The Boogens

by Charles E. Sellier, Bob Weverka

Some things shouldn't be disturbed. Afraid of not knowing, afraid to find out, after 100 years someone has reawakened the Boogens. There is no escape.

Genres: Horror

182 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Jim Lay · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating for this 80's monster novel is inflated a bit by the nostalgic feelings it invoked in me. It is very much a late 70's drive-in movie, creature-feature kind of story, but it was a fun, quick read. Like others, I would say this novelization is far better than the movie.
And consider it a cautionary tale for anyone thinking about staying in a house built over an abandoned mine where numerous mysterious deaths have occurred. If this describes you, then I suggest you have someone spray your house for Boogens. You don't want those things, trust me.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess for the foreseeable future anytime I read a pulp horror style paperback I'm going to think of it as a "Paperback from Hell." This novel would fit right in with that genre.

I haven't seen the movie, and this was a rare case where the movie seems to be as well liked, or even more liked, than the novel. I'm assuming this is a novelization rather than the novel coming before the movie.

There's an old mine shaft with monsters in it, the origins of which are never fully explained but are hinted it. There's some greedy humans involved, some innocent but horny young adults (aren't there always?) and then everything meets and reaches a boiling point. If you are familiar with these type of stories, you know the endings aren't always happy. (Hint, hint.)

A fun horror novel in the vein of the pulp horror novels from the 70s and 80s.

[Addy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. So this book was a creature feature and it was fun. The writing was good and I liked the characters. Scare factor....not so much but the movie looks good. I'm not gonna recommend unless u are diehard creature feature reader.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this one twice. Once back in the day and recently-- just to see if it still holds up. It does, especially in you're into little creatures with sharp teeth. Well-written and better than the screen adaptation, IMO.

[Mikepottz · Rating 4 out of 5]

They sleep 20 hours a day in the deep caverns, gurgling sounds, festering on anything that comes near them with their luminescence orange eyes and tentacles. A newly bought old and abandoned mine has a dark secret, people disappearing over the years. The location is a small eerie town with an overzealous sheriff with an evil secret protecting the creatures with yellow slime, burning acid into the skin. Nobody escapes evil.

[Unsolved ☕︎ Mystery · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so much different than the movie, which wasn't necessarily a good thing.

I did enjoy the back story on the Legend of The Boogens.

The movie is 100% better though.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little creature on the loose book from the 80's. Old timers from a small mining town have a few secrets to hide. Some people come for a vacation to a rental house in town, along with a couple to look at the mine that was bought by an outside business man. What follows is a nice story. Not so creepy, but a well written one.

I saw the movie back in the 80's and I don't remember the ending to it. After reading this book, which I have to say, has a dark outcome, I'll have to watch the film again to see if it matches up.

[Luca Gonella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Storia passabile, classica di Urania di fascia medio-bassa. Romanzo mediocre ma comunque apprezzabile.

[Drew Dietsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slight but charming little monster tale with a surprising ending. Nothing fantastic but it's a good bit of popcorn horror.

[Scott Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t recall seeing the movie but this was a good, quick, easy read and I must admit an ending I didn’t expect

[Russell Holbrook · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading an intriguing article on the film version of this book in my favorite publication, Evilspeak magazine, when I came across the book I quickly snatched it up. Although it is a fun 1980's creature feature with lots of cool "make-you-squirm" moments, the tone is a lot darker and much more pessimistic than I had expected it to be, which gave the story quite a bit of unexpected weight. Though not my new favorite book, I'm glad I read it.

[Randy Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this creature story, you won't believe the ending! This was written and made into a movie in 1981, just found it on NetFlix and looking forward to watching it. Really hope it's as good as the book. Never know how different the movie and book are, wonder how close this movie will follow the book.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Easily the creepiest, almost scariest thing I've ever read. If you get into the flow of things, it certainly gets the job done.