This is the Bible for anyone who wants to write good commercial fiction. His no-b.s. approach to writing is refreshing in an area filled with mediocre books. This book may be expensive and hard to find (it should be updated, or at least brought back in print), but is well worth the effort in tracking it down, as much of what he says is still valid.

I like the premise that Koontz starts with here: that your goal as a writer should be to have as many people as possible read your book. That is my goal as a writer, and I found the book incredibly helpful and insightful. Obviously, Koontz knows what he's talking about, with millions of books in print.

This is a very practical guide: long on examples and practical lists and short on voodoo and magic. Koontz breaks writing down into understandable pieces, whereas some writing books I've read spend far too much time on touchy-feely things that are hard to understand or emulate.

There is much practical advice here, not only in the writing of best-sellers, but also in the business of books, dealing with contracts and agents, etc. There's even a reading list of books and authors that will inspire the aspiring novelist.

My one complaint is that, even in the 20 years since this was written, the publishing industry has changed dramatically. I would LOVE to see Koontz update this tome with a 21st century edition, addressing some of the changes he's seen in the course of his career. I'd also like to see an updated reading list...I wonder which authors Koontz would praise now?

An excellent resource for writers, even if you have to pay quite a bit for it!

Dean Koontz gives insightful advice, not just on getting your words on paper, but also how to get published. He has lots of do's and don'ts, along with a list of recommended authors to read and see various writing styles. Be sure to look for my name on the best seller list now that I've read this book.

Mr. Murder is the first Dean Koontz novel I have read and I am now a dedicated fan! He has taken me back to my roots in Orange County. He has shown me all the evil hiding in the shadows that I never knew was there. Makes you wonder just what the powers that be are really capable of, doesn't it? Maintaining the relationship with the wife and little girls in this story in the face of the killers onslaught are interesting. The Santas Twin story was charming and wicked and will be on the Christmas list for my Granddaughters this year!

This is the greatest. I especially loved Mr. Murder, for the ingenious way Dean kept flowing between scenes and personalities until it was almost unbearable. It lent to the overall mystery of the story and toThe Other's (Alfie) origin.
He made the intelligence of Emily acceptable just by linking it to her father's wizardry in writing.

GREAT STORY!!!

What would I do without Dean?????? His books are bone chilling. If you are weak of heart don't read. After reading Night Chills and Whispers trying to sleep was useless, visions from his book kept jumping out at me in the dark. He writes with so much intensity that you wonder, could this realy happen? Has it happened?And could it happen to you ??????? I love them

I have read this book four times and I have no doubt I will read it again. It is absolutely the best book I have ever read. It has a story within a story and the time travel aspect is so believable that you actually wonder if time travel is possible. The characters are so real and you have suspense, terror, heartache and love all thrown in to make a great "can't put down" book.

Anyone who likes a good love story and the idea of time travel will like this book. Dean Knootz provides a unique concept of time travel. I have read several of Dean Knootz's books and this is one of my favorites. This book is suspensful and makes the mind wonder about the possiblities of time travel.

My mistake was reading this collection on dark and stormy nights. These three books grasp the reader by the throat and force them to read. Lightning is a Sci-Fi time roller coaster ride that brings the reader into another world. One they thought they knew. The Face of Fear is a superbly written analysis of what's possible when a person's back is against a wall (literally). The Vision so painstakingly describes the inner mind of a clairvoyant that I was left feeling greatful I don't have the gift.

'The pillars of the earth' was outstanding. It was one of the best books I have ever read. It was one of those books that you couldn't put down, there was always something happening so the storyline was never boring. It's characters were wonderful, they were all very different from each other and they all had different values, which made the story exceptional. This is truely one of Follett's best.

I have not read the other two books in this set, but "Pillars of the Earth" is outstanding. I have read every thing written by Ken Follett and have been extremely happy with all of them. "Pillars.." though is unique in that the setting is 12th century Europe and Follett does a remarkable job of making you feel like you are right there with the characters, feeling both their joy and pain. This book is not for the weak of heart. There are many graphic descriptions of both a violent and sexual nature. If for some reason this book does not become a classic and thus, required reading for some Honors English literature class, it will be due to the graphic nature I mentioned above.

