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Der Regen: Thriller
Horror ist wieder "in" - im Zuge der aktuellen Horror-Welle bekommt einer der Meister des Fachs erneut die ihm gebührende Aufmerksamkeit: der 1947 in Amerika geborene und 2001 eines natürlichen(!) Todes gestorbene Richard Laymon würde sich sicher freuen, wenn er wüsste, dass der Heyne-Verlag sich posthum an die Arbeit macht, eine große Zahl seiner über 30 Romane übersetzen zu lassen; jüngster Spross im deutschen Laymon-Angebot ist Der Regen (One Rainy Night im Original von 1991) - Laymons Horror-Zombie-Version mit der gewohnten Mischung Gewalt und Erotik und eben Blut, Blut, Blut.
Nachdem der farbige Junge Maxwell Chidi auf dem Football Feld der Kleinstadt Bixby von unbekannten bei lebendigem Leib verbrannt wurde, fällt kurze Zeit später ein schwarzer, nach Kupfer schmeckender Regen auf die Stadt und verwandelt alle, die mit ihm in Berührung kommen in blutgierige Killer, die es nach alter Zombie-Tradition vor allem auf die Normalmenschen abgesehen haben. Alles Weitere ist dann klassisches Kleinstadt-Horror-Jagdszenario mit Laymon-Effekt: spontane Metzelszenen, wenn vom Mordregen blutgierig hochgeheizte Kleinstädter auf nebenstehende, vom Regen geschützte Mitmenschen treffen - egal ob geliebte Ehefrau, Kind oder Nachbar. Laymon schwelgt wie erwartet souverän in den Beschreibungen der Splatterszenen und färbt sie beinah beiläufig tiefrot sexuell; Gewalt und Erotik sind bei ihm so eng miteinander verbunden, dass die Grenzen meist ineinanderfließen.
Mit Titeln wie Der Gott der Klinge von Joe R. Lansdale, EVIL von Jack Ketchum oder Das Kastell von F. Paul Wilson erlebt das Horror-Genre zurzeit eine Renaissance und Richard Laymon ist mit Titel wie Der Keller, Nacht oder Die Insel als Altmeister des Horros mittendrin. --textico.de/Wolfgang Treß
446 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 1991
154 people are currently reading
5057 people want to read
About the author
Richard Laymon
216 books2,268 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 - 30 of 313 reviews
March 8, 2017
This was just as good as the last book I read by the author (Endless Night) - although, not quite as funny.
Bob Hanson, a patrol officer, returns to the scene of a gruesome crime: where someone has been tied to the goalposts of Lincoln High School's Football Stadium; and set on fire. After climbing the chain-link fence to gain entry to the stadium; he has a look around the crime scene, when suddenly, the stadium lights come to life, and he sees someone walking towards him from one of the stadium's tunnels. Toby Barnes (Head of Maintenance) introduces himself to Hanson, telling him what he knows about the victim, which isn't much. After they get better aquainted, there's a massive roar in the night sky, and it starts to rain; the rain is black.
Barnes attacks Hanson; and Hanson draws his weapon and blasts the maintenance guy in the head. For some reason, the black rain causes people to turn into homicidal maniacs, it also gives them a feeling of euphoria.
The story is told in the third person from multiple POV - as we're introduced to some of the denizens of Bixby, as they try to deal with the crisis and stay alive - and not get contaminated themselves.
Interestingly, the storm seems to be stationary and not affecting other areas; only Bixby. Also, if an unaffected person touches someone who is affected by the black rain; then it won't turn them into a crazy person; only direct contact with the rain will make people turn; not secondary contact - although, some of them are crazy anyway.
I'm now wondering if I should read three Laymon novels' consecutively. After a self debate, me and myself have reached the consensus that things usually happen in threes - and I may be pushing my luck if I do.
In summation: put your brain into neutral, and go along for the crazy ride. There's the usual blood, guts and entrails being thrown around the place, but its a fun book to read.
Bob Hanson, a patrol officer, returns to the scene of a gruesome crime: where someone has been tied to the goalposts of Lincoln High School's Football Stadium; and set on fire. After climbing the chain-link fence to gain entry to the stadium; he has a look around the crime scene, when suddenly, the stadium lights come to life, and he sees someone walking towards him from one of the stadium's tunnels. Toby Barnes (Head of Maintenance) introduces himself to Hanson, telling him what he knows about the victim, which isn't much. After they get better aquainted, there's a massive roar in the night sky, and it starts to rain; the rain is black.
Barnes attacks Hanson; and Hanson draws his weapon and blasts the maintenance guy in the head. For some reason, the black rain causes people to turn into homicidal maniacs, it also gives them a feeling of euphoria.
The story is told in the third person from multiple POV - as we're introduced to some of the denizens of Bixby, as they try to deal with the crisis and stay alive - and not get contaminated themselves.
Interestingly, the storm seems to be stationary and not affecting other areas; only Bixby. Also, if an unaffected person touches someone who is affected by the black rain; then it won't turn them into a crazy person; only direct contact with the rain will make people turn; not secondary contact - although, some of them are crazy anyway.
I'm now wondering if I should read three Laymon novels' consecutively. After a self debate, me and myself have reached the consensus that things usually happen in threes - and I may be pushing my luck if I do.
In summation: put your brain into neutral, and go along for the crazy ride. There's the usual blood, guts and entrails being thrown around the place, but its a fun book to read.
June 13, 2021
Here we are again with another Laymon classic. A black teenager is murdered. One day after the small town of Bixby is seeing something very strange, a black rain. It turns humans into killers. We follow the main characters and hope they will survive this unusual situation. Who is responsible for the black rain? What about the murderers? How can the black rain be stopped? Laymon comes with a typical 50s story and throws all his notorious trademarks in: violence, bloodshed, gore, peeping tom moments, naughty sex scenes, alluring women with big breasts, fine dialogues and a nice denouement. Compelling, over the top, sometimes even satirical and politically highly incorrect. Liked this one and can recommend it!
January 17, 2022
I finally found a Laymon book that is bloody excellent. In the town of Bixby a strange black rain starts to fall. Anyone caught in the pounding rain turns into crazed maniacs. It starts as a hate, that turns into a rage like no other. Blood will flow with the black rain on the empty streets of this small town. Laymon really brings on the unique ways to murder someone in this one. It is a never ending, heart pounding good time. I didn't want the rain to end.
🐱🐱🐱🐱
🐱🐱🐱🐱
May 5, 2011
I had never heard of Richard Laymon until I noticed a blurb on a Stephen King novel saying something like: Besides Laymon and Koontz, King has...blah, blah, blah. So I went to my favorite used bookstore in my hometown and decided to see for myself what this Laymon guy was up to.
And, man, the dude had written like thirty books. Vampires. Aliens. The unexplained. Etc. Etc. I chose randomly, three or four titles.
ONE RAINY NIGHT was among the fortunate to come home with me. As I began the book I thought, No big deal...just another run-of-the-mill horror writer. That is until the action heated up.
You see, Laymon knows where the line is and is not only unafraid of crossing it, he does so with pleasure. Women and children, fair game. Heroes, they may or may not survive. And that's what's so fascinating with his writing. It constantly keeps the reader off balanced, eagerly flipping pages just to see who will make it to the next chapter, and who has had thier final curtain call.
ONE RAINY NIGHT is a simple story...toxic rain, makes people go crazy.
But the way that Laymon describes how the people go crazy is the real beauty of this novel. It's a bit over-the-top, but Laymon's writing style more than makes up for it. A great book to read when the thunderclouds roll in…
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
And, man, the dude had written like thirty books. Vampires. Aliens. The unexplained. Etc. Etc. I chose randomly, three or four titles.
ONE RAINY NIGHT was among the fortunate to come home with me. As I began the book I thought, No big deal...just another run-of-the-mill horror writer. That is until the action heated up.
You see, Laymon knows where the line is and is not only unafraid of crossing it, he does so with pleasure. Women and children, fair game. Heroes, they may or may not survive. And that's what's so fascinating with his writing. It constantly keeps the reader off balanced, eagerly flipping pages just to see who will make it to the next chapter, and who has had thier final curtain call.
ONE RAINY NIGHT is a simple story...toxic rain, makes people go crazy.
But the way that Laymon describes how the people go crazy is the real beauty of this novel. It's a bit over-the-top, but Laymon's writing style more than makes up for it. A great book to read when the thunderclouds roll in…
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
March 10, 2024
One of Laymon's better efforts for sure, One Rainy Night takes off right from the get go and non-stop mayhem. While the plot is thin, the action makes up for it to a degree. The story starts off with a cop exploring the scene of a murder at a football field that happened the night before; suddenly, a massive thunder strike happens and a black rain starts to fall. Those who get rained on become blood crazy and run amok, murdering and worse. The cop, for example, almost immediately shoots and kills the grounds keeper he was talking with before the lightening strike.
As typical for Laymon, several groups of characters animate the tale as he switches POVs among them; you know they will meet up eventually, but Laymon takes us on a twisty tale first, with lots of people making dubious decisions along the way. Expect lots of depictions of breasts and nipples (the man was obsessed!) but not a bad as other of his novels. Probably in the top ten of this books, but people are so split on Laymon it is hard to say. 3.5 brutal stars!!
As typical for Laymon, several groups of characters animate the tale as he switches POVs among them; you know they will meet up eventually, but Laymon takes us on a twisty tale first, with lots of people making dubious decisions along the way. Expect lots of depictions of breasts and nipples (the man was obsessed!) but not a bad as other of his novels. Probably in the top ten of this books, but people are so split on Laymon it is hard to say. 3.5 brutal stars!!
August 5, 2014
This is one of my new favorite Laymon books. What an action packed, fun-filled ride through a night of terror and violence! I would shelf One Rainy Night as "Classic" Laymon. Other such titles I have thought as highly of from this amazing, but grossly underrated author are Island, Body Rides, Into The Fire, After Midnight and The Cellar. I haven't read all of his books, as I am slowly working my through them. Unfortunately, we lost Laymon in 2001, when he was felled by a massive heart attack, so once I read through them all, well, that's that.
The plot of One Rainy Night is best described in the blurb; I can't do it any better than that. The black rain falls, and everyone that gets wet with the gooey stuff goes insane and becomes overwhelmed by the desire to kill and rape and pillage. The people not affected by the insanity rain may just be the least fortunate residents of Bixby, CA. Theirs is indeed a most unenviable position.
Filled with gore, sex and wacky characters, One Rainy Night is a must read for any Laymon fan, or anyone out to experience an awesome horror read.
The plot of One Rainy Night is best described in the blurb; I can't do it any better than that. The black rain falls, and everyone that gets wet with the gooey stuff goes insane and becomes overwhelmed by the desire to kill and rape and pillage. The people not affected by the insanity rain may just be the least fortunate residents of Bixby, CA. Theirs is indeed a most unenviable position.
Filled with gore, sex and wacky characters, One Rainy Night is a must read for any Laymon fan, or anyone out to experience an awesome horror read.
November 3, 2017
Vote: 3,5
Laymon's version of "The Crazies" (more the remake than George Romero's original one) meets "The Twilight Zone" with lots of the author's trademark "Sex, violence and bouncing boobs".
A brutal action-packed page-turner that I finished in a few nights, sadly characters were so lame that in the end I was just not caring very much about their (often bloody) fate.
Not best Laymon's novel I've read, still not worst, just not bad at all.
February 6, 2021
If you like classic, cheesy b-movie horror then this is the book for you. Richard Laymon's style is simple and trashy, which can often be fun when you want to switch off your brain and enjoy the violence.
To be fair this book is very fun and has some absolutely great scenes that would work very well on the big screen. But this is not going to win any literary awards and there's nothing deep going on here.
The premise itself is really good. Highly toxic rain appears over the town of Bixley and anyone who gets caught out in it goes absolutely bonkers, sending them on a kill, crazy rampage. Yes...murder, death, kill! What is at the route cause of this sinister, black rain? I'm not letting you off that easily...you need to read the damn thing to find out.
The character work and dialogue in this is shoddy. There is zero parts where Laymon wowed me with his writing. Compare him to King, McCammon, Lansdale or Simmons and he is absolutely nowhere near. If you want a higher level to your horror reading experience I'd stick to them. If you want an all out gorefest that's a quick easy read then maybe give Laymon a try.
Me personally I will give the odd book by this author a go. But I'm not going to work my way through his entire catalogue. If you're starting with Laymon I personally would read Endless Night or Night in the Lonesome October first as both are better than this one.
So to sum it all up fun but unfulfilling. Three stars all the way.
To be fair this book is very fun and has some absolutely great scenes that would work very well on the big screen. But this is not going to win any literary awards and there's nothing deep going on here.
The premise itself is really good. Highly toxic rain appears over the town of Bixley and anyone who gets caught out in it goes absolutely bonkers, sending them on a kill, crazy rampage. Yes...murder, death, kill! What is at the route cause of this sinister, black rain? I'm not letting you off that easily...you need to read the damn thing to find out.
The character work and dialogue in this is shoddy. There is zero parts where Laymon wowed me with his writing. Compare him to King, McCammon, Lansdale or Simmons and he is absolutely nowhere near. If you want a higher level to your horror reading experience I'd stick to them. If you want an all out gorefest that's a quick easy read then maybe give Laymon a try.
Me personally I will give the odd book by this author a go. But I'm not going to work my way through his entire catalogue. If you're starting with Laymon I personally would read Endless Night or Night in the Lonesome October first as both are better than this one.
So to sum it all up fun but unfulfilling. Three stars all the way.
January 28, 2018
Das war... unterhaltsam 😂
February 9, 2025
ONE RAINY NIGHT [2013] By Richard Laymon
My Review 4.5 Stars
This selection from the works of the legendary Laymon was nominated and voted by the members of Splatterpunk Book Club as a Group Read for the month of February. I perused the description on Amazon in preparation for this book review. I used the date of 47North; Reissue edition (December 31, 2013). “One Rainy Night” was originally published in 1991, approximately three and a half decades ago. I read the notes “About the Author” and was surprised to see that “One Rainy Night” was pictured under the caption “Most Popular”. It occurred to me that the apparent popularity of “One Rainy Night” may have been the reason for its nomination on Splatterpunk. That said, I really liked the book.
The first two novels I read by Laymon were recommended to me by a dear friend of mine on Goodreads. I opted to begin the “Beast House Chronicles” on my own initiative. Ironically, the first novel in this series “The Cellar” (1980) was a commercial success here in the US. Laymon attributed the failure of his second book in 1981 to gain any traction in America to a constellation of errors from a badly edited first release with 50 pages omitted to its unattractive cover art. His original version of this novel (“The Woods Are Dark”), was ultimately released in 2008. It was not until 1999 that Laymon earned recognition here in the USA. His work was praised by horror authors here at home, but it is fair to say that it was the UK and Europe who delivered the recognition and praise that Laymon rightly deserved in his early career.
Someone is bound to be thinking right now, does this person have a point, and if so, get to it! The relative point is that this truly entertaining novel (“One Rainy Night”) from Laymon’s considerable volume of works does not appear in “Top 10” lists that I have poured over. Perhaps as significantly, the novel has never been mentioned when I have asked an assortment of readers to share with me a few of their favorite books by Layman. If a random selection from his long list of published novels is this good, I cannot imagine how great his revered titles are!
The description on Amazon is brief but pretty much gives a potential reader a clear picture of what to expect. An earth-shattering clap of thunder is followed by a torrential downpour of bizarre “black rain”. It falls from the sky black as night and it covers the skin and clothing of anyone out in the open like a bizarre oil spill. The black rain is thick in consistency and gives the exposed citizens the appearance of being black from head to toe. The immediate effect is suggested to be a seductive warmth and a languid feeling of relaxation. But this reaction changes in a millisecond into a violent murderous rage which quickly morphs into the urge to maim and mutilate any living target that is encountered. The afflicted spontaneously seek to arm themselves with not only traditional weapons but also unlikely and imaginative everyday objects or tools. The crazed “black” inhabitants of the small town of Bixby exhibit an uncanny ingenuity, such as the example in the Amazon description (“A stranger at a gas station shoves a nozzle down a customer’s throat and pulls the trigger”).
The reader is pulled into the story line with virtually no delay, and the narrative is driven like a race car with the reader needing to keep up with the non-stop action. The scenes of sensational horror, mutilation, bloodletting, and cannibalism stemming from the out-of-control citizens who have become crazed killers is a tribute to the grisly imagination of Laymon. I was reminded of Ketchum’s “Ladies Night” and the horror movie “The Crazies”.
We are gradually introduced to several citizens of the town who will comprise small groups of survivors who are tasked to fight effectively or die horribly. An unlikable mother (Francine) and her emotional daughter (Lisa) happen to be at the police department talking with Trevor Hudson (“Trev”) a police officer when the thunder sounds like an explosion and the heavens open to dispel a thick black rain from hell. Trev would not have even been in the police station at all if he had mustered the nerve to go see Maureen at the pizza parlor and refrained from nervous procrastination.
Then there is the likeable teenager Denise playing “should I or shouldn’t I” break the cardinal house rule and call her boyfriend Tom to come over and watch horror movies with her.
There is the inevitable domino effect which links certain people together at what appears to be the end of days. For example, Lisa now nervous and stoic at the police station broke her commitment to babysit for Kaya, the 9-year-old daughter of John and Kim that night. This breaks Denise’s crisis of conscience about calling Tom her boyfriend to the house. Instead, she goes to babysit in the place of Lisa. Denise and her 9-year-old companion Kaya will soon face a nightmare while they are still awake.
Ordinarily John would not be leaving the house to meet with a reporter and photographer at a fancy restaurant. This was only because he saved a life while out of town and despite a desperate effort to keep his heroic action a secret it had somehow leaked to the press. His wife Kim was adamant that they go and take advantage of the positive publicity. John was an artist after all, and would this not promote his work and be likely to increase sales? Kaya would not have needed a teenage babysitter and her protective parents absent but for the atypical plan to meet the press for perceived positive dividends.
These unusual alliances are built between descriptions of blood running in the streets and the author skillfully balances the unmitigated riot of crazies with his introductions of the protagonists. Soon we have Trev hell bent to find “his” Maureen, packing Francine and Lisa in the backseat, and he meets resistance at every stop.
Laymon does not let his loyal fans down and throws a large monkey wrench into an already impossible situation. The daughter of the pizza shop owner Maureen is now assigned delivering pizzas which is a task she knows nothing about. Namely she came to help her family due to illness and had been working inside the business, but not delivery to addresses that were not familiar to her. Does anybody remember a flashlight on a map to get directions? Why not just plug the address into Google Maps? It was the year 1991.
Beautiful and college educated Maureen emerges as one of the most memorable combatants in this siege on the town. She finds the address (finally) and the “black rain” is still a heavy downpour as she emerges from her vehicle carrying the pizzas. Maureen is overtaken by the madness from exposure to the black rain. An even worse case scenario awaits her as she places the pizzas down to rip to pieces the customer who answers the door. Oops! Three big muscular teenage bikers are the occupants of the house. They are violent young men with no moral compass and no compunction about rape, violation, beating or even worse. Their choppers sit outside their door. Maureen walks from the “black rain” effects into an unimaginable complication. The leader of the pack, Buddy, is the boy Lisa threw aside, and he is still in a rage unrelated to the “black rain”. There are the girlfriends of the other two guys immediately viciously jealous of the appearance of Maureen. The worst is yet to come for all of them.
I mentioned in my final status update that I had viewed this novel as analogous to a B-Movie which in essence is true. However, as I read the final 20-25% the writing was so effective in tying up the loose ends in every thread the plot had wandered along. Each small pocket of resistance was addressed and the outcomes not predictable. I loved the unexpected plot twists and surprises. The sequence with John at the fancy restaurant stepping up and demonstrating why he was a hero was really a high point. I also developed a respect for the character of Maureen who had a spine of steel. I liked the emotional, and likely most positive an outcome we could have imagined.
Early on in the book I had discussed the novel with my friend Alan on Splatterpunk, stating the character development lacked depth but it was certainly a “blast”! I need to amend that first part of the assessment because sometimes a few pages of backstory are not necessary when the character demonstrates in his or her actions just what he or she is made of in a life-threatening confrontation with unimaginable horror.
This novel is a fine example of Laymon’s works, and it is tragic that he was taken from us so soon. Finally, I would like to quote Dean Koontz since his words echo my opinion so perfectly:
“No one writes like Laymon, and you’re going to have a good time with anything he writes.”
HIGHLY ENJOYABLE READ PLUCKED FROM LAYMAN’S RICH CATALOG OF HORROR
My Review 4.5 Stars
This selection from the works of the legendary Laymon was nominated and voted by the members of Splatterpunk Book Club as a Group Read for the month of February. I perused the description on Amazon in preparation for this book review. I used the date of 47North; Reissue edition (December 31, 2013). “One Rainy Night” was originally published in 1991, approximately three and a half decades ago. I read the notes “About the Author” and was surprised to see that “One Rainy Night” was pictured under the caption “Most Popular”. It occurred to me that the apparent popularity of “One Rainy Night” may have been the reason for its nomination on Splatterpunk. That said, I really liked the book.
The first two novels I read by Laymon were recommended to me by a dear friend of mine on Goodreads. I opted to begin the “Beast House Chronicles” on my own initiative. Ironically, the first novel in this series “The Cellar” (1980) was a commercial success here in the US. Laymon attributed the failure of his second book in 1981 to gain any traction in America to a constellation of errors from a badly edited first release with 50 pages omitted to its unattractive cover art. His original version of this novel (“The Woods Are Dark”), was ultimately released in 2008. It was not until 1999 that Laymon earned recognition here in the USA. His work was praised by horror authors here at home, but it is fair to say that it was the UK and Europe who delivered the recognition and praise that Laymon rightly deserved in his early career.
Someone is bound to be thinking right now, does this person have a point, and if so, get to it! The relative point is that this truly entertaining novel (“One Rainy Night”) from Laymon’s considerable volume of works does not appear in “Top 10” lists that I have poured over. Perhaps as significantly, the novel has never been mentioned when I have asked an assortment of readers to share with me a few of their favorite books by Layman. If a random selection from his long list of published novels is this good, I cannot imagine how great his revered titles are!
The description on Amazon is brief but pretty much gives a potential reader a clear picture of what to expect. An earth-shattering clap of thunder is followed by a torrential downpour of bizarre “black rain”. It falls from the sky black as night and it covers the skin and clothing of anyone out in the open like a bizarre oil spill. The black rain is thick in consistency and gives the exposed citizens the appearance of being black from head to toe. The immediate effect is suggested to be a seductive warmth and a languid feeling of relaxation. But this reaction changes in a millisecond into a violent murderous rage which quickly morphs into the urge to maim and mutilate any living target that is encountered. The afflicted spontaneously seek to arm themselves with not only traditional weapons but also unlikely and imaginative everyday objects or tools. The crazed “black” inhabitants of the small town of Bixby exhibit an uncanny ingenuity, such as the example in the Amazon description (“A stranger at a gas station shoves a nozzle down a customer’s throat and pulls the trigger”).
The reader is pulled into the story line with virtually no delay, and the narrative is driven like a race car with the reader needing to keep up with the non-stop action. The scenes of sensational horror, mutilation, bloodletting, and cannibalism stemming from the out-of-control citizens who have become crazed killers is a tribute to the grisly imagination of Laymon. I was reminded of Ketchum’s “Ladies Night” and the horror movie “The Crazies”.
