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Watchers (novel)
Encyclopedia
Watchers is a 1987 suspense
novel by American author, Dean Koontz
. Along with Strangers
, Lightning
, and Midnight, Watchers is credited with cementing Koontz's status as a best-selling author.
. Travis Cornell, a former Delta Force
operative, feels that his life has grown pointless, and is exploring a canyon near his home when he encounters two genetically engineered creatures that have escaped from a top-secret government lab. One, a golden retriever
with extraordinarily enhanced intelligence, befriends Travis; the other, a terrifying creature known as the Outsider, appears to be trying to kill the dog. After eluding the Outsider, Travis takes the dog home and names him Einstein.
Meanwhile, Nora Devon, an introverted young woman, whose abusive aunt recently has died, is attacked in her home by a man who attempts to rape her. Travis and Einstein intervene and the three quickly form a tight bond.
Travis, Nora, and Einstein soon find themselves on the run not only from the Outsider, but from federal agents determined to track down the lab escapees, and Vince Nasco, a ruthless professional assassin, hired to kill the creatures and eliminate any witnesses he may encounter along the way.
Nora Devon- Nora is a 30 year-old recluse who has lived with her Aunt Violet since she was two. Ridiculed and tormented by her aunt throughout her life, Nora has lost any sense of self-worth and is barely able to step outside the walls of her own house. Nora, nevertheless, longs to reach out and become a part of the world, and learns to do so through her relationships with Travis and Einstein.
Einstein- A genetically altered golden retriever, created in a top-secret government lab, that has acquired a level of intelligence rivaling that of some human beings. Forms a close relationship with Travis and Nora.
The Outsider- Another genetically engineered life-form created in the same lab as Einstein. Einstein, who outwardly resembles a normal golden retriever, was shown kindness and affection by his creators. The Outsider, whose appearance is monstrous and terrifying, was treated with scorn and contempt, resulting in a deep hatred of human beings, and especially of Einstein.
Vince Nasco- A freelance assassin who believes that he absorbs the souls of those he kills, and that if he absorbs enough souls, he will eventually become invincible. Nasco is hired by an unknown client to assassinate every scientist that has worked in the lab where Einstein and The Outsider were created. Nasco discovers the secret of Einstein and forms a plan to capture the golden retriever and ransom it off for financial gain.
In the film adaptation Travis is a sixteen-year-old boy, and Nora is his mother. The Outsider is renamed OXCOM, and Vince Nasco is replaced by NSO agents searching for the monster. Travis also has a girlfriend named Tracey.
Suspense
Suspense is a feeling of uncertainty and anxiety about the outcome of certain actions, most often referring to an audience's perceptions in a dramatic work. Suspense is not exclusive to fiction, though. Suspense may operate in any situation where there is a lead-up to a big event or dramatic...
novel by American author, Dean Koontz
Dean Koontz
Dean Ray Koontz is a prolific American author best known for his novels which could be described broadly as suspense thrillers. He also frequently incorporates elements of horror, science fiction, mystery, and satire. A number of his books have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List, with...
. Along with Strangers
Strangers (Dean Koontz novel)
-Story:It is about a group of people who are brought together by their different and equally strange maladies. These people gather to meet in the middle of the Nevada 'high-desert' to try to figure out what was done to them, and who could have done it, while at same time being watched by the...
, Lightning
Lightning (novel)
Lightning is a novel by the best-selling author Dean Koontz, released in 1988. A 2003 reprinting includes a new afterword by the author, discussing editorial politics.-Overview:...
, and Midnight, Watchers is credited with cementing Koontz's status as a best-selling author.
Plot Summary
The story begins in Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSanta Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. Travis Cornell, a former Delta Force
Delta Force
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
operative, feels that his life has grown pointless, and is exploring a canyon near his home when he encounters two genetically engineered creatures that have escaped from a top-secret government lab. One, a golden retriever
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a medium-sized breed of dog. They were historically developed as gundogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties. As such, they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and have an instinctive love...
with extraordinarily enhanced intelligence, befriends Travis; the other, a terrifying creature known as the Outsider, appears to be trying to kill the dog. After eluding the Outsider, Travis takes the dog home and names him Einstein.
Meanwhile, Nora Devon, an introverted young woman, whose abusive aunt recently has died, is attacked in her home by a man who attempts to rape her. Travis and Einstein intervene and the three quickly form a tight bond.
Travis, Nora, and Einstein soon find themselves on the run not only from the Outsider, but from federal agents determined to track down the lab escapees, and Vince Nasco, a ruthless professional assassin, hired to kill the creatures and eliminate any witnesses he may encounter along the way.
Characters
Travis Cornell- A 36 year old retired soldier who spent much of his enlisted career as a Delta Force operative. After leaving the military he became a successful real estate broker, but retired from that as well. He thinks he is finally 'set'. But, as a result of his many disappointments throughout his life, and the many people that he has lost due to death, he has become depressed and cynical. When he meets Nora Devon and Einstein, all of this changes, and he becomes someone who enjoys life once again.Nora Devon- Nora is a 30 year-old recluse who has lived with her Aunt Violet since she was two. Ridiculed and tormented by her aunt throughout her life, Nora has lost any sense of self-worth and is barely able to step outside the walls of her own house. Nora, nevertheless, longs to reach out and become a part of the world, and learns to do so through her relationships with Travis and Einstein.
Einstein- A genetically altered golden retriever, created in a top-secret government lab, that has acquired a level of intelligence rivaling that of some human beings. Forms a close relationship with Travis and Nora.
The Outsider- Another genetically engineered life-form created in the same lab as Einstein. Einstein, who outwardly resembles a normal golden retriever, was shown kindness and affection by his creators. The Outsider, whose appearance is monstrous and terrifying, was treated with scorn and contempt, resulting in a deep hatred of human beings, and especially of Einstein.
Vince Nasco- A freelance assassin who believes that he absorbs the souls of those he kills, and that if he absorbs enough souls, he will eventually become invincible. Nasco is hired by an unknown client to assassinate every scientist that has worked in the lab where Einstein and The Outsider were created. Nasco discovers the secret of Einstein and forms a plan to capture the golden retriever and ransom it off for financial gain.
Adaptations
A series of low-budget horror films was loosely based on the book.- Watchers (1988)
- Watchers II (1990)Watchers IIWatchers II is the 1990 sequel to the Canadian horror film Watchers. Starring Marc Singer and Tracy Scoggins, the film is loosely based on the novel Watchers by Dean Koontz.-Plot:...
- Watchers III (1994)Watchers 3Watchers 3 is the 1994 sequel to the Canadian horror film Watchers directed by Jeremy Stanford. Starring B movie veteran Wings Hauser, the film is loosely based on the novel Watchers by Dean Koontz...
- Watchers Reborn (1998)Watchers RebornWatchers Reborn is the 1998 sequel to the Canadian horror film Watchers. Starring Star Wars veteran Mark Hamill, the film is loosely based on the novel Watchers by Dean Koontz.-Plot:...
In the film adaptation Travis is a sixteen-year-old boy, and Nora is his mother. The Outsider is renamed OXCOM, and Vince Nasco is replaced by NSO agents searching for the monster. Travis also has a girlfriend named Tracey.