Instead of one central character, there are several, all of which the reader will feel like he knows personally very early in the book. I would give most anything if this book could be made into a movie, but the only way to do it justice would be to make it multi-part mini-series with Ken Follett writing the screenplay, and even then it would not have the same effect.

Obviously, I give this book my absolute highest recommendation. So, don't wait, buy this book right now and plan on losing some sleep, because you won't be able to put it down !!!

I haven't read the other books in this set, but The Pillars of the Earth is my all-time favorite book. However, I would hardly call it a thriller. It falls more under general fiction, perhaps even a loose kind of historical fiction. That is not to say that it isn't an outstanding piece of work, just that it is a bit mislabeled in this boxed set. Perhaps the confusion is that most of Ken Follett's other books fall into the thriller/mystery category? The Pillars of the Earth is quite different from Ken Follett's many other books and I wish he would write more in this style!

To appreciate this is book of art you have to be able to look past all preconceived ideas of cemetaries and dying and look further into a higher realm of spirituality. The monuments featured in this book speak of something other than death - they speak of the person that lives on and the people that are left behind to remember them. Looking through the pages I felt a connection to another world that was very much alive. When you look at each picture you can feel the emotion. The monuments whisper to you from beneath the vines and the algae that threaten to keep their secrets forever. Looking at all of this one must wonder why so many feel the need to express their grief in such a manner? When I look at the pictures, the beautiful aged monuments tell a story of their own and possess their own mortality, especially the ones that mimic our image. Seeing their bodies covered in snow or their faces that have aged like our mortal ones instill a sense of fragility among the living and the dead alike. There is no escaping the inevitable and if you could just look past the marble and granite you would see the souls that are trying to tell you their story. After I read this book I longed to see Pere-Lachaise in Paris. I finally got the opportunity five months ago. Being there was the most surreal experience I have ever had. I found many of the monuments shown and I have to say David Robinson's photography speaks to us in a way that no spoken language can. Pere-Lachaise is over 105 acres of remarkable ethereal beauty. Cemetaries are usually thought of as the land of the dead but this book will show you how alive death can be. After you view this book you will not only see beauty, you will feel it. And if you are one of the lucky ones you will realize that cemetaries are alive and if you listen closely, you will feel what they have to say.

Cemeteries are like galleries of the dead, mausoleums and tombstones etched with the intricacy of a sculptor's chisel. Art of the Cemetery is a gorgeous visual journey into some of the most elegant and quaint gravesides around the world. Horror writer Dean Koontz reflects upon mortality while discussing his personal insights about death, and speaks about the sense of quiet charms that permeate cemeteries from New Orleans to tiny cemeteries hidden away in corners of the world. The pictures in the book represent lavish and sometimes forgotten memorials, and serve as ceremonials to the dead, whether the dearly departed are famous graves buried within Paris' Pere Lachaise cemetery or unmarked tombs decorated in simple yet loving care. Many of the tombs are studies in beauty, and photographer David Robinson's pictures paint an ethereal eye over many of the locations, giving testimony to cemeteries as artistic havens of extraordinary form and decadence. Koontz explores the perceptions of death and the afterlife by reflecting on the history of cemeteries, his eloquent words giving a sense of humanity to the imagery of death. The pictures show remarkably beautiful cemeteries, such as the Montmartre in Paris and the Jewish cemetery in Prague. The idea of transcendence is evoked through the pages, with images of exquisite emblems of wreaths and personal items left on graves to remember the dead. There seems to be a story behind many of the grave sites shown, which makes the book a fascinating exploration each time it's looked at. While the book does depict symbols and artwork of the silent world of the cemetery, it's not a somber portrayal that will sadden. The book's depictions of angelic statues and carven marble resting places serves to uplift the common misconception about death as a final end. To view the pictures and epitaphs from tombs of lovers and children is to visit an unknown soul's home, leaving your thoughts like flowers at their feet.

I was very satisfied to be hammered by nailbiting Koontz stuff...thrilled and excited to experince this new feature which I now regard as one of my best top 10 books - Thank you Mr Koontz

I was very satisfied to hammered by nailbiting Koontz stuff...thrilled and excited to experince this new feature which I now regard as one of my best top 10 books - Thank you Mr Koontz

This book was first published in 1972, Early in Dean Koontz's career. The book reviews the basic ingredients and elements of the following genres:
Science fictio and fantasy
Suspense
Mysteries
Gothic-romance
Westerns
Erotica

It's a practical book giving insights and advice.

