The Taking

A Novel

By: Dean Koontz

Narrated by: Ari Meyers

Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

In one of the most dazzling books of his celebrated career, Dean Koontz delivers a masterwork of suspense that surpasses even his own inimitable reputation as a chronicler of our worst fears - and best dreams. In The Taking, he tells the story of a community cut off from a world under siege and the terrifying battle for survival waged by a young couple and their neighbors as familiar streets become fog-shrouded death traps. Gripping, heartbreaking, and triumphant in the face of mankind’s darkest hour, here is a small-town slice-of-doomsday thriller that strikes to the core of each of us to ask: What would you do in the midst of the Taking?

On the morning that will mark the end of the world they have known, Molly and Neil Sloan awaken to the drumbeat of rain on their roof. It has haunted their sleep, invaded their dreams, and now they rise to find a luminous silvery downpour drenching their small California mountain town. A strange scent hangs faintly in the air, and the young couple cannot shake the sense of something wrong.

As hours pass and the rain continues to fall, Molly and Neil listen to disturbing news of extreme weather phenomena across the globe. Before evening, their little town loses television and radio reception. Then telephone and the Internet are gone. With the ceaseless rain now comes an obscuring fog that transforms the once-friendly village into a ghostly labyrinth. By nightfall the Sloans have gathered with some of their neighbors to deal with community damage...but also because they feel the need to band together against some unknown threat, some enemy they cannot identify or even imagine.

In the night, strange noises arise, and at a distance, in the rain and the mist, mysterious lights are seen drifting among the trees. The rain diminishes with the dawn, but a moody gray-purple twilight prevails. Soon Molly, Neil, and their small band of friends will be forced to draw on reserves of strength, courage, and humanity they never knew they had. For within the misty gloom they will encounter something that reveals in a terrifying instant what is happening to their world - something that is hunting them with ruthless efficiency.

Epic in scope, searingly intimate, and immediate in perspective, The Taking is an adventure story like no other, a relentless roller-coaster that brings apocalypse to Main Street and showcases the talents of one of our most original and mesmerizing novelists at the pinnacle of his powers.

©2004 Dean Koontz (P)2004 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Great story, wrong narrator.

I first read this book years ago, and remembered it being really good, so I had to get the audiobook. As far as the story goes, it was just as creepy and unsettling as I remember, in a good way of course. The entire first part of the book is so surreal and expertly sets the tone of the story by slowly and relentlessly building a sense of unease and otherworldliness. There are strong elements of religion and faith throughout the story, and the semi twist at the end is easy to predict earlier on, and make make some people groan.

As for the performance, i didn’t like it. Nothing against Ari Meyers, her voice is inoffensive when narrating, and her voices for the children and Molly are quite good, but it just wasn’t a good fit. Her voice for male characters is annoying and they all sound the same, but the big thing for me was really just the straightforward, matter of fact way she narrates. There is so much imagery in this book, almost like the night is cast in an ethereal glow, and the narration should reflect that. Someone with a softer, dreamlike quality to their reading would have worked much better. Just my opinion. I was still able to listen to it and enjoy it anyway.

good book iffy narrator

let me say this first. the book/story is great. i enjoyed it immensely. however the narrator was not as good, her voice dosent mesh well with the material, but when she does the voices shes very good. but just reading the story itself is lacking some of the passion im used to when listening to dean koontz books.

Wonderful, and often scary, read

I really enjoyed listening to this book. I had reservations because people made comments about the narrator, but her voice fit the storyline. Her tone matched the novel. It was frightening, it was disheartening, but also had the underlining ribbon of hope. There were times I had to cut it off when it was too late at night because I became afraid, but found myself still listening because I needed to know what would happen.

Not my favorite read

Although the main characters are fully developed and the story told as an intricately woven tale, Koontz must have realized he was behind schedule and needed to wrap the book up. The ending could have been better. It seemed rushed and there was no satisfaction with how the protagonist and antagonists interact if there was even a final confrontation, I don't remember.

Can you say metaphor?

Whoa! The story was a good one but so prolific in metaphors that they distracted from the story and became annoying. The narrator had a hard voice, almost a monotone.
I'm a fan of Koontz. When he gets it right, he's amazing but this felt like he was trying too hard.

good story

loved it. good read. I enjoyed the book and I enjoyed the reading. definitely worth the time

Holy Catholic Sci-Fi Batman

Went a little heavy on the catholicism, but it had good imagery and story. It was creepy.

The only book to honestly scare me.

I love Koontz's imagination, and the imagery definitely leaves a burning imprint in the mind. however, the description can, at times, be tedious.

Great book!!!!!

This was really great listening all the way to the end.

Not as good as others.

I haven't finished this one because it is so drawn out on every single detail I got bored. Very drawn out, was hard to listen to for me.