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Larry
Between 1975 and 1978, Larry 'Pigface' Travers terrorised Camp Diamond Creek, killing more than a hundred horny, stoned teens, hacking them to death with his axe (the machete was already taken by some hockey guy over in New Jersey), and making a general nuisance of himself. Life couldn't have been better for a psycho slasher.
But in '78, after being outwitted by that year's 'final girl', Pigface found himself trapped (and a little bit on fire). Presumed dead, Larry Travers disappeared, but his legend lived on.
It's 2014. Now living in the woods with his overbearing - and slightly antique - mother, Larry's old enough to play bingo and enjoy jigsaw puzzles without feeling guilty. But the urge to kill has returned, and Larry thinks he still has what it takes to be a homicidal lunatic.
Pigface is back. Trouble is, he's not as young as he used to be...
But in '78, after being outwitted by that year's 'final girl', Pigface found himself trapped (and a little bit on fire). Presumed dead, Larry Travers disappeared, but his legend lived on.
It's 2014. Now living in the woods with his overbearing - and slightly antique - mother, Larry's old enough to play bingo and enjoy jigsaw puzzles without feeling guilty. But the urge to kill has returned, and Larry thinks he still has what it takes to be a homicidal lunatic.
Pigface is back. Trouble is, he's not as young as he used to be...
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2014
39 people are currently reading
1061 people want to read
About the author
Adam Millard
131 books177 followersAdam Millard is the author of twenty novels, twelve novellas, and more than two hundred short stories, which can be found in various collections and anthologies. Probably best known for his post-apocalyptic fiction, Adam also writes fantasy/horror for children and Bizarro fiction for several publishers. His work has recently been translated for the German market.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
October 4, 2021
What the literal hell?!
4.5 stars!
Omg! I read this book on kindle unlimited and then bought it. This book was part of my horror group challenge. I’ve laughed my ass off! This is a gory yet funny slasher. And the references to other horror movies, etc, was awesome! Some of the kids names are names if some of our old school baddies too!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
4.5 stars!
Omg! I read this book on kindle unlimited and then bought it. This book was part of my horror group challenge. I’ve laughed my ass off! This is a gory yet funny slasher. And the references to other horror movies, etc, was awesome! Some of the kids names are names if some of our old school baddies too!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
January 3, 2021
Superbly Hilarious!
Are you willing to join in this reader-participation review?
Don't worry, it's not difficult and it won't take a lot of time.
Here's what you need to do - the words that are written normally you imagine are being read by James Earl Jones...the voice of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars movies...Mufasa from the Lion King...a really deep voice, if you're still lost.
The words written in italics are being read by Jack from the television series Will & Grace.
Anything in brackets will be a sound you have to make out loud.
Are you ready?
[Before we start, try to read this review while listening to Carmina Burana]
You were scared when you saw Leatherface in THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE.
(Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmm)
You pissed your pants when you watched Jason Voorhees in FRIDAY THE 13th.
Thats right, he said pissed!
(Trinkle-trinkle-trinkle...plop-plop-ploink)
You nearly went crazy from lack of sleep after you saw Freddy Krueger in A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.
(Shink-Shink-Shink-Slash)
You nearly became a vegetarian after you watched the cannibals in WRONG TURN.
(Chomp-chomp-chomp)
You can't kill Mike Myers from HALLOWEEN or The Creeper from JEEPERS CREEPERS.
You need to put some feeling into this, like a drag queen at a shoe sale.
(AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!)
And we're not even going to talk about the Teletubbies.
(Make him stop, mommy, SOB)
But nothing,
And if he says nothing, he means not-a-fucking-thing!
(Gasp)
Oh, grow up, will ya?
Pardon me, I'm trying to work here...
See what you did, you...gasper! Sorry, James, dazzle us with your golden voice.
Where was I?
(NOTHING!)
Right. Nothing can prepare you for...
(Tum-tum-tummmmmmm)
LARRY!
When geriatric serial killers want to relive their youth, things can only go one way...
(duunnn dunnn...duunnn dunnn...duuuunnnn duun… duuunnnnnnnn dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnn dunnnn ...
And what's the moral of the story, James?
Don't go fucking camping, you idiot!
--------------------------------------------
Okay, it may have been a bit juvenile, but I loved everything about it. As a geeky horror movie fan, this story was right on the money.
Looking forward to reading more from this author!
Are you willing to join in this reader-participation review?
Don't worry, it's not difficult and it won't take a lot of time.
Here's what you need to do - the words that are written normally you imagine are being read by James Earl Jones...the voice of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars movies...Mufasa from the Lion King...a really deep voice, if you're still lost.
The words written in italics are being read by Jack from the television series Will & Grace.
Anything in brackets will be a sound you have to make out loud.
Are you ready?
[Before we start, try to read this review while listening to Carmina Burana]
You were scared when you saw Leatherface in THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE.
(Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmm)
You pissed your pants when you watched Jason Voorhees in FRIDAY THE 13th.
Thats right, he said pissed!
(Trinkle-trinkle-trinkle...plop-plop-ploink)
You nearly went crazy from lack of sleep after you saw Freddy Krueger in A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET.
(Shink-Shink-Shink-Slash)
You nearly became a vegetarian after you watched the cannibals in WRONG TURN.
(Chomp-chomp-chomp)
You can't kill Mike Myers from HALLOWEEN or The Creeper from JEEPERS CREEPERS.
You need to put some feeling into this, like a drag queen at a shoe sale.
(AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!)
And we're not even going to talk about the Teletubbies.
(Make him stop, mommy, SOB)
But nothing,
And if he says nothing, he means not-a-fucking-thing!
(Gasp)
Oh, grow up, will ya?
Pardon me, I'm trying to work here...
See what you did, you...gasper! Sorry, James, dazzle us with your golden voice.
Where was I?
(NOTHING!)
Right. Nothing can prepare you for...
(Tum-tum-tummmmmmm)
LARRY!
When geriatric serial killers want to relive their youth, things can only go one way...
(duunnn dunnn...duunnn dunnn...duuuunnnn duun… duuunnnnnnnn dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnn dunnnn ...
And what's the moral of the story, James?
Don't go fucking camping, you idiot!
--------------------------------------------
Okay, it may have been a bit juvenile, but I loved everything about it. As a geeky horror movie fan, this story was right on the money.
Looking forward to reading more from this author!
May 28, 2020
If you know anything about slashers, it's probably that they follow a certain set of rules. It's always dumb teens that get picked off. there's always a harbinger giving fair warning before they proceed. If they have sex, you know their life span will probably not last long enough for them to put their clothes back on. You know the killer is going to have a mundane first name (seriously, Freddy? His name's Fred?)... you know the killer will always come back.
Well, Larry "Pigface" Travers has been gone since 1978, but it's time to get back in the game. There's a bunch of meddling kids coming to Camp Diamond Creek, and they're not just going to kill themselves, so obviously he needs to step up... the only problem is Larry is old and retired. His hip hurts, he can't run, and he wheezes with most physical activities. What's an old slasher to do?
This is the heartwarming tale of an older gentleman finding out that he hasn't lost his touch, even if slashing is a young man's game.
Soooooo.... I'm probably an absolutely horrible person. This book has the sense of humor of a (clever) teenager who has seen a ton of horror flicks and loves mocking them every chance he can, and I sat there feeling like I needed popcorn, because I was along for this movie marathon and I was having a blast. Seriously though, this book is funny. It hit every slasher movie cliche, and I delighted in it every time.
“DOOOOOOMED!” Ozzie said once again. When they were out of the store, talking amongst themselves, he smiled. “Nice kids. Hope they take the hint and head home.”
Now that is a proper hilarious slasher harbinger!
This is far from a perfect book (hell, I honestly would have a hard time calling it a "good" book in the traditional sense). A lot of the jokes fail, but to be fair, there's about two of them in seemingly every paragraph so that was bound to happen. This is not a book to read for the prose, it at times felt like a college creative writing class project, which has the plus of the author being willing to experiment, but also felt extremely unpolished.
Many will not be able to stomach this book. It will no doubt be too gory for many comedy fans and way too silly for some horror fans. Others though... others will find it hilarious.
Me? Well, it hit me at just the right time to really delight in it. I should probably go with three... but to hell with it. 4/5 stars.
Well, Larry "Pigface" Travers has been gone since 1978, but it's time to get back in the game. There's a bunch of meddling kids coming to Camp Diamond Creek, and they're not just going to kill themselves, so obviously he needs to step up... the only problem is Larry is old and retired. His hip hurts, he can't run, and he wheezes with most physical activities. What's an old slasher to do?
This is the heartwarming tale of an older gentleman finding out that he hasn't lost his touch, even if slashing is a young man's game.
Soooooo.... I'm probably an absolutely horrible person. This book has the sense of humor of a (clever) teenager who has seen a ton of horror flicks and loves mocking them every chance he can, and I sat there feeling like I needed popcorn, because I was along for this movie marathon and I was having a blast. Seriously though, this book is funny. It hit every slasher movie cliche, and I delighted in it every time.
“DOOOOOOMED!” Ozzie said once again. When they were out of the store, talking amongst themselves, he smiled. “Nice kids. Hope they take the hint and head home.”
Now that is a proper hilarious slasher harbinger!
This is far from a perfect book (hell, I honestly would have a hard time calling it a "good" book in the traditional sense). A lot of the jokes fail, but to be fair, there's about two of them in seemingly every paragraph so that was bound to happen. This is not a book to read for the prose, it at times felt like a college creative writing class project, which has the plus of the author being willing to experiment, but also felt extremely unpolished.
Many will not be able to stomach this book. It will no doubt be too gory for many comedy fans and way too silly for some horror fans. Others though... others will find it hilarious.
Me? Well, it hit me at just the right time to really delight in it. I should probably go with three... but to hell with it. 4/5 stars.
September 28, 2022
Not Perfect!
A hilarious story about an old and decrepit serial killer.
After infamously earning a name for killing about a hundred people, mostly teenagers, Pigface Larry decides he is ready for a comeback.
Not grateful that he got away with murder thirty-six years ago, Larry feels like he can still “do it,” just as long as he puts his mind to it.
So back he goes to camp “wherever,” (nobody cares), carrying his stale, burnt out mask, wearing his crusty, old overalls, with his favorite, found axe.
Suffering from emphysema, arthritis and a bad back, it’s a miracle he can even get there. Fortunately, he’s not stalking any geniuses.
Larry would be a perfect horror story if not for some of the stereotypical characters and mistakes and the author’s usage of the “final girl” in what in the story is the year of 1978.
Unless it’s done purposely, the usage is anachronistic.
And why must the black couple say y’all all the time? Yes, black people do say y’all. I, myself, says it sometimes, but not all the time. And if it’s going to be used, use it appropriately.
And who in the world is named Lakresha?! Names like that played out a generation ago. Anybody with a name like that is old! Like, in their 40’s or 50’s.
Still, overall, the book was hilarious and I really enjoyed it, but I don’t feel that a sequel would be anywhere near as good.
So, for originality and humor...four stars. ✨
A hilarious story about an old and decrepit serial killer.
After infamously earning a name for killing about a hundred people, mostly teenagers, Pigface Larry decides he is ready for a comeback.
Not grateful that he got away with murder thirty-six years ago, Larry feels like he can still “do it,” just as long as he puts his mind to it.
So back he goes to camp “wherever,” (nobody cares), carrying his stale, burnt out mask, wearing his crusty, old overalls, with his favorite, found axe.
Suffering from emphysema, arthritis and a bad back, it’s a miracle he can even get there. Fortunately, he’s not stalking any geniuses.
Larry would be a perfect horror story if not for some of the stereotypical characters and mistakes and the author’s usage of the “final girl” in what in the story is the year of 1978.
Unless it’s done purposely, the usage is anachronistic.
And why must the black couple say y’all all the time? Yes, black people do say y’all. I, myself, says it sometimes, but not all the time. And if it’s going to be used, use it appropriately.
And who in the world is named Lakresha?! Names like that played out a generation ago. Anybody with a name like that is old! Like, in their 40’s or 50’s.
Still, overall, the book was hilarious and I really enjoyed it, but I don’t feel that a sequel would be anywhere near as good.
So, for originality and humor...four stars. ✨
May 17, 2021
4.5 🌟
SO MUCH FUN! SQQQQUUEEEEEEE
SO MUCH FUN! SQQQQUUEEEEEEE
April 9, 2021
I love the slasher genre and I adore camp, but this felt more like slasher spoof.
The good:
The concept is phenomenal. The idea of a retired mass murdered making a comeback is hilarious. You will find plenty of humor and violence in this short, action-packed book.
The bad:
The whole story is a bland caricature of a classic tale. There isn't any creativity to the world or characters, but there is enough nods to slasher culture to make a fan fic writer blush.
But that is just me. I'm sure Larry will find its audience and many will happily fall into that category.
The good:
The concept is phenomenal. The idea of a retired mass murdered making a comeback is hilarious. You will find plenty of humor and violence in this short, action-packed book.
The bad:
The whole story is a bland caricature of a classic tale. There isn't any creativity to the world or characters, but there is enough nods to slasher culture to make a fan fic writer blush.
But that is just me. I'm sure Larry will find its audience and many will happily fall into that category.
March 4, 2019
Wow…..so I just wrapped up reading Adam Millard’s “Larry,” the heartwarming tale of a psychotic serial killer who has grown old and infirm, but who wants nothing more than to go on one last killing spree because...well, just because. Nothing says “Hallmark Moment” like an old guy in a pig mask “SQUEEEEEEING” his way through a series of grisly axe murders, all delivered with tart dialogue and deft comedic pacing.
This book is gross. This book is sickening. This book is not afraid to deliver lines like this:
“Freddy pointed through the trees, to what appeared to be a cabin. A large cabin. If there were several small cabins surrounding it, one might say it was a MAIN cabin. Hanging from a tree branch in front of the cabin, like Christmas ornaments or Michael Hutchence after a vigorous wank, were four bodies.”
It’s like this. Larry Travers, otherwise known as the semi-legendary Pigface, is the consummate summer camp killer, going about his rounds with gleeful efficiency. The book starts off in the latter 1970s, the absolute heyday for summer camp killers and others of that particular ilk. Larry has just offed his latest batch of fornicating teenagers when he is confronted with a conundrum. He has, in fact, encountered The Final Girl. She who must, by the laws of the universe, get away in the end to breathlessly tell all and do a quick scene at the end with Donald Pleasance. You know….."it WAS the boogeyman…..” and all that hack. But this PARTICULAR Final Girl doesn’t want to play by these rules, and she sets Larry up to be cremated in a blocked-off restroom. Larry manages to escape, however, and more or less retires the pig mask and the killing business in favor of raising his own pigs and living with his centenarian mother, who just MAY be a grosser character than Larry himself.
Cut to 2014, and a new group of campers have descended on THAT old summer camp. And poor Larry, who has been cooped up with his mother and his pigs for quite long enough, decides to come out of retirement. The problem, of course, is that he isn’t as young and spry as he used to be. Nonetheless, Larry does manage to cause quite a lot of chaos and spill several gallons of blood. It’s obvious that teenagers have become pretty dumb since the 1970s…not that they were particularly smart in the 1970s...anyway, that’s all you get from me in terms of exposition.
Millard keeps the pace fast and the action continuous as Larry battles his aches and pains and his pet large colon worms as he goes about his cheerful killing. The reader will be fortunate enough to get an idea of WHY Larry turned out the way he did. Not that he’s a particularly sympathetic character, but at least we see what inner demons and intestinal parasites drive him on. And he’s unfailingly POLITE. His obvious enthusiasm for murderous mayhem is infectious, to say the least. One could imagine that Larry might not be so bad a guy had not…...ummmmm...well, no. That’s a bunch of rot. Larry is simply Larry, a demented guy in a pig mask who chops up teenagers with glorious abandon.
“Larry” is a fast read and certainly brought a chuckle to my face on more than one occasion. Millard spares no amount of descriptive chaos when Larry inevitably brings the hatchet down, so to speak. Body parts fly all over the place and blood flows like urine in some kinky Russian brothel. Is that a camera over there? Well, no big, right? Anyway, there is some suggestive sexual content to be found, but most of the action is centered on violent, axe-murdering, SQUEEEEEEEFUL blood-letting that would make most splatter-porn look tame.
In a sense, “Larry” seemed very much like an episode of my favorite cooking show, “Chopped.” Pun very much intended. The basic idea behind “Chopped” is that four contestants are given baskets of various unusual ingredients and then told that they have to make a meal out of this mishmash within a given time frame. They go through three rounds with a contestant getting “chopped” after each round, leaving us with a clear winner at the end. The results are often delicious, sometimes disgusting, but always fun and interesting. I really felt that Millard had a great time here adding in various horror tropes and mixing in just about everything that he could find into his “recipe.”
Now you have to understand that Adam Millard is British, and the book is written in a VERY British voice. It’s so British, in fact, that I couldn’t get the English accent out of my head at any point in the proceedings. This isn’t necessarily BAD, it just is what it is. The “slasher movie” set in the summer camp is, as far as I know, a strictly American sort of horror trope, so you may find the Britspeak to be a bit disconcerting. It didn’t spoil the book for me, just be aware that it’s there. Furthermore, the Benny Hill elements kept coming to the fore, even though it was clear that Millard was aiming for a more cerebral Monty Python feel at various times.
Pretty solid four stars on this one. It’s speedy and entertaining and deliciously disgusting at just the right moments. It’s a bit of a one-note joke, but in the end it’s a doozy of a one-note joke. Looks like there are a couple of sequels out there. Guess I’ll have to download those onto the old Kindle one of these days and see how old Larry gets on after he’s been….oh, wait. No spoilers, no spoilers. Get the book and read it yourselves, you disgusting horror-porn aficionados. You’re mentally unhealthy, all of you. But at least you probably don’t have a meaningful relationship with your intestinal worms……….
This book is gross. This book is sickening. This book is not afraid to deliver lines like this:
“Freddy pointed through the trees, to what appeared to be a cabin. A large cabin. If there were several small cabins surrounding it, one might say it was a MAIN cabin. Hanging from a tree branch in front of the cabin, like Christmas ornaments or Michael Hutchence after a vigorous wank, were four bodies.”
It’s like this. Larry Travers, otherwise known as the semi-legendary Pigface, is the consummate summer camp killer, going about his rounds with gleeful efficiency. The book starts off in the latter 1970s, the absolute heyday for summer camp killers and others of that particular ilk. Larry has just offed his latest batch of fornicating teenagers when he is confronted with a conundrum. He has, in fact, encountered The Final Girl. She who must, by the laws of the universe, get away in the end to breathlessly tell all and do a quick scene at the end with Donald Pleasance. You know….."it WAS the boogeyman…..” and all that hack. But this PARTICULAR Final Girl doesn’t want to play by these rules, and she sets Larry up to be cremated in a blocked-off restroom. Larry manages to escape, however, and more or less retires the pig mask and the killing business in favor of raising his own pigs and living with his centenarian mother, who just MAY be a grosser character than Larry himself.
Cut to 2014, and a new group of campers have descended on THAT old summer camp. And poor Larry, who has been cooped up with his mother and his pigs for quite long enough, decides to come out of retirement. The problem, of course, is that he isn’t as young and spry as he used to be. Nonetheless, Larry does manage to cause quite a lot of chaos and spill several gallons of blood. It’s obvious that teenagers have become pretty dumb since the 1970s…not that they were particularly smart in the 1970s...anyway, that’s all you get from me in terms of exposition.
Millard keeps the pace fast and the action continuous as Larry battles his aches and pains and his pet large colon worms as he goes about his cheerful killing. The reader will be fortunate enough to get an idea of WHY Larry turned out the way he did. Not that he’s a particularly sympathetic character, but at least we see what inner demons and intestinal parasites drive him on. And he’s unfailingly POLITE. His obvious enthusiasm for murderous mayhem is infectious, to say the least. One could imagine that Larry might not be so bad a guy had not…...ummmmm...well, no. That’s a bunch of rot. Larry is simply Larry, a demented guy in a pig mask who chops up teenagers with glorious abandon.
