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Haunted by dreams of a powerful red tide, Odd Thomas, accompanied by two otherworldly sidekicks--his dog Boo and the Chairman of the Board--is drawn to a small California coastal town, where nothing is at it appears and where he confronts overwhelming and sinister forces out to stop his quest.Tags
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Oh man... I just can't do it anymore. I hung in there with Odd Thomas for 4 books, thinking at some point the series would return to the captivating charm of the first instalment, but I have to admit it's never going to happen.
The plot of ODD HOURS meanders and goes nowhere, with nothing but Odd's "gut feelings" and a maddeningly obtuse sidekick to prod it along. Very little actually happens in the first 300 pages or so. Instead, we're treated to endless descriptions of the weather, the setting, and the general atmosphere--sprinkled with many of Odd's awkward observations about life. The dialogue, sparse as it is, feels overly stilted--like Koontz was trying hard to be funny but couldn't quite manage it.
Odd started out sweet and lovable show more in the first book. By the fourth, he's a complete nitwit, with very few likeable characteristics. He seems led along by his hunches, a victim of his "gift" rather than a man willing to take charge of his life.
And with that, I'm done. Not just with Odd Thomas, but with Koontz entirely, which is a shame, because I really loved some of his other books. He's just had too many misses for me, and ODD HOURS was the straw that broke the camel's back. Or the book that decimated the reader's last shred of patience. show less
The plot of ODD HOURS meanders and goes nowhere, with nothing but Odd's "gut feelings" and a maddeningly obtuse sidekick to prod it along. Very little actually happens in the first 300 pages or so. Instead, we're treated to endless descriptions of the weather, the setting, and the general atmosphere--sprinkled with many of Odd's awkward observations about life. The dialogue, sparse as it is, feels overly stilted--like Koontz was trying hard to be funny but couldn't quite manage it.
Odd started out sweet and lovable show more in the first book. By the fourth, he's a complete nitwit, with very few likeable characteristics. He seems led along by his hunches, a victim of his "gift" rather than a man willing to take charge of his life.
And with that, I'm done. Not just with Odd Thomas, but with Koontz entirely, which is a shame, because I really loved some of his other books. He's just had too many misses for me, and ODD HOURS was the straw that broke the camel's back. Or the book that decimated the reader's last shred of patience. show less
This is the fourth book in the Odd Thomas series, and was just as cleverly written as the other three. I have never read another Koontz series (or standalone), but I am going to add his books to my TBR simply because of the writing style he exhibits in this series.
Here are some of my favorite lines:
• Words are plastic these days. Small loans made to desperate people at exorbitant rates are called payday advance. A cheesy hotel paired with a seedy casino is called a resort. Any assemblage of frenetic images, bad music, and incoherent plot is called a major motion picture.
• Malevolence and paranoia cohabit in a twisted mind. Bad men trust no one because they know the treachery of which they themselves are capable.
• Sometimes I am a show more mystery to myself.
• Although weaponless, I left the house by the back door, with two chocolate-pumpkin cookies. It's a tough world out there, and a man has to armor himself against it however he can.
See? Both humorous and poignant statements. That is the hallmark, I am finding, of these Odd Thomas books, and one thing that makes them such a pleasure to read.
This one ended a little abruptly for me. Who was Annamaria? What became of the baby she carried? Why were the men after her? Will we see Birdie Hopkins again? Did anyone else miss Ozzie?
Instead of being frustrated with the lack of answers, I am propelled to the next in the series. Koontz has never let me down before and there is no reason to suspect he will begin now.
Highly recommended. show less
Here are some of my favorite lines:
• Words are plastic these days. Small loans made to desperate people at exorbitant rates are called payday advance. A cheesy hotel paired with a seedy casino is called a resort. Any assemblage of frenetic images, bad music, and incoherent plot is called a major motion picture.
• Malevolence and paranoia cohabit in a twisted mind. Bad men trust no one because they know the treachery of which they themselves are capable.
