.
Juoni on kiistatta varsin nokkela ja toistaa Koontzille tyypillisesti teemaa “Kun ihminen leikkii Jumalaa”. Henkilöhahmot ovat varsin kiinnostavia, ja etenkin palkkamurhaaja Vince Nascon ilmeisen pakkomielteisen persoonan kuvauksessa Koontz onnistuu varsin hyvin tehden miehestä varsinaisen arkkiroiston. Nascosta annetaan hyvin määrätietoisen ja pikkutarkan ihmisen kuva, joka arvostaa rutiineja ja tarkkaavaisuutta ja äärimmilleen vietyä raakaa voimaa. Myös ristiriitaisen ja alussa hyvinkin masentuneen Traviksen luonteesta saa hyvän kuvan ja mies tuntuu aidolta. Traviksen vaimon Noran henkilöhahmo jää kenties hiukan ohuemmaksi, mutta on sanomattakin selvää, että kirjaa lukiessa huomaa, että sekä Travis että Nora täydentävät toisiaan loistavasti, ts. jos jompikumpi hahmoista puuttuisi, kirjasta jäljelle jäävä tuntuisi epäpätevältä. Kansallisen turvallisuusviraston NSA:n tutkijana toimiva Lemuel Johnson on myös varsin todentuntuinen hahmo kamppaillessaan jatkuvien työpaineiden ja omien korkealle asetettujen tavoitteidensa vuoksi. Hahmojen osalta kirjan kaksi tärkeää valttikorttia ovat ehdottomasti Einstein ja Sivullinen, joilla molemmilla on selkeästi omat henkilöhahmonsa: Einstein (vaikka hiukan etäiseksi jääkin) on selkeästi empaattinen ja älykäs hauva, joka pitää huolta läheisistään. Kirjan hauskimpia osuuksia ovatkin kiistatta ne, joissa Einstein opettelee lukemaan tai esittää joululahjatoiveitaan (Mikki Hiiri -videoita). Sivullinen taas vaikuttaa alussa pelkästään tunteettomalta eläimeltä ja onnistuu olemaan varsin karmiva etenkin uhriensa kannalta. Mutta takaumien myötä Sivullisestakin löytyy sen verran ihmisyyttä, että lukijan sääli herää viimeistään traagisen loppunäytöksen aikana. Sivuhenkilöt ovat myös varsin näppäriä ja tukevat kokonaisuutta varsin hyvin: Noran asianajaja ja eläinlääkäri ovat varsin sympaattisia ja hyväntahtoisia hahmoja ja täydentävät kirjaa osuvasti.
Todettakoon vielä, että joidenkin hajanaisten palojen perusteella Koontzilla näyttäisi olevan varsin hyvä tietämys erilaisista aseista.
Kaiken kaikkiaan Ääniä yössä on näppärä perusjännäri, joka sopii hyvin lähes jokaiselle.
Eero show less
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Author Information
525+ Works 227,466 Members
Dean Koontz was born on July 9, 1945 in Everett, Pennsylvania. He received a degree in education from Shippensburg State College in 1967. A former high school English teacher as well as a teacher-counselor with the Appalachian Poverty Program, he began writing as a child to escape an ugly home life caused by his alcoholic father. A prolific writer show more at a young age, he had sold a dozen novels by the age of 25. Early in his career, he wrote under numerous pen names including David Axton, Brian Coffey, K. R. Dwyer, Leigh Nichols, Richard Paige, and Owen West. He is best known for the books written under his own name, many of which are bestsellers, including Midnight, Cold Fire, The Bad Place, Hideaway, The Husband, Odd Hours, 77 Shadow Street, Innocence, The City, Saint Odd, and The Silent Corner. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Awards
Distinctions
Notable Lists
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Watchers
- Original title
- Watchers
- Original publication date
- 1987
- People/Characters
- Travis Cornell; Nora Devon; Einstein (dog); Lemuel Johnson; Vincent Nasco; The Outsider
- Important places
- California, USA
- Related movies
- Watchers (1988 | IMDb); Watchers II (1990 | IMDb); Watchers III (1994 | IMDb)
- Epigraph
- The past is but the beginning of a beginning, and all that is and has been is but the twilight of the dawn. - H. G. Wells
The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed. - C. G. Jung - Dedication
- This book is dedicated to Lennart Sane who is not only the best at what he does but who is also a nice guy. And to Elizabeth Sane who is as charming as her husband.
- First words
- On his thirty-sixth birthday, May 18, Travis Cornell rose at five o'clock in the morning.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"As long as there are dogs and as long as there are people fit to walk with them, they will all remember you."
- Original language
- English
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.54
- Canonical LCC
- PS3561.O55
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 6,047
- Popularity
- 2,085
- Reviews
- 131
- Rating
- (3.99)
- Languages
- 16 — Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 91
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 23