We are gradually introduced to several citizens of the town who will comprise small groups of survivors who are tasked to fight effectively or die horribly. An unlikable mother (Francine) and her emotional daughter (Lisa) happen to be at the police department talking with Trevor Hudson (“Trev”) a police officer when the thunder sounds like an explosion and the heavens open to dispel a thick black rain from hell. Trev would not have even been in the police station at all if he had mustered the nerve to go see Maureen at the pizza parlor and refrained from nervous procrastination.
Then there is the likeable teenager Denise playing “should I or shouldn’t I” break the cardinal house rule and call her boyfriend Tom to come over and watch horror movies with her.
There is the inevitable domino effect which links certain people together at what appears to be the end of days. For example, Lisa now nervous and stoic at the police station broke her commitment to babysit for Kaya, the 9-year-old daughter of John and Kim that night. This breaks Denise’s crisis of conscience about calling Tom her boyfriend to the house. Instead, she goes to babysit in the place of Lisa. Denise and her 9-year-old companion Kaya will soon face a nightmare while they are still awake.
Ordinarily John would not be leaving the house to meet with a reporter and photographer at a fancy restaurant. This was only because he saved a life while out of town and despite a desperate effort to keep his heroic action a secret it had somehow leaked to the press. His wife Kim was adamant that they go and take advantage of the positive publicity. John was an artist after all, and would this not promote his work and be likely to increase sales? Kaya would not have needed a teenage babysitter and her protective parents absent but for the atypical plan to meet the press for perceived positive dividends.
These unusual alliances are built between descriptions of blood running in the streets and the author skillfully balances the unmitigated riot of crazies with his introductions of the protagonists. Soon we have Trev hell bent to find “his” Maureen, packing Francine and Lisa in the backseat, and he meets resistance at every stop.
Laymon does not let his loyal fans down and throws a large monkey wrench into an already impossible situation. The daughter of the pizza shop owner Maureen is now assigned delivering pizzas which is a task she knows nothing about. Namely she came to help her family due to illness and had been working inside the business, but not delivery to addresses that were not familiar to her. Does anybody remember a flashlight on a map to get directions? Why not just plug the address into Google Maps? It was the year 1991.
Beautiful and college educated Maureen emerges as one of the most memorable combatants in this siege on the town. She finds the address (finally) and the “black rain” is still a heavy downpour as she emerges from her vehicle carrying the pizzas. Maureen is overtaken by the madness from exposure to the black rain. An even worse case scenario awaits her as she places the pizzas down to rip to pieces the customer who answers the door. Oops! Three big muscular teenage bikers are the occupants of the house. They are violent young men with no moral compass and no compunction about rape, violation, beating or even worse. Their choppers sit outside their door. Maureen walks from the “black rain” effects into an unimaginable complication. The leader of the pack, Buddy, is the boy Lisa threw aside, and he is still in a rage unrelated to the “black rain”. There are the girlfriends of the other two guys immediately viciously jealous of the appearance of Maureen. The worst is yet to come for all of them.
I mentioned in my final status update that I had viewed this novel as analogous to a B-Movie which in essence is true. However, as I read the final 20-25% the writing was so effective in tying up the loose ends in every thread the plot had wandered along. Each small pocket of resistance was addressed and the outcomes not predictable. I loved the unexpected plot twists and surprises. The sequence with John at the fancy restaurant stepping up and demonstrating why he was a hero was really a high point. I also developed a respect for the character of Maureen who had a spine of steel. I liked the emotional, and likely most positive an outcome we could have imagined.
Early on in the book I had discussed the novel with my friend Alan on Splatterpunk, stating the character development lacked depth but it was certainly a “blast”! I need to amend that first part of the assessment because sometimes a few pages of backstory are not necessary when the character demonstrates in his or her actions just what he or she is made of in a life-threatening confrontation with unimaginable horror.
This novel is a fine example of Laymon’s works, and it is tragic that he was taken from us so soon. Finally, I would like to quote Dean Koontz since his words echo my opinion so perfectly:
“No one writes like Laymon, and you’re going to have a good time with anything he writes.”
HIGHLY ENJOYABLE READ PLUCKED FROM LAYMAN’S RICH CATALOG OF HORROR
February 12, 2022
This one was good, but overhyped. Lots of people in the horror community were touting this book as being Laymon's best work, but that title still belongs to "The Woods Are Dark" in my personal opinion.
May 30, 2023
Richard Laymon’s crude fascination with breasts and violence against women, made One Rainy Night impossible to finish.
July 20, 2021
Politically incorrect horror thriller full of horrible dialogue, trashy violence and rape, and an over the top ridiculous plot. Laymon is very hit or miss, with a lot of misses, and this book was a miss. This was his take on racism, not sure if the black rain was supposed to represent something, but in the end it felt tasteless and silly. Some cool gore scenes, but not a very good book.
May 15, 2015
Un estudiante de secundaria negro es asesinado brutalmente en la ciudad de Bixby. La noche siguiente, una extraña lluvia negra cae sobre la ciudad. Y de repente todos se atacan. Cualquier persona tocada por ella pierde todas sus inhibiciones, y queda reducida a un estado violento, lujurioso y salvaje. Curiosamente, los afectados únicamente atacan a las personas secas. La noche no ha hecho más que comenzar.
‘Lluvia negra’ (A Rainy Night, 1991) es una novela brutal, visceral, escrita en el típico estilo de Richard Laymon, sin complejos, mezclando violencia, sangre y sexo. El libro transcurre en el curso de una noche, a un ritmo frenético. Los personajes de Lymon son fuertes y bastante reales en sus reacciones; es fácil identificarse con los buenos y despreciar vilmente a los malos. Sin embargo, Laymon no se corta a la hora de mostrarnos que hasta el más bueno es capaz de lo peor en una mala situación, así como el mal sólo puede ir a peor. Laymon, al mantener a los protagonistas separados en varios frentes (una hija al cuidado de una joven; los padres de aquella; un oficial de policía en busca de una chica), logra aumentar la tensión y el suspense, y convierte su lectura en adictiva. Quizá sea lo que mejor sabe hacer el autor, crear este tipo de historias de lectura compulsiva. Hay sangre, sí, al igual que violencia y escenas escabrosas (a Laymon le apodan el Stephen King sin conciencia), pero también es la lucha por la supervivencia de unos personajes sin experiencia alguna a la hora de luchar.
En resumen, una novela de absoluta brutalidad y violencia, un viaje de una noche loco y frenético. En este tipo de libros, Richard Laymon era un maestro.
‘Lluvia negra’ (A Rainy Night, 1991) es una novela brutal, visceral, escrita en el típico estilo de Richard Laymon, sin complejos, mezclando violencia, sangre y sexo. El libro transcurre en el curso de una noche, a un ritmo frenético. Los personajes de Lymon son fuertes y bastante reales en sus reacciones; es fácil identificarse con los buenos y despreciar vilmente a los malos. Sin embargo, Laymon no se corta a la hora de mostrarnos que hasta el más bueno es capaz de lo peor en una mala situación, así como el mal sólo puede ir a peor. Laymon, al mantener a los protagonistas separados en varios frentes (una hija al cuidado de una joven; los padres de aquella; un oficial de policía en busca de una chica), logra aumentar la tensión y el suspense, y convierte su lectura en adictiva. Quizá sea lo que mejor sabe hacer el autor, crear este tipo de historias de lectura compulsiva. Hay sangre, sí, al igual que violencia y escenas escabrosas (a Laymon le apodan el Stephen King sin conciencia), pero también es la lucha por la supervivencia de unos personajes sin experiencia alguna a la hora de luchar.
En resumen, una novela de absoluta brutalidad y violencia, un viaje de una noche loco y frenético. En este tipo de libros, Richard Laymon era un maestro.
September 20, 2023
This book was a book read for my Richard Laymon book club that I am currently in although I read this book many many years ago this was a wonderful re-read to submerge myself in. And typical Richard Laymon writing fashion he grips me with his claws, and I am unable to be untangled from, as I am completely invested into the entire story to where there is no life outside of it, and this book is no different.
