Watchers Review and Discussion Questions

Just in time for Halloween, Watchers by Dean Koontz is a very scary book!  I will readily admit to reading it only in the daylight after a few too many nightmares.  The review and discussion questions follow below. Beware of spoilers- muahahaha!  (Cheesy-yes, but Halloween appropriate!)

Watchers starts out with menace and just keeps on going.  Travis, our main character, is out in the woods, contemplating suicide when a golden retriever burst onto the trail.  He's friendly to Travis but keeps him from traveling down the hill.  Irrationally afraid of what might be out there, he and the dog head back to his truck and drive off.  Travis comes to realize that the dog is not just smart, but possesses a human level of intelligence.  He decides to keep the dog and name him Einstein.

The next day, while at a park, Einstein attacks a man who was hurting Nora, a lonely young lady.  Travis and Einstein can't get her out of their minds, and Einstein makes Travis drive to her home.  They arrive just in time to save her from the same man.  The three of them form a tight bond.  Travis and Nora fall in love, get married and the trio make a little family for themselves.

Their happiness is short-lived because government officials, a hired assassin, and Einstein's fellow escapee- the Outsider- are all searching for him.  Travis, Nora, and Einstein go on the run together.  Where Einstein is intelligent and lovable, the Outsider is gruesome,  deadly, and desperate to kill Einstein.  Somehow, the two are linked telepathically.  This leads the Outsider right to Einstein.  The inevitable confrontation occurs and Travis kills the Outsider.  Travis, Nora, and Einstein are left to live their own lives in peace and happiness.

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think Einstein saves Travis in the woods?
• How does Einstein know to save Nora from Streck?  Do you think his heightened instincts are a result of his higher intelligence or that when they increased his intelligence, it increased his instincts as well?
• Why do you think does the Outsider hates Einstein so much?
• What did you think of Walt and Lem's friendship?  I thought it was really interesting that although Lem wanted Walt to leave the case alone, he would have thought less of him if he had.  Have you ever had a friend like this?
• Do you think Vince really had a "Gift" for killing people and absorbing their life energies?  Or is he simply a sociopath with a unique justification for killing?
• Why do you think Nora continued to live such a sheltered, fearful life even after her aunt's death?  Why does it take finding out that Violet had been married for her to finally change?
• Did you believe in Travis's curse?
• What do you think caused the Outsider and Einstein to be linked telepathically?
• In the end, how do you feel about the Outsider?  Is he still a total monster or do you feel sorry for him?