Really now, how many writers, early in their careers, wrote a book on how to write and then proved they could become massively successful? This is a pricey book you'll need to find used. Look for a reading copy that is not collectible because it has been well worn or discharged from a library. I don't understand why Writer's Digest hasn't re-issued this.

I wish I could get Koontz to attend the StoryCon meeting on the Art, science and Application of story, which I organize.

This is the perfect book for aspiring writers. Although some of the material is outdated, Koontz covers writing in different genres, including sci-fi, suspense, westerns, gothic, and erotica. He also motivates the reader by laying out his writing methods and emphasises the discipline it takes to succeed as a writer.

I have read this book to my 4th. grade class for the last 11 years...... I have tryed to make up a different voice for each the main characters.... We have even put on a school-play based on the part of the book that takes place in the department store....the kids love getting dressed up in the costumes that I had made up ..... I love when kids come back( who are now in college /high school) and ask if I still read the story of the Oddkins....

I loved this book. I'm eleven and my teacher read it to us in fourth grade. I'd reccomend this wonderful book to anyone. I thought it was really good. For ages 6-100, It's a good book you can enjoy over and over again. If you have a rainy day, read this book!

This book was first read to me when I was in the third grade by my student teacher, and it has been my favorite book ever since. The characters, although they are stuffed animals, come to life in this enchanting tale. If you haven't read it already, I highly recommend it!

"Shattered" by Dean Koontz was a GREAT book! Once I got into the book I just couldn't put it down. The twists and turns of their journey across the U.S. made this book very interesting. There were many times when I felt for sure that Doyle and Colin were done, but somehow Dean Koontz made it so that they pulled through again. When I get emotions into a book, I know that I'm reading a well-written book. I had so many emotions flowing during this book that I could hardly contain myself. I got so angry when the "crooked" cop wouldn't believe Doyle that I had to stop reading for awhile. Thsi book kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Since I enjoy happy endings this book was definently for me! I can't wait to read Dean Koontz's other books, I think I've found a new favorite author!

I purchased this book because Whispers was the very first novel I read by Koontz. If you are a Koontz fan and have never read Whispers...now is the perfect opportunity to get the book and read one fantastic story. You will not regret it.

This is the BEST COLLECTION OF BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ BEFORE in my life. All these books puts you at the edge of your seat and you will never stop turning the pages! This book is a must get! Koontz grabs your throat and pulls you into his nightmarish wold of horror!

Well written factual account of the standoff at Ruby Ridge which cost Vicki and Sam Weaver ther lives. This book should be required reading by everyone that thinks the government is fair and just. If this dooesn't make your blood boil, maybe you should check your pulse!

This book gives a clear presentation of the tragedy that was the Weavers. One can not help but think about how their mistreatment at the hands of our government is our problem too. Although the system self-corrected its wrongs against the survivors of Ruby Ridge, it can do and has done nothing about the senseless waste of innocent lives in that tragic event. All Americans share an interest in the actions taken at Ruby Ridge, knowing that each of us are only a few positions away from the Weavers in the roll call of US citizenry. You will enjoy reading this work; although, its content will not invoke feelings of pride. If you want to know what happened on Ruby Ridge, you will not be disappointed with this book.

The photographic section in the middle of the book picturing Sammy Weaver's classmates with targets pinned on their shirts shocks one into the reality that "yes, this really did happen. A fourteen year old was murdered, his little arm shot completely off." The family dog's dead carcass has multiple tank marks from being repeatedly run over. Bock is fair in pointing out that the Weaver's had a different point of view, but hey, isn't that why our forefathers came to this country? It requires some concentration to follow all the documentary but what an amazing chronicle of the great injustice done to this family by Big Brother! Bock is very courageous and I wouldn't be surprised if the government bans the book. After all, the first thing Hitler did was to kill the real journalists. Refreshing in a time when journalists are afraid to speak out for fear of government retaliation. Direct coverage of the true events surrounding Ruby Ridge trials, great photographic section!