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Fiends
Out on a date at the movies, Marty is horrified to see Willy, the man who broke into her house and raped her 10 years before. Now he is out of jail, Willy is out to get Marty. Fiends is the lead-off novella in this collection of horror stories.
310 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
13 people are currently reading
750 people want to read
About the author
Richard Laymon
216 books2,268 followersRichard Laymon was born in Chicago and grew up in California. He earned a BA in English Literature from Willamette University, Oregon and an MA from Loyola University, Los Angeles. He worked as a schoolteacher, a librarian, and a report writer for a law firm, and was the author of more than thirty acclaimed novels.
He also published more than sixty short stories in magazines such as Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock, and Cavalier, and in anthologies including Modern Masters of Horror.
He died from a massive heart attack on February 14, 2001 (Valentine's Day).
Also published under the name Richard Kelly
He also published more than sixty short stories in magazines such as Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock, and Cavalier, and in anthologies including Modern Masters of Horror.
He died from a massive heart attack on February 14, 2001 (Valentine's Day).
Also published under the name Richard Kelly
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
November 22, 2021
In 13 stories you'll find everything Laymon has to offer. "Fiends", the longest story, is about the return of a rapist after 10 years in prison. He wants to screw his former victim again. "Kitty Litter" has a good twist you fully agree with the author. In "Bleeders" you learn never follow traces of blood. "The Mask" is about dating experience of a horror fan. "Eats" offers a brilliant parody of a private dick story. "The Hunt" describes an interesting way to hunt down a serial killer (inimitable Laymon). "Slit" sees Charles and his passion for cutting women. "Out of the Woods" says be careful being violent against someone. "Stiff Intruders" has some delivered dead women sitting in a rocker. "Special" shows the adventures of Jim capturing a violent woman (Diane). "Joyce" is a very weird tale. You'll see Darren live with his freeze dried ex-wife and his new wife Barbara. Last and least the author shows you "A Good Secret Place". Two friends take Charley the new kid on the block to a very eerie place. Absolutely enjoyed this collection. You'll soon see why Laymon has such a cult status. Politically incorrect, vicious humor, grim horror, hard scenes, great dialogues. Highly recommended!
May 6, 2025
3,5*
This book includes a novella and twelve short stories. I did not know this when I went into the book (my bad). So I was surprised when what I thought was the main story, ended.
I am not the biggest fan of short stories and I think it is because they can really be a hit or a miss for me. I do enjoy spending time with characters and following a storyline.
However I did really enjoy ‘Fiends’ the novella and it was very reminiscent of the serial killers from the 70s. Those are the vibes I got. In this story, we follow Marty. She is in the cinema when she realizes, in the same room there is a face she recognizes very well. William, a man who broke into her house and raped her ten years ago, is out.
This was an intense story and shows the horrors that can unfold when you let someone like that back into society when clearly, they should be kept behind bars forever.
The rest of the stories were really good as well and there are all kinds of stories for different types of readers.
Perhaps this would be a good book to get started with Richard Laymon because most of his books tend to be quite long. With this one you can read the novella or the short stories and get an idea on his writing.
Do keep in mind that this author’s books are very depraved, messed up, inhumane, gory and intense. Would not recommend it to people new to horror.
This book includes a novella and twelve short stories. I did not know this when I went into the book (my bad). So I was surprised when what I thought was the main story, ended.
I am not the biggest fan of short stories and I think it is because they can really be a hit or a miss for me. I do enjoy spending time with characters and following a storyline.
However I did really enjoy ‘Fiends’ the novella and it was very reminiscent of the serial killers from the 70s. Those are the vibes I got. In this story, we follow Marty. She is in the cinema when she realizes, in the same room there is a face she recognizes very well. William, a man who broke into her house and raped her ten years ago, is out.
This was an intense story and shows the horrors that can unfold when you let someone like that back into society when clearly, they should be kept behind bars forever.
The rest of the stories were really good as well and there are all kinds of stories for different types of readers.
Perhaps this would be a good book to get started with Richard Laymon because most of his books tend to be quite long. With this one you can read the novella or the short stories and get an idea on his writing.
Do keep in mind that this author’s books are very depraved, messed up, inhumane, gory and intense. Would not recommend it to people new to horror.
September 11, 2023
This book was first published in the 90s but I missed out on it at the time.
I have read a lot of Richard Laymon. I actually thought I had read all of his books, but that is because I never knew he wrote short stories and this novella.
Of these thirteen tales, the title story is the longest and also my least favorite in the bunch. It's mainly about a rapist who is back for revenge against those who sent him to prison, but he is not the only "fiend" in the story. Some of the actions of his main victim were just too ridiculous. I suppose her unbelievable choices were needed in order to make this novella length since she had ample opportunity early on to make sure this man never bothered her again.
The rest of this collection was thoroughly witty, clever, creepy, disturbing, and hilariously disgusting.
From bratty kids who face gruesome consequences to vampires, serial killers and freeze-dried corpses, this book is a must for all Laymon fans.
I have read a lot of Richard Laymon. I actually thought I had read all of his books, but that is because I never knew he wrote short stories and this novella.
Of these thirteen tales, the title story is the longest and also my least favorite in the bunch. It's mainly about a rapist who is back for revenge against those who sent him to prison, but he is not the only "fiend" in the story. Some of the actions of his main victim were just too ridiculous. I suppose her unbelievable choices were needed in order to make this novella length since she had ample opportunity early on to make sure this man never bothered her again.
The rest of this collection was thoroughly witty, clever, creepy, disturbing, and hilariously disgusting.
From bratty kids who face gruesome consequences to vampires, serial killers and freeze-dried corpses, this book is a must for all Laymon fans.
October 30, 2025
This is a short story collection with the main novella a bit over 100 pages titled Fiends. Everyone of these stories are quite good and range in length from 4 pages to 30 odd. Most were 3.5 stars however the last story and my favorite titled "A Good Secret Place" was 4.5
If one is looking to start with Laymon I would recommend this. The stories give a good overview of how he writes and what type of subject matter alot of his books have.
If one is looking to start with Laymon I would recommend this. The stories give a good overview of how he writes and what type of subject matter alot of his books have.
March 17, 2009
First published back in 1997 by Headline Book Publishing, ‘Fiends’ has already seen itself reprinted a few times. The book is a collection of Laymon’s short stories spanning from 1970 to 1997. This is not in any way a complete collection, but a selected choice of his shorts.
The book includes a very comical five page introduction from the fellow horror author and personal friend of Laymon, Dean Koontz. This short introduction gives the reader a glimpse into the family life of Laymon from behind the eyes of a close friend. Koontz also delivers credit towards Laymon’s unique writing ability on numerous occasions within the introduction, which is praise indeed coming from such a well respected author of this very competitive genre. Koontz’s introduction is a joy in itself to read, with moments of comedy that are sure to make you laugh out loud.
The book kicks off with the first short story entitled ‘Fiends’ that was written for this very collection, and as such, this is its first published appearance. The tale is by far and away the longest short to be included in this compilation, running for a total of 112 pages. Not entirely a new scenario for Laymon to write about, the tale involves the kidnap, rape and murder of teenage girls who find themselves at the hands of a sociopathic killer. The title of the short is taken from the stories theme, whereby the sociopathic male characters are referred to as ‘fiends’ from early on within the tale. The short follows a few loose storylines and sub plots, which eventually inter-weave until the final and somewhat satisfying conclusion. ‘Fiends’ is a great start to this collection and if you’re new to Laymon’s work, then it would form a very good first choice to dip your toe into.
Next up is the 12 page short story entitled ‘Kitty Litter’ which was first published back in 1992 for the collection of short stories by various authors entitled ‘Cat Crimes II’. This humorously written piece of black comedy involves the simple premise of the likeable character named Mr Bishop, who is attempting to give away a litter of kittens for free to good homes. We join the tale when the over-the-top spoilt brat of a girl named Monica, approaches Bishop wanting one of the kittens. She picks out one and a paranormal story regarding that particular feline unfolds, which ultimately ends with a very satisfying conclusion to the whole episode. As is so often the case, Laymon writes what the reader is thinking, without a thought for social morality. After all, it’s just a story!
