Book Description

Mister B. Gone marks the long-awaited return of Clive Barker, the great master of the macabre, to the classic horror story. This bone-chilling novel, in which a medieval devil speaks directly to his reader—his tone murderous one moment, seductive the next—is a never-before-published memoir allegedly penned in the year 1438. The demon has embedded himself in the very words of this tale of terror, turning the book itself into a dangerous object, laced with menace only too ready to break free and exert its power.

Customer Reviews (56)

less than expected
As a long time Clive Barker fan I was somewhat underwhelmed by this book. When compared with the otherworldly, mindtrippy,gory,grisly, can't quite wrap your mind around it events and characters of stories past, this was like reading one of my daughters R.L. Stine books. The story itself was fun as was the first person telling of the poor pathetic demons misadventures, but it was definatly NOT what I have come to expect from Clive Barker.

A Little Bit of Hell
It's not something that seems at all logical, but now that it has happened there is something about it that seems both fitting and inevitable.Horror icon Clive Barker has written his own version of C. S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters."
Not that Barker has borrowed Screwtape.He has invented his own demon, one who most definitely speaks with his own voice.As in:
"Hanging from the branches around the fire were the stretched skins of several demons like me, except, of course, their skins were not burned as mine was."
Barker also isn't much interested in the serious examination of Christianity that underlies Lewis' work.He's more interested in a straight, dark fantasy.
It's a very welcome book.Barker has been publishing nothing but children's books (yes, it's true) since about 2001.This was a surprising move from the author of some of the most bold and twisted pure, gut-wrenching horror ever published.Compare the children's series "Arabat" to his early "Books of Blood," for instance.
That said, there are bound to be a great many people who won't like this book because it isn't what they want Barker to write.Barker is a prime icon, so "fans" want him to write what THEY want him to write and probably won't be content to let him write what HE wants to.
"Mister B. Gone" is a dark, ugly book.Well, not physically ugly.As a physical entity, it is extremely well designed.The actual pages of the book look old...a faded brown, with creeping age and moisture damage around the edges.A wonderful element that adds to the verisimilitude of the story.Because the story, a chronicle of past and future evil more horrendous than most of us can imagine, seems real.
Now, that's disturbing.
In other words, that's vintage Clive Barker.
Welcome back, Mr. Barker.

Don't let this be your first Clive Barker book.
If you've read Clive Barker in the past, you should be able to get through the rough patches in this book and really enjoy the meat of the story. However, if you haven't read Clive Barker in the past, I urge you not to begin with this book, or I'm afraid you may not read another. Clive Barker is generally an incredible story teller, capable of weaving heart-pounding, white-knuckle tales that leave you with an aching, subconscience twitch that settles into your brain and sneaks out only when the lights go down. Unfortunately, while Mister B. Gone had such potential -- the story itself is an original and intriguing idea -- it fell short. There were places where Barker's genius narrative poked through, but the chunks of enthralling text that jumped out and pulled you in proved to be in stark contrast to the rest of the book. With that said, I wish he would write it again. I find it intensely disappointing that such a talented author's intriguing tale fell short of its potential.

If you make it past the first few pages, you might just make it throught the whole thing. Just remember that there is a good book in there somewhere.

Highly underrated
When I pick up a Clive Barker book, I expect to be taken to far-off places, meet strange new beings (who are well developed) and have some memorable experiences. Mister B. Gone certianly delivered that.

This book's main character is Jakabok Botch a minor demon on the outer rings of hell. Like all of Barker's characters, he is well developed, and it's easy to like him even though he is not a savory character by any means. Jakabock's story is a bit straight foreward and simple (compared to the writter's other work) but still provides a grand adventure and a very unique perspective on the course of history and human events. Jakabok's perspective is the key to the story, and liking or disliking the book hinges upon weather you can enjoy his unique voice and opinion on things. If you can deal with a character that is pure evil and hates human kind, you will begin to appreciate his story. It seems, however that many dislike Mister B. Too bad, they are missing a clever and wild ride.

The thing is Mister B. Gone is a very fresh idea. How many thousands of books have been about heavan and hell batteling for the fate of humanity? Had Clive Barker just made another "revelation" book, it would be instantly forgettable. But here we see that battle not from the human perspective, but from a demon. I will never forget some of the insights that Mr. B gives to the ways of heavan and hell. The description of rising through Hells rings is a wonder to rival the domus mundi from the novel Sacrament. The horrors and nastyness of Joshua's field will also remain in my mind on par with anything in Books of Blood.Not to mention, the things that happen aren't at all standard stuff for this kind of story. The way he was brought out of Hell, not the typical "chanting in a circle around a pentagram of virgin's blood," but a really odd and entertaining sort of fishing. Even the climax, though very exciting as it leads to a revelation, is unconventional. The events preceeding the battle of heavan and hell are explosive, then the battle itself is quite different than expected.The book abounds with these facinating moments that defy convention.

However, I think people who want this to be an average horror book are often dissapointed by these turns of convention. I see their arguement, but it's a matter of taste. For instance, there are many moments that would be nerve shattering horror, if written from the perspective of the humans (especially a scene concerning a bath taken with the blood of infants) but from the perspective of the demon narrator, they are commonplace and of little consequence, thus robbing them of horror. Some would even say that the exchange between Heavan and Hell is a bit dissapointing, but I felt it was more profound for it's banalaty.

I don't think the intent here was to create a work of horror. This is Clive's return to adult fiction, and it has some very nasty, adult things in it, but it is not meant like that. This is an adventure through they eyes of an anti-hero unlike any other. The images conjured in this book are just as powerful and awe inspiring as any other Barker novel. I will remember the scenes in Hell, Joshua's Field, the events at the Guttenbergs, and the strangely quiet ending for a long time.

Now for the worst parts of the book: It has typos. I can't fault the writer for that, his story was great. Where were the editors?. I could've used a few less pleas to "burn the book." That device became annoying near the end, but the longest one is only about four pages so it's not really a big deal.

Overall, this was fun and unique. I'd reccomend it to anyone who wants to read something different. Hopefully you'll like the character and be able to see it for the intense and strange peice of brilliance that it is. If not, it's very short and won't waste too much of your time.

BarkerTries His Hand At Banality
Having read pretty much everything from Clive Barker and being a devoted fan since the late 80s, I can say without a trace of guilt that this is far from his best work.Perhaps the Abarat books tainted his soul or something like that.Gone are the days of Rawhead Rex and The Midnight Meat Train and The Forbidden, here to stay are the watered-down days of Abarat and its ilk.Barker's prose are still clever and sharp and well-honed, but the content is lacking.

Mister B. Gone is the diary of a lesser demon from the Ninth Circle Of Hell named Jakabok Botch.From his early musings under the torturous hand of his father Pappy Gatmuss, Botch is shrouded in disdain and hidden cruelties, mostly aimed at his tyrannical father, and his willingness to create terrible engine of destruction to torture Humankind.After his secret manuscripts of hatred are discovered by his demon mother and set aflame in the family's backyard before they can be discovered by Pappy Gatmuss, Jakabok is burned horribly, leaving his face more disfigured than it previously was.In an act of murderous rage, he and his father are captured in a trap and hauled upward towards the overworld above.On the way up, Jakabok dispatches his father by letting him fall to his most certain death back into the deepest bowels of Hell.Once up top, the show begins, taking Mister B. on a journey through the human world with a demon named Quitoon as his companion.

Mister B. Gone is written in the stuffy English style that Barker makes us love, but the content is lacking.Hearing that he has delved back into adult fiction, we Barker fans salivate to see what attrocities he has cooked up for his new fiction.Mister B. Gone hangs in between hischildren-friendly Abarat work and that of his real, no-holds-barred fiction.There is nothing here that is so outlandish so that a child might not read it and that is not what we (I) were (was) looking for.When I read a Barker book, I want it all, nothing held back, and yet everything was held back here.Sure, Botch takes a bath in the blood of kidnapped infants whose corpses litter the floor of the hovel he is staying in, but it isn't very vivid at all.Barker's talented depictions of the macabre and the horrific come up sounding like a travel book to Delaware.Has he lost the edge?Is this the end of the greatness that once brought us The Books Of Blood and The Inhuman Condition?I cannot pretend to know that, but what I can say is that it seems that writing that purile Abarat trash my have dulled his brilliant writer's sense.What used to shock us about Barker, and made us adore him, was his sense that nothing would ever be too taboo to discuss.Clive seems to have abandoned that proess here.Bummer.I had to trudge through the last 40 pages just to find closure, bt I didn't.I hope the next book is better.


Dig it! ... Read more

Amazon.com
"Everybody is a book of blood; wherever we're opened, we're red."For those who only know Clive Barker through his long multigenre novels, this one-volume edition of the Books of Blood is a welcome chance to acquire the 16 remarkable horror short stories with which he kicked off his career. For those who already know these tales, the poignant introduction is a window on the creator's mind. Reflecting back after 14 years, Barker writes:

I look at these pieces and I don't think the man who wrote them is alive in me anymore.... We are all our own graveyards I believe; we squat amongst the tombs of the people we were. If we're healthy, every day is a celebration, a Day of the Dead, in which we give thanks for the lives that we lived; and if we are neurotic we brood and mourn and wish that the past was still present.

Reading these stories over, I feel a little of both. Some of the simple energies that made these words flow through my pen--that made the phrases felicitous and the ideas sing--have gone. I lost their maker a long time ago.

These enthusiastic tales are not ashamed of visceral horror, of blood splashing freely across the page: "The Midnight Meat Train," a grisly subway tale that surprises you with one twist after another; "The Yattering and Jack," about a hilarious demon who possesses a Christmas turkey; "In the Hills, the Cities," an unusual example of an original horror premise; "Dread," a harrowing non-supernatural tale about being forced to realize your worst nightmare; "Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament," about a woman who kills men with her mind. Some of the tales are more successful than others, but all are distinguished by strikingly beautiful images of evil and destruction. No horror library is complete without them. --Fiona WebsterBook Description
With the 1984 publication of Books of Blood, Clive Barker became an overnight literary sensation. He was hailed by Stephen King as "the future of horror," and won both the British and World Fantasy Awards. Now, with his numerous bestsellers, graphic novels, and hit movies like the Hellraiser films, Clive Barker has become an industry unto himself. But it all started here, with this tour de force collection that rivals the dark masterpieces of Edgar Allan Poe. Read him. And rediscover the true meaning of fear. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (51)

Worst book yet written
What's to say about a book?I don't read this stuff.I'm all about the tasty.I don't stick ma nose in this paper.I horde away my honey.Gooooooey honey.

King of Horror
Being older now and still remembering every horrifying adn artistic word of Clive Barker's book of blood, I have to show respect for a great writer and artist. His stories are the best in horror and the most orininal ever. Barker tells with a uncanny and vivid eye. He tells stories that wether you like it or not, will last.
Enough said to the KING of horror and Imajjica.

Barker's crazy imagination!
I came upon the books of blood recently. I read it like 10 years ago and was really entertaingly disturbed. I think some of the short stories are classics that set imagination realms for other reader to follow. ( I noticed a couple of barker influences in Akmal Shebl's The Human Effect, and even the latest Gailamn) I don't mean any harm by this. But like Dracula is the inspiration of all time Vampire bestsellers. Barker is an inspiration for a horror and gleemly enlightened fantastique worlds.
The Books of Blood is like reading 10 bestseller horro books. Every story is original and steeping into gore. I like the story about the vegetarian woman the best, the train at the end of new york city. Hail Barker who doesn't write as sharp as this anymore these days.

Clive Barker's The Books of Blood Volumes 1-3 Omnibus Review
As being Barker's first leap into the writing scene you can clearly view what kind of writer he truly is.As is tagged all over the book, even Stephen King praised Barker's genius after his Books of Blood.With stories like "The Midnight Meat Train" and "The Pig Blood Blues" you can really see how deep Barker's dark intuition for horror can go, much like Alice and the rabbit hole I'd wager. But he also gives you intros into his other literary devices with stories like "The Yattering and Jack" which is more of a comedy story than horror most of the time and "In The Hills The Cities" delving into what he would later adopt lovingly, fantasy.The first omnibus of The Books of Blood is a must have for Barker fans and King fans alike, or should you just enjoy a strange and bloody story to tide you over this is exactly what you're looking for.

Rating: 9.5/10

- Digital Cola

Great Collection
I have never been much of a Stephen King fan, but in my opinion, when Barker writes horror, he surpasses King by far. That said, Barker does not limit himself to just horror writing, however, in my opinion, he excells at it and it's that genre that I enjoy most. After reading the different reviews for this book, I see that many different readers differ on which stories are their favorites, however I will not waste space by naming mine because if you are fortunate enough to read this collection of short stories, you will most certainly decide for yourself which ones you like.
I was lucky enough to have met Mr. Barker in 2005 during one of his public appearances and I will say that he is an amazing person who seems to actually be grateful for his fans rather than viewing them as a commodity and I think that that endear him to his fans, it certainly has endeared him to me. I look forward to his upcoming release, The Scarlet Gospels. ... Read more

Book Description

In the little town of Palomo Grove, two great armies are amassing; forces shaped from the hearts and souls of America. In this New York Times bestseller, Barker unveils one of the most ambitious imaginative landscapes in modern fiction, creating a new vocabulary for the age-old battle between good and evil. Carrying its readers from the first stirring of consciousness to a vision of the end of the world, The Great and Secret Show is a breathtaking journey in the company of a master storyteller.

Customer Reviews (81)

Why do I read this stuff?
Like all his other books, Barker's stories stick with me and haunt my thoughts for a long time.He is a master storyteller!I always feel like I'm entering a strange dark world when I start one of his books and it takes me days after I've completed one to get back into the daylight.Fascinating.Can't take a steady diet of this author, but I do like enter his worlds every now and then.

