Richard Laymon

[Leland]

Has anyone here read his books? I only discovered him a couple of years ago but have read just about everything he ever published. I love his horror - it reads like a sort of "straight to the point" Stephen King - and I'd say is much more gruesom a lot of the time.

Be interested to hear what others think to any of his stories?

[tcgob]

Yes, good stuff. More like Dean Koontz only not so frilly. Just finished "To Wake The Dead" and "Into the Fire".

[Mary Strickland]

Leland, It's the best fiction on the planet---nothing else comes close to this style.

[Wylde06]

Ive only read his short story in Triage. Loved it. Once I can get some more time in for reading (been riding my bike alot lately) and finish some books on the to read list, I plan on buying a few of his books

[Leland]

Good to see some other readers of his work on here. I can recommend Island and Stake - they're my favorites I think at the moment.

[Mr. Palmer]

ISLAND is my favorite Laymon outing. I absolutely love that ending!

I've read everything he's written, from his westerns to YA novels, etc. Actually, I take that back. The only thing I've never read from him was A WRITER'S TALE. I've still got my fingers crossed that Leisure will release this one.

[Leland]

Mr Palmer - what do you think to All Hallows Eve? I think it's quite an overlooked book, many other fans seem to think it's not one of his best works for some reason.

[Mr. Palmer]

I thought it was a really cool book. Just another fun Laymon outing.

[jacobtlong]

I have quite a few of Laymon's books in my possession. They are a lot of fun to read. Cuts and Dark Mountain were a bit slow to me, but many of his other books are nearly impossible to put down.

[elphabainwicked]

I was looking for new horror and came across Cemetery Dance website and found Richard Laymon. I can't believe I never found that website before...talk about a great collection of authors. I went on eBay and worked a deal and bought 25 of Laymon books. I can't wait to get them and start reading.

[Chris_Ferox]

I agree with Steve King, "if you missed Laymon you missed a treat." IMO, Laymon is the #1 top schlock writer of all time. He has been called "King without a conscience" and as others mentioned, his books are typically told in a straightforward fashion and rarely become philosophic in an expositional way. He is also one of the most offensive, goriest, pornographic mass market paperback writers to ever amass such a widespread international following! He died too young but still left a gigantic body of work, almost all of it top rate if you are into this kind of thing. Many Laymon readers find that when they discover Laymon, they immediately attempt to read everything he ever wrote, no easy task as much of it is rare (most of it never having been published originally in the USA due to a kind of blacklist). Indeed myself, I have purposely set aside a few Laymon books to read later in life, since he ain't writing any more.

But meanwhile, here are some recs:

THE BEAST HOUSE series of books is my favorite monster story set in Northern Carlifornia this side of John Carpenter's THE FOG. It comprises THE CELLAR, BEAST HOUSE, MIDNIGHT TOUR, FRIDAY NIGHT IN BEAST HOUSE, and another book called IN THE DARK. This represents Laymon at his finest, IMO, especially "In The Dark" which is not ostensibly part of the series but which if you are a careful reader, you will find actually it is a key part of the series and a hidden gem written by Laymon expressly as a wink to his truest fans

Laymon was also a writer's writer who tried damn near every genre trick in the book at one time or another, e.g.:
ENDLESS NIGHT - the first 70+ pages of this book are one long unbroken scene of horror the likes of which I have never seen in another book or on film
SAVAGE - a historical novel in old time flavor based on Jack the Ripper coming to America
ISLAND - written entirely as the journal of a shipwrecked man
BEWARE - as close to breakneck paced 70s grindhouse exploitation madness as you are likely to find in print
FLESH - progenitor of flicks like Night Of The Creeps and Slither
FUNLAND - taking care of the homeless problem in Santa Cruz
QUAKE - psychopath makes the best of the big one
RESURECTION DREAMS - Laymon's modern take on Frankenstein

Laymon has written several vampire novels, and astoundingly each of them remains a unique take on the tired genre: THE STAKE, BITE, and TRAVELING VAMPIRE SHOW

He also has repeatedly visited themes of homeless maniacs, people who have secret criminal vices pursued for kicks, and plotlines that include one ludicrous unforseeable turn after the next. Some of those faves include NO SANCTUARY and NIGHT IN THE LONESOME OCTOBER

Laymons is also great in short form and has dozens of short stories, many collected in sets like FIENDS, DREADFUL TALES, and MADMAN STAN

He even wrote a terrifying and probably grossly inapporpriate kids book called THE HALLOWEEN MOUSE

Laymon is a rabbit hole and IMO he is in a league apart from other notable schlockers like Ed Lee, Jack Ketchum, Brian Keene, Bentley Little,

I wish someboyd like John Carpenter or Tarantino would adapt some Laymon to film but frankly, his books are so ****ed up that I suppose that is the main reason there has never been a Laymon movie

[larchi]

wuw, thanks for the reminder! :) weird though, if a randomer had asked i would have said no i'm not a laymon fan, yet looking at my books i've got quite a few of his, have to go with Funland as a favourite (which i'm going to start on right now after this reminder). Trolling *cringe* Also loved the advice, "Calm down, you'll live longer." Truer words and all that jazz.