‘The Bleeder’ comes next, which takes the reader on a mini 16 page adventure as we follow the character of Byron who notices small drops of blood splashed on the pavement one night and decides to follow them, to locate the source. The short is written from Byron’s perspective allowing Laymon to delve into the character’s thoughts as he pursues this bleeder. Obviously, being a piece of Laymon’s work, the story ends in a dark and twisted fashion. For sheer imagination alone, this simple storyline is an absolute pleasure to read and has echoes of Clive Barker’s early Books of Blood era. The short was originally published for the winter of 1989 edition of the publication ‘New Blood’
Following on as one would a trail of blood, we have the very short tale entitled ‘Desert Pickup’. This 8 page story takes on the simple idea that people are not always as they may first appear. Indeed, this lack of trust for others is somewhat of a recurring theme within Laymon’s work. The novel squeezes in a couple of twists to the short and sweet storyline, ending with a slightly predictable but humorously satisfying conclusion. This short story was actually Laymon’s first ever professional sale and was published in the November 1970 edition of ‘Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine’.
‘The Mask’ is the next short story. This 24 page tale was first published in 1993 within Laymon’s limited edition short story collection ‘A Good, Secret Place’. This surprising story takes a look at the life of the character Allan Hunter when he develops an obsession with a masked woman he encounters one dark night, on the way back from the cinema. Hunter is an obsessive horror fanatic which, like with the character of Larry Dunbar from Laymon’s 1990 novel ‘The Stake’, is obviously based on Laymon himself. The short builds up a good tension until the dramatic and clever twist at the tales conclusion.
The next short is a tale simply titled ‘Eats’. This story was first published for the July 1985 issue of ‘Mike Shayne’s Mystery Magazine’. The tale was later reprinted for the 1988 book ‘The Second Black Lizard Anthology of Crime’, which was then followed by the re-working of the tale as a cartoon for the 1989 publication ‘The Bank Street Book of Mystery’. The 12 page short is a murder-mystery style affair with a strong black-comedy theme running through it. The main character is a private detective who is employed by a very wealthy old woman to find out if a member of her family is trying to poison her. The conclusion is highly amusing, bringing about a great glimpse into Laymon’s humorous nature.
Taking the next slot in this collection is the short entitled ‘The Hunt’. This 20 page tale was originally published back in 1989 for the compilation book containing tales of terror and suspense entitled ‘Stalkers’. The short story revolves around a young girl (isn’t it always in Laymon’s work) who is kidnapped and taken to the nearby deserted outbakes. She is then let free to escape, whilst being told that she will be hunted down within 10 minutes by her abductor. This gritty tale delivers a clever twist ending that will stay in your memory for a long time afterwards. This truly is a great little story!
Following on we have the 18 page short story ‘Slit’. This tale was first published in 1993 for the compilation book ‘Predators’. This nasty little tale sees inside the thoughts of the main character of Charles, whose obsession with cutting girls comes to a climax upon one of his co-workers at the library. The ending comes about with somewhat of a surprising conclusion. Moments of this tale depict disturbing thoughts inside the mind a depraved individual, making it quite strong in places.
By far the shortest story included in this compilation is next in line. This 4 page tale entitled ‘Out of the Woods’ is certainly short and sweet and was first published back in 1975 for the December edition of ‘Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine’. Laymon sets down the scenario quickly, with a camper waking up in his tent in the night, hearing an intruder demanding he get out and hand over all his possessions. From here a very amusing and cleverly achieved twist to the tale brings its short lived life to a very satisfying conclusion that will leave a big grin on your face. Personally, I think this little tale is fantastic.
Next up we have the bizarre tale entitled ‘Stiff Intruders’ that saw itself first published back in 1980 for the March edition of ‘Mike Shayne’s Mystery Magazine’. The 8 page story sets out the bizarre premise of corpses being left on the garden chair of a now released ex-serial killer. Laymon’s comical approach to this idea is amusing in itself, especially as the tale draws to fitting yet slightly predictable conclusion.
The 22 page short story titled ‘Special’ is next, which was originally published in 1991 for the compilation book titled ‘Under The Fang’. A graphic novel version of the short was later released in 1993 for the book ‘System Shock’. The story takes on a very similar modern day vampire premise to that of Stephen Norrington’s 1998 movie ‘Blade’. Obviously this short predates the film by a long way, but there are definite similarities between the two with the careful play with the social aspect of the vampire lives and their interaction to mankind. ‘Slit’ is a fast paced slice of pure adrenaline fuelled vampire action. The short has a definite feel to it that it has simply been torn from the middle pages of a full length novel; such is the straight in at the deep end policy taken by Laymon on this tale. Even with its mere 22 pages, the short packs in a full bodied storyline that concludes well. This piece is very different from the rest of the shorts in the collection, and as such, works well within the book as a whole.
‘Joyce’ follows, which is a 20 page short that, like with the earlier short ‘The Mask’, was first published for the 1993 limited edition publication ‘A Good, Secret Place’. Here we have the slightly surreal story of a woman who finds out that her new husband has his dead ex-wife stuffed and kept in his house. The husband cares for the stuffed corpse in a similar way to that which certain lonely individuals do with their life size human dolls (I’m sure we’ve all seen a similar disturbing documentary on these guys at some time or another). This bizarre little tale, revolves around the stresses involved for the new wife as she attempts to deal with this oddity to their new marriage. Of course, as it’s a Laymon story, things turn nasty. Not a bad story at all, but not one of the better ones in the book.
Last up we have the short entitled ‘A Good, Secret Place’ that was taken from the same limited edition compilation book as ‘The Mask’ and ‘Joyce’. This final tale was actually short-listed for a Bram Stoker Award by the Horror Writer’s Association for ‘superior achievement in a collection’. This 27 page short story includes the strongest content of all the shorts included within the compilation. The story follows two friends who try to avoid a nerdy new kid who moves to their neighbourhood. When the new kid finally latches on to them, they decide to teach this nerdy kid a lesson. Their nasty prank back fires somewhat, with a final ending to the short (and indeed the whole book) that will leave you with mouth agape. Quite a shocking ending with a dare I say bad-taste finale. But that’s what we love about Laymon – his no holds barred approach to writing.
All in all, ‘Fiends’ delivers a powerful and thoroughly enjoyable collection of shorts that are sure to please every fan of Laymon’s work. The book also serves as a good introduction to Laymon for people who have so far missed out on this great horror writer. Each tale stands out from the next, with clever ideas, bold statements and pure Laymon shock value.
The book includes a very comical five page introduction from the fellow horror author and personal friend of Laymon, Dean Koontz. This short introduction gives the reader a glimpse into the family life of Laymon from behind the eyes of a close friend. Koontz also delivers credit towards Laymon’s unique writing ability on numerous occasions within the introduction, which is praise indeed coming from such a well respected author of this very competitive genre. Koontz’s introduction is a joy in itself to read, with moments of comedy that are sure to make you laugh out loud.
The book kicks off with the first short story entitled ‘Fiends’ that was written for this very collection, and as such, this is its first published appearance. The tale is by far and away the longest short to be included in this compilation, running for a total of 112 pages. Not entirely a new scenario for Laymon to write about, the tale involves the kidnap, rape and murder of teenage girls who find themselves at the hands of a sociopathic killer. The title of the short is taken from the stories theme, whereby the sociopathic male characters are referred to as ‘fiends’ from early on within the tale. The short follows a few loose storylines and sub plots, which eventually inter-weave until the final and somewhat satisfying conclusion. ‘Fiends’ is a great start to this collection and if you’re new to Laymon’s work, then it would form a very good first choice to dip your toe into.
Next up is the 12 page short story entitled ‘Kitty Litter’ which was first published back in 1992 for the collection of short stories by various authors entitled ‘Cat Crimes II’. This humorously written piece of black comedy involves the simple premise of the likeable character named Mr Bishop, who is attempting to give away a litter of kittens for free to good homes. We join the tale when the over-the-top spoilt brat of a girl named Monica, approaches Bishop wanting one of the kittens. She picks out one and a paranormal story regarding that particular feline unfolds, which ultimately ends with a very satisfying conclusion to the whole episode. As is so often the case, Laymon writes what the reader is thinking, without a thought for social morality. After all, it’s just a story!
