Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Koo
Collection
Publication
Berkley (2003), 624 pages
Description
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 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...
Media reviews
Syke
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
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kuitenkin joutuvansa harvoin pettymään, eikä Ääniä yössä ole millään muotoa poikkeus tällä 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
Subjects
Original publication date
1987
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member TheLibraryhag
This was the first Dean Koontz book that I ever read. I truly love this book. I read it in the 80's and still recommend it to library patrons. I am a dog person, so that is part of it, but I love the characters and their dedication to each other (including the dog). The story moves fast and keeps
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you on the edge of your seat. It is one of those can't put it down books that you hate to see end. I have read it more than once and knowing the end has not ruined the reading experience. Show Less
LibraryThing member SugarCreekRanch
A pretty good horror/thriller about genetic engineering. I loved the dog, Einstein. I thought the book was overlong for its genre (17 hours audio), had a very slow middle and spent too much time on the romance. But I appreciated that the characters, even secondary characters, were much richer than
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normal for this genre. This book is also more thought-provoking than others in this genre. Show Less
LibraryThing member SeekingMuse
I love this book. I used to own it and have read it a dozen times. It is a book about good and evil. But evil is not necessarily the bad guy. Maybe evil in this book is what created the bad guy in the first place.
LibraryThing member cranmergirl
If you are an animal lover, this is the book for you! I really loved the story of Einstein, the genius dog. This book covered many topics of interest to me. It was pro-animal, anti-big government, and it underscored the innate goodness of many living creatures. It also had a very good, optimistic
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ending. Overall, a very satisfying read! Show Less
LibraryThing member Completely_Melanie
I listened to the audio book of this with my husband. We both agreed that it was a 4 star read, though I recommend reading the physical book over listening to the audio book just because it is an old school audio book and doesn't sound quite as nice as ones nowadays. There is so much going on in
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this story. The government has been doing experiments on dogs trying to breed a super intelligent ones that they can use as spies. They have also been experimenting with DNA splicing to create another super smart being, but this one is meant to be a weapon and it is truly a beast. Both escape from the lab. The dog just wants to be free, but the beast wants to kill the dog, and the government wants to get both back without what they are being exposed. If that isn't enough, there is also a random psycho assassin thrown in the mix. In my opinion, the book could have done without the crazy assassin guy and still been great. I adored the dog in the story though! Show Less
LibraryThing member glade1
This is an enjoyable, if dated, page-turner about genetic engineering gone awry. The heroes are lovable and the villains are detestable and the dog talks! What more could you ask for?
The fact that the characters do not have cell phones is frustrating but is due to the 1988 publication date. The
Otherwise, this is a nice, quick, and entertaining read.
The fact that the characters do not have cell phones is frustrating but is due to the 1988 publication date. The
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only other jarring point is that the characters keep feeding the dog chocolate - why doesn't this author who seems to love dogs (as they have been important in most of the books I have read by Koontz) doesn't know that chocolate is poisonous to dogs? It's a minor point but it bothered me!Otherwise, this is a nice, quick, and entertaining read.
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LibraryThing member busyreadin
I read this book many years ago, but I had forgotten just how good it was.
It's the story of Einstein, a golden lab who escapes from a research lab, the people who find him, and the monster who is hunting him.
Koontz's love of animals really comes thru in the story.
It was kind of funny listening to
It's the story of Einstein, a golden lab who escapes from a research lab, the people who find him, and the monster who is hunting him.
Koontz's love of animals really comes thru in the story.
It was kind of funny listening to
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this, too, since it was written in the early 80's. There are no cell phones, or internet, and some of the characters thoughts on what the next 20 years would be like are very far from the reality of today. Show Less
LibraryThing member johnmischief
My favourite Koontz book.
Scary,heartwarming,improbable but an addictive read.
Koontz loves writing about dogs and Einstien is his most lovable.
Even the bitter and twisted Outsider i felt for at the end.
Great stuff
Scary,heartwarming,improbable but an addictive read.
Koontz loves writing about dogs and Einstien is his most lovable.
Even the bitter and twisted Outsider i felt for at the end.
Great stuff
LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
I read this early, classic Koontz novel as part of a group read, and am glad I did. A depressed, suicidal man, Travis, hikes in a canyon that brings back childhood memories where he is rescued by a disheveled golden retriever that is apparently running from something horrible. The man and
Unlikely story? Of course, this is Koontz, but thoroughly enjoyable for those who enjoy the genre. Compared to some of Koontz's later works (I'm thinking Breathless here, the Koontz novel I read before Watchers), this book seems to have more depth. As in all the Koontz novels I've read, the major theme is good vs. evil but the lines can be blurred. Koontz was able to make me feel sorrow and sympathy for his monster. The real monsters are not quite as obvious as The Outsider. Overall, a very good read.
