Review: "Of the many kinds of wilderness, the human heart can be the bleakest"
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 29, 2013
WILDERNESS introduces readers to Addison Goodheart, the protagonist for the forthcoming INNOCENCE by Dean Koontz. Faithful Koontz readers will recall THE MOONLIT MIND short story that was a precursor to 77 SHADOW STREET, but in that instance, the short story put readers in the same setting as 77 SHADOW STREET without introducing any of the characters or giving any clues to the coming storyline. And sadly, I think most readers agreed in that case that the short story was far better than the novel that followed it.WILDERNESS is different - it actually gives valuable backstory to INNOCENCE, drops some not-so-subtle clues as to the life our protagonist is going to lead in the future, and packs a scary brush-with-death chase scene into a few short pages that you can read under fifteen minutes.Not going to write any spoilers - but WILDERNESS quickly covers Addison's life from birth until a defining moment when he is eight-years-old. In typical Koontz fashion, even in a short story his good guy character espouses wisdom far beyond his years. One example: "For me, at least, loneliness was a terrible hardship, even though it was the basic condition of my existence." Another: "One thing seemed to suggest that I might have some wisp of beauty to offer the world: the nature of my heart, which remained free of bitterness and anger." And a final line: "In time I came to see that of the many kinds of wilderness, the human heart can be the bleakest and the most hostile."I won't suggest this is the most exciting edge-of-your-seat Kindle Single that you're likely to read this year (or even this month), however ... where it succeeds is in giving readers just enough of a glimpse into the life of Addison that I suspect most of us who read this will be anxiously awaiting INNOCENCE when it comes out in a few weeks.If it was merely a standalone story I'd give it 3.5 stars ... but if I'm rating it for doing its job introducing Addison, his backstory, and some obviously important themes for INNOCENCE, then in that case I'd have to say it's a stellar 5 stars.