Posts Tagged ‘novel’
This article originally published in July 2006 on a site that’s no longer up.
When it comes to Stephen King books, I tend to like almost all of them. Whether he’s writing in the genre of horror, thriller, science fiction or drama, I find them all enjoyable to various degrees. Even his technical books about writing have been great reads. If I had to pick a favorite, though, I’d have to say that I like his short stories and novellas best of all. Not to suggest that I don’t enjoy his full-length novels, because I do immensely, but a good short story is not that common. King has a definite skill for the craft.
The Skeleton Crew, which came out in the 80’s, was just such a collection. Not only does it have nineteen short stories, there are two poems and a novella included as well. Beyond this, the introduction and notes at the end go even further towards creating one hell of a good time for readers, using King’s trademark coversational style and seemingly open approach to communication. Published in 1985, just two years after Different Seasons (another of his anthology books), the works presented span 17 years and 512 pages (in the hardbound edition I read) of writing.
This article is going to be released in two parts. I’ll cover 11 of the writings in this half and the rest in the final posting. So, enough of my rambling, let’s get to the review.
"The Mist" – The opening piece isn’t a short story, it’s actually considered a novella. It was first published in Dark Forces, a horror anthology edited by Kirby McCauley, in 1980. Set in the small town of Bridgeton, Maine, the tale centers around an artist named David Drayton and his son Billy. They become trapped in their local grocery store as a mysterious layer of, well, mist smothers their town. It’s rumored that the bizarre incident is somehow related to a secret military project said to be taking place at a nearby military base. You’ll get to see King’s take on just what happens when people from our modern age get flung back through the centuries into fear and superstition.
This novella was adapted into a text-based computer game, was the inspiration for the video game Half-Life and quite possibly Silent Hill, which was not only a game but also made into a movie. An audio version of it is available on cassette or CD and it’s actually in development, at the time of this article’s publication, as a full-length feature film. Frank Darabont is set to direct. You may remember him as the director of both Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. I’m really looking forward to being able to watch this play out on screen because I found this particular novella to be extremely cinematic long before I knew of its actual production as a film. [you can read my review of the Mist now]
"Here There Be Tygers" – While it is true that Ray Bradbury has a story bearing this same title, this story is not in any way science fiction. It’s a short piece that focuses on a young boy of elementary school age who believes that there are tigers in the bathroom. Not my favorite in the book, but it’s not terrible either. My struggle with it was that it required a bit more childlike thinking than I felt like doing when I read it. It’s also interesting to note that it was written in 1968, when Stephen King was 18 years old, apparently as his first story that would one day actually be published (not his first story ever published, though).
"The Monkey" – Continuing on with the animal theme, up next we’ve got this little literary offering. Here we’re told the story of one of those little stuffed monkeys that is wound up so that it can clang a small pair of cymbals together. These things really creeped me out as a kid, so I felt instantly at home with this story. Fortunately I never encountered one similar to the toy monkey in this story, because that one predicts people’s death. This was a very classic style of horror tale. Overall, I enjoyed it quite alot.
"Cain Rose Up" – Here we’ve got a depressed college student. You know what happens when college kids get depressed, right? Yep, they go on homicidal sniper rampages from the comfort of their own dorm rooms! This one might remind you of Rage by Richard Bachman. That’s because Richard Bachman is just a pseudo-name for Stephen King, silly. This story is kind of disturbing, honestly, because it has an intensely real feel to it. I couldn’t help but think of Apt Pupil as I read it, either. One might begin to think that Mr. King has considered a career in the mercenary sharpshooting industry after reading this one.
"Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut" – Redbook magazine first published this short story in 1984. The plot stars the free-spirited character Mrs. Todd (who reminds me of The Wind in the Willows‘ Mr. Toad). She’s obsessed with finding a shorter route between her home and her workplace. She does find something, alright but I’m not going to blow the surprise by detailing that here. I really enjoyed this one because the main character is alot of fun to read about.
"The Jaunt" – First published in The Twilight Zone Magazine (1981), this story is not so much a horror tale as it is a science fiction tale. Okay, it’s actually a fine mixture of both. It’s set in a future where people, amazingly, still rent time on computers. The "jaunt" being referred to is actually a super-duper new way to travel: to planets beyond Earth. In this world, Exxon/Mobile and other giants of the petroleum industry are now water purification companies thanks to an oil crash in the earlier part of the 21st century. King mentions "The Stars My Destination" by Alfred Bester which turns out to be the inspiration for this story. The plot centers around a family that is about to jaunt and what happens to them when something unexpected happens. If you’re at all interested in the possibilities of teleportation you’ll really enjoy this one’s imaginative presentation.
