Night In The Lonesome October
Reviews
Offered for your consideration...one Edward Logan...He went out on a fine October
night in search of his true love but found, instead, that streets don't always
lead where you expect and that love may not always 'find a way,' especially in
that region of uncertain boundaries we call...
The Laymon Zone....
Once again, Laymon has served up a treat that is filled with chills and thrills
and plot twists aplenty.
Ed Logan has lost his girlfriend, Holly, to another man. She's kind enough to
tell him the news in a letter posted from another state. Depressed and feeling
sorry for himself, Ed heads out into the night to walk to Dandy Donuts seven miles
away.
What (and who) he encounters during that walk will change his life forever...
To say much more is to give too much away. But let's just say that this is one
of the most chilling Laymon books ever. The atmosphere on the streets, the characters
Ed encounters (both friend and foe) and the actions he must take, all join together
to get the hairs jumping on the back of your neck.
And there's one girl you just won't forget for a long looooong time...
Following on from The Travelling Vampire Show, Night
In The Lonesome October goes even further than TVS in the creeps department.
It's nasty, violent, scary and fun!
A Laymon NOT to be missed!
So...do you wanna read it??? Ask yourself, "Ride or Hide?"
Reviewed by Steve Gerlach
The death of Richard Laymon earlier this year has left a big gap in the horror
world. 'Night In The Lonesome October' is the latest book to be published, and
it had been finished long before his death. Luckily, some more titles have been
discovered and this is not his last book, but it is certainly one of the last.
Ed Logan cannot wait for his second year at Wilmington University. He is deeply
in love with Holly, and he believes that she feels the same way about him. However,
when he returns after the holidays, Holly does not. Devastated, Ed goes out for
a walk and meets a mystery girl….
Once again, Laymon has written a successful novel with his usual trademarks of
sex, violence and a fair bit of horror too. His style has not changed in the slightest
- there is little description and most of the plot of the novel takes place through
the medium of dialogue. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it makes the novel
move along at a rapid pace and Laymon constantly throws in surprise after surprise.
His characters vary from the mysterious to the developed and whilst he does not
spend too long on characterisation, we do at least hear something of the back-story
of some of the characters. The main fault with this novel is more that it descends
just too much into the realms of incredulity. Too many bizarre events take place
to make the novel realistic and Laymon turns Wilmington into a place where all
manner of crazies seem to live.
This is not to say that it is a bad novel, far from it. Indeed, 'Night In The
Lonesome October' is a very enjoyable novel and one in which Laymon has clearly
drawn on his time at university. It is fast, interesting and quite graphic, especially
in the sexual department. It may not be that believable, but if you want a horrific
ride that you do not have to think about too much, 'Night In The Lonesome October'
will suit you well. For one of his last books, this is a fitting testament to
his skill as an author.
Reviewed by Luke Croll
'And every fiend, as in a dream,
Doth stalk the lonesome night.'
Ever read a book that you've been so engrossed in, that you actually start talking
to the character's, advising them against doing something, or going crook at that
them when they've done something you wouldn't have? (Chances are, if you're a
fan of Dick Laymon, you know exactly what I'm talking about.) Well this is one
novel where you can't help but want to be able to get into the ear of the characters...
cause you just know that if they don't take your advice, it's going to end catastrophically!
And like any other Laymon novel, you'll definitely care about the characters and
what happens to them.
Take, for instance, our narrator and navigator on this wild journey: Ed Logan
has just been dumped by his girl, Holly. Most of us know how it feels to have
a broken heart, so right from the beginning, your heart goes out to him.
Shattered heart, torn ego, a very depressed Ed decides to take a walk... alone,
late on a brisk October evening.
From the moment he heads out, he stumbles across a fairly unusual assortment of
psychos - some dangerous, others; just plain loopy. But none more captivating
than a fair young maiden that Ed spies, also walking alone on that cool October
evening.
His overwhelming thirst for getting to know this stranger eventually leads Ed
to keep taking to the dark streets in search of her.
With plenty of little surprises from beginning to end, I can guarantee that the
climax is definately well worth the wait - with the last hundred pages, you won't
be able to turn them quick enough!
A great read that all Laymon fans - new or old - will appreciate and enjoy.
For those of you who've read most or all of Richard's work, I have only one warning
- once you've finished, expect to feel a little hollow. Dick's death has left
us all devestated, and reading this book - his last completed novel - makes the
reality of it all just sink in that little bit deeper.
We miss you Dick.
Reviewed by David M Zappia
What could be so dangerous about a midnight snack at a doughnut shop?
For Ed logan, he's just about to find out.
Ed is a student at Willmington University. The Summer is over, and it's back to
the books for everyone. Ed excitedly awaits rejoining his girlfriend, when he
is confronted with a "dear john" letter. He is heart broken, so he takes to the
streets to look for his heart's desire.
The twists and turns he then endures are not just the contours of the streets,
but through a world of darkness and perversion he has never seen before. It scares
him terribly, as it would most people, but curiosity about a young pony-haired
girl draws him out night after night.
Will the darkness of the night catch up with Ed? Well, to find out you'll just
have to take a stroll at 'Night in the Lonesome October'.
Just remember some monsters do come out at Night......
I thought this was a fantastic book, very fast-paced and exciting. It's an adventure
just reading the book:-)
Reviewed by Stacey Lind
This novel may disappoint a lot of Laymon fans. There is no real plot and the
ending comes up real fast without even getting started. It's quite like Come Out
Tonight but not as good.
Don't get me wrong I am a real Laymon fan and the news of his death realy disturbed
me but this book didn't realy cut it. I just hope that the manuscripts that Dick
left over will be as good as his earlier novels, like the much anticipated Fourth
book in the beast house saga.
If you are new to Laymon then don't read this first ..... try some real gems like
"Among the Missing" , "After Midnight" , "Body Rides" or my all time favourite
"In The Dark".
R.I.P Dick you are and will for a long time be sadly missed.
Reviewed by Norry Clark, West Lothian, Scotland
If his books could of got any better than this, then i would've spent hundreds
on it. The book was worth the price per chapter. I cant get enough of his talented
writing ability, and this book is no exception. Although I do prefer his older
work like flesh, island and quake, but "a night in the lonesome October" rates
amongst his best. I enjoyed every page, and i adore his ability to get you to
know the characters almost intimately. I can only send my deepest of sympathy
to his family for the saddest of losses, and to all of the millions of readers
who can appreciate his work as much as i do! Richard will live long in my heart!
Reviewed by Dave - UK
