Charisma of a Good Kind

As another election year threatens, it's good to be reminded that we don't have to sink to the lowest common denominator to be effective. Masterful storyteller Dean Koontz's newest release, The Bad Weather Friend, is particularly relevant as an antidote to our society's snark and downright nastiness. As usual Koontz doesn't pull any punches in describing evil and while he champions niceness, he never portrays it as insipid. One of the characters, Spike, declares, “When kindness and decency are coupled with wisdom, you have charisma of a good kind.

When charismatic people also have plenty of courage, they can inspire others and, with them, do great good things.” The newest Koontz offering offers the tantalizing promise that cruelty and violence can be upended by decency, humor, and niceness. Wouldn't that be wonderful to witness in this year's campaigns!