Richard Laymon Fans discussion

Ok, I lived and breathed Laymon when I discovered his books. Ever since, there has been such a big hole in my reading..... I really miss him, no actually, I really miss his amazingly inventive, compulsive, unique books. Has anyone got any suggestions for authors who might even touch where Laymon went?? Reading has not been the same for me since I read all his books, I know it sounds sad, I will never stop reading, but I have never been as happy to go to bed to start reading since I finished my last Laymon. Need the joy back. Any suggestions???

I know what you mean. I still have some of his books left to read, but the list is dwindling. And it still makes me sad to think that there will never be any new books by him. But on the positive side, at least he was very prolific when he was alive and writing! And like you, I am always looking for the next Richard Laymon (as if there could be one, but I'm always hoping)!

As for other authors, maybe Brian Keene would be a good choice if you haven't read anything by him. I don't like his books quite as much as Laymon's, but they are all pretty quick reads and pretty fun. Some of Bentley Little's are good, but some don't quite do it for me - if you read one of his, I would suggest The Mailman - I loved that book! Others that you may like: Edward Lee, Gord Rollo, Ed Gorman (he doesn't write too many horror books, but he's still good). If I think of any more, I will be sure to add to the list!

Sorry for my long post - good luck!

Okay, I thought of some more:

Early Dean Koontz (The Face of Fear, Shattered, Darkfall, Demon Seed, The Funhouse are some of my favorites), J.F. Gonzalez, Richard Matheson, Bryan Smith, Wrath James White, John Saul (at least some of them - I really liked Creature). Another book that I liked a lot was called The Devouring by Douglas Hawk. I think it's out of print, and I don't think he's written much else, but I thought it was a pretty good, action packed read.

You probably already read a lot of these things, but maybe there's one or two items for you to check out!

Check out Douglas Clegg. He writes some pretty good stuff. Like someone else said, John Saul has some pretty good stuff. Robert McCammon also has some good stuff - Boy's Life is probably the best book I've ever read.

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions, I will certainly have a look at the suggested books, in the meantime, the search for a new Laymon like author will go on lol.

Julie - In terms of "touching" Laymon's depth in writing, I suggest Jack Ketchum. His work is extremely atmospheric and contains memorable, compelling characters. Like others, I've tried Brain Keene, Bentley Little, (Dean Koontz; parenthetical for a reason), Edward Lee, John Saul, and so on, but the sad thruth remains: No one seems to be able to go where Laymon had gone, the way he did it.

By the way, have you pre-ordered your copy of In Laymon's Terms? The anthology contains a lot of Laymon's unpublished and early work (e.g. college poems), and it releases in August, I believe. Amazon has it for $26.50 with free shipping.

Cheers!

I hope you enjoy reading Mr Gerlach’s Rage, it’s a tame introduction into his wild wild
world of the unimaginable …
If you check out his website you will find a video trailer for another of his novels, Lake Mountain - a story that contains acts so extreme I am still shaking my head, literally, upon reflection.
Even so, I couldn’t put the book down until the end.
Steve Gerlach built Richard Laymon’s website; they were good friends as well as student and mentor. Richard Laymon Kills.
http://www.ains.com.au/~gerlach/rlaym...
His books are expensive, but the resale value is always good.
I just received a copy of Once upon a Halloween, which will be savoured.

Hi Hairy Man,

Thanks for your recommendation - I did find Rage very tame, but I loved the main character, was disappointed that he wasn't more of a psycho - what does that make me????? lol. Once a Laymon fan, nothing else compares. I will see if I can get Lake Mountain, your recommendation sounds intreging! Thank you again.

Wow, have just done a search for Steve Gerlach's books, you weren't wrong when you said they were expensive, a bit out of my price range at the moment, but I think I will be listing 'Rage' on a better start price than I would of done before doing that search. I got Rage in a small joblot. Let me know how Lake Mountain goes please, I am very jealous!

Ok, I was just being polite – the more extreme the better…
(I think it’s a side effect from reading Richard Laymon. )
Although for me, like Laymon stories, there must be believable characters and realistic plots.
Meaningless violence and erotica is such a bore, but RL used it only when necessary and put you right there in the thick of it, as does Lake Mountain, which goes a little like the synopsis on my read/review page. Unfortunately there is a price to pay for wanting more of a psycho.

I was introduced to Laymon a few months ago when I bought "The Woods are Dark" for my bf (he loves horror), and after he read it, I dove in and have been a fan since :)

I was sad to learn on here (a few weeks ago) that he passed away a few years back. I am already in mourning grabbing every book of his I find :(

Hi and welcome Kasandra, I envy you as you have only read one of Laymon's books and you have so much to discover. Enjoy and make the most of it, you lucky thing!!

