Letters

From the February 1997 issue

Contemplating Koontz

Thanks for running the interview with Dean Koontz ("Contemplating Evil," November). I've read most of Koontz's novels and have found him to be a friend of liberty and human dignity, as well as a very entertaining storyteller. I hope many of your readers try Koontz's novels. I suggest they start with Watchers and Mr. Murder. If they can read these two and not go immediately back to the book store for more, they're probably hopeless policy wonks who watch C-SPAN on Friday nights.

While Koontz's novels are not overtly political--Dark Rivers of the Heart is the most political-- there's always an anti-government meddling, pro-individual subtext that takes intelligent pokes (and the occasional body slam) at the futility of and outright dangers posed by big government. He spares neither left nor right.

Koontz's disadvantage with serious (I hate to use that word here, but I don't know what other adjective to use) readers is the supernatural dimension of his novels. He gives us some monsters, human and otherwise. But he also gives us rich, non-monstrous characters we can care about; great suspense, mystery, romance; and satisfying endings. His characters overcome their obstacles through solid human qualities, not with supernatural tricks.

With the great stories, we also get the Koontz world view, which is worth the price of admission. It's a view that libertarians and most conservatives (the ones getting enough fiber in their diets) find simpatico. And he's a lot more fun to read than Ayn Rand.

Larry Thornberry
Tampa, FL

Thank you so much for the wonderful Dean Koontz interview. What took you so long? I'd been wondering when REASON was going to comment on the intellectually stimulating, freedom- loving ideas in his novels. If the stories themselves, and the characters, weren't engrossing enough, his style elevates writing to an art form. I'm still wondering, though, why there was no mention in the interview of some of his call-to-arms novels, so reminiscent of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. This might have helped some of your readers, not familiar with his novels, better understand the gist of the interview. I enjoyed the interview immensely. It was just what I needed in the midst of this politically charged climate.

Roberto M. Sanabria