• Sometimes I am a show more mystery to myself.
• Although weaponless, I left the house by the back door, with two chocolate-pumpkin cookies. It's a tough world out there, and a man has to armor himself against it however he can.
See? Both humorous and poignant statements. That is the hallmark, I am finding, of these Odd Thomas books, and one thing that makes them such a pleasure to read.
This one ended a little abruptly for me. Who was Annamaria? What became of the baby she carried? Why were the men after her? Will we see Birdie Hopkins again? Did anyone else miss Ozzie?
Instead of being frustrated with the lack of answers, I am propelled to the next in the series. Koontz has never let me down before and there is no reason to suspect he will begin now.
Highly recommended. show less
I was an Odd fan – such a unique and fresh character. And his hometown was populated with such a great group of characters, all interesting in their own right, with a rare depth. The idea, the hook, for Odd’s powers was also new and interesting. Yes, a guy who sees dead people – but they can’t talk to him, and he feels a certain weight of responsibility to use the power, even if he regularly finds himself short of credentials for the things he finds himself doing. A self-aware and self-deprecating hero, and one with a true moral conscience. I was an Odd fan, right up until I finished the second book. The third book soured me almost completely. And the fourth book just mad me angry.
Given my feeling about these less than show more satisfying sequels, I’ve chosen to provide a single review of all three books. It’s appropriate both because I don’t want to waste more time or space than necessary and because my problems with the follow-on books are with them all.
I should have known there would be a drop-off in the stories at the conclusion of the first book, when Koontz killed Stormy, Odd’s girlfriend. That death was a declaration that Koontz did not intend for Odd to linger in his hometown with the wonderful group of people he’d created as a backdrop for Odd. While [Forever Odd] is set in Pico Mundo, California, Koontz isolates Odd from any of his friends in a flood channel underneath the city and surrounding desert and then in an abandoned and run down casino. At the end of the book, Odd declares that he is leaving town. [Brother Odd] picks up with Odd in an abbey in the high Sierra’s of California. When that adventure is complete, Odd makes like to return home but then again abandons one of his oldest friends and walks off into the sunset. [Odd Hours] makes it clear that Koontz has more global ideas for Odd, and this book seems to set up the framework for a larger, and more sinister, quest. While the book is set in a small coastal California town, the narrative and the new characters Koontz introduces suggest that Odd is at the center of storm that could blow him any which way.
On some level, Koontz’ precision and agility in creating interesting, deep characters is both a blessing and curse for these books. I wish I had listed the characters that Koontz has Odd run across who are abandoned in a few pages. I wanted to know more about these people and they seemed to have much more to say. And these quick hits pale in comparison to some of Odd’s original crew of friends, like Stormy, Chief Porter, and Little Ozzie. So, while I applaud Koontz’ skill – I am a Kootz fan and will remain so – I am a little peeved at him for abandoning Odd’s origins. The cynic in me can’t help but wonder if the direction of the books didn’t have something to do with the film adaptation of the first book. As the books progress, the plots seem to be more and more sensational and thriller-oriented, and Odd becomes more like Jack Ryan or Bond than he was ever imagined in the first book.
I was an Odd fan – I know I’m probably in the minority on this but now I’ll probably be reading the sequels now with a sick curiosity about how such a good idea could come apart.
Bottom Line: A good idea gone awry – sequels that can’t deliver on the promise.
3 bones!!!!! show less
Given my feeling about these less than show more satisfying sequels, I’ve chosen to provide a single review of all three books. It’s appropriate both because I don’t want to waste more time or space than necessary and because my problems with the follow-on books are with them all.
