Richard Laymon Kills! - Page 3

keirarts · #21 21st December 2011, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daemonia

I agree that Smith's earlier novels aren't literary masterpieces, but it's unfair to dismiss his entire body of work as rubbish. Books like Doomflight, Satan's Snowdrop and Warhead are quite good. Not everything he wrote was poor, he did write some very good stuff. But, at the end of the day, it's pulp horror. It was never going to win any awards. They're cheap and tacky and very gory. In other words, I find them very enjoyable. Not everything Laymon has written has been good either. I found Blood Games and Dark Mountain very dull and uninspired - nothing actually happens and so end up being boring.

I think it's down to the individual reader as to what they enjoy and what they don't.

Nevertheless, I'll always consider Eat Them Alive! by Pierce Nace an unsung genre classic.

Dont get me wrong, I ENJOY guy n smiths books, I just think garth marenghi was spot on as a parody of him though. From an objective point of view he was not as skilled with words or ideas as Laymon. But still enjoyable as pulp horror.

it'smebilly · #22 2nd July 2012, 10:07 PM

I got his very rare autobiography 'A Writers Tale' sent to me via email in PDF form recently. Fascinating and typical of Laymons no nonsense approach to writing. He offers great advice and wisdom to any wannabe writers out there as well.

It has made me want to purchase more of his back catalogue but it's nigh on impossible to find his works on the high street these days, unlike the 90's when he seemed to be up there with Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

Daemonia · #23 3rd July 2012, 01:06 AM

Go on Amazon, they still sell tons of his books on there. I'm still picking up a few now and then. There's only a handful left to catch up with. Just finiashed Body Rides which was pretty good. Next up to read is Alarums, Travelling Vampire Show, The Lake and The Glory Bus.

keirarts · #24 3rd July 2012, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by it'smebilly

I got his very rare autobiography 'A Writers Tale' sent to me via email in PDF form recently. Fascinating and typical of Laymons no nonsense approach to writing. He offers great advice and wisdom to any wannabe writers out there as well.

It has made me want to purchase more of his back catalogue but it's nigh on impossible to find his works on the high street these days, unlike the 90's when he seemed to be up there with Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

Without fail, every charity shop I have ever been to has at least one of his books. I've got loads bought this way.

Now I wonder if any film maker is brave enough to adapt one of his books?

Demdike@Cult Labs · #25 3rd July 2012, 02:28 PM

Just read Island.

Really enjoyed it until the action shifted to the mansion and it seemed to lose all the tension and just become run of the mill porn. Well fetish porn anyway.

it'smebilly · #26 3rd July 2012, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keirarts

Now I wonder if any film maker is brave enough to adapt one of his books?

I don't think I'd want to see a film of one of his books to be honest. Can you imagine how watered down it would have to be? A book like 'Endless Night' if adapted would have to be cut to shreds. Though there has apparently already been a film made from his book 'In the Dark' which was never released but can be found on ebay as a bootleg. Not seen it myself to judge it.

Nordicdusk · #27 3rd July 2012, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demdike

Just read Island.

Really enjoyed it until the action shifted to the mansion and it seemed to lose all the tension and just become run of the mill porn. Well fetish porn anyway.

I agree totally with that. It was moving along nicely up until that point. He can get a bit carried away with his sexual content sometimes.

Daemonia · #28 4th July 2012, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nordicdusk

I agree totally with that. It was moving along nicely up until that point. He can get a bit carried away with his sexual content sometimes.

That was my main issue with Body Rides. He seemed to waste a really great concept by focusing almost totally on sexual situations when there was this great idea to hand.

Saying that, when he's on form, he's brilliant. Resurrection Dreams, Beware!, Flesh and Endless Night were all superb. As were The Stake, Come Out Tonight, Funland and Savage. I'd recommend all of those.

keirarts · #29 4th July 2012, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by it'smebilly

I don't think I'd want to see a film of one of his books to be honest. Can you imagine how watered down it would have to be? A book like 'Endless Night' if adapted would have to be cut to shreds. Though there has apparently already been a film made from his book 'In the Dark' which was never released but can be found on ebay as a bootleg. Not seen it myself to judge it.

might have to seek it out. I certainly doubt we'll be seeing any movies of the cellar or any other beast house books. Done properly they would be immediately banned!

Daemonia · #30 4th July 2012, 11:48 PM

The Beast House series are quite subversive in their themes of sex and death. And the sex is very bestial, which would immediately be problematic for any prospective filmmaker.

I think, maybe, some books should be left as books. There's no need to turn everything into a film and I think most of Laymon's stuff works better as the written word. It would be very hard to translate his work into film as so much of his writing is focused on the internal dialogue of the characters and their thoughts and feelings and responses to the situations they find themselves in.