‘The Bleeder’ comes next, which takes the reader on a mini 16 page adventure as we follow the character of Byron who notices small drops of blood splashed on the pavement one night and decides to follow them, to locate the source. The short is written from Byron’s perspective allowing Laymon to delve into the character’s thoughts as he pursues this bleeder. Obviously, being a piece of Laymon’s work, the story ends in a dark and twisted fashion. For sheer imagination alone, this simple storyline is an absolute pleasure to read and has echoes of Clive Barker’s early Books of Blood era. The short was originally published for the winter of 1989 edition of the publication ‘New Blood’
Following on as one would a trail of blood, we have the very short tale entitled ‘Desert Pickup’. This 8 page story takes on the simple idea that people are not always as they may first appear. Indeed, this lack of trust for others is somewhat of a recurring theme within Laymon’s work. The novel squeezes in a couple of twists to the short and sweet storyline, ending with a slightly predictable but humorously satisfying conclusion. This short story was actually Laymon’s first ever professional sale and was published in the November 1970 edition of ‘Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine’.
‘The Mask’ is the next short story. This 24 page tale was first published in 1993 within Laymon’s limited edition short story collection ‘A Good, Secret Place’. This surprising story takes a look at the life of the character Allan Hunter when he develops an obsession with a masked woman he encounters one dark night, on the way back from the cinema. Hunter is an obsessive horror fanatic which, like with the character of Larry Dunbar from Laymon’s 1990 novel ‘The Stake’, is obviously based on Laymon himself. The short builds up a good tension until the dramatic and clever twist at the tales conclusion.
The next short is a tale simply titled ‘Eats’. This story was first published for the July 1985 issue of ‘Mike Shayne’s Mystery Magazine’. The tale was later reprinted for the 1988 book ‘The Second Black Lizard Anthology of Crime’, which was then followed by the re-working of the tale as a cartoon for the 1989 publication ‘The Bank Street Book of Mystery’. The 12 page short is a murder-mystery style affair with a strong black-comedy theme running through it. The main character is a private detective who is employed by a very wealthy old woman to find out if a member of her family is trying to poison her. The conclusion is highly amusing, bringing about a great glimpse into Laymon’s humorous nature.
Taking the next slot in this collection is the short entitled ‘The Hunt’. This 20 page tale was originally published back in 1989 for the compilation book containing tales of terror and suspense entitled ‘Stalkers’. The short story revolves around a young girl (isn’t it always in Laymon’s work) who is kidnapped and taken to the nearby deserted outbakes. She is then let free to escape, whilst being told that she will be hunted down within 10 minutes by her abductor. This gritty tale delivers a clever twist ending that will stay in your memory for a long time afterwards. This truly is a great little story!
Following on we have the 18 page short story ‘Slit’. This tale was first published in 1993 for the compilation book ‘Predators’. This nasty little tale sees inside the thoughts of the main character of Charles, whose obsession with cutting girls comes to a climax upon one of his co-workers at the library. The ending comes about with somewhat of a surprising conclusion. Moments of this tale depict disturbing thoughts inside the mind a depraved individual, making it quite strong in places.
By far the shortest story included in this compilation is next in line. This 4 page tale entitled ‘Out of the Woods’ is certainly short and sweet and was first published back in 1975 for the December edition of ‘Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine’. Laymon sets down the scenario quickly, with a camper waking up in his tent in the night, hearing an intruder demanding he get out and hand over all his possessions. From here a very amusing and cleverly achieved twist to the tale brings its short lived life to a very satisfying conclusion that will leave a big grin on your face. Personally, I think this little tale is fantastic.
Next up we have the bizarre tale entitled ‘Stiff Intruders’ that saw itself first published back in 1980 for the March edition of ‘Mike Shayne’s Mystery Magazine’. The 8 page story sets out the bizarre premise of corpses being left on the garden chair of a now released ex-serial killer. Laymon’s comical approach to this idea is amusing in itself, especially as the tale draws to fitting yet slightly predictable conclusion.
The 22 page short story titled ‘Special’ is next, which was originally published in 1991 for the compilation book titled ‘Under The Fang’. A graphic novel version of the short was later released in 1993 for the book ‘System Shock’. The story takes on a very similar modern day vampire premise to that of Stephen Norrington’s 1998 movie ‘Blade’. Obviously this short predates the film by a long way, but there are definite similarities between the two with the careful play with the social aspect of the vampire lives and their interaction to mankind. ‘Slit’ is a fast paced slice of pure adrenaline fuelled vampire action. The short has a definite feel to it that it has simply been torn from the middle pages of a full length novel; such is the straight in at the deep end policy taken by Laymon on this tale. Even with its mere 22 pages, the short packs in a full bodied storyline that concludes well. This piece is very different from the rest of the shorts in the collection, and as such, works well within the book as a whole.
‘Joyce’ follows, which is a 20 page short that, like with the earlier short ‘The Mask’, was first published for the 1993 limited edition publication ‘A Good, Secret Place’. Here we have the slightly surreal story of a woman who finds out that her new husband has his dead ex-wife stuffed and kept in his house. The husband cares for the stuffed corpse in a similar way to that which certain lonely individuals do with their life size human dolls (I’m sure we’ve all seen a similar disturbing documentary on these guys at some time or another). This bizarre little tale, revolves around the stresses involved for the new wife as she attempts to deal with this oddity to their new marriage. Of course, as it’s a Laymon story, things turn nasty. Not a bad story at all, but not one of the better ones in the book.
Last up we have the short entitled ‘A Good, Secret Place’ that was taken from the same limited edition compilation book as ‘The Mask’ and ‘Joyce’. This final tale was actually short-listed for a Bram Stoker Award by the Horror Writer’s Association for ‘superior achievement in a collection’. This 27 page short story includes the strongest content of all the shorts included within the compilation. The story follows two friends who try to avoid a nerdy new kid who moves to their neighbourhood. When the new kid finally latches on to them, they decide to teach this nerdy kid a lesson. Their nasty prank back fires somewhat, with a final ending to the short (and indeed the whole book) that will leave you with mouth agape. Quite a shocking ending with a dare I say bad-taste finale. But that’s what we love about Laymon – his no holds barred approach to writing.
All in all, ‘Fiends’ delivers a powerful and thoroughly enjoyable collection of shorts that are sure to please every fan of Laymon’s work. The book also serves as a good introduction to Laymon for people who have so far missed out on this great horror writer. Each tale stands out from the next, with clever ideas, bold statements and pure Laymon shock value.
November 5, 2025
One of those rare story collections where nearly every story is good, or at least entertaining. I think in this whole collection there was only one story I thought was mediocre, and most were pretty good, with a few outstanding inclusions. The first story, and the last two are probably the biggest stand outs, but I also greatly enjoyed The Bleeder and Slit. I'll be interested to see how Laymon's other short story collection, Dreadful Tales, stacks up against this one.
November 5, 2025
Fantastic collection!
November 9, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up. Unusually a short story collection from Laymon, which I was a bit apprehensive about as I don’t enjoy short stories that much (they’re too, erm, short?) However these were great! There are thirteen stories in this collection and I reckon I highly rated at least ten of them. Favourites were Joyce, Kitty Litter, The Mask and A Good Secret Place but most of the others were definitely worth a read.
Obviously with Laymon, these stories are mostly crazy, often sexually graphic and very violent. And entertaining as hell.
Obviously with Laymon, these stories are mostly crazy, often sexually graphic and very violent. And entertaining as hell.
May 16, 2018
Bit of a mixed bag really. Some good stories in here, some which I didn’t care much for.
Compared to Laymons other work that I’ve read, most of these were just alright.
Overall a decenct collection, but I think I’ll probably stick to his novels in future.
Compared to Laymons other work that I’ve read, most of these were just alright.
Overall a decenct collection, but I think I’ll probably stick to his novels in future.
August 17, 2024
I do not care for short story collections or novellas. Richard Laymon is the only reason I read this short story collection. It still irritated me how quickly each story ends, but he deserved the 5 star rating.
December 7, 2015
I'm having a hard time deciding what to rate this book, considering I have mixed feelings about virtually each and every story collected in it. Laymon knows how to hook you with a great beginning, but he almost inevitably botches the endings.
Then there's the fact that everything Laymon writes is in varying levels of bad taste. I can't say that much in this book really offended me, but I certainly felt oily while reading it. Especially, the titular novella, "Fiends," which was as mindless as it was graphic. This story is the reason I rated this book two stars rather than three.
At best, Laymon is a master of tawdry, cheap thrills. Yet, there's a certain playfulness about his writing, a certain black humor, that I really enjoy. This is best seen in the story "Eats," which is both a funny hardboiled detective parody and the only piece in this collection I would actually recommend. The rest of the stories I could leave or take. I found most of them intriguing in the beginning, but was consistently let down in the end.
Then there's the fact that everything Laymon writes is in varying levels of bad taste. I can't say that much in this book really offended me, but I certainly felt oily while reading it. Especially, the titular novella, "Fiends," which was as mindless as it was graphic. This story is the reason I rated this book two stars rather than three.
At best, Laymon is a master of tawdry, cheap thrills. Yet, there's a certain playfulness about his writing, a certain black humor, that I really enjoy. This is best seen in the story "Eats," which is both a funny hardboiled detective parody and the only piece in this collection I would actually recommend. The rest of the stories I could leave or take. I found most of them intriguing in the beginning, but was consistently let down in the end.
April 18, 2015
I hate to be redundant here but Richard Laymon is not an author everyone can enjoy. Unless you enjoy disgusting, disturbing horror you WILL hate Laymon's books. That is not a ploy to get people interested. One look at the reviews for any of his books and you will see that most love or hate him, there really is no in-between. A couple more things to keep in mind; he's been described as "Stephen King without a conscience" and "A dirty old man." I've found both statements to be accurate.
Being a big fan of horror I absolutely enjoy reading Laymon when I'm not cringing or feeling nauseous lol.
Fiends has two things going for it, one being it is a collection of short stories which happens to be, in my opinion a very underrated genre, and of course Laymon is a favorite author of mine. I find this collection quite close to absolute genius, all tales interwoven with the same theme as the title story yet never quite being sure who is the fiend and who is not.
Being a big fan of horror I absolutely enjoy reading Laymon when I'm not cringing or feeling nauseous lol.
Fiends has two things going for it, one being it is a collection of short stories which happens to be, in my opinion a very underrated genre, and of course Laymon is a favorite author of mine. I find this collection quite close to absolute genius, all tales interwoven with the same theme as the title story yet never quite being sure who is the fiend and who is not.
March 5, 2016
I'm not a huge fan of short stories, but Laymon is one of my favorite authors so I didn't mind too much. The first novella in the book was really good I enjoyed it a lot it probably could have been a longer book, but it was good for this type of book. The short story's were all 4 & 5 star short stories to me maybe 1 or 2 were 3 stars, but they were pretty good. Some were funny, others were weird, & some you wished were whose books because they were interesting. I also liked how some were from way back in the day & some were new you have a pretty good variety of stories from 1970-1993 so you can really see the writing style getting better as he grows which is pretty cool. Once again another Laymon book I enjoyed
June 24, 2018
14 Short stories from my favorite Horror author of all time (RIP). Half of them are very good to excellent, the other half are okay. Though "Okay" for Laymon is still better than most. His other collection DREADFUL TALES is slightly better, but this won't disappoint Laymon fans new or old
Now I only have to read one more book of his to complete his works, which makes me sad now that I'm about to cross that finish line
Now I only have to read one more book of his to complete his works, which makes me sad now that I'm about to cross that finish line
November 6, 2021
This one was a lot of fun, the stories range from long to short, serious to funny, but I enjoyed them all, some of my favourites are:
Desert Pickup - a hitchhiker story
Eats - a private detective story
Joyce - about taxidermy gone too far.
After someone pointed out that Richard Laymon uses the word 'rump' a lot in his books every time I see it in a story, it brings a smile to my face, it's like when you see a Stephen King cameo in one of his movies.
Desert Pickup - a hitchhiker story
Eats - a private detective story
Joyce - about taxidermy gone too far.
After someone pointed out that Richard Laymon uses the word 'rump' a lot in his books every time I see it in a story, it brings a smile to my face, it's like when you see a Stephen King cameo in one of his movies.
January 21, 2024
En del noveller håller riktigt hög klass. Speciellt The mask & A good, secret place. En del andra rätt tråkiga för att vara en Laymon.
January 19, 2023
Richard Laymon is an author I really enjoy, he's capable of terrific work such as The Travelling Vampire Show or Savage but on the other hand, he's also capable of writing duds like Beware! and Once Upon a Halloween, which were both awful, to say the least. So picking up a short story collection of his was always going to be a risk, but having really enjoyed Out are The Lights and its collection of stories, I decided to take a risk and give it a go.
Fiends:
Marty was raped at 15 years old in her own house by a total stranger by the name of Wally, 10 years later he has come back for revenge and it's going to take everything she's got to fight against him and put him out of action for good. Meanwhile, after Tina discovers her fiance cheating, she runs out on him and wants to go somewhere far away, but catching a ride with a stranger was always going to be a risk...
Fiends had a pretty good idea at its core, it's kind of like two short stories that emerge into one another at the end which I thought was really cool. It's a story about revenge, lust and torture but also how hitchhiking is a terrible gamble, sometimes you can get helped by a nice stranger but at other times by monsters that lurk in the shadows until they finally grasp their hands on a vulnerable stranger...
It's a good idea, but the execution is very poor. The first 25 pages were engaging and set up the story pretty well. However, everything after that is really bad, the characters are thick, the villain is pathetic, and only his actual demise in the novella is pretty good. The scenarios are incredibly unrealistic and the ending whilst solid was definitely weakened by such a terrible and lacking journey.
Again a really good idea, with the first few pages being solid and a decent enough ending but overall it was a pretty bad novella, to say the least, nicely paced though. 2/10
Kitty Litter:
When a young girl called Monica comes by to take a kitten home with her, she tries to steal one that belongs to the owner. However Mr. Bishop has a rather ghostly tale to tell about the cat and at the end of it, Monica might have a terrible price to pay.
Not going to lie, this was the story that made me want to read this collection. I'm a big lover of cats, hell I've got 6 and I adore them all equally. So to read a very well-written story by Laymon that's filled to the brim with black humor and a very critical message from the author himself within the story on people who are not worthy of being cat owners due to their attitude, was really meaningful to me and I 100% agree with him. The ending of this story was satisfying and the tale behind it was a little creepy, to say the least.
If Fiends turned you off, please continue reading because this 10-page short story is nothing less than brilliant! 10/10
The Bleeder:
After another day of work at the local cinema, Bryon is on his way home but when he finds a trail of blood, he becomes curious and soon finds himself on a creepy adventure where at the end of the road might be a maiden in distress. However fantasies never happen in real life and even though Byron knows this, the mystery intrigues him but what he may find might just terrify him for the rest of his life.
A very atmospheric and creepy story by Laymon, with an interesting mystery that has a really terrifying and satisfying resolution. I wasn't too sure what to expect when reading this, since the possibilities could have been endless but what we got here was terrific and really creeped me out in the end! 10/10
Desert Pickup:
Having been thrown out and tricked by a truck driver, a lonely man out in the desert is lucky to be picked up by a woman, a lovely lady with a very curious obsession for cacti, however not everything is as it seems...
Considering this was Richard Laymon's first published story, it's actually really good, nothing amazing. But it's a simple hitchhiking gone wrong tale that has a really cool twist that gives a very unique narrative ending to the story. 8/10
The Mask:
Leaving the theatre after watching Nosferatu, Allan likes to walk back home in the dark and through the shadows, it scares him but that's where the thrill comes from. However, when he comes across a masked woman, he decides to run away. Feeling guilty, he decides to revisit the mysterious figure, and soon the two start to fall in love...
Again this is another very atmospheric tale, but instead of it being a horror story it's actually really sweet and very romantic, the twist at the end had me beaming. I love how Laymon decided to work his abilities as a horror writer to set up a rather unique and sweet love story that has a brilliant payoff. 10/10
Eats:
Mable Wingate is in need of a private detective, she believes someone in her household after her husband's death intends to poison her and run away with her fortune. Duke Scanlon is on the case, however, she may very well regret it.
