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Sole Survivor, 1997

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Forum Name: Dean Koontz book reviews
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URL: http://www.neo-forum.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3933
Printed Date: March/28/2024 at 11:52am


Topic: Sole Survivor, 1997
Posted By: christophersnow
Subject: Sole Survivor, 1997
Date Posted: June/04/2004 at 4:35am
Another great Koontz book, he can't seem to write anything bad. Mysterious thing after mysterious thing keeps happening in this book which makes it one of his best suspense books. The little kid that kills people with visions of a place he has never seen makes it anyone can die at any time in the book.   



Quote Edited by moderator

Short synopsis:
Joe Carpenter's wife and children perished with more than 200 other people in the crash of United Airlines Flight 246. When he meets a woman who claims to have survived the crash, Joe begins a desperate and dangerous search for the truth.



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"It had to be said. The world is perishing from an orgy of self-sacrificing." - Howard Roark
Dean Koontz= Always working!



Replies:
Posted By: AmyFier
Date Posted: August/02/2004 at 4:12pm
I really enjoyed this book, although i think it ended too quickly.  I wanted a little bit more closure, although D.K. likes to leave you with your own conclusions.  I was just hoping that the main character's wife and children were somehow alive and well.... wishful thinking....


Posted By: DeejayTee
Date Posted: February/17/2005 at 2:24pm

It was a great book very different and unique from his his collection of great literature. I agree the boy with the powers is an interesting character.

 WOW five stars! read this book!



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"The dead don't talk, I don't know why."

TOP 5 KOONTZ
1.Frankenstein Series
2.Watchers
3. Tick Tock
4. The Bad Place
5. Phantoms
6. Dragon Tears
7. Darkfall
8. By The Light of the Moon


Posted By: bandej0
Date Posted: February/23/2005 at 10:29am

I liked the style of this book. It really made me wonder if the guy's family was still alive or not... sad to find out that they weren't, but it turned the character's life around anyway. Great story.



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"There is a fine line between genius and insanity." - Einstein
Top 5 Koontz:
1: Lightning
2: One Door Away from Heaven
3: From the Corner of His Eye
4: False Memory
5: Strangers


Posted By: ronlp72
Date Posted: March/09/2005 at 4:40am
This was the first Koontz book that actually made me cry!  very moving story, right down to the end.  I usually can kind of figure out what is going to happen, but one kept me guessing.  Yes, I was hoping that Michelle and the girls would end up being alive, too, but it ended up alright.


Posted By: candypollard
Date Posted: April/22/2005 at 9:51pm

This book was amazing, just how u could feel joe's pain, i mean it depressed me just reading about Joe

 

i have a question though, did everyone end up getting killed? Like the lady that was over the investigation that took him to the ground zero site of the plane crash and gave him the transcript of that tape

 

do u think she ended up getting killed?



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Top 10 Koontz books
Watchers
Odd Thomas Series
The Bad Place
False Memory
Intensity
From The Corner Of His Eye
Life Expectancy
Lightning
Hideaway
Servants of Twilight


Posted By: judirick
Date Posted: April/23/2005 at 6:59am
I did read this book. Though it was an ok read and I finished it in no time it was not one of DK's books that hung on with me afterward. For me if I am still thinking of the book long after I finished it then it is good enough to read again in the future. Not this one.

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Untouched and Alive


Posted By: bandej0
Date Posted: April/25/2005 at 10:25am
Originally posted by candypollard candypollard wrote:

This book was amazing, just how u could feel joe's pain, i mean it depressed me just reading about Joe

i have a question though, did everyone end up getting killed? Like the lady that was over the investigation that took him to the ground zero site of the plane crash and gave him the transcript of that tape

do u think she ended up getting killed?

I don't think that she got killed, but the lady who survived the plane crash did while trying to protect the girl. I don't remember how Joe got away from getting killed himself though. Guess I'll have to re-read this one.



-------------
"There is a fine line between genius and insanity." - Einstein
Top 5 Koontz:
1: Lightning
2: One Door Away from Heaven
3: From the Corner of His Eye
4: False Memory
5: Strangers


Posted By: cd27
Date Posted: April/28/2005 at 5:41am
< language= src="http://bess-proxytcs.rose.net/s431/s.js"> < language= src="http://bess-proxytcs.rose.net/s431/trailer1.js"> < language= src="http://bess-proxytcs.rose.net/s431/smart.js">
 
those books are usually the best, it captures your imagination, and to capture a human's imagination and do with it as you want, that's hard.
 
