written by Richard Laymon
published by Leisure Books (March,
2001)
ISBN: 978-0-8439-4850-9
review by Ty Schwamberger
10.07.2008
Like so many of his
novels, The Traveling Vampire Show,
by Richard Laymon, has a setting that you can really
sink your teeth into.
One hot August morning in
1963, flyers are popping up all over the small town of
The show takes place on
the outskirts of town at a desolate piece of land called Janks
Field. The three main characters (all 15
years of age); Slim (a girl), Rusty (a tubby and awkward kid) and Dwight (told
from his point of view) are well aware of the seedy past at the field. They go there often, just to have a look
around. But, this time something happens
that splits the group apart.
What ensues is a tale of
friendship, courage, temptation and terror.
Can the three find their way into the eighteen and over crowd? If so, will seeing the vampire be all they
dreamed it would be? Will they survive
to see the show’s finale? Or are they
part of the end of the show? You’ll have
to find out for yourself…if you aren’t afraid of things that could suck the life out of you.
The Traveling Vampire Show is a suspenseful ride all the way to the end. This is probably one of the many reasons it
won a Bram Stoker award in 2001 for best novel of the year. For myself, having read close to 20 of Laymon’s books, I would have to rank this one in my top 2
or 3.
So, if you are thirsty or
need something to nibble away the