I suppose it's more the 'epilogue' than the conclusion that really feels forced to me in Koko. The whole Michael Poole lives happily ever after with the Asian girl (can't remember her name right off) is what felt forced to me. (In fact the whole relationship, certiainly the amorous part of it, felt like it was shoehorned. As though Poole was his avatar--and no doubt he was--and as such not only does he have to have a hand in conquering the antagonist, but in conquering the girl as well. [And if I read another sex scene with "ooh...you incredible man" from Mister Straub....]). I think he would have done better to simply wrap it up without the epilogue at all.

As to Ghost Story (and this is an end-spoiler so stop here if you haven't read it:

My problem there was that this evil that had been around for perhaps centuries suddenly becomes manageable. I'd still like to see this particular book adapted properly but if it was done, I'd just as soon it be left in the motel room with a question mark. Or no question mark, because in a sense Straub is correct when he writes that Wanderly is setting himself up for the kill. The power in Ghost Story almost always comes in groups, not in the individual. It's the tribe that has power and for an individual to break off from the tribe and so effectively and almost easily manage the antagonist makes that antagonist less powerful and, in doing that, makes the protagonist's victory less effective.