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sarah_stokes's review
5.0
Delighted to see this new publication of the two Chiliad stories in a single volume. Previously published as the bookend entries to [a:Douglas E. Winter|18351|Douglas E. Winter|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1307400469p2/18351.jpg]'s [b:Millennium|6150012|Millennium|Douglas E. Winter|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1375355037s/6150012.jpg|1803360] anthology in 1997 ([b:Revelations|4267146|Revelations|Douglas E. Winter|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1266623773s/4267146.jpg|1803360] in the US), this is a strikingly personal piece of work by Clive that we'd wholeheartedly recommend.
As Clive has commented, "it was an immense challenge to write, and is easily one of the darkest pieces of fiction I've ever written."
As Clive has commented, "it was an immense challenge to write, and is easily one of the darkest pieces of fiction I've ever written."
loonyboi's review
4.0
Chiliad: A Meditation is a quick, but absolutely worthwhile read. I won't ruin the plot, except to say that it involves two symmetrical incidents a thousand years apart. It's all brought together by some excellent prose by Barker. If you like Barker's work (and I do!) then be sure to read this one.
miaslam's review
2.0
Two distinct stories are very good however when the intertwine it doesn't work.
alexctelander's review
3.0
Bestselling author Clive Barker has an innate ability to find an unusual and compelling word, story or book that grabs a reader’s interest; and he does just this with Chiliad. A chiliad is a measurement of a length of time, exactly one thousand years; this book features two novellas that stretch across the span of a millennium.
“Men and Sin” takes place in the year 1000 AD about a strong relationship between an ugly man and ugly woman, and when this man has his love taken from him, her life ended, he vows revenge against those who have committed this grave sin for removing the thing he cared for in his life. “A Moment at the River’s Heart” taking place a thousand years later also features a brutal attack against a woman and its repercussions against those who carried out the act and those who care.
Barker apparently wrote these novellas after a period of depression, and while the stories can feel convoluted and overly-philosophical, it’s possible to feel the dark, strong emotion emanating from Chiliad. It is an evil and twisted ride, one you might want to end, but it is also one you shan’t forget.
Originally written on December 30, 2013 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
“Men and Sin” takes place in the year 1000 AD about a strong relationship between an ugly man and ugly woman, and when this man has his love taken from him, her life ended, he vows revenge against those who have committed this grave sin for removing the thing he cared for in his life. “A Moment at the River’s Heart” taking place a thousand years later also features a brutal attack against a woman and its repercussions against those who carried out the act and those who care.
Barker apparently wrote these novellas after a period of depression, and while the stories can feel convoluted and overly-philosophical, it’s possible to feel the dark, strong emotion emanating from Chiliad. It is an evil and twisted ride, one you might want to end, but it is also one you shan’t forget.
Originally written on December 30, 2013 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
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