Dean Ray Koontz is an American author best known for his novels which could be described broadly as suspense thrillers. He also frequently incorporates elements of horror, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and satire. A number of his books have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List, with fourteen hardcovers and sixteen paperbacks reaching the number one slot. Early in his career, Koontz wrote under an array of pseudonyms, including David Axton, Deanna Dwyer, K.R. Dwyer, Leigh Nichols, and Brian Coffey. He has published over 105 novels and a number of novellas and collections of short stories, and has sold over 450 million copies of his work. His contributions to literature have earned him a large readership and critical acclaim.