Dean Koontz borrowed Roland Deschain?

**Daysbeforeyoucame** · February 27th, 2012

Hi. I've just finished The Husband by Dean Koontz. There's an episode in the book when the main character buys bullets in a gun shop from a man called Roland. Could it be the twinner of the gunslinger? I understand that probably that's too far-fetched but on the other hand the name Roland is far from the most popular ones like Jack or John. The Roland in the gun shop is not a "fighter type", his description reminded me more of Peter Griffin. I guess, that wasn't an homage to SK but I can't believe that's just a coincidence.
Has anyone read The Husband?

**GNTLGNT** · February 27th, 2012

Sure have....enjoyed it, and my thought is-it was an homage to King...whether a concious decision or not...and given Koontz's lunatic humor-it probably was...

**Owlnuggets** · February 27th, 2012

Koontz and King play off each other ALL the time. I wouldn't be surprised.

**fljoe0** · February 27th, 2012

There was a SK movie (I think it was IT) where there was a character named Koontz. It was just a minor character that was only mentioned once or twice but I picked up on it.

**blunthead** · February 27th, 2012

I doubt coincidence in this case. My assumption, based on this and that, is sK and dK admire one another very much, may even be friends or at least acquaintances, may have non-verbally or otherwise agreed to play it cool, keep everybody guessing, let fans fight it out, and allowing for the occasional nod. I think the Ka-incidense that they both exist on the same planet at the same time isn't lost on them and they try to make the most of a unique and weird situation. Come to think of it, who could do that better?

So, Koontz' Roland is subtle, almost subliminal, yet he is there. Cool.

**Owlnuggets** · February 27th, 2012

I've heard them touted as the Kings of East and West.
King dominates Maine in most of his books whereas Koontz tackles California.
Their books are usually sold right next to each other and their notoriety is much the same.
Koontz never quite spoke to that deep part of my soul like King has, though.

**GNTLGNT** · February 27th, 2012

Koontz never quite spoke to that deep part of my soul like King has, though.

Nah, he usually speaks to my pancreas and makes me secrete insulin...

**dsurrett** · February 27th, 2012

I've read a few Koontz books and have enjoyed them for the most part, but they seem to lack the depth that is present in most of King's works. And from what I understand, there's a better chance of King and Koontz playing off of each other than King and Patterson.

**blunthead** · February 27th, 2012

Originally Posted by GNTLGNT

Nah, he usually speaks to my pancreas and makes me secrete insulin...

Koontz always speaks to my other head...not that one... I mean the one on my shoulder near my neck, which I tell people is a goiter, unless they see it has eyes, then well it's too late. I usually order in.

**Stan_Richards_of_Windsor** · February 27th, 2012

Possibly was. I refute the point that Roland isn't a popular name though. It's fairly common in my city (I have an Uncle Roland, a teacher with the first name Roland and a Shopper's employee named Roland).