“Phantoms is gruesome and unrelenting…It’s well realized, intelligent, and humane.”—Stephen KingThey found the town silent, apparently abandoned. Then they found the first body, strangely swollen and still warm. One hundred fifty were dead, 350 missing. But the terror had only begun in the tiny mountain town of Snowfield, California.At first they thought it was the work of a maniac. Or … the work of a maniac. Or terrorists. Or toxic contamination. Or a bizarre new disease.
But then they found the truth. And they saw it in the flesh. And it was worse than anything any of them had ever imagined…
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I get a lot of people asking what a good Dean Koontz book is. I tell them, every time, to start with one of these:
1) Lightning
2) Intensity
3) Phantoms
As for the last, it’s the one I lean toward with anyone who’s not sure what they want. Lightning is a sci-fi action/thriller with some horror overtones. Intensity is the most gonzo-intense thing Koontz has ever written.
Phantoms, though… that’s the one that put him over from A-list author to Must Read in my book. I was already interested in his books, but that’s the one that set the hook firmly in my mouth – and never let me go. I return to it even now, many years later, and will read it every five or six years as an example of a horror/thriller done to perfection.
Witty, likable heroes.
Memorable, creepy villains.
A unique monster that has been copied since, but never managed quite so well.
An ending that manages to straddle tragedy and triumph, horror and hope.
So if you want one to read, or are looking for a fun, popcorn book that will surprise you with its depth at times… pick up Phantoms.
Phantoms by Dean Koontz (1983)
Heavily influenced by Lovecraft, two sisters return home to find everyone mutilated or missing. Their town was built over the den of amoeboid shapeshifter that mimics and consumes life forms.
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Phantoms
Great Book i read years ago. Really kept me going. I recommend it!
This is a really good book with an interesting twist.
I think this is the first Dean Koontz novel I ever read. I was in college and was extremely impressed that unlike so many horror novels, the monster at the end of the book lived up to all the extremely creepy build up. It encouraged me to go out and read several more of his books including such greats as Strangers and Watchers. I think Phantoms is every bit as good as those two.
It opens with a sheriff’s deputy dying mysteriously in the small ski resort of Snowfield, California. Then the point of view switches to a young doctor coming home to Snowfield with her younger sister only to discover that the only people she can find in this town of 500 are mysteriously (and sometimes gruesomely) dead. The phones are out and the electricity is undependable. And the more they try and find out what’s going on (terrorist attack? Strange disease? Poison gas?) the more and more nervous the reader becomes for them. The only break in the tension comes when we switch points of view to the local county sheriff who is having his own tense confrontation with a suspect whom he believes murdered his family—and that’s not really a break, just a different kind of tension.
When the police finally arrive in Snowfield, the creature stalking the town ups its game and men start dying—or worse yet, disappearing without a trace just like some two-thirds of the residents of Snowfield. The survivors don’t feel they can just leave in case a strange new disease is responsible for the disaster, but we, the reader, are quite certain that it’s a monster, not some microscopic bug doing the killing.
As state and national authorities get involved, and the world wakes up to the tragedy, the monster becomes ever more menacing in the buildup to what I think is one of Koontz’s best endings.
Another fantastic well-written entertaining page-turner by Dean Koontz. Love this guy’s books.
If you watched the movie, ignore it.., as usual, the book is much better. I’ve read most of Dean Koontz, and this is one of my favorites. I would put it up there with the best of the best in horror/suspense. This is old school scary, where a group of characters are systematically being attacked by a supernatural being in a deserted town. The writing keeps you on the edge with the ups and downs of each event and I found myself smiling as I completed each chapter. I really enjoyed this story and again, the movie does not do the novel justice.
Dean Koontz is my second favorite author after Steven King. Read this book. If you are into macabre with a shot of unforgettable characters, you won’t be disappointed.
This was the very first Koontz book I read way back when… then I hunted down everything I could and stalked the bookstore for every new release. If you’ve seen the movie, ignore it and read this. When you’re done, let it sink in… really sink in…
I loved the idea about Croatoan. Dean Koontz is one of my favorite writers.
Really amazing!Phantoms Dean Koontz
If you saw the film dont let that stop you. The read is exciting and captivating
So much better than the movie!!
I started this book and had to put it down for several weeks before I was able to keep reading. This book literally scared me sleepless. Another one that will keep you guessing till the end and have you sleeping with the light on for long after you’ve read the last page.
Scared the crap out of me.
Not really a big fan of Dean Koontz but this book made a huge impression on me, back when I was young and more or less turned my energi from comic books towards novels. I can still feel the chill of them walking through that abandoned town, feeling someone or something watching.
This book made me look under my bed … and behind doors … it was scary.
Great concept. Interesting story. I was curious and engaged from beginning to end. I would highly recommend this exciting scary story.
Over the years, hundreds of mysterious disappearances have occurred in real-life. Whole villages, towns, or outposts have vanished without a trace or explanation. There’s even documentation of large quantities of fish or animals that have evaporated into thin air. There are no real explanations for any of these scary happenings that defy all reason. God’s will? The Devil’s? Aliens from outer space? In this book, Dean Koontz puts his spin on this phenomenon. When Dr. Jenny Paige and her sister, Lisa, return to the town of Snowfield, they find it abandoned. At least, that’s what they think. Then they start discovering bodies. Soon, their worst nightmare comes to life in this spooky—although somewhat predictable—horror story. Phantoms is creepy and will leave you looking over your shoulder when night falls. OMG, what was that noise?
This book sucked me in and kept me up reading well past my normal bedtime.