Books of Blood, Vols. 1-3

Some books are guideposts, planes upon which your (writing/reading) life refracts, shifts, changes course. Books that have done this for me, not only to my writing/reading life, but to my life: The Shining (King), a collection of poems (e.e. cummings), Generation X (Coupland), The Great Gatsby (FSF), The Hours (Cunningham), Ninety-Two in the Shade (McGuane), A Prayer for the Dying (O'Nan), Winter's Bone (Woodrell). Now: add to this list: Books of Blood, Vols. One to Three (Barker). What a revelation this book was for me. It came out in 1984. I love horror. I'm a Constant Reader of (mostly vintage) King. But I just finally got around to reading this. Wow and wow. Deeply affecting stories, superbly written. Not flawless, no. No such thing, and for risk-taking stories like these, there's no way one can limn to the standard of flawless. Barker is known for films to the general public. However, these stories got him started and they are brilliant. The writing is sublime. He has such a lovely touch, though maybe sometimes he could dial it back a bit, cut a bit more. But I'm not complaining. There are many point-of-view shifts mid-story, even mid-scene, but Barker's so talented, he doesn't jar you out of the story with it--you find yourself going with it and shaking your head in awe. All of these long-to-novella-length stories are quality. Of course, some work better than others. None are weak. The ones that really pierced deepest: "Pig Blood Blues" - my favorite; just scary and resonant and so well-written and executed. "In the Hills, the Cities" - this story, a not exactly subtle allegory about collectivism and The State, got to me in such a way that I had to put it down as I read into the night, needing the sober light of day to get me through. Truly creeped me out. This is the most lush and purple of all of these, but so gorgeously wrought, so eloquent, and so haunting. I can't stop thinking about the images and the way this story made me feel, makes me feel. "Sex, Death and Starshine" - just made me smile. Barker has a background in theater and this may be a paean to those times. "Rawhead Rex" - fantastic, ballsy yet straight-up gothic monster story. Set piece after enthralling set piece. A clinic of a story. "Dread" - for the ending...jeez. Scar-y. "Scape-goats" - this one is resonating with me, subtle and horrible and poetic and even elegiac. And I really like the ender "Human Remains" - more a violent mystery ending on a haunting, melancholy, heavy, existential note. The aspect of Books of Blood that makes me gush? The writing. The eloquence. The verve. His rendering of sentences, the deft touch, the lyrical flourishes that somehow manage to remain self-possessed, his wink of insight, his understanding of the human condition. The humanness of these stories. You can tell: he had fun writing these. Barker's face, with this book alone, belongs carved into the mountain with Poe, Lovecraft, King. It's that good, he's that good.

About the only thing I would change if I could is to get a hard back version of this collection. The paperback version I do have is great, and at just over 500 pages, a nice collection of short stories. To read the stories behind the films like Book Of Blood, and Midnight Meat train is both revealing and never disappointing. Its hard to convey what Barker does in written format, but distinctly individual is an understatement. To call his writing painting with words is not far of the mark, but it still does not convey the way he writes. In a way it is like a cross between MR James and HP Lovecraft; utterly unique is still only part of the way to convey his writing style. If you have seen Book of Blood and Midnight Meat train, then reading the short story behind it is so very rewarding. The word mythology does come closer to conveying what Barker does in Books of Blood volumes 1-3, but the best way to perceive it as painting with words. One thing is sure, if film makers use the stories here as jumping off points for more film projects, the films will be stunning and superb. If you like the clarity that Graham Masterton produces in novels, then you will love the work in Books of Blood, guaranteed to be a unique experience.

Clive Barker is an amazing author!!! Books of Blood deserves five stars! It is interesting and very suspenseful right from the start! I love how he always starts off with a sort of poetic meaningful bit at the beginning of his books, this beginning is about how the dead travel on highways and how sometimes they cross into our world. And sometimes they chose someone to write their stories on, this is called the books of blood, and the rest of the book is their stories. Right off bat, the first guy's story is suspenseful, as we get introduced to the killings going on in his home town as we meet our lead guy and then we get to meet the killer, this chapter goes from the good guy to the killer, who don't know of eachother, yet, but it seems like he might be the victim the killer has been searching for all night! I would highly recomend this book to anyone looking for a good thrill, but be warned, it's not for the weak stomached, don't eat while reading this book! I almost couldn't finish my lunch as I read this book, it was great!!!

Unbelievable. I'm a very slow reader, and I read this book cover to cover in about 3 days. I couldn't put it down. Clive Barker can honestly do no wrong. I read "Hell Bound Heart" and then purchased "Books of Blood." I didn't think another book could measure up to "Hell Bound Heart," but this one came pretty close. I love the way Clive Barker writes. The way he writes is so immersive and terrifying. He destroys your expectations and he keeps you salivating for more and more terror. Basically books of blood is a collection of 25-30 page short stories. Each short story is extremely horrific, graphic, and deliciously creepy. My favorite was story "Dread." Not only did it keep me up at night, but I remember driving to work the day after reading it and letting the horror pass through my mind over and over again. The following day, "Dread" still had its hold on me. I couldn't shake the horror, I couldn't shake terror and I couldn't wait another hour before reading another story. To make a long story a short story....READ THIS BOOK!