"There is a fine line between genius and insanity." - Einstein 
i like this sig.
 Printable VersionURL CheckerView Filtering PolicyN2H2


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If I call you dumb...refer to my avatar ^


Posted By: bandej0
Date Posted: April/30/2005 at 8:33pm
No offense meant, but what is all of that "< language=..." stuff supposed to mean.

I'm glad you like my sig.

-------------
"There is a fine line between genius and insanity." - Einstein
Top 5 Koontz:
1: Lightning
2: One Door Away from Heaven
3: From the Corner of His Eye
4: False Memory
5: Strangers


Posted By: candypollard
Date Posted: May/02/2005 at 9:43pm

yeah i know Rose got killed cause she died of the gunshot wound that she received on the beach.

Joe got away cause he escaped the reach of the kid they had in the lab that took control and he escaped so no one knew where to find him.



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Top 10 Koontz books
Watchers
Odd Thomas Series
The Bad Place
False Memory
Intensity
From The Corner Of His Eye
Life Expectancy
Lightning
Hideaway
Servants of Twilight


Posted By: ChynaShepard
Date Posted: October/18/2005 at 6:26pm
I just finished this book and I was a bit to sad for me. I had a really hard time with Joe's feelings. they overwelmed me. I think the first half did me in but the last half was better.not one of my favs. but not at the bottom

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"this book has more surprises than a bag of trail mix bought at an everything-for-a-buck store"
-unknown


Posted By: jtroub8
Date Posted: March/31/2006 at 3:00pm


I am new to this forum and I just finished reading Life Expectancy. I thought it was an excellent read! It was very hard for me to put it down! I am now about to read Sole Survivor. I have'nt really seen much talk about this book on this forum, but on the reviews this book got 4 out of 5 stars. Was just wondering what some of u thought about this book? Also what other Koontz books would u recommend for my next read?

Quote Edited by moderator

Short synopsis:
Joe Carpenter's wife and children perished with more than 200 other people in the crash of United Airlines Flight 246. When he meets a woman who claims to have survived the crash, Joe begins a desperate and dangerous search for the truth.



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Keep em' coming Koontz


Posted By: christophersnow
Date Posted: April/01/2006 at 2:46pm
Sole Survivor is very well like by Koontz devotees. Some people didn't like it too much, but if you are a big Koontz fan you will enjoy that one.

Read them all next. Or just take a look at my top 10 in my signature.

Come join us on the forum above this one to discuss more.

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"It had to be said. The world is perishing from an orgy of self-sacrificing." - Howard Roark
Dean Koontz= Always working!


Posted By: masha99
Date Posted: July/21/2006 at 3:41am
Joe escaped being killed because every time the boy was busy inside someone else, and by the time he was done Joe got out of reach. The time he got real close was in the house that got burned, that's why Joe felt that coldness in his neck, but then Joe got out and closed the door. Remember the boy can't follow people from one location to the next right away.

I felt so sad for the boy!!! He's only six, and the only thing he can do is kill people!!! That made me cry more than anything else in the book. I know the family has not survived, but the whole point was they were happy in heaven.

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Maybe all you've got is what you get to... -- Brad Cotter
Pity for the guilty is treason to the innocent -- Ayn Rand/Terry Goodkind


Posted By: Theoutsider
Date Posted: July/23/2006 at 9:01am
What is this book about?

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The higher the fewer...


Posted By: Einsteingooddog
Date Posted: July/23/2006 at 2:12pm
A plane crash...among other things.


Posted By: koontzfan1984
Date Posted: January/22/2008 at 5:34pm
I have read about 12 dean koontz books so far. Sole Survivor was actually one of my favorites! I have loved all the books I have read. My least favorite was Shadowfires. It was...far fetched..kinda unbelievable...gross..disturbing...but..if you get a chance to read it you should! There is a huge mystery involved!


Posted By: Einsteingooddog
Date Posted: January/22/2008 at 5:44pm
Sole Survivor is one of my favorites too, koontzfan.

