I have a friend who loved the first two novels in Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein trilogy, and every once in a while she complains that the third book hasn’t been published. So I, finally, did a little research and thought I would share what I found.The first two novels came out more than two years ago—the first was co-written with Kevin J. Anderson and titled Prodigal Son, and the second was titled City of Night and co-written with Ed Gorman. The third was scheduled for release—at least in the United Kingdom—this past May, but it never showed up. It’s title: Dead and Alive.
It turns out that Dean Koontz had some misgivings about subject matter and story location in our post-Katrina world. I found an interesting email quote—it is allegedly written by Dean Koontz—that gives me hope the third title will be released, and not too far in the future.
“After finishing the first two books, I decided not to try again with a collaborator but to plunge into the third novel myself. Hurricane Katrina presented an unprecedented narrative problem. After the tragedy and suffering endured by the citizens of New Orleans, I could not bring myself to set loose Victor and his creations to wreak more havoc on the city, so I had to figure out how to include the hurricane and work around it in a graceful way. This slowed things down. But I expect to finish Book Three soon, for publication in Spring 2008. No publishing date has been set.”
While I was doing the research I stumbled across a terrific website—the website I stole the Koontz quote from—that has a large (complete?) listing of the novels published by Dean Koontz over the years, including those hard to find science fiction novels he wrote in the 1970s. There is also a cover scan for every book listed, many of them I have never before seen. It is well worth checking out.
Click Here to go there now.
12 comments:
Wow, you're the best. This is really exciting information! Now that I know part three is alive, being worked on, and due out sometime next spring, I believe it's high time I dusted off the first two books in the trilogy and get my memory refreshed on what's happened so far in the story. Thanks for your efforts to find out where book three is and what the plans are for it! I can't wait!
-Kara
Here's some more actual Koontz commentary on Frankenstein from his website:
Question #4
Why are the Frankenstein books only published in paperback or Large Print hardback? I am a collector. How could I get copies of the first two books in regular hardback? --Michelle, writing from only God knows where
# The books appeared only in paperback and as co-written ventures because of what, in retrospect, seems to me to be bad agent advice. Through the experience of the first two volumes, I learned that I could not collaborate. That's not the fault of my co-writers. It's a character flaw in me. They did their job; but I found I could not work with other people's material and had to start from scratch. Considering the popularity of these books, if I had never gone down the collaborator route and had published them first in hardcover, they would have done well and would exist in that more permanent form. After the third has been published, a small press may issue them in hardcover editions. Stay tuned to this web site for the full scoop.
http://www.deankoontz.com/about-dean/10-questions/december-20-2006.php
There's also a comic book version of Koontz's Frankenstein on the way:
http://www.deankoontz.com/whats-new/press-releases.php
I have been waiting for the last, the third in Dean Koontz's Frankenstein for the last two years...I went to a local WHSmith and was told it is for release May 6th 2008, a year later than was published...I sure in hoope it is as I have looked on some sites and they have it as 219 day to release....this is from today this site said...I will be going back to my local book store and I will find out the date for release...better be sooner as I hope hehe.......
just looked on a site and book 3 is now released 01/12/2008... gutted if this is true...
Frankenstein 3 will not be released until 2009,I gave up on it ever coming out.His fans need to boycott this book,the huricane has come and gone.Koontz is a liar and a con man.
I just visited the bookstore today and they said the release date is Dec. '09....sigh....
Think Blue's comments are a tad harsh, Dean is not a con-man just sensitive to the catastrophic aftermath of hurricane Katrina on the devastated people of New Orleans.
And yes I know we've all had to wait a terribly long time.
BUT -
According to both Waterstones and Amazon (.co.uk) the Third and final book will be available from April 6 2009. Both offering it at a vastly reduced price in paperback, with the option to pre-order at this price!!! Can hardly contain my anticipation. Just in time for the Easter break too.
Off to prepare a DO NOT DISTURB sign!!!!!!!!
Jax
Give me a break with the Katrina excuse, please! First, no one in New Orleans is going to find a fictional book about Frankenstein offensive. This is a perfect example of either a BS excuse for delays or another "artist" that takes there work far too seriously.
"Blue" is apparently unaware of the horror and devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Here in the Florida Panhandle, we had a front row seat to the hideous aftermath. We know survivors. We mourn those who did not. Koontz is being a caring person--the devastation that was Katrina is not something one can just shove aside in a year or even two. Dearie me, some people apparently put their reading pleasure above the pain and grief of others. I can wait, myself. The book comes out when the book comes out.
the publisher's website now says the book will be released in 725 days-- that's April 4, 2011.
I got an email a month ago from dean koontz web site saying the book will be released I believe july 28th 2009
you can also find a good listing of his works (and many other authors) here:
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/k/dean-r-koontz/
Dead & Alive was listed as due to be published on the page as well, but its not anymore
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