Dean Koontz: Odd Thomas

Odd Thomas More info

Forever Odd More info

Brother Odd More info

Odd Hours
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In Odd We Trust
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Odd Thomas is a fictional character who first appeared in Dean Koontz's 2003 novel of the same name, Odd Thomas. He is a twenty-year-old man who lives in the fictional desert town of Pico Mundo, California, and is able to see the spirits of the dead. He is able to make himself heard to them but they cannot speak to him, although they may make signs or mouth words. This fact complicates much of the books.

Dean Koontz has sold 400,000,000 copies of his books (One Door Away From Heaven, From the Corner of His Eye, Midnight, Cold Fire, The Bad Place, Hideaway, Dragon Tears, Intensity, Sole Survivor, The Husband, Odd Hours, and Relentless, for instance)

Odd Thomas lives up to his first name; he is a 20 year old short-order cook with the ability to see the ghosts of the dead and the shadowy faceless spirits he calls "bodachs," who gravitate toward scenes of horrific violence and evil. Odd is a very likable guy whose ideal future rests with his girlfriend and soul mate Stormy Llewellyn and with a career in tires or footwear.

Interweaving scenes of horror with humorous dialog and action, Koontz manages to keep the reader slightly off balance. He creates an unique character, and endearing and simply charming person very aware of the burden of his gift. Funny and sweet, although I didn't enjoy the unnecesary touch of tragedy.

Here is the TV Webisodes of a series based upon Odd character:

Click Here for Episode #1

Click Here for Episode #2

Click Here for Episode #3

Click Here for Episode #4

 

Harry Connolly: Twenty Palaces

Twenty Palaces is a series of fantasy/mystery novels written by Seattle author Harry Connolly. He provides a first person narrative of each story from the point of view of the main character, Ray Lilly, as he recounts his adventures working for the Twenty Palace Society.

Two novels: Child of Fire & Game of Cages

After a not-so-bad first chapter, I became quickly disappointed. No character development, no plot, no background, no rithm. Boring. Enough time wasted with this book. Let's read another one.

Richard Kadrey: Butcher Bird

Description:

Spyder Lee is a happy man who lives in San Francisco and owns a tattoo shop. One night an angry demon tries to bite his head off before he's saved by a stranger. The demon infected Spyder with something awful - the truth. He can suddenly see the world as it really is: full of angels and demons and monsters and monster-hunters. A world full of black magic and mysteries. These are the Dominions, parallel worlds full of wonder, beauty and horror. The Black Clerks, infinitely old and infinitely powerful beings whose job it is to keep the Dominions in balance, seem to have new interests and a whole new agenda. Dropped into the middle of a conflict between the Black Clerks and other forces he doesn't fully understand, Spyder finds himself looking for a magic book with the blind swordswoman who saved him. Their journey will take them from deserts to lush palaces, to underground caverns, to the heart of Hell itself.

This book, that you can also find by the name "Blind Shrike", is really great dark fantasy. My favourite Kadrey's book so far and the first I've really liked a lot. With a writing firmly rooted in Judeo-Christian theology of angels and devils but a vision of these absolutely transversal with Lucifer described as a kind, loyal and charming character. The prose is visceral and the characters realistic people you feel you can care about. You'll find here a lot of heaven, hell, and different spheres of existence highly imaginative and very well developed and a couple of very interesting and innovative cosmogonies. All sorts of weird supernatural denizens, maybe a little too "smartass" at times, interpersed with normal living and weapon wielding maniacs and manically evil bad things.

Pretty entertaining stuff, all along. And this one has a lyric quality and a "heart" that I found Sand Slim missed. And it's full of clever ideas and original ones. And witty dialogues and touching characters. Yes, I think I've liked this one. And don't forget you can read it for free so...

You can download Richard Kadrey’s novel Butcher Bird:
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