One of the best novels I've read
I have always enjoyed Clive Barker's writing.His writing is not necessarily "horror" in the Lovecraft sense of things.He is more mythical in his writings, and the horror that does come comes subtle and sublime.The Great and Secret Show is just that, all the myths and whispers that underline the American facade.It, and its sequel, work together to present the ideas that would happen if Carl Jung's writings became physical and tied intuitively with the United States across the decades and the peoples.The characters are not so black and white that you know exactly how they will react in the next scene, though there are some that could be classified as good and evil.If you want horror, pure horror, go for Stephen King.He is as good as it gets, when he hits the right book (such as The Stand, Salem's Lot, and the Dark Tower series).Clive Barker is more dark fairytale, tied together with the mythos of the United States.That is really what the Art series is about, in my opinion.There is only one problem with the Clive Barker books I've read, especially those proposed to be series.He doesn't seem to know how to finish his series.The Art series has been around for more than a decade and a half, and he still hasn't written book three, the final book in the trilogy.Same thing with the Galilee series, book two hasn't even hit drawing board from what I can tell...then there are several other series that he's started that don't seem to be completed.I think that it isn't that Clive Barker doesn't know how to finish, I think that his problem is that he has too good of an intelligence and imagination and he has trouble fitting the puzzle pieces together.Still.I highly suggest that the bright person out there read most of Clive's books.They are well worth the time and effort.I have to say that if I had to nail five books that have influenced my thoughts and considerations over the years, Great and Secret Show will be one of them.

Just Not For Me

Public Reviews Written by You
Reviewer Rank: 35 Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11-20
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The Great and Secret Show: the First Book of Art by Clive Barker
Edition: Unknown Binding
Availability: This item is currently unavailable.



Not Really For Me, 17 Jun 2007


Clive Barker was born in 1952 and he is the best-selling author of a large number of books, including his first book for children, The Thief of Always. He is also an acclaimed artist, film producer, and director. For four years Mr, Barker has been working on a vast array of paintings to illuminate the text of The Books Of Abarat, over one hundred of which can be found within this first volume.

Mr. Barker lives in California with his partner, the photographer David Armstrong, and their daughter, Nicole. They share their house with four dogs, five goldfish, a parrot and a large number of other pets of all shapes and sizes.

This book is a fantasy novel and describes a race against time to try to find the secret of "The Art" - a state of being or consciousness which allows its owner to transcend their humanity and enter into a heightened spiritual state - between Fletcher and the evil-intentioned Jaffe.

I had heard such good things about this author that I felt I really ought to get round to reading one of his books. I can understand the attraction of the book, but it was not really my kind of thing. That is not to say that someone interested in this type of book would not find it a page turner and I am certainly not going to start to criticise the book until I have read other offerings from the author. Suffice to say it just did not do it for me.

The Book of the Art I
In the late '60s Randolph Jaffe and Richard Fletcher find a secret metaphysical world, the dream sea called Quiddity, with limitless powers.Jaffe sees using these powers to become a tyrannical god like being.Fletcher wants little do do with it, but sees it as his moral responsibility to stop him.They wage a magical war across the country until they finally decide the next generation should continue the fight, so they mystically impregnate four young California women.Years later the children of that mystical pregnancy are targeted by their fathers and meet more people in the long, magical war, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

To say that Clive Barker's "Books of the Art" books are epic is an understatement.Like his novels before this book has a lot of graphic violence and sex, but it never feels gratuitous.The plot is huge and so are the themes; the book deals with religion, faith, multiple worlds, good, evil, and how they all intertwined.The characters are pretty interesting.Tesla was pretty interesting as a lady who is enlisted to gather help for the forces of good, and her discovery is ours, she is the one that the story is reveled to.Her feelings are ours, and so I was able to identify with her more than anyone else.Jaffe was a megalomaniac who learns too late that the power he wishes to master is too unwieldy to control.Fletcher is a '60s radical who (unlike most of his generation) found something to believe in, even if it is at the expense of his sanity.The brother Tommy-Ray and sister Jo-Beth are a weird couple.There are also a cast of odd balls who are by no means normal, and will be memorable long after the book is finished.

Ooooookkkkkaaaaayyyy
Without a doubt the weirdest book I have ever read. I loathed it and loved it. It entertained and revolted me. Full of originality yet swarming with cliche.

My dream-life has been somewhat more complicated since reading this book. The waters of Quiddity must be getting choppy. ... Read more

Book Description
What would you see if you could peek inside the mind of Clive Barker, creator of such classics as Weaveworld, Hellraiser, and Candyman? Would you dare look? Crack open Visions of Heaven and Hell, and you have unlocked a Pandora's box of images that are certain to stay inside your head. For more than twenty-five years, Barker has awed fans and critics alike with his groundbreaking works of fiction, but what few know is that the heart of his fantastic worlds lies in pictures. Now, for the first time, this book brings out from the dark depths more than 300 of Barker's most stunning drawings and oil paintings. Illuminated with new writings by Barker, this artwork renders with expressionist fervor some of our most primal passions-good, evil, and all that's between. From the graphically terrifying to the ecstatically sensual, Visions of Heaven and Hell takes the reader on a journey through unexplored and forbidden realms. Designed in a luxurious package that recalls a devotional medieval manuscript or the works of Blake and Cocteau, this volume itself has the feel of a talisman from one of Barker's stories. Providing the true key to the mysteries of his imagination, it is a must-have collectible for the legion of Barker's fiction fans. But it also reaches out to an even greater audience of those who follow his films. "Barker has an unparalleled talent for envisioning other worlds."-Washington Post Book World ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

CLIVE BARKER'S VISIONS OF HEAVEN AND HELL
My 13 year old grandson requested this book on his Christmas wish list. When I received it, I wanted to see why he might be so interested in this book.There are images in this book that are much too graphic and crude for a 13 year old to sit around and discuss with his friends. I refused to give the book to him.I gave it to his dad instead.
The book itself was very nicely bound although the pages were all somewhat stuck together.Just not appropriate for the younger ages.

Great art. Terrible book construction.
I jumped at the opportunity to have a collection of Clive Barker's art. Sadly, when the book arrived I was immediately disappointed. Not at the art but at the construction of the book itself. Almost every page was stuck together because of the gold paint applied to the edges. I shipped the book back and quickly recieved another copy (Kudos to Amazon for the quick turnaround). Imagine my suprise when the second book had exactly the same problem. Rather than continue the order/recieve/return process indefinately I just carefully pulled the pages apart as best I could. None of the art was really affected but the edges of most of the pages were marred. Leave it to some fly-by-night publishing house to ruin what would otherwise be an amazing collection of art from one of Horror's finest authors.

Good book, lousy binding
The book itself was what I was hoping for.It was a gift for my son who is a Clive Barker fan and had heard about his art.But whoever bound the book did a pretty bad job.Most of the pages were stuck together along the edge, we had to be very careful turning pages so that they didn't rip.

A great book for adult Clive Barker fans, old and new.
A great book which shows how multi talented Clive Barker really is. These various paintings contained in this volume range from one extreme to another, including, sexual extremities which adults should be aware of so they can keep it out of children's reach. Some of the paintings feature images from Barker's Abarat world, of which, I wish there were more! It's a beautiful book and a book to be treasured.

I've seen the other side....through Clive Barker.
In this book, Clive Barker shows off a selection of his artwork full of color and wonder. Angels, Demons, Sorcerors, and Landscapes from the wildest imaginations and the darkest regions of the mind. This book gave me inspiration for a couple of my more recent works of art. This book is a perfect addition for anyones personal library who loves fantastic pieces of art. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Clive Barker is widely acknowledged as the master of nerve-shattering horror.The Hellbound Heart is one of his best, one of the most dead-frightening stories you are likely to ever read, a story of the human heart and all the great terrors and ecstasies within.Book Description

Frank Cotton's insatiable appetite for the dark pleasures of pain led him to the puzzle of Lemarchand's box, and from there, to a death only a sick-minded soul could invent. But his brother's love-crazed wife, Julia, has discovered a way to bring Frank back—though the price will be bloody and terrible . . . and there will certainly be hell to pay.

Customer Reviews (59)

One of the Top 10 Horror Novellas
For a while in the 19th and 20th centuries, novellas ruled as the dominant form of horror fiction. From "Dracula" to "Frankenstein," many of the greatest horror characters emerged from slim volumes. "The Hellbound Heart" is the birthplace of Clive Barker's popular "Hellraiser" series of films (although he only wrote and directed the first film and not its subsequent sequels). The most recognizable character--Pinhead--does not appear by name in this novella. Instead, we have the briefest of glimpses into the morally ambiguous world pitting pleasure against pain that Barker mined early in his writing career. As an introduction to both Barker and the Hellraiser universe, "The Hellbound Heart" is a bloody good read.

As always, the book far outdoes the movie
I wasn't sure what to expect with a Clive Barker novella, to be honest I had seen movies with his name attached and had more often than not been let down.I picked this book up from a paperback swap site and was surprised at how short it was.Although and avid horror fan, I was never able to truly enjoy the original Hellraiser film, so I did not expect to be thrilled with it's source material.

I was pleasantly surprised.Although it is obvious that the original Hellraiser film follows this story almost exactly, the daytime soap opera acting kept the movie from realizing the horror of this book.I found "Hellbound Heart" to be a surprisingly quick read, easy to follow and descriptive enough to see what is being said without being overly wordy.I would have to agree with the other readers that the concept is very Lovecraftian, the style however is very different.

The story follows Frank, a disturbing man who has sought out pleasure of the senses his entire life.Viewed by others as a wastrel, he spends his time committing petty crimes and seeking to fill his lustful desires.He learns of a special puzzle box, which is supposed to open a door to the Cenobites who will show him a new realm of pleasure.Our journey starts as Frank opens the box, meeting the Cenobites and discovering the reality of their being.

What follows is a tale of lust, pain and pleasure.To what lengths will someone to go fulfill their fantasy?What are they willing to believe, to do, and to suffer through?The book is well written and can be taken at just face value as a horror tale.However it also begs to discuss the reality and strength of ones desire and fantasy.With this being one of his first novels, there are some writing flaws to be found throughout the book, but none are distracting enough to jump out at you.My main irritant was not having any background or understanding of the relationship Kristy had with the rest of the characters.At first I assumed her to be a sister, I recalled from the movie she was a daughter, and then finally settled on the idea that she was an old friend of Rory's.Her relationship is never laid out for us.I think knowing that bond would have strengthened her position in the story since she is so vital to the finale.All in all this is a wonderful quick read for any horror fan.I f it had been about 20 pages longer I think it may have even made it to 5 stars for me.As it stands in the version I read it's a 4 out of 5 star book.

A Hell of a Book
As a casual reader of horror (mainly Stephen King and Richard Matheson up until now) I had heard quite a bit about this Clive Barker fellow with all comments being positive. I had even seen tid bits of his directorial debut "Hellraiser" which was based upon this, his own novel. From what I saw I liked. His type of horror is very unique to say the least. Where as King merely gives you goosebumps Clive will go straight for the jugular. With that said I was surprised that it took me this long to read one of his novels or short stories.
Was I dissapointed? No, Clive is a much better writer than King with his descriptions jumping from the page. While reading, I thought that the book almost read itself. You are only required to turn the page every now and then. A word of warning though. I have run into some readers who are turned off by short stories or short novels and this book is certainly a short novel coming in at merely a 164 pages. If you prefer something longer this book may not be for you. Personally I preferred it with this story. While Barker is very descriptive he leaves much up to the imagination which in my opinion builds mystery. Less is truly more in this instance. After reading this Barker's Books of Blood, The Damnation Games and others are at the tops of my Wish List.

watched the movie then read the book, and the book is better!
It is rare to watch a movie then read the book and claim the book is better. It seems which ever a person does first is their favorite. I had low expectations of reading this book considering how classic the movie is. To my shock this book was a total page turner. This book was my cure to boring fiction. There is not a dull moment, and this book truely deserves to be called a "page turner". My brother read it in a matter of hours, and then I did the same! If you want to enjoy a great book that makes me proud to be a horror fan read this book! IMHO this is the best horror fiction book I have ever read!

True horror at its best
Even though I have seen the film based on this book several times, the shockcaused by the gory, claustrophobic and irreverent narrative was unavoidable. It catches with such a strong grip that you will feel compelled to read and read and deep yourself in the horrible ways of a group of demons, or at least terrible beings, entrapped themselves in an endless pain and suffering world populated only by them and their victims. And, as narrative it is, it contains at least one scene, missed in the movie, that at first I passed without paying too much attention but, as time went by, began to grow in my imagination with a scary, really chilling, result. If you like horror please read this book. If you are a fan of Hellraiser movies, it is a necessity to do so. And if you like to dabble in Crowleyan Magick without the necessary skills, read it as a warning of what can be stored for you for eternity. ... Read more

Book Description

Mister B. Gone marks the long-awaited return of Clive Barker, the great master of the macabre, to the classic horror story. This bone-chilling novel, in which a medieval devil speaks directly to his reader—his tone murderous one moment, seductive the next—is a never-before-published memoir allegedly penned in the year 1438. The demon has embedded himself in the very words of this tale of terror, turning the book itself into a dangerous object, laced with menace only too ready to break free and exert its power.

Customer Reviews (56)

less than expected
As a long time Clive Barker fan I was somewhat underwhelmed by this book. When compared with the otherworldly, mindtrippy,gory,grisly, can't quite wrap your mind around it events and characters of stories past, this was like reading one of my daughters R.L. Stine books. The story itself was fun as was the first person telling of the poor pathetic demons misadventures, but it was definatly NOT what I have come to expect from Clive Barker.

A Little Bit of Hell
It's not something that seems at all logical, but now that it has happened there is something about it that seems both fitting and inevitable.Horror icon Clive Barker has written his own version of C. S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters."
Not that Barker has borrowed Screwtape.He has invented his own demon, one who most definitely speaks with his own voice.As in:
"Hanging from the branches around the fire were the stretched skins of several demons like me, except, of course, their skins were not burned as mine was."
Barker also isn't much interested in the serious examination of Christianity that underlies Lewis' work.He's more interested in a straight, dark fantasy.
It's a very welcome book.Barker has been publishing nothing but children's books (yes, it's true) since about 2001.This was a surprising move from the author of some of the most bold and twisted pure, gut-wrenching horror ever published.Compare the children's series "Arabat" to his early "Books of Blood," for instance.
That said, there are bound to be a great many people who won't like this book because it isn't what they want Barker to write.Barker is a prime icon, so "fans" want him to write what THEY want him to write and probably won't be content to let him write what HE wants to.
"Mister B. Gone" is a dark, ugly book.Well, not physically ugly.As a physical entity, it is extremely well designed.The actual pages of the book look old...a faded brown, with creeping age and moisture damage around the edges.A wonderful element that adds to the verisimilitude of the story.Because the story, a chronicle of past and future evil more horrendous than most of us can imagine, seems real.
Now, that's disturbing.
In other words, that's vintage Clive Barker.
Welcome back, Mr. Barker.

Don't let this be your first Clive Barker book.
If you've read Clive Barker in the past, you should be able to get through the rough patches in this book and really enjoy the meat of the story. However, if you haven't read Clive Barker in the past, I urge you not to begin with this book, or I'm afraid you may not read another. Clive Barker is generally an incredible story teller, capable of weaving heart-pounding, white-knuckle tales that leave you with an aching, subconscience twitch that settles into your brain and sneaks out only when the lights go down. Unfortunately, while Mister B. Gone had such potential -- the story itself is an original and intriguing idea -- it fell short. There were places where Barker's genius narrative poked through, but the chunks of enthralling text that jumped out and pulled you in proved to be in stark contrast to the rest of the book. With that said, I wish he would write it again. I find it intensely disappointing that such a talented author's intriguing tale fell short of its potential.

If you make it past the first few pages, you might just make it throught the whole thing. Just remember that there is a good book in there somewhere.

Highly underrated
When I pick up a Clive Barker book, I expect to be taken to far-off places, meet strange new beings (who are well developed) and have some memorable experiences. Mister B. Gone certianly delivered that.

This book's main character is Jakabok Botch a minor demon on the outer rings of hell. Like all of Barker's characters, he is well developed, and it's easy to like him even though he is not a savory character by any means. Jakabock's story is a bit straight foreward and simple (compared to the writter's other work) but still provides a grand adventure and a very unique perspective on the course of history and human events. Jakabok's perspective is the key to the story, and liking or disliking the book hinges upon weather you can enjoy his unique voice and opinion on things. If you can deal with a character that is pure evil and hates human kind, you will begin to appreciate his story. It seems, however that many dislike Mister B. Too bad, they are missing a clever and wild ride.

The thing is Mister B. Gone is a very fresh idea. How many thousands of books have been about heavan and hell batteling for the fate of humanity? Had Clive Barker just made another "revelation" book, it would be instantly forgettable. But here we see that battle not from the human perspective, but from a demon. I will never forget some of the insights that Mr. B gives to the ways of heavan and hell. The description of rising through Hells rings is a wonder to rival the domus mundi from the novel Sacrament. The horrors and nastyness of Joshua's field will also remain in my mind on par with anything in Books of Blood.Not to mention, the things that happen aren't at all standard stuff for this kind of story. The way he was brought out of Hell, not the typical "chanting in a circle around a pentagram of virgin's blood," but a really odd and entertaining sort of fishing. Even the climax, though very exciting as it leads to a revelation, is unconventional. The events preceeding the battle of heavan and hell are explosive, then the battle itself is quite different than expected.The book abounds with these facinating moments that defy convention.

However, I think people who want this to be an average horror book are often dissapointed by these turns of convention. I see their arguement, but it's a matter of taste. For instance, there are many moments that would be nerve shattering horror, if written from the perspective of the humans (especially a scene concerning a bath taken with the blood of infants) but from the perspective of the demon narrator, they are commonplace and of little consequence, thus robbing them of horror. Some would even say that the exchange between Heavan and Hell is a bit dissapointing, but I felt it was more profound for it's banalaty.

I don't think the intent here was to create a work of horror. This is Clive's return to adult fiction, and it has some very nasty, adult things in it, but it is not meant like that. This is an adventure through they eyes of an anti-hero unlike any other. The images conjured in this book are just as powerful and awe inspiring as any other Barker novel. I will remember the scenes in Hell, Joshua's Field, the events at the Guttenbergs, and the strangely quiet ending for a long time.

Now for the worst parts of the book: It has typos. I can't fault the writer for that, his story was great. Where were the editors?. I could've used a few less pleas to "burn the book." That device became annoying near the end, but the longest one is only about four pages so it's not really a big deal.

Overall, this was fun and unique. I'd reccomend it to anyone who wants to read something different. Hopefully you'll like the character and be able to see it for the intense and strange peice of brilliance that it is. If not, it's very short and won't waste too much of your time.

BarkerTries His Hand At Banality
Having read pretty much everything from Clive Barker and being a devoted fan since the late 80s, I can say without a trace of guilt that this is far from his best work.Perhaps the Abarat books tainted his soul or something like that.Gone are the days of Rawhead Rex and The Midnight Meat Train and The Forbidden, here to stay are the watered-down days of Abarat and its ilk.Barker's prose are still clever and sharp and well-honed, but the content is lacking.

Mister B. Gone is the diary of a lesser demon from the Ninth Circle Of Hell named Jakabok Botch.From his early musings under the torturous hand of his father Pappy Gatmuss, Botch is shrouded in disdain and hidden cruelties, mostly aimed at his tyrannical father, and his willingness to create terrible engine of destruction to torture Humankind.After his secret manuscripts of hatred are discovered by his demon mother and set aflame in the family's backyard before they can be discovered by Pappy Gatmuss, Jakabok is burned horribly, leaving his face more disfigured than it previously was.In an act of murderous rage, he and his father are captured in a trap and hauled upward towards the overworld above.On the way up, Jakabok dispatches his father by letting him fall to his most certain death back into the deepest bowels of Hell.Once up top, the show begins, taking Mister B. on a journey through the human world with a demon named Quitoon as his companion.

Mister B. Gone is written in the stuffy English style that Barker makes us love, but the content is lacking.Hearing that he has delved back into adult fiction, we Barker fans salivate to see what attrocities he has cooked up for his new fiction.Mister B. Gone hangs in between hischildren-friendly Abarat work and that of his real, no-holds-barred fiction.There is nothing here that is so outlandish so that a child might not read it and that is not what we (I) were (was) looking for.When I read a Barker book, I want it all, nothing held back, and yet everything was held back here.Sure, Botch takes a bath in the blood of kidnapped infants whose corpses litter the floor of the hovel he is staying in, but it isn't very vivid at all.Barker's talented depictions of the macabre and the horrific come up sounding like a travel book to Delaware.Has he lost the edge?Is this the end of the greatness that once brought us The Books Of Blood and The Inhuman Condition?I cannot pretend to know that, but what I can say is that it seems that writing that purile Abarat trash my have dulled his brilliant writer's sense.What used to shock us about Barker, and made us adore him, was his sense that nothing would ever be too taboo to discuss.Clive seems to have abandoned that proess here.Bummer.I had to trudge through the last 40 pages just to find closure, bt I didn't.I hope the next book is better.


Dig it! ... Read more

Book Description

On the borderland between this world and the world of Quiddity, the sea of our dreams, sits Everville.For years it has lived in ignorance of the gleaming shore on which it lies.But its ignorance is not bliss. Opening the door between worlds, Clive Barker delivers his characters into the heart of the human mystery; into a place of revelation, where the forces which have shaped our past—and are ready to destroy our future—are at work.

Customer Reviews (52)

Super Reader
Didn't really enjoy this at all, compared to the other Barker books. This is pretty much when I stopped reading him, in general. A quite disappointing book after the other work I had enjoyed reading in the past. Hard to put the figure on quite why, but it could well be that there are just not enough monsters.

Everville: The Second Book Of The Art
If you're at all interested in the world of comparative mythology and it's connection to psychoanalysis, or even the world of fantasy and the occult, you'll love this book. More than anything it's relentlessly engaging. At several turns it's romantic, horroriffic, erotic, mystifying, etc. A story that delves into the idea of a world beyond worlds. A story of dream and fantasy. I guarantee it's well worth the read. Best of all, this book stands on its own...meaning you don't have to read the first installment of the book, "The Great And Secret Show: The First Book Of The Art".

The Books of the Arts II
"Everville" (also the name of the town where the book takes place) is the sequel to Clive Barkers wild, ground breaking "The Great and Secret Show".Everville is at the heart of the magical war over Quiddity, the powerful dream sea of an ethereal world that interacts with our physical world.The characters from the first book are back (like the McGuire and Telsa), and we also meet new, really interesting ones too, like Phoebe Cobb and her lover Joe, along with teenager Seth.Plus a larger role for Barker regular Harry D'Amour.There is also a lot of new feral monsters and new bad guys to contend with.There is a lot of magic and mystical in this."Everville" is not a very scary horror book; but it is a huge, epic fantasy.It is pretty original, I haven't read anything like this before, and I am hard pressed to find anyone who can write this big of scope credibly now.I realize this is a short review, but you must take my word for it, it is a great read.The only thing is that if your easily offended at a rather liberal use of religious figures, you may not be very forgiving at Barker's use.Also his view of small town America is a little off, but what do you expect, he's British.I can's wait for the next book, if Mr. Barker is ever planning another one.

The third book to the series
I love Clive Barker and I am getting ready to go pick up his second book Everville. I just saw a question on here about the third book and thought I would give everyone a heads up.

It appears the third book is not out yet and will not neccessarily be out any time soon.Please see the following link for his reasoning for this http://www.clivebarker.dial.pipex.com/newbooksb.html

In a nutshell he says that the last book will be a monster and that it takes time to prepare to write this type of book.It also says that he has other series going on as well that take time.Too many ideas running through his head and that he needs to clone himself.Anyway - take a look at the link if you are interested but he says that he promises it will be out before the end of this century.....

Happy reading!

Well, it's Clive Barker... What more can you ask for?
I never intended to review this book, partly because tons of people have done it already, and partly because this was a book I read on my "leisure time", that is, time when I wasn't reading review copies that different publishers had sent me.

But hey, it's Clive Barker, and I since he's the greatest author alive today I figured I at least had to say a word or two about Everville.

Just read it. It's that simple. You'll understand and appreciate it a whole lot more if you first read The Great and Secret Show - since that's the first book in the Trilogy about the Art - but if you're unable to find it you still better not pass on Everville.

Because it's Clive Barker, and Clive Barker knows how to write. So go get it. Now. ... Read more

Book Description

From master storyteller Clive Barker comes an epic tale of myth, magic, and forbidden passion—complete with new illustrations and a new Appendix.

Customer Reviews (130)

830 pages of nothing
I like Clive Barker even though he veers from great to great stinker.The Imajica characters act in unimaginable ways.They seem driven by an unrealistic soul that is impractical and childish.The plot is driven by the characters' need for drama when none is needed.They become tedious and fastidious.The book is melodramatic and everyone is a drama queen looking for attention.

Gorgeous!
This book made me want to start reading again. Don't be turned off by the length of this book, it is so epically beautiful and magical that it is a true page turner.I fell in love with the main characters Gentle and Pie-oh-pah.I didn't want the book to end. The only exposure I had to Clive Barker before this book was watching Hellraiser. After reading this book I am now hooked and I'm going to check out Thief of Always next.

The writing style is definitely British, but not pretentious.The fantasy aspect is dark and twisted and I really bought in to the five dominion premise.I really love books that create their own mythology like this one.I can't recommend this book enough, I can't believe how long it took me to discover this treasure!

Imajica - A feast for the senses
Having read almost everything that Clive Barker has written thus far, I will admit that Imajica contains many elements that seem to echo in several of his books; Weaveworld,The Great and Secret Show/Everville,and most recently the Abarat series.However, this does not detract in any way from the intricately woven story of Imajica.In fact, I think it is in this book that the author finally finds the scope to perfect the "genre" that can only be described as Clive Barker - the mix of the mundane, the fantastical, the horrific and the surreal, blended seamlessly together to create a captivating story that resonates within the soul of the reader.Imajica isn't the easiest to read for many people, mainly because there are so many characters and sub-plots intertwined that it is easy for the reader to lose sight of the story's core and get lost in the minutiae.But I promise you that if you go into the book with an open mind and without preconcieved notions of what a "Clive Barker" novel should be like, you will be rewarded with a most excellent reading experience.I have read the book at least 3 times now and each time find a new gem hidden in plain sight, and have discovered new levels of depth with each reading.It is fantasy, horror, philosophy, theology, theosophy all rolled into one, and John "Gentle" Furie Zacharias is one of the most memorable characters in Barker's worlds.

I take issue with those people who complain about the book being "aimless" or "meandering" - as in any story, there is a time for action and a time for reflection. If you are the type of reader who needs the action to be non-stop and in your face in order to keep your attention, you may be missing many opportunities to discover a truly magical and engaging reading experience.Give it the chance it deserves!!

Fantastic Imagination at Work
Although Imajica is a tome of a novel, the story itself is as good as almost any I have ever read.With magnificent settings and all sorts of bizarre creatures, it was definitely an enjoyable read.Clive Barker does tend to play up a theme of love and libido quite a bit too much for my liking, which at times I thought took away from some of the story.

This edition comes with a glossary of pictures and sketches in the back which added a bit more culture and mystery to its story. I also noticed a similarity between this novel and Roger Zelazny's Amber series, which is another enormous epic written about 15 years prior to Imajica and probably a good bet if you are looking for a similar style of story.

Good for any age-group I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am definitely interested in reading more by Barker in the future.

Imajica
This is by far my all time favorite novel.From the first time I read it in 1993 and I am actually reading it again now which is probably like number 20 or 25.

Clive Barker is one of the most versatile writers that I have seen.He can write some of the most erotic stories (Gallilee), some of the most terrifying (Hellbound Heart, Books of Blood) and even go to writing some older children to early teen types of stories (Abarat and Thief of Always).

This book is huge just in story, characters and places.The use of magic was perfect it was not over the top nor under-done.The characters were magnificent.The descriptions of the different dominions was so well done that I could picture the locations in my minds-eye as I was reading this.

I highly recommend this book if you are into sci-fi, fantasy, horror or just looking for something a little different to read.And I think that someone should try to find a way to make this into a movie even if it is an animated type of film. ... Read more

Book Description
The magical tale of ill-fated lovers lost among worlds teetering on the edge of destruction, where their passion holds the key to escape.

There has never been a book like Imajica. Transforming every expectation offantasy fiction with its heady mingling of radical sexuality and spiritual anarchy, it has carried its millions of readers into regions of passion and philosophy that few books have even attempted to map. It's an epic in every way; vast in conception, obsessively detailed in execution, and apocalyptic in its resolution. A book of erotic mysteries and perverse violence. A book of ancient, mythological landscapes and even more ancient magic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

#2?in the series, I dont think so
I love Clive Barker's work.But I feel Decieved because I have read this book before, when it was just one book.You should make this clear to your customers.I will be more careful next time.
I loved the book the first time but I am not going to buy the first half again. How disappointing it was not a totally new story about the same Imajica.
Or am I wrong?I don't think so.

