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Obscure Audio Editions follow-up

May 17, 2014

NLS Catalog 1977-1978I just wanted to post a quick correction to my previous post about the NLS audio editions of some titles. It’s not a catalog from 1973 that I have, but one from 1977-1978 as shown here, along with the entry for After the Last Race.
After the Last Race - NLS Audio

Obscure audio editions

May 16, 2014

Nightmare JourneyTo my knowledge neither Nightmare Journey nor After the Last Race have been commercially released as audiobooks. However, both have been previously released as part of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) from The Library of Congress. (In fact, I have a copy of a print catalog of available titles from this program from 1973 1977-78 and it does list After the Last Race as an available title.
Unfortunately for collectors, but for very good reasons, there are very specific eligibility requirements for participating in this program and there is specialty hardware needed in order to play the content. In other words, this is specialty content that I will not be including in the book.
After the Last RaceHowever, I did recently come across both of these recordings on YouTube. Yes folks, these “copies” are violating copyright and I’ve got mixed emotions about promoting their existence. So, I’m embedding them below but not hosting additional copies on this site. I did not create these copies, nor did I upload them to YouTube. If they get taken down, the embeds here will also disappear. I’m pointing to them purely for the record.
See a follow-up post here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hn2F0aMjYM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiAT8lOB-Ko

For fans of Intensity

May 16, 2014

It’s not by Dean,  but according to this review, fans of Intensity, might find this a good read.

The Shining GirlsSOUTH AFRICAN AUTHOR Lauren Beukes’s latest novel is less SF than it is mystery, suspense, and horror, riffing on both serial killer and haunted house prototypes. The basic premise has been used before. It immediately calls to mind Dean Koontz’s novel Intensity, in which a female protagonist hunts a serial killer after witnessing him murder her friend and her friend’s family. Beukes’s protagonist, Kirby Mazrachi, goes on a similar hunt, but under very different circumstances, and with significantly more finesse. The person she witnesses the serial killer murder is herself, and the serial killer, Harper Curtis, unlike Koontz’s ego-possessed Edgler Vess, is possessed by a house that allows him to travel through time.

Julie Christie carries the Demon Seed

May 14, 2014

Just got my hands on a single film cell from Demon Seed. Just an interesting little addition to my collection.
Demon Seed title film cell
 
Thanks to Lori for the great hi-res scan.

Dr. Pawan Grover Moonlights as Film Producer

May 11, 2014

2014_5$largeimg207_May_2014_172828080Indian American physician Pawan Grover already dipped his toe into show business, as the star and producer of a thriller called “Unspeakable” 12 years ago.

Now, the Houston-based spine specialist can add another producer credit to his resume as well. Grover is listed as one of 17 producers on the cult horror film “Odd Thomas,” based on a Dean Koontz bestseller, which enjoyed a theatrical release Feb. 28 and is now out on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Read more at IndiaWest.com.

Create a custom Odd Thomas image on Facebook

April 26, 2014

Have you seen the I’m Odd image generator over on Facebook yet?
I'm Odd (Facebook)
 

Demon Seed images & artwork

April 26, 2014

demon seed hartterThe folks over at art of the beautiful-grotesque have a page showing off a lot of images, posters, and other artwork from the film and print versions of Demon Seed. The page’s layout is a bit of a mess and there are a few “broken” images but it’s still worth a look.

Chanrel House Edition of Innocence

April 26, 2014

Charnel House Innocence Bindery 2The Charnel House Web site posted a few pictures of their edition of Innocence at the bindery. Even if you’ve seen photos of this edition before, they’re an interesting behind-the-scenes look at a book bindery.

We want flying cars, not creepy robots that take care of grandma, study says

April 19, 2014

Demon SeedTo engineers, inventors, and software developers, science fiction is the stuff of inspiration for the future.

However, science fiction also holds many cautionary tales for ways in which technology can get out of control.

Much of zombie-lore revolves around the idea of intentional modification of DNA could result in the production of monsters. The 1997 film “Gattaca” portrayed a grim future where too much understanding of genetics leads to discrimination of people seen as defective.