In spite of having being revered and despised with equal intensity, there's no doubt that the "Books of Blood" by the irregular Clive Barker have become a key work within the bounds of contemporary horror fiction. First published in 1984, these violent and twisted tales, with certain reminisces of classic authors like Edgar Allan Poe and William Blake and their particular genre-breaking blend of supernatural horror, gore, humour, eroticism and dark fantasy have conspired to make of Barker one of the most solid and disturbing authors of the last decades. In the "Books of Blood" Barker reveals an unusual skill both for the horror tale and the short story form, being able to display a freakish and unprejudiced vision of the genre that can only be called his own. The stories included here are tales told by the DEAD who, having come from beyond the grave, literally write their personal tragedies on the very skin of the unfortunate summoner who has dared to invoke them. This scarifying process is certainly bloody and a bit nasty, although it must be said in its defense that the gloomy guests responsible for it and their dismal chronicles would probably accomplish the task of keeping you from putting the book down. As the first page states: "Everybody is a book of blood, wherever we're opened we're red". I think that the metaphor is quite clear here so no further commentary is needed... This idea is an obvious blueprint of the late (and more famous) Barker's novella "The Hellbound Heart" (subsequently adapted for the big screen by his own author as "Hellraiser"). Of the six existing volumes, this particular edition reprints only the first ones (I-III). Among the stories here included I personally think that the following ones stand out: "The Midnight Meat Train", an astonishing short story which progressively creates an unsettling atmosphere and a pervasive ill-omened feeling. The psycho killer featured here is strongly reminiscent of the one played by David Cronenberg (Decker) in a later cinematic venture by Barker ("Night Breed" -1990-). "The Yattering and Jack", a tragicomic tale about some kind of devilish creature bent on tormenting and driving his human victims to despair. A fiend against whom disregard will be the only effective weapon able to counteract his diabolical capers. Another good one is the over-the-top "In the Hills, the Cities" in which Barker recreates the ancient rivalry between two Balcanic communities by means of an indescribable bloody battle filled to the brim of disturbing imagery and where two heedless tourists will be caught unawares in a whirl of pure, unbridled horror. "Hell's Event" is another grotesque story in which worldwide domination by hellish entities will be decided by the outcome of a long distance run. A tale where the human runners involved will progressively discover some unsettling truths about their fellow participants (demons love cheating, anyway). A really extravagant fiction that only someone like Barker could have pulled off successfully. "Dread" is another remarkable and distressing tale which narrates the sadistic experiments that a college student carries out in order to bring to the fore the deepest fears of those around him. It's a story that really calls to mind those nineteenth century classic tales of deranged scientists who usually end up getting more than what they bargained for... Other great stories are also "The Skins of the Fathers" and "Rawhead Rex" (two of my favourites). In my opinion, "Books of Blood" is a worthy collection of horror tales deserving its status of modern classic, the publication of which supposedly caused a remarkable commotion in public and media alike. They have also been perhaps the last great ground-breaking collection of horror tales in the last decades, as Barker himself has never been able to recreate this same level of brilliance with later works (most of his novels truly suck), being perhaps his scarcely known play "The History of the Devil" the only work of fiction comparable to this masterful (and bloody) literary debut. There's no doubt that Barker's dark imaginings will polarize the opinions of any reader confronting them. For bad or worse, he's not for everyone and his uncanny ability for immersive and genre-breaking fiction probably won't leave you cold or indifferent. "The Books of Blood" are, above all, Barker's main claim to fame as a master of contemporary materialistic horror. In my opinion, he is nothing short of interesting in case you are tired of reading classic horror. Fascinating or ridiculous, you are the one to decide...

Years ago, if you asked me to read a Fiction book, I would laugh in your face. I hated fiction up until now. Clive Barker has captivated my imagination with this book, grotesque stories that are gripping, imaginative, mortifying, and a bit sexy all in one. This book is amazing, captivating. Worth every penny, and very fun to read. It will take your imagination to a different place from where it would normally travel, and the book absorbs you. If you liked Hellraiser, and wanted to immerse yourself in Clive Barker's wors a bit more, this is perfect. I would read this again, and re-read it again when I want to. This book to me is an A Plus Short Story Horror/Suspense book. I haven't tried reading a full, long book of his yet, for example the Damnation Game, but I am interested now. Don't hesitate to pick this one up.

"Everybody is a book of blood; wherever we're opened, we're red.” This is the opening to Clive Barker's insanely scary compilation of stories that had me completely jumping at every little noise my house would make late into the night while unable to put this book down. I have loved Barker's works for many, many years and I have always loved his completely original and imaginative approach to the often tired genre of horror. One of my favorite stories was "Dread" and when I read this book years ago for the first time, this story, among others like "Midnight Meat Train" and "The Yattering and Jack" really stuck in my head long after I put the book down. There is an elegant madness to his stories that leaves the reader feeling disturbed and fearful and maybe just a bit violated by the mental projections of terror that his stories create. You won't be disappointed by this book, if anything, it will leave you pining for more.

Pure horror, creepy , gory, thrilling , amazing twists and turns, sometimes predictable but in a satisfying way. Must read for any fans of any genre. This is horror i wish they made movies out of alot of the stories in here midnight meat train is the last story i would have made a movie of . I love this book and cant wait to get to the next story.

It has a variety of short stories that are very unique. I enjoyed this book.

Buen libro recopilando los tres books of blood es muy recomendable para todos aquellos que desean conocer más a fondo los diferentes matices de su obra

I love Clive Barker! Before this book, I had never read anything from him but now I can say he is one of my favorite horror writers. Some stories scared me to death and made me have nightmares. The third book is less impressive than book 1 and 2, but enjoyable anyway.

goes over all horror subgenres

Great copy condy