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“Einstein” then rescue a mousey, unloved woman, Nora, who is being stalked by a sexual predator. Einstein seems unusually smart, even for a golden retriever. The Other, The Outsider is a monster that is leaving a string of vicious murders behind him on his way to find the dog, also showing cunning not normally found in your run-of-the-mill monster.Unlikely story? Of course, this is Koontz, but thoroughly enjoyable for those who enjoy the genre. Compared to some of Koontz's later works (I'm thinking Breathless here, the Koontz novel I read before Watchers), this book seems to have more depth. As in all the Koontz novels I've read, the major theme is good vs. evil but the lines can be blurred. Koontz was able to make me feel sorrow and sympathy for his monster. The real monsters are not quite as obvious as The Outsider. Overall, a very good read.
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LibraryThing member ckr
A bit cornier than most Koontz books, but the easiest thing to enjoy is the writer's prose when he speaks about Einstein, the dog. As a dog lover, this was nice as the reader could very easily connect with Koontz and feel something for this canine character. Good read for dog lovers.
LibraryThing member chosler
One of Koontz's most beloved books, this horror/suspense tale of two lonely people and the genetically-enhanced Golden retriever with human intellect that brings them together has at its roots a message about the healing power of love. Travis is an ex-U.S. Special Forces recluse who seems to be
This book works well as a suspense novel, and has several scenes involving the Outsider that create a disturbing and tense atmosphere. However, there are numerous unneeded plot lines, such as a deluded mob hitman on the trail of the dog, and an initial introduction to the mousy Nora as she is being stalked by a serial rapist that makes her "rescue" and "reeducation" by the oh-so-competent Travis (and a dog, nonetheless!) seem highly chauvinistic. Koontz message of the love's transformative power is a good one, but would have been much stronger had both Nora and Travis been developed as characters with more realistic and equal backgrounds. Furthermore, Koontz has an irritating habit of injecting his political and ethical beliefs about the virtues of small government and the positive future of technology into the story in a ham-handed manner. The former is clumsy and detracts from the flow of the story. The latter seems outdated and plain wrong twenty years later as concerns about genetically-modified food and governmental and corporate control of new technology are increasingly at issue.
In the end, however, readers who enjoy horror-suspense and/or love dogs will like this book, especially the comic moments involving every dog-lover's dream of a pet that can not only communicate its love with a sense of humor, but occasionally beat his master at a game of Scrabble. Graphic violence and explicit language, discussions of rape and sex, a moderate sex scene.
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cursed to lose everyone he has cared for. Nora is a 30-year-old who has been kept secluded and convinced that she is ugly and incompetent by her Aunt, whose recent death has left Nora vulnerable to the outside world. Einstein is the hyper-intelligent dog that was part of a government experiment to create a canine spy, and finds Travis following an escape from his lab. He is followed by The Outsider, another experiment in recombinant DNA built to be a heartless but cunning super soldier. Travis and Nora are eventually brought together by Einstein and must prepare to battle the Outsider and keep the government from finding Einstein, whose intelligence and "soul" convince the couple that to return him to a lab would be unthinkable.This book works well as a suspense novel, and has several scenes involving the Outsider that create a disturbing and tense atmosphere. However, there are numerous unneeded plot lines, such as a deluded mob hitman on the trail of the dog, and an initial introduction to the mousy Nora as she is being stalked by a serial rapist that makes her "rescue" and "reeducation" by the oh-so-competent Travis (and a dog, nonetheless!) seem highly chauvinistic. Koontz message of the love's transformative power is a good one, but would have been much stronger had both Nora and Travis been developed as characters with more realistic and equal backgrounds. Furthermore, Koontz has an irritating habit of injecting his political and ethical beliefs about the virtues of small government and the positive future of technology into the story in a ham-handed manner. The former is clumsy and detracts from the flow of the story. The latter seems outdated and plain wrong twenty years later as concerns about genetically-modified food and governmental and corporate control of new technology are increasingly at issue.
In the end, however, readers who enjoy horror-suspense and/or love dogs will like this book, especially the comic moments involving every dog-lover's dream of a pet that can not only communicate its love with a sense of humor, but occasionally beat his master at a game of Scrabble. Graphic violence and explicit language, discussions of rape and sex, a moderate sex scene.
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LibraryThing member karieh
I know, I know - Dean Koontz. But this one was from before he jumped the shark (although he might have jumped back with the more recent Chris Snow and Frankenstein books). ANYWAY - I loved this book, especially the dog, and it was impossible to put down. GREAT airplane/beach/sitting in a boring
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seminar reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member readingrat
Like many of Koontz's books it's about a man, a woman, and a golden retriever who outsmart the bad guys and then live happily ever after. Formulaic but still fun nonetheless.
LibraryThing member thairishgrl
This was the first book that I read repeatedly as a teen. At it's core, this is a story about love and the search for belonging. The fact that these values are taught through an epic battle between a super intelligent dog and a genetically engineered killing monster is just good horror fun.
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
This was the first Dean Koontz I ever read, and it definitely made me want to read more! The blurb on the jacket mentions two creatures escaping from a research lab, but there is so much more to it than that.
This book has plenty of gore and violence for those who enjoy that type of thing, but also
Just a small niggle. What on earth did the exchange about dancers in Las Vegas add to the story? It just struck me as a bit of gratuitous crudity, and I'm pretty broad minded.
