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Venom
Nita Galforth wanted nothing more than to be happy with the man she loved. But any thoughts of a peaceful future would have to wait until she could forget the insidious thing that had been done to her in the past. Her memories were cloudy, but as she slept, horrifying nightmares crowded her mind: images of frenzied natives writhing to the music of an ancient ceremony, of a little girl stripped and tied to an altar, and of a huge king cobra, its fangs dripping with venom, poised to strike....
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1988
77 people want to read
About the author
John Tigges
28 books24 followersTigges began his career as an author and writer in 1973. He wrote more than thirty-eight books under his own name and pen names "Ned Stone" and "William Essex."
In 1976 Tigges was commissioned to write Jean Marie Cardinal, an historical novel. Teaming with James Shaffer, he wrote Dubuque: The 19th Century, Dubuque: The 20th Century, Iowa’s Last Narrow-Gauge Railroad, and Railroads of Dubuque, Iowa. Tigges wrote such novels as Garden of the Incubus, Unto the Altar, Kiss Not the Child, Evil Dreams, The Immortal, Hand of Lucifer, As Evil Does, Vessel, Comes the Wraith, Venom, and Book of the Dead. Under the pen name William Essex he wrote The Pack, Slime, and From Below. He wrote Mountain Massacre, and Rails to Hades using the name Ned Stone. Tigges founded the Sinipee Writers Workshop and taught writing seminars in Iowa and Wisconsin.
Tigges made many contributions locally to the field of music. He established the Dubuque "Pops" orchestra and co-founded the DUBUQUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA in 1956. Tigges served as business manager of the symphony for ten years and played violin with it from 1958 to 1968 and again from 1971 to 1973. In 1972 Tigges founded the Julien Strings, a society string orchestra. He led the group and played violin.
In 1976 Tigges was commissioned to write Jean Marie Cardinal, an historical novel. Teaming with James Shaffer, he wrote Dubuque: The 19th Century, Dubuque: The 20th Century, Iowa’s Last Narrow-Gauge Railroad, and Railroads of Dubuque, Iowa. Tigges wrote such novels as Garden of the Incubus, Unto the Altar, Kiss Not the Child, Evil Dreams, The Immortal, Hand of Lucifer, As Evil Does, Vessel, Comes the Wraith, Venom, and Book of the Dead. Under the pen name William Essex he wrote The Pack, Slime, and From Below. He wrote Mountain Massacre, and Rails to Hades using the name Ned Stone. Tigges founded the Sinipee Writers Workshop and taught writing seminars in Iowa and Wisconsin.
Tigges made many contributions locally to the field of music. He established the Dubuque "Pops" orchestra and co-founded the DUBUQUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA in 1956. Tigges served as business manager of the symphony for ten years and played violin with it from 1958 to 1968 and again from 1971 to 1973. In 1972 Tigges founded the Julien Strings, a society string orchestra. He led the group and played violin.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 24, 2019
John Tigges is one of those prolific horror writers from the 80s that I happened to skipped over for no particular reason. I’ve seen his name and books over the years and I actually have most of his books in my collection. The time had finally come to remedy this omission and Venom was the one that I started with.
Venom drops us smack dab in the middle of a small, midwestern college town where Nita, a competitive tri-athlete, is in a serious relationship with Archer, the up-and-coming research scientist at Middleton University. Archer has recently brought in King Cobras from India to study the effects of their venom. Much to Anita’s dismay, he is more concerned with his experiments than rising up the department ladder and doesn’t apply for the open head of department chair. Soon afterwards, many of his superiors begin dying off from unusual circumstances, including large doses of King Cobra venom.
Tigges is a solid writer. The prose is smooth and engaging. For the most part, Venom is an enjoyable read. However, there are two main plot gaffes that are hard to overlook. One, Nita comes across and shallow, whiny bitch and it’s hard to sympathize with her plight. Two, credibility flies out the window when there isn’t more of an uproar towards Archer when his key colleagues mysteriously die from the very toxin that he is the only one to have access to. There is another big component in the story that I find extremely unbelievable, but I can’t say anymore without giving away a huge spoiler. Tigges had the bones for a decent story, if only he had made some different choices at some key crossroads along the way.
3 Neurotoxin Dripping Fangs out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://intothemacabre.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
Venom drops us smack dab in the middle of a small, midwestern college town where Nita, a competitive tri-athlete, is in a serious relationship with Archer, the up-and-coming research scientist at Middleton University. Archer has recently brought in King Cobras from India to study the effects of their venom. Much to Anita’s dismay, he is more concerned with his experiments than rising up the department ladder and doesn’t apply for the open head of department chair. Soon afterwards, many of his superiors begin dying off from unusual circumstances, including large doses of King Cobra venom.