This book touches on racism, the ugly harsh realities of it, and how people tend to view it. This book takes place in a small town, where a mysterious Black rain starts falling on the residences in this rain makes every person a murderous killer with a thrust for blood I truly love how Richard Laymon can take a small town, our worst fears, and write it into a book that is extremely powerful. Richard Laymon tends to have a flair for a sexual Content in scenes, which is not missed by me. And I do love how he writes a web of different story and brings it all together in one amazing climax, so if you would like to read a gory, graphic, and explicit story look no further this is the book for you.
This book touches on racism, the ugly harsh realities of it, and how people tend to view it. This book takes place in a small town, where a mysterious Black rain starts falling on the residences in this rain makes every person a murderous killer with a thrust for blood I truly love how Richard Laymon can take a small town, our worst fears, and write it into a book that is extremely powerful. Richard Laymon tends to have a flair for a sexual Content in scenes, which is not missed by me. And I do love how he writes a web of different story and brings it all together in one amazing climax, so if you would like to read a gory, graphic, and explicit story look no further this is the book for you.
February 27, 2020
Another awesome tale from Richard Laymon. The shit really hits the fan in this one, everybody’s fucking crazy! Well, almost. You can’t go wrong reading Richard, his books RULE.
4/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️
4/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️
September 4, 2019
Това е една от най-харесваните книги на Леймън от феновете му и мога да видя защо. За разнообразие, тук цялата психопатщина си има логично обяснение, а чичо Дик дори оставя повечето от главните си герои, тези които е успял да направи симпатични на читателя, да оживеят.
В малко градче в Калифорния е извършено брутално убийство от омраза. Още преди да се разбере кой е извършителя, над целия град започва да се сипе черен дъжд. Всеки попаднал под капките полудява и започва да коли и изнасилва наред. В тази обстановка, Леймън ни разказва четири свързани истории.
Линда е тийнейджърка, чийто приятел Макс е убитият, точно преди да завали тя се отправя към полицията с майка си. Докато дава показания на полицай Тревор, целият ад се отприщва. Тревор се опитва да стигне до приятелката си Морийн, без да знае къде е, а междувременно трябва да провери дядото на Макс, за който Линда твърди, че е худун, предизвикал всичко за отмъщение.
На друго място Бъди, Лу и Дъг - тримата отговорни за убийството решават да се отърват от Линда, за да не ги издаде. Знаят, че тази вечер е детегледачка, но не знаят, че е отказала, за да даде показания в полицията. Докато пият за надъхване започва да вали и доставчика на пица (Морийн, приятелката на Трев) ги напада. Успяват да я спрат и нещата се заплитат още повече.
Кара е хлапето, което трябва да се наглежда. Вместо Линда за бавачка идва нейната съученичка Дениз. Когато остават сами и започва да вали, Дениз се обажда на приятеля си Том да намине. Той пристига, но обхванат от лудостта на черния дъжд. На всичкото отгоре, тримата изроди също се изсипват.
Джон е бащата на Кара, който се оказва задръстен в ресторант заедно с жена си и още двадесетина човека, а от пред дебнат поне 30 полудели от дъжда и жадни за кръв откачени. Бивш ветеран от Виетнам, Джон ще направи всичко възможно да спаси жена си и да види отново дъщеря си.
Четирите истории се преплитат постоянно и не оставят на читателя и момент спокойствие. Като, както обикновено при Леймън, постоянно трепериш кой ще убие и колко гадно.
В малко градче в Калифорния е извършено брутално убийство от омраза. Още преди да се разбере кой е извършителя, над целия град започва да се сипе черен дъжд. Всеки попаднал под капките полудява и започва да коли и изнасилва наред. В тази обстановка, Леймън ни разказва четири свързани истории.
Линда е тийнейджърка, чийто приятел Макс е убитият, точно преди да завали тя се отправя към полицията с майка си. Докато дава показания на полицай Тревор, целият ад се отприщва. Тревор се опитва да стигне до приятелката си Морийн, без да знае къде е, а междувременно трябва да провери дядото на Макс, за който Линда твърди, че е худун, предизвикал всичко за отмъщение.
На друго място Бъди, Лу и Дъг - тримата отговорни за убийството решават да се отърват от Линда, за да не ги издаде. Знаят, че тази вечер е детегледачка, но не знаят, че е отказала, за да даде показания в полицията. Докато пият за надъхване започва да вали и доставчика на пица (Морийн, приятелката на Трев) ги напада. Успяват да я спрат и нещата се заплитат още повече.
Кара е хлапето, което трябва да се наглежда. Вместо Линда за бавачка идва нейната съученичка Дениз. Когато остават сами и започва да вали, Дениз се обажда на приятеля си Том да намине. Той пристига, но обхванат от лудостта на черния дъжд. На всичкото отгоре, тримата изроди също се изсипват.
Джон е бащата на Кара, който се оказва задръстен в ресторант заедно с жена си и още двадесетина човека, а от пред дебнат поне 30 полудели от дъжда и жадни за кръв откачени. Бивш ветеран от Виетнам, Джон ще направи всичко възможно да спаси жена си и да види отново дъщеря си.
Четирите истории се преплитат постоянно и не оставят на читателя и момент спокойствие. Като, както обикновено при Леймън, постоянно трепериш кой ще убие и колко гадно.
November 28, 2019
Well, I knew it would happen soon or later—I would give a book a 1-star rating. Generally, if a book becomes unbearable I put it down, but this is the rare such instance that I decided I needed to comment on a book, this not being my first Laymon book I tried—and failed—to read. If you go through many of Laymon’s reviews, you will find his readers divided. Defenders of Laymon’s work point to the Splatterpunk aesthetic, declaring that Laymon was within well charted territory to write violence, particularly graphic rape, in such a way. Those opposed (I count myself as one) would be quick to point out that not only do the sexual assaults featured contribute absolutely nothing to the narrative save perhaps the unnecessary and already accomplished characterization of antagonists (amply done by the narrative prior to), the decision to feature these scenes adds nothing to the narrative. But that is not Laymon’s only sin.
I first attempted to read The Cellar, and like many readers, was absolutely appalled by the graphic rape of a minor. But in reading One Rainy Night, tame by many comparisons, it only takes Laymon a little over 100 pages before a pizza delivery woman is raped by a teenager, all of this while 4 other teens (including 2 women) are present and aware of the rapist’s intent to rape. Further, it doesn’t take a trained reader to ask the question: Why is the author constantly making me aware of how fabric folds/drapes/situates the breasts of every female character in the story? The interiority of all of the male characters is breast-focused, as is the female characters (who judge in an envy/no envy way), and nearly every motion made by such a character is described with either a “jiggle” or some other descriptor of the firmness or color of breasts/areolas. No narrative driven function is provided here, and as such, it’s impossible to get past these scenes without wondering why an editor didn’t call involved.
To address the “he’s the nicest guy in the world” argument I’ve read everywhere—ok, great. But the author is not under attack here; the decision to continually feature scenes of rape, female objectification, and unnecessary sexual descriptors is, and by my figuring once is perhaps an off-day, twice or more makes it a pattern.
I couldn’t finish this, nor could I finish The Cellar. I spent 45 minutes reading other reviews and found plenty of writers discussing Laymon’s use of rape throughout his other works, enough to know that I will not be giving Mr. Laymon a third chance. Serviceable prose, interesting premise, but there are so many other non-rape driven narratives to spend my time reading.
I first attempted to read The Cellar, and like many readers, was absolutely appalled by the graphic rape of a minor. But in reading One Rainy Night, tame by many comparisons, it only takes Laymon a little over 100 pages before a pizza delivery woman is raped by a teenager, all of this while 4 other teens (including 2 women) are present and aware of the rapist’s intent to rape. Further, it doesn’t take a trained reader to ask the question: Why is the author constantly making me aware of how fabric folds/drapes/situates the breasts of every female character in the story? The interiority of all of the male characters is breast-focused, as is the female characters (who judge in an envy/no envy way), and nearly every motion made by such a character is described with either a “jiggle” or some other descriptor of the firmness or color of breasts/areolas. No narrative driven function is provided here, and as such, it’s impossible to get past these scenes without wondering why an editor didn’t call involved.
To address the “he’s the nicest guy in the world” argument I’ve read everywhere—ok, great. But the author is not under attack here; the decision to continually feature scenes of rape, female objectification, and unnecessary sexual descriptors is, and by my figuring once is perhaps an off-day, twice or more makes it a pattern.
I couldn’t finish this, nor could I finish The Cellar. I spent 45 minutes reading other reviews and found plenty of writers discussing Laymon’s use of rape throughout his other works, enough to know that I will not be giving Mr. Laymon a third chance. Serviceable prose, interesting premise, but there are so many other non-rape driven narratives to spend my time reading.
February 26, 2009
First published back in 1990, `One Rainy Night' came at half way through Laymon's career.
Following Laymon's fast paced, action packed, blood filled formula for creating a novel that will be adored by many horror fans, `One Rainy Night' does not disappoint when it comes to an intensive splatter-punk style tale of blood lust and unrelenting violence.
With huge similarities to novels such as James Herbert's `The Fog', David Moody's `Hater' and Danny Boyle's 2002 film '28 Days Later...', `One Rainy Night' sees a large proportion of the population (in this case the vast majority of a town), turn into psychotic killers when they are subjected to the mysterious black rain that starts falling on the town.
From very early on the reader is thrown into the nail biting tension and claustrophobic fear that surrounds the town as the story spirals into an almost post-apocalyptic scenario that is not too dissimilar in feel to Laymon's classic novel `The Quake' that came out five years later.
The blood starts spilling from every page, with moments that appear to be lifted straight from any one of Romero's `Dead' series.
A somewhat weak sub-plot is threaded loosely along the novels storyline, that half tries to explain the mysterious turn of events as some sort of voodoo curse that was visited upon the town in the way of revenge for crimes upon a particular family. This half-baked explanation is not necessary to the overall enjoyment and structure of the novel, but does not really detract at all from the tale.
Yet again, Laymon throws in a collection of comic book style colourful characters that are brought to vivid life with their individual loveable and instantly identifiable traits.
The violence is strong yet not over descriptive that allows for the `Dawn of The Dead' style of comic gore. Even with this, the reader is subjected to bursts of suspense throughout that will leave you on the edge of your seat at the end of each and every chapter.
For those who are relatively new to Laymon's work, this is a good novel to approach first, with classic Laymon touches and his non-stop blood drenched action formula that is sure to please almost every fan of horror.
The novel lasts for a total of 410 blood soaked pages, of which all 410 of these will keep your heart racing, as you sit there perched on the edge of your seat.
Following Laymon's fast paced, action packed, blood filled formula for creating a novel that will be adored by many horror fans, `One Rainy Night' does not disappoint when it comes to an intensive splatter-punk style tale of blood lust and unrelenting violence.
With huge similarities to novels such as James Herbert's `The Fog', David Moody's `Hater' and Danny Boyle's 2002 film '28 Days Later...', `One Rainy Night' sees a large proportion of the population (in this case the vast majority of a town), turn into psychotic killers when they are subjected to the mysterious black rain that starts falling on the town.
From very early on the reader is thrown into the nail biting tension and claustrophobic fear that surrounds the town as the story spirals into an almost post-apocalyptic scenario that is not too dissimilar in feel to Laymon's classic novel `The Quake' that came out five years later.
The blood starts spilling from every page, with moments that appear to be lifted straight from any one of Romero's `Dead' series.
A somewhat weak sub-plot is threaded loosely along the novels storyline, that half tries to explain the mysterious turn of events as some sort of voodoo curse that was visited upon the town in the way of revenge for crimes upon a particular family. This half-baked explanation is not necessary to the overall enjoyment and structure of the novel, but does not really detract at all from the tale.
Yet again, Laymon throws in a collection of comic book style colourful characters that are brought to vivid life with their individual loveable and instantly identifiable traits.
The violence is strong yet not over descriptive that allows for the `Dawn of The Dead' style of comic gore. Even with this, the reader is subjected to bursts of suspense throughout that will leave you on the edge of your seat at the end of each and every chapter.
For those who are relatively new to Laymon's work, this is a good novel to approach first, with classic Laymon touches and his non-stop blood drenched action formula that is sure to please almost every fan of horror.
The novel lasts for a total of 410 blood soaked pages, of which all 410 of these will keep your heart racing, as you sit there perched on the edge of your seat.
March 11, 2017
This was a very entertaining read. The action was nonstop as well as the gore. The story was easy to follow. There's no thinking involved in this one just enjoy the ride.
April 23, 2025
Wow, I read this in one sitting. I liked this one. A rain that makes people go into a murderous rage. A cast of great characters. Some really evil teen boys. It all made for an enthralling read. The cause of the black rain seemed a little silly, but I was ready to suspend my disbelief. This is one of Laymon's better ones.
July 21, 2016
This is how books are meant to be. I read 165 pages in one day. Too me that only happens with specific kind of books. I really enjoy it. I couldn't stop reading it. I will make a big review this week.
I read some reviews about racism in this book... What racism? Because it was a black kid killed in the beginnig of the book and his grandfather made a voodoo ritual so everyone start kill one another? Oh please.
An apart now... One day I will stop reading reviews because of stupid things like that. What a heck? "Oh there wasn't a lot of black character" "Oh that serie is all whites?" "Oh the deversity of cultural aspects is not that real" - "Oh the girl on the cover is a bit whiter than the character in the book" - "Ohh my the Whitewash of the writers" - "Oh the black always die first on the horror movie."
I'm sick of reading things like this and they are from WHITE PEOPLE. People are so foccused on Racism that they see racism everyone. They even saw it on Tolkien because all characters were white, the white tower and the orcs are black. Oh my goodness.
Most of horror authors from the seventies or eighties are white. It's normal to them to write White Main Characters. I think some writers are now portraying some black characters because of this intimidation. It's like gay characters. You've got Clive Barker portraying in some novels a gay character and is portrayed with some depth and relevant to the character development and plot (and that's good) and you've got writers portraying a gay character that if it wasn't you wouldn't know the diference. I remember reading Brian Keene's Dead Sea book portraying a black gay character and I thought that being gay didn't matter a little bit to the story. It was irrelevant. And to do that just stop doing it. It's stupid.
Now my rambling got almost out of hand. I am not racist and neither am I homophobic. But I support free speech and free writing. If a writer wants to write a neo-nazi character and portraying it as the king of the block why shouldn't they do it? Some rap singers portray the black culture as superior to the white, that the white are bad people, and most of them just treat women poorly and they win awards at mtv... So? You can't be a white supremacist but you can be a black supremacist?
Oh well the world today... Now for the book.
This book deals with a voodoo curse that befalls in a little town after the death of a black youth. As anyone touches the rain it turns to a bloodcrazy frenzy to kill and rape. We follow four main views that converge in a big plot. One is Buddy and his buddies (the killers of the black kid) the other is Denise a beautiful girl that is taking care of a child (Kara), the other is the fathers of Kara as they are besiege in a restaurant and other is a policeman and the girlfriend of the black kid as they try to survive.
Praises
- The different perspectives. As the action changes each chapter so our interest in it.
- The sex and gore. This is both a criticism and a praise. Each chapter (and there are lot of chapters) are fill with sex references and violent deaths. There is also a rape scene and even more sex. - I get that most humans think of sex every hour. You see a girl, and you start undressing her. You see a naked girl and you want to jump and plumb her. Yes I get that we are sex perverts disguised as humans. We are. Can any out there say that they don't think of sex every hour? Even in awkward situations you think of it. My question is: In a hostile situation that you and a beautiful perfect girl are bounded together by terrorists and they tell you to undress would you get "wood"? I guess we would... But that's me... Well where was I? Yes... Sex and Gore references... There are too many and some of them were a bit overdone. But that's a trademark of Laymon and I was okay with it.
Criticism
- Plotholes - There are some plotholes. Some people when touch by the rain turn bloodcrazy but in the end as one of the group are touch by the black rain they are able to think almost rational and kill the maker of the rain.
- We "see" all girls from this book Naked, partially naked.
- We know that every girl on this book is a greek goddess.
These irrealities bother me. First not all girls are greek goddess but everyone was slim and big breasted girls (like Lara Croft) and they all get naked at some point of the book.
Final Thoughts/Advisable
If you want to read a fast-paced book with sex and gore elements (like chainsaw massacre) go right ahead. If, what you want is a frightful exprience that look someplace else. If won't find it here.
To anyone who wants to read the book be very careful to read it on the train... some sexual references could make you... in a awkward situation.
I read some reviews about racism in this book... What racism? Because it was a black kid killed in the beginnig of the book and his grandfather made a voodoo ritual so everyone start kill one another? Oh please.
An apart now... One day I will stop reading reviews because of stupid things like that. What a heck? "Oh there wasn't a lot of black character" "Oh that serie is all whites?" "Oh the deversity of cultural aspects is not that real" - "Oh the girl on the cover is a bit whiter than the character in the book" - "Ohh my the Whitewash of the writers" - "Oh the black always die first on the horror movie."
I'm sick of reading things like this and they are from WHITE PEOPLE. People are so foccused on Racism that they see racism everyone. They even saw it on Tolkien because all characters were white, the white tower and the orcs are black. Oh my goodness.
Most of horror authors from the seventies or eighties are white. It's normal to them to write White Main Characters. I think some writers are now portraying some black characters because of this intimidation. It's like gay characters. You've got Clive Barker portraying in some novels a gay character and is portrayed with some depth and relevant to the character development and plot (and that's good) and you've got writers portraying a gay character that if it wasn't you wouldn't know the diference. I remember reading Brian Keene's Dead Sea book portraying a black gay character and I thought that being gay didn't matter a little bit to the story. It was irrelevant. And to do that just stop doing it. It's stupid.
Now my rambling got almost out of hand. I am not racist and neither am I homophobic. But I support free speech and free writing. If a writer wants to write a neo-nazi character and portraying it as the king of the block why shouldn't they do it? Some rap singers portray the black culture as superior to the white, that the white are bad people, and most of them just treat women poorly and they win awards at mtv... So? You can't be a white supremacist but you can be a black supremacist?
Oh well the world today... Now for the book.
This book deals with a voodoo curse that befalls in a little town after the death of a black youth. As anyone touches the rain it turns to a bloodcrazy frenzy to kill and rape. We follow four main views that converge in a big plot. One is Buddy and his buddies (the killers of the black kid) the other is Denise a beautiful girl that is taking care of a child (Kara), the other is the fathers of Kara as they are besiege in a restaurant and other is a policeman and the girlfriend of the black kid as they try to survive.
Praises
- The different perspectives. As the action changes each chapter so our interest in it.
- The sex and gore. This is both a criticism and a praise. Each chapter (and there are lot of chapters) are fill with sex references and violent deaths. There is also a rape scene and even more sex. - I get that most humans think of sex every hour. You see a girl, and you start undressing her. You see a naked girl and you want to jump and plumb her. Yes I get that we are sex perverts disguised as humans. We are. Can any out there say that they don't think of sex every hour? Even in awkward situations you think of it. My question is: In a hostile situation that you and a beautiful perfect girl are bounded together by terrorists and they tell you to undress would you get "wood"? I guess we would... But that's me... Well where was I? Yes... Sex and Gore references... There are too many and some of them were a bit overdone. But that's a trademark of Laymon and I was okay with it.
Criticism
- Plotholes - There are some plotholes. Some people when touch by the rain turn bloodcrazy but in the end as one of the group are touch by the black rain they are able to think almost rational and kill the maker of the rain.
- We "see" all girls from this book Naked, partially naked.
- We know that every girl on this book is a greek goddess.
These irrealities bother me. First not all girls are greek goddess but everyone was slim and big breasted girls (like Lara Croft) and they all get naked at some point of the book.
Final Thoughts/Advisable
If you want to read a fast-paced book with sex and gore elements (like chainsaw massacre) go right ahead. If, what you want is a frightful exprience that look someplace else. If won't find it here.
To anyone who wants to read the book be very careful to read it on the train... some sexual references could make you... in a awkward situation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2023
Fast-paced, fantastic Laymon. Lots of blood and gore and great fun.
January 29, 2022
Well...at least there wasn't any outright pedophilia in this one...
One Rainy Night was my second attempt at Laymon and once again, I'm left wondering what the hype is with this guy.
I'll start off by saying that I did enjoy the fast pace and the quickness in which this one got going. It never once let up for the entirety of its 410 pages and Laymon kept me interested with how he kept upping the ante. In addition, it's a very easy read that gets to the point and doesn't muddle itself down with pointless details (for the most part, anyway).
But then we get to crux of the matter and that's Laymon's other penchant: rape and a weird objectification of women's bodies. Like I said, thankfully there isn't any kiddy porn this time around (though there is a disturbing scene in which Laymon spends way, way way too much time talking about a nine year old girl changing her clothes), but that is replaced by gratuitous amounts of rape, both exceptionally explicit and implied. I get the idea and I understand that rape is often used in horror, but in Laymon's mind, it's like he's freaking obsessed with it. One particular scene goes on far too long and gives way too much page length to the after effects of forced intercourse from the woman's POV. This would have been a much more emotional scene had it been implied or at least glossed over quickly. To me, Laymon is getting his rocks off with making sure readers know exactly what a woman feels when a man's baby batter drips in places...
Laymon also gets his jollies by countless (and pointless) mentioning of women's nipples. As a straight man, I can appreciate the anatomy of a woman's breast, but c'mon man, do we need every single moment of this book to have some repeated mention of how a woman's boobs look in a wet shirt, or what the cold weather does to them, or how they look when dripping with water? Apparently Laymon was married and did have a daughter, but if he were my spouse or dad, I'd be embarrassed with his horny, old man fascination with nipples.
I'm still wondering why Laymon is so highly regarded in the horror community. Yes, he wrote an absolute crap load of novels, but does quantity really replace "quality"? I guess it must in the eyes of his fans...
One Rainy Night was my second attempt at Laymon and once again, I'm left wondering what the hype is with this guy.
I'll start off by saying that I did enjoy the fast pace and the quickness in which this one got going. It never once let up for the entirety of its 410 pages and Laymon kept me interested with how he kept upping the ante. In addition, it's a very easy read that gets to the point and doesn't muddle itself down with pointless details (for the most part, anyway).
But then we get to crux of the matter and that's Laymon's other penchant: rape and a weird objectification of women's bodies. Like I said, thankfully there isn't any kiddy porn this time around (though there is a disturbing scene in which Laymon spends way, way way too much time talking about a nine year old girl changing her clothes), but that is replaced by gratuitous amounts of rape, both exceptionally explicit and implied. I get the idea and I understand that rape is often used in horror, but in Laymon's mind, it's like he's freaking obsessed with it. One particular scene goes on far too long and gives way too much page length to the after effects of forced intercourse from the woman's POV. This would have been a much more emotional scene had it been implied or at least glossed over quickly. To me, Laymon is getting his rocks off with making sure readers know exactly what a woman feels when a man's baby batter drips in places...
Laymon also gets his jollies by countless (and pointless) mentioning of women's nipples. As a straight man, I can appreciate the anatomy of a woman's breast, but c'mon man, do we need every single moment of this book to have some repeated mention of how a woman's boobs look in a wet shirt, or what the cold weather does to them, or how they look when dripping with water? Apparently Laymon was married and did have a daughter, but if he were my spouse or dad, I'd be embarrassed with his horny, old man fascination with nipples.
I'm still wondering why Laymon is so highly regarded in the horror community. Yes, he wrote an absolute crap load of novels, but does quantity really replace "quality"? I guess it must in the eyes of his fans...
