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Strange Highways
Dean Koontz

Strange Highways

Quick Answer

"Strange Highways" is an optional companion work. It can be read at any time, though it is usually best enjoyed after reading the first few core novels of the Standalone Novels.

Quick Verdict

🟡 Optional side story — not required for main plot

❓ Can I skip this book?
✅ Yes — Optional

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Verdict Insight: While this novella provides deeper world-building, it is a standalone story and can be read at any stage.

Is this helpful?
1995563 ppNovellaOptional Side Story
You are about to travel along the strange highways of human experience: the adventures and terrors and failures and triumphs that we know as we make our way from birth to death, along the routes that we choose for ourselves and along others onto which we are detoured by fate. It is a journey down wrong roads that can lead to unexpectedly and stunningly right destinations... into subterranean depths where the darkness of the human soul breeds in every conceivable form... over unfamiliar terrain populated by the denizens of hell. It is a world of unlikely heroes, haunted thieves, fearsome predators, vengeful children, and suspiciously humanlike robots. As profound as it is mesmerizing STRANGE HIGHWAYS is a remarkable achievement. As the Washington Post Book World put it: "His perennial bestsellers are engrossing entertainments that transcend the possibilities of any one of the genres from which they borrow."
Next Recommended Book

Cold Terror

Book #1997.1 of 524 in Series

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

high Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Standalone Novels conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading Strange Highways?

This is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not strictly necessary to follow the main plot.

Can I read Strange Highways before Robot Santa?

Yes. Strange Highways is an optional side story and can be read at any time without spoiling the main series plot.

Is Strange Highways required reading for the Standalone Novels?

No, it is a companion work that enriches the lore but is not essential to the central storyline.

What comes after Strange Highways in the reading order?

The next recommended book after Strange Highways is Cold Terror (Book #1997.1).