“Larry” is a fast read and certainly brought a chuckle to my face on more than one occasion. Millard spares no amount of descriptive chaos when Larry inevitably brings the hatchet down, so to speak. Body parts fly all over the place and blood flows like urine in some kinky Russian brothel. Is that a camera over there? Well, no big, right? Anyway, there is some suggestive sexual content to be found, but most of the action is centered on violent, axe-murdering, SQUEEEEEEEFUL blood-letting that would make most splatter-porn look tame.
In a sense, “Larry” seemed very much like an episode of my favorite cooking show, “Chopped.” Pun very much intended. The basic idea behind “Chopped” is that four contestants are given baskets of various unusual ingredients and then told that they have to make a meal out of this mishmash within a given time frame. They go through three rounds with a contestant getting “chopped” after each round, leaving us with a clear winner at the end. The results are often delicious, sometimes disgusting, but always fun and interesting. I really felt that Millard had a great time here adding in various horror tropes and mixing in just about everything that he could find into his “recipe.”
Now you have to understand that Adam Millard is British, and the book is written in a VERY British voice. It’s so British, in fact, that I couldn’t get the English accent out of my head at any point in the proceedings. This isn’t necessarily BAD, it just is what it is. The “slasher movie” set in the summer camp is, as far as I know, a strictly American sort of horror trope, so you may find the Britspeak to be a bit disconcerting. It didn’t spoil the book for me, just be aware that it’s there. Furthermore, the Benny Hill elements kept coming to the fore, even though it was clear that Millard was aiming for a more cerebral Monty Python feel at various times.
Pretty solid four stars on this one. It’s speedy and entertaining and deliciously disgusting at just the right moments. It’s a bit of a one-note joke, but in the end it’s a doozy of a one-note joke. Looks like there are a couple of sequels out there. Guess I’ll have to download those onto the old Kindle one of these days and see how old Larry gets on after he’s been….oh, wait. No spoilers, no spoilers. Get the book and read it yourselves, you disgusting horror-porn aficionados. You’re mentally unhealthy, all of you. But at least you probably don’t have a meaningful relationship with your intestinal worms……….
November 2, 2016
I just went on a date with Adam Millard to the movies and it was awesome! Okay. Not a real date. I just spent some time with some characters he created.
This read has its gory moments, but it was fun more than anything. I was actually caught off guard and laughed a couple of times out loud.
So campy. So silly good. I recommend it completely.
This read has its gory moments, but it was fun more than anything. I was actually caught off guard and laughed a couple of times out loud.
So campy. So silly good. I recommend it completely.
June 20, 2022
💀 DNF at 30%.
This was supposed to be funny as fish.
Spoiler alert: it isn't.
October 13, 2015
A fun read. The book read like a comical version of Friday the 13th. This was my first book by Adam I have read and enjoyed. Will be reading more of his books in the future. I moved The Human Santapede up in my TBR pile. I gave Larry 4 stars.
May 15, 2021
buddy read with jordaline reads!
January 22, 2024
I’m not one for horror comedy, but this has to be the most fun I’ve had reading a book. An absolute blast from start to finish!
January 6, 2019
I bought this from a woman in one of my horror groups and couldn't resist starting it right away. Larry was Pigface, a serial killer in the 1970s that retired after nearly being burned alive by one of his "final girls." But despite the fact that it's 40 years later, he can't fight his urges anymore and returns once again to terrify stupid, horny teens and shed some blood. There are loads of gems for slasher film fans. (The gas attendant, Ozzie, puts on a great Ralph from the original Friday the 13th, telling them they are DOOMED if they go there! DOOMED!!! The last names include Krueger, Vorhees, Loomis.) We even get the pet pig's thoughts.
From the first page of the book: “‘I was a great killer, once upon a time. Now I can’t even sneeze without pissing down my leg.’ Larry Travers.” I laughed my ass off during this book. It was great!
From the first page of the book: “‘I was a great killer, once upon a time. Now I can’t even sneeze without pissing down my leg.’ Larry Travers.” I laughed my ass off during this book. It was great!
August 18, 2014
Millard has created a fun comedic slasher novel that plays with the genre and slasher expectations. His slasher is a talkative oddball that achieves a nice bit of humanity throughout. He can actually be a pretty sweet guy when he's not hacking you to pieces. We also get a heavy taste of what he's been through and motive for why he's doing what he's doing. Personally, I love slasher films and novels and, in looking to extend my grasp of the genre, I found this book quite useful and engaging. There is a heavy dose of humor in here, which the cover hints at (gotta love that artwork!), but which really unfolds through Millard's take on the camp-bound cast of genre-esque characters that must deal with Larry's wrath. So, if you're looking for a violent and funny take on the slasher genre, give this one a go.
May 17, 2021
This was a funny and irreverent little story. This will not be everyone's cup of tea, but I liked it immensely. This is a perfect story for the summer, entertaining, and requires no mental "heavy lifting."
April 12, 2021
I read this with the Horror Aficionados group and I actually voted for this one to be one of our April reads. I chose it because it is a Kindle Unlimited book and because the premise sounds really fun!
So, it's meant to be a funny, bizarre parody of the classic slasher story. We know how it is, there are several other books and a popular movie, Cabin in the Woods, making fun of the slasher movie tropes. However, this one falls a bit flat for me.
Larry, I felt, was written well, but the rest of the cast were just caricatures of the usual slasher cast. Which was funny years ago, but overdone now (which is why I probably should have read this when it came out in 2014). They felt forced - actually most of the humor felt pretty forced. Like it was trying too hard and it would just get distracting. For instance, the author made a joke about Angelina Jolie and her adopted kids, which I didn't find funny but it did bring me to Google for 20 minutes to see how they're all doing (they're well, by the way). However, there were some parts that I did find funny, such as Larry sitting down to play a video game with a terrified teen. Kinda wish that part was longer.
Anyway, I'm a firm believer in reading books at the right time for the best effect and I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more in the mid 2010s. The pop-culture references haven't aged well since, but the slasher references were fun to notice.
Larry "Pigface" Travers is a former axe murderer who retired after the final girl got the best of him, but after years pass he has decided to go out once more.
So, it's meant to be a funny, bizarre parody of the classic slasher story. We know how it is, there are several other books and a popular movie, Cabin in the Woods, making fun of the slasher movie tropes. However, this one falls a bit flat for me.
Larry, I felt, was written well, but the rest of the cast were just caricatures of the usual slasher cast. Which was funny years ago, but overdone now (which is why I probably should have read this when it came out in 2014). They felt forced - actually most of the humor felt pretty forced. Like it was trying too hard and it would just get distracting. For instance, the author made a joke about Angelina Jolie and her adopted kids, which I didn't find funny but it did bring me to Google for 20 minutes to see how they're all doing (they're well, by the way). However, there were some parts that I did find funny, such as Larry sitting down to play a video game with a terrified teen. Kinda wish that part was longer.
Anyway, I'm a firm believer in reading books at the right time for the best effect and I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more in the mid 2010s. The pop-culture references haven't aged well since, but the slasher references were fun to notice.
July 29, 2015
A fun read, not to long and had all the suspense of a traditional slasher movie.
July 18, 2017
"To take a genre and a setting and style that everyone who loves horror, loves, and totally rip it apart and reform it into your own unique style and make it funny, as well as scary, is not an easy task. To make you, the reader, absolutely love it, considering it laughs in the face of all you grew up with, well this is an even more difficult task. Adam Millard has not only nailed it, he has hammered in a tiny tack with the biggest sledgehammer he could find."
See here for the full review:
Larry
See here for the full review:
Larry
April 24, 2021
I read this one for a group read and was pretty disappointed. I like horror comedies and I grew up on 80's slasher flicks, so I was looking forward to this one. The humor just wasn't working for me and seemed on par with an obnoxious, 90's shock jock who thinks they're the next Howard Stern, but will probably be cancelled before the year is out . All that was missing were the sound effects and annoying sidekick. The victims were all one-dimensional clichés that nobody cares about. The trees had more character development than any of the kids.
February 27, 2015
Slasher film feel + great humour = awesome sauce. Looking forward to Larry 2. :)
November 18, 2021
Fun slashery goodness
August 20, 2015
A really fun, gory read!
I loved the send-up of slasher flick cliches. Cannot wait for the sequel, here's hoping it's better than the original!
I loved the send-up of slasher flick cliches. Cannot wait for the sequel, here's hoping it's better than the original!
May 10, 2016
Amazing
Jesus Christ, the funniest book I've ever read!!! A parody of every slasher movie you've ever seen. Loved it and am going to buy the sequel!
Jesus Christ, the funniest book I've ever read!!! A parody of every slasher movie you've ever seen. Loved it and am going to buy the sequel!
June 9, 2022
Let us acknowledge the cover of this book first of all! It is why I decided to make this my 2nd slasher book to read for our Slime Summer Slashers readathon for the month of June. Larry is a serial killer who first committed his crimes at a camp in the 70's. He stopped for several decades and then in 2014 all of a sudden Larry gets the feeling of wanting to return to the camp to slaughter some more campers. Unfortunately for Larry he has a few issues now, 1 being that he is a lot older and can't hold his bladder etc.
Oh yeah, & why the pig on the cover? Well thats the mask he wears as he's running amuck through the forest slashing the campers. 🔪🔪🔪The pig mask also talks to him! It’s like his inner voice telling him what to do. The mask reminded me of the SAW movies which I love. Creepy Pigs are a horror troupe I love just like creepy clowns. 🤡 I'm a weirdo I guess. LOL
I enjoyed the camp element, the slasher elements, the chases, and the storyline all together. The story is told in a humorous way. It makes fun of the usual troupes we see in horror slashers like the final girl troupes etc.
I will be picking up the 2nd book in this series because one thing that the Halloween & Friday the 13th franchises have shown us that these killers never really die.......
Oh yeah, & why the pig on the cover? Well thats the mask he wears as he's running amuck through the forest slashing the campers. 🔪🔪🔪The pig mask also talks to him! It’s like his inner voice telling him what to do. The mask reminded me of the SAW movies which I love. Creepy Pigs are a horror troupe I love just like creepy clowns. 🤡 I'm a weirdo I guess. LOL
I enjoyed the camp element, the slasher elements, the chases, and the storyline all together. The story is told in a humorous way. It makes fun of the usual troupes we see in horror slashers like the final girl troupes etc.
I will be picking up the 2nd book in this series because one thing that the Halloween & Friday the 13th franchises have shown us that these killers never really die.......
May 5, 2024
This book was a real breath of fresh air, (although, it came with a hint of blood and pigshit too), the perfect palate cleanser, the most brutally light-hearted slasher, and from the first paragraph I knew this was gonna be a lot of fun, and it was! It had me laughing maniacally along with the copious amounts of blood splatters and the quick rise in body count!
Rammed with plenty of blood and gore from the outset, this story has a lot of the well loved horror movie cliches you’d expect, along the lines of the Scary Movie franchise. It's bizarre, hilarious, blood soaked, and brutal. A quick, addictive, good time page turner! I had an absolute blast with it! I love Adam’s quirky descriptions of everything, his prose is a lot of fun and very easy and enjoyable to read.
It's 1978 and at Camp Diamond Creek the final girl is trying to flee the killer in the pig mask. Everyone else is dead, brutally slaughtered at the hands of the masked murderer, but she’s all arms and legs as she clumsily runs for her life. Yet, when she comes head to head with the killer, things take an interesting turn….
36 years later and a new group of friends are heading to the camp…
Larry was terrifying back in the 70’s, no one stood a chance. Nearly 40 years later though, living with just his Mum and his pig, he's bored. He craves killing once again, but his age has become a bit of a hindrance. He's determined though, stubborn, and it makes for one heck of an entertaining read!
I'm pretty sure I had just as much fun, if not more, as Larry seemed to be having, and I can't wait to buy and read the sequel! Squeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Rammed with plenty of blood and gore from the outset, this story has a lot of the well loved horror movie cliches you’d expect, along the lines of the Scary Movie franchise. It's bizarre, hilarious, blood soaked, and brutal. A quick, addictive, good time page turner! I had an absolute blast with it! I love Adam’s quirky descriptions of everything, his prose is a lot of fun and very easy and enjoyable to read.
It's 1978 and at Camp Diamond Creek the final girl is trying to flee the killer in the pig mask. Everyone else is dead, brutally slaughtered at the hands of the masked murderer, but she’s all arms and legs as she clumsily runs for her life. Yet, when she comes head to head with the killer, things take an interesting turn….
36 years later and a new group of friends are heading to the camp…
Larry was terrifying back in the 70’s, no one stood a chance. Nearly 40 years later though, living with just his Mum and his pig, he's bored. He craves killing once again, but his age has become a bit of a hindrance. He's determined though, stubborn, and it makes for one heck of an entertaining read!
I'm pretty sure I had just as much fun, if not more, as Larry seemed to be having, and I can't wait to buy and read the sequel! Squeeeeeeeeeeeee!
May 17, 2022
B Horror Gold
Takes every exaggerated slasher trope, puts it through a Troma bad b horror filter, then exaggerates it even further. At the center is a decent slasher story as well.
Takes every exaggerated slasher trope, puts it through a Troma bad b horror filter, then exaggerates it even further. At the center is a decent slasher story as well.
November 14, 2014
I'm not sure where my first review of Larry went - that's not good!
In 1956, a young boy drowned in Crystal Lake. It was a tragedy that could have been avoided, if the camp counselors weren't dirty sinners! Sneaking off for a little hanky panky instead of watching the campers turned out to be a mistake that the world paid for - thirteen times.
At the same time, but a different place, young Larry Travers is being terrorized by his fellow campers on the banks of Diamond Creek.
This is not a summer of love.
In 1975, Larry Travers sharpens his axe, dons his new mask, and returns to Camp Diamond Creek after almost twenty years. This is the year that 'Pigface' gets his revenge! 1975 becomes the summer of slaughter, and Pigface is happier than a pig in shit! He loves it so much, that he returns in '76, '77, and '78.
The summer of '78 didn't end well. His killing spree was fantastic, and he had a respectable body count. But, when he was ready to abide by the new rules, and let the final girl walk free - she double crossed him!
Almost becoming bacon made Larry Pigface Travers rethink his career. If it were ten years later, Larry would have quoted Murtaugh... because he was indeed 'gettin too old for this shit'.
That pretty much brings us up to speed!
Present day - The summer of 2014
A new generation of Happy Campers are about to take part in the latest sequel in the Diamond Creek franchise. Paying homage to the greats, this batch of soon to be corpses have very familiar names - Voorhees, Loomis, Bateman, and Myers - to name but a few. For that extra ::wink wink nudge nudge::, there's Lakresha, whose last name might as well be Token, because we know she's not going to see the dawn.