This was a really fun, somewhat comedic noir parody of a private detective story, it's nothing too amazing but it's an enjoyable time and the ending really took me by surprise, says a lot about our main character! 8/10
The Hunt:
One night when Kim's out doing her laundry, she finds a man staring at her from his car the entire time. Nervous she asks a fellow by the name of Bradley to help her get out safely. However, things soon turn for the worse and Kim is now being hunted down by a psychopathic killer...
A really fun survival story, that again isn't anything too mindblowing but the premise is good and the execution works really well, the ending took me by surprise and I actually really liked Kim as a character despite the fact it being a short story. 8/10
Slit:
When Lynn accidentally gets a papercut from reading, her co-worker Charles decides to help bandage her up, but he's being very strange about it. Soon he can't do anything but think about cutting and slicing up Lynn, but he attempts to find ways to stop himself. Soon enough when they are working together, it seems time has run out and his fantasies are about to play out...
A really disturbing and sick story, it's a very interesting one for Laymon since we get to explore the mind of a sexual maniac and what makes him tick, and how he came to have this macabre fantasy. The ending of this one will depend on the reader, but I just love how unexpected it was, and honestly in a way it really hits home just how sick people can be with their sexual fantasies. 10/10
Out of The Woods:
Having been rudely awoken by a stranger, our narrator discovers his wife has gone missing, and now he's being threatened to give up everything to a dangerous individual.
If that sounds incredibly basic that's because it is, with it only being 3 pages long so not really much of a story and more of a light comedy piece with a gruesome ending. It was okay, it's more that I just didn't get it as opposed to it being anything bad. I can imagine some people getting a kick out of this one for what it is, but there's not really much to talk about and it's not exactly what you'd call memorable. 5/10
Stiff Intruders:
When Charlie discovers the body of a dead woman outside on his lawn chair one morning, he immediately calls for Lou who used to be a serial killer himself, together they dump the body in a stolen vehicle at a nearby bank. However the next weekend they find yet another body and soon have to cover it up. Something very strange is going on and the two are terrified their identities for previous crimes will be revealed by another murderer.
If this sounds silly, it's because it is. Richard Laymon has written a very comedic take on a mystery tale where none of the characters are good or likable people, seeing them being put into such a strange scenario and the actual explanation is very weird but hilarious as well. A very silly but funny story. 8/10
Special:
When a camp is attacked, the men are slaughtered and the women are captured. The Guardians and their Vampire masters return to their estate led by Roger. The women are used as either blood donors or if they're fertile, they are used to help breed infants for the vampire's feasts or to bring more of them into the world. When Jim meets Diane, he starts to fall in love with her and will do anything to protect her and stop this mindless torture for good.
A really disturbing but unique vampire story that despite being a very Laymon Esque tale honestly really works, it's kind of a dystopic story where the lands are ruled by vampires and the humans are being used to help breed or slaughter those who might stand against them. It's a very bloodthirsty story with gore, rape, torture, and so on. But the way it's written here honestly really works and comes together to make a brilliant ending.
It's strange to see Laymon do a full-on vampire story since he writes vampire novels that don't give a definite answer as to what's really going on. The Stake, for example, is about whether or not a young woman's corpse is a vampire, and The Travelling Vampire Show is about a bizarre, adult circus of sorts that has a vampire in captivity that may or may not be real. So this was a great change of pace. 10/10
Joyce:
Barbara has recently arrived at her new home to live with her husband after their honeymoon, however, when she discovers a corpse under the bed of his ex-wife, it seems that there's a lot she still needs to learn about Darren. He of course wants them to become the best of friends, but how can you when she's dead?
Holy shit. I thought Slit was messed up, but this takes the biscuit. A really disturbing story about a wife living with the corpse of her husband's ex-wife who died three years prior, a really haunting concept brought to life brilliantly. The ending to this is both very gruesome but funny at the same time, there's a sense of dark humor to this story that's very subtle until the ending but it doesn't underplay in any way just how horrifying this story is and it's brilliant! 10/10
A Good, Secret Place:
Rick and Jim are the best of friends, however when a new kid comes on the block by the name of George wants to be their friend, they try their hardest to give him a hint that they're not interested however when all else backfires and George comes with them to spy on girls, they plan to pull a nasty trick on the boy, that may very well backfire.
I admittedly heard about the twist behind this story but I can understand why people really found it effective considering the way it's written. It's very much a coming-of-age story about a child who wants to be friends with a couple of older kids, but instead, they find him rather creepy and socially inept. However, the feeling of guilt they receive after playing their trick was very well handled, before we discover the twist that was hinted at throughout the novel. In typical Laymon fashion, it ends up being very disturbing and really makes you feel bad because this kid really just wanted to be their friend but due to misunderstandings and a little bit of lying from their own end of things, ended up suffering. It's not an ending for everyone, but it's definitely one of his most horrifying, but it does end on a sweet note. 10/10
Overall: The novella Fiends was awful, to say the least, nice idea but suffered from terrible execution. The short stories, however, were fun, creepy, and disturbing. I'd definitely be happy to say this is one of my favorite short story collections ever. If it wasn't for such a weak novella, this would have gotten full marks. 9/10
Fiends:
Marty was raped at 15 years old in her own house by a total stranger by the name of Wally, 10 years later he has come back for revenge and it's going to take everything she's got to fight against him and put him out of action for good. Meanwhile, after Tina discovers her fiance cheating, she runs out on him and wants to go somewhere far away, but catching a ride with a stranger was always going to be a risk...
Fiends had a pretty good idea at its core, it's kind of like two short stories that emerge into one another at the end which I thought was really cool. It's a story about revenge, lust and torture but also how hitchhiking is a terrible gamble, sometimes you can get helped by a nice stranger but at other times by monsters that lurk in the shadows until they finally grasp their hands on a vulnerable stranger...
It's a good idea, but the execution is very poor. The first 25 pages were engaging and set up the story pretty well. However, everything after that is really bad, the characters are thick, the villain is pathetic, and only his actual demise in the novella is pretty good. The scenarios are incredibly unrealistic and the ending whilst solid was definitely weakened by such a terrible and lacking journey.
Again a really good idea, with the first few pages being solid and a decent enough ending but overall it was a pretty bad novella, to say the least, nicely paced though. 2/10
Kitty Litter:
When a young girl called Monica comes by to take a kitten home with her, she tries to steal one that belongs to the owner. However Mr. Bishop has a rather ghostly tale to tell about the cat and at the end of it, Monica might have a terrible price to pay.
Not going to lie, this was the story that made me want to read this collection. I'm a big lover of cats, hell I've got 6 and I adore them all equally. So to read a very well-written story by Laymon that's filled to the brim with black humor and a very critical message from the author himself within the story on people who are not worthy of being cat owners due to their attitude, was really meaningful to me and I 100% agree with him. The ending of this story was satisfying and the tale behind it was a little creepy, to say the least.
If Fiends turned you off, please continue reading because this 10-page short story is nothing less than brilliant! 10/10
The Bleeder:
After another day of work at the local cinema, Bryon is on his way home but when he finds a trail of blood, he becomes curious and soon finds himself on a creepy adventure where at the end of the road might be a maiden in distress. However fantasies never happen in real life and even though Byron knows this, the mystery intrigues him but what he may find might just terrify him for the rest of his life.
A very atmospheric and creepy story by Laymon, with an interesting mystery that has a really terrifying and satisfying resolution. I wasn't too sure what to expect when reading this, since the possibilities could have been endless but what we got here was terrific and really creeped me out in the end! 10/10
Desert Pickup:
Having been thrown out and tricked by a truck driver, a lonely man out in the desert is lucky to be picked up by a woman, a lovely lady with a very curious obsession for cacti, however not everything is as it seems...
Considering this was Richard Laymon's first published story, it's actually really good, nothing amazing. But it's a simple hitchhiking gone wrong tale that has a really cool twist that gives a very unique narrative ending to the story. 8/10
The Mask:
Leaving the theatre after watching Nosferatu, Allan likes to walk back home in the dark and through the shadows, it scares him but that's where the thrill comes from. However, when he comes across a masked woman, he decides to run away. Feeling guilty, he decides to revisit the mysterious figure, and soon the two start to fall in love...
