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Richard Laymon Collection #5
The Richard Laymon Collection, Volume 5: Flesh / Resurrection Dreams
FLESH No one in town has ever seen anything like it a slimy, mobile tube of glistening yellow flesh with dull, staring eyes and an obscene, probing mouth. But the real horror is not what it looks like, or even what it does to you when it invades your flesh - but what it makes you do to others...RESURRECTION DREAMS Melvin was definitely the biggest creep in Ellsworth High, and the other kids mercilessly taunted him for his odd looks and weird behaviour. Vicki was the only one to stand up for him but even she had to admit he'd gone too far when he dug up a body and attempted to bring it back to life with the aid of a car battery. Years later Vicki still has nightmares about Melvin's 'joke' and now that she's back in Ellsworth she knows she'll have to see him again. Recently released from a mental institution, Melvin is acting stranger than ever. His experiments with the dead have progressed and as soon as he can get Vicki - or rather her body - where he wants her, he can realise his most chilling dream of all...
- GenresHorror
640 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2006
1 person is currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Richard Laymon
216 books2,280 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 17, 2019
Volume 5 of the Richard Laymon Collection contains the originally published versions of the novels “Flesh” and “Resurrection Dreams”.
“Flesh” is about a parasitic creature that once it invades an unsuspecting host (ie a person) it turns them into bloodthirsty killer with cannibalistic tendencies.
“Resurrection Dreams” is the story of a weird kid who grows up to be an even weirder adult with an abnormal interest in resurrection...and a girl he used to go to high school with.
Simple and basic, these are scary, gory, and interesting tales told without the nuance and skill of a King, a Barker, a Herbert, or a Jackson.
Laymon is, if nothing else, consistent in his books - from the characterisations of his cast, to the way they react to certain situations, to the way there will be blood and sex. The main difference is in the plot; some are really good and others are really awful.
Generally speaking both “Flesh” and “Resurrection Dreams” were not bad storylines but they are never going to be anything more than a bit of splatterpunk pulp. Don’t expect anything more and you won’t be disappointed.
Vol 5 of the Laymon Collection gets 3.5 buckets of blood out of 5.
“Flesh” is about a parasitic creature that once it invades an unsuspecting host (ie a person) it turns them into bloodthirsty killer with cannibalistic tendencies.
“Resurrection Dreams” is the story of a weird kid who grows up to be an even weirder adult with an abnormal interest in resurrection...and a girl he used to go to high school with.
Simple and basic, these are scary, gory, and interesting tales told without the nuance and skill of a King, a Barker, a Herbert, or a Jackson.
Laymon is, if nothing else, consistent in his books - from the characterisations of his cast, to the way they react to certain situations, to the way there will be blood and sex. The main difference is in the plot; some are really good and others are really awful.
Generally speaking both “Flesh” and “Resurrection Dreams” were not bad storylines but they are never going to be anything more than a bit of splatterpunk pulp. Don’t expect anything more and you won’t be disappointed.
Vol 5 of the Laymon Collection gets 3.5 buckets of blood out of 5.
December 28, 2014
Flesh
The reason I gave this book four stars instead of five is because this story lacks in regards to characters. For instance, the female lead drops her boyfriend because he only wants her for sex, then she spends the rest of the story thinking about having sex with him.
Getting past the story's major flaw, there is a sense of impending danger as the plot switches at the most nail-biting moments. You then have to wait until you've finished the next chapter to end the suspense, making this a compelling read for anyone who enjoys being scared by what they don't understand.
Resurrection Dreams
Resurrection Dreams uses a similar antagonist to Flesh, albeit with more dimension. While the main villain in Flesh was a creep for the sake of it, the antagonist in Resurrection Dreams is someone who was kicked around too much. You sort of feel sorry for him, but then you read about the things he does to women and you almost wish it was you giving him a beat-down.
There's also a sub-plot revolving around the protagonist's first love and whether or not she can ever find someone to fill that hole. Given the number of male characters in the story who are creeps, she can't be expected to hold her breath.
A good read for anyone who enjoys being scared by realistic things like potential rapists and voodoo rituals.
The reason I gave this book four stars instead of five is because this story lacks in regards to characters. For instance, the female lead drops her boyfriend because he only wants her for sex, then she spends the rest of the story thinking about having sex with him.
Getting past the story's major flaw, there is a sense of impending danger as the plot switches at the most nail-biting moments. You then have to wait until you've finished the next chapter to end the suspense, making this a compelling read for anyone who enjoys being scared by what they don't understand.
Resurrection Dreams
Resurrection Dreams uses a similar antagonist to Flesh, albeit with more dimension. While the main villain in Flesh was a creep for the sake of it, the antagonist in Resurrection Dreams is someone who was kicked around too much. You sort of feel sorry for him, but then you read about the things he does to women and you almost wish it was you giving him a beat-down.
There's also a sub-plot revolving around the protagonist's first love and whether or not she can ever find someone to fill that hole. Given the number of male characters in the story who are creeps, she can't be expected to hold her breath.
A good read for anyone who enjoys being scared by realistic things like potential rapists and voodoo rituals.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews