So I ask you, and hope you'll respond:
What was the first Dean Koontz book you ever read, and which are your favorites?
My first Dean Koontz book was SHADOWFIRES, an older copy that had one of his pseudonyms on the cover, so I wasn't even aware it was his. Found it impressively creepy, the stalking done by its retrogressing creature violent and unrelenting. Cool. When I heard shortly thereafter that it was actually written by Dean Koontz, I then brought home an armload of his books and devoured them. Thought MIDNIGHT was extremely dark, exciting, and entertaining; I couldn't help worrying about, and rooting for, its main characters. Thought THE BAD PLACE was good but could have been better. Loved the cop characters and humorous dialogue in DRAGON TEARS. Loved everything about SOUL SURVIVOR but the TV movie (or was it a miniseries?) it spawned. Loved loved loved THE TAKING, sci-fi from Koontz for a change (the genre he started out writing, at the beginning of his career) -- its characters overwhelmed by a perverse deformation of Planet Earth. Thought YOUR HEART BELONGS TO ME had a cool premise. And I plan on reading Koontz's newest, BREATHLESS, as soon as I get a copy.
But the Dean Koontz novel I've read umpteen times and will no doubt read again: WATCHERS! I absolutely fell in love with Einstein the dog, and if you love dogs, you will too. Haven't you always wondered what your dog would say if they could speak? Well, if Einstein is any indication, dogs apparently have a wise-ass sense of humor. And are sweet in a childlike way. And did I mention wise-ass? There was a point in this book where I cried. Very few movies make me cry. Books do not make me cry. Ever. Except this one. But it also made me laugh. And gave me the urge to go hug a dog. If you love horror, love dogs, and hell, even love horrible creatures who love Mickey Mouse (I kid you not), read WATCHERS. You'll be glad you did.