Selma wrote: "You should check out books by Jack Ketchum and Edward Lee...I really do miss Richard Laymon...especially since they are going to stop selling his books in 2011...so now Im buying 7 books at once......"

They are gonna stop selling his books in 2011??? :*(
boo-hoo-hoo (<-- my lame attempt at crying)

Why are they stopping selling his books?

Hi there, not to worry there's no stopping his books although there is a misleading site which suggests so.
I have just loaned a book, ''tourniquet heart, edited by christopher c. teague'', from my local library which has various erotic horror style short stories.
There's a few authors worth trying...
For the record, Jack Ketchum is awesome.
Excert form RLK website:
Leisure Confirms Laymon Releases until 2011!
Don D'Auria at Leisure Books has been kind enough to send us the Laymon release schedule for the next few years. Keep in mind this schedule can possibly change, but as for the moment, here's what's coming to US bookstores through Leisure in the next few years:
Nov 08: Beware
Mar 09: Dark Mountain
Sep 09: Flesh
Mar 10: Friday Night in Beast House (including THE WILDS)
Sep 10: Funland
Mar 11: Quake

Hi, I have just watched the film version of Richard Laymon's 'In the Dark"
It is fantastic and true to the book. I can understand why Richard Laymon liked it so much.
The movie is shot in black and white but because of its amateurism and low budget the film comes across more realistic than you would expect. It's a must.
HM.

I don't want to compare him to Richard Laymon, because it just seems like an unfair thing to do, but I just finished reading Jeff Strand's PRESSURE, and I thought it was really fantastic! I read it in just two days, and I just couldn't stop reading the damn thing. In my opinion, it came about as close to Laymon as anything else I've read. It was super-fast paced, it was nice and violent, and it even had a little humor. I thought it was great, and would definitely recommend it to any Laymon fans out there!

Horror story - I stopped at the local book store a while back to see if they had any "new" RL books on the shelf. (Of course I mean the ones I didn't have yet) None! None whatsoever and I turned to the clerk and asked if they moved them and they shrugged. What a choke to the air supply.

There's a short handful I have not read of his that I look forward to but in the meantime I still savour re-reading.

I enjoy Stephen King otherwise and agree with one review given to Laymon: "Stephen King without a conscience"
- Dan Marlowe.

I would recommend Amazon or eBay for those tough to find laymon books.

I love Laymon too. It is true that no one writes like him. I too think Jack Ketchum has the similar sort of style, although I've only read two of his books. Off Season has similarities with Laymon's Woods are Dark. I'd recommend that one

I'm from England and I discovered Graham Masterton long before RL, and it's GM who led me there. GM isn't like RL, but he's probably about in the same ball park. Sadly, there's no one anything like RL, but like others I've enjoyed Brian Keene, Jack Ketchum and Jeff Strand for their "No Fear" attitude.

Joe, your Englishness reminds me of something. Shaun Hutson. He was suggested as a writer not unlike Laymon, so I gave him a shot. I can see why people liken the two, but unfortunately, there really will only be one Laymon... I thought Shaun Hutson bore mention on this post though. Worth a shot for those looking for another semi-Laymonesque author.

FWIW, I have four to-read shelves amongst which I rotate: non-horror, non-fiction, b-grade horror, and quality horror (Laymon, Lee, Keene, etc.) After reading two Hutson novels, I moved him confidently onto the quality shelf.

Hi Danny, I've had Slugs by Shaun Hutson in paperback for a while now but haven't got round to it yet - mainly because I've been using my Kindle. I liked the sound of him and bought Slugs to check him out, I guess I need to get round to reading it. I'd be interested to know what's on your b-grade shelf?

Hutson is kind of like a British Laymon, but I don't think he's as good. I don't mean any disrespect to him because he is a hell of a writer, just not quite in Laymon's league. In my opinion the best Hutson book is Body Count. If you like the idea of killer dogs being sawn in half with chainsaws and testicles being popped with nailguns then it'll be right up your street! One of the most moreish books I've read. Hybrid, Necessary Evil, Erebus and Heathen were all great too.

