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Blood Beast
In the sleepy town of Managansett, a demonic gargoyle captures the soul of a young boy who willingly performs the gruesome tasks dictated to him by the monster in exchange for receiving all he has ever wanted
- GenresHorror
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 19, 2017
The modern e-book is sold under the title "The Gargoyle". What a book. You wouldn't want to live in this small town with all those lost characters. I really loved reading this slow paced 80s horror jewel. A clear recommendation!
August 29, 2021
Though originally published by Pinnacle in 1988, I read a brand new printing from 2021 by Marangasset Press under the title "Gargoyle." The new marketing is an attempt, I think, to correct the misinterpretation of this novel as an 80s monster pulp. This is a story about small town sociopaths and has more in common with Stephen King's "The Mangler" or the industrial horrors of Bentley Little than anything else I can think of.
It is a slow burn, perhaps too slow, centering on daily life of a select group of characters in the American northeast town of Marangasset over three decades who are all influenced by the evil presence of a sinister gargoyle perched atop an old mansion near the town center. The novel has the potential to make for an interesting character study of life and the psychological struggles in middle class America, exploring themes such as the impact of unions on business, middle class family dynamics, alcoholism, immigration, and the challenges that women faced in the 50s through the 70s. But because the novel centers around people who are vulnerable to evil, whether because of loss, social isolation, addiction, or selfishness, it becomes unpleasant to follow such an unlikeable cast over the course of 340 pages. From a disturbed child's torture of frogs early in the novel, to the social and sexual manipulations of spoiled debutantes, the reader just wants to smack the face off of almost everyone involved.
Still, my interest was somehow held, and patience did pay off in the end. There are some really effective moments of horror to be found in these pages. There is one time-bending scene that sent chills up my spine and will probably be the main thing I remember about the book if you ask me about it years later, even though the scene is very subtle with the scares. Other parts of the book are more gruesome or disturbing, but the gore is largely kept to a minimum. This is a book that tries to deliver shivers rather than over-the-top shock and awe. I also appreciated that, for the most part, the horror is very realistic and palpable, as the events that unfold could easily be divorced from blatant supernatural forces.
But the whole product feels barely cohesive, feeling more like a series of short stories bound together by a prime deus ex machina. And for part of the book, the ghost seems to be literally in a machine, hence the similarities to "The Mangler."
I waffled between giving this book three or four stars, but ultimately felt this book did not make enough impact on me to read it a second time, thus earning it a solid three out of five. However, there is enough originality and literary merit here to make it purchase-worthy for most horror fans looking for forgotten treasures. If you can't find a copy of the original "Blood Beast," the "Gargoyle" edition is easily available.
It is a slow burn, perhaps too slow, centering on daily life of a select group of characters in the American northeast town of Marangasset over three decades who are all influenced by the evil presence of a sinister gargoyle perched atop an old mansion near the town center. The novel has the potential to make for an interesting character study of life and the psychological struggles in middle class America, exploring themes such as the impact of unions on business, middle class family dynamics, alcoholism, immigration, and the challenges that women faced in the 50s through the 70s. But because the novel centers around people who are vulnerable to evil, whether because of loss, social isolation, addiction, or selfishness, it becomes unpleasant to follow such an unlikeable cast over the course of 340 pages. From a disturbed child's torture of frogs early in the novel, to the social and sexual manipulations of spoiled debutantes, the reader just wants to smack the face off of almost everyone involved.
Still, my interest was somehow held, and patience did pay off in the end. There are some really effective moments of horror to be found in these pages. There is one time-bending scene that sent chills up my spine and will probably be the main thing I remember about the book if you ask me about it years later, even though the scene is very subtle with the scares. Other parts of the book are more gruesome or disturbing, but the gore is largely kept to a minimum. This is a book that tries to deliver shivers rather than over-the-top shock and awe. I also appreciated that, for the most part, the horror is very realistic and palpable, as the events that unfold could easily be divorced from blatant supernatural forces.
But the whole product feels barely cohesive, feeling more like a series of short stories bound together by a prime deus ex machina. And for part of the book, the ghost seems to be literally in a machine, hence the similarities to "The Mangler."
I waffled between giving this book three or four stars, but ultimately felt this book did not make enough impact on me to read it a second time, thus earning it a solid three out of five. However, there is enough originality and literary merit here to make it purchase-worthy for most horror fans looking for forgotten treasures. If you can't find a copy of the original "Blood Beast," the "Gargoyle" edition is easily available.
August 26, 2014
It may have been carved from cold stone...but it pulsated with nothing except the purest evil. It seemed to have existed for eons; in fact, no one could remember exactly where the stone gargoyle had come from. It was just an ugly stone creature high up on the walls of the old Sheffield Library. It perched there, looking out with malevolent eyes over the small town of Managansett, Rhode Island. And looking deep into the hearts of the townsfolk...waiting, always waiting...
Little Jimmy Nicholson liked to go and stare at the gargoyle. It seemed to look straight at him, as if it knew the deepest, darkest, most secret desires that dwelt in the eight-year-old's heart. And Jimmy knew that the gargoyle had the power to give him everything he'd ever wanted. However, first he had to be willing to do the creature's bidding - no matter how evil...
I actually enjoyed reading this book much more than I thought I would. For a horror book written in the late 1980s, I found that the story was very well-written and not too overdone. It held my attention and interest until the very end; unlike so many other horror books that I've read, which have a tendency to fall apart.
If I did have one slight criticism though, it would be that the author was extremely detailed in writing about the day-to-day running of Managansett's largest manufacturing plant. Other readers certainly may find such details interesting; however, I found them much more intricate than I would have liked. I would still give Blood Beast by Don D'Ammassa an A!
Little Jimmy Nicholson liked to go and stare at the gargoyle. It seemed to look straight at him, as if it knew the deepest, darkest, most secret desires that dwelt in the eight-year-old's heart. And Jimmy knew that the gargoyle had the power to give him everything he'd ever wanted. However, first he had to be willing to do the creature's bidding - no matter how evil...
I actually enjoyed reading this book much more than I thought I would. For a horror book written in the late 1980s, I found that the story was very well-written and not too overdone. It held my attention and interest until the very end; unlike so many other horror books that I've read, which have a tendency to fall apart.
If I did have one slight criticism though, it would be that the author was extremely detailed in writing about the day-to-day running of Managansett's largest manufacturing plant. Other readers certainly may find such details interesting; however, I found them much more intricate than I would have liked. I would still give Blood Beast by Don D'Ammassa an A!
August 9, 2020
Ehhh.... this was a poor attempt at marketing a book as horror when all the horror happens pretty much at the last chapter of the book. You get some hints here and there throughout the 380 pages of this Pinnacle book published in 1988, but its just a little too late.
Blood beast is also a crappy name for the book along with the synopsis on the back which only tells a small portion of what the book is about and it is very misleading to say the least.
This book is basically a character study of several townsfolk who are in one way or another affected by a gargoyle statue that is on a old building in the town. You get lots of boring chapters about how factory machines work, office politics,dating, alcoholism, and how to jog outdoors. In the end it comes down to 2 townspeople fighting to be one with the gargoyle and be used by it. Trust me, don't bother.
Blood beast is also a crappy name for the book along with the synopsis on the back which only tells a small portion of what the book is about and it is very misleading to say the least.
This book is basically a character study of several townsfolk who are in one way or another affected by a gargoyle statue that is on a old building in the town. You get lots of boring chapters about how factory machines work, office politics,dating, alcoholism, and how to jog outdoors. In the end it comes down to 2 townspeople fighting to be one with the gargoyle and be used by it. Trust me, don't bother.
March 10, 2026
A gargoyle statue in a small town influences people to commit acts of evil unto one another.
Plot had potential and some of the characters were likeable. The ending fell very flat.
And my goodness, D'Ammassa, really, likes to overuse commas.
Plot had potential and some of the characters were likeable. The ending fell very flat.
And my goodness, D'Ammassa, really, likes to overuse commas.
April 13, 2021
I have no idea how to rate this book just yet.
December 15, 2008
While moody and atmospheric this didn't truly strike me as a horror novel until the last 30 pages or so. It was more of a charcter study of the residents of a small town and their belief that a certain local icon is responsible for the evil behavior they commit.
It was still well written it just took an awfully long time for the monsters to get monstrous.
It was still well written it just took an awfully long time for the monsters to get monstrous.
September 6, 2014
I read this many years ago, it was an interesting character study of various kinds of selfishness, evil, and madness. The titular monster doesn't really show up until the end, most of the time it just influences townspeople to bring out their worse nature.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews