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Watchers
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Watchers (1987) (edit title/settings)

by Dean Koontz (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

From a top-secret government laboratory come two genetically altered life forms. One is a magnificent dog of astonishing intelligence. The other, a hybrid monster of a brutally violent nature. And both are on the loose. Bestselling author Dean R. Koontz presents his most terrifying, dramatic... read more

Summary edit see section history

Travis Cornell, a retired Delta Force soldier, stumbles upon a dog while hunting out in the woods. Travis and the dog end up fleeing from an unknown predator, and Travis ends up adopting the dog as his own. Travis names the dog Einstein, due to what he perceives as its unusually intelligent... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Travis Cornell, a retired Delta Force soldier, stumbles upon a dog while hunting out in the woods. Travis and the dog end up fleeing from an unknown predator, and Travis ends up adopting the dog as his own. Travis names the dog Einstein, due to what he perceives as its unusually intelligent behavior. Over the next few days, Travis learns that Einstein is much more intelligent than he originally thought; in fact, Einstein is sentient, and possesses a human-level intellect, possibly capable of reading and spelling.

Meanwhile, Travis meets and is drawn to Nora Devon, a kind but self-loathing woman who lacks social skills due to her sheltered upbringing by her cold, cruel aunt. With Einstein's help, Travis manages to draw Nora out of her shell, and the two form a relationship.

Unfortunately, Travis learns from Einstein that he is being hunted by a monstrous creature, the Outsider. Einstein was a product of a government experiment attempting to improve animal intelligence (the ultimate goal being to create an intelligent dog for spy work). The Outsider, an ape-like monster designed to be a weapon of war, is another product of the experiment. The monster is driven by an uncontrollable instinctive hatred, but is also self-aware; it hates itself for its horrible nature, and also hates Einstein for being the "favored son" of mankind. Like Einstein, the Outsider has escaped from the project and is now intent on tracking and killing Einstein.

Einstein is also being hunted by a megalomaniacal hitman named Vincent Nasco. Vincent, a killer for the Italian mafia, believes that he has the ability to absorb the life-force of others by killing them; his ultimate goal is to become immortal. Vincent was hired by the Russians to kill the American scientists associated with the project that created Einstein and the Outsider. Along the way, he disobeyed orders and interrogated his victims, learning the true nature of the project and the existence of Einstein.

Travis, Einstein, and Nora flee from place to place from the Outsider as well as the U.S. government, while unknowingly being tracked by Vincent. The three protagonists manage to escape the government by creating new identities for themselves, but must confront Vincent and the Outsider in a final confrontation in a remote mountain cabin. In the resulting confrontation, Vincent is killed by Travis and the Outsider uses the distraction to enter the house. Einstein is nearly killed by the Outsider while protecting Nora. However, Travis sucessfully and badly wounds the Outsider, before it can eliminate Einstein. Travis follows the Outsider to a barn were it shows it had gained the ability to talk and it shows remorse for its attempt to kill Einstein. The Outsider begs Travis to kill it and Travis complies. Travis manages to get the government off their tail by giving them the Outsider's body and saying Einstein was killed. The story comes to a close as Einstein is given a mate, Minnie, and they have a litter of puppies who seem to have close to Einstein's level of intelligence.

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Although the constant shadow of certain death looms over everyday, the pleasures and joys of life can be so fine and affecting that the heart is nearly stilled in astonishment.”
  • “When a man of ideals decides he is too old to risk everything for what he believes in, then he is no longer a man of ideals. He may no longer be a man at all”
  • “Except for the head, there were no signs of violence in the kitchen. Of course, the head was bad enough. It was in the center of the table. On a plate.”

First Sentence edit see section history

On his thirty-sixth birthday, May 18, Travis Cornell rose at five o'clock in the morning.

Table of Contents edit see section history

I. Part One: Shattering the Past
II. Part Two: Guardian

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Dean Koontz (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Putnam
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1987
ISBN: 0747200416
Page Count: 352

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PS3561.O55 W38
  • Dewey: 813.54 19

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

Contains profanity, talks of rape, and violence

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

Movie Connections edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
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