Tigges is a solid writer. The prose is smooth and engaging. For the most part, Venom is an enjoyable read. However, there are two main plot gaffes that are hard to overlook. One, Nita comes across and shallow, whiny bitch and it’s hard to sympathize with her plight. Two, credibility flies out the window when there isn’t more of an uproar towards Archer when his key colleagues mysteriously die from the very toxin that he is the only one to have access to. There is another big component in the story that I find extremely unbelievable, but I can’t say anymore without giving away a huge spoiler. Tigges had the bones for a decent story, if only he had made some different choices at some key crossroads along the way.
3 Neurotoxin Dripping Fangs out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://intothemacabre.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
July 21, 2018
Nita Galforth wanted nothing more than to be happy with the man she loved. But any thoughts of a peaceful future would have to wait until she could forget the insidious thing that had been done to her in the past. Her memories were cloudy, but as she slept, horrifying nightmares crowded her mind -- images of frenzied natives writhing to the music of an ancient ceremony, of a little girl stripped and tied to an altar, and of a huge king cobra, its fangs dripping with venom, poised to strike....
A few years ago, I got into a spot of bother with someone regarding my opinion of a horror anthology from the 70s, in that I found the stories cliched and a tad hockey. However, I was aware that we're talking about stories from well over thirty years ago. A tired, overdone trope may have been a novel idea back then, but having seen the same thing done to death over the years, my jaded editor eyes just wanted to get through the damn thing.
Additionally, with changes in the political and cultural climate (and these changes seem to come faster and faster these days) some older books, in particular the pulpier end of the spectrum, are creatures of their time. If one of these books were presented to a publisher now, my money would be on a very quick rejection. Obviously, back in the day, these were the books filling shelves.
For example, today's offering is Venom by John Tigges.
I do volunteer work at a residential home, and they always have a box of books near the door for a gold coin donation. I always carry some change for this box, as often you can find some quality retro horror. And with the interest spurred from Paperbacks from Hell of late, those amazingly garish cover just catch the eye something special. Look at that cover above. How could I not buy it?
Worth mentioning that I'll only feel I've 'made it' as an author when I have some fancy embossing on a cover. Even the trail of venom trickling down her cheeks is embossed! Nice touch, Leisure from the 80s.
Yes, the 80s. This was released in 1988. The year I was seven. The year my cousin and I lied in the videoshop in order to grab a copy of Killer Klowns From Outer Space ("My dad told us to come get it for him." HOW DID THAT WORK?!). While many a classic emerged from the period (which I still like to think of the heyday of horror...but rose-tinted glasses much? I was a terrified child at the time) many movies and books were cheap and cheerful romps. Venom definitely falls into this category. But it's flaws scream from the page, and again, this may be due to the period in which it was written, and the way popular novels have changed overtime. It feels unfair to drag it over the coals in 2018...but...
I will.
First up, breasts. Breasts are part of the world. They were there in the 80s, they're here now. However, there is a time and place for them to appear in a novel. Should you have a woman in your book, whether she turns into a snake or not, she has breasts. Therefore, those breasts will be in every chapter, they are, after all, attached. What we don't need is a reference to those breasts at least once in every chapter. The character has a shower, and she examines her breasts. She lies down, and notices how her breasts moved. Nipples stiffen at every available opportunity. I never thought I'd get sick of breasts, but it eventually happened. Breasts.
Next up. Indian characters being described as greasy. Again, like the breasts, this happens quite a bit. Every time a character shakes hands with an Indian, they go to wipe their hand on their clothing, expecting it to come away greasy/slimy. This jumped out at me as a bit...odd. Wouldn't float nowadays!
A few mad coincidences abound too. Such as an expert and former member of the snake cult that worships this particular snake spirit showing up just as snake-woman shenanigans begin. Every male character seems to be an expert in everything. People showing up just in the nick of time.
I'm dwelling on the negatives too much, so let's swing it around. The antagonist is a ruddy big king cobra. How many times have a wittered on about needing a strong villain? Well this has a ruddy big king cobra, and that works. So simple, yet so threatening. We don't need motivation, or deep psychological trauma, etc. Just a ruddy big king cobra sneaking about and biting people. The author clearly had a hoot writing the snake chapters, with a particular stand out scene of a Mexican stand off between man and snake. Plus cobras standing upright with that hood, looking you in the eye, a single bite enough to finish you... Yeah, I enjoyed the snakes scenes.
There's also the requisite background snake knowledge throughout the book, as the partner of snake-woman is a biologist, whose expertise is...snakes...king cobras to be exact. Am I going to have to go back and add this to happy coincidence paragraph? Anyway, fun facts of cobras are sprinkled throughout and never get too much or dump enough info to retract from the plot.
Have to mention the ending. It was mounting nicely, yet I had that awful feeling, knowing that the book ended on the next page. Was this going to be a JAWS ending scenario? Even worse, was this going to be a Koontz ending scenario?
Yes. Yes it was. I also think it was pinched from American Werewolf in London. That's right. I don't shy away from controversial opinion.
So should you buy this? Yes, I think you should actually. I don't think you can get this digitally, only 2nd hand paperback. Which is excellent! Kindle screens would never do this cover justice. Run your fingers over the embossed title, the sexy braille of 80s horror.
It's a wonderful example of 80s pulp horror, warts and all, and deserves to be read in its original format, with yellowed pages and a Leisure paperback order form still in the back.
I give it three breasts out of five.
A few years ago, I got into a spot of bother with someone regarding my opinion of a horror anthology from the 70s, in that I found the stories cliched and a tad hockey. However, I was aware that we're talking about stories from well over thirty years ago. A tired, overdone trope may have been a novel idea back then, but having seen the same thing done to death over the years, my jaded editor eyes just wanted to get through the damn thing.
Additionally, with changes in the political and cultural climate (and these changes seem to come faster and faster these days) some older books, in particular the pulpier end of the spectrum, are creatures of their time. If one of these books were presented to a publisher now, my money would be on a very quick rejection. Obviously, back in the day, these were the books filling shelves.
For example, today's offering is Venom by John Tigges.
I do volunteer work at a residential home, and they always have a box of books near the door for a gold coin donation. I always carry some change for this box, as often you can find some quality retro horror. And with the interest spurred from Paperbacks from Hell of late, those amazingly garish cover just catch the eye something special. Look at that cover above. How could I not buy it?
Worth mentioning that I'll only feel I've 'made it' as an author when I have some fancy embossing on a cover. Even the trail of venom trickling down her cheeks is embossed! Nice touch, Leisure from the 80s.
Yes, the 80s. This was released in 1988. The year I was seven. The year my cousin and I lied in the videoshop in order to grab a copy of Killer Klowns From Outer Space ("My dad told us to come get it for him." HOW DID THAT WORK?!). While many a classic emerged from the period (which I still like to think of the heyday of horror...but rose-tinted glasses much? I was a terrified child at the time) many movies and books were cheap and cheerful romps. Venom definitely falls into this category. But it's flaws scream from the page, and again, this may be due to the period in which it was written, and the way popular novels have changed overtime. It feels unfair to drag it over the coals in 2018...but...
I will.
First up, breasts. Breasts are part of the world. They were there in the 80s, they're here now. However, there is a time and place for them to appear in a novel. Should you have a woman in your book, whether she turns into a snake or not, she has breasts. Therefore, those breasts will be in every chapter, they are, after all, attached. What we don't need is a reference to those breasts at least once in every chapter. The character has a shower, and she examines her breasts. She lies down, and notices how her breasts moved. Nipples stiffen at every available opportunity. I never thought I'd get sick of breasts, but it eventually happened. Breasts.
Next up. Indian characters being described as greasy. Again, like the breasts, this happens quite a bit. Every time a character shakes hands with an Indian, they go to wipe their hand on their clothing, expecting it to come away greasy/slimy. This jumped out at me as a bit...odd. Wouldn't float nowadays!
A few mad coincidences abound too. Such as an expert and former member of the snake cult that worships this particular snake spirit showing up just as snake-woman shenanigans begin. Every male character seems to be an expert in everything. People showing up just in the nick of time.
I'm dwelling on the negatives too much, so let's swing it around. The antagonist is a ruddy big king cobra. How many times have a wittered on about needing a strong villain? Well this has a ruddy big king cobra, and that works. So simple, yet so threatening. We don't need motivation, or deep psychological trauma, etc. Just a ruddy big king cobra sneaking about and biting people. The author clearly had a hoot writing the snake chapters, with a particular stand out scene of a Mexican stand off between man and snake. Plus cobras standing upright with that hood, looking you in the eye, a single bite enough to finish you... Yeah, I enjoyed the snakes scenes.
There's also the requisite background snake knowledge throughout the book, as the partner of snake-woman is a biologist, whose expertise is...snakes...king cobras to be exact. Am I going to have to go back and add this to happy coincidence paragraph? Anyway, fun facts of cobras are sprinkled throughout and never get too much or dump enough info to retract from the plot.