Erotic, Adventurous, and Way the Hell Out There
Let me start off by saying that I absolutely LOVE Clive Barker. He comes second only to Anne Rice on my list of favorites. He is the master of comteporary erotic fantasy fiction and everytime you open one of his books you can't help getting sucked in.

Imajica is one of my ultimate Clive Barker favorites. The book starts off with a theory about love stories: there can only ever be two lovers, not three. Therefore, it is no surprise when we learn that two men are in love with the same woman and one of them has decided to have her killed. He instantly regrets his hasty decision and goes to his rival, asking him to stop the assassin.

Zacharias Fury, artist and womanizer extordianare, agrees to stop the assasin and find Jude (the woman these two men are in love with). He succeeds in saving her from the greatest assassin of all time -- a creature from another realm who can shapeshift into whatever his "customer" desires. This creature is the ultimate fantasy -- have sex with it and it will be whoever you want, WHATEVER you want. And that's not all. You want someone killed? The shapeshifer Pi will get it done.

::SPOILER:: The shapeshifter's work is not done, however. After an argument with Jude, Z. Fury returns to his small hotel room and is preparing for a miserable night's sleep when there's a knock on his door and he opens it to find Jude standing there. As he and Jude make sensual love, the phone rings, and Fury answers it to find . . . . JUDE (gasp!) on the other end.

This is possibly one of the funniest parts of the two part novel. You will aboslutely fall in love with the characters ofPi, Fury, and Jude. And I promise, Zacharias Fury WILL travel to another world -- hence the title Imajica -- and free the poor imprisoned goddesses trapped there.

Clive Barker says this story is an allegory about Christ. See if you can find the similarities.

Imagibore
This book starts of very well, with lots of interesting idea's which you hope exspect to be explained more fully as you read on.

However the deeper you get into the book the more you notice how half baked it all seems, jumping from one outlandish idea to another, and contradicting itself at every turn (one example is: 'nothing disturbed her from this sleep, not even dreams' and then in the next sentance 'she was awoken from whatever dream she was having') it is full of contradictions which often made me shake my head in disbelief.

You are led to beleive that what the imagica 'is' will be explained in the fullness of time, but the conclusion to the story was the biggest flop in a book ive ever read, I wont give anything away, suffice to say that the imagica is never explained, I dont think the author even had an idea to start with.

The way men are constantly refered to as the 'destroyers' and women as something so much better is strange to start with, but as the author continues to press his 'point' home it gets bewildering, boring, and then quite worrying (does he hate his own sex so much he has to put them down in every other sentance?)

I think if Mr Barker had taken more time to develop his idea's and set the story out across more books (I never complain about buying a story that is set across 3 or even 6 different books!) it could of been a great and interesting tale.

Sadly it is a mix of half baked mix philosophy, religion and magic, in places it found it so boring I had to put it down and could only read small chunks at a time, by the time I was nearing the end I was skimming pages of seemingly pointless drivel trying to get to somthing substantial, which alas never came.

I cant recomend this as a purchase, rent it from the library but dont waste your money.

ABSOLUT PERFECTION!!!!!
Simply put this is Clive's best book not to mention the best book I've ever read. I read it when it first came out and I was so impressed I began reading other Clive Barker books. He is a wonderful author. I recommend you read as much of his stuff as you can. He has an imagination that is "out of this world"!

Imajica Book 2 The Reconciliation
I have 2 copies hard cover & paperback of the three part series.Words can not adequately describe the passion I feel for this series.I have read the series at least 4 times.Each time I discover a different level of understanding for the characters.I wish Peter Jackson would do a movie of this series.........Awesome.LOTR's would be tough to follow but Imajica although with an "R" rating would be right up there!

Keito 518@yahoo.com ... Read more

Book Description
A reclusive millionaire makes a deal with the devil. Just another horror tale? Don't bet on it.

It's from Clive Barker. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (84)

First and still the best
The first novel Barker ever wrote was also the first of his that I read, and I can still remember the impact it made on me two decades later.The assurance and clarity of the prose is shocking for a debut novelist, as is the almost tactile sense of evil that seems to leave a sticky residue on your fingers just from touching the pages.I recently picked up the damnation game for a nostalgic revisit and was pleased to find it retains virtually all of its power, but I still felt a little sad not to be able to recapture the thrill of reading it for the first time.Despite his innumerable triumphs in subsequent years, I'll always think of this book as a personal best for Mr. Barker.

Good, but a little long...
This is Clive Barker's first novel.He refers to it as an homage to Faust.To the new reader, it will be less Faustian than he suspects.There are a lot of Barker's signature touches here - outrageous violence, gore, magical realism, and diabolical villains - all set against the backdrop of modern England.I don't want to give away any of the plot, as that would ruin the surprise.My biggest negative criticism however is that the covers are too far apart; at over 400 pages, that's a lot of book to get through for a potboiler

Words don't describe
Well, I just finished reading this book last night, and I have to say that I'm very impressed. This is my second trip into the imagination of Clive Barker, my first being The Hellbound Heart, and neither were a disappointment.
The book starts off at a slow pace, but Barker's unique writing style really draws you in. After the first hundred or so pages I started to get a few chills down my spine, but it was nothing compared to, say, a Stephen King novel.
Barker saves the best for last however, during the last 50 pages of the book. When the the barrier in the protagonist's mine breaks, yours does as well, letting in all the darkness coming off of the pages and forcing you to read at a faster pace every word so that you can reach the ending.
The ending is an absolute shock, filled with utter insanity and gore, one that kept me up at night in, not only fear, but wonder.
I suggest this book to any horror fan.

forget it
Slow, dry,boring writing. winded.
I was thinking of doing an inter-library loan for Weaveworld after seeing all the 5 stars (and not caring for gorey stories) but figured I'd try this first just to see if I liked his style. Glad I did. Forget it.

Kind of boring
This book did not hold my interest. It was kind of boring. In fact I still haven't finished reading it, and I have had it for 1 year! I read over 500 words a minute, but I haven't been compelled to finish! ... Read more

Book Description
It begins here! The second half of an adaptation of master of horror Clive Barker's epic journey into the fantastic, The Great and Secret Show. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Art Still Blows Me Away, But The Intrigue That Volume One Established Is Ruined By The Overstuffed, Rushed Conclusion
POSITIVES
+ Great art.Gabriel Rodriguez's pencils are top notch in this volume, capturing the essence and mood of this story in his sharp angles, detailed faces, and lush settings.Every page is beautiful.
+ There are some good ideas here.

NEGATIVES
- Things move too fast.The story this is based on is epically huge, and Ryall's decision to include every character and every piece of plot from Barker's original novel makes these six issues seem extremely over-packed.
- We are not provided with a "Previously on..." summary in the beginning of the book.With the amount of characters and story lines in this comic, that is essential.Unless you read this book directly after you finish the first you, you'll have to figure out what's going on as you read.
- There is way too much narration.Comics are a visual medium, and instead of telling the story with images and dialogue, Ryall chooses to use narration.It adds to the "things are happening way too fast" feel of the book.This is, again, due to the decision not to make any huge cuts.If a few characters and useless scenes (there are many) had been cut, this could have flowed a lot better.
- The ending is an anti-climax.That being said, it would be a HUGE payoff if it was given the page space it deserved.However, it happened way, way too fast.We're force-fed all of these huge pieces of mythology in the final two issues and, just when we're starting to put those pieces together, the book ends.
- It leaves you asking "What was the point of that scene/character?" at least five times.

