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In de val
De weg was afgezet. Meg remde en stopte. Het onheilspellende gebouw van Biolomech doemde voor haar op. Er werd gefluisterd dat er in dit bedrijf geheime experimenten werden gedaan. een man gekleed in een zwarte jas met het bedrijfslogo van Biolomech inspecteerde Megs jeep zorgvuldig. Met een stok waarop spiegels en een lamp waren bevestigd, keek hij zelfs onder de auto, terwijl zijn collega een geweer in de aanslag hield. De spanning en angst waren van hun gezicht af te lezen...
94 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
11 people are currently reading
1876 people want to read
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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 23, 2021
'Trapped' by Dean Koontz is a fantastic animated book done in cartoon format. This is a fun and different side from the novels I am used to from him and one more example of his fabulously creative mind. The illustrations by Anthony Bilau are excellent and bring the Koontz's words to life with zest and charisma for the reader.
January 2, 2018
‘White rats locked in a laboratory cage - but try not to pity them. These dome-headed monsters are huge, bioengineered smart rats. And out they break one stormy winter night. They take over the nearby house of a widowed Mother Meg Lassiter. Hatred glows in their clever red eyes. Meg and young Tommy are their first victims. Loathsome humans, trapped...’
This was kind of disappointing on the narrative aspects. The story had real potential, huge smart rats?! Come on, could have been way, way creepier. The ending was the worst part, it just sort of ... ended. Unexpectedly and disappointingly.
The illustrations were superb, though, Anthony Bilau did a grand job. The best part was the doggo, a Lab named Doofus!
I do love Dean Koontz, but I think I prefer his books, he’s not a writer that’s easily adaptable to graphic novels.
This was kind of disappointing on the narrative aspects. The story had real potential, huge smart rats?! Come on, could have been way, way creepier. The ending was the worst part, it just sort of ... ended. Unexpectedly and disappointingly.
The illustrations were superb, though, Anthony Bilau did a grand job. The best part was the doggo, a Lab named Doofus!
I do love Dean Koontz, but I think I prefer his books, he’s not a writer that’s easily adaptable to graphic novels.
January 4, 2020
Leuk verhaal met van die heerlijke ratten.
December 13, 2025
Achter de titel, waarin het woor VAL 3 keer groter is afgebeeld dan de woorden "In de" zien we een mooi winters plaatje. Een eenzaam huis met iets verder een grote schuur in een dosolaat landschap met enkele bomen. De rest is egaal zwart zodat je goed moet kijken om de, nochtans eveneens groot afgedrukte, naam van de schrijver te kunnen lezen. Bij het geschenk van de maan van het Spannende Boek 1995 zal de naamsbekendheid vermoedelijk van geen tel geweest zijn, je kreeg het toch gratis.
Ondanks dat dit een kort verhaal van net geen 100 bladzijden is, vormt het toch een mooi afgerond geheel.
Op de weg naar huis zal hoofdkarakter Meg Lassiter met haar 10-jarig zoontje een controle passeren aan een biotech bedrijf kort bij haar huis. De schrijver maakt van die gelegenheid gebruik om een achtergrond te schetsen, zowel van wat er bij dat biolab gebeurde als hoe Meg weduwe werd en de gevolgen daarvan op haar leven.
De rest van het verhaal zal zich in en rondom haar huis (dat van de cover) afspelen. Daarbij wordt nog een personage geïntroduceerd, hun hondd Doofus. Dooduf is het minst overtuigende karakter uit het boek, de andere zijn voldoende levensecht om er te kunnen mee meeleven. Waar de autorit noodgedwongen nog langzaam verliep zal het eens thuisgekomen steeds sneller gaan.
De dreiging en dan de ontdekkling van de gemuteerde ratten gevolgd door een open oorlog bevat een hoog horror-gehalte al is de toon van het verhaal overwegend positief. De lezer hoopt en verwacht dat Meg en Tommy er levend uit zullen komen, wat de schrijver er niet van weerhoudt om het tot op het einde razend spannend te houden.
Ondanks dat dit een kort verhaal van net geen 100 bladzijden is, vormt het toch een mooi afgerond geheel.
Op de weg naar huis zal hoofdkarakter Meg Lassiter met haar 10-jarig zoontje een controle passeren aan een biotech bedrijf kort bij haar huis. De schrijver maakt van die gelegenheid gebruik om een achtergrond te schetsen, zowel van wat er bij dat biolab gebeurde als hoe Meg weduwe werd en de gevolgen daarvan op haar leven.
De rest van het verhaal zal zich in en rondom haar huis (dat van de cover) afspelen. Daarbij wordt nog een personage geïntroduceerd, hun hondd Doofus. Dooduf is het minst overtuigende karakter uit het boek, de andere zijn voldoende levensecht om er te kunnen mee meeleven. Waar de autorit noodgedwongen nog langzaam verliep zal het eens thuisgekomen steeds sneller gaan.
De dreiging en dan de ontdekkling van de gemuteerde ratten gevolgd door een open oorlog bevat een hoog horror-gehalte al is de toon van het verhaal overwegend positief. De lezer hoopt en verwacht dat Meg en Tommy er levend uit zullen komen, wat de schrijver er niet van weerhoudt om het tot op het einde razend spannend te houden.
January 26, 2023
Quite entertaining, bit of a silly concept, but a nice short read anyway.
March 1, 2023
⭐3,5⭐
July 1, 2018
Nice idea, too bad it was so short. Would have liked to read more!
July 10, 2016
I didn't read this book. I put it on my list of books to read but I see it's like a comic book. I hate comic books. So I'm going to mark this one as "read" just so that I don't go check it out again.
Read
August 6, 2018Was 2e verhaal in boekje bij 'de ravenzwarte veer' Liever gelezen dan dit 1e verhaal. In 1x uitgelezen, want kort verhaal.
December 26, 2019
als je het niet te serieus neemt, is het best vermakelijk
August 25, 2025
2023 : 3⭐️
Honest rating : 1.5⭐️
Entertaining, but nothing else.
Honest rating : 1.5⭐️
Entertaining, but nothing else.
March 23, 2020
I understand that this is a short story - I listened to the audiobook, not realising this. I then spent this morning loooking for the written one thinking that it wasn't complete. I was wrong, it was.
Loved the set up.
Hated the absolute spoon-fed allegory of being trapped - we're not stupid.
Loved Doofus.
Hated the abrupt ending... or, rather, the non-ending. Yet again, I have fallen to the self-imposed curse of the Koontz. I really do like several of his books... Strangers, Phantoms & Watchers for example... but I really really don't like a lot of them. I can cope with the repetitive tropes - they are to be expected. It seems, for me anyway, that he hops between either being 'enigmatic' ( i.e. not actually explaining anything ) or hand-holding us throughout the read ( i. e. helicopter authoring ).
Loved the set up.
Hated the absolute spoon-fed allegory of being trapped - we're not stupid.
Loved Doofus.
Hated the abrupt ending... or, rather, the non-ending. Yet again, I have fallen to the self-imposed curse of the Koontz. I really do like several of his books... Strangers, Phantoms & Watchers for example... but I really really don't like a lot of them. I can cope with the repetitive tropes - they are to be expected. It seems, for me anyway, that he hops between either being 'enigmatic' ( i.e. not actually explaining anything ) or hand-holding us throughout the read ( i. e. helicopter authoring ).
June 4, 2023
Dit was het geschenk voor de week van het spannende boek in 1995. Het is met van die korte verhalen toch altijd moeilijk om echt een goed en spannend verhaal neer te zetten. De zoon in dit verhaal praat iets te wijs voor zijn leeftijd, en richting het einde wordt het verhaal steeds absurder dat ik uiteindelijk wel dacht van 'wat heb ik voor iets onrealistisch gelezen'. Maar al met al las het snel weg.
June 15, 2021
Buenos los dibujos, una historia corta, entretenida.
A lo mejor el libro tiene un poco mas de terror o suspenso, esta versión de comic, la verdad no logra ninguno de los dos. Pero es entretenida.
Primera vez que leo (ponele) algo de Koontz, aunque creo que debería leer un libro, como para tener mas idea de su narrativa.
A lo mejor el libro tiene un poco mas de terror o suspenso, esta versión de comic, la verdad no logra ninguno de los dos. Pero es entretenida.
Primera vez que leo (ponele) algo de Koontz, aunque creo que debería leer un libro, como para tener mas idea de su narrativa.
December 21, 2017
I have been reading Dean koonts books for years, I was totally addicted every time I saw a, book o his I would update 's buy it, most of his books are brilliant this one no exception. Another Brilliant novel by Dean koontz. If you like horror books, I definitely recommend Dean joints.
July 23, 2018
Al igual que pasó con Clive Barker, Dean Koontz tuvo su adaptación en novela gráfica de una de sus obras. El resultado es un tanto mediocre, si bien ahí queda una de esas pocas obras en formato prestigio que Grijalbo puso a la venta en el '94 de forma casi anecdótica.
December 25, 2022
Heerlijk kort horrorverhaal. Je weet lange tijd niet wat er gebeurt, alleen dat het heel erg is.
En zo stormt het boek vooruit.
Ja, het is wat gedateerd, maar dat geeft helemaal niets.
Lezen, zou ik zeggen!
En zo stormt het boek vooruit.
Ja, het is wat gedateerd, maar dat geeft helemaal niets.
Lezen, zou ik zeggen!
October 19, 2018
Griping tale about mutant Rats out for human blood
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2020
Adaptación flojita que me ha dejado bastante frío.
April 9, 2022
Colección "Graphic Novels" de Grijalbo-Mondadori.
February 26, 2025
Short story, familiar trope (genetic experiment gone bad)
June 25, 2025
История с потенциал, но ако бъде развита... В този си вид е изключително недостатъчно и набързо.
July 28, 2025
Reminded me of the novel 'Creature', published by John Saul around the same time, except with rats. Written well, but not that interesting.
August 13, 2025
Boekgeschenk (1995) i.h.k.v. De maand van het spannend boek.
Snel doorgebladerd en klaar. Wat een flutverhaal over laboratoriumratten die zijn ontsnapt.
Snel doorgebladerd en klaar. Wat een flutverhaal over laboratoriumratten die zijn ontsnapt.
February 16, 2021
Very awesome short story. It does bear various resemblances to the book Watchers, and the author explains this in (I believe) the afterward. It sat as a short story requested by a magazine, and then the mag went under before it could appear.
I love how neat and perfect this story is. It's short, but somehow the author is able to get you settled down, seated in your favorite spot, adorned with pillows in front of a roaring fire, cup of hot chocolate in hand with extra marshmallows, ottoman in front of you which your slippered feet are propped up on, covered with a favorite blanky, book in hand, ALL COMFY. He manages to do this within the length of a novella, and then he blows up the house and throws you out into a snowstorm, scaring the shit out of you. That takes talent, my friends, and it is a talent unique to the author, whom which I celebrate his entire catalogue. No matter how many times I have read them all- they still give me that rainy day, familiar, comfy feeling.
I love how neat and perfect this story is. It's short, but somehow the author is able to get you settled down, seated in your favorite spot, adorned with pillows in front of a roaring fire, cup of hot chocolate in hand with extra marshmallows, ottoman in front of you which your slippered feet are propped up on, covered with a favorite blanky, book in hand, ALL COMFY. He manages to do this within the length of a novella, and then he blows up the house and throws you out into a snowstorm, scaring the shit out of you. That takes talent, my friends, and it is a talent unique to the author, whom which I celebrate his entire catalogue. No matter how many times I have read them all- they still give me that rainy day, familiar, comfy feeling.
October 20, 2016
A nicely illustrated adaptation of a Dean Koontz story.
February 22, 2017
This was a crushing disappointment.
Having really enjoyed two graphic renderings of Clive Barker stories from the same publisher, I assumed that this would be of the same calibre. That it wasn't at all was the only twist on offer.
I've never read any Dean Koontz, so I don't know whether this was a faithful adaptation of the story or his style. All I can say is that the story felt like it was written in the 60s - which is possibly forgivable of the original story, if it was (no idea), but given that this was being adapted for a more modern audience, it failed to land a single punch.
Clichéd premise? Yes. James Herbert's The Rats put through the filter of a really terrible B-movie? You bet. A potentially interesting thematic set-up of grief and feeling trapped that in no way resolves, and is only tokenly referred to in the final page? That's the one.
And it's really not helped by the artwork. There are times when you're expected to rely on characters' reactions to scenes, but this is impossible because their faces have the emotional nuance of dough. The lines are imprecise, the proportions off, the villainous rats hackneyed.
I don't like giving bad reviews, because I worry the author(s) will read them. If you are: I'm sorry. But I think you had an off-day on this one. I hope to find something else you've done that will give me the opposite impression of your work.
Having really enjoyed two graphic renderings of Clive Barker stories from the same publisher, I assumed that this would be of the same calibre. That it wasn't at all was the only twist on offer.
I've never read any Dean Koontz, so I don't know whether this was a faithful adaptation of the story or his style. All I can say is that the story felt like it was written in the 60s - which is possibly forgivable of the original story, if it was (no idea), but given that this was being adapted for a more modern audience, it failed to land a single punch.
Clichéd premise? Yes. James Herbert's The Rats put through the filter of a really terrible B-movie? You bet. A potentially interesting thematic set-up of grief and feeling trapped that in no way resolves, and is only tokenly referred to in the final page? That's the one.
And it's really not helped by the artwork. There are times when you're expected to rely on characters' reactions to scenes, but this is impossible because their faces have the emotional nuance of dough. The lines are imprecise, the proportions off, the villainous rats hackneyed.
I don't like giving bad reviews, because I worry the author(s) will read them. If you are: I'm sorry. But I think you had an off-day on this one. I hope to find something else you've done that will give me the opposite impression of your work.
December 8, 2022
The graphic novel adaptation of a Dean Koontz story.
A woman and her son find themselves snowbound in their house with a horde of genetically engineered intelligent and aggressive rats escaped from a nearby laboratory.
This book spends almost half its length setting the scene, introducing its characters and beginning to build the tension and that half of the book was very enjoyable. Unfortunately, once the rodent antagonists actually put in an appearance, things go rapidly awry.
The problem is that the idea of super-rats who set out to murder a random woman and her son is pretty silly. Once these rats have spiked the All-Bran with poison and sabotaged the engine of the Jeep, all sense of being rooted in the real world has been cast aside. I was onboard with the idea of rats which are unusually large, intelligent and aggressive towards humans but when they actually begin plotting my suspension of disbelief snapped.
The whole thing is then wrapped up far too fast (turns out you just have to shoot the rats) and leaves you with an aftertaste of "What the hell did I just read?".
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
A woman and her son find themselves snowbound in their house with a horde of genetically engineered intelligent and aggressive rats escaped from a nearby laboratory.
This book spends almost half its length setting the scene, introducing its characters and beginning to build the tension and that half of the book was very enjoyable. Unfortunately, once the rodent antagonists actually put in an appearance, things go rapidly awry.
The problem is that the idea of super-rats who set out to murder a random woman and her son is pretty silly. Once these rats have spiked the All-Bran with poison and sabotaged the engine of the Jeep, all sense of being rooted in the real world has been cast aside. I was onboard with the idea of rats which are unusually large, intelligent and aggressive towards humans but when they actually begin plotting my suspension of disbelief snapped.
The whole thing is then wrapped up far too fast (turns out you just have to shoot the rats) and leaves you with an aftertaste of "What the hell did I just read?".
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
August 13, 2013
This is a book I have known about for some time (back in the early 90s in fact when I first found the works of Dean Koontz) but I have never had the money or chance to read it but today I did - strange how you find these things when you are not expecting them.
Anyway the book - its not a long read to be honest - it is based upon one of Dean's short stories although without me being told so I would not have realised. The artwork obviously takes up a lot of the descriptions the story would have contained - no doubt cutting down the page count - but in the process I feel taking away some of the essence of what makes a Dean Koontz story. Dont get me wrong I did enjoy the read and looking back has many of the elements of a classics Koontz but it does not have the same presence as say something like Oddkins.
Anyway the book - its not a long read to be honest - it is based upon one of Dean's short stories although without me being told so I would not have realised. The artwork obviously takes up a lot of the descriptions the story would have contained - no doubt cutting down the page count - but in the process I feel taking away some of the essence of what makes a Dean Koontz story. Dont get me wrong I did enjoy the read and looking back has many of the elements of a classics Koontz but it does not have the same presence as say something like Oddkins.
October 3, 2025
I can’t help but think this one suffered from it’s format. This story could have been really awesome fleshed out as a real novel. Apparently it’s an adaptation of one of Koontz’s short stories, and I think I would have preferred to read it in that form.
The story was ok - killer rats escape from a lab and attack a family. But in a shortened graphic novel format it felt so abbreviated. It felt a little like a tv episode. You know, one where you already knew the characters well so you didn’t have to waste time on character development. But maybe like a sweeps episode where they do crazy stuff like blow up houses and unravel conspiracy theories all in a neat 42 minute story arc.
(Reading Challenge category: A graphic novel)
The story was ok - killer rats escape from a lab and attack a family. But in a shortened graphic novel format it felt so abbreviated. It felt a little like a tv episode. You know, one where you already knew the characters well so you didn’t have to waste time on character development. But maybe like a sweeps episode where they do crazy stuff like blow up houses and unravel conspiracy theories all in a neat 42 minute story arc.
(Reading Challenge category: A graphic novel)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews