What do you think?
Strange Highways and Other Stories
13 classic Dean Koontz short stories. One chilling collection.
In "Strange Highways," a floundering alcoholic gets a mysterious second chance to relive the night his life began its downward spiral 20 years ago. But on this dark journey, he’ll be supremely tested by conflict with his successful, charismatic older brother, his loss of faith, and the clash between good and the ultimate evil.
Sink into this binge-worthy collection of beloved Koontz short stories, featuring denizens of hell, vengeful children, and eerily human-like robots that will send shivers down your spine.
"Strange Highways"“The Black Pumpkin”“Miss Attila the Hun”“Down in the Darkness”“Ollie’s Hands”“Snatcher”“Trapped”“Bruno”“We Three”“Hardshell”“Kittens”“The Night of the Storm”“Twilight of the Dawn”©1995 STRANGE HIGHWAYS © 1995 by Dean R. Koontz.
In "Strange Highways," a floundering alcoholic gets a mysterious second chance to relive the night his life began its downward spiral 20 years ago. But on this dark journey, he’ll be supremely tested by conflict with his successful, charismatic older brother, his loss of faith, and the clash between good and the ultimate evil.
Sink into this binge-worthy collection of beloved Koontz short stories, featuring denizens of hell, vengeful children, and eerily human-like robots that will send shivers down your spine.
"Strange Highways"“The Black Pumpkin”“Miss Attila the Hun”“Down in the Darkness”“Ollie’s Hands”“Snatcher”“Trapped”“Bruno”“We Three”“Hardshell”“Kittens”“The Night of the Storm”“Twilight of the Dawn”©1995 STRANGE HIGHWAYS © 1995 by Dean R. Koontz.
506 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2022
About the author
Dean Koontz
904 books40.9k followersAcknowledged 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
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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 24, 2023
Although this collection of short stories is as wonderful as expected, or that I found myself invested in several of them to the point of unconsciousness to the real world, and that Dean Koontz is a wonderful writer, there were one or two that missed the mark for me. Wow! That was hard to say. I will trust that my review of his work will neither ruin his day nor send me to the confessional for absolution.
July 12, 2023
I enjoy the "Super Ks" - King and Koontz - both have great imaginations and tremendous writing skills. Think I give the edge to King in the short story category, he has had some good enough to be made into films, think "Stand By Me" and "The Shawshank Redemption" but I think Koontz has the edge in pure skill as a wordsmith. Just a pleasure to see/hear his use of language and sentence structure.
This is my first story collection by Koontz and like most short story collections the results are uneven. Some "meh", some just too unbelievable, some really thought provoking and involving but a worthy effort.
Post pandemic and moving into "semi-retirement" mode means I do not travel as far or as frequently so it takes a bit longer to get through most audiobooks, this one seemed to be a bit longer than usual but it was absorbing and passed the time well.
This is my first story collection by Koontz and like most short story collections the results are uneven. Some "meh", some just too unbelievable, some really thought provoking and involving but a worthy effort.
Post pandemic and moving into "semi-retirement" mode means I do not travel as far or as frequently so it takes a bit longer to get through most audiobooks, this one seemed to be a bit longer than usual but it was absorbing and passed the time well.
February 20, 2023
A wonderful anthology by the best
These stories run the gamut from disturbing to inspiring. Koontz prose is almost hallucinatory in it's depth, three dimensional, he brings you into a world layered with mystery and the very magic that is the life of every one of us. You will really enjoy this one. Don't miss a great read.
These stories run the gamut from disturbing to inspiring. Koontz prose is almost hallucinatory in it's depth, three dimensional, he brings you into a world layered with mystery and the very magic that is the life of every one of us. You will really enjoy this one. Don't miss a great read.
September 10, 2023
Oof
I probably shouldn't rate this collection of short stories because I stopped reading halfway through the first one, and who knows, maybe some or at least one of the others are good--but I doubt it. For example, the story I tried to read, "Strange Highways," was so heavy-handed, that it reminded me of one of those ubiquitous religious pamphlets you'd come across in public restrooms, park benches, bus stations, etc. Now, I've been following Dean's career for the last fifty years of so and am quite aware of his penchant for religious fetishism, but I wasn't ready for the over-the-top nonsense of this story. If you're like me and sometimes tire of Dean's proselytizing, you may wish to skip the first story.
I probably shouldn't rate this collection of short stories because I stopped reading halfway through the first one, and who knows, maybe some or at least one of the others are good--but I doubt it. For example, the story I tried to read, "Strange Highways," was so heavy-handed, that it reminded me of one of those ubiquitous religious pamphlets you'd come across in public restrooms, park benches, bus stations, etc. Now, I've been following Dean's career for the last fifty years of so and am quite aware of his penchant for religious fetishism, but I wasn't ready for the over-the-top nonsense of this story. If you're like me and sometimes tire of Dean's proselytizing, you may wish to skip the first story.
February 21, 2023
I did not enjoy reading this book.I couldn’t even finish the whole book. I find Mr. Koontz’s writings to be frustrating and well, just weird. I do not enjoy that he feels he must use such big words that I have to frequently use the dictionary feature to see what it means. Surely he must write with a thesaurus by his side. I read for enjoyment and relaxation and his novels are just too far out there and too much work. Will try and avoid his books from now on. If you like science fiction and like to flaunt your verbal acuity well then this might be for you.
May 21, 2024
if i could give it zero stars i would
July 30, 2026
This collection has a multitude of genres: horror, thriller, supernatural, mystery, short story and novella, and all are suspenseful in their own way.
The anchor story, a novella, “Strange Highways,” is one of second chances for roads (or highways) not taken. The narrator, Joey, the younger brother, a heavy drinker who leads a solitary life in a trailer and works as a dealer in a Vegas casino, comes to his hometown for his father’s funeral. He finds his father has left him everything, despite his far more successful older brother, PJ, having supported the family. PJ is a best-selling author gadding about the world and too busy to even arrive for the funeral. PJ is too perfect- valedictorian, writer, charmer of women, star athlete - and by the mid-point of the story we know he is going to unravel. The triggering moment is when Joey, driving through his old neighborhood, arrives at a fork in the road where one branch leads through an abandoned town, Coal Valley, about to be subsumed by underground gasses. Twenty years ago he was at this same fork and took the other road that led to a series of unfortunate events and to his failed life – this time, he takes the road into Coal Valley to see what happens. And it leads to time shifts, murder, and a reckoning.
The short stories were forgettable, except for a couple: “Down in the Darkness” – where a Vietnam vet of Mexican heritage attains economic success through hard work at his family-owned restaurant, and buys a house with a magical cellar that leads into the depths of the earth where wronged souls lie in wait to take revenge. Our veteran makes a list of people he can lead down there to get his own revenge. The story I liked the most was “Olie’s Hands”: a mute vagrant with a special gift to fool people (he can make a cashier believe he has tended a $20 bill for a purchase and even receive change back, when he actually hands over no real money), meets a drug addicted girl, the most beautiful person he is ever going to meet. Despite healing and caring for her, he realizes that his special gift is also his nemesis.
Another novella that got mention in Koontz’s “Notes to Reader” is “Trapped,” a story he had to cut down from 24,000 words to 18,000 and was then asked to cut it down by another four or five thousand words. He refused and terminated the contract with that magazine. It is published in this edition in the 18,000-word version. And given its content, and Koontz’s proclivity for excess description, it could have been cut further, as the plot is pretty simple: genetically engineered rats escape from a nearby research facility and invade the farm of a widow and her injured son. The stakes escalate as we follow two story strands closing in on each other: that of the hunters and that of the hunted.
Full disclosure: I did not read the entire book, but I read enough. I find horror and the supernatural have no guardrails and anything is possible to the author who has unlimited scope for contrivance; the reader just has to hang in and suspend disbelief that keeps mounting the deeper you read. That, coupled with bombastic prose, makes one want to skip ahead.
After reading Odd Hours, I was prepared to give Dean Koontz another chance, that’s why I picked up this book. But I have to conclude, his style of writing is not for me. The horror, suspense, and thriller elements get watered down in his desire to write lengthy and detailed prose, squandering beats that could have been used to elevate our heartbeats instead of having us wade through plodding sentences. As Celeste in the title story says, “Successful writers are not necessarily good.”
The anchor story, a novella, “Strange Highways,” is one of second chances for roads (or highways) not taken. The narrator, Joey, the younger brother, a heavy drinker who leads a solitary life in a trailer and works as a dealer in a Vegas casino, comes to his hometown for his father’s funeral. He finds his father has left him everything, despite his far more successful older brother, PJ, having supported the family. PJ is a best-selling author gadding about the world and too busy to even arrive for the funeral. PJ is too perfect- valedictorian, writer, charmer of women, star athlete - and by the mid-point of the story we know he is going to unravel. The triggering moment is when Joey, driving through his old neighborhood, arrives at a fork in the road where one branch leads through an abandoned town, Coal Valley, about to be subsumed by underground gasses. Twenty years ago he was at this same fork and took the other road that led to a series of unfortunate events and to his failed life – this time, he takes the road into Coal Valley to see what happens. And it leads to time shifts, murder, and a reckoning.
The short stories were forgettable, except for a couple: “Down in the Darkness” – where a Vietnam vet of Mexican heritage attains economic success through hard work at his family-owned restaurant, and buys a house with a magical cellar that leads into the depths of the earth where wronged souls lie in wait to take revenge. Our veteran makes a list of people he can lead down there to get his own revenge. The story I liked the most was “Olie’s Hands”: a mute vagrant with a special gift to fool people (he can make a cashier believe he has tended a $20 bill for a purchase and even receive change back, when he actually hands over no real money), meets a drug addicted girl, the most beautiful person he is ever going to meet. Despite healing and caring for her, he realizes that his special gift is also his nemesis.
Another novella that got mention in Koontz’s “Notes to Reader” is “Trapped,” a story he had to cut down from 24,000 words to 18,000 and was then asked to cut it down by another four or five thousand words. He refused and terminated the contract with that magazine. It is published in this edition in the 18,000-word version. And given its content, and Koontz’s proclivity for excess description, it could have been cut further, as the plot is pretty simple: genetically engineered rats escape from a nearby research facility and invade the farm of a widow and her injured son. The stakes escalate as we follow two story strands closing in on each other: that of the hunters and that of the hunted.
Full disclosure: I did not read the entire book, but I read enough. I find horror and the supernatural have no guardrails and anything is possible to the author who has unlimited scope for contrivance; the reader just has to hang in and suspend disbelief that keeps mounting the deeper you read. That, coupled with bombastic prose, makes one want to skip ahead.
After reading Odd Hours, I was prepared to give Dean Koontz another chance, that’s why I picked up this book. But I have to conclude, his style of writing is not for me. The horror, suspense, and thriller elements get watered down in his desire to write lengthy and detailed prose, squandering beats that could have been used to elevate our heartbeats instead of having us wade through plodding sentences. As Celeste in the title story says, “Successful writers are not necessarily good.”
August 2, 2024
Fourteen short stories for a Dean Koontz fix.
Twenty-two and thirty minutes of short stories from Dean Koontz narrated by Jeff Cummings, Nick Podekl, Dick Hill, Will Damron, and Tanya Eby makes for several days of enjoyment as you listen to the fourteen stories making up this audiobook. While I enjoyed all the stories – some stories more than others, my favorites of this collection were: Strange Highways, The Black Pumpkin, The Night of the Storm, Twilight of the Dawn, and Chase. I’d have to say the two best stories - Strange Highways, and Chase -bookended the collection. If you enjoy short stories or Dean Koontz then get a copy of the audiobook and settle in for plenty of entertainment read by five excellent narrators who each bring the stories and characters to life.
Twenty-two and thirty minutes of short stories from Dean Koontz narrated by Jeff Cummings, Nick Podekl, Dick Hill, Will Damron, and Tanya Eby makes for several days of enjoyment as you listen to the fourteen stories making up this audiobook. While I enjoyed all the stories – some stories more than others, my favorites of this collection were: Strange Highways, The Black Pumpkin, The Night of the Storm, Twilight of the Dawn, and Chase. I’d have to say the two best stories - Strange Highways, and Chase -bookended the collection. If you enjoy short stories or Dean Koontz then get a copy of the audiobook and settle in for plenty of entertainment read by five excellent narrators who each bring the stories and characters to life.
November 6, 2023
The short story isn't dead!
This collection of short stories was more enjoyable than some of the author's full-size novels, because there were so many different, sometimes shocking, original ideas at the foundation of most of them. The stories illustrated the author's wide ranging creative variety though the development of so many strange but original ideas into near-believable accounts. Who ever heard of a story about human beings regarded as nothing but a persistent myth? This assortment of so many different story ideas in one volume is what made this collection so worthwhile.
This collection of short stories was more enjoyable than some of the author's full-size novels, because there were so many different, sometimes shocking, original ideas at the foundation of most of them. The stories illustrated the author's wide ranging creative variety though the development of so many strange but original ideas into near-believable accounts. Who ever heard of a story about human beings regarded as nothing but a persistent myth? This assortment of so many different story ideas in one volume is what made this collection so worthwhile.
May 14, 2024
As a previous reviewer said, King does short stories best but Koontz is pretty good in his own right.
However, I had trouble reading this book (Kindle version) because of the terrible formatting. Not divided into chapters, not letting you know how much longer the slog for a story will be—yes, there was the occasional stinker—and finding "Dean Koontz" in the middle of the page. They must have used a really poor AI engine to convert a printed copy to ebook format. I expected better of Kindle Unlimited.
However, I had trouble reading this book (Kindle version) because of the terrible formatting. Not divided into chapters, not letting you know how much longer the slog for a story will be—yes, there was the occasional stinker—and finding "Dean Koontz" in the middle of the page. They must have used a really poor AI engine to convert a printed copy to ebook format. I expected better of Kindle Unlimited.
March 2, 2023
fantastic.
every story was profound, beautifully written in every way: characters, scenes, and tension both between the characters themselves and between the story and myself. koontz develops his characters with excellent prose, providing the means for the possible production an entire tv series simply with a 5 chapter story. please read its entirety, including the author’s note
every story was profound, beautifully written in every way: characters, scenes, and tension both between the characters themselves and between the story and myself. koontz develops his characters with excellent prose, providing the means for the possible production an entire tv series simply with a 5 chapter story. please read its entirety, including the author’s note
May 8, 2023
Dean Koontz Doing What He Does Best...
As an author, Dean Koontz has few equals. His prose is eloquent, descriptive and paints vivid mental images that make each tale come alive for the reader. Having previously only read his novels, I was unsure abut this collection of short stories until I dived in. Excellent! Each story has "legs" and whether "long-ish" or short, is a masterclass in storytelling. Enjoy!
As an author, Dean Koontz has few equals. His prose is eloquent, descriptive and paints vivid mental images that make each tale come alive for the reader. Having previously only read his novels, I was unsure abut this collection of short stories until I dived in. Excellent! Each story has "legs" and whether "long-ish" or short, is a masterclass in storytelling. Enjoy!
May 20, 2023
One of His Best
In particular, the story, “ Twilight of the Dawn” expresses the conflict between all-too-human doubts about organized religion and the seemingly universal need to believe in
something that might in some way mitigate the finality of death. The other stories vary from humor to mystery to weird and much in between. A very enjoyable read.
In particular, the story, “ Twilight of the Dawn” expresses the conflict between all-too-human doubts about organized religion and the seemingly universal need to believe in
something that might in some way mitigate the finality of death. The other stories vary from humor to mystery to weird and much in between. A very enjoyable read.
July 3, 2023
Great collection
Dean Koontz tackles ideas about parallel universes and inherent evil in this collection of stories. The only negative is he should double check his formatting before submitting for publication. Not having spaces between each paragraph made the read a little less smooth.
Dean Koontz tackles ideas about parallel universes and inherent evil in this collection of stories. The only negative is he should double check his formatting before submitting for publication. Not having spaces between each paragraph made the read a little less smooth.
December 19, 2023
Really liked this book. Many different stories of all kinds. Well written.
I really enjoyed this compilation. Every story was distinct and well written and had a story about it. It is unforgettable for me. I think a lot about the afterlife now based on this. Very well done.
I really enjoyed this compilation. Every story was distinct and well written and had a story about it. It is unforgettable for me. I think a lot about the afterlife now based on this. Very well done.
June 24, 2024
Great short story anthology
Truly enjoyable! Various stories by Dean Koontz with the suspense and sci-fi/supernatural aspects you have come to expect from this excellent author. If you feel like you don't have time or the attention to spend on a full-length novel, then give these individual, shorter stories a chance. You'll be equally hooked.
Truly enjoyable! Various stories by Dean Koontz with the suspense and sci-fi/supernatural aspects you have come to expect from this excellent author. If you feel like you don't have time or the attention to spend on a full-length novel, then give these individual, shorter stories a chance. You'll be equally hooked.
November 17, 2024
STRANGE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT
These are the strangest and the weirdest stories I have ever read from Dean Kontz, if I read them without knowing the author, I would not think it was Dean, maybe a Steven King wannabe. I have to say, in my opinion, it's the worst Dean Kontz book/stories I've ever read.
These are the strangest and the weirdest stories I have ever read from Dean Kontz, if I read them without knowing the author, I would not think it was Dean, maybe a Steven King wannabe. I have to say, in my opinion, it's the worst Dean Kontz book/stories I've ever read.
April 25, 2023
Thanks for the Memories and the Nightmares
Personally the Robot story was my favorite. Would love for a Dean Koontz novel about robots and androids. I am a fan of short stories and would love to read more of them from this favorite author of shudders!
Personally the Robot story was my favorite. Would love for a Dean Koontz novel about robots and androids. I am a fan of short stories and would love to read more of them from this favorite author of shudders!
May 24, 2023
THEOSOPHICAL WARNING
This is overall a good collection. Koontz’s drum banging for (admittedly) vague spiritual beliefs, and his insistence that a life absent belief has no meaning may be a bit much for some. For others, it may not be specific enough.
Just letting y’all know.
This is overall a good collection. Koontz’s drum banging for (admittedly) vague spiritual beliefs, and his insistence that a life absent belief has no meaning may be a bit much for some. For others, it may not be specific enough.
Just letting y’all know.
June 2, 2023
All great stories
Dean Koontz is my favorite author, so I loved every story. Why is there no formatting at all? No paragraphs, title and author inserted randomly in text, no table of contents. Otherwise 5 stars. Why is this book printed like garbage?
Dean Koontz is my favorite author, so I loved every story. Why is there no formatting at all? No paragraphs, title and author inserted randomly in text, no table of contents. Otherwise 5 stars. Why is this book printed like garbage?
July 7, 2023
mixed feelings
I am a huge joints fan. I liked some of the short stories a lot , but a couple not so much. Doesn’t matter I will continue to read anything he writes because I love 98% of it
I am a huge joints fan. I liked some of the short stories a lot , but a couple not so much. Doesn’t matter I will continue to read anything he writes because I love 98% of it
October 15, 2023
Thrilling bedtime stories
Finally, some short stories from the prolific author, Koontz. Normally I find Koontz novels to be interesting but lengthy in simple descriptions of mundane things. This collection of stories removes that irritation for the most part.
Finally, some short stories from the prolific author, Koontz. Normally I find Koontz novels to be interesting but lengthy in simple descriptions of mundane things. This collection of stories removes that irritation for the most part.
November 28, 2023
For me, this was uncharted territory.
I've been a fan for a lot of years, but this last story seems to reach a depth of character development I had never before found. Maybe I just hadn't tried. I loved it. 😍
I've been a fan for a lot of years, but this last story seems to reach a depth of character development I had never before found. Maybe I just hadn't tried. I loved it. 😍
Read
December 7, 2023Did it again
Once more, A great selection of tales.
Huge Koontz fan.
Lots of variety and Interesting characters and characters make the story, in my opinion, and he never fails at that.
Good reads.
Once more, A great selection of tales.
Huge Koontz fan.
Lots of variety and Interesting characters and characters make the story, in my opinion, and he never fails at that.
Good reads.
May 25, 2024
Koontz at his best
There wasn't one story I didn't enjoy. Some with surprise endings. Some too short. None too long. Upon reading the final comments by thre author, I plan on going back and reading all the stories again!
There wasn't one story I didn't enjoy. Some with surprise endings. Some too short. None too long. Upon reading the final comments by thre author, I plan on going back and reading all the stories again!
July 16, 2024
Love this collection.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book again. While I'm partial to 1000+ page novels, occasionally some short stories are a good way to cleanse the mental pallet.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book again. While I'm partial to 1000+ page novels, occasionally some short stories are a good way to cleanse the mental pallet.
August 30, 2024
great variety of stories
What a great collection of short stories. Some better than others but all were great. Some very scary, some poignant, but all hold your interest. Highly recommend.
What a great collection of short stories. Some better than others but all were great. Some very scary, some poignant, but all hold your interest. Highly recommend.
May 12, 2023
All Koontz, All Time
Always thought provoking, these shorts delve into the deeper aspects of mankind's elusive thoughts. Don't just read his novels, learn from them.
Always thought provoking, these shorts delve into the deeper aspects of mankind's elusive thoughts. Don't just read his novels, learn from them.
May 26, 2023
Short stories from dean Koontz. Somewhat dated but still enjoyable.
August 28, 2023
Still the same good short stories, but be warned... The formatting is horrible! So glad this was on Kindle Unlimited.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews