The Traveling Vampire Show

De: Richard Laymon

Narrado por: Bob Barnes

When the one-night-only Traveling Vampire Show arrives in town, promising the only living vampire in captivity, beautiful Valeria, three local teenagers venture where they do not belong, and discover much more than they bargained for.

©2000 Richard Laymon (P)2009 Audio Realms, Inc., all rights reserved. Produced by Audible, Inc. and distributed by Audible, Inc. and Brilliance Audio.

Slow, But Intense

A majority of the story is the wind up to the climax. The story is well done and character development is thorough. Awesome read!

Old school Supernatural Entertainment

Coming of age Teen/ Young Adult Supernatural “ol school” tale of particular tastes from another decade but good entertainment in my opinion. While unlikely in the forefront, the background reminds me of the 70’s, although I would’ve been way younger than the kids in this story.
The entire thing is based on “what you are curious about - shouldn’t always be found out”, but you just can’t help it, and you’re clueless or at least somewhat okay with still wanting to find out, but maybe one you hang out with never uses reasoning or his brain so you’re sort of stuck with it. The main character sure wishes he wouldve decided otherwise, as in, what the heck is going on here!
Lol this story is fun and really just kids who possibly let their imagination run away like a freight train, Its all in good fun in the Main character’s mind , except that he’s a typical young person with hormones and he’s at the age where everything is sexual. He only wants to see The vampire chick who’s barely wearing anything, but unlike his stupid friend he’s willing to not risk it by a certain point in the story. But sometimes choices turn into a fuse lit and there’s no stopping it. Eventually - it will explode. And boy does it.
This is pure cheesy supernatural dark matter at its best, and a bit sick at the end. Laymon is awesome at this. You gotta have an open mind. I love this! It’s my favorite Laymon book- he’s pretty weird. But this is plain and simple - Freaking Fantastic! Hope you like it. Keep an open mind and forgot everything you know about supernatural and current times. This is not that!

Richard Laymon is UNDERRATED

I am a huge fan of Richard Laymon, and was excited to see that Audible has a handful of his books! the traveling vampire show is probably his most popular, and Audible has not disappointed! I just wish they would come out with the Beast house books!

Great

Love Laymons books. They are not for everyone but they are great. And I have almost all his books.

What a great tale to keep you guessing..

Most of the Richard Laymon books ive read are horror/gore/wince inducing stories of terror.This was a pleasant break from the usual "wth" bloodfests, and actually had me engrossed in the mystery of a fairground with a dark past.The fairground ties in several terrible moments in the small town, and the main trio of young adults are well aware of the dangers.The insanity of the true intentions of the evil is too unbelievable but also a real type of threat among certain groups of mentally ill believers.Im hoping for an additional book/sequel to this concerning the 'present day' status of certain characters or even how the fairgrounds have changed or drawn more evils to it.This is NOT for the weak of heart and you might as well toss your prudish preferences out the window before beginning.Ill recommended this many but not family because= upbringing (lol)

good production

I read this book first about 12 years ago & loved it. I can't been a fan of this style of writing, bir enjoyed it for what ever reason at the time. not much of a fan now, but I saw this offered on kindle unlimited w the audio & thought "why not?". I remembered much of the story & still laugh ed in the same places, the audio production was much better than i would have expected for this style & age of book. but the writing wasn't 'right' for audio, for me.
still, our was interesting to revisit this book in a new way & filled some time.

Vampires meet Artemis

Richard Laymon’s The Traveling Vampire Show is a tale of coming of age teenagers who want to see a vampire. The show is for adults only, but their attempt at a sneak peek leads to separation and subsequently some strange occurrences. One of the boys’ older sister-in-law manages to get them tickets and thigs go downhill after that with unexpected violence.

Laymon begins with a Dandelion Wine feel to the tale along with various forms of budding sexuality. While the vampire shows seems corny, but situation quickly devolves into an abattoir of horror with the only saving grace due to the presence of a psychopathic killer in their midst.

The narration is well done with decent character distinction. Pacing is smooth.

The Build Up

The suspense building was excellent, and it felt very much as if the narrator was a teen boy dealing with all the events.

Richard Laymon at his finest.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator. The narration of this book did not work for me. I realized about 1/2 way into it why. The cadence and voice reminded me of the movie Christmas Story.

What other book might you compare The Traveling Vampire Show to and why?

Hell Hollow by Ronald Kelly.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Absolutely.

Any additional comments?

I had read this novel when it first came out and am happy to say that it is just as good today.

Great Narration

The Traveling Vampire Show
by Richard Laymon - Audiobook Review

Richard Laymon’s “The Traveling Vampire Show” is a captivating journey into the eerie and mysterious world of 1963 rural America. Narrated by Bob Barnes, this audiobook brings to life the suspense and intrigue that Laymon masterfully weaves throughout the story.

The plot centers around three teenagers who are drawn to the enigmatic Traveling Vampire Show, featuring the alluring Valeria. The anticipation and curiosity surrounding the midnight show in the forbidden Janks Field create a palpable tension that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats.

Bob Barnes’ narration is a standout feature of this audiobook. His ability to convey the youthful excitement and underlying dread of the characters adds depth to the listening experience. Barnes’ voice modulation and pacing are well-suited to the story’s shifts between moments of calm and bursts of horror.

Laymon’s writing is vivid and descriptive, painting a picture of the small-town setting and the eerie atmosphere of the vampire show. The characters are well-developed, each with their own quirks and motivations that make them relatable and engaging.

However, the story does have its moments of predictability, and some listeners might find certain plot twists a bit clichéd. I also found the overuse of teenage sexual angst a deterrent from the overall story. Despite this, the overall narrative remains compelling, with enough suspense and horror to satisfy fans of the genre.

In conclusion, “The Traveling Vampire Show” audiobook is a thrilling ride that combines nostalgia, horror, and a touch of coming-of-age drama. Bob Barnes’ narration enhances the experience, making it a must-listen for fans of Richard Laymon and supernatural thrillers.

I hope this review captures the essence of the audiobook for you! If you have any other requests or need further assistance, feel free to let me know.