Review: An exciting prequel to an upcoming novel
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 7, 2013
I read all of Dean Koontz's early works in the 1970s, but for some inexplicable reason, I never read any of his later stories. "Wilderness" was my re-introduction to Koontz, and I see that he still has a great way with words and the ability to write compelling page-turners. At the beginning of the story, I was reminded a bit of Judith Merril's classic "That Only a Mother," but Wilderness is an original story that serves as an introduction to the character Addison Goodheart, who will be featured in an upcoming full-length novel.But even as a standalone story, Wilderness grabbed my attention and held it to the last word, as Addison tells his bizarre tale of growing up in seclusion with his mother. When a stranger threatens Addison's life, he's forced to use all of his skills to escape. It's a taut, suspenseful story of Addison's origins and his very strange relationship with his mother.