Koontz is one of my all time favourite authors.

I'm sure he doesn't need introduction to the well read members of this site , but for those who are less familiar with his work, his writing falls inbetween main genres and can be roughly classified as a combination of suspense thriller/horror/mystery and sci fi/supernatural.

His books move up and down this spectrum from novel to novel, with some completely set in the real world, and others featuring varying degrees of supernatural elements.

Koontz has often been compared to Stephen King, but in truth their writing styles are vastly different and their work is only comparable on a superficial level, and then only due to the genre they fall in. Nothing else.

The main difference, in my experience, is that where King tends to lean towards morbid cynicism, a lack of meaning to life and darker endings, Koontz's work is fundamentally affirming and always ends with good defeating evil.

The fundamental mystery of the universe is highligted in his books, and I find his emphasis on the deeper meaning behind our lives to be amazingly uplifting.

As much as he is sometimes called a horror writer, his work actually does the opposite - it fills the reader with hope.

I truly admire his work, and devour every new book within a day of it hitting the shelves. Thankfully, he is a prolific writer and brings out about 2 books a year.

He also happens to be the 6th best selling author in the world, if I remember correctly. If he keeps churning them out at his current rate, he may well reach the top 3 before he dies.

Dean Koontz I salute you.