Lightning
by Dean Koontz
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Book Summary Information
Author: Dean KoontzEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-09-02
ISBN: 0425192032
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Berkley
Book Reviews of Lightning
Book Review: Koontz's wild and bumpy ride
Summary: 4 Stars
I never used to like going back and reading books that I had previously read. I had read Koontz's Lightning in my early teen years and mistakenly thought that it was one of the best books I had ever read. While it is a very good novel, packed full of originality and excitement, it lost its once "magical" aura that it used to have upon me. It is still one of Koontz's very best tales (The only one better I can think of would be Intensity). If Koontz could somehow improve on his dialogue, he could write masterpieces instead of really good novels. As is, however, he is one of the most talented "mainstream" writers that we have out there.
Lightning has a spellbinding beginning and it is almost able to hold us throughout. But the beginning is as good as any novel. The novel opens mysteriously with an unknown stranger holding a doctor hostage. The doctor is drunk, and somehow this stranger knows that if the doctor delivers this baby, while intoxicated, the child's future will be drastically altered.
The name of this child is Laura. Almost from an early age, tragedy seems to be forcing its way into her life. She loses her mother while she is born. Her dad dies of a premature heart attack. She is saved once from a brutal murder, and another time from a savage molester. Each time she is saved by this "unexplained stranger." We later discover that his name is Stefan.
Laura eventually gets married to the man she loves and has a child named Chris. Chris is only eight years old, but somehow acts more like he is a teenager. Laura's life seems to be going smoothly for once, but all of a sudden, destiny comes marching in and all hell brakes loose.
The plot is fairly complicated and I don't want to get into all of it. But I will say that Stefan is a time traveler from the past that appears in Laura's life to act as sort of a "guardian angel", if you will. But even he can't stop what is coming. Brutal assailants are also on their way from the past to annihilate Laura, her family, and Stefan. The reason being very complicated and I would also be giving away a crucial plot twist and spoiler if I commented any further about that.
I will say that the remainder of the novel is a brain goggling, relentless chase scene in which everything unfolds in front of us and things finally start clicking and making sense. It definitely is a fun ride getting there.
Lightning is Koontz's fastest read. I devoured this book. Yet, when I took a breath, stood back and thought about it, I realized that it is also a very flawed novel.
For one thing, the dialogue is near ridiculous at times. Especially concerning Chris (Laura's "smarter than possible" son), and Thelma, Laura's wise cracking best friend who thankfully is in only a few scenes. She is the worst character in the novel. She is annoying, not funny, and completely unbelievable. But the main characters like Laura and Stefan do shine through and they are as well drawn out as any Koontz characters put on paper.
Lightning is definitely one hell of a roller coaster. Is it over the top and plot heavy? Of course, but that is part of the reason it is so fun to read. Lightning is not logical, but a story about time travel doesn't need to be. It is, however, one of the most pure entertaining and fast paced novels I have ever read. It can be radiantly clever and dazzlingly imaginative. If you candy for the mind, than this one is for you.
Just don't expect a masterpiece because you won't get one. If only Koontz could figure out a way to make his characters more rich and his dialogue more believable. In most of his novels, these really are the weaknesses. If he could somehow improve on those two elements, he would truly be an unstoppable author with no limits. He was able to accomplish that feat in Intensity, but his others novels have come up just a bit short. Oh well, why complain? He is one of my favorite authors, and as far as thinking up creative and original plots and stories; he is an absolute genius. I guess it's just that I have read so many books that every time I pick one up, I look for a little bit more than I used to.
But my final thought is that if you are a Koontz fan, Lightning is one tale that will definitely not disappoint. What a ride.
Grade: A-
Summary of Lightning
A bolt of lightning brings a blond-haired stranger into Laura Shane's life. But is he the guardian angel he seems? The devil in disguise? Or the master of a haunting destiny beyond time and space?Horror Books
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