“Perhaps they thought they could bring to this valley only those things they loved, leaving behind all ugliness.We are not, however, a species that can choose the baggage with which it must travel. In spite of our best intentions, we always find that we have brought along a suitcase or two of darkness, and misery.”

American author

Dean Ray Koontz is an American author, known for suspense thrillers and, more broadly, for fiction that often blends horror, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and satire. He has published more than 105 novels and many novellas and short story collections. Many of his books have reached The New York Times Best Seller list, including fourteen hardcovers and sixteen paperbacks that rose to number one. Earlier in his career, he also wrote under several pen names, and his work has sold more than 500 million copies. Rolling Stone described him as “America's most popular suspense novelist.”