The Dark Symphony

by Dean Koontz

Alliance Against The Stars! Men came home to Earth, home from the stars...home to rule a world that they hated! But Earth was easy prey, for there was little left after the last of the atomic wars, except for pathetic mutants picking a living in the ruins...and others, creatures no longer even remotely human, who threatened to supplant the last strains of real man. The men from the stars moved in, bringing their star-born societies, setting themselves up as masters over the mutant world...a world of creatures not even fit to be slaves! But the mutants were still there, too many to kill off, and the new races plotted together against the masters from the stars!

Genres: Horror, Science Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Post Apocalyptic, Novels

205 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

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.

Dean, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.

Facebook: Facebook.com/DeanKoontzOfficial
Twitter: @DeanKoontz
Website: DeanKoontz.com

Reviews

[Jim C · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is one of the author's earlier works as he wrote in the science fiction genre instead of the suspense thriller genre he is now known for. In this one, we visit Earth in the future where there is a society known as the Musicians. They are an elite, advanced society. We also have the Populars who are oppressed by the Musicians and have a plan for rebellion.

I have read several of these early works by Dean Koontz and I classify them as "novelty" reads. Koontz is my favorite author but I know these books are not going to be really good. I am reading them because I am curious about his works early in his career. This one follows that pattern as it really isn't that good. There have been many science fiction stories about one society oppressing another society and the oppressed society fighting back. This one follows that theme. The problem with this book is I never felt the true extent of the world. This book would have benefited from some more world building. I did come interested in the book when the rebellion started and the action was at the forefront.

Nothing really special here. Then again I wasn't expecting anything special. I am glad I can check this one off my list of reads from this author. The only reason to read this book is to see how this author penned his book early in his career before he became famous.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was Koontz's fourth-published novel and is a solid example of the science fiction genre of 1970. It has a society of men returning from the stars to rule over a land of mutants in the radioactive wastelands of Earth. There's a lot of musical reference and imagery that didn't work too well for me, but it does make it stand out a bit from the pack. Joanna Russ reviewed the book in F&SF and said lots and lots of mean things like: “…it’s unabashed trash and will do to prop up a table leg” but I think she was over-reacting. It's a fine, typical sf adventure, not especially memorable or outstanding, but I enjoyed it.

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

titular-ish sentence:
p10: Ladies who were pregnant were placed in a weaving symphony of sound that carried subliminal suggestions even into the developing forebrain of the fetus.

ocr:
p31: Of course, he thought, they aren't going to throw one test at me that is essentially like the last, even if 1 am battling for a mere Class IV.

p83: He gagged repeatedly, felt the soft tissues of his throat beginning to bum, felt his chest swell and his lungs begin to ache.

There is also a number of instances of missing or extra periods and spaces.

typo:
p64: Moving quickly, stumbling over broken chunks of concrete and sheets of twisted plastic, he made for the cracked and partially dedemolished facade of a building whose other three walls had collapsed.

p97: There was definitely nothing sentimental about that last statment; it was delivered coldly, sharply, and with the same evenness a businessman might employ when talking about his inventory.

p113: "I don't want to hear it," the Comoposer shrieked.

A musical story! That alone is worth noting.

There is also that absense of culinary aspects, also worth noting.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mutantes, sangre, muerte, guerra, ratas... y más xD

[Sergei_kalinin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Хотя Дин Кунц и считается одним из "мастеров ужаса", эта книга нисколько не зацепила :(

"Тройку" поставил (а) за местами неплохую атмосферность фантастического мира, в котором всё происходит. Речь о Земле в далёком будущем, которая пережила ядерно-химический апокалипсис и лежит в руинах. Оставшиеся в живых люди превратились в мутантов, которые представляют из себя традиционный бестиарий адских обитателей - существа напоминающие чертей, вампиров и т.п.

При этом Земля захвачена инопланетянами, которые живут в городах-государствах. В книге описана некая инопланетная раса "музыкантов", которые умеют создавать буквально всё из застывших звуков. Местами интересно :)

(б) Книга на самом деле про революцию :). Мутанты-"популяры" вдруг решают вернуть Земле былое величие, и начать это дело надо, конечно же, с убийства "музыкантов" и с разрушения их города-государства.

