Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Damnation Game is a horror novel by Clive Barker, published in 1985. It is his first published novel, written just after finishing the first trilogy of Books of Blood, and tells a Faustian story that touches on topics such as incest, cannibalism, and self-mutilation. I highly recommend the audiobook as it features a full cast and sound effects/music that add to the story. Marty Strauss is a gambling addict recently released from prison. He is hired as the personal bodyguard of Joseph Whitehead, one of the wealthiest men in the world. Whitehead’s youthful dealing in the Faustian ‘arts’ is slowly teased out and Strauss realizes his job entails protecting Whitehead from more than that of this natural world. Whitehead’s heroin-addicted daughter, Carys, gives Strauss an ally and a love interest. Despite being one of his earliest works, this story bleeds the dark fantastical and unique atmosphere that Barker goes on to be known for. Barker’s unique voice always establishes a particular tone, and I can only describe it as a hedonistic and gorier (and sometimes gothic) version of H.P. Lovecraft’s writing. I’m not sure why I never noticed that before. The Damnation Game is imbued with the spirit of Lovecraft. Barker and his Lovecraftian storytelling has a habit of depicting an otherworldly evil that lives just beyond site of the visible world and balancing on the edge of the great Void. At its heart, The Damnation Game is about power and ego and breaking the taboo. There’s the overarching pissing contest between Whitehead and Mamoulian. Then we have Whitehead’s puppetry of Marty, and Mamoulian’s over Breer, both pulling strings in very different subtle and not so subtle ways. Barker pulls no punches. A full array of perversion and revulsions are to be found within these pages. A somber, gloomy, somewhat subdued tale of men and their debts, desires, and debaucheries, The Damnation Game helped affirm Barker's place at the top of the 80s horror pantheon. While I wasn’t a huge fan of this particular story, it still featured many Clive Barker staples and paved the way for the stories I have come to love from him. I liked the ominous ending, and I liked how this felt like an episode of a horror anthology show. I’m glad I read this, and I encourage anyone curious to see how Clive Barker’s first novel fared to read this book.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm so into Clive barker when he is talking about weird conceptual evil metaphysical monster stuff but anytime he tries to write a real human character I'm like man, shut the hell up.
But also I was listening to an audiobook with the most dog shit reader imaginable so that's possibly why I found it so off putting
But also I was listening to an audiobook with the most dog shit reader imaginable so that's possibly why I found it so off putting
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The book pulled me in at the beginning but I quickly began to disconnect as the story dragged on. Barker's use of sex and body horror provide more of a distraction than character building, plot or story. I was disappointed by the end.
Lovecraft always left out the most horrific elements, leaving it to your mind to freak yourself out. No one fills those gaps as well as Clive Barker. The actual horror scenes in this book are amazing, disgusting and vivid. That said, the romantic aspects are a little lame and the book really doesn't get moving until about halfway through.
Maybe skip this one and read The Hellbound Heart (the Hellraiser story).
Maybe skip this one and read The Hellbound Heart (the Hellraiser story).
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, War
3 1/2 Stars
Barker's debut novel, a very good one but not as strong as his other work. Lots of loose ends, some of them intentional but many not. Everyone other than the main characters seems very peripheral and are there and then aren't there and so on.
If you like Barker's other work, you will definitely enjoy this book but I wouldn't start here.
Barker's debut novel, a very good one but not as strong as his other work. Lots of loose ends, some of them intentional but many not. Everyone other than the main characters seems very peripheral and are there and then aren't there and so on.
If you like Barker's other work, you will definitely enjoy this book but I wouldn't start here.