<b>The singular journey of Odd Thomas is approaching its unforgettable conclusion in <i>Saint Odd</i>. But before Odd's destiny is revealed, this exclusive eBook short story looks back - way back - to where it all began for Odd Thomas and Stormy Llewellyn, two souls who are destined to be together forever.</b><br> <b> </b><br> Amid the dizzying rides, tantalizing games of chance, and fanciful attractions of a state fair, two teenage sweethearts on the cusp of life and love's pleasures find their way to a shadowy carnival tent brimming with curiosities. There, from the bizarre and enthralling Gypsy Mummy, a mechanized merchant of dreams and prognosticator of tomorrows, the young couple learns what fate promises for them. But fate, for Odd Thomas and Stormy Llewellyn, is something altogether different: full of dark corners, sharp edges, and things no seer or soothsayer could ever anticipate. <br> <br> And for Odd Thomas, a gallant fry cook from a sleepy California desert town, the future beckons - to listen to unquiet spirits, pursue unsettling mysteries, and learn shocking truths . . . for a purpose far greater than himself.<br> <br> <b>Acclaim for Dean Koontz and his Odd Thomas novels</b><br> <b> </b><br> "This is Koontz working at his pinnacle, providing terrific entertainment that deals seriously with some of the deepest themes of human existence: the nature of evil, the grip of fate and the power of love."<b> - <i>Publishers Weekly </i>(starred review) </b><br> <i> </i><br> "The nice young fry cook with the occult powers is Koontz's most likable creation . . . candid, upright, amusing and sometimes withering."<b><i> - The New York Times</i></b><br> <br> "One would be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying read. . . . Not since <i>Watchers</i> has Dean Koontz created such an endearing and enduring character as Odd Thomas. . . . A superb story from one of our contemporary masters."<b> - <i>San Antonio Express-News</i></b><br> <i> </i><br> "An inventive . . . mix of suspense, whimsy and uplift."<b> - <i>The Washington Post</i></b><br> <i> </i><br> "Heartfelt and provocative . . . a wonderfully rich and entertaining story."<b><i> - Chicago Sun-Times</i></b><br> <i> </i><br> "Suspense, tension, and surprising plot twists . . . Characters and the search for meaning, exquisitely crafted, are the soul of his work. . . . One of the master storytellers of this or any age."<b> - <i>The Tampa Tribune</i></b>