In Dean Koontz’s 1973 sci-fi novel “Demon Seed,” which was adapted into a 1977 movie, a woman becomes imprisoned in her home by an artificially intelligent computer that taps into computerized controls that have been installed around the house for convenience.

While true artificial intelligence has so far proved elusive, more smart appliances that connect to the Internet are being integrated into the home. Think Nest’s smart thermostats and fire extinguishers and Samsung’s Internet refrigerator.

Read the full article @ csmonitor.com.

'Dangerous Dozen' authors share their writing inspirations

April 11, 2014

Dangerous DozenJoyce Lamb, author of Found Wanting
My very first influence was Sidney Sheldon. Yes, this was back in the ’80s. I got my first urge to write a book after finishing Rage of Angels. It did NOT have a happy ending, and I was not happy about it. I vowed then to write a book that WOULD have a happy ending. So take that, Mr. Sheldon. : )
Dean Koontz has also been a huge influence. His character development and dialogue especially have inspired me. My favorite Dean Koontz book is Lightning. I can read that book over and over again. Love the heroine who bounces back repeatedly and the theme that destiny always struggles to reassert itself. Chills.
And Nora Roberts, of course. It wasn’t until I read Hot Ice that I realized that what I was writing myself was romantic suspense. LOVED that book and consumed every book I could get my hands on after that to study how she does it. Amazingly, of course.

Read the full article @ USA Today.

2008 Interview for Barnes & Noble

April 5, 2014


Barnes & Noble logo

Cousin on Odd Thomas Reviews

April 5, 2014

ODD-THOMAS_movie-artJust three new reviews this week. This may be the end…

Uncle of Odd Thomas reviews

March 29, 2014

Odd Thomas DVDsNow that the DVD and Blu-ray have hit the streets in the US, it’s time for another review link dump…

Odd Apocalypse promotional item

March 21, 2014

Look what showed up in the mail today. Probably one of the most obscure items now in my collection. A poster tube from the 2012 San Diego Comic Con promoting Odd Apocalypse.
Odd Apocalypse SDCC 2012 Poster Tube (2)
Odd Apocalypse SDCC 2012 Poster Tube (3) Odd Apocalypse SDCC 2012 Poster Tube (4)

Odd Apocalypse SDCC 2012 Poster Tube (1)
 

Phantoms promo materials

March 17, 2014

Here’s two items stuck inside my second printing hard cover edition of Phantoms.
Phantoms - PROMO MATERIALSMy educated guess is that this is material that would have been sent out with advance copies of the book and not a second printing of the hard cover. But then again I’ve never seen a copy of an ARC or proof of this title so I can’t say they exist. (Please feel free to supply evidence to the contrary.)

Letter from the Strange Highways ARC

March 16, 2014

Just found this little item stuck in my ARC copy of Strange Highways:
Strange Highways - ARC Letter

Science Fiction Book Club ad from 1987

March 15, 2014

Stragners SFBC ad - Penthouse September 1987

Homefront Veterans: Skiing With Wounded Warriors

March 15, 2014

Daily Beast logoIt’s a passing mention, but I’m a completist…

Homefront Veterans: Skiing With Wounded Warriors
…Earlier that morning, resort employees “saluted” the veterans with their ski poles held aloft, forming a 30-meter long inverted “V” archway—reminiscent of crossed Marine swords—for them and their service dogs. Author Dean Koontz and the family of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz generously fund a program called “Canine Companions for Independence” (www.cci.org). It provides free-of-charge specially trained dogs. An ever-serene black lab named Augie, for example, demonstrated his skills in picking up a dropped iPhone for his wheelchair-bound companion, Lance.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show tweets Dean

March 15, 2014

WKCDOGS Tweet

No Lady Gaga does not sing about Dean Koontz

March 15, 2014

Lady Ga GaUnfortunately I wasn’t able to get a screenshot of the article “SXSW Live Shot: Lady Gaga” before it was updated but the official correction does say:

This review originally referred to the man name-checked in “Applause” as Dean Koontz. It has since been corrected to Jeff Koons.

As to whether you think Lady Gaga read Dean Koontz I’ll leave that up to others.