77 Shadow Street, Week 1

In 77 Shadow Street, Koontz uses a plot technique that he turns to on occasion, but isn't his regular approach.  I'm sure there's probably a name for it, and one that a more knowledgeable literature buff would be able to supply, but it consists of skipping around from chapter to chapter between several characters involved in separate story lines, eventually weaving them all together. 

Some writers are better at this than others.  Frank Herbert's sci-fi novels often drove me nuts with this, diminishing my enjoyment of his otherwise excellent work.  A particularly disappointing example for me was R. A. Salvatore's The Spine of the World, which alternated a dark and violent story set in a rough seacoast town with a dreary teenage love story/tragedy that couldn't have ended soon enough.

The Koontz book that succeeds with this technique best in my mind is Strangers, from quite a few years ago, and more recently, the Frankenstein novels.  I think he makes it work because he has cultivated a fine sense of how to make almost any character/situation interesting, at least for a short while.  And it works - so far, after 25% of the book - better here than in the Frankenstein series. 

On the other hand, for those who are just beginning to get familiar with Koontz's writing, it may not work as well, which would help to explain the relatively low rating this book has received on amazon.com.

Also missing here - so far - is the witty banter between two characters that Koontz has used so effectively in recent books; including the detectives in the Frankenstein series, and especially in the Odd Thomas novels.  What has rather recently become a trademark of his is noticeably lacking in this story, perhaps to impart a darker aura.  After 70-some-odd novels, he may be purposely varying his ouvre.  If so, fair enough; the story still works wonderfully.

The Creepiness Factor is another DK technique that comes and goes to some extent, and it is in full swing here.  We are treated to some rather grotesque imagery, such as the "baby"-like creature with greenish mottled skin and multiple legs.  Here is where DK gives a nod to the "Horror" label with a vengeance, which is usually an over-stated aspect in his writing.  Used sparingly (as he always does) this is a spice we Koontz-lovers have become enamoured of, but not at all dependent upon.

I'll stop here.  At this point, if anyone is interested in chiming in to add to, disagree with, or refute any of my ramblings about the book, please step forward, don't be shy!  The exchange of ideas, especially opposing ideas, is what book club discussions are all about!