I should have known there would be a drop-off in the stories at the conclusion of the first book, when Koontz killed Stormy, Odd’s girlfriend. That death was a declaration that Koontz did not intend for Odd to linger in his hometown with the wonderful group of people he’d created as a backdrop for Odd. While [Forever Odd] is set in Pico Mundo, California, Koontz isolates Odd from any of his friends in a flood channel underneath the city and surrounding desert and then in an abandoned and run down casino. At the end of the book, Odd declares that he is leaving town. [Brother Odd] picks up with Odd in an abbey in the high Sierra’s of California. When that adventure is complete, Odd makes like to return home but then again abandons one of his oldest friends and walks off into the sunset. [Odd Hours] makes it clear that Koontz has more global ideas for Odd, and this book seems to set up the framework for a larger, and more sinister, quest. While the book is set in a small coastal California town, the narrative and the new characters Koontz introduces suggest that Odd is at the center of storm that could blow him any which way.
On some level, Koontz’ precision and agility in creating interesting, deep characters is both a blessing and curse for these books. I wish I had listed the characters that Koontz has Odd run across who are abandoned in a few pages. I wanted to know more about these people and they seemed to have much more to say. And these quick hits pale in comparison to some of Odd’s original crew of friends, like Stormy, Chief Porter, and Little Ozzie. So, while I applaud Koontz’ skill – I am a Kootz fan and will remain so – I am a little peeved at him for abandoning Odd’s origins. The cynic in me can’t help but wonder if the direction of the books didn’t have something to do with the film adaptation of the first book. As the books progress, the plots seem to be more and more sensational and thriller-oriented, and Odd becomes more like Jack Ryan or Bond than he was ever imagined in the first book.
I was an Odd fan – I know I’m probably in the minority on this but now I’ll probably be reading the sequels now with a sick curiosity about how such a good idea could come apart.
Bottom Line: A good idea gone awry – sequels that can’t deliver on the promise.
3 bones!!!!! show less
Odd at the ocean. Happily living with and caring for an aging actor on the beachfront, Odd is suddenly confronted by evil. Go figure. In his usual brave and foolhardy way, he confronts and eventually defeats a plan which would annihilate America.
Yeah, I found this one a bit over the top in believability, but went along for the ride anyway. In a way it is very satisfying to see someones paranoia about conspiracies turn out to be true. I'm not so fond of the female totem Odd has picked up, I suspect some kind of Mary figure, judging by the bent of the author so far. I do so enjoy the other supernatural aspects of Odd though, and no one can banter in the face of death better than he.
I think I'm done with the Odd Thomas line, even if there show more are more. However, this was just what I needed, a quick, light read about the possible end of the world. show less
Yeah, I found this one a bit over the top in believability, but went along for the ride anyway. In a way it is very satisfying to see someones paranoia about conspiracies turn out to be true. I'm not so fond of the female totem Odd has picked up, I suspect some kind of Mary figure, judging by the bent of the author so far. I do so enjoy the other supernatural aspects of Odd though, and no one can banter in the face of death better than he.
I think I'm done with the Odd Thomas line, even if there show more are more. However, this was just what I needed, a quick, light read about the possible end of the world. show less
Just as big dogs need big bones, a hero of Odd Thomas's caliber requires bigger and bigger challenges. Odd Hours (the fourth in a planned series of seven) answers the call, thrusting our increasingly formidable young hero into a plot worthy of a Bond flick.
Odd has taken up residence in the small seaside town of Magic Beach, serving as personal chef to an otogenarian Hutch, a once-famous movie star whose eccentricity is a good match for Odd's oddness. But when Odd begins having nightmares in which the sea turns red, he suspects he's been drawn to this town to interdict another horrible threat. Odd's fears are soon confirmed, when he and Annamaria, a mysteriously charismatic pregnant woman he has recently befriended, are accosted by a show more trio of thugs whom Odd's clairvoyant powers reveal to be associated with the red-tide threat.
Promising, quite impulsely, to serve as Annamaria's protector and even to die for her if necessary, Odd roams the fog enshrouded beach town in a desperate attempt to thwart the pending bloodshed, discovering that our entire nation's future hangs in the balance. (The lack of hard evidence and Odd's realization that the harbor police are implicated in the plot provide a just-good-enough rationale for Odd to fly solo.) Based on Annamarie's enigmatic ramblings and a series of happenings that are undefined even in Odd's supernatural playbook, it appears that an even more epic struggle between good and evil is also afoot, a set-up for the remaining three installments in the series.
Lest this all seem too heavy and humorless for an Odd Thomas book, I assure you that there are still plenty of lighthearted moments. Frank Sinatra's spirit plays a prominent role, and Koontz is able to work in his love of canines, Shakespeare and philosophy along the way. While some readers may feel shortchanged by Koontz's sequestration of Annamaria during most of the story and by the multitude of unanswered questions, these hooks will keep readers coming back for more. I'm looking forward to seeing where Koontz goes next in the series, crossing my fingers that someone in Hollywood is savvy enough to turn this into a movie or television franchise. show less
Odd has taken up residence in the small seaside town of Magic Beach, serving as personal chef to an otogenarian Hutch, a once-famous movie star whose eccentricity is a good match for Odd's oddness. But when Odd begins having nightmares in which the sea turns red, he suspects he's been drawn to this town to interdict another horrible threat. Odd's fears are soon confirmed, when he and Annamaria, a mysteriously charismatic pregnant woman he has recently befriended, are accosted by a show more trio of thugs whom Odd's clairvoyant powers reveal to be associated with the red-tide threat.
Promising, quite impulsely, to serve as Annamaria's protector and even to die for her if necessary, Odd roams the fog enshrouded beach town in a desperate attempt to thwart the pending bloodshed, discovering that our entire nation's future hangs in the balance. (The lack of hard evidence and Odd's realization that the harbor police are implicated in the plot provide a just-good-enough rationale for Odd to fly solo.) Based on Annamarie's enigmatic ramblings and a series of happenings that are undefined even in Odd's supernatural playbook, it appears that an even more epic struggle between good and evil is also afoot, a set-up for the remaining three installments in the series.
Lest this all seem too heavy and humorless for an Odd Thomas book, I assure you that there are still plenty of lighthearted moments. Frank Sinatra's spirit plays a prominent role, and Koontz is able to work in his love of canines, Shakespeare and philosophy along the way. While some readers may feel shortchanged by Koontz's sequestration of Annamaria during most of the story and by the multitude of unanswered questions, these hooks will keep readers coming back for more. I'm looking forward to seeing where Koontz goes next in the series, crossing my fingers that someone in Hollywood is savvy enough to turn this into a movie or television franchise. show less
Those of you who have read my earlier reviews will be aware of two things. Firstly, it's been a bloody long time since i had a chance to read anything, and secondly, i am one of the world's greatest Odd Thomas fans. Having read all four books to date, i would be only too pleased with the opportunity to beg Dean Koontz to quit writing any other genre intensive novels until he completes Odd's journey.
This time things are very different for Odd. His character goes through some pretty immense changes in this story. Not only that but this novel is entirely differently paced to the preceding three. Spanning a matter of hours in plot time, looking back, it seems hard to believe that a whole book encompasses less than a day. However, things are show more not entirely slow going. During the telling of this latest tale, our hero has obviously matured quite a lot since his time with the Brotherhood, and he must face demons this time who are at least in part of his own making.
We are reminded from time to time about the ancient history of Pico Mundo and Stormy Llewellyn, of Ozzie, his author friend and all of his clients at the local grill bar but essentially this book is a leap pad for Odd to change direction in his life, leaving the reader waiting with baited breath for the next instalment, which hopefully isn't too far around the corner. show less
This time things are very different for Odd. His character goes through some pretty immense changes in this story. Not only that but this novel is entirely differently paced to the preceding three. Spanning a matter of hours in plot time, looking back, it seems hard to believe that a whole book encompasses less than a day. However, things are show more not entirely slow going. During the telling of this latest tale, our hero has obviously matured quite a lot since his time with the Brotherhood, and he must face demons this time who are at least in part of his own making.