I would have urged readers to buy the first volume.But after reading this, the conclusion, I'll have to take back what I said.The first volume was good because it was intriguing and artistically well done.But with a payoff as bad as this, I think it's best to not buy into this series at all.Chris Ryall is a cool dude, and I'm not faulting him for this, but I think this story just may have been too big for twelve issues.

3/10 ... Read more

Amazon.com
A boy has an encounter with a man who causes extinctions of other species, so he grows up to be a man who documents (and thus appeals for a halt to) those extinctions. This dark fantasy tale is unlike Clive Barker's other recent ones: it is more tightly plotted, and more of this world. In a sequence of well-executed stories within stories (comparable to Russian dolls), Barker unfolds a compelling examination of what it means to be human, to be a man, and to be a gay man--on a planet where aging, disease, and death bring "the passing of things, of days and beasts and men he'd loved." A satisfying long novel packed with vivid images, memorable characters, and a melancholy mood that reaches for hope.Book Description
Living and dying, we feed the fire.

Will Rabjohns, perhaps the most famous wildlife photographer in the world, has made his reputation chronicling the fates of endangered species. But after a terrible accident, Will is left in a coma. And in its depths, he revisits the wildernesses of his youth and relives his life with a mysterious couple who have influenced his life as an artist and a man.

When Will awakens, he sets out on a journey of self-discovery--one where he will penetrate the ultimate mystery and finally unlock the secret of his destiny.

Soaring, provocative and passionate, Sacrament is a masterwork from the pen of one of today's moist acclaimed authors.Download Description
"Will Rabjohns, perhaps the most famous wildlife photographer in the world, has made his reputation chronicling the fates of endangered species. But after a terrible accident, Will is left in a coma. And in its depths, he revisits the wildernesses of his youth and relives his life with a mysterious couple who have influenced his life as an artist and a man. When Will awakens, he sets out on a journey of self-discovery--one where he will penetrate the ultimate mystery and finally unlock the secret of his destiny.Soaring, provocative and passionate, Sacrament is a masterwork from the pen of one of today's moist acclaimed authors. " ... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

Good, dark fantasy
Clive Barker is unlike any other author I read.In this one he branches out to touch on some contemporary issues.I found it very entertaining.

Mysteriously entertaining!
I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS REVIEW TO "YOU",THE READER.

This book is totally good.I am a bit disturbed to know that alot of people abstained from reading this book because the main character was gay.But I will tell you something.Although the main character is gay,the book isn't.The story line does not concentrate on anything gay.This is one of the best books I have ever read.It is not a horror novel as much as a fantasy novel.The ending part of this book gets a bit confusing,but it is nevertheless properly written.This book is totally successful as far as I am concerned.
You see,the thing about Mr Barker is that he writes what other writers wouldn't not dare to write.He takes a lot of chances and,quite frankly,I think that is the only way to be successful.
Some writers out there have a tendency to "recycle" their stories,which completely sucks...
The book,though thoroughly developed,feels quite unfinished at the ending,forcing me to give it four stars.
The plot is as follows:Mr Will Rabjohns is a great photographer.He deals mainly with taking pictures of wild animals.
And what is truly fascinating is that he takes a lot of chances,risking his life to get his job done.
While taking the picture of a bear,he becomes the victim of an accident.He goes into a coma.During his coma he relives his childhood,realizing that there is something important from his past that has come to "haunt" him.(two strange people who changed his life in ways he never thought possible).
He soon wakes from his coma and goes on the journey of a life time,trying to confront and conquer this force before it conquers him...
(IN this review I tried not to give away too much of the story.Because it would kill the suspense.)
I just wanted to give you a brief outline of the plot.
This book is a fantasy/drama/suspense....

Enjoy.................this review was written by Nigel.

Wildly inconsistent in plotting and tone
This Clive Barker effort begins promisingly, but fails to deliver substantial incentive to reward the reader. Will Rabjohns, photographer and British expatriate, suffers a coma which leads him to re-explore the pains of his extraordinary early life.The childhood flashbacks are easily the strongest points of the novel. Though haunting and bleak, this subplot is full of magical wonder, drawing the reader into the finely-rendered boyhood psyche of young Will. However, these childhood flashbacks are marred by the eventual introduction of gratuitous sexuality, though I admit this is my subjective reaction. Despite other reviewers' objections, the homosexual subtext is truly inoffensive, but what is offensive is the mundane storytelling of the adult Will's daily routine after awaking from the coma. The remainder of the novel is written without much soul. Had Barker reimagined Sacrament as a childhood story, it surely would have been a winner.

You know...
Although when i finished the book ..i felt i knew what Will (the main character) was gonna lead me to think and feel ...i really needed that kind of a wake up call...
Life is beautiful, but we only need to appreciate it and embrace whatever it throws on us..
God, Earth and Nature are parts of us as much as we are part of them...
I really did enjoy the book tremendously..the only reason i gave it 4 stars instead of 5, is that he was a little too graphical for my taste a couple of times...

Barker's Greatest Novel?
Seamlessly blending the 'Supernatural Horror' elements that populate much of Barker's other written/filmed work ["The Damnation Game"/"Hellraiser"/etc.] with the 'Real-Life' horrors of the world today, including the envirornmental catastrophe/mass extinction currently happening on a daily basis and the AIDS epidemic, I think "Sacrament" may have trumped "Weaveworld" as Clive's best novel. It's scary as hell and yet resonating with the beauty and wonder of the world (now largely being decimated), and one of the best treatments of love and friendship in the face of a tight-knit community being eroded away by outside forces (AIDS in this case).The vivid writing immediately transports you to the scene itself, the fierce snowstorm or long grasses blowing soundfully in the wind, and the book has an ideal protagonist in the form of a wildlife photographer who chronicles the fate of endangered and moribund species, and chillingly appropriate villains in the form of a pair who hunts down the last survivors of near-extinct species for the express purpose of personally ending their kind's existance.Also mixing in a healthy dose of spiritualism, "Sacrament" is great on so many levels, but be forewarned: Barker outdoes himself on a couple of the grotesqueries, excluding of course "The Great And Secret Show", which got a bit too vile for my tastes.Unlike Secret Show, however, which was far more cynical and nastier than even the most violent and bizarre of Barker's movies, the depravities and crudities of certain villains in "Sacrament" compliments the story well instead of choking it in nihilism.

An excellent piece of literature both as a great horror/fantasy hybrid and as a look at non-fictional trends in the world today (extinctions, intolerance, AIDs, etc.) that threaten to crush us all. ... Read more

Book Description
Collected here in one deluxe edition is the complete 12-part saga that comprises the comic book adaptation of master of horror Clive Barker's epic journey into the fantastic, The Great and Secret Show. Adapted by Chris Ryall (Zombies vs. Robots) and artist Gabriel Rodriguez (Land of the Dead), this collection presents the ultimate battle between good and evil that spans many decades and dimensions. Also featuring complete cover galleries by Gabriel Rodriguez and Clive Barker, full issue-by-issue annotations by Ryall, and more! ... Read more