January 15, 2015
Been a long time since I have read a Laymon book so this was certainly a pleasure to embark upon. As I have said before as far as Laymon's stuff goes, you either like him or you don't. I happen to like most of his stuff. He writes with a dark, dry, almost humorous at times with grotesque/horror elements thrown in.
In this book we start out with a murder of a black teen, he was burned to death. Shortly after the investigation starts, a storm comes to the town of Bixby and with comes a black rain. The rain causes people to go crazy with murder and cannibalism if they are caught out in it. The townspeople of Bixby who have not been affected are forced to fight for their lives.
This is definitely wrote in Laymon style. Lot of gore, sex, murder and the like and done up with imaginative, vivid and grotesque imagery. So much so that the images refuse to leave the mind once the story is over. The scenes in this one really were quite graphic. So keep that in mind if you are planning on reading this.
The characters are like they usually are in a Laymon book, quite simple and non descriptive which really does not allow readers to connect with the characters of any of his books. They are not all that believable or realistic, but it is almost ok because this is really just his style of writing. You come to expect the more you read his stuff. Almost all of his books are plot driven, and the time is put into that instead of the characters.
I thought the premise of this story was pretty awesome and per normal the book flowed very well no matter how over the top it might or might not get. If you like Laymon but have not yet read this one that you really must try it out. This book is not for the faint of heart, so if you don't like horror books then this is probably not a book for you.
In this book we start out with a murder of a black teen, he was burned to death. Shortly after the investigation starts, a storm comes to the town of Bixby and with comes a black rain. The rain causes people to go crazy with murder and cannibalism if they are caught out in it. The townspeople of Bixby who have not been affected are forced to fight for their lives.
This is definitely wrote in Laymon style. Lot of gore, sex, murder and the like and done up with imaginative, vivid and grotesque imagery. So much so that the images refuse to leave the mind once the story is over. The scenes in this one really were quite graphic. So keep that in mind if you are planning on reading this.
The characters are like they usually are in a Laymon book, quite simple and non descriptive which really does not allow readers to connect with the characters of any of his books. They are not all that believable or realistic, but it is almost ok because this is really just his style of writing. You come to expect the more you read his stuff. Almost all of his books are plot driven, and the time is put into that instead of the characters.
I thought the premise of this story was pretty awesome and per normal the book flowed very well no matter how over the top it might or might not get. If you like Laymon but have not yet read this one that you really must try it out. This book is not for the faint of heart, so if you don't like horror books then this is probably not a book for you.
November 2, 2022
Although I have not yet read all of his books, this I would have to say is one of his best. Read it years ago and it still holds up. Laymon knew how to make an uncomfortable situation even worse. That's what I liked about him.
A black rain is falling on the California town of Bixby. Who ever is caught in its downpour is turned into a raving homicidal maniac. There are people holed up in houses and businesses that have to survive until someone figures out how to stop the rain.
A really fast paced novel with loads of blood and as in every book by Laymon, sexual tension at all the wrong times. A classic.
A black rain is falling on the California town of Bixby. Who ever is caught in its downpour is turned into a raving homicidal maniac. There are people holed up in houses and businesses that have to survive until someone figures out how to stop the rain.
A really fast paced novel with loads of blood and as in every book by Laymon, sexual tension at all the wrong times. A classic.
October 11, 2018
I think I bought this book for 50% off when I was a student and, looking back, I would have been better off just throwing my money into the nearest bin, or gluing it to a pigeon. Everything about this book annoyed and enraged me. The rules of the plot are completely arbitrary (black rain turns anyone touched by it into an uncontrolled homicidal maniac, unless they're an important character, in which case it doesn't). The efforts to shock and titillate are about as sophisticated as a 4 piece jigsaw, with [SPOILERS] characters having sex in the middle of a pitched battle, seemingly because they can, and a frankly appalling rape scene very early on, where afterwards the female victim just cleans herself up and adopts an 'Ooh, you cad!' attitude towards her attacker, like he'd just swindled her in a street-side card game. Made me wonder if the author had ever spoken to a women in any context in his life before writing this.
Might be my own inner-pedant or my own distaste for the book at this point, but the reveal really annoyed me, where it turns out [HUGE SPOILER] that the rain is caused by a local old black man (grandfather of what seems to be the only other black character in the book, who, conforming to cliche, is killed right at the start) who happens to be a voodoo priest (because of course) and conjures up this murderous-rain via some ritual sacrifice which involves burning a Bible, that well known Voodoo text.
Seriously, avoid. It's like something written by someone suffering severe concussion after being hit by a Stephen King compilation of while watching Game of Thrones during a thunderstorm. Although that actually sounds way better than this book actually is.
Might be my own inner-pedant or my own distaste for the book at this point, but the reveal really annoyed me, where it turns out [HUGE SPOILER] that the rain is caused by a local old black man (grandfather of what seems to be the only other black character in the book, who, conforming to cliche, is killed right at the start) who happens to be a voodoo priest (because of course) and conjures up this murderous-rain via some ritual sacrifice which involves burning a Bible, that well known Voodoo text.
Seriously, avoid. It's like something written by someone suffering severe concussion after being hit by a Stephen King compilation of while watching Game of Thrones during a thunderstorm. Although that actually sounds way better than this book actually is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2013
One Rainy Night is probably the most brutally and consistently violent Richard Laymon title I've read to date, and if you are familiar with this author, you understand that that is really saying something. This book reads like the ultimate b-horror movie (in a good way). There are more bizarre and gruesome deaths than you can shake a (rain)stick at, as well as quite a few genuinely tense and frightening moments. Of course, Laymon's trademark lighthearted sense of humor in the face even the more grotesque scenes is also present throughout. The only thing preventing me from giving a 5 star rating was that the story was evenly split up between four separate groups of characters who separately navigate the storm of black rain that besieges Bixby. While the constant jumping around made for a fast-paced story and much higher body count, I had trouble caring as much about the characters as I have with my favorite of Laymon's books.
May 30, 2015
Durísimo relato apocalíptico con zombis que no son zombis (cómo le gustan a Laymon estos detalles...) y una fiebre asesina que se propaga "como el agua" por un típico pueblo yanqui. Ya lo dice el buen y viejo refrán, "pueblo chico, infierno grande". Y qué infierno se monta este hombre, madre mía.
Situaciones descabelladas a más no poder que, si en un primer momento pueden echarte atrás, te recomiendo que sigas leyendo. Todo va cobrando un sentido aterrador y desquiciado a medida que Laymon une con maestría las líneas narrativas.
Lo dicho, uno de esos escritores, como Graham Masterton, atípicos, que prácticamente escriben horror y splatterpunk como una excusa a la pornografía más barata, y para quienes "todo hueco es trinchera", pero que a la hora de proporcionar historias bien escritas y con más que aceptables finales, nunca fallan. Y eso para mí es suficiente.
Situaciones descabelladas a más no poder que, si en un primer momento pueden echarte atrás, te recomiendo que sigas leyendo. Todo va cobrando un sentido aterrador y desquiciado a medida que Laymon une con maestría las líneas narrativas.
Lo dicho, uno de esos escritores, como Graham Masterton, atípicos, que prácticamente escriben horror y splatterpunk como una excusa a la pornografía más barata, y para quienes "todo hueco es trinchera", pero que a la hora de proporcionar historias bien escritas y con más que aceptables finales, nunca fallan. Y eso para mí es suficiente.
March 5, 2008
I read this book years ago, sneaking it off my mum's book shelf so she didn't know I was reading it - I think i was about 13/14. I found it fasinating that rain could change it substance and consistence like it does in the books and how this rain changed the behaviour of the people it touched. I thought it was really good at the time and still do, the reason I gave it 4 stars is because I think that at the age of 13/14 I could actually believe something like this happening - well we already have acid rain why not so one step further but I'm old and wise (I like to believe so lol)and its lost its a appeal slightly. Maybe like some of Laymon's other books I need to re-read it to find the love for it again.
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