We are reminded from time to time about the ancient history of Pico Mundo and Stormy Llewellyn, of Ozzie, his author friend and all of his clients at the local grill bar but essentially this book is a leap pad for Odd to change direction in his life, leaving the reader waiting with baited breath for the next instalment, which hopefully isn't too far around the corner. show less
This was the first book in the series that I think fits the description of sequel... or more aptly put, continuation of the original book.
In Forever Odd, Dean bored me to death because the book, to me, was pointless. He mentioned Forever Odd in Brother Odd, but only briefly and in no way did it pertain to the story. Now, In Odd Hours, you hear no mention of the casino happenings from the second novel. More and more I feel like Koontz is trying to say, "Sorry about that, folks, let's get back on track.
Odd is moving toward something in Odd Hours, something big, and I believe that the series has officially begun. It took Dear Old Dean two books to get here, but he finally knows where he's going.
The book begins like meth addict scrambling show more for a crystal he's lost down a drain. I wasn't expecting that. The fourth book in the Odd Thomas franchise is one long chase scene. If someone's not chasing Odd, Odd is chasing someone. There are a few very obtuse sections involving rhythmic underground noises and coyotes that are more than they appear to be which are never explained. Not to mention Annamaria. This girl is brought in, introduced, then shoved off screen in a damn hurry. I can't help but think that she will play a major role in the fifth book, Odd Apocalypse, which I will be reading next. Some have complained about the unanswered questions, but I like them. I finally have a reason to read the rest of the series.
***Spoiler Alert***
The chapters involving the boat journey, the nukes, and Odd's descent into darkness to save, as Annamaria puts it, "Cities," was some of the best suspense writing I have ever come across. Dean threw me a curve-ball, and I whiffed the swing like a roid-raging bean head. I didn't see that section coming. Odd has been such a tranquil character up until now, only acting out of shear desperation. Here, he is calculating and ruthless.
Then, he meets up with the big reveal. I laughed my ever-loving ass off during the back and forth in the final chapters. It was like watching a mystery film parody unfold. Dean must be part magician because he just pulled people out of thin air and piled them up like kindling for the winter. Someone shoots someone only to get shot by someone who then gets shot by someone else. No, really, that's how it goes. I knew I shouldn't be laughing, but by the time I reached the cliffhanger ending, my guts were hurting. I will say, I didn't see how the last baddie dies coming. Smooth bit of distraction done on Koontz's part there. But, the end, not the cliffhanger, but the final scene in the rectory, caused me to lower my initial five stars to four. Now, if Koontz meant for me to laugh at his outrageous pop-up bad guy act, then bravo, but somehow, I think he meant for me to take it seriously.
Much better than Forever Odd, not quite as good as Odd Thomas or Brother Odd, Odd Hours is just stupid fun for smart people. I recommend this one, but I will further state that you should avoid Forever Odd like the air-bourne version of Ebola. If anyone can tell me why we needed book two in the series, please, for the love of Tom Cruise, shoot me an email.
E. show less
In Forever Odd, Dean bored me to death because the book, to me, was pointless. He mentioned Forever Odd in Brother Odd, but only briefly and in no way did it pertain to the story. Now, In Odd Hours, you hear no mention of the casino happenings from the second novel. More and more I feel like Koontz is trying to say, "Sorry about that, folks, let's get back on track.
Odd is moving toward something in Odd Hours, something big, and I believe that the series has officially begun. It took Dear Old Dean two books to get here, but he finally knows where he's going.
The book begins like meth addict scrambling show more for a crystal he's lost down a drain. I wasn't expecting that. The fourth book in the Odd Thomas franchise is one long chase scene. If someone's not chasing Odd, Odd is chasing someone. There are a few very obtuse sections involving rhythmic underground noises and coyotes that are more than they appear to be which are never explained. Not to mention Annamaria. This girl is brought in, introduced, then shoved off screen in a damn hurry. I can't help but think that she will play a major role in the fifth book, Odd Apocalypse, which I will be reading next. Some have complained about the unanswered questions, but I like them. I finally have a reason to read the rest of the series.
***Spoiler Alert***
The chapters involving the boat journey, the nukes, and Odd's descent into darkness to save, as Annamaria puts it, "Cities," was some of the best suspense writing I have ever come across. Dean threw me a curve-ball, and I whiffed the swing like a roid-raging bean head. I didn't see that section coming. Odd has been such a tranquil character up until now, only acting out of shear desperation. Here, he is calculating and ruthless.
Then, he meets up with the big reveal. I laughed my ever-loving ass off during the back and forth in the final chapters. It was like watching a mystery film parody unfold. Dean must be part magician because he just pulled people out of thin air and piled them up like kindling for the winter. Someone shoots someone only to get shot by someone who then gets shot by someone else. No, really, that's how it goes. I knew I shouldn't be laughing, but by the time I reached the cliffhanger ending, my guts were hurting. I will say, I didn't see how the last baddie dies coming. Smooth bit of distraction done on Koontz's part there. But, the end, not the cliffhanger, but the final scene in the rectory, caused me to lower my initial five stars to four. Now, if Koontz meant for me to laugh at his outrageous pop-up bad guy act, then bravo, but somehow, I think he meant for me to take it seriously.
Much better than Forever Odd, not quite as good as Odd Thomas or Brother Odd, Odd Hours is just stupid fun for smart people. I recommend this one, but I will further state that you should avoid Forever Odd like the air-bourne version of Ebola. If anyone can tell me why we needed book two in the series, please, for the love of Tom Cruise, shoot me an email.
E. show less
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Author Information
532+ Works 228,750 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
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Odd Hours
- Original title
- Odd Hours
- Original publication date
- 2008-05-20
- People/Characters
- Odd Thomas; Annamaria; Hoss Shackett; Blossom Rosedale; Utgard Rolf; Lawrence Hutchinson (show all 8); Boo (ghost dog); Frank Sinatra (ghost)
- Important places
- Magic Beach, California, USA
- Dedication
- This fourth Odd adventure is dedicated to Bruce, Carolyn and Michael Rouleau. To Michael because he made his parents proud. To Carolyn because she makes Bruce happy. To Bruce because he has been so reliable all these years,... (show all) and because he truly knows what it means to love a good dog.
- First words
- IT'S ONLY LIFE. WE ALL GET THROUGH IT.
- Quotations
- The man-made world...is a perverse realm of ego and envy, where power-mad cynics make flase idols of themselves and where the meek have no inheritance because they have gladly surrendered it to their idols in return not for l... (show all)asting glory but for an occasional parade, not for bread but for the promise of bread.
If evil geniuses are so rare, why do so many bad people get away with so many crimes against their fellow citizens and, when they become leaders of nations, against humanity?
Edmund Burke provided the answer in 1795: Th... (show all)e only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
I would only add this: It is also essential that good men and women not be educated and propagandized into believing that real evil is a myth and that all malevolent behavior is merely the result of a broken family's or a failed society's shortcomings, amenable to cure by counseling and by the application of new economic theory.
To do something, to do what you feel sure is right and in the aid of justice, you sometimes have to do things that, when recalled on lonely nights, make you wonder if in fact you are the good man that you like to belie... (show all)ve you are. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"There," I said, "and there, and there, " and star by star I drew the Cassiopeia of classic mythology, and recognized in the familiar pattern the mother of my lost girl, and in the mother I saw also the daughter, there above, beautiful and bright, for all eternity, her timeless light shining upon me, until one day I as last stepped out of time and joined her.
- Disambiguation notice
- Note: BAU = Brilliance Audio Unabridged, 8d = 8 discs
Answer to: unknown if audio book is abridged or unabridged.
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