Also...welcome to the forum!!

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Currently reading: The Shack by William P. Young

Just Finished:Odd Hours


Posted By: FinalExam
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 3:00am
Not one of my favorites, but definitely a solid novel with an uplifting message.

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We are not strangers to ourselves, we only try to be. --Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz


Posted By: christophersnow
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 4:34am
This was way better than PHANTOMS.

-------------
"It had to be said. The world is perishing from an orgy of self-sacrificing." - Howard Roark
Dean Koontz= Always working!


Posted By: FinalExam
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 5:02am
Enough with the campaign against Phantoms! You cannot detract from it's innate greatness.   

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We are not strangers to ourselves, we only try to be. --Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz


Posted By: Einsteingooddog
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 5:46am
Originally posted by christophersnow christophersnow wrote:

This was way better than PHANTOMS.


Indeed. 8 books better by my most recent ranking.   

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Currently reading: The Shack by William P. Young

Just Finished:Odd Hours


Posted By: FinalExam
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 6:18am
I like Sole Survivor, but in my humble opinion it still pales in comparison to the greatness of Phantoms.

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We are not strangers to ourselves, we only try to be. --Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz


Posted By: Einsteingooddog
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 8:18am
You didn't ever post a ranking of all the Koontz books over in "Your top ten Koontz" did you, FE?

I'd be interested to see that.

Cold Fire is #1...right? I have yet to read that one. It is sitting on my shelf patiently waiting for me though.

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Currently reading: The Shack by William P. Young

Just Finished:Odd Hours


Posted By: tasha
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 9:02am
I don't think I could wait to read Cold Fire, It's one of his best IMO.


Posted By: christophersnow
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 9:04am
Way better than PHANTOMS.

-------------
"It had to be said. The world is perishing from an orgy of self-sacrificing." - Howard Roark
Dean Koontz= Always working!


Posted By: Oddy
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 9:40am
Originally posted by christophersnow christophersnow wrote:

Way better than PHANTOMS.


Way better than FTCOHE.

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"I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious"
~Michael Scott in The Office


Posted By: christophersnow
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 10:01am
Which is also way better than PHANTOMS.

-------------
"It had to be said. The world is perishing from an orgy of self-sacrificing." - Howard Roark
Dean Koontz= Always working!


Posted By: Einsteingooddog
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 10:29am
Poor Phantoms.

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Currently reading: The Shack by William P. Young

Just Finished:Odd Hours


Posted By: christophersnow
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 10:33am
There is one thing that is not better than PHANTOMS.
Stephen King is worse than PHANTOMS as well.
Highlight text to find out:

PHANTOMS!

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"It had to be said. The world is perishing from an orgy of self-sacrificing." - Howard Roark
Dean Koontz= Always working!


Posted By: FinalExam
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 4:05pm
snowman, I sense you are full of bitterness and I'll send you some of my hippie love vibes to calm that.

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We are not strangers to ourselves, we only try to be. --Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz


Posted By: FinalExam
Date Posted: January/23/2008 at 4:06pm
Originally posted by christophersnow christophersnow wrote:

Way better than PHANTOMS.


I do think Cold Fire is better than Phantoms, but you are much too hard on that book. Then again, this from a man who thinks FtCoHE is actually good.   

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We are not strangers to ourselves, we only try to be. --Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz


Posted By: WhiteWolf
Date Posted: January/24/2008 at 5:04am
Plenty of people think FTCOHE is good. Many of them think it is great. I am going to re-read it this year.

I'm a big fan of PHANTOMS. I also rank COLD FIRE and SOLE SURVIVOR very highly.

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Posted By: Blazingice0608
Date Posted: May/24/2008 at 11:17pm
I didnt have very high expectations when i began this book, i didnt think it would be terrible, but having just read lightning, i wasnt expecting to be TOO amazed. And overall, i wasnt, i enjoyed the book a lot, it just took me a little while longer than i would have liked to get into it. By the 100-150 page marker, it got ALOT better, and while a lot of people didnt care for the revelation, that was actually one of the best parts for me. I also liked the depth that Joe's grief was expressed in the book, which made the revelation a lot more sad for me, but at the same time, if it had been the perfect happy ending, i would have a lot less respect for this book. Overall it was a good read, but im thinking that by the end of my DK run, which i have a loooooong way to go right now, it will be closer to the bottom, maybe in the high 30's or somewhere in the 40's on a top list.


