Media
Did 'High Tension' Rip Off Dean Koontz's 'Intensity'?
June 21, 2016
Thousands of horror fans — whether lovers of New French Extremity, gore, or simply fast-paced thrillers — adore High Tension. Released in France as Haute Tension in 2003 and in the UK as Switchblade Romance in 2004, the movie combined a great cast and talented young director Alexandre Aja to create one of the most exciting, blood-spattered horror movies since 2000.
However, apart from the usual detractors and haters of movie violence — this was yet another marvelous horror movie that Roger Ebert despised — there’s always been one more interesting criticism leveled at High Tension:
Is High Tension a rip-off of Dean Koontz’s Intensity?
Eight years before Aja released High Tension, horror novelist Dean Koontz published Intensity, which has a very similar storyline. But is it a rip-off? I haven’t been able to find any official word from either Aja or Koontz regarding the matter, although the likely unreliable Wikipedia does note that ”the film is an unauthorized reinterpretation of the novel Intensity by Dean Koontz.”
Read the full article @ MoviePilot.com.
Face-Off: Phantoms vs. Hellraiser: Hellworld
March 28, 2016
The film choices for this Face-Off were inspired by the fact that Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill will be facing off on the big screen this weekend in BATMAN V. SUPERMAN. The actors playing the titular characters in that superhero clash have a small number of horror credits to their names, but they did both do some time in the Dimension trenches – Affleck played a role in the 1998 Dean Koontz adaptation PHANTOMS, while Cavill appeared in the eighth installment in the HELLRAISER franchise, 2005’s HELLRAISER: HELLWORLD. This could almost be considered a “skeletons in the closet” edition of Face-Off, but thanks to Kevin Smith PHANTOMS is a very poorly concealed skeleton in Affleck’s past. It’s not likely that BATMAN V. SUPERMAN will have a clear winner, we know they’ll be teaming up by the end, but let’s find out what the outcome is when the battle is PHANTOMS V. HELLRAISER: HELLWORLD.
Exclusive Extended Preview Of Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Storm Surge #6
March 28, 2016
We have an exclusive extended preview for the final issue of Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Storm Surge. The series is written by Dean Koontz and Rik Hoskin with art byAndres Ponce.
Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Storm Surge #6
writer: Dean Koontz, Rik Hoskin artist and cover: Andres Ponce
As the risen dead rampage through New Orleans like locusts, police detectives Carson O’Connor and Michael Maddison finally track down the source of the undead uprising – Victor Frankenstein! But can two detectives really stop a city on the verge of death?
See the rest @ Bleeding Cool.
World Over: The Relic of Perilous Falls with Raymond Arroyo
March 20, 2016
A VERY SPECIAL EDITION OF THE WORLD OVER WITH RAYMOND ARROYO: DEAN KOONTZ, New York Times best selling author and master of suspense turns the tables on Raymond…Dean INTERVIEWS Raymond about his new book, WILL WILDER: THE RELIC OF PERILOUS FALLS…book one of Raymond’s new adventure series for kids of ALL ages…which hits book stores THIS WEEK.
This episode can be listened to on the The World Over show archive page. It was the most recent episode when I posted this but won’t be for long. Just search the page for koontz and you’ll find the correct link.
How'd you like to market Dean's books?
March 7, 2016
Penguin Random House is hiring a Digital Marketing Assistant.
Your tasks
The Random House Publishing Group, a leading commercial fiction and non-fiction division of Penguin Random House, is looking a Digital Marketing Assistant to join its Digital Marketing Department. This position offers the opportunity to learn about the entire process of marketing to the e-original market through assisting with blog tours, social media, advertising, and website management.
This role works across the division, marketing books for world renowned bestselling authors, such as, George R. R. Martin, Dean Koontz, Tess Gerittsen, Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, Danielle Steele and many more.
Full details @ Publisher’s Marketplace.
Rik Hoskin Talks Zombie Army In Frankenstein: Storm Surge #5
February 28, 2016
Erik Mona, writer of Pathfinder: Hollow Mountain #4, talks with writer Rik Hoskinabout Frankenstein: Storm Surge #5, both on sale this week from Dynamite. Art by Andres Ponce
ERIK MONA: Frankenstein: Storm Surge #5 starts with an army of zombies attacking the city during a storm. What are some of your favorite zombie influences, and how did they inspire the action in this issue?
RIK HOSKIN: My favorite zombie movie is Shivers directed by David Cronenberg, which has a nightmarish sense of mounting oppressiveness. That sense that you’re surrounded and completely on your own is a core fear, I think, and one that is carried through the best zombie fiction, extending to the fringes of the genre — stuff like Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend and Daniel A. Wilson’s Robopocalypse. My biggest influence for Frankenstein: Storm Surge, however, was picking up on the story and, crucially, style that outgoing writer Chuck Dixon had set in motion.
Read the full interview @ Bleeding Cool.
Dean Koontz's $10 million devotion to dogs helping disabled feel his same joy
February 28, 2016
He needed a small favor.
Who knew it would change his life?
Best-selling author Dean Koontz is describing how he and his wife came to donate more than $10 million to a worthy cause.
In 1988, Koontz was doing research for his book “Midnight.” He wanted to include a character in a wheelchair with a service dog named Moose, so he called the team members at Canine Companions for Independence in Oceanside and asked for help.
They invited him down and explained how they trained dogs for people with disabilities.
“Midnight” went on to become Koontz’s first No. 1 best-seller, and Canine Companions went on to offer him a retired service dog.
