Clive Barker - Books of Blood

[dwalters]

I'm currently reading Clive Barker's Books of Blood volumes 1 through 3, and man that guy writes some disturbing stuff. As a long time Stephen King fan I thought I was pretty accustomed to horror fiction, but some of the things Clive Barker has dreamed up is so incredibly gruesome. Anybody else read any of his work?

[Ubasti]

I haven't read Books of Blood yet, but I can recommend Barker's Coldheart Canyon if you want to be really disturbed.

[dwalters]

Hmmm, I may check that out. Thanks for the suggestion!

[sam peebles]

I read it. It was awesome. Rawhead Rex and that giant made out of people. Yeah, cool stuff, though I really don't go for other Barker pieces. I didn't care for Damnation Game, and I couldn't get through Galilee, though I thought the prose was amazing in Galilee.

[Natjen26]

Haven't read Books of Blood, but did read The Damnation Game, his first full length novel and have Coldheart Canyon on my to-read pile.

I wasn't too enthused about The Damnation Game, but I still look forward to read more of him.

[Matthew.Degnan]

I have read a lot of Clive Barker. The first one of his that i read was the utterly horrible Cabal, a novella he wrote in the 80s. I wouldn't suggest anyone read this after just eating.

[Doc Wilson]

Imagica is a good read and isn't horrific like some of his works, more straight fantastic fiction.

[Terry B]

I'm getting ready to give away the 8 Barker novels I have. I thoroughly enjoy this guy and look forward to picking up some that I haven't read yet.

[DancingCorpse]

I actually found Cabal today and purchased it. I have read Books of Blood, it is very interesting and would definitely rec. it to anyone who enjoys the horror genre. There are a couple of gems in there such as The Midnight Meat Train which delves into similar Lovecraftian/King themes, Pig Blood Blues is great, Son of Celluloid is pretty funny, and one i can't remember the name of where a girl is imprisoned inside a delapidated house for an experiment and then the main character too. Good collection.

[Cthulhu]

The Books of Blood are great. Very imaginative.

[dwalters]

I haven't read Books of Blood yet, but I can recommend Barker's Coldheart Canyon if you want to be really disturbed.

Hey Ubasti, I'm reading this right now. I'm only about a third of the way through it but I'm really liking it so far! But yeah, I agree with you. Pretty unsettling stuff so far and I'm guessing it's only going to get crazier the farther I go.

[GNTLGNT]

D,

I'm an admirer of Barker myself....haven't collected his latest releases, but man alive-the earlier stuff I did!...Here I thought King was the maestro of the gross-out, but Clive really gets "visceral" both literally and figuratively...

[deroche]

Yeah, the books of blood books are gruesome to the core, That's just his style I believe. I remember reading "The great and secret show" and just got too disturbed by it and stopped reading it when I got to the middle of it. I said that's enough for me! I liked the books of blood series and In the flesh though.

[ImpiousImp]

I've read all Clive Barkers short stories including The Inhuman Condition and Cabal, but the Book of Blood has his best short stories. (:

[Bubonic]

I think King was quoted saying that Barker was the future of horror.
I remember reading a story by him involving someone being chewed up by an industrial meat grinder, the detail was so vivid, really amazing stuff.
I also read the Hellbound Heart, a great novella, really smooth reading.


What is the best Book of Blood?

[clouds]

I love Clive Barker's works. He is my absolute favorite writter. Unfortunately Clive has been having difficulties with publishers of late and things in the works are on hold!!! I have read most of what he has done and I really love his artwork.

I highly recommend Weaveworld, and The Great and Secret Show/Everville series (Books of The Art). Really I recommend them all, but these are my favorites. I have gone back to 'the Art' books a few times. A third in in the works.

My favorite Book Of Blood is Dread.

[wick]

I have thought of trying Books of Blood. But I am unsure, is it real scary or just kinda creepy and disturbing. Also, is it easy to find all the volumes, can you get them at a Borders or is it something you would have to get online.