Recently I read a novel by Dean Koontz called “The Taking”. What struck me most about this book was not the plot, nor the characters, nor even the action sequences. It was the writing style. 

Every writer has a unique style, and that style can even differ from book to book, depending on how the writer feels it should best be read. Some books focus on action, so the writing style reflects this, with short, punchy sentences that keep the reader engaged and give a feel for how the book is flowing. The majority of fastasy novels feature writing that is more descriptive and eloquent, lending a sense of wonder to the book. 

The Taking struck me because the writing was highly poetic, using large, descriptive words, and lending the book a unique and wonderful style. It made the story feel more artistic and almost sad. But it also made reading the book, even the slow parts, more enjoyable. A sample of Koontz’s writing goes as follows:

“Nevertheless, though this cross-section of humanity had shared the same experiences and had drawn from them approximately the same conclusions–that their species was no longer the most intelligent on the planet and that their dominion of Earth had been usurped–they could not come together to devise a mutually agreeable response to the threat. Four philosophies divided the occupants of the tavern into four camps.”

The book has a similar blend of suspenseful writing and poetry. It reads well, but also keeps the reader engaged in the story, which follows a couple in northern California as they deal with a bizarre disaster: a subtle alien invasion. As they seek to rescue people and form a defendable postion with other survivors, they unravel clues as to the very nature of this invasion, and the answer is something no one suspected. 

A fine read, this book is a novel I would suggest to anyone wanting to read something exceptional in both idea and execution. This is writing at its best.