Customer Reviews

The Traveling Vampire Show

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(39)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

Laymon's latest, and possibly final, book was my first Richard Laymon novel. I loved it.

At its core, 'The Traveling Vampire Show' is a coming-of-age novel. It follows three teenagers, protagonist Dwight, abused teenage girl Slim, and the annoying, adolescent Rusty. Dwight, Slim, and Rusty set a goal of seeing the Traveling Vampire Show when it comes to town. Although the entirety of the book takes place over one day, the three teenagers face many adversities that they must overcome. By the end of the novel the protagonist is considerably older, wiser, and much more experienced in life than he was at the beginning.

I was disappointed when I started this book when I realized that it was not going to have a considerable vampire presence. But after I started reading I was drawn into the characters. Laymon's writing fascinated me, so much so that I read 400 pages in one sitting. I could not put the book down. Mesmerizing.

By the time the final climactic scene rolled around, I knew that I had to finish the book, no matter how late it was (1:00 AM). The final scene makes it all worthwhile, wrapping up the entire novel with great closure. Laymon writes an elegant book. His characters learn and grow (something that all too often is lost in modern literature). The characters are very real and lifelike. This was one I was sad to put down.

This isn't a typical horror novel. This is a novel. I was touched by the characters. I was elated by their discoveries and dismayed by heartache. My words can't do justice to this novel. Highly recommended.

Richard Laymon is one of those writers that you either have to love or hate. There really is no middle ground when it comes to a book like The Traveling Vampire Show, or any of Laymon's books. When there is this much graphic violence and vivid sexuality within any novel, a bunch of readers are going to be turned off immediately. Granted, most avid horror readers will easily be able to handle the material within a Laymon novel, but some leisurely readers who just "heard he's good" could be getting themselves into something that they really have no idea about. The Traveling Vampire Show fits directly into that category. A graphic, unflinching story about three best friends, and their journey over the course of one hot summer day to get in to see the Traveling Vampire Show, and the main attraction, the gorgeous, beguiling, and lethal Valeria.

The story begins fairly peacefully, with the three friends, Slim, Rusty, and Dwight, uniting in the early morning to journey out to Janks Field to try and catch a glimpse of Valeria during the set up. As the trio journeys out to the field, we are treated to a creepy backstory about Janks field, and why it is so reviled by the community. Once the gang gets to the field, only to find it abandoned, they are attacked by a lethal dog, and must take refuge atop the snack stand. This is just the first of many strange, creepy events that will happen to the teens throughout the course of a single day. As the day grows old, and the show nears, Laymon succeeds in building an extremely creepy atmosphere to build up everything to an insane climax at the show, when, as any intelligent reader would know, all hell breaks loose.

The different thing about this novel from other Laymon efforts is the total focus throughout the pages to develop and grow the main characters. Specifically, Dwight and Slim, the two best friends who start to become really close throughout the events of the day. Due to the focus on the relationship aspect, we don't get much Laymon violence throughout the meat of the book, but we instead get a large amount of awkward, playful sexual scenes between Dwight and Slim. But that is what makes this book so great. By the time the show actually begins, the whole novel has been building up the characters so we actually care for all of them, and it has been building up the tension so we are looking forward to the Traveling Vampire Show almost as much as the three friends who are trekking through the woods to see it.

What I thought was going to be a classic Laymon novel that gets started from page 1 and doesn't stop until the end, turned out to be a very well-written coming of age tale about love and friendship between two best friends of the opposite sex, who have always been limited in their relationship with each other, due to whatever extraneous reasons. Dwight and Slim are the characters who carry the entire novel. You are rooting for them to get together from basically the first conversation you witness between them, and when they finally start to "explore" with each other, you continue to root for them. Dwight and Slim, and their relationship, are the anchors for the story and all other characters. A few minor characters come into play along the way, such as an annoying younger sister, or a beautiful, troublemaking sister-in-law. But these characters are just there for backup to the main story of Dwight and Slim. Whenever there is a conversation or argument going on, somehow Laymon can completely convey through his writing when a certain two characters are really just communicating to each other through the whole group.

After all this talk of emotion, love, and relationships, I would say it is about time to get down to the nitty gritty of a Laymon novel: the violence! And, oh man, when the Traveling Vampire Show opens, the book turns completely insane. Lots of blood, lots of nakedness, arrows in the eye, people being speared, blood-sucking, people being run over by a hearse. Anything you could possibly want, it's all here, and in classic Laymon style, he holds absolutely nothing back. If you think something terrible is about to happen, it absolutely is.

