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Troupe by Gordon Linzner
They fan out across the city, perfectly disguised -- as a mime, a toy vendor, a con artist. Rabid with hunger, they bore into their victims, gorging on fear and desire, killing them in a fat woman hiding raw sexuality under layers of flesh ... a gifted executive trapped in a dead-end job ... a frenzied salesman late for his next appointment ... a young woman battling childhood terrors ... her brother, a strung-out junkie...But when a strange woman saves the junkie's life, their real nightmare begins. In the streets and the alleys, they stalk The Troupe, searching for his sister's killers. He knows their secret. Now he can destroy them. If he escapes their dreadful, fiendish eyes...
- GenresHorror
Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
2 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Linzner
56Ìýbooks14ÌýfollowersGordon Linzner is founder and former editor of Space and Time Magazine, and author of three published novels and scores of short stories in F&SF, Twilight Zone, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, and numerous other magazines and anthologies. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association and a lifetime member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 19, 2017
I had high hopes for this one going in. The writing was excellent throughout, the cast was unique and the plotting solid. Had kind of a "VAMPS" feel to it during the first half of the book.
Excellent sense of place, the book serves as a great tour guide through grimy 1980s NYC.
The primary problem is that there just isn't enough action or suspense throughout the story, events seemed to reach their peak at the 75% mark and then sort of peter off from there. I'm not sure that anything in the book comes close to qualifying as "horror".
It's a shame, because the setup had great potential for something really unique being told in a genuinely cinematic way.
🌟🌟🌟1/2
Excellent sense of place, the book serves as a great tour guide through grimy 1980s NYC.
The primary problem is that there just isn't enough action or suspense throughout the story, events seemed to reach their peak at the 75% mark and then sort of peter off from there. I'm not sure that anything in the book comes close to qualifying as "horror".
It's a shame, because the setup had great potential for something really unique being told in a genuinely cinematic way.
🌟🌟🌟1/2
December 5, 2016
Corroded with urban grime imported from Times Square circa 1988, this two-fisted action horror hybrid is Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Predator only the aliens drive around in a Winnebago and make people breakdance themselves to death.
October 28, 2022
An odd and interesting 80s horror novel that doesn't quite succeed at what it's trying to do but has a unique flavor. The Troupe imagines a gritty Time Square New York in which many scenes occur surrounded by people. A group of evil... creatures, I guess?... pose as hustlers and street performers and feed off the psychic energies of passersby, causing them to mysteriously drop dead. A single heroin addict/hustler notices something wrong and joins forces with a rebellious former member of the troupe to take them down. It turns out, these monsters also have superhuman strength and healing abilities, so this is not quite as easy as it sounds.
The first third or so is inspired and imagines several creepy and strange scenarios, but once the plot comes in, the book is weirdly padded and uneventful; coming to life only occasionally. Odd since the basic idea is perfect for an action horror novel. There are a few scenes, some shoot-outs, and stabbings. But we get a LOT of dialogue. There are many side characters who show up for a scene or two, and the book really conveys a sense of a crowded city of lost souls and that is its greatest strength. There's a real atmosphere of urban sprawl that is conveyed particularly well. But it seems like it's trying to convey something about the nature of a city and doesn't quite get there, leaving the reader with a half-in/half-out portrait of urban horror. Satisfying if you have the patience, but runs out of steam much too early.
The first third or so is inspired and imagines several creepy and strange scenarios, but once the plot comes in, the book is weirdly padded and uneventful; coming to life only occasionally. Odd since the basic idea is perfect for an action horror novel. There are a few scenes, some shoot-outs, and stabbings. But we get a LOT of dialogue. There are many side characters who show up for a scene or two, and the book really conveys a sense of a crowded city of lost souls and that is its greatest strength. There's a real atmosphere of urban sprawl that is conveyed particularly well. But it seems like it's trying to convey something about the nature of a city and doesn't quite get there, leaving the reader with a half-in/half-out portrait of urban horror. Satisfying if you have the patience, but runs out of steam much too early.
November 10, 2021
3.5 stars rounded down for Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. This is actually a very well written story. However, something just felt like it was missing. I was really expecting this to be a little more zany and fun. The story is interesting enough, but I wouldn't necessarily label it as exciting. As Grady Hendrix alludes to in his review of The Troupe, someone is forced to breakdance to death, but even that part is somehow a little underplayed. The concept was definitely interesting, but I was overall hoping for more oomph from this read.
August 21, 2021
Contains spoilers {1988} The Troupe by Gordon Linzner. Killer mimes in the mean streets of 80's New York City?! Yes please. Ok there's only one killer mime but still. The troupe is about a group of killer monster peeps who pose as street vendors and entertainers. They have spooky yellow eyes that they hide until they find someone with some baggage. Once they find someone they peer into their eyes, putting them in a trance as they drain their baggage and then eventually their lives. Basically they feed on your bullshit. The hero is a junkie named Benny. We follow Benny on the streets of NYC as he wheels and deals and does his junkie thing. He's a pretty positive and carefree guy except for that whole drug addiction thing. We get snippets of the troupe killing people. We also get an ex Troupe member who has decided killing people is wrong. She hunts down the troupe one by one and executes them. But in the words of Downcast, "if we kill the killers then we become the killers." I don't think she's ever listened to Downcast but it does dawn on her that's she a hypocrite. She saves Benny from one of the Troupe and they team up. Apparently they can just suck a little of your baggage out without killing you so while stopping the troupe killer mid-murder it cures him of his heroin addiction. Gotta say this gave me the feel goods. The revelations he has about himself and life after the zombie walk is over hit close to home. Good stuff. I thought this was pretty great though it was one of those books to have multiple ends. By the third end I was like ok, we could have ended this a few chapters back but other than that, thoroughly enjoyable. I'm a sucker for pre 2000's NYC settings.
June 10, 2024
Times Square never sleeps, the hookers still sucking, the cabs still driving, the sleaze encapsulates the need. The winnebago travels the streets, people exit and head out on a mission. Two piercing yellow points. The eyes able to stop a man's heart. A concrete block smashes into a face, bone, piercing, penetrating, leaving a massive crater. People getting their pysche drained.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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