Allhallow's Eve, by Richard Laymon

Richard Laymon is one of the most controversial authors in the history of horror fiction. He and his work have been endlessly debated. Many revile Laymon as a hack who writes like a perverted thirteen year old kid. Others fiercely defend the man, calling him one of the best in the entire field.

I get both points, but I find myself closer to the positive side of the dispute. I've read nearly all of Richard Laymon's books, and I have always had a good time with them.

Yes, I do feel that Laymon is a good writer. He understands pacing. His stories never lag. They race to the finish line, leaving readers gasping for breath along the way. Laymon was an expert in establishing character and setting. His fiction is always dark, but I never fail to see my way through his stories.

There are accusations of misogyny, and yes there are deviant characters galore in his books. Even decent young men in them ogle women. That's the way people are. I've been in groups of women and heard some incredibly trashy talk.

Despite the horrific nature of Richard Laymon's work, I've always detected a sunny disposition behind it all. I find slasher movies fun, and I always have a good time with Laymon.

Richard Laymon helped create the extreme horror subgenre with his hard-hitting first novel, The Cellar. It's a tight, claustrophobic story that broke new ground in publishing. I don't think it represents the best of his work, but other than Ketchum's Off Season, I can't think of a more audacious debut. It's not like the anything-goes environment of today. There was almost nothing like The Cellar back in 1980.

For years it was hard to find Laymon books. He wrote prolifically, but couldn't get his books published in his native American soil. England embraced the man and his work.

I bought a book here and there. They were usually imported paperbacks from Headline Publishing. Finally, thanks to Leisure Books and Cemetery Dance Publications, Richard Laymon books began to see the light of day in the United States. I bought everything I could find, and I thought I had read it all. One title, however, escaped my notice.

Allhallow's Eve never got an American edition. I know I heard the title over the years, but I sort of blipped past it in my mind. I am beginning to reread some Laymon books, and I happened upon a listing for Allhallow's Eve on Amazon. It was one of those handsome Headline editions.

Of course I ordered the book, and I wasted little time in getting to it.

Allhallow's Eve is a pretty good novel, but I have to say it's lower rung Laymon. It's no surprise Leisure never got to it. The plot is fairly routine. There are some gruesome murders in an old suburban home. Years later a Halloween party is planned in the abandoned house. Of course murders begin again.

Laymon spreads a large cast of characters in Allhallow's Eve, A messed-up kid. Some delinquent teens. A sadistic teacher. A decent cop. A wanton temptress and a degenerate perv. Plus there's an array of minor players.

It's not hard to see where Laymon was going with the plot, but it's fun getting there. The story kind of falls off a cliff at the abrupt finale. This is an early book, and Laymon was still developing his craft. The best work was ahead.

The real tragedy is how Richard Laymon died way too young, just as his fiction was becoming more thoughtful. The final two novels he published prior to his death, The Traveling Vampire Show and Night in the Lonesome October, suggest more mature work ahead.

I don't recommend Allhallow's Eve to any but those who wish to read every Laymon title. My favorite is probably Night in the Lonesome October, or possibly The Midnight Tour. I am also very fond of Blood Games. Today's readers of extreme fiction will probably be best rewarded by starting down in The Cellar.

I'm sad there are no new Richard Laymon books for me to experience, but there's always the joy of re-reading.

Written by Mark Sieber