Have to mention the ending. It was mounting nicely, yet I had that awful feeling, knowing that the book ended on the next page. Was this going to be a JAWS ending scenario? Even worse, was this going to be a Koontz ending scenario?
Yes. Yes it was. I also think it was pinched from American Werewolf in London. That's right. I don't shy away from controversial opinion.
So should you buy this? Yes, I think you should actually. I don't think you can get this digitally, only 2nd hand paperback. Which is excellent! Kindle screens would never do this cover justice. Run your fingers over the embossed title, the sexy braille of 80s horror.
It's a wonderful example of 80s pulp horror, warts and all, and deserves to be read in its original format, with yellowed pages and a Leisure paperback order form still in the back.
I give it three breasts out of five.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2021
Nita is a genuine over-achiever who takes every element of her life and turns it into a competition, be it her job, hobbies, or boyfriend Archer (a researcher at the local university). She wants the best for herself and Archer and will do anything in her power to achieve success – even if that means turning into a King Cobra and going on a murder spree. Archer, for his part, isn’t focused on being the best or being head of the research department at university, no, he just wants to study King Cobras…the twist being…his partner is a King Cobra and he doesn’t know it!
Nita unconsciously morphing into a giant King Corba and then proceeding to take out her boyfriend’s ‘competition’ at the university, all the while being completely unaware of her actions when she morphs back into human form is as hilarious as it is horrifying; some of the scenes gave me a serious case of the chills! John Trigges sure knows how to write menacing monsters.
Venom is a creature feature which, despite being completely unbelievable, has some cheesy redeeming qualities. Enjoy it for what it is; fun, semi-gory horror which doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Nita unconsciously morphing into a giant King Corba and then proceeding to take out her boyfriend’s ‘competition’ at the university, all the while being completely unaware of her actions when she morphs back into human form is as hilarious as it is horrifying; some of the scenes gave me a serious case of the chills! John Trigges sure knows how to write menacing monsters.
Venom is a creature feature which, despite being completely unbelievable, has some cheesy redeeming qualities. Enjoy it for what it is; fun, semi-gory horror which doesn’t take itself too seriously.
April 29, 2021
Wild snake lady on the cover set my expectations pretty high. I went in expecting a wild, lurid ride, but not so with this book. Tigges' easy to read prose can make 50 pages feel like 5, and so this book wasn't a total waste of time. That said, so, so much padding. The few horrific scenes in the book were very effective and well written, but they were spaced out with so much fluff. An okay concept dragged out in a very bloated fashion. Shave 100 pages or so off this novel and you might have something, but as it is, couldn't really recommend. For John Tigges completists only (which I guess I am now as I can't stop reading his books).
July 17, 2023
This book would have been praised more if it was adapted into a Tales From the Crypt episode. I enjoyed the beginning and middle.
The end however started to fizzle out.
I’m giving it 2.5 stars because I enjoyed half the book more than the last half.
The end however started to fizzle out.
I’m giving it 2.5 stars because I enjoyed half the book more than the last half.
October 25, 2023
You don't buy a book like this expecting good literature. You buy it for the sexy snake lady on the cover! And while it does deliver a decent 80's pulp shape-shifting story (with lots of obligatory sex scenes and breast descriptions), it doesn't live up to its potential. The main character/culprit, Nita, is an irritating, perfect overachiever and not likable to read about - at least not in human form. The book leans pretty heavily on racist stereotypes of India and Indians, which is unfortunately common in pop culture from this time period. (It's also mentioned several times that Nita was born to missionary parents in Africa, but fails to specify a country. Just...throw a dart at the map and pick a place, Tigges. I hate it when authors pretend "Africa" is a country.) As another reviewer pointed out, everything is way too coincidental - Nita's boyfriend just HAPPENS to be a cobra researcher; her psychiatrist just HAPPENS to be a former member of the obscure cult that used her in their ritual in India, etc. But the book already has a lot of padding so I didn't mind these coincidences; it made the plot move quickly.
Overall it's not a terrible example of its genre. Tigges did his reptile research and I actually learned some cobra facts! 2/5 stars, 3/5 if we're including the cover art.
Overall it's not a terrible example of its genre. Tigges did his reptile research and I actually learned some cobra facts! 2/5 stars, 3/5 if we're including the cover art.
June 24, 2021
A slog of a book that, while it has an enticing concept, harps too much on repetitive character dialogue and too little on actually moving the plot along.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews