Forever Odd: A Novel | Dean Koontz

Forever Odd: A Novel | Dean Koontz | Before Brother Odd

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Forever Odd: A Novel

	Forever Odd: A Novel Dean Koontz Bantam, 2005 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 232 reviews view larger image
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Excellent book

The is one of the best books I have ever read ---- if you like the supernatural and action, adventure and drama -- then this is the book for you. It has everything you are looking for, including humor. You cry one page and then laugh the on the next one. Full of suspense and intrigue, it was tough to put the book down - until I finished it.

Get this book - you won't be sorry.

Before Brother Odd

I have read the following novels by Dean Koontz: FOREVER ODD, BROTHER ODD, FEAR NOTHING, SEIZE THE NIGHT, FALSE MEMORY, ICEBOUND, DRAGON TEARS, BAD PLACE, INTENSITY, STRANGERS, MIDNIGHT, HIDEAWAY, STRANGE HIGHWAYS, SOLE SURVIVOR and FROM THE CORNER OF HIS EYE. I have also read LIFE IS GOOD: LESSONS IN JOYFUL LIVING by his dog, Trixie.

In my experience, I grow weary of reading the work of a single author. For example, the novels of Clive Cussler and Patricia Cornwell have become SO predictable, I've stopped reading them. I just completed a Cornwell novel and disliked it so much, I will not write a review of it nor will I read her again.* I have to say that Koontz's work does NOT fall into that category. As with Cornwell and Cussler, I have read many of Koontz's novels, but have noticed that his storylines progressively improve and remain unpredictable.

FOREVER ODD and BROTHER ODD share the grandest characteristic of excellent novel writing. Both skillfully portray the improbable as probable. In a very convincing manner, Koontz is able to lay out rules for the emergence of supernatural events. The actions of ghostly figures are limited by the functional equivalent of the laws of thermodynamics. As a result, confidence intervals can place both limits and variation on ghostly activities. Odd Thomas' interaction with the supernatural is like playing Black Jack.

The Odd Thomas series is Koontz at this best. I, of course, read them out of order. FOREVER ODD introduces BROTHER ODD. Thus, read them in that order. Based on reading FOREVER ODD, I believe a third ODD novel exists. I get the impression that another novel introduces FOREVER ODD. If you know of such a novel, please let me know by writing in the comment section.

Happy reading!

* This is not to say that Cussler and Cornwell are bad writers. For me, because I've read them so much, their writing has become monotonous.

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The duality of Odd Thomas

This whole series has been a Odd exploration in the human experience. Odd Thomas in ways is the anti hero, or rather the un-hero hero. Koontz's character brings to life that humble aspect of the human experience where we transcend our own suffering and allow it to enable us to see the vulnerability of others without pity. Odd's insights into life are serious yet fascinatingly humorous. Turn by turn in Odd's world we find ourselves faced with the transcendent, yet it is not unfamiliar it is the all to real part of our human condition, death, sadness, longing, fear, a horribly torn past and lastly the bravery to be more than those and extend ourselves to the breaking point to save others.

I look forward to each page, without the desire to skim past the tedious parts, because in Odd's world there is nothing tedious. Forever Odd (Odd Thomas Novels)

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A great continuation of the series. Read ODD THOMAS first

I finished reading ODD THOMAS just a few weeks ago, so when I began reasing FOREVER ODD, I still had the ingenuity, the freshness, and the power of the first novel in my mind. The second book in the Odd Thomas book by Dean Koontz felt like an incredibly good TV show, where as the first book felt like an Oscar winning movie.

In FOREVER ODD, Odd is awakened by by Dr. Wilbur Jessup (his ghost actually) and drawn to the house of Dr. Jessup. Odd's best friend Danny was Dr. Jessup's stepson has been burdened by "brittle bone" disease since birth. Odd soon finds that Dr. Jessup had been brutally murdered and Danny missing. After consulting with the Chief of Police, Odd begins a quest to track down Danny and tackle whatever evil awaits. And thats the story. We follow Odd in his chase which goes through the underground flood tunnels of Pico Mundo and then to an old Indian casino that was ravaged by fire a five years ago.

The burned casino is a great setting, and there are some great observations by Odd. The book also sets up a great transition to the next book in the series (which I plan to read soon), BROTHER ODD. The villian is a young woman named Datura. She is beautiful but has been captured by the dark occult. She believes Odd and only Odd can summon the spirits and allow her to actually see a ghost.

FOREVER ODD is a good book and should be read by fans of Odd Thomas. It should not be read first though. This book goes into Odd's powers a little bit, but doesn't include the awe and wonder that permeated ODD THOMAS. That's the problem with most sequels. It is almost impossible for them to capture the magic that made the first book so wonderful and in need of a sequel. So, don't expect the same thrill you got out of reading ODD THOMAS, but do expect a great story and a continuation of a great character.

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Not as good as the first, but not bad!

I enjoyed this book however it was no where near as exciting to read as the first book in the series. I had some expectations on how the 2nd book was going to build off of the 1st books plot but that really didn't happen as i thought it would.

With that said, i still enjoyed the read and i am still excited about reading the full series of Odd books. This book picks up the plot very quickly with one of the dead contacting Odd within the first few pages. The story sticks with the same plot the entire book and does not deviate at all. Odd is a tremendous character and i love the way Koontz tells his story.

I am still hoping the books will develop into something more than just another tale of Odd's adventures but i also wonder if i should let go of my hopeful expectations for this charater. We shall see.

Worth reading just dont set your expectations too high.

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