Stephen King vs Dean Koontz?
By pathias88
@pathias88 (4)
United States
June 17, 2009 3:19pm CST
I've seen a lot of arguments over Koontz and King. Even Seth Macfarlane has joined in on Family Guy. Personally, I've read both King and Koontz and love them both...
Stephen King is mostly a horror writer. He slowly builds up a frightening story and eventually shows the big picture.
Dean Koontz is more of a suspense writer. He follows one character from the beginning of the novel and what happens to them.
Can two authors of two different genres be compared?
By the way, for those wondering about the Family Guy comment. The scene is this:
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Brian is driving a truck down the road and runs over a man. He gets out of the truck and says "Oh my god! Are you Stephen King?!"
The man says, "No, I'm Dean Koontz."
Brian says, "Oh."
He gets back in the truck and runs over him again.
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1 person likes this
4 responses
@kel1483 (986)
• United States
18 Jun 09
I actually had never heard of Stephen King and Dean Koontz being compared so much until I started on mylot about a year ago. I never have read any Stephen King, but I do love Dean Koontz. I'd say he's my favorite author. To me, I wouldn't necessarily compare the two, because I'd have to agree with you...Stephen King I would consider Horror and Dean Koontz I would consider suspense/thriller stuff. I don't really like straight up horror, so that's probably why I haven't read any Stephen King, but I have been considering it. I just don't know which of his books to start with.
@pathias88 (4)
• United States
18 Jun 09
Well, a lot of people don't know this, but quite a few Stephen King books take place in the same town, Castle Rock. He's been using this town for like 30 years. The characters develop in each book, as does the town. If you want to start reading Stephen King, I would start with an old book.
The main story is different in each book, but there's a bigger picture that comes together over the years.
@gingerale (225)
• Philippines
29 Jun 09
Hi, I'm neither a Stephen King nor Dean Koontz fan. I've learned Koontz is a suspense-thriller writer and King is more of a Horror writer. But one thing I was so surprised of is that when I browsed over his Shawshank Redemption, it was really good. It's not so Stephen's yet it's really a wonderful book. Why don't you try reading Stephen's Shawshank, I guarantee you would really see the other side of the author. I assure you it's not horror. It's a story about friendship; the kind that makes you believe that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel, hope, that is; inspirational; happy ending! Try it!
@GuitarGod1974 (2)
• United States
27 Jul 09
Hands down King. However I actually started out reading Dean Koontz in High School and later turned to Stephen King to see why he was called the "Master of Horror". I am sold. Now when I read Koontz I can't even finish a chapter without becoming bored. His stories are all about government conspiracies and politics. He is too wordy the way he goes on and on with mundane details. You can't relate to any of his characters. King's characters are down to earth, blue collar, boy/girl next door with a Ford pick-up truck and a Budweiser. Koontz characters are Mercedes and Dom Perignon. I feel like I should be donning a Mr. Howell (Gilligan's Island) accent through clenched teeth "Lovey dahhhling you look smashing"... And since when does a 14 year old child have such an intellectual conversation with adults she uses words like "Exorbitant", "Loquacious" and "Portentous".
@jgbe4245 (56)
• United States
10 Jul 09
I only have I think one Steven King's books but my library is filled with Koontz. I started reading his books several years ago and haven't stopped. I never really could sit down and read one of King's books with out wanting to watch the movies instead.
I guess I have to say that I like Koontz better.