The reason I love this book by Richard Laymon so much more than a lot of his others is the fact that it is a perfect combo of all of his best abilities. He is great at sex and violence, and we all know that. But he is also great at writing dialogue, and, if he really wants to, developing good characters. So, in effect, this is the perfect Richard Laymon book. Great characters, great dialogue, great development of characters, and, of course, tons of violence and sex. What else could you possibly want or expect from a Richard Laymon novel? Come on!

If you're a fan of the coming-of-age horror novel, if you liked Stephen King's "It," Robert McCammon's "Boy's Life," or Dan Simmons' "Summer of Night," you've got to read this book.

This is the second book I've ever read by Richard Laymon (I read "Night Show" years ago), but after this one, I'm going to have to seek out some more of his books. It's too bad he passed away this year and won't be giving us anymore really good books like "The Traveling Vampire Show".

TVS is not a perfect book. I would agree with some parts of the negative reviews on this page. Some of the characters, especially the villains, could have used some more fleshing out, but there's too much that's good about this novel not to give it five stars. I like to try to read at least one good "summer" horror novel each year, and this one is certainly it for 2001.

The main characters, especially Slim and Dwight, are interesting and emotionally involving. Best of all, Laymon really succeeds at creating an imaginative world in this novel that you just don't want to leave.

I remember lying in my bed for hours on end each summer morning after waking up the year Stephen King's "It" came out, when I was thirteen. The book was so good, I didn't want to do anything but read all day. I felt some of that again with this book.

It's true that Laymon's not as poetic as Bradbury, as consistently good as King, or as emotionally moving as McCammon, but there are elements of all of these styles mixed together in this novel. And that makes for a pretty good concoction, in my book.

This was the second Laymon novel I have read, and it is certainly much better than Resurrection Dreams. The story takes place in 1963 and involves 3 young friends Dwight, Rusty and Slim(who happens to be a girl) The story is mainly about their quest to go see the Traveling Vampire Show and the series of strange events that lead up to it. Typical Laymon sprinklings of sex are found throughout with the ever horny Dwight lusting after Slim and his sister in law Lee. Having a lusty vampire Valeria doesn't help either. Most of the story is a coming of age tale, with the horror being racheted up in the final 50 pages or so. The story was interesting and kept me wanting to read just one more chapter before going to bed. Based on this book, I will be picking up more Laymon novels.

I'm not ordinarily that big a fan of Laymon, but this is a great book that exceeds its genre. While it is a horror novel, it is far more a coming of age story focusing on a small number of teenage characters in 1963. The entire story takes place in a single day and night in August, which turns out to be one of those critical days in the characters' maturation - not to mention a wild and hairy ride, not only for them, but many others in their town before it's out.

Laymon ordinarily turns on too much gore for the average reader, but here he shows admirable restraint - at least, until the nail-biting finale. The majority of the book simply chronicles the small-town daily existence of three schoolfriends, and some of their family and acquaintances, into whose mundane lives arrives The Traveling Vampire Show. The three are underage, and the mere fact that The Traveling Vampire Show is for adults only makes it all the more a siren's call to them: its central attraction is "Valeria," the one - the only - living vampire in the world; who, needless to say, doesn't wear much, and promises to take off more.

Laymon's style is humorous and lively, and quite engaging. The only flaw with the book is that it wraps-up too quickly, not tying all the various story strands together that it has brought into play. It could have used an epilogue. There are some fascinating characters developed who simply disappear at the end of the story, aren't mentioned again, or who undergo a dramatic change that is dealt with in a mere sentence, when more space than that is really required for full satisfaction.

Still, this is a wonderful roller-coaster ride of a book, with universal appeal in its treatment of the central characters.

I suppose "The Traveling Vampire Show" could be called a coming-of-age story, however it's a very different kind of coming-of-age story. Mr. Laymon has peopled the book with three very horny teenagers. There's shy, sixteen-year-old Dwight, chubby Rusty and the object of the boy's obsession-the cute, smart, independent tomboy Slim (real name Francis), who wields arrows and knives like a pro.

One hot August morning in1963, while Dwight's out mowing the lawn, Rusty and Slim come by with one of the fliers that has been put up all over their little town of Grandville. The flyer advertises a one-night-only performance and Rusty is eager as all get out to get a gander at the featured attraction. Valeria is billed as a gorgeous, bona fide vampire, who'll stalk volunteers from the audience and feast on their blood.

However, they are sixteen and you must be at least eighteen to be admitted to the midnight show. Dwight's attractive young sister-in-law Lee agrees to buy them tickets and accompany them. Since they have the day free, our horny teenagers decide to hike out to Jank's Field where the show will be held and try to get a peek at Valeria.

Jank's Field is strictly off limits to the threesome. It's a barren, flat field which becomes horribly hot and dangerous in the summer. It's littered with glass, jagged rocks and snake holes. It was the burial ground for a serial killer. It was the scene of a violent riot following a boxing match. It's a breeding ground for bullies. And it's chock-a-block full of feral animals.

The teens have several horrific encounters in the field, including a run in with a bully who Slim disables with her bow, a meeting with an evil dog and a run in with kidnapping twins in a black Cadillac. By the novel's end, Slim's body count is at least three, and she wounds several others.

This is a humorous but sad, chilling but sensitive story that will remind you of what it was like to be young and horny. Not many writer's would tackle something like this, but then again, the late Richard Laymon was not like any other writer. He was often quirky, always scary and usually strayed where others fear to tread. He was a wonderful writer and this is a super book. Did I say it was scary?

To keep it brief, this is Laymon's best book...so far. The characterizations--particularly the relationship between Dwight and Slim--are the author's most mature efforts yet. But don't let that comment fool you into thinking good ol' Richard has slowed down. This novel still packs the trademark Laymon roller-coaster-ride wallop. And for those who truly love books, the CD version of this novel is beautiful.

A treat for Laymon virgins or long-time fans.

Some minor spoilers...

I did enjoy this novel. It was a quick read, never boring, with fully developed characters. I did have a problem with the book though when I was about half way into it. I truly felt that the kids in this book (15 years old) were sexually exploited and it did disturb me somewhat. I'm 23 years old and I know teenagers younger than that are sexually active but it may have been the timeframe of the novel which was supposedly good natured and wholesome that bothered me. I believe it just was not necessary and tainted my opinion of the characters. Rusty for instance was a great character. He's the friend all guys have who is annoying and always getting you into trouble but he remains one of your best friends. At the end of the book where he rapes the vampire, Valeria, was disgusting and tasteless. And a brief moment where he watches his sister in a perverse way slip her shoes on, with her legs open, was totally unnessecary. It did nothing to help the plot. Another instance had the character of Lee fighting Valeria and at the same time having her clothes torn off. What was the point? There wasn't one. It seemed Laymon was just getting his sexually kicks writing this kind of stuff. The Traveling Vampire Show was enjoyable despite what I have mentioned, however. There are some memorable light-hearted moments and it stands alone as a coming of age drama, but not as a horror novel.

THE TRAVELING VAMPIRE SHOW. Come and see - the one and only known VAMPIRE in captivity. - VALERIA - Gorgeous! Beguiling! Lethal!

This is a coming of age story. The entire story unfolds over the course of one day, and one long night. Three local teenagers desire nothing more than to see, `The Traveling Vampire Show.'

Richard Laymon writes with a fluid sense of ease, his prose flow effortlessly allowing the reader to feel comfortable within the world of his text. This allows for a quick and satisfying read. The character development is engrossing and charming. You learn to hate, as well as love the people you meet as the day slowly shifts to night. The subtle tension the author creates as the day proceeds is top-notch, but the payoff awaits the reader in the final chapters.

I have only read one other coming of age story that surpasses this one, "Boy's Life" by Robert McCammon. In my opinion, that really say's something about this book. For those of you who have read "Boy's Life" you'll definitely enjoy, The Traveling Vampire Show'

The Traveling Vampire Show marked my third trip into Laymon Country, a trip I swore I would never make after my second venture, The Cellar, but I was urged to pick this up by a friend because it was unlike any of his others. Reluctantly, I agreed to give it a try. Having finished it, I have decided to burn my passport and not return.

When the novel opens, we are introduced to Dwight, the sixteen-year-old narrator of the story (or maybe he's seventeen -- the fact that I can't remember is a clear indicator of how much of an impression this book made on me), and his pals, the slightly overweight Rusty and tom-boy Slim. It becomes evident early on that Dwight has the hots for Slim, but he isn't confident enough to do anything about it. Based on his thoughts early on in the story, you can imagine he spends quite a bit of his time masturbating or taking cold showers, but I'll come back to this.

Now, where was I? Oh yes, Dwight is mowing the lawn and his pals persuade him to take a break. Rusty has something he wants him to see. He produces a flier for The Traveling Vampire Show, which boasts to have a real-live vampire in captivity. The show is open for one night only, with an age restriction of 18+. Knowing they will never be allowed in, they decided to sneak over to Janks Field with the hopes of catching the showing setting up for that night's performance. None of them truly believe the vampire is real, but she is described as gorgeous and beguiling, so Rusty is hoping to get to see her. It takes some doing to persuade Dwight, but he finally gives in and they head off on their adventure.