There's certainly no-one quite like Laymon! Thanks for the quick Hutson guide... I guess the title "Body Count" says it all.

try Blake crouch. or jack killborn aka J.A.Konrath

No bother, Joe. Laymon's a true one off. Jimi, I'm about halfway through Endurance at the minute. It's well creepy, kinda like Hills have eyes meets Texas Chainsaw. Afraid was good too

orgint was a kool lisen. to on audible lol

Edward Lee Flesh Gothic. was good he don't hold back in any of his books Inferno. the same good picture of hell. The snowman was ok

I love his books to I'm trying to as them ask to my library, no one writes like him :-(

Joe, first off, I am a paperback junkie - I collect in case there is some apocalypse and I am homebound for, say, ten years. Each of my to read shelves may have a hundred books... The b-grade shelf has a few experimentals and then some Leisure Horror writers I have yet to read, and I list:

Gerard Houarner
R. Patrick Gates
John Shirley
Eric Enck
Gary Braunbeck
Michael Liamo
Tom Piccirillo

To be honest there are a bunch more, but they are the one-off Leisure-style paperbacks for whose authors I can honestly say I can't vouch. There are a few in there I love, but am not willing to call it "quality" at this point (cf. J. F. Gonzalez, Tim Waggoner, Bryan Smith)

Mind you, Bryan Smith writes a mean book! Depraved was one of my favorites, but I will not put him on my Laymon shelf!

I'm rereading Flesh It gets beter the second. time around. I' written A sci.horror book soon to be out. after edited .Had a ball doing it if it sells or not. I'm working on my second as well. Laymon is my influence time. after time

Danny wrote: "Joe, first off, I am a paperback junkie - I collect in case there is some apocalypse and I am homebound for, say, ten years. Each of my to read shelves may have a hundred books... The b-grade shel..."
Interesting list Danny, pretty sure I haven't read any of them!

I had a books from that horror book .Tad was vary good&bad the bad one was about a Bilbo rodeo clown. and sum old vampire that had to see threw a rats eye's and that was the only good part ....lol

Leisure book club good ones many

I would recommend;

Edward Lee
Gary Braunbeck

But, I agree with everyone here...Laymon was a master. I am in the process of reading "Flesh" and loving every moment.

did Flesh seem like someone added. to it around midway stuff like he said and just different.

Flesh is one of his best. Great stuff!

Just finished "Flesh". It was good up till the end. It seemed Laymon dragged it as far as he could and was "told" that he had to finish it and he came up with an idea to stop right where he did. One of the main characters...Jake...being a cop, was the most dense officer I have ever read about. I just wanted to slap him along side the head to make him wake up...hehe.

I'm planning on re-reading a lot of his books this year, at the moment I'm reading 'The Travelling Vampire Show'.

I'm loving the Ed Lee books I've read so far so agree with Kevin's recommendation.

J.T. Savage Moonweavers

I'm reading Darkness Tell Us And

I have just started reading Kristopher Rufty, and he is by far the closest to Lamon that I've come across. I've read A Dark Autumn and Last One Alive so far. I'm getting ready to delve into PillowFace.
A Dark Autumn is a great introduction to his books, and Last One Alive scared the jeepers out of me.
He's an excellent writer.

hairy man!

Can you tell me name of film in the dark?
or is it actually called in the dark, and year released.
really wanna watch it.
try wolf hunt by jeff strand quality read.
wish there were more like laymon.

Try this, it has one of my short stories in. Some cool dark stories. Laymon is a huge inspiration on my writing

So I to am one that just discovered him and have read Come out tonight i really loved it and cannot wait to read the others

Laymon inspired me to try my hand at writing, he's also the reason I got excited about reading. I didn't personally care for Jack Ketchum, I don't think his stories are as well writen. I found that Brian Keene really helps fill the void that Laymon left behind. Edward Lee, isn't the same type of writer as Laymon, but he has an interesting style none the less.

so james
would you recommend brian keene?

Scotty wrote: "so james
would you recommend brian keene?"
Hi Scotty, I'm a big Laymon fan and I would definitely recommend Brian Keene. He's not Laymon but he's in the same ball park. Unlike James, I love Jack Ketchum and personally would say his books are well written... there's no accounting for taste. Off Season and Offspring by Ketchum are in-your-face horror, whereas The Girl Next Door is heart wrenching evil nastiness at its best. Ketchum is a completely different style to Laymon, but if you like reading stories without boundaries you should enjoy Ketchum.

Joe wrote: "Scotty wrote: "so james
would you recommend brian keene?"
Hi Scotty, I'm a big Laymon fan and I would definitely recommend Brian Keene. He's not Laymon but he's in the same ball park. Unlike James,..."

Nicely put, Joe. I love Ketchum. His writing style is eloquent at some times, and at others, raw and in your face. The Girl Next Door was a truly horrific read. Same with Off Season. The Crossings was a western that could have been a movie by Sam Peckinpah. Probably misspelled his name, but you get my meaning. Truly disturbing. I have only read Kill Whitey by Keene, but that did have a certain Laymon quality to it.