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Forever Odd (Odd Thomas Novels) | 
| Author: Dean R. Koontz
Publisher: Large Print Press
Category: Book
List Price: £9.53
Buy Used: £5.00
You Save: £4.53 (48%)
Used (7) from £5.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  26 reviews
Format: Large Print
Media: Paperback
Edition: Lrg
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 459
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 1594131554
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781594131554
ASIN: 1594131554
Publication Date: October 31, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 21 more reviews...
 Odd is Back! January 4, 2009
I'm a big fan of Odd Thomas - he's a very likeable, charming and slightly odd (through no fault of his own) guy who just so happens to be able to see the dead. Odd has a high sense of morality, which often makes things hard for him: the evil that he keeps running into doesn't tend to share his fine upstanding morals. Odd has to deal with things the hard way to fit in with his principles, whereas evil can do as it pleases.
"Forever Odd" picks up a short time after the aftermath which so shook Odd's life at the end of "Odd Thomas". Odd is still coming to terms with his loss when he suffers another - his closest friend is kidnapped by a crazy psycho female who wants Odd to show her the dead.
The storyline follows Odd as he risks all to save his friend. However, where "Odd Thomas" was fast paced, action packed and full of twists and turns "Forever Odd" is somewhat lacking. The storyline could have taken up half a book and there is a lot of 'filler' material. Odd's encounters with the dead are few and far between and the characters which became so endearing in the first book (Chief Porter, Elvis, Little Ozzie etc) feature far too briefly.
Whilst I did enjoy "Forever Odd", I was a little disappointed that there was not more on offer. Maybe the next two instalments in the life and times of Pico Mundo's favourite son will make up for it...
 Forever Odd - Never Great September 10, 2008
You cannot fault Koontz with his writing style or his fantastic ideas.
Here, the 1st-person narrative continues to brilliantly define Odd Thomas as a character, and a variety of set pieces, including the opening scene, are compelling and clever in the way they open questions and promise great mystery for the story ahead.
Whereas the original Odd Thomas managed to build mystery and deliver payoffs at a steady pace, Forever Odd never quite delivers on its promise. The problems with Forever Odd are entirely plot related. The villain doesnt get anywhere near enough space on the page. There are unanswered questions and loose ends aplenty by the end of the book. Too many loose ends can ruin the reader experience, even if the preceding story was enthralling.
The secondary character in this story is a supposed childhood friend of Odd Thomas - named Danny - but the introduction of Danny feels a bit, well, odd, because I dont recall his existence in the 1st novel, and his presence in the Odd Thomas Universe feels rather forced. On the flip side, various established characters from the 1st novel get shoe-horned into the final act of Forever Odd, while others get major roles in the opening but then dissappear for the rest of the story.
I wanted to know more about Odd's nemesis in this story, and more about Odd himself, but I feel I learned nothing new about him by the end of the book.
All that said, the narrative is typically snappy and well paced by Koontz, and the characters very likable. I had hoped for a bit more explanation of Odd Thomas and some discovery of the reasons behind his supernatural skills, as well as a bit more of the Bodachs - which were sadly absent from this tale.
Forever Odd June 10, 2008
Koontz's novel "Odd Thomas" was clearly a bigger hit than anticipated, because his publishers have urged him to continue the story of the twenty-something fry cook who sees dead people. The result is "Forever Odd", which sees Odd left deflated and dispirited (not literally - he still communicates with ghosts) after the soul-shattering conclusion to his previous misadventure. Now that his desert town of Pico Mundo has returned to its state of relative calm, Odd wonders if he'll have time to rest and repair himself. Unfortunately, fate has something else in store for him. A young and very twisted lady has taken interest in the man with the unwanted gift, and has abducted a young and vulnerable friend of Odd's in order to get his attention.
Through his character, Koontz made it clear in the first novel that he intended to keep the tone light and the story swift-paced. He kept his promise for "Odd Thomas", and has done the same for the sequel. Every page in this novel feels relevant and un-belaboured, making this every bit the page-turner that the cover says.
The light tone occasionally feels forced, however, with Odd spinning out weak jokes and sometimes excruciatingly unfunny extended similes. Odd's young friend Danny, who Odd claims has a rapier wit and unparalleled sense of self-deprecating humour, is even worse, making the reader wish that Koontz just hadn't bothered.
Aside from that, the story is solid and still often amusing, and very occasionally emotional and chilling when intended. The conclusion and its admittedly minor revelation about the villains of the piece manages to shed a whole new layer to the narrative the reader has just finished, making up for minor niggles with a suitably uneasy conclusion.
The third and fourth books are already out as I write this, and I'll definitely be getting the next in the series at least; it looks like the overall story is strengthening significantly with each instalment.
6/10
 Great sequel January 13, 2008
Personally I loved this one as much as the other two in this series. Maybe some people might think it suffers from the loss of a main character in book 1, but I think it dealt with that very well. The humour is there and the excitement. I've just finished Brother Odd, and would recommend the series to anyone.
Not as good as the first one December 4, 2007
I love the character Odd Thomas and the first book totally absored me,his love for his stormy was so beautiful (if not so unrealistic) this is a good read but it doesn't really take you to any new depths, its a little bit nuts infact in terms of plot line, It wont put me off getting the third installment though
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