[Laymonking]

I am probably one of the biggest Laymon fans on the planet. I have damn near read all of his work and somehow can’t get enough. I love his no holds barred and straight to the point style of writing. His novels are always gripping and fun to read. I know some readers may be turned off by his shocking depictions of gore and sex but to me that was his style and it worked work in the context of the tale. After all he was a Splatterpunk writer and knew what his fans liked about work the fact that he didn’t hold back but always had an awesome tale to tell and they were always enjoyable. Of course there is more to his stories than that, his great characterization, believable dialogue creating characters who feel real and you care about , his fast paced style his way of turning a simple idea into a rollercoaster ride that you daren’t put down. His stories grab you from the beginning and no matter how horrifying or brutal they become you can’t stop reading. He could write scenes so suspenseful that you turned the pages so fast you leave begun makers, and he would write scenes so chilling your soul turns to ice. That is why to be Laymon is the number two guy behind King.
Behind King Laymon for years has been my number two writer and I don’t think that’ll ever change.
For anyone who has never read his work I would recommend the following and these are also some of my favourites by him.
Night In The Lonesome October
Island
Endless Night (this book is impossible to put down)

[guido tkp]

just finished 'endless night' a few weeks back, and yes, indeed, it is one fantastic, wild roller coaster of a book: huge...but about as fast paced a anything i've ever read by any one any time..and near completely unputdownable

could not possibly agree more with everyones thoughts about laymon...one of the very best storytellers out there...have enjoyed, immensely, every book i've read.

i'm smack dab in the middle of 'among the missing' at this moment. another great ride.

read 'body rides' just before '11/22/63'

i have been on the lookout, since the late '80's, when gary brandner sort of disappeared off the face of the world, for a great, pulpy, fearless horror writer...and, try as i might, i never found anyone like that until i found laymon...

thanks for all the info...now, i'll have to start searching for some more stuff...i'm down to just two more before i exhaust my meager collection

[guido tkp]

just finished 'savage' last week, and have 'all hallows eve' on deck...I NEED MORE LAYMON !!!!

everything about this guy is like writing crack...just feel the neverending need for more...

[GravemakersAndGunslingers]

Hi, glad I found this thread. I've just recently started reading Laymon, my first book being the uncut version of 'The Woods Are Dark' - loved it. As many of you have commented his style is very fast paced and uncompromising but I'm now nearly half way through 'The Cellar' and while the story is good, I just can't shake feeling disgusted at Laymon's descriptions of child molestation - it's almost ruining the read for me. I like the fact that Laymon is hard-hitting with the horror and gore and I'm no prude...but the other stuff just feels downright wrong. I know Sai King would never go there. I'll finish the book but for my next Laymon read I'd like something with the fast paced thrills of 'The Woods Are Dark' and not something with descriptions of child molestation in. Baring this in mind can anyone recommend a next Laymon read?

Thanks.

[guido tkp]

santa be veddy, veddy gud to me: i recieved a plethora of monsieur laymon... i shall be indulging in one of my newest, most favorite hobbies for some time to come

the kindly book elves filled my oversized stocking with...out are the lights, the lake, resurrection dreams, to wake the dead, one rainy night, alarums, night show, island, beware, come out tonight, cuts, the midnight tour, night in the lonesome october and no sanctuary....

i mention this not to make anyone envious...no...but because the elves used amazon and got all of them used...at incredibly low prices: in most cases, far less than current cover prices, if you can find them: Rl is, for the most part, out of print...and the few new ones i can find are imports with pretty steep price tags: i was able...er...the elves were able to get 2-3 books used for the price of one british import...

all are in very good condition: not mint, but, hey...if you can't find 'em to begin with...why not, right ?!!

so, if you are looking for some laymon, and you simply cannot find it...i cannot more highly recommend trying some of the online used dealers...

...now, if i can only decide on which one to go first...hmmm....

[Daniel Lee Severn]

The books of his that I've read were great, I wouldn't put him above King obviously but he is definitely in my top 5 favorite horror authors.

[guido tkp]

i wouldn't do so either, dls...few authors, in my humble 'o' match king

it takes a certain something to keep me coming back more than once or twice...

in horror, through the years, only laymon, gary brandner, peter straub and robert mccammon have repeatedly come close and have, for the most part, have got me pretty much sold...

i do, however, keep an eye and an ear out for others to try...

[Doc Wilson]

Add me to the list of Laymon fans. I've read most of his work, think I'll renew my efforts to find a good price on the rest.

[Daniel Lee Severn]

i wouldn't do so either, dls...few authors, in my humble 'o' match king

it takes a certain something to keep me coming back more than once or twice...

in horror, through the years, only laymon, gary brandner, peter straub and robert mccammon have repeatedly come close and have, for the most part, have got me pretty much sold...

i do, however, keep an eye and an ear out for others to try...

I would put Dan Simmons in that category for me.

[guido tkp]

y'know...i have tried him...soooo many times...but i always end up either bored...or completely bored by him

i trudged my way through that indian cult one..and slogged my way through 'carrion comfort'..flatout stopped reading one other...don't even remember what it was, i was so bored

and i keep reading wonderful reviews of his stuff...and, yet...and i just don't see it

for me..he's exactly like koontz...he's just not my cuppa...

but i'm very glad he's been good to you...keep on readin', friend :y:

[crystalglimmer]

I believe I would be borrowing someone's quote (and not so loosely paraphrasing): "Richard Laymon writes with a typewriter ribbon dipped in (pure) blood" I don't remember who to attribute it to - but I know I stuffed my face with Laymon and then moved on. Laymon is like Tabitha King - sometimes it's just too gruesome to read. Ya gotta wonder why -If YOU are thinking that - the writer doesn't! And ya gotta like that...!!!

[guido tkp]

i can see that quote...it is kinda appropo...laymon does go places that, in the deepest part of your mind might think it might go...and then it does...

i still equate his stuff more as really good b-movie stuff...it's alike a great corman, carpenter or coscarelli movie...he's just not afraid to go there...and have devilishly good fun getting there

but there are others that are far more gruesome...jack ketchum comes to mind...

only read 'small world' w/the estimiable mrs K...liked it, but that was about it...have always thought i ought to retry some more...