(Originally Published 1998, Mass Market Paperback 432 pages)
This is the second book I've ever read by Mr. Koontz. "Fear Nothing"
brings a unique approach by having the 28-year-old protagonist,
Christopher Snow, handicapped with a genetic defect called xeroderma
pigmentosum which causes him to be highly susceptible to harmful
ultraviolet light. If he doesn't take strict precautions against
exposure to light, good ole Chris Snow will quickly be blind and very
likely on a one-way ticket to a dirt nap. He and his dog, Orson, roam
the small California town of Moonlight Bay while most other residences
are sleeping. The death of his last surviving parent sets off an
unexpected chain reaction of events that has Chris Snow stumbling upon
one mystery after another. The work was published in 1998 and this shows
up in such minor ways such as there being pay phones in town. It does
not detract from the story, but occasionally gives it a unintentional
nostalgic feel.
Because it is written in the first-person narrative of Snow, we are as lost as he is as to what the heck is going on? Snow also has no special abilities, but he does have a heedless curiosity that gets him into trouble and would kill your typical cat. Mr. Koontz does a wonderful job of creating plenty of tense, scary situations. I was about two-thirds of the way through the book before things started to become more clear. The description on the back cover is very vague about the premise of the book which caused me to take a leap of faith as to it being an entertaining work. On the whole, the author succeeded. I liked Mr. Koontz descriptive little embellishments which were sprinkled throughout the story. The last thirty pages or so, however, were a little too formulaic for my tastes because the rest of the work had been so suspenseful and mysterious. It was an enjoyable, light read. Only as I was about to write this review did I discover that "Fear Nothing" is the first installment in a trilogy. The second book is entitled "Seize the Night" (published 1998.) Apparently, the last installment is still banging around in Mr. Koontz's head. Oh well, I'm still going to read the second book.
Because it is written in the first-person narrative of Snow, we are as lost as he is as to what the heck is going on? Snow also has no special abilities, but he does have a heedless curiosity that gets him into trouble and would kill your typical cat. Mr. Koontz does a wonderful job of creating plenty of tense, scary situations. I was about two-thirds of the way through the book before things started to become more clear. The description on the back cover is very vague about the premise of the book which caused me to take a leap of faith as to it being an entertaining work. On the whole, the author succeeded. I liked Mr. Koontz descriptive little embellishments which were sprinkled throughout the story. The last thirty pages or so, however, were a little too formulaic for my tastes because the rest of the work had been so suspenseful and mysterious. It was an enjoyable, light read. Only as I was about to write this review did I discover that "Fear Nothing" is the first installment in a trilogy. The second book is entitled "Seize the Night" (published 1998.) Apparently, the last installment is still banging around in Mr. Koontz's head. Oh well, I'm still going to read the second book.
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