“We’re too busy,” he replied.
He’d always loved dogs, but he was writing several books a year.
“I knew having a dog was like having a child,” he says. “You need to devote a lot of time to it.”
Read the full story @ The Orange County Register.
Phone Call From the Dead?
February 28, 2016
From Katherine Ramsland:
When I interviewed Dean Koontz for abiography(link is external) about his life and work, he told me a number of interesting stories. The following one is appropriate for a spooky fall season blog:
On September 20, 1988, Dean had an experience that he would not write about for nearly a decade, but he claimed it in his essay for Beautiful Death as his one possible encounter with evidence for life after death.
Read the full story @ PsychologyToday.com.
Fear Nothing in latest Humble Comic Bundle
February 21, 2016
Looking for a digital copy of the Fear Nothing graphic novel along with a whole bunch of other digital comics for a great price. Check out the latest Humble Comic Bundle from Dynamite.
Dean Koontz's $10 million devotion to dogs helping disabled feel his same joy
February 14, 2016
He needed a small favor.
Who knew it would change his life?
Best-selling author Dean Koontz is describing how he and his wife came to donate more than $10 million to a worthy cause.
In 1988, Koontz was doing research for his book “Midnight.” He wanted to include a character in a wheelchair with a service dog named Moose, so he called the team members at Canine Companions for Independence in Oceanside and asked for help.
They invited him down and explained how they trained dogs for people with disabilities.
“Midnight” went on to become Koontz’s first No. 1 best-seller, and Canine Companions went on to offer him a retired service dog.
Read the full article @ The Orange County Register.
I Get You, Dean Koontz
January 31, 2016
Bad Science Fiction Covers
January 25, 2016
Check out the cover that made the WTF Bad Science Fiction Covers tumblr a few days ago. Bonus points if you can name the Koontz story contained within without looking it up.
Rik Hoskin Talks About Victor Frankenstein Being Morally Adrift
January 17, 2016
Rik Hoskin is working on two books for Dynamite, Cage Hero and Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein: Storm Surge. Byron Brewer caught up with the writer to talk about the latter of the two and what it’s like working with a Horror Master. Cover art by Andres Ponce
BYRON BREWER: Rik, how does it feel being able to play and create in Dean Koontz’s world?
RIK HOSKIN: Simply — wow! Dean Koontz is a colossus of the horror genre and it’s been an honor to work with him. I read his Frankenstein book series when it came out a few years ago and I was fascinated by the premise. Getting the chance to create some new material within that set up has been amazing. Sure, I came a little late to the party, but, man, what a party!
Read the full interview @ BleedingCool.com.
Recent items in the OC Register
January 17, 2016
- Dean Koontz’s latest novel will keep you guessing
- Dean Koontz’s $10 million devotion to dogs helping disabled feel his same joy
- Register Book Club: So you think you know Dean Koontz? Take this quiz
- Register Book Club: Prolific author Dean Koontz getting renewed love from Hollywood
- This assistance dog is ready to help sign books if Dean Koontz needs help tonight at the Orange County Register! #caninecompanions (Facebook)
Goodreads Ashley Bell Giveaway
January 17, 2016
Enter to win a UK copy of Ashley Bell on GoodReads. (Only for folks in Great Britain and Ireland.)
Frankenstein Storm Surge #6 preview
January 15, 2016
Authors we’d love to have dinner with
December 21, 2015
Tarine
I would love to have dinner with Dean Koontz.
His wit and sarcasm based on his responses to the questions that his fans pose to him is something that I really think I’d enjoy.
He seems to be an absolutely fascinating character of a person and I’d love to learn more about his life.
It would be a night of general merriment and laughter. I know this is a short motivation but it’s exactly what I’d love to do with my favourite author, no serious talk about what motivated him to write the books and genres he wrote in.
I can only assume that he gets it so often from so many people. I’d love to just get to know him as a person.
Read the full article @ Women24.com
Greg Kihn Do It All: A Conversation with a Rock n’ Roll Lifer
December 21, 2015
Rock Cellar Magazine: What sparked your work in the horror novel realm?
Greg Kihn: Stephen King and Dean Koontz inspired me to become a writer. Dean has been a good friend over the years. I love sitting in front of the word processor late at night banging away on a new novel. It’s a lot of fun. The first book I did was in 1996 and that was Horror Show.
Read the full interview @ Rock Cellar Magazine.
Oh the Horror: 8 Adaptation-ready Dean Koontz Books
December 21, 2015
With a career spanning nearly fifty years thus far, a slew of bestsellers, and an extraordinarily prodigious bibliography, Dean Koontz is a household name for many. Known for his tight plotting, vivid prose, and page-turning suspense, his books have sold over 450 million copies worldwide and have been published in thirty-eight languages. Given his popularity and the cinematic style of his work, it’s no surprise that Koontz is one of the more widely adapted authors of his generation. From his earliest works like Shattered to more recent bestsellers like Odd Thomas, the imagination of Dean Koontz has proven to be fertile cinematic ground. But when you have a bibliography clocking in at over 100 titles, there are bound to be some overlooked gems in need of adaptation. With his latest novel, Ashley Bell,now on bookshelves, it’s the perfect time to talk about a few Dean Koontz favorites we’d love to see on the screen.
Read the complete list @ word&film and then leave your suggestions in the comments.
GoodReads Choice Awards 2015
December 20, 2015
Guess which of Dean’s books won for best horror novel…