Following a very specific pattern, on the way to Diamond Creek, they roll into a dilapidated gas station - and the first harbinger. They get their "damn fool kids never learn" words of wisdom, some gas, a case of the willies, and they're on their way!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
A now sixty-five year old Larry Travers is having some quality time with Wilber - (a pig by any other name would be a travesty), and his Ma. Larry is feeling plucky, and decides it's time for some more fun! He's still a homicidal lunatic at heart, and the heart is willing.
His bones & joints are singing a different tune, but, he just needs to warm up. Stretch a little. It will be fine...
This was one of the funnest books I've read in a long time!
I'm a huge fan of 70's horror, and 80's cheese - and Adam Millard captured all the best parts of the era.
When House Of 1000 Corpses was finally released - I was in line on opening night. As a dedicated Fangoria reader, I had been following the progress of the film, and every obstacle that got in Rob Zombie's way while trying to get it released.
The lights in the theater dimmed, the music started, and I was whisked back in time - back to the horror of the late 70's. He kept the music authentic, and the film even had that grainy look. Plus, you know...Bill Mosley.
It was perfection.
Reading LARRY gave me that feeling.
I can't think of any higher praise than that.
Check out other titles from Adam Millard on his Amazon page, and on Crowded Quarantine Publications.
Start your stalking with his Facebook page, progress to his Twitter feed, and when you're feeling especially froggy - you can send gifts & declarations of love via e-mail.
May 4, 2020
Horror Bookworm Review...
Larry by Adam Millard
Larry Travers is an aged retired camp ground serial slasher from the 1970’s. Years later, missing the smell of sliced teenaged death, he chooses to come out of retirement and once again don his pig face mask and handy axe.
What Douglas Adams did for Sci-Fi comedy, Adam Millard has done for horror comedy with his novel Larry. Many chuckles are guaranteed as unforgettable characters are introduced such as Pigface’s condescending mother, college age kids consistently providing rules and regulations of a proper kill-crazy rampage and of course the “talking” pig face mask giving sarcastic consultations for Larry.
Readers will enjoy the perfect hillbilly hacking cabin getaway at Camp Diamond Creek. Just be sure to ignore the old man chanting “Doomed I Tell You!” As you enter the woods alone.
Grap your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Larry-Adam-Mil...
Adam Millard authors a vast subject matter that ranges from Fantasy/Horror to Bizarro to Post-Apocalyptic fiction. His unique style pushes the limits of the genre, and is a joy to read.
For more recommendations, please check out https://horrorbookwormreviews.wordpre...
Larry by Adam Millard
Larry Travers is an aged retired camp ground serial slasher from the 1970’s. Years later, missing the smell of sliced teenaged death, he chooses to come out of retirement and once again don his pig face mask and handy axe.
What Douglas Adams did for Sci-Fi comedy, Adam Millard has done for horror comedy with his novel Larry. Many chuckles are guaranteed as unforgettable characters are introduced such as Pigface’s condescending mother, college age kids consistently providing rules and regulations of a proper kill-crazy rampage and of course the “talking” pig face mask giving sarcastic consultations for Larry.
Readers will enjoy the perfect hillbilly hacking cabin getaway at Camp Diamond Creek. Just be sure to ignore the old man chanting “Doomed I Tell You!” As you enter the woods alone.
Grap your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Larry-Adam-Mil...
Adam Millard authors a vast subject matter that ranges from Fantasy/Horror to Bizarro to Post-Apocalyptic fiction. His unique style pushes the limits of the genre, and is a joy to read.
For more recommendations, please check out https://horrorbookwormreviews.wordpre...
July 19, 2015
This was a quick, fun read that had plenty of memorable passages.
"Toothless grins are cute on babies, but on geriatric gas-station attendants, they’re creepy as hell."
"The trio began to follow Ozzie. It wasn’t difficult; he had all the speed of an apprehensive sloth. With each step he took, something creaked, suggesting he was slightly older than World War II and marginally younger than the Pine Ridge Campaign."
"Like centuries-old cheese wrapped in a gigolo’s foreskin." or "Larry’s patience was thinner than a gnat’s scrotum stretched over a fifty-gallon drum."
Anyway Millard's take on classic slasher movie tropes was clever and hilarious. There was more character depth than I expected and Larry's mask was a great touch.
"Toothless grins are cute on babies, but on geriatric gas-station attendants, they’re creepy as hell."
"The trio began to follow Ozzie. It wasn’t difficult; he had all the speed of an apprehensive sloth. With each step he took, something creaked, suggesting he was slightly older than World War II and marginally younger than the Pine Ridge Campaign."
"Like centuries-old cheese wrapped in a gigolo’s foreskin." or "Larry’s patience was thinner than a gnat’s scrotum stretched over a fifty-gallon drum."
Anyway Millard's take on classic slasher movie tropes was clever and hilarious. There was more character depth than I expected and Larry's mask was a great touch.
January 8, 2015
Adam Millard squeeee's and heaves a blood soaked, yet well maintained axe through the fourth wall in this hilarious book. He holds up so many horror tropes and plays on them really well. Thoroughly enjoyed it, can't wait for the sequel
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