Wilderness and Other Stories

De: Dean Koontz

Narrado por: Dick Hill, MacLeod Andrews, Will Damron, Tanya Eby

"The world is a machine that produces endless surprises and mysteries layered on mysteries."

"Wilderness," a darkly intriguing short story first published as an e-book original, was written as prelude to Dean Koontz's novel of mystery, suspense, and strange wonder - Innocence.

Addison Goodheart was born in an isolated home surrounded by a deep forest, never known to his father, kept secret from everyone but his mother, who barely accepts him. Only in the woods, among the wildlife, is Addison truly welcome. Only there can he be at peace. Until the day he first knows terror, the day when his life changes radically and forever....

Twelve of the other fourteen short stories and novelettes included in this audio anthology were most recently reissued in a print collection entitled Strange Highways, published by Warner Books (1995). The other two - "The Scariest Thing I Know" (2000) first published in Martha Stewart Living magazine and "Hostage Situation" (2009) in The New York Times Summer Thriller series.

Only the short work "Down in the Darkness," has ever been produced for audio.

"Wilderness" © 2013 by Dean R. Koontz. "The Black Pumpkin" © 1986 by Nkui, Inc., originally appeared in Twilight Zone Magazine, December, 1986; reprinted by permission of Nkui, Inc. "Miss Attila the Hun" © 1987 by Nkui, Inc., originally appeared in Night Visions 4, published by Dark Harvest, Arlington Heights, Illinois; reprinted by permission of Nkui, Inc. "Down in the Darkness" © 1986 by Nkui, Inc., originally appeared in The Horror Show, Summer 1986, reprinted by permission of Nkui, Inc. "Ollie's Hands" © 1972 by Dean R. Koontz, originally appeared in Infinity Four, edited by Robert Hoskins, published by Lancer Books; revised version © 1995 by Dean R. Koontz. "Snatcher" © 1986 by Nkui, Inc., originally appeared in Night Cry, Fall 1986; reprinted by permission of Nkui, Inc. "Trapped" © 1989 by Nkui, Inc., originally appeared in Stalkers, edited by Ed Gorman and Martin H. Greenberg, published by Dark Harvest, Arlington, Illinois; reprinted by permission of Nkui, Inc. "Bruno" © 1971 by Dean R. Koontz, originally appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, April, 1971; revised version © 1995 by Dean R. Koontz. "We Three" © 1974 by Dean R. Koontz, originally appeared in Final Stage, edited by Edward L. Ferman and Barry N. Malzberg, published by Charterhouse, New York, New York; revised version © 1995 by Dean R. Koontz. "Hardshell" © 1974 by Nkui, Inc., originally appeared in Night Visions 4, published by Dark Harvest, Arlington Heights, Illinois; reprinted by permission of Nkui, Inc. "Kittens" © 1966 by Dean R. Koontz, originally appeared in The Reflector, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania; revised version © 1995 by Dean R. Koontz. "The Night of the Storm" © 1974 by Dean R. Koontz, originally appeared in Continuum 1 edited by Roger Elwood, published by G.P Putnam's Sons, New York, New York; revised version © 1995 by Dean R. Koontz. "Twilight of the Dawn" © 1987 by Nkui, Inc., originally appeared in Night Visions 4, published by Dark Harvest, Arlington Heights, Illinois; reprinted by permission of Nkui, Inc. "The Scariest Thing I Know" © 2000 by Dean R. Koontz, originally appeared in Martha Stewart Living. "Hostage Situation" © 2009 by Dean R. Koontz, originally appeared in the New York Times.©1995 Wilderness and Other Stories is a selection from Strange Highways copyright 1995 by Dean Koontz. (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Pretty good book.

loved it...kinda got depressing towards the end though...the last 2 stories especially other than that I enjoyed especially Snatched

A list of short stories- some good, more not

Dean Koontz is known for writing some 'out there' novels. This is a collection of some good short stories and some really strange, 'out there' stories that I had to skip. I was glad I only paid $4.95 for it.

Not the best of Koontz

I can't put my finger on it, but I kept waiting for something amazing or shocking to happen and it didn't. The stories felt shallow and often predictable leaving me unsatisfied when they were over. I still love Koontz's books and will continue on my journey through his complex and intriguing stories, However, I felt compelled to post about this collection to those who have no reason to believe me.

Not a new innocence book!

I was hoping for a new story. This is just a book of short stories that includes an excerpt from innocence.

Not what I expected

What did you like best about Wilderness and Other Stories? What did you like least?

The first story about Addison was the best.

Would you recommend Wilderness and Other Stories to your friends? Why or why not?

No. The second story "kittens" was horrible! The female narrator was worse! How she ended up following the first narrator or any other is beyond me! What a slap in the face to all listeners to have to listen to her!

What aspect of the narrators’s performance would you have changed?

Remove the female narrator from all audio books!

Do you think Wilderness and Other Stories needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Hell no!

Any additional comments?

None