Okay, this is a weird one.
I have a story about a story that has fuck all to do with the story.
Please bear with me.
I’d like to write about Dean R Koontz’s ‘The Bad Place’.
As I have said before, with any of these that I do, I want to tell you more why the book has stayed with me rather than all the technical stuff. I have read six or so of Mr Koontz’s books and have enjoyed them. He does have a tendency to use
children and dogs within his plots. (The dogs, I can forgive – Kids not so much!)
But this book stands out due to it being so random. Here comes the story within a story, well sort of. Years back I read something that stated Bobby Darin had said that he could write anything. Someone, a DJ, I think gave him the line ‘Splish Splash, I was taking a bath’ and well, we know the rest. The reason that I mention this is, I reckon (Wrongly, I might add!!) that Mr Koontz was bet that he couldn’t get these topics into a story.
Telekinesis.
Inter-Planetary travel.
Vampirism.
And hermaphroditism.
By fuck he did!
I give you ‘The Bad Place.’
What a bonkers but entertaining book!!
And I don’t want to spoil anything but I do need to give you one line.
When the MC knows that the evil guy was coming for him, he tried to warn his pal. They were both in a unit for Special Needs. He told his friend, ‘There’s a bad thing coming’ and the wee soul replied, ‘What, poached eggs?’
May sound like fuck all but it makes me laugh every-time I think on it!!
Koontz isn’t my favourite horror writer, I prefer King, Laymon and to me, the best ever, the late great James Herbert. But for something so inventive that, in my mind, has a link to Bobby Darin, I would suggest that you have a look at this book. It is by far, the most inventive book that I have ever read.
Hugh Cron
literally stories 
Hello Hugh
With the stiff competition Koontz faces on the best seller lists, he has to be imaginative. I have read him before but not yet this one.
On a side note, currently reading The Cull that you did an earlier piece for. About a third in and I can already second the recommendation, with a lit “Zippo.”
Thank you for this!
Leila
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Hi Leila,
Thanks for the comment.
Koontz is a cracking writer but Gwen was more of a fan than me. That’s why I enjoy reviewing the books that I have so far – I look at the why they stuck more than the review. ‘The Bad Place’ is a great example of me being in awe of the mix of content and the ‘poached eggs’ line.
Glad you are enjoying ‘The Cull’. It is a brilliantly simple piece of writing that feeds us with knowledge, a revenge story and a very understandable ‘solution’.
I think it’s hard to access but I’d love your thoughts on his short story collection ‘Roads to Down’ (Something like that.) If you ever read it, tell me if you could see his thinking in wanting it in schools.
Hugh
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Thanks for the tip, Hugh. I’ll pass on the poached eggs, but the book sounds interesting. Too bad Bobby Darin didn’t live longer to give us more great tunes.
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Splish Slash Beyond The Sea Mack The Knife Waits For Me.
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Hi Dave,
Doug has mentioned ‘Mack The Knife’ and ‘Beyond The Sea’, two absolutely belting tunes!!
Thanks as always for your comments my fine friend.
Hugh
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I’ve read some of Dean Kootz stuff but not this. I am tempted now that you have told us the back story and I agree the line about the poached eggs is brilliant. Thanks for this, Hugh. – Diane
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Hi Diane,
I’ve mentioned this in the posting but that line makes me smile. Whenever I have poached eggs, I also think of it.
I reckon, even within a hundred or so thousand words, if a line sticks with you throughout your life-time, by fuck has the writer done their job!!
All the very best.
Hugh
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My acquaintance with Koontz is weak. Think I saw a movie from on of his books. We carry a lot of his books at our used book store if I remember. With infinite time, I would read his stuff. Did he write about modern day Frankenstein? If so, I read some of that.
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Hi Doug,
You are quite correct. I had forgotten about that. I can’t remember much from it although I think I enjoyed it. I’m not sure but I think he did more than one but I can’t say if I read them all.
Thanks for the comments!
Hope all is well with you my fine friend.
Hugh
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I’ve not read any Koontz, but your description of this one has added him to my ‘to read’ list for sure.
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