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Hanging on
Koontz's first try at a genre other than sci-fi. Comedy set against the background of WWII.
271 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1973
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About the author
Dean R. Koontz
287 books563 followersLibrarian's Note: This author writes under the name Dean R. Koontz and Dean Koontz. As both names appear on his works, both should be kept.
Acknowledged as "America's most popular suspense novelist" (Rolling Stone) and as one of today's most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.
Known Pseudonyms:
Leigh Nichols,
Brian Coffey,
David Axton,
Owen West,
Deanna Dwyer
Aaron Wolfe.
K.R. Dwyer
John Hill
Richard Paige
Anthony North
Acknowledged as "America's most popular suspense novelist" (Rolling Stone) and as one of today's most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions of readers around the world and the praise of critics everywhere for tales of character, mystery, and adventure that strike to the core of what it means to be human.
Known Pseudonyms:
Leigh Nichols,
Brian Coffey,
David Axton,
Owen West,
Deanna Dwyer
Aaron Wolfe.
K.R. Dwyer
John Hill
Richard Paige
Anthony North
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 17, 2022
Hanging On is an early Koontz book and was first published in 1973. I believe it was the first of his novels that was published under his own name that didn't have a science fiction or fantasy element. It's a World War Two comedy packaged to capitalize on popular books and movies of the time like Catch-22, M*A*S*H, and Kelly's Heroes. (The cover of this first 1976 paperback is an obvious M*A*S*H rip-off, and the main character is named Kelly.) There's quite a bit of randy content and sexual hijinks that is no longer politically correct (not to mention the concept of "war comedy"), but it was fine for 1973... or 1944, for that matter. It's a very funny book nonetheless, with engaging and memorable characters, absurd situations, and over-the-top farce. Not for everyone, obviously, but I enjoyed it very much. It demonstrated Koontz's widening range quite well, and made you laugh at the most inappropriate places.
November 19, 2010
"Hanging On" is a difficult book to love. It's the most un-Koontz-like book I’ve read, and that’s including “Icebound”.
The main plot is basically okay and even fairly interesting, though perhaps not completely original: during World War II, a group of army engineers is dropped behind enemy lines to make sure a river crossing is kept intact. If the bridge is bombed, they have to rebuild it. Of course, all kinds of things go awry. And that’s exactly where my problem with the book lies.
Most of the incidents, which are supposed to be funny, are actually too silly to believe they’re really happening. The worst example that comes to mind is when the main character is having sex with the only woman in the camp, right under the bridge which is – of course – bombed at that exact moment, and he escapes by crawling away crab-style with the woman still on top.
How to describe the general atmosphere …
Suppose that Monty Python decided to make a movie adaptation of Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, directed by the Steven Spielberg who did “1941”, the result would come very close to “Hanging On”. The synopsis itself compares the book to the TV show “M*A*S*H”, and indeed the cover itself almost seems like a carbon copy of the 1970’s movie poster.
Luckily, when the story’s conclusion comes nearer, ,the atmosphere becomes more serious. The silliness is still there, sure, but the characters stop being caricatures and cartoony. There’s one scene in which a smaller character dies which is written extremely well – but that also makes it so out of place. To use the same comparison as above, it’s like if you took Giovanni Ribisi’s death scene out of “Saving Private Ryan” and put it in “1941”.
Not everything is that silly, though. There are also good jokes, a sure sign of things to come. Koontz novels have always been good for a laugh here and there. “Hanging On” seems to be more about those laughs than the main storyline, as if we’re reading one of Koontz’s hilarious pieces in the official newsletter or a copy of “Useless News”. The soldier dressing up as a female nurse does get old after a while, but once the characters have found that common goal to pursue, it’s toned down just enough to achieve that sense of urgency and tension needed for the reader to care whether they actually achieve that goal or not.
The main plot is basically okay and even fairly interesting, though perhaps not completely original: during World War II, a group of army engineers is dropped behind enemy lines to make sure a river crossing is kept intact. If the bridge is bombed, they have to rebuild it. Of course, all kinds of things go awry. And that’s exactly where my problem with the book lies.
Most of the incidents, which are supposed to be funny, are actually too silly to believe they’re really happening. The worst example that comes to mind is when the main character is having sex with the only woman in the camp, right under the bridge which is – of course – bombed at that exact moment, and he escapes by crawling away crab-style with the woman still on top.
How to describe the general atmosphere …
Suppose that Monty Python decided to make a movie adaptation of Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, directed by the Steven Spielberg who did “1941”, the result would come very close to “Hanging On”. The synopsis itself compares the book to the TV show “M*A*S*H”, and indeed the cover itself almost seems like a carbon copy of the 1970’s movie poster.
Luckily, when the story’s conclusion comes nearer, ,the atmosphere becomes more serious. The silliness is still there, sure, but the characters stop being caricatures and cartoony. There’s one scene in which a smaller character dies which is written extremely well – but that also makes it so out of place. To use the same comparison as above, it’s like if you took Giovanni Ribisi’s death scene out of “Saving Private Ryan” and put it in “1941”.
Not everything is that silly, though. There are also good jokes, a sure sign of things to come. Koontz novels have always been good for a laugh here and there. “Hanging On” seems to be more about those laughs than the main storyline, as if we’re reading one of Koontz’s hilarious pieces in the official newsletter or a copy of “Useless News”. The soldier dressing up as a female nurse does get old after a while, but once the characters have found that common goal to pursue, it’s toned down just enough to achieve that sense of urgency and tension needed for the reader to care whether they actually achieve that goal or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2025
I’ve read the description on the book and kept relating it to M*A*S*H and the Korean war and it kept confusing me when it was based on World War II. Not a bad read. I was able to find a reasonable induced in good shape. It’s part of my collection now I enjoyed it enough to buy it.
July 14, 2021
This early book by Dean Koontz, published back in the early 1970s, when he was writing as Dean R. Koontz, has all the fresh descriptive passages I enjoy so much from Koontz, but the intrinsic goodness of the central character, that strongly positive hero operating with an honorable blend of wisdom and wonder, is missing from this book.
Written back in the era of so-called free love by a former college professor turned professional writer, the book is dense with lewd sexual references and negative racial, gender, and lifestyle references we now consider politically incorrect to the nth degree. It was so painful to read, I had to stop about four chapters in, then skipped to the last couple chapters so I could see what happened. I kept saying out loud, “Oh, Dean…,” and sighing with disappointment. The frank sexual, gender, ageist, and racial references using insulting words and attitudes were still there, even on the very last page.
Granted, this book does not seem to be in print anywhere, and I found it languishing in a library in a small town, obtaining it through the state-wide library program. I cannot recommend it for anything other than historical reference into the early writings of a now much revered and beloved writer. Koontz did not make it through the 70s unscathed, but he has developed his spirit and become wise since then, thank goodness.
Written back in the era of so-called free love by a former college professor turned professional writer, the book is dense with lewd sexual references and negative racial, gender, and lifestyle references we now consider politically incorrect to the nth degree. It was so painful to read, I had to stop about four chapters in, then skipped to the last couple chapters so I could see what happened. I kept saying out loud, “Oh, Dean…,” and sighing with disappointment. The frank sexual, gender, ageist, and racial references using insulting words and attitudes were still there, even on the very last page.
Granted, this book does not seem to be in print anywhere, and I found it languishing in a library in a small town, obtaining it through the state-wide library program. I cannot recommend it for anything other than historical reference into the early writings of a now much revered and beloved writer. Koontz did not make it through the 70s unscathed, but he has developed his spirit and become wise since then, thank goodness.
December 13, 2013
An early work of Dean Koontz that when viewing a list of his books within the first few pages of his books you cannot even find this one. And if have read his work and are a fan this is nothing like it. This is about a group of American troops during WWII that are placed behind enemy lines and are attempting to keep a bridge passable. This book reminded me of the old comedy show Hogan's Heroes. The characters were not your typical soldiers and ensuing hijinks follow in trying to survive. To me, the characters and the hijinks were too absurd. You did see examples of Dean Koontz's ability to define his characters with dialogue which is one reason I consider him my favorite author. I can only recommend reading this if you are looking for a novelty item from an author you enjoy.
February 4, 2019
This was an interesting read.
I've read most of Koontz's newer books, but this one had more of a humor note to it (I didn't get a horror feeling from it). It was fun for something different, but I prefer some of his more recent stuff to this.
I've read most of Koontz's newer books, but this one had more of a humor note to it (I didn't get a horror feeling from it). It was fun for something different, but I prefer some of his more recent stuff to this.
July 27, 2020
So strange to read a war story by Koontz, but it was a little more than just a war story. It was laced with his usual humor and hope and made you truly love the characters and the predicament they found themselves in (although, who isn't in a predicament when it comes to war?).
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January 26, 2023Koontz mentioned Hanging On in his book on writing, so I tracked it down (no library in California had it, but a used bookseller had a 1973 copy). I don't think it has aged well.
March 13, 2024
Did not finish the book. Story dragging on and on.
May 20, 2024
A strange novel but very enjoyable. Very different Koontz.
December 15, 2024
Koontz adds a splash of good comedy in this ww11 story of soldiers taking care of a bridge inside enemy territory. Worth the read if you can get it. I borrowed it from the internet archive.
March 18, 2015
This was such a great book. Take Koontz unsurpassed character descriptions and add some off the wall comedy and you get this book. When i read this i was expecting a thriller/horror but ended up laughing like a lunatic in some parts. I think they need to republish the book as when i read it i had to borrow it from the library.
August 9, 2012
I can see why Koontz would be embarrassed by this book these days. It can be quite naughty in places. It was genuinely funny in places and the characters were interesting enough to make it worth finishing. There's nothing really special here though.
February 7, 2013
Copyright 1973, published by a small press publisher M. Evans and Company, First edition with full 1-9 line. There was never a second printing or a book club printing. Original price was $6.95.
November 22, 2014
Koontz first book - this is different than his others - Major Kelly is ordered by General Blade to rebuild a bridge constantly bombed by Germans. Many "hints" to love affairs. The ending shows why General Blade's command was really given to rebuild the bridge
May 30, 2007
This is Dean Koontz' ode to Catch-22. If you liked "Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, you will also like this! Very witty...
September 6, 2011
It's MASH and Catch-22 in a blender. Surprisingly funny from a guy mostly known for intense horror novels.
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March 26, 2012It was ok. I enjoyed some of the graphic descriptions.
November 9, 2015
Really funny in a sort of low-key, likeable way. I wish he'd written more like this.
February 18, 2023
Why has no one made this into a movie?!
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January 10, 2019Found my list of reading from high school!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews