- Paperback: 416 pages
- Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group; Reissue edition (Mar 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0425140032
- ISBN-13: 978-0425140031
- Product Dimensions: 16.8 x 10.7 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 613,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Harry Lyon is a cop who embraces tradition and order. The biggest bane of his life is his partner, Connie Gulliver. Harry doesn’t like the messiness of her desk, her lack of social polish or her sometimes casual attitude towards the law. ‘Look, Harry, it’s the Age of Chaos,’ she tells him. ‘Get with the times.’
And when Harry and Connie have to take out a hopped-up gunman in a restaurant, the chase and shootout swiftly degenerate into a surreal nightmare that seems to justify Connie’s view of the modern world. Shortly after, Harry encounters a filthy, rag-clad denizen of the streets, who says ominously, ‘Ticktock, ticktock. You’ll be dead in sixteen hours.’ Struggling to regain the orderly life he cherishes, Harry is trapped in an undertow of terror and violence. For reasons he does not understand, someone is after him, Connie Gulliver and the people he loves.
About the Author
Dean Koontz was born into a very poor family and learned early on to escape into fiction. His novels have sold over 200 million copies worldwide and more than thirty have appeared on national and international bestseller lists. He lives in southern California with his wife, Gerda and a vivid imagination.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I began this book, I thought to myself; Wow, this really could turn out to be Koontz's best book yet. Needless to say I was wrong.
The first half of the book is a 5, the second a 3, so by default I suppose it deserves a 4 - just.
The story of Dragon Tears is one very similar to Darkfall/Darkness Comes. It's likewise set over a 24hour period, and involves a pair of detectives trying to close down a mighty and sadistic villian before its too late. I for one loved Darkfall, so I didn't mind the repetition. The villian in that story - Baba Lavelle - was uber cool. The villain in Dragon Tears is even better.
In fact, Ticktock - a kind of modern day sorcerer - is by far and away the best thing this story has going for it. He is intriguing, deep, and frightening in his mania. His torturing of the main characters, and their maddening hunt for him, is totally engrossing and not to mention thrilling.
But - as is ever a present dread when I'm reading Koontz - the author begins to implement some very daft episodes. Koontz is occasionally prone to these madcap turns. His whimsicle sense of humour sometimes gets the better of him - like in Life Expectancy, when the story turned out to be about a ridiculous fued between circus clowns and trapezers. In Dragon Tears, we get stoppages in time, and (even more stupidly) a dog as a main character, whose narration we follow as he sniffs around the streets, thinking about chasing cats and what he's going to have for dinner.
For me, a huge chunk of the book becomes just laughable. A genuine shame, as up to then the book had a real stake to claim as perhaps his best work. The climax pulls things back a bit - as if Koontz suddenly realised what was important, and treated us to a decent showdown with the villian.
A crying shame. Perhaps those of you who don't mind Koontz's quirky turns of humour and far-fetched musings will be able to abide the silliness that mars this book's second half. I for one, unfortunately, couldn't. :(
The first half of the book is a 5, the second a 3, so by default I suppose it deserves a 4 - just.
The story of Dragon Tears is one very similar to Darkfall/Darkness Comes. It's likewise set over a 24hour period, and involves a pair of detectives trying to close down a mighty and sadistic villian before its too late. I for one loved Darkfall, so I didn't mind the repetition. The villian in that story - Baba Lavelle - was uber cool. The villain in Dragon Tears is even better.
In fact, Ticktock - a kind of modern day sorcerer - is by far and away the best thing this story has going for it. He is intriguing, deep, and frightening in his mania. His torturing of the main characters, and their maddening hunt for him, is totally engrossing and not to mention thrilling.
But - as is ever a present dread when I'm reading Koontz - the author begins to implement some very daft episodes. Koontz is occasionally prone to these madcap turns. His whimsicle sense of humour sometimes gets the better of him - like in Life Expectancy, when the story turned out to be about a ridiculous fued between circus clowns and trapezers. In Dragon Tears, we get stoppages in time, and (even more stupidly) a dog as a main character, whose narration we follow as he sniffs around the streets, thinking about chasing cats and what he's going to have for dinner.
For me, a huge chunk of the book becomes just laughable. A genuine shame, as up to then the book had a real stake to claim as perhaps his best work. The climax pulls things back a bit - as if Koontz suddenly realised what was important, and treated us to a decent showdown with the villian.
A crying shame. Perhaps those of you who don't mind Koontz's quirky turns of humour and far-fetched musings will be able to abide the silliness that mars this book's second half. I for one, unfortunately, couldn't. :(
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Firstly if you want to read this book try and get your hands on the audiobook version of this book it is brilliantly read and makes the book come to life. All elements of koontz writing are in this book The heroes, The villains, twists and turns and the obligitory dog. As soon as the hulking tramp charachter entered the plot I was hooked "Tick Tock". Great paced novel and an unusual ending. Any koontz fans should add it to their collection.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an enjoyably weird horror/thriller genre. This was my first Koontz read and I was not disappointed. Extremely well written with horrifically vivid passages, I read this piece in a day!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good, but the beginning of the end....
Re-read this book recently. In both times, read it really quickly (over a couple of days).
This time I did have mixed feelings about it. Read more
This time I did have mixed feelings about it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by IT
Great evil character and luckily NO DRAGONS!
Funny enough the title kept me away from this book until I ran out of his titles to read so I went for it regardless. Read more
Published 13 months ago by frenchie
Quality used books
Good quality book, fast delivery, cheap.
Don't buy new books - used have more character - you have the satisfaction that someone has enjoyed a good read before you.
Don't buy new books - used have more character - you have the satisfaction that someone has enjoyed a good read before you.
Published on 10 May 2009 by Mr. A. J. Kirkham
How would you file that? Under "W" for "weird"
"There's a Chinese saying that goes, 'Sometimes life can be as bitter as dragon tears. But whether dragon tears are bitter or sweet depends entirely on how each man perceives the... Read more
Published on 12 July 2005 by Michele L. Worley
A fantastic build-up to an ending that doesn't arrive...
Koontz can write. No doubt. The suspense throughout the book, and the telling of the story from many different perspectives, hooks you in and it's difficult to get away from it. Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2002 by Rob smoutie@btinternet.com
ANOTHER CLASSIC HORROR WITH A TWIST
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. IT IS A TYPICALLY GOOD DEAN KOONTZ NOVEL, WITH SEVERAL CHARACTERS EACH FIGHTING THEIR OWN SMALL BATTLE, UNTIL THEY MEET UP AT THE END FOR THE FINALE. Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2001
Koontz's real mastery lies in genuinely memorable characters
Do you believe in dragons? Or that they cry? Koontz will make you believe in anything. He combines poignancy and true psychological horror to bring home the plight of characters... Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2000
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