Again this is another very atmospheric tale, but instead of it being a horror story it's actually really sweet and very romantic, the twist at the end had me beaming. I love how Laymon decided to work his abilities as a horror writer to set up a rather unique and sweet love story that has a brilliant payoff. 10/10
Eats:
Mable Wingate is in need of a private detective, she believes someone in her household after her husband's death intends to poison her and run away with her fortune. Duke Scanlon is on the case, however, she may very well regret it.
This was a really fun, somewhat comedic noir parody of a private detective story, it's nothing too amazing but it's an enjoyable time and the ending really took me by surprise, says a lot about our main character! 8/10
The Hunt:
One night when Kim's out doing her laundry, she finds a man staring at her from his car the entire time. Nervous she asks a fellow by the name of Bradley to help her get out safely. However, things soon turn for the worse and Kim is now being hunted down by a psychopathic killer...
A really fun survival story, that again isn't anything too mindblowing but the premise is good and the execution works really well, the ending took me by surprise and I actually really liked Kim as a character despite the fact it being a short story. 8/10
Slit:
When Lynn accidentally gets a papercut from reading, her co-worker Charles decides to help bandage her up, but he's being very strange about it. Soon he can't do anything but think about cutting and slicing up Lynn, but he attempts to find ways to stop himself. Soon enough when they are working together, it seems time has run out and his fantasies are about to play out...
A really disturbing and sick story, it's a very interesting one for Laymon since we get to explore the mind of a sexual maniac and what makes him tick, and how he came to have this macabre fantasy. The ending of this one will depend on the reader, but I just love how unexpected it was, and honestly in a way it really hits home just how sick people can be with their sexual fantasies. 10/10
Out of The Woods:
Having been rudely awoken by a stranger, our narrator discovers his wife has gone missing, and now he's being threatened to give up everything to a dangerous individual.
If that sounds incredibly basic that's because it is, with it only being 3 pages long so not really much of a story and more of a light comedy piece with a gruesome ending. It was okay, it's more that I just didn't get it as opposed to it being anything bad. I can imagine some people getting a kick out of this one for what it is, but there's not really much to talk about and it's not exactly what you'd call memorable. 5/10
Stiff Intruders:
When Charlie discovers the body of a dead woman outside on his lawn chair one morning, he immediately calls for Lou who used to be a serial killer himself, together they dump the body in a stolen vehicle at a nearby bank. However the next weekend they find yet another body and soon have to cover it up. Something very strange is going on and the two are terrified their identities for previous crimes will be revealed by another murderer.
If this sounds silly, it's because it is. Richard Laymon has written a very comedic take on a mystery tale where none of the characters are good or likable people, seeing them being put into such a strange scenario and the actual explanation is very weird but hilarious as well. A very silly but funny story. 8/10
Special:
When a camp is attacked, the men are slaughtered and the women are captured. The Guardians and their Vampire masters return to their estate led by Roger. The women are used as either blood donors or if they're fertile, they are used to help breed infants for the vampire's feasts or to bring more of them into the world. When Jim meets Diane, he starts to fall in love with her and will do anything to protect her and stop this mindless torture for good.
A really disturbing but unique vampire story that despite being a very Laymon Esque tale honestly really works, it's kind of a dystopic story where the lands are ruled by vampires and the humans are being used to help breed or slaughter those who might stand against them. It's a very bloodthirsty story with gore, rape, torture, and so on. But the way it's written here honestly really works and comes together to make a brilliant ending.
It's strange to see Laymon do a full-on vampire story since he writes vampire novels that don't give a definite answer as to what's really going on. The Stake, for example, is about whether or not a young woman's corpse is a vampire, and The Travelling Vampire Show is about a bizarre, adult circus of sorts that has a vampire in captivity that may or may not be real. So this was a great change of pace. 10/10
Joyce:
Barbara has recently arrived at her new home to live with her husband after their honeymoon, however, when she discovers a corpse under the bed of his ex-wife, it seems that there's a lot she still needs to learn about Darren. He of course wants them to become the best of friends, but how can you when she's dead?
Holy shit. I thought Slit was messed up, but this takes the biscuit. A really disturbing story about a wife living with the corpse of her husband's ex-wife who died three years prior, a really haunting concept brought to life brilliantly. The ending to this is both very gruesome but funny at the same time, there's a sense of dark humor to this story that's very subtle until the ending but it doesn't underplay in any way just how horrifying this story is and it's brilliant! 10/10
A Good, Secret Place:
Rick and Jim are the best of friends, however when a new kid comes on the block by the name of George wants to be their friend, they try their hardest to give him a hint that they're not interested however when all else backfires and George comes with them to spy on girls, they plan to pull a nasty trick on the boy, that may very well backfire.
I admittedly heard about the twist behind this story but I can understand why people really found it effective considering the way it's written. It's very much a coming-of-age story about a child who wants to be friends with a couple of older kids, but instead, they find him rather creepy and socially inept. However, the feeling of guilt they receive after playing their trick was very well handled, before we discover the twist that was hinted at throughout the novel. In typical Laymon fashion, it ends up being very disturbing and really makes you feel bad because this kid really just wanted to be their friend but due to misunderstandings and a little bit of lying from their own end of things, ended up suffering. It's not an ending for everyone, but it's definitely one of his most horrifying, but it does end on a sweet note. 10/10
Overall: The novella Fiends was awful, to say the least, nice idea but suffered from terrible execution. The short stories, however, were fun, creepy, and disturbing. I'd definitely be happy to say this is one of my favorite short story collections ever. If it wasn't for such a weak novella, this would have gotten full marks. 9/10
May 8, 2017
Like all of his books, very very good!
August 2, 2017
Fiend is an interesting short story collection, and at times, it doesn't feel like a Richard Laymon book. The opening novella is classic Laymon, but it for all of its brutality, there's a bit of a disconnect. This is what we've come to expect from the guy, but here, it's just to lure in his faithful readers, and Fiends as a whole just feels nonsensical. Who acts this way? Why are these people so fucking stupid? Laymon is better than this, and as the collection rolls on it's clear that he is. There's a bit of humor that flows through some of these stories. You even have a story called Eats that follows the formula of a pulp detective story, but ends in a such an unexpected way, you can't help but laugh at how it all turns out. Who would have thought that Laymon of all people had a sense of humor?
There are some horror stories, but they aren't what you would expect. Slit is a weird little piece about a man who is addicted to cutting people and becomes obsessed with Lynn, but the twist at the end is what makes this story so interesting. Fiends finds Laymon writing different styles of fiction, and taking his readers on a ride. For the fans, it's an interesting glimpse at a writer experimenting, but this isn't a book for people just discovering Laymon. There's no way you could read this, and go right into a book like Stake, or even Night In the Lonesome October. The only straight horror piece is Fiends, but Stiff Intruders, and The Mask would throw people off due to its subject matter, and dark sense of humor.
I thought it was solid collection that collects Laymon's shorter work written for various magazines and anthologies. We know Laymon was capable of writing dark, brutal fiction, but Fiends shows us another side of Laymon's writing. These stories are a part of the Laymon canon, and prove that he was a great writer. His sense of humor shines through in the majority of these. Sure, it's black humor, but as a fan, it's refreshing to see another side to him. Fiends may not be perfect, but it's pretty damn close.
There are some horror stories, but they aren't what you would expect. Slit is a weird little piece about a man who is addicted to cutting people and becomes obsessed with Lynn, but the twist at the end is what makes this story so interesting. Fiends finds Laymon writing different styles of fiction, and taking his readers on a ride. For the fans, it's an interesting glimpse at a writer experimenting, but this isn't a book for people just discovering Laymon. There's no way you could read this, and go right into a book like Stake, or even Night In the Lonesome October. The only straight horror piece is Fiends, but Stiff Intruders, and The Mask would throw people off due to its subject matter, and dark sense of humor.
I thought it was solid collection that collects Laymon's shorter work written for various magazines and anthologies. We know Laymon was capable of writing dark, brutal fiction, but Fiends shows us another side of Laymon's writing. These stories are a part of the Laymon canon, and prove that he was a great writer. His sense of humor shines through in the majority of these. Sure, it's black humor, but as a fan, it's refreshing to see another side to him. Fiends may not be perfect, but it's pretty damn close.
