Product Description

On a hot August morning in 1963, the rural town of Grandville is covered with fliers announcing the coming of something extraordinary - a one-night-only performance of The Travelling Vampire Show, featuring Valeria, the only known vampire in captivity. For three local teenagers, it’s a show they don’t want to miss. The trouble is, the show starts at midnight and they’re supposed to be home by then. And in any case, Janks Field, where the show will take place, has been declared off-limits because of its own sinister history. But they can’t just sit at home and let Valeria do her thing without them, can they?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #146681 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
'A wickedly involving story...a horror tale that's not only emotionally true but also scary and, above all, fun'

Review
'A wickedly involving story...a horror tale that's not only emotionally true but also scary and, above all, fun' (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY )

'If you are not already well acquainted with Richard Laymon, get to know him now. This is an enticing tale of three youngsters in a small American town' (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS )

'This gloriously inventive piece is probably Laymon's best book yet: dipping into the poetic vein of Ray Bradbury was clearly a vitalising exercise for him, and this is sheerly enjoyable... The prose here is rich and inventive, the atmosphere and scene-setting handled with real aplomb' (NEWS INTERNATIONAL )

'Set in a sleepy American town in the summer of 1963, this rites of passage novel recreates the long, stifling days - and nights filled with possibilities - that distinguish the teenage years' (BELFAST TELEGRAPH )

About the Author
Richard Laymon has an MA in English Literature from Loyola University, LA. After a variety of jobs, he now works full-time as a writer and lives with his wife and daughter.

Customer Reviews

masterpiece!
The story is set in a sleepy American town in 1963, and when Dwight, Slim, and Rusty discover the travelling vampire show is in town for one night only they cant resist the temptation of getting a sneak peak at the "beguiling" Valeria the vampire on display and the only captured vampire in the world.It is here that the kids troubles really start! strange events start to happen all over town on the vampire shows arrival and that is just the beginning!. This book has all the thrills and suspense+ blood, guts and gore you would expect from a laymon novel although not as graphic here as in previous books. This is certainly a story that will live with you for a very long time and i cannot stress highly enough just how good this book is, just get hold of a copy and see for yourself you won't be sorry.

Typical Laymon - difficult to put down
The Travelling Vampire Show is not Laymon's best, but delivers the usual ingredients which mean you cannot put the thing down.

Laymon's USA is - and this applies to whatever year he sets the story - full of perverts, weirdos and axe wielding maniacs. As soon as your kids set foot out the door, they're in mortal danger. Laymon's world is also full of teenagers who are fixated on getting laid. They love sneaking peaks at cleavage, knickers and anything to satisfy their adolescent torment.

This story is set in 1963 and tells in first person (through the eyes of Dwight), 24 hours in the life of a 16 year old, with his best friends Slim and Rusty. Slim is a girl and Dwight is beginning to realise he has the hots for her. He is also finding his trousers swelling whenever he thinks of his sister-in-law Lee as well. When he sees a naked Valeria, his pants are ready to explode.

Slim seems to be an expert with bow and arrows and knives and Rusty is a flawed (!) chunky fellow who fancies anything with a pulse, but would sell his mother for a chocolate bar.

The tension builds towards the usual bloodfest climax and although there's a few points in the story which don't quite add up, its gripping all the same.

I would like to know where Lee went when they arrived at her house and she wasn't there. Everybody thought the worst, but she turned up in the end just in time for all her clothes to fall off. Joy. But her absence wasn't really explained - as though Laymon had a plan for her, but forgot in his lust driven finale.

Anyway, very typical Laymon, expertly written, great dialogue, keeps you engrossed to the end. Like a previous reviewer, I was sorry to hear of his death but hope that like 2-PAC and Bob Marley, he manages to keep on churning them out from beyond the grave. That would be just like him.

For the faint hearted.
Before I go any farther I have to say I love reading Richard Laymon book and I apologise for what I'm about to say. If you've never read a Laymon book and pick this from the bookshop shelf then quickly put it back. Everyone who reads a Laymon book should always start with the Beast House Trilogy first; it's a sacred law amongst avid readers. The Travelling Vampire Show is not one of Laymons best, the characters are too absorbed in adolescent fantasies that the title of the book seems like a trick to get you intrigued to read it. Don't get me wrong the characters are real kids reaching the age when their hormones are getting the better of them, something we can all relate to. Too much time is spent on getting you to like Slim (dagny, fran or whatever she want to be called this time around), Dwight, Lee and Rusty that you start to think your in an over 18s version of Dawsons Creek. Then just as your losing the will to live it hits you in true Laymon style, naked flesh, blood, limbs been torn off and kids braver than He-man. Yes you say then in he comes and tears it right out from under you. If you could just have another couple of chapters involving Lee, the knockout sister-in-law and Stryker "the vampire promoter" everything would have been worth the wait. But no he just lulled you into a false sense of security and took it away from you again, like you where getting to close to the Laymon secret. If you're a novice to horror and need to be broken in gently then this is the book for you. If your like me and enjoy a real shocker don't choose The Travelling Vampire Show.