"The Wedding Gig" – Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine first published this story in 1980. It’s told from perspective of a band’s leader. Basically, this band is asked to perform at a wedding. Of course, that in itself wouldn’t really make for a tale of much interest to anyone. As expected, the situation deteriorates in typical King fashion. Though it’s not an utterly brilliant story, it’s a good one and a definite step out of what you might’ve come to expect from its author.
"Paranoid: A Chant" – Before reading this book I wasn’t aware that Stephen King wrote poetry, though I’m not flabbergasted that he has. This is one of the two poems in the book and it’s 100 lines in total. It’s a first-person narration of a person’s diary and this person just happens to be a paranoid schizophrenic. They’re seeing threats and persecution at every turn. They’re recording every wrong they perceive as having been done to them. The poem is "recursive" which means it ends the same way it began. Not only does this poem tie into the Dark Tower series, it’s also connected to The Stand. There was an 8-minute short film made about it as well, which was for some time available via download. It’s an interesting piece that changes the pace a bit, so that’s a plus.
"The Raft" – Gallery, a "men’s magazine" first published this story in 1982. The story revolves around two college aged couples who set out for a swim in a Pennsylvania lake. Of course, King can’t just tell us this story, so you know to expect some sort of danger, right? You’ll get one of his stranger "monsters" in this one. It was also committed to film in 1987 as a part of Creepshow 2, directed by Michael Gornick who used a screenplay by George Romero.
As an intriguing sidenote, King submitted this story to the magazine Adam, where it was supposed to be published in 1969. However, he’s never been able to locate a single printing of it as far as I know. He was paid for it, though and the check actually ended up preventing him from having to do jail time when he was unable to pay a fine.
"Word Processor of the Gods" – Originally titled "Word Processor", this story made its debut in the January 1983 issue of Playboy magazine. Since no one actually reads the words in that magazine, especially stories about word processors, King decided to include it with this anthology. It’s a pretty neat concept, really. Basically, the lead character is a miserable man who was gifted with a word processor by his nephew. That’d be pretty mundane, but this nephew is a marvellous genius who later perishes in a tragic accident. The man finds out that his gift can actually alter reality and that’s where things get interesting. I enjoyed this one and also learned that it was included in a November 25, 1984 episode of Tales from the Darkside, a TV series.
"The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands" – This is the final story we’ll be taking a look at in part one of this review. First published in the 1982 horror anthology Shadows 4, edited by Charles L. Grant, this story is told by a wealthy gentleman from society’s upper echelons. It’s a classic sort of tale that feels quite genuine and almost as if you’re hearing it from a cigar-smoking old timer around a fireplace rather than reading it in a book. The man referenced in the title has been cursed, but you’ll have to actually read the story in order to find out more, because I am The Man Who Will Not Spoil Stories.
Here you go: Part 2 of The Skeleton Crew by Stephen King to finish this review!
Originally posted: November 15, 2007 @ 2:36am PST
Longtime readers of the site may have noticed that I don’t review books very often. My first post on here was a review of the vampire novel Nightblood (click HERE to read), and that has been about it. I’ve focused more on movies and video games, letting my friend GlowStormLion usually handle the literary side of the coin. However, a couple months ago, the author of this book, Austin Williams, contacted me with the opportunity to write a review of it before it comes out in the stores and I took him up on his offer. What you are reading is a sneak preview of Crimson Orgy
.
Crimson Orgy tells the story of Sheldon Meyer, a director of grindhouse films, and his efforts in 1965 to film what he sees as his masterpiece, Crimson Orgy, a movie that in later years gets a reputation for being the first true snuff film ever made. Other characters in the book include Gene Hoffman, Meyer’s producer and partner in the movie studio, who has a magic touch with the production members; Vance Cogburn, alcoholic leading man; Sonny Platt, sheriff’s deputy who starts off cordial with the film crew but gradually grows frosty to them; Cliff the Grip, Sheldon and Gene’s right-hand man who develops a friendship with the leading lady; Jerry Cooke, playing the heavy of the film, Ace Spade, who’s descending into the mind of his character as a "method" actor; and Barbara Cheston, said leading lady who literally doesn’t know what the movie has in store for her, as Meyer, for some reason, only gives her the day’s shooting script.
After a prologue describing the legend surrounding the film Crimson Orgy (which really made me feel like it was an actual film), we open in the middle of the first night of filming, where problems have already started coming up. Deputy Platt, who had promised a police car for filming, then demanded a speaking role for the scene, has reneged on his end of the deal, forcing Cliff the Grip to rig up an imitation police light system – to limited success. We get a rundown of Meyer and Hoffman’s working relationship, from early "nudie cuties" through to the current slasher boom, with Crimson Orgy being the sixteenth film they’ve worked on. Over the course of the first few chapters, we meet all of the major characters and are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at how low-budget movies were filmed in the 1960’s throughout the whole book.
First off, I want to thank Mr. Williams for the opportunity to write a review of this book. All of my life, I’ve been a reader and while I haven’t always found a way to bring my admiration for the books I read into print, I’ve enjoyed just about everything I’ve read. The characters in the book definitely came alive for me and made me feel for them. I especially enjoyed the interaction between Meyer and Barbara where she tries to figure out what drives Meyer into making the movies he does. I also like the slow build-up of events that lead to the climax of the book, and how the filming of the movie deteriorates as more and more things go wrong during the shoot, leading to one of the crew members to mention the filming being cursed.
I give the book a 5 out of 5. Anyone with an interest in the way classic grindhouse style movies were filmed will enjoy this book. I’m hoping to bring everyone some more book reviews in the near future. In the meantime, take care of yourselves, and as always, until next time, this is Red Hawk signing out!
First published: 1989 (I read a later reprint)
As a lover of good horror novels, I read as many as I can get my hands on. However, I’m not the world’s fastest reader so I’m not going to sit hear claiming to have read all that many. Yet, being someone who takes a while to really read and absorb a book, I believe I tend to treasure them that much more – especially the particularly well-written novels.
The Girl Next Door
by Jack Ketchum more than deserves to be called a well-written novel. It’s told interestingly, but even more than that it boasts a tremendously disturbing story that’s both captivating and well, sickeningly wrong. If you’re the type of reader who can handle seeing terrible things written out in sharp detail then you’ll be able to handle this book. If you prefer your monsters to be more of the larger than life movie style like Wishmaster (which glittersoul reviewed and you can read by clicking HERE) or maybe even Jason, then you might find this novel a bit heavy.
The first thing I’d like to point out is that one of the reasons I take a bit longer to read a book is because I read every single bit of it, from the introduction right on down to the author bio at the end. If you get the version of The Girl Next Door that I read then you’ll be treated to an introduction with Stephen King.
DO NOT READ THIS FIRST.
I believe Mr. King’s assuming that you’ve already read the book beforehand because he tosses out some spoilers in there. Just chug along into the opening chapters and you won’t get the story blown for you. I’m going to make sure I don’t blow it either in this article.
The Girl Next Door’s setting is the sunny smiley 1950’s America we’ve all seen in the black and white TV shows of old. David, our narrator, spends his days doing typical things that boys with waxed flat tops used to do back in the day – hunting for crawdads and all that. He lives in a down-homesy ™ neighborhood in a small town where the major troubles are local alcoholics and maybe joyriding teenagers. Yep, we’re in Mayberry!
The beauty of the book, though, lies in the fact that Ketchum’s willing to lift up that pretty small town rock and look at the nasty creatures wriggling around in the darkness. We meet Meg, a girl who’s come to live with her dear old aunt Ruth with her little sister Susan. Meg and Susan’s parents were killed in a tragic accident so they’re orphans now. Ole Ruth’s doing the good Christian thing and taking the poor girls in. In return, all she asks is that they do chores and what not. It’s the what not that’ll shock your eye balls out of their sockets so don’t say I didn’t warn you!
See, Ruth’s one of the "cool moms" that chain smokes and lets her sons drink beers with the neighborhood kids. David, who’s remembering this whole story from an adult stand point, fondly recalls how he’d sneak over there to do all the awesome things his parents weren’t cool enough to let him do. You know, like swearing and torturing little girls and stuff.
The way the story unfolds caught me off guard as a reader. I don’t generally go in for the feel good 50’s stuff, but that’s precisely how the book managed to convey such a creeping sense of dread. After the first few chapters you literally begin to dread reading further. It becomes almost a test of how much you can handle, but trust me – this makes you want some sort of justification all the more. By the time the closing chapters hit, you’re begging for David to do what heroes do!
In closing, I do want to point something out. While entirely fictional, The Girl Next Door (and yes, the 2007 movie is based on this novel) is based on actual events in a loose way. You can read about the awful tragedy of Sylvia Likens, the real girl next door by clicking this link. If I may offer some advice, though? Read the novel first because it’ll make you think that much harder about the real life horrors. And I feel that’s what Ketchum intended.
You know I’m going to give this book a 5 out of 5. It shook me to the core and very few books do that. I’ve got great respect for a horror novel that can make you think so deeply and seriously about life while still delivering on its promise to tell an entrancing and chilling tale. If you can handle The Girl Next Door, check ‘er out!
Until next time, this is GlowStormLion, scaring himself stupid to bring you quality reviews!
Originally posted: June 3, 2006 @ 11:45pm PST
Published: 1994 (re-print 2001)
Pages: 503
"Dear Jane,
Come and play with me. For further instructions, look homeward, angel. You’ll be glad you did.
Warmest Regards,
MOG (Master of Games)."
I have to admit that when I first saw In The Dark I wasn’t all that impressed. The cover wasn’t particularly striking, nor was the title all that inspiring. I’d like the other Richard Laymon books I’d read so far and this convinced me to go ahead and give it a shot. I’m extremely glad I did.
The story is relatively straight-forward. The main character is Jane Kerry, a rather nondescript young librarian for the Donnerville Public Library. One night she stays late in order to close the place and that is the same night she finds the envelope the blocky letters of her name written on it. Inside she finds $50 and the note above preceding this review. From this moment on the paranoia begins to creep into her life and throughout the remainder of the book she never manages to shake it. This leads her through some of the most teeth-grindingly anxious pages of fiction I’ve read to date…
On this same night, Jane is startled to find that Brace Paxton had remained in the library late, as well. The subject of her note from MOG comes up and Brace helps her to solve the first riddle of the game. From here they set out on a date and even against Jane’s better instincts, a relationship between the two of them begins to blossom. Of course, as the game goes on, the stakes get higher terms of both reward and risk.
There’s was a certain uniqueness about this novel for me. I didn’t like Jane a bit. There were many times when I felt that if I’d known her in person there would be no way I could keep myself from screaming obscenities at her. Laymon casts her at first as a somewhat indecisive gal who’s insanely curious with a strong streak of defiance running throughout her personality. Not only is she somewhat of a nerd, she’s not much of an athlete, either. None of these things are that big of a deal unless you’re taking on the kind of risks that common street thug would have the presence of mind to think twice about.
It’s difficult to define just how grating Jane’s personality is. She’s not after the money, even though she likes it. She’s simply got something to prove to herself. Apparently what she’s trying to prove is that she possesses some level of rational thought and doesn’t have an overshadowing inferiority complex. I found her decisions to be incredibly frustrating throughout most of the book but she does develop over time so I suppose I should give her some token credit. Honestly, though it felt like Jane was on some quest to join the BDSM scene the entire time.
Fortunately for me the villain of In the Dark is much more interesting. I’m obviously not going to give away who this person is but I can tell you that I was extremely pleased to see him once he was revealed. I enjoy the clever villain and it’s even better if he’s somewhat of a sarcastic jerk (when you don’t like the hero). MOG devises some of the most torturous scenarios that are genuinely freaky and Jane volunteers herself to go through each situation. See? You can’t even really blame MOG. He’s simply an archetype of the devil, never forcing his victim to do anything, merely luring them in and then outsmarting them – repeatedly. Three cheers for MOG for keeping things interesting!
I find it fascinating that this book was first written in 1994. The game element of the story really reminded me of some sort of reality show, yet those weren’t so popular at the time of this book’s first publication. There’s a definite element of voyeurism within these pages. We witness the inner conflicts of Jane from a first-person perspective, we get to see how she comes to her decisions, not just the results of those decisions. It’s a real statement about what certain people will put themselves through and how many times, being the victim is a choice.
This book was difficult to put down. I found myself constantly looking forward to each new challenge from MOG. Watch for the scene in the mansion and you’ll see what I mean by "genuinely freaky". As always there’s the copious sex and gore required from any Laymon novel, but there’s also a solid dose of humor that comes in watching the jumpy Jane continually guess incorrectly who MOG is and make an ass out herself leaping to conclusions. A seriously fun read with the lightest touch of seriousness. It’s one of those books I found myself babbling to my friends about, knowing full well I’d be ruining the story for them later but being too carried away by enthusiasm to care.
In the end I have to give this novel a 4 out of 5. Why? Because I don’t like seeing dogs portrayed negatively and I don’t like Jane.
Originally published: June 4, 2006 @ 12:30pm PST
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence cometh thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
- Job, 2:1-2
You may have heard of a little book called The Amityville Horror or perhaps you recall the film based on the book. The author of this book was none other than Jay Anson. 666 is Anson’s second book. If you enjoyed The Amityville Horror (as I did), you just might like 666 even more.
When I first chanced upon this novel, I had no idea the real life horror that lie ahead waiting for me…
One day, when I was 12, I was nosing around in my parents garage. I have no idea now what I was looking for then, except maybe a cure for my summertime boredom – a cure which I found in the pages of this novel. I came across an old, yellowing laundry basket filled with books. Close to the top I saw the cover of 666 and instantly knew I had to read it. I took it in the house and later that night I began reading. Once I started, I didn’t want to stop, thus I finished the novel rather quickly. When I was done reading I was more than impressed with the story and recommended, as well as lent, it to a friend of mine.
I went to retrieve 666 and and was informed:
"Uhm… yeah… I don’t have it."
"What?!"
"Well, My mom saw it and threw it in the trash because she said it was evil."
"You idiot! How could you let her do that?! It wasn’t even my book!"
For me, I don’t know which was scarier… the actual story or the fear of my dad finding out that his book, which I didn’t ask to borrow, got discarded by some religious nut. Until that point, I had no idea the apocalyptic terror the title referred to. When I saw it, I wasn’t drawn to the numbers (this was the hardbound edition) so much as my curiousity was piqued by the gothic doorknocker on the cover. So with 06-06-06 coming up I was reminded of this book and thought, "Hey, why not do a review of my favorite book for Happy Horror?"
Within 666 there is the blending of two major stories. One taking you to a modern couple, Keith and Jennifer and the dynamics of their relationship. The other involves an ancient, diabolical evil manifesting itself in our reality.
Keith, a blue-collar business man, and his wife Jennifer, a struggling interior designer, come from two different value sets. Over and over again they fail at understanding each other. They move to a new location, in the hopes of a better life, but Jennifer finds it harder to maintain the career she once enjoyed while the prospects for business get better for Keith. Her only link to the high-class cosmopolitan world of fine arts, antiques and design is her platonic friend David Carmichael. David doesn’t see his relationship with Jennifer quite the same as she does. As the story unravels, strange things happen with these three souls.
When Keith and Jennifer arrive back home after their vaction, they notice a house has suddenly sprung up, across the gully from theirs, at 666 Sunset Brook Lane. The arrival of this house sparks the interest of all three characters. Keith, being a carpenter, wonders how a building could be constructed so quickly and wanders in, Jennifer has the hope of being able to help the new tenants of the house decorate the inside, and David is fascinated with an item found within the house. It is the house, as well as its history, that really launches the beginning of this story and it is here you will find the book rich with visuals.
As far as highlights go, the house was a favorite aspect of the book. Anson does an excellent job with its description, as well as the innerworkings of it. He creates an aura of mystery and foreboding ambience. He managed to pinpoint the little details that spark my fascination and desire to continue reading, while still allowing for plenty of pondering.
Watch out for the villian in 666 and note the prowress with which he invisibly orchestrates the evil; how the vulnerbilities of those that fear the unknown are exposed. The stress unleashed within will test the characters’ breaking points, pushing them to the brink of their own sanity. How far will they go? How far would you go?
It is always hard to come by one of those novels, or really any form of entertainment, that I don’t want to stop enjoying. With 666 I have found something that will always be a pleasure to partake of, and for that alone I rate it 5 out of 5.
I extend my most cordial invitation for you to join me in visiting 666 Sunset Brook Lane.
Originally published: June 3, 2006 @ 3:51am PST
I have to admit that I’m a big fan of occultic horror, so my first thoughts when Red Hawk loaned me his copy of Darkness, Tell Us and I saw the cover was "A Ouija board? Right on!" It’s great when a book can take familiar, seemingly ‘outdated’ superstitions and turn them into something more than just an antique curiosity. If you’ve ever had a successful connection with spirits via a Ouija board or any other form of divination during a séance, then you know the eerie, electrifying sensations that go along with such an encounter. Darkness, Tell Us delivers these vibes (albeit dramatized and fictionalized) better than any other book I’ve encountered thus far.
We start off with six college students (Howard, Keith, Lana, Angela, Glen and Doris) all gathered for an end of semester party at the home of their English Professor, Corine Dalton. They’re playing with a ouija board and getting more that simple yes/no responses. The word ‘Ouija‘ actually means yes/yes, by the way. ‘Oui‘ is yes French for yes and ‘ja‘ is German for the same. Of course, when a spirit calling itself Butler promises "4-T-U-N-E" to the group if only they will agree to its instructions, the students end up saying ‘yes’ themselves. Even against Professor Corine’s stern advice they set out on a roadtrip and wilderness trek that will forever alter their lives…
One of the first things I noticed about the book is how accurately the vibe of the college atmosphere is captured. While I’ve not attended any parties in the homes of professors, the characters in the book definitely feel familiar to me. At first, I was worried that it was a simple case of stereotypes but as the book progresses we see more than just charicatures and begin to delve more deeply into the actual individual personalities of the characters. They grow, they change and the story doesn’t stagnate like so many tales of young people in the woods.
I’m always impressed with Laymon’s feel of the outdoors and his adept manner of capturing it for the reader. Countless horror fiction I’ve read takes place primarily indoors. This is fine, but it’s not exactly an incredible talent to be able to describe indoor environments with which most people are already well-acquainted. To provide not only the visual elements but the true feel of a camping excursion deep into the pristine forests suggests actual experience, to me. The author feels intimately connected not just to the fears and uncertainties of the wild, but also its beauty and tranqility. There are many places in the story where nature is not just a terrifying maze but a pleasant environment. These passages in the book are relaxing and sure to bring a smile to your face.
Descriptive prowress alone does not make a great read, however. Laymon doesn’t linger for aeons like some sort of horrific J.R.R. Tolkein. He’s always pushing the story along through genuinely believable actions of his characters and minimal, yet appropriate, use of dialogue. Some books end up feeling over-plotted but even with it’s overwhelming weave of sub-plots and backstory, Darkness, Tell Us is not one of them. One of the strong points here is that even with eight (eight!) main characters there was not one of them that I ended up finding disposable. Each personality fits right into the story, making it into its own little 400 page epic.
I’ve noticed many reviewers pick right up on the violence and sex within the pages of this novel. This is true – there’s plenty of horrifying physical assaults and steamy sexual scenes, but more than this there’s a real sense of humanity. The characters show a real concern, even a tenderness, towards one another which gives the book a much stronger theme of camraderie. This is not splatterfest where the characters scatter like a flock of chickens in the face of the book’s monsters. They gel together, acting like a real group of this kind most likely would. They’re determined to survive no matter what the odds that come against them. It’s not just the villains who foil their plans, but little accidents with larger consequences help create a realistic sense of foreboding.
If I had to try and describe Darkness, Tell Us in one word, I would choose "muscular". There’s so much meat here it’s tangible. The suspense combined with the intelligence of the insights into human nature and the well-executed pacing of story combine in an alchemical way to create on beast of a book. As always, Laymon’s villains are cunning, viscious with a resolute refusal to die. There’s no promise as to the sort of ending you’ll witness in a Laymon novel. I’m not going to give away the ending for this title, either. Suffice it to say that all eight characters will need to wring out every last drop of gumption they’ve got in order to survive into the closing chapter of the book.
A primal story of how greed can bite one in the ass or an astute observation of the human spirit? You can decide for yourself, but I like to think the book offers both and a whole hell of a lot more. And I do mean hell. This is not my first Richard Laymon novel and it most definitely will not be my last. Laymon possesses the ability to blend so many themes, subplots, characters, emotions and situations that it’s damned near dizzying. Obviously the only possible rating I can pin on Darkness, Tell Us (and its dearly-departed author) is a glistening 5 out of 5. Yes.
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