Caller

by Richard Laymon

Many students get their first real taste of reading for pleasure when they pick up a Fastback. These high-interest novels are quick to read at just 32 pages each. Choose any of the seven exciting sets or the whole series. SkillCheck Cards designed to build reading comprehension are available for each novel.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

26 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Richard 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

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Laymon story about a mysterious caller. The first caller in Cora's new apartment obviously is a crank. Who is he or better asked where is he? What about Frank her boyfriend? How is he involved? Fine horror tale without the usual Laymon trademarks of big breasts or sexual intercourse (!). Eerie and intriguing. Be warned if your phone is ringing... highly recommended!

[Jon Jon Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not see that coming.

[Иван Величков · Rating 4 out of 5]

Сега вече говорим.
Първият от двадесетината единични разкази излизали като отделни книжки на Леймън (какво по дяволите е fastback?), който наистина ми хареса. Кратък, нагнетяващ напрежение и завършен перфектно.
Кора се нанася в нов апартамент и първата вечер, когато си е инсталирала телефон получава анонимно обаждане. Човекът отсреща явно я наблюдава и контролира по някакъв начин телефона и. Дали е безобидна шега или...

[Ken B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in 1985, "The Caller" is very dated, from the days before caller ID, when pay phones and landlines were still everyday necessities. Its a shame really that younger readers may not appreciate or understand this type of horror. While clichéd, it was the stuff of urban legends.

3 STARS

[Phil Zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story about a young woman who just moved into a new apartment. The phone begins to ring. Who is calling? The answer is certainly not what I expected.

A goofy tale that definitely had me smiling.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rare Richard Laymon read where no one is horrifically slaughtered or raped.

[Ray Palen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laymon once again shows his writing chops off with how quickly he can elicit fear in the quickest amount of time (and shortest form of fiction). Written in 1985 this story could not exist today with the advent of cellular phones and caller id --- but the idea is a nice one!

[Elusive · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 'Caller', Cora is busy unpacking in her new home when the phone rings. That first call from a stranger marks the beginning of endless ringing. Overall, this short story was interesting and creepy with a great twist towards the end.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I plan on using this story in my classroom. I teach struggling readers at the middle school level and I think they will enjoy the suspense and unpredictable ending.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cora just got a new home phone with a brand new number, when she receives a call from a unknown man. Cora informs the man that he has the wrong number, but he refuses to let her go, insisting that he has the right number. Cora tells him that her number is new, so there is no way he could be wanting to talk to *her*, maybe the person who previously had her number. The man insists that he wants to talk to Cora and that he wants to be her friend.

So The Caller is part of a series of short chapbooks Richard Laymon (who is among my favorite authors ever, I got into him as a teenager and have remained a lifelong fan). Chapbooks are short stories, think this one is 20 pages or less, so they're short stories of varying lengths. The Caller is a fun, quick horror story that won't blow you away, but unlike some of his novels around this time, Laymon's dialog really shines here, that's always what I feel he is strongest at, his dialog is really natural and flows with a really good pace.

This story is so of its time. I actually had to remember that Cora wasn't talking on a cell phone haha and remember back to what it was like having an old school home phone. So yeah, nothing offensive like some of Laymon's work, so if you're a fan of him at all I definitely recommend tracking this one down!

[Μαρία · Rating 3 out of 5]

Πρόκειται για ένα πολύ καλό, σύντομο διήγημα που καταφέρνει να αναπτύξει στις μόλις και μετά βίας 30 του σελίδες το αίσθημα της αγωνίας. Μια μικρή ιστορία τρόμου, η οποία, σημειωτέον, γράφτηκε το 1985. Εμφανώς προγενέστερη της εποχής που ζούμε, όταν η αναγνώριση κλήσης δεν ήταν διαθέσιμη, η κινητή τηλεφωνία δεν είχε μπει στη ζωή μας και τα σταθερά τηλέφωνα ήταν μέρος της καθημερινότητας μας, η ιστορία μας μεταφέρει το συναίσθημα του φόβου μέσω των γραμμών του τηλεφώνου. Αν και κλισέ, υπήρξε το υλικό αστικών θρύλων. Είναι πραγματικά κρίμα που νεότεροι αναγνώστες ίσως να μην εκτιμήσουν ή να μην κατανοήσουν αυτό το είδος τρόμου. 3.5/5

[Adam Cleaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short Laymon book about a mysterious caller. This was quite interesting as it actually turned into more of a supernatural story which Laymon doesn't do very often.
Overall, an ok story, but just over too soon, and didn't make any sense.

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

That ending...if this tiny little book didn't weigh one-tenth of an ounce, I would have flung it across the room.

[Ranjana · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good read

[Brent Winslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short story that was very similar to the Stephen King teleplay "Sorry, Right Number" that was made for Tales from the Darkside.

[katie wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a weird book. girl was literally strangled by a phone

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great short story by Mr. Laymon

[Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very cute short horror story. I was surprised at the ending. Very nice for a quick read!