Lightning

From Publishers Weekly Laura Shane leads a troubled life: she is orphaned, nearly molested twice and loses one of her closest friends in a tragic accident, all before her 13th birthday. Even worse events would have befallen Laura if not for the mysterious guardian angel who periodically appears with a bolt of lightning to miraculously rescue her. The "angel," Stefan, is in fact a time traveler who rides the "lightning road" through time to follow Laura throughout her adult life; unfortunately, Stefan himself is being chased through time by a pack of equally mysterious villains, and their pursuit of Stefan and Laura spans the second half of the novel. The secret of the lightning road provides an intriguing mystery early on, but once it is revealed midway through the book as a complicated hybrid of borrowed science-fiction and political-thriller conceits, the narrative runs out of ideas. In the lightning road, Koontz has created the kind of sci-fi puzzle whose convoluted logic must be explained at every turn, and the momentum of the central, fairly standard chase suffers thereby. The drama of an innocent bystander forced by events to run for his or her life is familiar to Koontz readers, but this time he leaves out a vital ingredient; while his evil predators are often his most interesting characters (as in this year's Watchers, or the earlier Whispers), the villains of Lightning tend toward cliches. The reader senses that the author got too caught up in the trick of the lightning, and inadvertently stole the thunder from the rest of this potentially intriguing tale. Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal On the night of Laura Shane's birth, a stranger appears from the lightning to prevent her delivery's being botched by an alcoholic physician. Throughout Laura's childhood the stranger reappears at times of danger. He protects rather than threatens, yet menace seems to follow him. Thirty years later another storm flashes and the stranger collapses, shot, at Laura's door. Now Laura protects her erstwhile guardian from mysterious hunters. He reveals that he and the hunters are time travelers. Laura, quick-witted and brave, leads the way to a bloody showdown. The paradox in time travel's tampering with history provides an interesting twist in this gripping thriller by a popular writer. Literary Guild selection.A.M.B. Amantia, Population Crisis Committee Lib., Washington, Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A Gripping Novel From The #1 new York Times Bestselling Author-now In Trade Paperback For The First Time.

in The Midst Of A Raging Blizzard, Lightning Struck On The Night Laura Shane Was Born. And A Mysterious Blond-haired Stranger Showed Up Just In Time To Save Her From Dying.

years Later, In The Wake Of Another Storm, Laura Will Be Saved Again. For Someone Is Watching Over Her. But Just As Lightning Illuminates, Darkness Always Follows Close Behind.

publishers Weekly

laura Shane Leads A Troubled Life: She Is Orphaned, Nearly Molested Twice And Loses One Of Her Closest Friends In A Tragic Accident, All Before Her 13th Birthday. Even Worse Events Would Have Befallen Laura If Not For The Mysterious Guardian Angel Who Periodically Appears With A Bolt Of Lightning To Miraculously Rescue Her. The ``angel,'' Stefan, Is In Fact A Time Traveler Who Rides The ``lightning Road'' Through Time To Follow Laura Throughout Her Adult Life; Unfortunately, Stefan Himself Is Being Chased Through Time By A Pack Of Equally Mysterious Villains, And Their Pursuit Of Stefan And Laura Spans The Second Half Of The Novel. The Secret Of The Lightning Road Provides An Intriguing Mystery Early On, But Once It Is Revealed Midway Through The Book As A Complicated Hybrid Of Borrowed Science-fiction And Political-thriller Conceits, The Narrative Runs Out Of Ideas. In The Lightning Road, Koontz Has Created The Kind Of Sci-fi Puzzle Whose Convoluted Logic Must Be Explained At Every Turn, And The Momentum Of The Central, Fairly Standard Chase Suffers Thereby. The Drama Of An Innocent Bystander Forced By Events To Run For His Or Her Life Is Familiar To Koontz Readers, But This Time He Leaves Out A Vital Ingredient; While His Evil Predators Are Often His Most Interesting Characters (as In This Year's Watchers, Or The Earlier Whispers), The Villains Of Lightning Tend Toward Cliches. The Reader Senses That The Author Got Too Caught Up In The Trick Of The Lightning, And Inadvertently Stole The Thunder From The Rest Of This Potentially Intriguing Tale. (january)

The first time the lightning strikes Laura Shane is born... The second time it strikes the terror starts... though eight-year-old Laura is saved by a mysterious stranger from the perverted and deadly intentions of a drug-crazed robber. Throughout her childhood she is plagued by ever more terrifying troubles, and with increasing courage she finds the strength to prevail - even without the intervention of her strange guardian. But, despite her success as a novelist and her happy family life, Laura cannot shake the certainty that powerful and malignant forces are controlling her destiny. Then the lightning strikes once more and shatters her world. The adventure - and the terror - have only just begun... #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz’s brilliantly thrilling novel of suspense.In the midst of a raging blizzard, lightning struck on the night Laura Shane was born. And a mysterious blond-haired stranger showed up just in time to save her from dying. Years later, in the wake of another storm, Laura will be saved again. For someone is watching over her. Is he the guardian angel he seems? The devil in disguise? Or the master of a haunting destiny beyond all time and space?“A gripping novel...fast-paced and satisfying.”—People Laura Shane's guardian angel, a mysterious stranger whose presence is heralded by a flash of lightning, saves her from various calamities. When lightning strikes twice, terror starts. The third time is worse! Aided through crises by the almost miraculous intervention of a stranger, Laura Shane learns the nature of her awesome destiny when, on her thirtieth birthday, the stranger finally requests her help When a bolt of lighting brings a blond-headed stranger into Laura Shane's life, she wonders if he's the guardian angel he seems - or the devil in disguise.