При этом "музыканты" хотя и высшая цивилизация, но их нравы и обычаи больше всего напоминают то ли древнеримское общество, то ли древнегреческие полисы в период расцвета. Короче, полный разврат и моральное разложение. Т.е. у мутантов вроде бы даже есть оправдание, но...

Раскрывать перепетии сюжета и интригу не буду, но догадайтесь с одного раза, чем заканчиваются революции для их организаторов и непосредственных участников?

[Tricia Toney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first time that I met a Koontz novel that I didn't really care for. A race of advanced humans called the Musicians have returned to Earth and conquered it. The originals humans left on Earth are almost all mutants. A young Musician discovers that he is the child of mutants and has been swapped out for a Musician baby. He works with the mutants to bring down the corrupt Musician society.

[John Slater · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this is as bad as people say. It was readable but a bit cliche. Not the best thing I have read but far from the worst

[Art the Turtle of Amazing Girth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad first solo effort

He needs to move on from sci-fi, but until he does these are fine

[Ron · Rating 1 out of 5]

His sixth novel.

[Nigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another early sci-fi novel from Koontz that certainly leaves one to think. The basic concept of a society based solely on music was not one I had come across before. All of the buildings are creations based on complex sound waves. As an idea it is bit out there but sci-fi is supposed to stretch one’s mind. The plot centres on the long term plan of the mutant outsiders who swap out a musician’s child with one of their own to enable it to be a sleeper agent. At an appropriate time the agent is activated in order to facilitate an attack on the musician’s city.
It is a relatively short book at just over 200 pages but it still manages to explore several themes. On is centred on the coming of age of the young males in the city, this is a particularly violent set of tests which result in only one of two outcomes. Either they are granted ascension to the adult society or death. Death is either as a result of not surviving the trials or because they are taken away and euthanized. This theme later morphs into an introspective look at a society that allows such pain and suffering as a rite of passage. The sleeper agent having been triggered and meeting his mutant family realises that not all of what his has been told is true. This then causes a dilemma, should he return to his musician’s life and ignore the suffering of his ‘real’ family or should he carry out that for which he was born and help the mutants in the attack knowing that this would lead to the death of many on both sides.
All in all a very enjoyable read.

[MikeR · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Dark Symphony" by Dean Koontz is a lesser-known novel from his early career, first published in 1970. This book mixes elements of science fiction and dystopian ideas, setting the stage in a future Earth that has been devastated. The story centers around space travelers who return to Earth with the intent to control it, encountering a world inhabited by mutants and other evolved beings.

In this divided society, the space travelers, having spent years in the cosmos, see themselves as superior and aim to rule over the mutated people of Earth. Meanwhile, the mutants, along with other evolved creatures, begin to fight back against this new threat, sparking a conflict for survival and control.

In "The Dark Symphony," Koontz demonstrates his budding storytelling skills. The novel is divided into three sections, similar to a musical symphony, which adds to its rich themes. His writing is colourful and imaginative, blending elements of dystopian and science fiction with suspenseful moments. While the book received mixed feedback, it provides insight into the evolution of Koontz's writing style, which became more polished in his later popular works.

[Alessandro Pellizzari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un po' troppo simile, come trama di fondo e personaggi, al libro precedente (Jumbo 10), nonostante l'ambientazione completamente diversa.
E in più la narrazione è lenta e a volte noiosa.

Spero che i prossimi romanzi non siano tutti analoghi (mutanti reietti, fuga dalla realtà e dalla guerra, ecc.)

[Sergey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Неожиданно сильная книга. Фантастика с по сути утопическим сюжетом и неплохими философскими рассуждениями о человеческом обществе, вплетёнными в основной сюжет.
Читателям не склонным вникать в суперцель книг, покажется проходным середнячком.

[Al]

Mutants from the atomic bomb ridden Earth meet Mankind from the stars who escaped just before the destruction. The mutants won't give up and let space-man rule Earth once again.

[Jeanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea was interesting, the execution - not the greatest. Was disappointed with how it progressed.

[Simon Gelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average

[Jewelee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could've been a good book, but I didn't like the musician part of it...just way too far-fetched for my taste.

[Ralph Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading another of Koontz's early novels. As with the others, I quite enjoyed this one.