This book has plenty of gore and violence for those who enjoy that type of thing, but also
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a really heartwarming story alongside, which sort of balances it.Just a small niggle. What on earth did the exchange about dancers in Las Vegas add to the story? It just struck me as a bit of gratuitous crudity, and I'm pretty broad minded.
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LibraryThing member andyray
This was the first book of Mr. Koontz' I read, and I must have picked one of his best. The anthromorphism of the dog earns him a special notch in the annals of literature. The dog was as much or more loveable than any of the humans, and more human, too!
LibraryThing member dividedblue_eyedsky
This book was one of the best I've read in a long time. You can't help but fall in love with the dog in this book. One of the few books I could give a 5 star rating to.
LibraryThing member sabs83
This is the book with the really smart golden retriever.
LibraryThing member texas659
This book is really good. I laughed and cried. The characters were wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!!
Watchers was one of the first books of Dean Koontx that I read.
Watchers was one of the first books of Dean Koontx that I read.
LibraryThing member csweder
Such a touching story. Read this in the fall of 2006, and it made me yearn for a dog. (Even one of normal intelligence.)
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I find Koontz reliably entertaining. I don't know I'd call him exactly a favorite author, because too many of his books blur in my mind, feel too alike. But this novel happens to be my favorite of his, and if you're a dog lover at all I think irresistible. You see, the most memorable
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character--arguably the protagonist, is "Einstein" a very intelligent genetically enhanced golden retriever. He can't talk--but give him a stick he can spell... This does belong in horror--that dog isn't the only genetically enhanced creature on the prowl. But this particular book is also filled with love, warmth and humor. Koontz has a clean style, storytelling skill and great pacing. This is a quick, engrossing fun read. Show Less
LibraryThing member AndreaHarter
This is one of Koontz's best books. If you are an animal lover, and he usually features a cool dog of some sort, you'll really like this.
LibraryThing member Timothy_Dalton007
While reading this book I was glad that it opened up quite quickly with the events that transpire. However, there came a slow stage shortly after. During which time I really didn't want to trudge through so I decided to read another book instead. Finally, I got back to reading and once past the
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slow section the book picked up the pace nicely and was completed in a short amount of time. The character development was good. One character really began to grate on my nerves. That was Vince Nasco the hitman, he was so psychotically retarded and I began to really detest his internal dialogue. Lastly as I continue to work my way through this novel, I began to realize in comparison to Einstein (the dog) just how dumb my own golden retriever was most of the time. I mean he had his moments, but for the most part pretty silly.Overall, I could relate with a lot of the places in the book because I have visited so many of the locations. Although, this wasn't my favorite Koontz novel but it was an enjoyable read none-the-less. I'm very interested to get started on the Odd series at this point. Show Less
LibraryThing member barpurple
This is the first Dean Koontz book I've read. All in all I'm impressed. For years I've seen reviews and cover blurb touting Koontz as better than Stephen King. I'm not sure if that's true, but I've only read one Koontz book so it's not fair to compare it against the dozens of King books I've
The story is a little dated, but that doesn't detract from the strong characters and interwoven storyline. It wasn't a compulsive page turner, but it was a pleasure to read for a few hours each day.
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read.The story is a little dated, but that doesn't detract from the strong characters and interwoven storyline. It wasn't a compulsive page turner, but it was a pleasure to read for a few hours each day.
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LibraryThing member debs4jc
Enjoyable characters, romance, and a creepy monster made this a most enjoyable listen.
It starts with a man named Travis out hiking alone. There he meets a bedraggled Golden Retriever, whose strange actions puzzle him until he realizes something sinister is trying to hunt them. After they escape
Long stretches where nothing is happening besides the romance between Nora and Travis (and Einstein, the dog) make this really not all that much of a horror novel. I heartily enjoyed these sections, even in they were implausible. There is some blood and gore and a few thrills in the scenes where the creature attacks, but I think someone reading it for a lot of action would be somewhat disappointed. Read this if you like following characters form warm, loving relationships with each other, and overcome adversity to make their lives what they want them to be.
It starts with a man named Travis out hiking alone. There he meets a bedraggled Golden Retriever, whose strange actions puzzle him until he realizes something sinister is trying to hunt them. After they escape
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from the woods Travis discovers that his new furry companion possess unusual skills and intelligence. Meanwhile, a young woman named Nora lives a lonely and sheltered existence--which becomes shattered when a creepy repairman begins to stalk her. Nora's path soon crosses with Travis' and his dog and an unlikely romance develops. Meanwhile the "outsider"--the creature stalking Travis and the dog in the woods--is still on the loose, despite the security team trying to capture it. And it has a strange compulsion to go after the dog, who also escaped from the research lab where it was created.Long stretches where nothing is happening besides the romance between Nora and Travis (and Einstein, the dog) make this really not all that much of a horror novel. I heartily enjoyed these sections, even in they were implausible. There is some blood and gore and a few thrills in the scenes where the creature attacks, but I think someone reading it for a lot of action would be somewhat disappointed. Read this if you like following characters form warm, loving relationships with each other, and overcome adversity to make their lives what they want them to be.
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Pages
624