The trio arrive at Janks Field before the Traveling Vampire Show arrives, so they plan on hiding in the surrounding woods until they show up. Their plans are foiled when they are attacked by a stray dog. They tack shelter a-top an abandoned snack stand, where they discuss how they are going to get away from the dog. Dwight comes up with a plan, and hopes nobody holds it against him if he kills the dog. He plans on jumping from the roof onto the animal, thereby crushing it and making the grounds safe for his friends. He missed, and while his friends create a diversion, drawing the animal's attention away from Dwight, the teen hightails it out of there with the promise of coming back with help.

By the time he returns in the company of his sister-in-law, they find the show has arrived and the troupe is on the process of setting up. There is, however, no sign of his friends. He fears the worst, thinking they fell victim to foul play at the hands of the workmen setting up the show. His sister-in-law manages to snag four tickets for the show after some innocent flirtation with the boss man. With nothing left to go on, they return home to find Rusty waiting for them. He confesses that he and Slim left just as they show was arriving, and Slim went on home to change her clothes. When they head on over to Slim's house, they find she is not at home, and they automatically jump to the conclusion that members of The Traveling Vampire Show have kidnapped her. When she finally turns up, she tells them of the atrocity she witnessed -- the Vampire troupe killed the stray, stabbed it to death with long spears before placing it in the back of a hearse. This kind of puts a damper on their desire to see the show -- well, Rusty still wants to see the beautiful, beguiling vampire. Dwight and Slim? They really don't want to go, but they decided to let Lee, Dwight's sister-in-law, have the deciding vote after they tell her everything.

When they get to Lee's house, they find she is missing. Her car is still in the driveway, her purse still on the counter. The jump to the conclusion that the Traveling Vampire troupe kidnapped her. After all, she paid for the tickets with a check, and the check had her address on it.

The rest of the book is more of the same, with the kids letting their overactive imaginations run away, leading them to jump to the wrong conclusions. By they time they get to the show, the book is more than three-quarters done. The action that takes place at the show is decent, but not realistic. Granted, men wish to show off for their friends and girlfriends, but when the first person is carried out in a bloody mess, that should be enough to make them think twice before getting into the cage with the vampire. It's not even enough to stop Rusty, who is thinking with his little head. The minute he saw the vampire strip down to nothing in the cage, he just knew he was going to volunteer. He's hoping for a cheap thrill, a few quick gropes, maybe more.

Which leads me to one of the problems I had with this book, and the problem I have with Richard Laymon in general. His books seem to be targeted for a horny teen male audience. A chapter doesn't go by that Dwight isn't thinking about sex; every time he sees Slim, he needs to describe the clothes she is wearing, with emphasis on the black bathing suit top under her white t-shirt, or the absence of a top beneath the t-shirt, which gets him hard. In one scene, he has actually suffered a premature ejaculation because he and Slim kissed. By the time the book is over, you kind of feel sorry for the kid because you know he's just got to have a major case of blue balls. Even when driving with is sister-in-law, he knows he shouldn't, but he keeps trying to catch peeks of her breasts through the gap in her blouse. These are actions I expect from curious 10 and 11 year old kids, not 16 year olds. A preoccupation with sex seems to take priority over realistic responses to certain situations. Add to this they way they are always jumping to the wrong conclusions, I get the feeling I'm dealing with young kids, not teenagers.

The second problem I had with the book is the absence of The Traveling Vampire Show. We don't get to the show until the final quarter of the book, and by that point I don't care any more. The actions leading up to the show are drawn out and unrealistic. I know horror fiction in itself is unrealistic, and the ability to suspend your disbelief is crucial. This is the third Laymon book I have read, and in each instance, I didn't just suspend my disbelief, I crumpled it up like a used tissue and flushed it down the toilet. Half way through the book, I stopped caring what happened to the characters. Their stupidity had me hoping they would all meet some gruesome ending.

The sad thing is, reading the jacket copy, the books actually sound like they might be good. When I picked up The Cellar, I thought it was an awesome idea. And it was. It was just poorly executed to the point where I was tempted to put it down. When the woman is captured by the creatures, I actually smiled, much the way I smiled when Rusty met his fate.

I know Laymon has a following and there are readers out there who praise him to high heaven. I'm not one of them. People who criticize Laymon are often said to be missing the point by those who hold him up on a pedestal. Maybe I am missing the point, but that isn't enough to tempt me to venture into another Laymon novel in search of that revelation. As I close the book on The Traveling Vampire Show, I am burning my passport, never to return to Laymon Country.