The City is more or less standard Koontz. Not like his old novels, but readable. This one only has what I would describe as a “slight paranormal presence”, as opposed to most of his other books. And there is (human) “evil” involved. It reminded me more of a Robert R. McCammon story. In fact, if you removed all paranormal aspects, it would be a fairly good “normal” story. Maybe even a better story, in its own way. (one could almost wonder if the addition of the paranormal aspects were a secondary afterthought, to satisfy his fans, but I try to not be that cynical)
I have to admit that I do kind of miss his “old style” of writing, before he got rich and famous. For those who have not been paying attention, most of his earlier books were very formulaic. I didn’t mind. I’ve read almost everything he’s written. The formula more or less went like this:
There is a woman. She is alone, and maybe a little lonely, and would like to be with someone, but doesn’t have to be with someone. She is fairly strong in her own way, and doesn’t need a man to take care of her or make her “whole” (or at least she doesn’t think so). She has had a hard life in one or more ways, but is a survivor. She has (psychological) “demons” and such, and a history of some sort, that she is trying to deal with as best as she can.
And there is a man. He is alone, and maybe a little lonely, and would like to be with someone, but doesn’t have to be with someone. He is fairly strong in his own way, and doesn’t need a woman to take care of him or make him “whole” (or at least he doesn’t think so). He has had a hard life in one or more ways, but is a survivor. He has (psychological) “demons” and such, and a history of some sort, that he is trying to deal with as best as he can.
And then there is some odd, weird, strange, usually paranormal, “thing” that ends up throwing them together, that they have to fight and survive, which they usually do. Most of the time they end up falling in love along the way. Sometimes there is a child involved, as well. And often one or both of them, the man and woman, were orphans. (or the child)
And almost every one of his stories has the word “macadam” in it. (pavement, roadway, etc. – pronounced mac-a-DAM!) This story does not, and it was missed.
If you know Koontz, then the above should sound very familiar to you.
I always worry a bit about pointing that out to people. It’s kind of like telling people who LOVE Emily Dickinson’s poetry that most of her poems can be sung to the tune of “The Yellow Rose of Texas.” That ruins it for some.
Anyway, if you like Koontz, you will probably like “The City.”