The Light at the End

by John Skipp

An adrenaline-charged tale of unrelenting suspense that sparks with raw and savage energy... The newspapers scream out headlines that spark terror across the city. Ten murders on the New York City subway. Ten grisly crimes that defy all reason -- no pattern, no m.o., no leads for police to pursue. The press dubs the fiend the "Subway Psycho"; the NYPD desperately seeks their quarry before the city erupts in mass hysteria. But they won't find what they're looking for.

Because they all think that the killer is human.

Only a few know the true story -- a story the papers will never print. It is a tale of abject terror and death written in grit and steel... and blood. The tale of a man who vanished into the bowels of the urban earth one night, taken by a creature of unholy evil, then left as a babe abandoned on the doorstep of Hell. Now he is back, driven by twin demons of rage and retribution.

He is unstoppable. And we are all his prey... unless a ragtag band of misfit souls will dare to descend into a world of manmade darkness, where the real and unreal alike dwell in endless shadow. A place where humanity has been left behind, and the horrifying truth will dawn as a madman's chilling vendetta comes to light...

Filled with gripping drama and harrowing doomsday dread, The Light at the End is the book that ushered in a bold new view of humankind's most ancient and ruthless evil; a mesmerizing novel from two acknowledged masters of spellbinding suspense.

Genres: Horror, Vampires, Fiction, Splatterpunk, Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

John Skipp is a splatterpunk horror and fantasy author and anthology editor, as well as a songwriter, screenwriter, film director, and film producer. He collaborated with Craig Spector on multiple novels, and has also collaborated with Marc Levinthal and Cody Goodfellow.

Reviews

[Dave Edmunds · Rating 4 out of 5]

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3.5 starts out of 5 rounded up to four. Where do I start with the 80's classic vampire novel, The Light at the End by Skipp and Spector?

First off this is a very fun, fast paced read. Think a cross between Taxi Driver and Fright Night. Skipp and Spector paint a very sleezy, grimy, gritty New York landscape where vampires lurk in the dark corners. The main premise follows the transformation of Rudy Pasko, a bleached blond street punk, into a murderous creature of the night and his ultimate demise. This isn't your sparkling, romantic type of vampires. We're talking pure nihilism and destruction. So if you're after Twilight, better look elsewhere. On a sidenote, this guy was the inspiration for Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Spike character.



While the book is fun and very nostalgic, my only main gripe is the writing. It's not really bad, but I can imagine Skipp and Spector sat in their apartment smoking their joints and seeing who can come up with the craziest metaphor. "Stephen was silent like the head of a stuffed moose." I mean come on lol. But sometimes the authors nail it and the writing comes across as edgy with a slice of cool.

The character work also left a little bit to be desired. They were all unique but not very deep and you never really got to delve into what made them tick. There was also the odd bit of really unrealistic behaviour too and people falling in love at the drop of a hat. I think the authors may have had a very unrealistic concept of relationships and this may be what they wished it was like. Really hot girls falling instantly in love with dungeons and dragons playing geeks. If only lol


John Skipp and Craig Spector

But Skipp and Spector do have a number of strong points. Namely gore and horror, which they do in a very fun way. This will give you a reminder of what vampires were like in classic movies such as Lost Boys and Near Dark. So if you're in the mood for a bit of light entertainment and some proper 80s horror nostalgia then definitely give it a try. You won't be disappointed. Just don't be expecting Salem's Lot. Peace Out!

[Phillip Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let´s take a ride on the Midnight Meat Train again! Two years after Clive Barker´s short story of the same name, the splatterpunk duo Skipp/Spector created their own ghoulish subway terror with their classic The Light at the End. After a wild start in the dark tunnels, we follow a group of people roaming the filthy streets of 80's Manhattan to find a young graffiti artist named Rudy. Rudy has been a bad bad boy after he got bitten by a vampire on the subway and developed some megalomaniac ideas, enjoying his new gained powers. This is a splatterpunk novel, so expect all kinds of trigger warnings - that said, I enjoyed this old school gorefest not only because of all the icky stuff but because of the authentic descriptions of New York´s darker corners at that time. I have a soft spot for those early exploitation movies and loved that the authors placed some scenes into the grindhouse theatres on 42nd Street as well. There are some cheesy elements in here too: In my opinion vampires shouldn´t run around with glowing red eyes, but maybe that´s just me.
I recommend this novel to everyone who enjoys fast paced high energy horror novels with a lot of violence and pitch black humor. So please don´t expect Dostoevsky here.

[Deacon D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading this one after more than 30 years, I couldn't help but think to myself, "What the hell took you so long, man?"

Loved this book then, loved it even more now.

Highly recommended!

[Kelsi - Slime and Slashers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved. Wonderfully written with surprising emotional elements sprinkled throughout. Splatterpunk done the way it should be! That's no surprise as authors Skipp and Spector really are the fathers of Splatterpunk - and The Light at the End was their first novel together!

This is probably my favorite vampire novel that I've read thus far. Gnarly with great imagery and some heart here and there! Highly recommend for those looking for a vintage horror gem!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long time ago a group of friends shared an apartment in NYC. This book was written in that apartment. I was there. at the time the book was LIVE and in color from the heart of the city and the fertile imaginations of John Skipp and Craig Spector. Now it is a great time capsule of what New York City was like in the early 80's. Yes kids, Punk Graffiti artists and vampires really were everywhere... and no one had a cell phone. There are a number of scenes in the book where the protagonists need to get to a pay phone NOW! Which, was actually a heck of a lot easier back then as there actually were pay phones on almost evey corner... AND punk graffiti artists and vampires living in th esubway system...

The horror sub genre "SplatterPunk" a take off on the then emerging "CyberPunk" movement, started with this novel. For better or for worse, for bloody or bloodier... until death do rip us limb from limb...

Read it and then ride the D train at night. Alone. I dare you.

[Pisces51 · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LIGHT AT THE END [1986] By John Skipp & Craig Spector
My Review 4.0 Stars

I would never have read this epic vampire novel but for a comment on one of the Discussion Threads [Splatterpunk Horror Book Club]. A member stated that this was his favorite horror novel of all time and that he had read it numerous times because he loved it so much. His fervor prompted me to purchase it and start reading it pronto.

This novel has a lot of historical importance to the Splatterpunk/Extreme Horror Sub-Genre. This was a young John Skipp’s first novel (co-authored with Craig Spector). It was purchased by Bantam Books in 1984 and published in 1986. It sold over a million copies worldwide. It is known as “The First Splatterpunk Novel”.

John Skipp’s accomplishments would fill several pages of print. Craig Spector, another master of spellbinding suspense, would collaborate with John Skipp for an additional five “Splatterpunk” novels.

The story begins with newspapers printing terrifying headlines about multiple savage murders taking place on the New York City subway. Ten grisly, brutal crimes prompt the press to dub the murderer the “Subway Psycho”. But the hard-working NYPD is operating with a handicap and failing to achieve any traction with their investigation. The men in blue are blind to the fact that their fiend is not human. An ancient evil visited their city and changed a young man into a supernatural creature of the night. Only a handful of people know the truth about the quarry the police are futilely hunting.

“The Light at the End” is how the youthful vampire describes his transformation to the nerdy Stephen who worships him. The “chosen” is a selfish ruthless nihilistic punk. This is not akin to the vampires of “Twilight”, but rather the tales of horror that whisper out of Transylvania at night with the sound effects of bat wings. The epic novel has a colorful cast of young energetic characters and an inspirational older man who saw the Extermination Camp of Treblinka fall.

This novel is akin to a rollercoaster ride through the fires of hell in a sense. There is constant movement of the storyline like an escalator moving at fast speed. It was all I could do to keep up with the antics of the vampire hunters and the other peripheral characters. The narrative is sometimes humorous due to the anecdotes that are occasionally employed. But it has a vibrant if not passionate comradery among the good guys who are trying to save lives by endangering their own. I really felt for these characters and there were casualties that were heartbreaking. There is so much action you feel like you need to be on speed to follow everything that is happening. I can easily understand why a fan would read the book more than a few times, because although I read closely, I feel like I may have missed something. In another vein, there are scenes I could read again and again.

MY favorite scenes included the meeting of the interested parties to discuss their potential strategies and suddenly Rudy (the vampire) shows up beside their table. Ian’s performance was worth its weight in gold. I also enjoyed Doug taking up the gauntlet on his skates and knowing that he was on the side of angels. He wreaked havoc with the Holy Water. Joseph saving the elderly man on the crosswalk, and learning what he was doing on the subway, and numerous other memorable moments. I can readily see why this book was a runaway best seller. It has laughter, love, friendship, commitment, danger, an evil supernatural creature of the night, and so much more.

I would highly recommend this book to those of you who are like me and are just now exploring the early days of Splatterpunk/Extreme Horror and become enthusiastic with finding gems from yesterday like this one which truly shines.


“THE FIRST SPLATTERPUNK NOVEL” THRILLS AND CHILLS EVEN TODAY

[Bracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first read this 25 years ago I really enjoyed it. Rudy Pasko, the villain, is still a wonderfully developed and lasting character--equally an object of fear and contempt. The book remains a vanguard in (at that time) the burgeoning Splatterpunk literary movement and is worth a read for the pull-no-punches horror imagery and the very well-paced final third of the story. I found myself wishing that the subplot with the homeless in the tunnels was expanded and the character list was thinned out a bit to give more time for a couple of the mains to shine through, but all told, the book is most worth the read for the contemptible Rudy Pasko.

[Alex (The Bookubus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ragtag group of people join forces against a vampire stalking the streets and subways of NYC.

1980s New York makes an excellent setting for a vampire story and this was a fun and fast-paced ride with plenty of blood and guts. It also had a couple of emotional moments that I honestly was not expecting from a splatterpunk novel.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book. I didn't realize it until I was into it for a bit that I had read this book years ago but I didn't remember alot of the storyline. The story is about people getting murdered on subway trains and in the subway tunnels by something other than a human. Not giving away spoilers here about what kind of creature it is as you will just have to read the book. Giving it 4 stars.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Skipp and Spector's first original collaborative novel. It was a story of extreme horror and violence and gore, and was splatterpunk before there was a word for such a thing. It's a vampire novel that had a lot to do with spawning (siring?) the proliferation of vampires who came to dominate the shelves in the following decade or three. I remember reading somewhere that Joss Whedon credited it with inspiring the character of William the Bloody, Spike himself, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I can't recommend it to readers with a low tolerance for violence or gore or abuse, but hardcore horror fans have to read the Skipp and Spector books.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this one on audio and enjoyed it. Chet Williamson is a great narrator.

I can see where this would have been the start of something “splatterpunk” in 1986, but by today’s standards it read (listened) a bit elementary. The writing, at times, was very basic. There really wasn’t anything shocking or overly gratuitous going on either. I will say that it was a very quick and entertaining listen and it definitely kept my attention throughout.

I liked it, but was hoping for more “splatter”. Or more “punk”.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skipp and Spector's debut novel quickly became something of a classic and I can see why. Published in 1986, TLATE contains a broad cast, including the lead Rudy-- a vampire without a clue. Rudy was 'turned' on a subway; the so-called 'train of death', pulling into a station with only dead bodies aboard. The master vampire, some 800 years old, paid a visit to NYC and decided a good feed was important before heading to Europe, and he thought he would leave a little surprise in NYC as well-- Rudy.

Rudy is a great character-- pompous artist, snide and mocking, but when he wakes up in the subway tunnels he has no clue about being a vampire. With visions of becoming a king of sorts, he decides to first take care of his ex and other associated people who pissed him off in life. The ex and other associated people slowly become aware of what Rudy is and decide to go after him themselves, as the cops would never believe them...

TLATE felt like a flashback to the 80s, with lots of references very artfully done to various politicians, economic trends and of course, Jimmy Swaggart. The pacing is more relentless than fast, but the bulk of the story transpires in one week. Rudy's discovering his new talents really drove the novel and broke with standard vampire tropes-- he knows he has new powers, but struggles to understand them, being at the same time driven by his ego to seek the death of his ex and other people who pissed him off. Rudy emerges as almost a tragic figure, even as he reaps death and mayhem in NYC. Without spoilers, I felt the ending was rather weak, and it departs from their later work as well. Skipp and Spector may be the founders of splatterpunk, but I would hesitate to brand this novel with that title. 3.5 wooden stakes rounding up.

[Lizz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t write reviews.

This was a ride! Very 80’s, very goth, very wild. I must be immune to splatter punk, since the gore didn’t seem too crazy. I enjoyed the vampire hierarchy as displayed by the ancient one and his punk spawn, Rudy. It was a bit satisfying when Rudy was put in his place.

The group of characters was surprisingly likable. Their bravery was mixed with sane, natural fear as they hunted down the insane predator Rudy through the dark of NYC. Old friendships are lost and new romances and friendships forced. It was all written quiet nicely. There were occasional creepy moments.

[MikeR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget the garlic. Forget the Holy Water. Forget the Crosses. The simple act of picking your nose grosses out a vampire, it might just save you. That is just an example of the dark humour in the world of John Skipp and Craig Spector whom many claim, with this novel, originated the sub-genre "Splatterpunk".

The Light at The End is marketed as the "original splatterpunk novel", but that is just marketing and whether it is fact is up to the individual reader, as "splatterpunk" was an evolutionary process becoming the sub-genre horror.

In 1978 the cult movie "I Spit on Your Grave" introduced the idea of "Splatterpunk" and the production companies wouldn't touch it, ultimately Meir Zarchi, unable to find a distributor, distributed the film himself. Critics were disgusted and labeled it "A vile bag of garbage ... without a shred of artistic distinction" - Roger Ebert. But there was a cult following of this movie thus proving that there was an untapped market for this style of film and production companies cashed in producing many films of this style in the 80's. This market was also tapped in literature with the emergence of a literary genre "characterized by graphically described scenes of an extremely gory nature." Skipp and Spector were leaders in this movement, but was this novel the "Original"? Possibly (that is for the pub/bar discussions to decide), it is ultimately up to the individual reader, but it is more evident with their novel Book of the Dead in 1989.

Many criticize the "Splatterpunk" genre referring to it as "teenage boy masturbatory fiction" whilst many of its critics praise "Urban Fiction" and "Romantic Horror". So just like what constitutes "masturbatory fiction", what an individual reader expects from "Splatterpunk" is purely up to the individual. For myself "Splatterpunk" is a genre I trust to deliver evil in the traditional folklore style or delivering the evil of a particular action in a form that accentuates the horror. I trust the genre not to "ridicule" or diminish century/millennia old portrayals of evil such as this




The Light at the End is basically a vampire story, some consider it a gory retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but I do not see it that way, it is a unique story in itself. The story follows the transformation of the street punk Rudy Pasko lurking in the New York City’s subway tunnels. Rudy is characterized as a narcissistic leach on society so in becoming a vampire he's not a victim but purely a villain. He is the original evil shape-shifting, dream invading, monster of vampire folklore



Pasko doesn’t just kill he wants to dominate and control his victims. He rapes and mutilates growing his army of undead. Regardless, Pasko’s is still nothing, as he finds out when he encounters his maker, an even greater evil. "Who's your daddy, Rudy?" Rudy finds out the hard way, literally!

Cue the "Van Helsing Team". Led by the insurmountable Joseph Hunter, with Rudy’s only friend, Stephen, a team of "Dungeon and Dragons" playing bike messengers, Ian, Allan and Joeseph, Rudy's scorned lover, Josalyn, and Claire who is infatuated by the thought of vampires, they will do anything to defeat Pasko.



No matter how terrible things get, will the determination of these few show them the light at the end? In this novel we find out as Skipp and Spector bring this novel to the edge of terror and indecency. Honestly by today's standard of "Splatterpunk" the depictions of rape and gore could be considered fairly tame, but that is what the genre was originally about, a good story with the use of gory depictions to enhance the horror. Today you can't help feeling that the genre is more about how far the authors can press the line of decency and the storyline is secondary.

If you enjoy "Splatterpunk" novels then you really need to read this novel as it is possibly the defining moment when the sub-genre evolved. This novel is very well written in a character driven style, it has a good plot and a satisfying ending. I've heard it mentioned that Rudy was the inspiration for Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "Spike" character, but don't let that fact deter you hardcore "splatterpunk" readers.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible - I cannot believe the reviews this novel receives. Perhaps it's simply how dated the novel is by this time, but the characters are unbelievably flat, boring, and derivative. It's cookie cutter genre fiction written by a pair of guys who don't seem to actually love words very much at all - the writing is stiff and makes action and characterization all the more awkward. I can't even finish reading this - it's awful.

[Cody | CodysBookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dated, pulpy, and ultimately unfulfilling vampire novel as poorly drawn and unlikable as the characters that populate it, The Light at the End is often credited with jumpstarting the splatterpunk movement and, damn, what a bummer of a start to the movement.

A few delightfully gruesome scenes of terror and a couple glimmers of something approaching true character development isn’t enough for this to earn more than 2 stars from me. Throw a rock and you’ll hit a better vampire novel than this: yeah, the vamps in Twilight sparkle but at least you can remember their names, huh? The cast here is too large by half—a true paring down of the characters should have been essential.

Written with an off-putting cockiness unbecoming to anyone out of middle school, this isn’t the edgy, revolutionary punk statement I think it pretends to be. Maybe these authors would go on to write novels worthy of their reputation, I don’t know. The back of my paperback copy declares this a “guitar note fingered by Satan”. Uh, not quite. I think it’s time I read Carmilla. . .

[Octavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampiros, gore y el mundo subterráneo del metro. Muy entretenido.

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Si quieres conocer el verdadero carácter de alguien, dale poder y observa-.

Género. Narrativa Fantástica.

Lo que nos cuenta. Un mal tan antiguo que hasta el propio Vlad trató de ganarse sus favores, se toma unas breves y traviesas vacaciones en Nueva York que dejan como resultado una carnicería y un nuevo vampiro, Rudy, que irá descubriendo sus capacidades sin ningún tipo de guía y que actuará en función de su malsana personalidad. Pero sus actividades llamarán la atención de varios personajes.

¿Quiere saber más del libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most definitely one of the best, yet somewhat overlooked, vampire novels of the twentieth century. Also said to have started the Splatter-Punk movement in horror-fiction. Dark and gory, punk rock vampires terrorizing New York City during the early nineteen-eighties. Joss Whedon has actually said that this book served as the partial inspiration for the character, Spike.

[Ms. Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Death
comes quickly
in the night.
Sinister intent.

Man,
in the end,
inevitably accepts.

by Nikki

Free on Amazon 4-11-13

I get it; The Original Splatterpunk-ers. I don't get the mediocre writing or over-easy characters. They're practically running all over the pages. There were times when I wanted the story to move on and end. Joseph was hulking it up constantly and really needed to be medicated. Stephen, was an annoying snot. None of the cast were likeable. The story was not as tight as it should have been with so many players in the mix. I could go on, but I'd rather not. The best part was the demise of Rudy on the train. Great description. Just an alright, okay read.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot-wise--great book, clever story arc and a fantastic ending. As a vampire story (ie was the vampire sufficiently evil, nasty, unromantic and fear inducing?) excellent. Characterization--so so. My main complaint was that the writing style was quite juvenile at times. Overall I gave it 4 stars but would have trimmed it a bit and liked a more polished writing style.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Light at the End is an excellent, rip-roaring novel that serves up a classic horror novel creature the way it should be portrayed: as insidiously, viciously evil.

I only docked the book one star because of the ridiculously clichéd 1980s homophobia underlying the story.

[William Oarlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

The introductory subway slaughter is perhaps the most powerful vampire opening attack since Varney the Vampyre.

Would also have been a far better ending if the obnoxious bully-boozer-momma's boy human protagonist had died 'heroically'.

[Ethan’s Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason all the books that I rate low are flipping back to “want to read”.

Very suspicious, Goodreads, very suspicious. 🤨

Anyways, I couldn’t leave this book unrated as I keep seeing it being resurfaced in forums as an exhilarating read in New York.

This is my opinion only, and maybe I’m due for a reread.

The first time I read this was a confusing experience. I did not like the book and I do not endorse this book as being exciting in anyway.
It was very boring, characters were forgettable, and to be crowned the splatterpunk starter pack, is a little insulting considering there wasn’t very much splatter.

Bummed, because vampires in New York sounds awesome. This book may have been better as a short story…

[A.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great vampire tale, like you wouldn’t think possible, the twin machine-gun fire of lovable characters and character arc making you do a dance of the dead. It’s bigger than splatterpunk; there’s a wisdom to it. You’d be a fool to pass this one up.

[Alondra Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars (Review to Follow)

[Dez Nemec · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on some best horror list and added it to my to buy pile as it sounded interesting. After having a bad day, I splurged on a Thriftbooks buy and it moved to the TBR pile. Looking at the length, I wasn't sure how long it would take me to get through it. Turns out it only took a little over 24 hours.

The story opens up with 10 people being slaughtered in a subway car. What follows is an excellent vampire story that envelopes the reader and drags them in. I saw that some people thought the writing was juvenile, but I was too involved in the story to really notice, so how bad could it be?

A thoroughly engrossing tale. One of the better vampire stories I have read in a long time.

[Stu Corner]

Problematic...

I'm not huge on vampires, but I'd heard that Skipp was the OG of splatterpunk, so, I gave It a go.
It started off pretty strong, but quickly went downhill due to the insane amount of characters that are thrown at you within the first few chapters, leaving you unable to get properly sucked in to the story.
I tried. DNF.

[Zulfiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a voracious reader, I always try to explore fringe genres, but my heart is forever with the well-written books with believable and fleshed-out characters, human drama and serious choices both characters and readers have to make.
Horror is one of those borderline cases when an exceptionally well-written novel with flawed but interesting characters and an insight into the psyche of a human mind cam enthrall me. Unfortunately, I believe this is not a case. I gave this novel three stars, but this rating is only valid within the frame of splatterpunk fiction (a literary genre characterized by the explicit description of horrific or violent scenes). In the bigger frame of fiction, this novel deserves only two stars.
The novel is definitely abundant in scenes of violence and gore, and some of them are truly repulsive if you look at them objectively. On the other hand, everyone knows, objectivity in portrayal is not the most laudable adjective. The subjective perception is everything in fiction. The more you can relate to it, the more memorable the writing is. This is what this book lack. Despite the gory and grisly scenes, they did not stir any feelings of fear or repulsion. The setting was a traditional one for a vampire story. I am very well aware that we do not have many choices when it comes to the time of the events in a horror novel, but the nights in the novel, although they harbor ugly scenes of murder, do not create the natural spooky, creepy feeling. Night is just a time when most of the events took place in this novel, and the dark enigma of the wee hours till dawn is totally non-existent.
The other thing that is only attributable to the zeitgeist, but still quite unpleasant is homophobia. The evolving values of today's world warp my interpretation and leave the tangy, bitter and unpleasant sediment in the wake of the book.
To counterbalance my negative arguments, I still want to justify my choice for three stars (again only within the frame of this genre). First and foremost, the vampire Rudy is a nasty, ugly being from the very beginning. He does not suffer from the complex of modern vampirism – I am a vampire, but I want to be a good guy, and I am conflicted, and my soul is torn apart by my intentions and true identity. He is rotten through and through. There is not a morsel of goodness in him. This is how monsters should look like.
Surprisingly, the books also provides an interesting insight into the philosophy of nihilism. Although the premise for this view is interesting and appealing (our world is non-cognizant, and we will never learn what is good and what is evil, and justice is not inherent in our universe; thus there is no point in trying to better the world around us), but the development of this idea leads to acts of terrorism and extremism as well as to the utmost egotism and gratification. This is clearly manifested in Rudy, the human being and the vampire. It is rarely a case when such a complex idea could be clearly explained and put into the appropriate context.
The most memorable moment in the novel has nothing to do with the imaginary horror, but with our human history. The character with the Holocaust past narrates the story of his experience, and this is the most disturbing moment in the whole books. I find it both enlightening and nonsensical. It is a story that is harrowing in its nature due to our own ability to acquiesce to the dogma and doctrine of ethnic cleansing; a reminder of that kind even in the most grotesque context is always a necessary reading experience. Conversely, the setting for the Holocaust survival story is the most bizarre one – who would anticipate this story in a horror novel about vampires? Consequently, it does contribute to the jarring discrepancy of ideas within the book.

[Snood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beaten-up used copy of this novel I found at a thrift store has "Dracula for stoners, man" scrawled on the first page. Honestly, I can't think of a better four words to sum the story up.

I am not a fan of vampires in general. I can't explain why, but I've always found them to be a boring monster when compared to werewolves, cryptids, or genetically altered animals. The pomp and arrogance about them makes them feel more like a human villain than a real monster. Rudy Pasko is a REAL monster though. There's something fascinating and terrifying about an immature person given incredible power over others. The lack of a typical vampire's ageless lack of emotion and perfect composure make him both vulnerable and dangerously unpredictable, which makes for a much more interesting character. This was another novel with an absolute gem of a climax. I read the last third or so of the book in just two unbroken sittings and looked up to find two hours had passed.

Despite being heralded as a progenitor of the splatterpunk genre, The Light at the End does not reach the heights of mindless gore that I was worried it would based on what works it inspired. It is by no means tame though, in either violence or gratuitous sex scenes (it is the 1980s after all). Unfortunately as a result of when it was written, it captures the homophobia of the era as well. The minor character of Jeremy is played up as a typical camp gay stereotype and the f-slur is used in narration, not just dialogue. This does add to the grimy 1980s New York atmosphere, but could have been left out without impacting the story at all. The depiction and treatment of women and the homeless left a bit to be desired as well, but not to the same extent. Homeless drunks were once again cast as throwaway victims and there were scenes of sexual violence, but one female character is given the opportunity for revenge without dying immediately after.

Overall, it was a fantastic monster novel if you can get past the more unsavory elements that tripped up my enjoyment.