Clive Barker Novels

[RavageRitual]

Ive been really intrested in reading some of his Novels. I love him as a director. But I dont know anything about him as an author. Has anyone read and of his books. And if so. What did you think. Entertaining? Scary? Blood/Gory at all?

Ill be happy with whatever input anyone has to say.


RR

[urgeok]

i read quite a few of his novels - starting with Damnation Game.
I found that he starts a good readable story but has trouble with the endings.

The latter stories became more and more weird .. but not it a good way .. more of a forced way - in the same vein of Stephen Kings 'Desperation' type novels.

I get the feeling that there's nothing left for these guys to write ... and it does seem 'desperate' - the attempts at coming up with new fantastical 'out-there' things.


if you want to read good Barker .. get his short story collections 'Books of Blood'

[mothermold]

it's very good reading and is'nt as longwinded as king.

books of blood
weaveworld
cabal
the great and secret show(a favorite)
everville

.............to name a few.
he's also got a few TPB's out and he's an illustrator,though i don't believe he illustrated any of his TPB's himself.

[zwoti]

imajica

[RavageRitual]

Thanks for all of your help everyone.

Urg, Books Of Blood Is the one I picked up last night. Im gonna start reading it today because I got off school.

[urgeok]

Originally posted by RavageRitual
Thanks for all of your help everyone.

Urg, Books Of Blood Is the one I picked up last night. Im gonna start reading it today because I got off school.


good choice ...

aslo - worth noting that this guy has a rep as being one of the friendliest guys ever ...

he truely seems to love his fans and it was evident at the Rue Morgue festival of fear where he was late for his 'round table session' because he didnt want to leave the folks that were lined up for him. He spent a good deal of time with each person and everyone walked away saying the same thing .. he's a very cool super nice man.

as far as being an illustrator goes ... he went to another booth and did a painting while everyone watched ..

i wasnt crazy about it but he does have a style ...

[Bezenby]

The early stuff is deffo the best - later works are very slow and kind of boring

Books of Blood are all good, especially Vols 3 and 6

Damnation Game has a vomit inducing ending...

The Great and Secret Show and Everville are the best two I think...way out there in a good way

After that it's a bit boring, Sacrament, Galilee and Coldwater Creek are very draggy and seem to just go over old ground.

[zwoti]

Originally posted by urgeok
aslo - worth noting that this guy has a rep as being one of the friendliest guys ever ...



yep, met him a few times :cool:

[Zero]

my friend Doug used to "house sit" for Barker at some place in CA - he said it was pretty creepy mansion/house - but that Barker was incredibly cool and likeable

[jenna26]

If anyone here remembers me....lol....you probably know I am a huge Clive Barker fan and that he may be my favorite author. I do prefer his shorter works; The Books of Blood have some incredible stories in them. And Cabal is my favorite of his, which is the novella Nightbreed was based on. I also think Imajica is an outstanding dark fantasty novel. Everville is also excellent.

Avoid Coldheart Canyon at all costs unless you happen to turn into as big a fan as I am....which may be unlikely.....:p

[noctuary]

Books of Blood are definitely the way to go. I have a lot of respect for Barker, and I'm sure he's a really great guy... but his newer books are just awful. Coldheart Canyon was slightly better than Galilee or Sacrament, but that's really not saying much.

[jenna26]

I actually like Sacrament; I didn't the first time I read it, found it boring. But decided to give it another shot, and liked it a lot better the second time around. But it isn't for everyone and it does drag in places. Galilee I didn't care for all that much, but Coldheart Canyon was even worse, in my opinion.

[oblivinoir]

I listened to Coldheart Canyon on tape while traveling and absolutely loved it! I wish there were more horror bookcassettes available. I usually end up having to play murder mysteries instead!