Deathwalker #1 - Roman Castevano

[nightreader]

Deathwalker #1: Rites of the Demon by Roman Castevano (Tempo Books 1976)

Luke Payne returns home a hero; he says he’s just a survivor. An idealistic journalist, he survived in a POW camp in Vietnam for five long years, but not without injury. Aside from the mental trauma he suffered Luke was also caught in a bomb blast, which left him with a small piece of shrapnel embedded in his head, between his eyebrows, just over his ‘third eye’.

Luke returns to his artist girlfriend Diana but also finds much has changed since he’s been away. Diana and his best friend Dawson have become involved in a cult called the Ancient Peace Movement, led by the enigmatic Symrna and a small inner circle of rich and influential people. Luke starts having terrible nightmares involving hooded figures around an altar on which Diana is to be sacrificed. He turns to psychiatrist Marian Lescault for help, thinking he’s just finding it hard to adjust after his experience.

Lescault learns through hypnosis that Luke has paranormal powers, which the doctor herself has but to a lesser degree. Luke sees more of the doctor, explaining his fears for Diana and her involvement with the cult.

One evening Luke and Diana argue and he heads out onto the streets, walking. He is mugged, almost killed until his attacker bursts into flames and dies horribly. Thinking he’s responsible he turns to Lescault for help.

Diana begins to have her own doubts about what she’s involved in, but she allows herself to be convinced into going to Symrna’s country house to paint murals for her. While she is there she witnesses a horrible ritual, observing the inner circle worshipping Mythos the spider god – a creature Luke had seen in one of his dreams:

“…half spider, half man, lusting not for blood but for pleasure in human misery, drawing life from the darkest heart of it’s twisted followers… Horribly the spider god manifested itself, whole and perfect unto itself, with a misshaped ebon head, glittering yellow eyes, a mandible open and hungry to be filled, long spider like multi-jointed arms…a demon god beyond mortal nightmares of darkness and evil”

As Luke begins to piece together what is happening he reads in the newspaper that Dr. Lescault has been found dead, inexplicably burned alive though her home was undamaged. He is soon visited by the police, as one of the doctor’s patients. The cop is suspicious and easily links the death of the mugger to Lescault's but can prove nothing and goes away. Luke accepts now he is not responsible, but he knows who is.

The story builds to the inevitable showdown at Symrna’s country home called ‘Smallwood’, where she reveals an ancient plan to revive Mythos and take control of everything. She tells Luke that she is immortal, has inhabited different bodies for many thousands of years and has her eye on Diana as her next host body. Luke has to face up to the coven of immortals and Mythos itself in an impressive battle, which results in loss of life and a new mission for Luke Payne.

This claims to be the 'first in a new series of non-stop action and unbelievable terror!'... so has anybody heard of this? and is there a 'Deathwalker #2' out there waiting to be found?

[andydecker]

Roman Castevano - Deathwalker 1: Rites of the Demon (Tempo Books, 1976, 154 pages)

Cover found on the net.

Seems there never was a second novel.