November 5, 2010
Fiends is one of the worst horror books I've ever read. I am a fan of this author, and I couldn't even finish it. The characters are hollow and irritating, making unrealistic, stupid decisions to facilitate a hollow plot. I was unable to swallow my suspension of disbelief long enough to believe that Marty, not once but multiple times during the opening scene, refuses to tell her boyfriend the identity of the man who is stalking them on their date--the convicted rapist who assaulted her ten years ago! Even to the point of not calling the police when Willy the rapist breaks into her home and tries to attack her. She also gets angry at the boyfriend for wanting to beat the crap out of the stalker. Blech.
The second storyline revolves around an engaged couple. When the woman walks in on her fiancé having sex with a random stranger on the floor of his store, her first reaction is to go hitchhiking??? She is picked up by a "fiend" and barely escapes before getting picked up by another man who assures her that all men cheat on their partners. It's as if Laymon set out to create the most repugnant human beings possible and turned them all loose in a freaky pinball machine.
The end for me came when Marty decides to perform oral sex on her rapist voluntarily to keep him from menacing a half-naked girl they just drove away from.
I don't ask that every character be likeable in a book. I don't ask for a complicated plot full of twists and turns. I am familiar with the weirdos who frequent Richard Laymon books. But SOME realism would be appreciated.
If you have never read a Richard Laymon novel before, I beg of you, pick another title. The Traveling Vampire Show, Bite, Beast House, and In The Dark all come to mind.
The second storyline revolves around an engaged couple. When the woman walks in on her fiancé having sex with a random stranger on the floor of his store, her first reaction is to go hitchhiking??? She is picked up by a "fiend" and barely escapes before getting picked up by another man who assures her that all men cheat on their partners. It's as if Laymon set out to create the most repugnant human beings possible and turned them all loose in a freaky pinball machine.
The end for me came when Marty decides to perform oral sex on her rapist voluntarily to keep him from menacing a half-naked girl they just drove away from.
I don't ask that every character be likeable in a book. I don't ask for a complicated plot full of twists and turns. I am familiar with the weirdos who frequent Richard Laymon books. But SOME realism would be appreciated.
If you have never read a Richard Laymon novel before, I beg of you, pick another title. The Traveling Vampire Show, Bite, Beast House, and In The Dark all come to mind.
June 12, 2013
Though definitely not for everybody, Richard Laymon is a very good writer in the genre that he works in. Unfortunately this collection of stories falls short. It's almost as if Richard Laymon was writing as Richard Laymon, but with limited talent. The title story especially is just flat shock-value that doesn't even shock you much because the characters are seemingly making random, stupid decisions out of nowhere. A couple of the other works in the book have some merit, on the value of simply being vaguely entertaining, but still don't match-up to what I have seen this writer accomplish.
It takes something special to be able to hold your own when writing what is often referred to as "splatter-punk" horror fiction. Laymon has that something special. But it doesn't display in this collection. Not a bad read for true fans, but to really experience what this writer is about I would look at other works.
It takes something special to be able to hold your own when writing what is often referred to as "splatter-punk" horror fiction. Laymon has that something special. But it doesn't display in this collection. Not a bad read for true fans, but to really experience what this writer is about I would look at other works.
November 23, 2009
The title story, a novella, is among the worst things I've read by Laymon. It reminds me of "Come Out Tonight" in that it is about a psycho stalking a young woman who continually makes such stupid decisions that you don't even root for her. It just kind of makes the story lurch along, with the girl being confronted with danger and not reacting in any sort of intelligent or realistic ways. So 1 star for that story. The rest of the short stories are great, however, hence my 3 star rating for the entire book. It serves as a contrast, to see just how good Laymon's short fiction can be, while also showcasing just how bad his longer fiction is sometimes. Laymon was severely prolific, and the quality level dips and soars from book to book. The short stories are great, the long story is terrible and that's about the long and short of it.
August 3, 2016
Unfortunately, this collection of shorts marks the downturn in Laymon's intense, brisk fiction. The title story is a case in point.
July 21, 2014
Interesting, plays with your imagination, good short horror stories
June 14, 2015
HOLIDAY READS FROM SPAIN I really enjoyed this. I especially loved the small stories towards the end which were suitably tense but also incredibly ironic/comical
August 4, 2015
Great little anthology!
February 4, 2016
Well, that was a fun read but something that I am never going to pick up again.
November 18, 2016
When you want a quick fix - turn to Laymon as he never disappoints. Fiends is a collection of short stories. Fiends, The Bleeder, Desert Pickup - stand outs.
January 21, 2018
*Inhalt*
"In unseren Städten lauern Bestien! Ein Kinobesuch wird für Marty zum schlimmsten Albtraum, als sie den Kerl sieht, der hinter ihr sitzt. Willy der Mann, der vor zehn Jahren in ihre Wohnung einbrach und sie vergewaltigte. Er ist raus aus dem Gefängnis. Er ist auf der Jagd nach ihr. Willy ist eine Furie ... FURIEN ein Kurzroman und 12 weitere Begegnungen mit dem Grauen. Mit einem Vorwort von Dean Koontz, in dem er uns einiges über das Familienleben der Laymons verrät." (Quelle: Amazon)
*Erster Satz des Kurzromanes "Unholde"*
"Willy hatte sich die Fensterscheibe für den Schluss aufgehoben."
*Infos zum Buch*
Seitenzahl: 352 Seiten
Verlag: Festa Verlag
ISBN: 978-3865521361
Preis: Ausverkauft (Taschenbuch) / 6,99 € (E-Book)
*Infos zum Autor*
"Richard Laymon wurde am 14. Januar 1947 in Chicago geboren. In den 60ern zog seine Familie nach Südkalifornien. Er machte den BA in Englischer Literatur an der Willamette Universität in Oregon und einen MA an der Loyola Universtät in Los Angeles. Seinen Lebensunterhalt verdiente er sich zunächst als Lehrer, Bibliothekar und Gutachter für ein Anwaltsbüro.
Erste kürzere Werke, zumeist Thriller oder Kriminalgeschichten, erschienen zu Beginn der 1970er in Magazinen wie Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock und Cavalier. Bereits damals verwendete Laymon, vorsichtig zunächst noch, Elemente des Grotesken und Bizarren. Erst später begann er mit dem Schreiben geradliniger Horrorstories, ohne sich explizit um Genregrenzen zu kümmern.
Der Roman The Cellar (1980) entwickelte sich zum Bestseller. Zahllose Taschenbuch- und Hardcoverausgaben machten den Titel um das Beasthouse in Malcas Point zum erfolgreichsten des Autors.
Laymon schrieb etwa 50 Romane und sein Ruf wuchs beständig, bis er am Valentinstag, den 14. Februar 2001, völlig unerwartet an einem Herzanfall starb." (Quelle: Festa)
*Fazit*
-> Wieso wollte ich dieses Buch lesen?
Ich mag das Programm des Festa-Verlages und lese mich gerade querbeet durch deren Sortiment... gerade Richard Laymon interessiert mich, da ich schon viel von ihm gehört habe, außerdem nehme ich gerade an der Festa/King/Laymon Challenge von Lenas Welt der Buecher teil - da bot es sich doch an, endlich mal zu einem seiner Werke zu greifen!
-> Cover:
Ein gruseliges Cover, dass mich ein wenig an "The Ring" erinnert - vermutlich wegen der schwarzen Haare, die ins Gesicht hängen... dennoch gefällt es mir unglaublich gut.
-> Story + Charaktere: Allein schon das Vorwort von Dean Koontz ist ein wahres Vergnügen - mit einer Menge Humor beschreibt er das Leben der Familie Laymon und bringt den Leser damit ziemlich zum schmunzeln.
Der Kurzroman zu Beginn des Buches gefiel mir unglaublich gut, da er trotz seiner "Kürze" von 130 Seiten nicht nur Spannung aufbaut, sondern gleich zwei unterschiedliche Erzählsprünge in die Story einbaut. Gerade wenn man vorher noch nichts von Laymon gelesen hat, so bekommt man durch diese Geschichte einen guten Einblick in seine Welt und seinen Schreibstil.
Auch die übrigen 12 Kurzgeschichten gefielen mir sehr gut, denn sie sprühten nur so von Gewalt, Sex und/oder schwarzem Humor und jede war komplett anders, als der Vorgänger. Laymon erzählt die verschiedensten Geschichten mit den verschiedensten bizarren Szenarien, doch mitunter am meisten fasziniert hat mich die Geschichte "Joyce" bei der ein Mann seine verstorbene Frau gefriertrocknen lässt und sie unter dem Bett "hält", bis seine neue Frau bei ihm eingezogen ist - und ihm dann seine Ex vorstellt. So skurril und dennoch faszinierend, dass ich mir deutlich mehr Story gewünscht hätte - einfach, weil ich die Idee so genial fand. Auch die anderen Geschichten überzeugten, wobei mir die eine mehr, die andere weniger gut gefiel - aber toll fand ich sie durch die Bank weg.
Da die Geschichten nicht zusammenhängen, kann man sie in beliebiger Reihenfolge lesen.
-> Schreibstil:
Der Schreibstil ist angenehm, gut zu lesen und ohne schwer verständliche Begriffe.
-> Gesamt:
Insgesamt gefiel mir "Furien" von Richard Laymon unglaublich gut und ich werde in Zukunft mit Sicherheit noch mehr von ihm lesen!
Wertung: 5 von 5 Sterne!
"In unseren Städten lauern Bestien! Ein Kinobesuch wird für Marty zum schlimmsten Albtraum, als sie den Kerl sieht, der hinter ihr sitzt. Willy der Mann, der vor zehn Jahren in ihre Wohnung einbrach und sie vergewaltigte. Er ist raus aus dem Gefängnis. Er ist auf der Jagd nach ihr. Willy ist eine Furie ... FURIEN ein Kurzroman und 12 weitere Begegnungen mit dem Grauen. Mit einem Vorwort von Dean Koontz, in dem er uns einiges über das Familienleben der Laymons verrät." (Quelle: Amazon)
*Erster Satz des Kurzromanes "Unholde"*
"Willy hatte sich die Fensterscheibe für den Schluss aufgehoben."
*Infos zum Buch*
Seitenzahl: 352 Seiten
Verlag: Festa Verlag
ISBN: 978-3865521361
Preis: Ausverkauft (Taschenbuch) / 6,99 € (E-Book)
*Infos zum Autor*
"Richard Laymon wurde am 14. Januar 1947 in Chicago geboren. In den 60ern zog seine Familie nach Südkalifornien. Er machte den BA in Englischer Literatur an der Willamette Universität in Oregon und einen MA an der Loyola Universtät in Los Angeles. Seinen Lebensunterhalt verdiente er sich zunächst als Lehrer, Bibliothekar und Gutachter für ein Anwaltsbüro.
Erste kürzere Werke, zumeist Thriller oder Kriminalgeschichten, erschienen zu Beginn der 1970er in Magazinen wie Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock und Cavalier. Bereits damals verwendete Laymon, vorsichtig zunächst noch, Elemente des Grotesken und Bizarren. Erst später begann er mit dem Schreiben geradliniger Horrorstories, ohne sich explizit um Genregrenzen zu kümmern.
Der Roman The Cellar (1980) entwickelte sich zum Bestseller. Zahllose Taschenbuch- und Hardcoverausgaben machten den Titel um das Beasthouse in Malcas Point zum erfolgreichsten des Autors.
Laymon schrieb etwa 50 Romane und sein Ruf wuchs beständig, bis er am Valentinstag, den 14. Februar 2001, völlig unerwartet an einem Herzanfall starb." (Quelle: Festa)
*Fazit*
-> Wieso wollte ich dieses Buch lesen?
Ich mag das Programm des Festa-Verlages und lese mich gerade querbeet durch deren Sortiment... gerade Richard Laymon interessiert mich, da ich schon viel von ihm gehört habe, außerdem nehme ich gerade an der Festa/King/Laymon Challenge von Lenas Welt der Buecher teil - da bot es sich doch an, endlich mal zu einem seiner Werke zu greifen!
-> Cover:
Ein gruseliges Cover, dass mich ein wenig an "The Ring" erinnert - vermutlich wegen der schwarzen Haare, die ins Gesicht hängen... dennoch gefällt es mir unglaublich gut.
-> Story + Charaktere: Allein schon das Vorwort von Dean Koontz ist ein wahres Vergnügen - mit einer Menge Humor beschreibt er das Leben der Familie Laymon und bringt den Leser damit ziemlich zum schmunzeln.
Der Kurzroman zu Beginn des Buches gefiel mir unglaublich gut, da er trotz seiner "Kürze" von 130 Seiten nicht nur Spannung aufbaut, sondern gleich zwei unterschiedliche Erzählsprünge in die Story einbaut. Gerade wenn man vorher noch nichts von Laymon gelesen hat, so bekommt man durch diese Geschichte einen guten Einblick in seine Welt und seinen Schreibstil.
Auch die übrigen 12 Kurzgeschichten gefielen mir sehr gut, denn sie sprühten nur so von Gewalt, Sex und/oder schwarzem Humor und jede war komplett anders, als der Vorgänger. Laymon erzählt die verschiedensten Geschichten mit den verschiedensten bizarren Szenarien, doch mitunter am meisten fasziniert hat mich die Geschichte "Joyce" bei der ein Mann seine verstorbene Frau gefriertrocknen lässt und sie unter dem Bett "hält", bis seine neue Frau bei ihm eingezogen ist - und ihm dann seine Ex vorstellt. So skurril und dennoch faszinierend, dass ich mir deutlich mehr Story gewünscht hätte - einfach, weil ich die Idee so genial fand. Auch die anderen Geschichten überzeugten, wobei mir die eine mehr, die andere weniger gut gefiel - aber toll fand ich sie durch die Bank weg.
Da die Geschichten nicht zusammenhängen, kann man sie in beliebiger Reihenfolge lesen.
-> Schreibstil:
Der Schreibstil ist angenehm, gut zu lesen und ohne schwer verständliche Begriffe.
-> Gesamt:
Insgesamt gefiel mir "Furien" von Richard Laymon unglaublich gut und ich werde in Zukunft mit Sicherheit noch mehr von ihm lesen!
Wertung: 5 von 5 Sterne!
January 2, 2019
In 'Fiends', Marty is watching a movie with her boyfriend when she realizes that her rapist, Willy has his eyes on her. She's certain that he's come back for another round and she has to do whatever it takes to prevent it from happening.
'Fiends' was one of the short stories featured in this book. It was unbearable due to the main character who made the dumbest decisions possible as though she was deliberately trying to put herself in the worst situations. She refused to report Willy to the police or arm herself with weapons. Instead, she got angry with her boyfriend for bruising Willy who was obviously tailing them with bad intentions in mind. She was way too soft on Willy.
As a result, she missed many opportunities to defend herself or escape. Her (lack of) actions and decisions were completely unbelievable. Anyone with a survival instinct would react differently. Also, who the hell takes a shower knowing that their boyfriend is going after a rapist? The secondary storyline wasn't much better and seemed thrown in for the sake for lengthening this poorly written story.
As for the other short stories, there were thankfully some good ones along with a few stinkers. Some had unexpected twists or endings which I enjoyed. Certain stories had somewhat happy endings that surprised me since they didn't quite feel Laymon-ish. However, they were a welcome especially after plodding through 'Fiends' which was unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
Overall, 'Fiends' was a quick and average read with a couple of stories worth reading due to the blend of horror and humour.
'Fiends' was one of the short stories featured in this book. It was unbearable due to the main character who made the dumbest decisions possible as though she was deliberately trying to put herself in the worst situations. She refused to report Willy to the police or arm herself with weapons. Instead, she got angry with her boyfriend for bruising Willy who was obviously tailing them with bad intentions in mind. She was way too soft on Willy.
As a result, she missed many opportunities to defend herself or escape. Her (lack of) actions and decisions were completely unbelievable. Anyone with a survival instinct would react differently. Also, who the hell takes a shower knowing that their boyfriend is going after a rapist? The secondary storyline wasn't much better and seemed thrown in for the sake for lengthening this poorly written story.
As for the other short stories, there were thankfully some good ones along with a few stinkers. Some had unexpected twists or endings which I enjoyed. Certain stories had somewhat happy endings that surprised me since they didn't quite feel Laymon-ish. However, they were a welcome especially after plodding through 'Fiends' which was unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
Overall, 'Fiends' was a quick and average read with a couple of stories worth reading due to the blend of horror and humour.
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