Playmates

by J.N. Williamson

Book by Williamson, J. N.

Genres: Horror, Pulp

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Gerald Neal Williamson (April 17, 1932 - December 8, 2005) wrote and edited horror stories under the name J. N. Williamson. He also wrote under the name Julian Shock.

Born in Indianapolis, IN he graduated from Shortridge High School. He studied journalism at Butler University. He published his first novel in 1979 and went on to publish more than 40 novels and 150 short stories. In 2003 he received a lifetime achievement award from the Horror Writers of America. He edited the critically acclaimed How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy & Science Fiction (1987) which covered the themes of such writing and cited the writings of such writers as Robert Bloch, Lee Prosser, Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury, H. P. Lovecraft, August Derleth, William F. Nolan, and Stephen King. Many important writers in the genre contributed to the book. Williamson edited the popular anthology series, Masques. Some of his novels include The Ritual (1979), Playmates (1982), Noonspell (1991), The Haunt (1999), among others.

He was also a well known Sherlockian and received his investiture (The Illustrious Client) in the Baker Street Irregulars in 1950.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Connor Quinlan just moved his wife Ethelyn and daughter Troy back to his homeland of Ireland, mostly because of his failures in publishing. They move in with Connor's dad, who Connor remembers is a bit strange - he never allowed Connor into the attic as a child, and he still won't. But Troy is more interested in playing in the woods with her new playmates. Old Dad seems to know exactly who Troy is playing with: tiny faerie creatures who kill.

I found this book at a library book sale. I love 80s horror paperbacks and how terrible they are! This book was so bad I had to round up my star rating, because reading the terrible passages and quotes aloud was so much fun. The descriptions really had their own... flavor. My favorite was when Ethelyn's boobs are described as looking like "flesh-toned fried eggs" - obviously, she had to die to make way for Connor to get a new fiancee less than a year after her death, one with breasts like "vanilla sundaes topped with cherries." (Ethelyn also didn't "have the pelvis for safe childbirth" and "just as Ethelyn couldn't help having a life-endangering problem, [Connor] couldn't help being Catholic" and wanting more kids). All of the women (including 11-year-old Troy) are at some point described as feminine or female. Meanwhile, our male lead is oft described as "hairsute" so...

There actually wasn't a whole lot of gore or awful things that happened. Right at the beginning a couple of horny teens are killed by a bear-like shadow creature, and later one of Troy's new school friends catches the eye of the faerie queen and he's later found dismembered. The descriptions of the terrible things that happen were usually italicized and so overblown ("oozed soggily"?) that they made me laugh. There's a really great description when old Dad realizes that his son is about to wed a changeling and stabs her in the middle of the ceremony, causing her body to melt. Later a strange creature called a nuckelavee shows up and while Wikipedia claims it looks like a giant horse/Devil, this thing... well, it doesn't sound like that at all. It sounds kind of hilarious, actually.

The "playmates" really aren't the main focus of the story. The playmates turn out to be just a way for the Quinlan family line to be immortal. Apparently, the male Quinlans never die and live on in the over-heated attic as sort of mummified skeletons, having survived the Great Flood on the Ark with Noah, and kept by old Dad, who is 130 years old. When the Nuckelavee kills old Dad, the skellies rise up but are basically steamrolled by the Nuckelavee. The creature is only defeated by Troy deciding she doesn't believe in it.

Add in the epigraphs at the END of each chapter, and on the title page, and on the copyright information page, and before the prologue, and ending the book, and I was quite ready to be done here.

[Coral · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather enjoyable, I liked the Irish folklore a lot. What was up with that ending though? Lol.

[Wayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A man brings his wife and daughter back to Ireland at the urging of his father. Soon bad things start to happen in the woods around his new home and to him. His daughter "playmates" seem to be an evil force that want people dead.

This book just fell short for me on pretty much all aspects. The characters were nicley written. The Irish scenery was very descriptive. It was that nothing really happened. There was no horror. Lots and lots of Irish lore that got pretty dull after awhile. The faeries that did show up were lacking. The biggest problem though was the ending. It was way out there, even for a book about leprechauns and faeries.

[Cat Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a fun 80's vintage horror. I can't get enough of those these days. I loved that this was set in Ireland, with Irish folklore involved. Gave it a different spin than a lot that I read. Recommended to anyone who's a fan of vintage horror!

*4 Stars

[Scott Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Returning from America to his ancestral home in Ireland a young man and his family find themselves at the centre of a war by the faeries and his family’s secrets

A good read with many an Irish brogue, all the way through the song from the film ‘the quiet man’ was running in my mind like a looped soundtrack

[Dez Nemec · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite interesting. Irish folklore off all kinds - fairies, banshees, leprechauns - as well as miscellaneous demons and other nasty things roam the woods outside of the characters' home. Makes me want to visit Ireland again...

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just couldn’t get into this book.

[Troy Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the back of the book: Such a charming little girl... The bodies were found, hideously mutilated, in a peaceful Irish wood. A banshee's wail struck terror into the hearts of all who heard it, signaling yet another horrible death. Demonic forces, dormant for centuries, prowled the countryside. And it all began with little Troy Quinian's imaginary playmates, who gave her a pretty ring with a strange green stone, and who fulfilled her every wish. Only Troy's grandfather understood the devastating power of Ireland's ancient legends and the evil that lay concealed beneath the fairy tale surface, waiting for an innocent child through whom its fateful power could be unleashed. Waiting for a child like Troy...

A great tale set in the mystical world of irish legends. Little people and leprechauns. Child stealing faeries abound a wonderfully written tale to be loved by fantasy and horror fans alike.

For more info check here: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/j...

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

1st Read: January 4, 1991 - January 9, 1991 (***** Rating)
Have to say that this is a favorite! I love the Irish dialect in the story and little poem's of horror at the beginnings of chapters. One of the coolest books I had initially read in my life!

2nd Read: October 6, 2002 - October 16, 2002 (**** Rating)
My second read wasn't as great as the first time around. Still, it wasn't a bad story. Today, I would not call it a favorite.

3rd Read: January 23, 2017 - January 25, 2017 (*** Rating)
Definitely no longer a favorite of mine. Interesting story and idea, it's just that for me, the final few chapter's seemed rushed for publication purposes. So much more could have been told or revealed. Somewhat of a predictable ending with the epilogue as well.

[Alexandra]

Ive had this book in over 10 years in my bookshelf, so Ive finally put this up on goodreads swap, I have never had interest in this book, nice cover though.