Helpful Score: 4
Carl Stanfeuss was born with Twilight Eyes, a color his grandmother said foretold of psychic abilities. After murdering his uncle Denton at the tender age of seventeen, Carl flees Oregon, shedding his name to become Slim MacKenzie, and join up with the Sombra Brothers Carnival. Of course, it wasn't bad that he murdered his uncle ... because his uncle was one of Them. The goblins.
From his psychic abilities, Slim can see the piggish, doggish faces of the goblins hiding underneath the façade of normal humans. They live off the pain and suffering of others, gathering with glee at fires, accidents, shootings, and disasters.
Once with Sombra Brothers, Slim goes to work for concessionaire Rya Raines running the High-Striker, and falls in love with the icy beauty. Among the others he meets is enigmatic freak Joel Tuck (the most compelling character in the book), and after discovering both Joel and Rya can see the "goblins" also, they set a plan in motion to infiltrate one of the horrid monster's nests in the town of Yontsdown. Unsure if they can actually rid the world of the beasts, Slim and Rya plan to extract vengeance from them for the death of Jelly Jordan, one of their friends.
The book has an explosive culmination that won't leave you disappointed. The "goblins" are all too easy to imagine from Koontz's descriptions, and the depictions of carnival life well fleshed out without being overdone. Joel Tuck is my favorite character, Koontz describing the freak's appearance as "God having a bad day" or, worse, "fun with molding flesh".
Koontz doesn't usually write in first person, which makes this a unique novel among all the others he's done. Its also an earlier novel of his, written before he developed a 'Stephen King' predilection for 'verbal diarrhea', overwriting his stories to the point where prose overcame the actual story. 'Twilight Eyes' is an adventuresome novel with a unique storyline and well written enough to keep you up all night long. I highly recommend it. Enjoy!
From his psychic abilities, Slim can see the piggish, doggish faces of the goblins hiding underneath the façade of normal humans. They live off the pain and suffering of others, gathering with glee at fires, accidents, shootings, and disasters.
Once with Sombra Brothers, Slim goes to work for concessionaire Rya Raines running the High-Striker, and falls in love with the icy beauty. Among the others he meets is enigmatic freak Joel Tuck (the most compelling character in the book), and after discovering both Joel and Rya can see the "goblins" also, they set a plan in motion to infiltrate one of the horrid monster's nests in the town of Yontsdown. Unsure if they can actually rid the world of the beasts, Slim and Rya plan to extract vengeance from them for the death of Jelly Jordan, one of their friends.
The book has an explosive culmination that won't leave you disappointed. The "goblins" are all too easy to imagine from Koontz's descriptions, and the depictions of carnival life well fleshed out without being overdone. Joel Tuck is my favorite character, Koontz describing the freak's appearance as "God having a bad day" or, worse, "fun with molding flesh".
Koontz doesn't usually write in first person, which makes this a unique novel among all the others he's done. Its also an earlier novel of his, written before he developed a 'Stephen King' predilection for 'verbal diarrhea', overwriting his stories to the point where prose overcame the actual story. 'Twilight Eyes' is an adventuresome novel with a unique storyline and well written enough to keep you up all night long. I highly recommend it. Enjoy!
Helpful Score: 2
When I was reading this book, I had contradicting thoughts about it. Sometimes I was extremely impressed, sometimes deeply disappointed. To get the worst out of the way, let me state the disappointing factors first: Dean Koontz needs to read 'The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes' and take a good look at the chapter labeled 'Don't Lecture Your Reader'! I cannot totally attack Koontz though, because sometimes the information he lingers on is important for the story, but for God's sake be brief because it disrupts the flow of events!
Now this book is about a gifted young man who can see the evil presence lurking beneath a human disguise. This evil is a physical being - not something of spiritual nature - 'goblins' as he calls them. He stalks them, kills them, and he can also see the misery that they had brought over the earth. Like in all of Dean's books, the story is enhanced by several very real, very compelling characters. And as usual, you'll love and admire the characters. You'll be surprised too, because things will be turned upside down quite a few times, which is what makes this book exciting.
I wouldn't say that it is particularly very scary. It is gripping, yes. Thrilling, yes. Even bizzarre. But not enough to classify it as horror. It can be slow at times, which is why it occured to me to give it 4 stars instead of 5, but the way it ended made it worthy of more than 5 stars. It takes a very emotional turn and suddenly you may find yourself so tuned in that time and place seize to exist. I was touched so deeply by this story, deeper than many of the other books I have read for him.
Dean is also a great thinker. In a way, he carries a message in this book that is close to saying that he wished he could blame all the misery in the world on the 'goblins'. That we, humans, cannot be entirely blamed on the destruction of our world... wishful thinking of course, but an idea on which he built this book.
Now this book is about a gifted young man who can see the evil presence lurking beneath a human disguise. This evil is a physical being - not something of spiritual nature - 'goblins' as he calls them. He stalks them, kills them, and he can also see the misery that they had brought over the earth. Like in all of Dean's books, the story is enhanced by several very real, very compelling characters. And as usual, you'll love and admire the characters. You'll be surprised too, because things will be turned upside down quite a few times, which is what makes this book exciting.
I wouldn't say that it is particularly very scary. It is gripping, yes. Thrilling, yes. Even bizzarre. But not enough to classify it as horror. It can be slow at times, which is why it occured to me to give it 4 stars instead of 5, but the way it ended made it worthy of more than 5 stars. It takes a very emotional turn and suddenly you may find yourself so tuned in that time and place seize to exist. I was touched so deeply by this story, deeper than many of the other books I have read for him.
Dean is also a great thinker. In a way, he carries a message in this book that is close to saying that he wished he could blame all the misery in the world on the 'goblins'. That we, humans, cannot be entirely blamed on the destruction of our world... wishful thinking of course, but an idea on which he built this book.
Helpful Score: 1
Loved it!! This is the old style Koontz that I fell in love with. Completely enjoyable read!!
Helpful Score: 1
One of the greatest horror books ever written! I've read over 30 novels of Koontz and find this book to still stick with me. I've read the book 5 years ago and I still remember the character names. Great character development!! The adventures of Slim MCkenzie and Joel Tuck (three eyed mutant), hunting goblins that are posing as humans as they travel with their fellow carnies is the basic plot. The development of the relationships of each of the characters (koontz's writing strength) are convincing and the story is great!! BY far my favorite Koontz!
Helpful Score: 1
Amazing!!!! One of the best (if not THE best) Koontz book I've read so far. A carney can see some people are really "goblins" and feed on human misery. He is compelled to wage war to save humankind. Excellent, couldn't put it down.
