The Taking

Koontz reprises his dogs and aliens theme with a galactic invasion of soul-snatching fungi. The only beings able to discern the aliens' intent are the town's pet dogs. Meyers narrates the thriller from the point of view of Molly Sloan, a writer with her own history of violence. Meyers voices the underlying sadness and hope in Molly's heart as the invaders perpetrate one gruesome killing after another. She steps out of the protagonist's mind to offer credible portrayals of Molly's husband and friends, as well as several townspeople and alien-possessed zombies. When Koontz gives no reason for the end of the crisis, Meyers steps in with a clear vision of a new post-apocalyptic society of children, dogs, and a few tired and hopeful adults. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine