The Travelling Vampire show - Richard Laymon

Advantages: The writing is taut and effecive, and several stand alone scenes are magnificent. The conclusion, had it been published as a stand alone novella, would have been wonderful.
Disadvantages: Nothing happens, and there is some nasty use of forced incest as a means to create a tawdry shock. Oh, and nothing happens.

Richard Laymon passed away on the 14th of February this year. My main reason for picking up 'The Travelling Vampire Show' was an act of commemoration - he was among the most prolific writers working in my genre. I really wanted to like this book, his last published on these shores while he was alive. I didn't, unfortunately. It's the sixties, and all over the sleepy town of Grandville, flyers have been posted advertising The Travelling Vampire Show. ...
...prospect for Dwight, Rusty, and the tomboy Slim, given how tedious life is in their neck of the woods. Of course they won't get in, being under age. And the performance begins at midnight, well past their curfew. But what if they were to head on over to Jenks Field, a notorious local trouble spot, and watch the crew set up. Perhaps they'll even catch a glimpse of Valeria herself. Thus begins a series of 'exciting' adventures that take them through ... Read review

Advantages: It's a vampire novel
Disadvantages: Doesn't grab you - Not much story till the end

...out of their minds during the summer holidays. Bored that is until the mysterious posters start appearing all over their sleepy American town. Over night the town is flooded with eerie posters advertising “The Travelling Vampire Show” with Valeria - the only known vampire in captivity as the star attraction. Suddenly ‘boredom’ is not a word in the teenage trio’s vocabulary as they try to work out how they can not only pass as the stipulated minimum ...
...midnight and takes place in the out of bounds notorious trouble spot, Janks Field. Deciding that there is no chance on Earth they will ever be allowed to see the show. The adventurous threesome decide there can’t be any harm in sneaking off to Janks Field to watch the circus being set up. They will get to catch a glimpse of the so-called vampire, the mysterious and beautiful Valeria, and still be home in time for tea with their unsuspecting parents ... Read review

Advantages: n/a
Disadvantages: lllllllllooooooooonnnnnnnnngggggggg

The Travelling Vampire Show By Richard Laymon is more or less what all his other books are, only not as good as the rest. But it isn’t half bad either. Dwight is a like a goody two shoes but he can’t resist going along with his friends plans, especially slims who’s actual name is Frances and yes she is a girl. Slim is a very tomboyish type of person who likes to change her name often. Or maybe it is her personality or her past she is trying to change… ...
...habits. He’s a bit on the overweight side where as his other two friends are slim. So Dwight a solider type (hardly surprising since his dad is a cop’ Slim a bad girl (sort off and this can be explained by her mysterious past I suppose.) Rusty a rather pervey type with a very boring life almost I guess. Anyway to move on the story is that the three friends have a month or so to kill before their next school term starts and unfortunately Grandville ... Read review

Advantages: Could have made a decent short story
Disadvantages: Everything about it

...However, after my delight in the anticiaption of a new offering, I was completely disappointed. A complete anticlimax I'm afraid. Some of the scenes in this book were more disturbing than is usual in his writings and the style was completely different, taking place over a short, continuous time span. I can't recommend this book, however if you are a Laymon fan then I suggest you form your own opinion. I lent this book to two of my friends to review ...
...couldn't wait to borrow more. The other reviewer (who incidently is a very big reader and reviewer and a writer herself) hated it, luckily it did not discourage her from trying more of his works. I do think, however, that a condensed version of this novel may have worked as a short story and maybe should have been included in one of his short story collections. ... Read review