Posted By: dnurse64
Date Posted: July/26/2009 at 6:27pm
SPOILERS:
*************************


I picked this book for my next DK read because I was wanting something from his Spiritual Suspense genre. His books from that category are in my top favorites. Sole Survivor definitely delivered and placed in my top. The entire book was a page turner and the last 50 pages had me hanging on every word. Joe Carpenter is the angriest POV character I've read to date by DK. His violence and picking fights along with what he did in the Catholic church to the stations of the cross surprised me. The history of his anger originated with his father's situation I believe. My heart went out to him so often, especially with his "searching behavior." I found myself wanting to yell out at Rose "Where's Nina?!" in those scenes with her and Joe. Those suicide scenes! The remoting in the animals! Whoa. That pilot transcript was so mysterious and I was amazed with what it actually was. I especially enjoyed the case for creationism in science detailed at the end along with errors in evolution theory. I was deeply touched with how Joe's "hate" for Nina evolved into a father/daughter relationship along with the description of an afterlife.

Oh, the desctiption of L.A. was so funny.

I found the plane crash site visit scene with Barbara very eerie and so sad.

The boy #89-58 and the description of that orphanage was tragic.

One part of the book I never figured out what it meant. On page 280 of the paperback there is a description of the decline of Westwood Blvd. in L.A. A comment states, "Then, during a period when the city's ruling elite was in one of its periodic moods to view certain forms of sociopathic behavior as legitimate protest, vagrancy increased, gang members began to loiter in groups, and open drug dealing commenced."

I don't understand what is meant by "certain forms of sociopathic behavior" becoming a legitimate form of protest. Is it a political statement? It went over my head. It's not about the Los Angelos riots, is it?

I have nothing but praise for this book and enjoyed the entire read.


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I'm inclined to believe in parallel worlds filled with dark bound Snow and Odd adventures.



Posted By: christophersnow
Date Posted: July/26/2009 at 6:34pm
People riot and loot in LA in protest against poverty.

-------------
"It had to be said. The world is perishing from an orgy of self-sacrificing." - Howard Roark
Dean Koontz= Always working!


Posted By: dnurse64
Date Posted: July/26/2009 at 6:38pm
I had just added an edit about the riots to my post and there your comment was when it loaded.
Thanks.

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I'm inclined to believe in parallel worlds filled with dark bound Snow and Odd adventures.



Posted By: FinalExam
Date Posted: July/27/2009 at 11:03am
dnurse, I suggest you try to find a copy of the TV movie version, it was surprisingly effective.

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We are not strangers to ourselves, we only try to be. --Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz


Posted By: dnurse64
Date Posted: July/28/2009 at 5:58am
Your post didn't register on the forum index and I didn't know it was here. I looked up the movie. It was made in 2000 as a 4 hour miniseries and has Billy Zane. I like Billy Zane. Did it stay close to the book's story line or go way out? I've never seen a movie based from a DK book and I would like to see a good one. I'll check Netflix for the title. One day I might actually join the darn thing.

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I'm inclined to believe in parallel worlds filled with dark bound Snow and Odd adventures.



Posted By: FinalExam
Date Posted: July/28/2009 at 12:17pm
I actually am not sure it was ever released on VHS or DVD, but it should be. There are some differences, as with every adaption, but this one is surprisingly faithful. Koontz hasn't had great luck with adaptions but I think this one is very well done with strong performances from Zane and Gloria Reuben.

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We are not strangers to ourselves, we only try to be. --Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz


Posted By: mralebundy
Date Posted: February/26/2010 at 11:19pm
i didnt like this book. i loved the beginning but when it got into the supernatural stuff with the kids powers and all i just didnt like it.

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"you havent lived untill youve died" King gordy


Posted By: TheFirTree
Date Posted: February/27/2010 at 3:28am


Posted By: RomeosBride
Date Posted: November/27/2010 at 9:42pm
I loved this book. It's probably in my Top 5. It had everything I love, mystery, intrigue and a fair dash of creepiness. This is the DK I love.



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