Watchers

I confess: I love the book because of the dog, Einstein. But I also love it because Koontz shines a spotlight on the downside and potential harm of technology and spins a classic tale of good versus evil.

I have never forgotten this book, and I read it on publication in 1987. The story is fascinating and different. But it stayed with me because of the quality of the writing and the unexpected use of magical realism. A dog who understands language? Wonderful. And he was a major character, another surprising bonus for me.

I’m a fan of Dean Koontz… show more.

Again, another fantasy writer whose proliferation causes us to overlook sheer artistry.

This is a stellar story, ahead of its time, the good/evil paradigm framed in genetic experimentation. The lead character, a dog—and anyone who follows Koontz knows his affinity for golden retrievers—is a whole being and a gentle soul. Even anti-fantasy snobs would love this book. It’s a great contemporary fairy tale and a harbinger. 

As a footnote to this, most of the songs on my playlists are also forty-plus years old. Why tinker with success?

I have been a Dean Koontz fan since I picked up Watchers.

It was truly the first book I’d read that integrated science so seamlessly into the story. It also made me wish for a genetically altered Golden Retriever that could communicate with wooden ABC blocks. And the emotions Koontz evoked in the reader for the engineered monster were deep—fear and anger layered with pity and sadness.

This book taught me that sometimes villains do horrible things for good reasons. And sometimes those reasons are completely understandable and relatable.