Product Description

From the celebrated imagination of Dean Koontz comes a powerful reworking of one of the classic stories of all time. If you think you know the legend, you know only half the truth. Now the mesmerizing saga concludes. . . .

As a devastating hurricane approaches, as the benighted creations of Victor Helios begin to spin out of control, as New Orleans descends into chaos and the future of humanity hangs in the balance, the only hope rests with Victor’s first, failed attempt to build the perfect human. Deucalion’s centuries-old history began as the original manifestation of a soulless vision–and it is fated to end in the ultimate confrontation between a damned creature and his mad creator. But first they must face a monstrosity not even Victor’s malignant mind could have conceived–an indestructible entity that steps out of humankind’s collective nightmare with powers, and a purpose, beyond imagining.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1373 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-28
• Released on: 2009-07-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780553587906
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
In this fast-paced third installment of his Frankenstein series, Koontz continues, without necessarily concluding, his modern-day reimagining of Mary Shelley's horror classic. Leaving his co-authors behind, Koontz makes the most of previous developments, which set the stage for an epic showdown in storm-soaked New Orleans between Victor Helios and the high-tech, artificial beings he created to destroy the human race. Many members of the unhappy, soulless "new race," created by Helios to kill his enemies, have turned their hatred back on their master. Deucalion, a centuries-old giant who was the madman's first, flawed human creation, leads an uprising of creatures that includes a naked troll and a slithering chameleon. Though big developments await fans, Koontz hints that he may not be done with this violent monster tale, a project that has taken him deep into sci-fi territory. Witty characters provide relief from the story's dark undercurrent, though Koontz knows, perhaps better than ever, how to scare his readers without resorting to gory details.
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Review
“A rarity among bestselling writers, Koontz continues to pursue new ways of telling stories, never content with repeating himself. He writes of hope and love in the midst of evil in profoundly inspiring and moving ways.”—Chicago Sun-Times




From the Paperback edition.

Review
“A rarity among bestselling writers, Koontz continues to pursue new ways of telling stories, never content with repeating himself. He writes of hope and love in the midst of evil in profoundly inspiring and moving ways.”—Chicago Sun-Times

Customer Reviews

As man becomes monster, humanity hangs in the balance.
Dean Koontz is the master at weaving a tale that completely encapsulates the reader....and Dead and Alive is no exception. The moment I got my pre-release I put everything on the back burner and lost myself in this darken tale. When man attempts to play God only devastating events will ensue.

By now, everyone has read the first two books in the series: Prodigal Son (Dean Koontz's Frankenstein, Book 1) and Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: City of Night: A Novel. Well, this expansion on Mary Shelley's classic masterpiece Frankenstein began years ago. A man named, Victor Frankenstein, hatched a diabolic plan to create life - an affront to the gods that would lead to disastrous results. The world had thought that both the man and the monster were destroyed in the ensuing events -- but their hopes and presumptions were wrong!

Anyone familiar with the trilogy will attest to the brilliant way Mr. Koontz has added his stamp to this classic with incredibly well-developed characters and a thrilling plotline that could only come from the master himself.

Fast forward to modern day, New Orleans. Two men emerge with new identities -- but old habits are hard to break. Once again, the doctor has begun his sinister experiments of creating life. Two detectives, Carson O'Connor and Michael Maddison, are investigating a serial killer and are thrust into the middle of an enigma that began over two hundred years prior. This case may well be the end of humanity as we know it.

The two detectives, however, receive aid from the most unlikely of sources -- a heavily tattooed man named, Deucalion. The killer is targeting those who have the human traits he lacks...and this is a pattern Deucalion has seen before. Deucalion, was Dr Frankenstein's first attempt at creating the perfect human. Now, a breed of super humans roam the streets of New Orleans. These killers are stronger, faster, smarter, and able to regenerate themselves -- and Victor Helios is no longer able to control them.

Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Dead and Alive: A Novel is a marvelous finale that has seen two men switch roles: The monster, Deucalion, is becoming human...and the doctor, Victor Helios, is becoming the monster. The book builds and builds the anticipation levels to the climax and releases the reader as creator and createe face off in a final confrontation. This is one dual genre book you don't want to miss. Whether you're into suspense or horror, Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Dead and Alive: A Novel is one not to be missed.

