Fiends Hardcover – Import, January 1, 1997

Fiends is both the title of this collection, as well as the title to the opening novella (which makes up over a third of the book alone) by Richard Laymon. I liked most of these stories. Laymon has a writing style that is easy to read, but his stories do often contain twists you never saw coming (the biggest twist perhaps happens at the very end of the last story, titled "A Good, Secret Place").The lead-off novella was actually my least favorite story in the book. Just a bit too basic, certainly not good enough to be the highlight of this collection anyway. That one would go to either "The Bleeder" (about a young man following a trail of blood) or "Special" (one heck of a unique vampire story).Many of these stories work well with the title "Fiends," albeit in different ways. There's a good mix of first and third person stories, as well as some pretty unique characters (a girl named Monica who speaks in the third person was pretty memorable).At the very least all of these stories have a good degree of suspense, and many of them also have a good bit of mystery to them, and of course, it is Richard Laymon, so there's plenty of gritty, twisted, horrifying good fun to be found within. It's a shame this book only has five reviews, as many of the stories in here are very much worth reading. Definitely recommended for Laymon fans, or those who like short stories with a bite to them. Overall, pretty highly enjoyable.

I thought this book was lost because it arrived very late, but eventually it arrived & it was in good shape…

Fiends is one of the worst horror books I've ever read. I am a fan of this author, and I couldn't even finish it. The characters are hollow and irritating, making unrealistic, stupid decisions to facilitate a hollow plot. I was unable to swallow my suspension of disbelief long enough to believe that Marty, not once but multiple times during the opening scene, refuses to tell her boyfriend the identity of the man who is stalking them on their date--the convicted rapist who assaulted her ten years ago! Even to the point of not calling the police when Willy the rapist breaks into her home and tries to attack her. She also gets angry at the boyfriend for wanting to beat the crap out of the stalker. Blech.The second storyline revolves around an engaged couple. When the woman walks in on her fiancé having sex with a random stranger on the floor of his store, her first reaction is to go hitchhiking??? She is picked up by a "fiend" and barely escapes before getting picked up by another man who assures her that all men cheat on their partners. It's as if Laymon set out to create the most repugnant human beings possible and turned them all loose in a freaky pinball machine.The end for me came when Marty decides to perform oral sex on her rapist voluntarily to keep him from menacing a half-naked girl they just drove away from.I don't ask that every character be likeable in a book. I don't ask for a complicated plot full of twists and turns. I am familiar with the weirdos who frequent Richard Laymon books. But SOME realism would be appreciated.If you have never read a Richard Laymon novel before, I beg of you, pick another title. The Traveling Vampire Show, Bite, Beast House, and In The Dark all come to mind.

This is a collection of Laymon's stories, which the other person that reviewed this item, it seems, did not see. If you are a true Laymon fan, as I am, you can appreciate Fiends. I do agree with the other person that reviewed this item that if you have never read a book by Richard Laymon before you may want to start with, say, the Traveling Vampire Show or the Beast House collection or something, but Fiends is not a terrible book. I also think it is rude to call those who frequent Laymon's work "weirdos." Anyway, Laymon fans definitely should dig into Fiends.

am addicted to this author-a very scary series of stories. got it fast in good condition.

Loved the book.There were several short stories that kept me in suspense.

This one isnt as dark as his other books but it is a great story. If you like Lamon, you have to read it.

always love Laymon's writing. Have everything he ever wrote.

This book was fantasticAs all of his books

The fantastic Richard Laymon.Never lets me down.

BOUGHT BY MY GRAND-DAUGHTER

Excellent Item, As Described, Well Packaged, Quick Delivery. Thank You! :)

Good value