Another book that masters the dual genre that I would highly recommend is S is for Sirens it brings the reader to the same eyes-rolled-back-climax as the Frankenstein series.

An Ego Second Only to Helios
Here's the short version of this review: This book was an incredible disappointment. Fans of the series thus far will no doubt be compelled to read this. And WHEN you hate it, please take solace in the fact that you're NOT ALONE.

Like everyone else, I waited patiently for Frankenstein Book 3. When I saw it in the store, I was shocked and overjoyed, as its appearance was completely unexpected. I violated speed laws to drive home, whereupon I immediately dug out books 1 and 2 and began to reread them. Now, I'd read Koontz's "admission of inability to collaborate", and it seemed very... defensive with a belligerent spin. When I saw he'd re-released the originals, sans the co-writers' credits, I was dismayed. Seemed like a real egotistical move. But hey, he's Koontz. I loved the guy. And then I read the first... what was it? 20 pages of the book? Paragraph upon paragraph of "Acclaim for Dean Koontz". The dude actually felt it necessary to reprint every good thing anyone has ever said about him, as if to say "Those co-writers were beneath me, and how DARE you rabble harass me for this book? Well now after 20 pages of accolades, you know with whom you're dealing. So here's your %$#!ing book; I hope you choke on it. Now I can get back to Odd Thomas 6" I felt kinda like an Erika, put in my place and crying on the floor.

Halfway through the book, I realized that the protagonists had spent half the book DRIVING AROUND TOWN. Literally, the fate of the world is ostensibly in their hands, and they're cruising Nawlins in a Honda. They weren't looking for anything or going anywhere in particular... not even evading the assassins who were secretly on their trail. They were just... cruisin'. It seemed as if the Desert Eagles and Urban Snipers received more character development. And Deucalion? He doesn't live up to the dazzling potential we all hoped for. In fact the major accomplishment that he, O'Connor, and Madison contributed was... they watched. Whilst armed with Deagles and Urban Snipers, who also looked on.

Koontz used Hurricane Katrina as an excuse to not write the book. So... he makes it rain in the book. "A storm is brewing", sure. But... I dunno. Sounds very excusey to me.

And JOCKO??? Are your SERIOUS?? Take the homeliness of Gollum, mix in the self esteem issues of Dobby from Harry Potter, and wrap it up in a Jar Jar Binks likeability factor. Horrible. And the Mother of All Deus Ex Machinas? Just... just... COME ON, DEAN?!!?! Really??

Koontz has long been my favorite writer. Lately, quite the opposite. He's churning out SO MANY BOOKS... and none that I've read in the past 10 years or so (save Frankenstein 1 and 2) entertained me in any meaningful way, or better yet, made me THINK like his older books used to. He's begun writing for the sake of writing. Quantity over any semblance of quality. I read one a while back (name escapes me) where they go through this whole hardcover saga, only to find out the Everyman Protagonist is actually an undercover Special Forces dude. it's like he said "Wow... we're at page 462... guess I better start wrapping this up". But I'm getting away from Frankenstein 3. Bitter, bitter disappointment. So incredibly sad and depressing for a lifelong Koontz fan.

Insulting?
This book was a disappointment.

Why are the detectives still here? They seem to be nothing more than a loose string. A string Koontz toys with solely because it was already there. They've been getting ready for the apocalypse and get... something much less interesting.

There are so many ridiculous plot devices used that it is beyond infuriating. It seems like Koontz couldn't figure out how to end the series. So, he decided to find the simplest way out. He gave up on interesting plot threads, he came up with new characters that were disappointments, and other characters became shadows of their previous self. Then he left us with an ending that wasn't an ending at all.

The book was also highly repetitive. How many times do we have to hear that the lighting made Deucalion something more than a monster? How many times do we need an inventory of his criminal origins? How many times do we need to hear about the pulse of illumination in his eyes? How many times do we have to hear about Carson's dead father? How long could this list be? Trust me it could be much longer. Definitely a bad trait. Especially for a book that isn't even 400 pages.

It honestly felt like Koontz intentionally insulted his fans for pressuring him. We wanted the book because we loved the first two. We were upset because it was promised and never delivered. Now Koontz has insulted his readers and many are beyond upset. I personally will think long and hard before buying another Koontz book.