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yazzzzz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
splatterjunk's review against another edition
5.0
This is, pound for pound, the best collection of short horror I have ever experienced.
Only six stories concern us here:
"The Books of Blood" - A haunting framing story that sets the tone for the rest of the tales wonderfully.
"The Midnight Meat Train" - a tense, brutal mystery with a cosmic twist that kept me sleeping with the lights on.
"The Yattering and Jack" - A demonic infestation is not all that it seems
"Pig Blood Blues" - Visceral and heartbreaking tale set in a boys home for wayward teens; some scenes here had me shedding tears and recoiling in disgust immediately after
"Sex, Death, and Starshine" - The glitz and glamour of the stage hides something darker than infidelity, and something older.
"In the Hills, the Cities" - Quite simply the best horror short story I've read in 5 years.
5/5, not a dud to be found
Only six stories concern us here:
"The Books of Blood" - A haunting framing story that sets the tone for the rest of the tales wonderfully.
"The Midnight Meat Train" - a tense, brutal mystery with a cosmic twist that kept me sleeping with the lights on.
"The Yattering and Jack" - A demonic infestation is not all that it seems
"Pig Blood Blues" - Visceral and heartbreaking tale set in a boys home for wayward teens; some scenes here had me shedding tears and recoiling in disgust immediately after
"Sex, Death, and Starshine" - The glitz and glamour of the stage hides something darker than infidelity, and something older.
"In the Hills, the Cities" - Quite simply the best horror short story I've read in 5 years.
5/5, not a dud to be found
uvejota's review against another edition
5.0
Hace algunos meses tuve mi primer acercamiento a Barker, he de confesar que fue bastante desafortunado y pensé que me tomaría mucho agarrar el ritmo al autor, de hecho, Libros de sangre estuvo mucho tiempo en el listado de pendientes y sin muchas ganas de librarme de él. Pero finalmente lo hice y creo que ha sido la mejor forma de conocer verdaderamente la obra de Barker, la más inquietante y perturbadora, la que, entre pinceladas de terror sobrenatural nos habla de un terror y decadencia humanos. Conforme iba pasando las historias pensaba que había finalizado la que sería la favorita; sin embargo, ahora que he terminado el libro me doy cuenta que cada historia que compone este volumen brilla con luz propia o, para entrar en el ambiente Libros de sangre, cada historia es oscura por sí sola.
En definitiva quiero seguir leyendo más del autor y, quizá, vuelva a leer con una mirada distinta el libro con el que me acerqué a Barker.
En definitiva quiero seguir leyendo más del autor y, quizá, vuelva a leer con una mirada distinta el libro con el que me acerqué a Barker.
abstractnymph's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vrstal's review against another edition
4.0
The Book of Blood: Cool concept, felt it might work better for me in a visual medium. Was confused on the hype of it for a bit afterwards.
Midnight Meat Train: Well done. Though probably not intended, I enjoyed how Barker not only subverted an antisemitic myth (blood libel and the Protocols of Zion) but also made a commentary on American colonialism.
The Yattering and the Jack: Not a fan of the animal death, though it was brief. However this was genuinely funny and I was rooting for Jack.
Pigs Blood Blues: First one that was genuinely uncomfortable for me to read, in the ‘this is good horror’ way. Barker has the chops in writing suspenseful stories when he does it well, and I liked the ending if you think about the lens of it being a potential revenge fantasy upon those who lust after children. At least, between Lacey and Redman. That’s a more “reading between the lines” take, though.
Sex, Death, and Starshine: This one was far too slow for me. I got bored and skipped most of it.
In the Hills, the Cities: Wow. Definitely the best one. Amazing work of horror, terror, beautiful prose. The imagery in this was well done. I don’t have much to say except that it was unsettling in the best way and I’d recommend it above all the others.
Midnight Meat Train: Well done. Though probably not intended, I enjoyed how Barker not only subverted an antisemitic myth (blood libel and the Protocols of Zion) but also made a commentary on American colonialism.
The Yattering and the Jack: Not a fan of the animal death, though it was brief. However this was genuinely funny and I was rooting for Jack.
Pigs Blood Blues: First one that was genuinely uncomfortable for me to read, in the ‘this is good horror’ way. Barker has the chops in writing suspenseful stories when he does it well, and I liked the ending if you think about the lens of it being a potential revenge fantasy upon those who lust after children. At least, between Lacey and Redman. That’s a more “reading between the lines” take, though.
Sex, Death, and Starshine: This one was far too slow for me. I got bored and skipped most of it.
In the Hills, the Cities: Wow. Definitely the best one. Amazing work of horror, terror, beautiful prose. The imagery in this was well done. I don’t have much to say except that it was unsettling in the best way and I’d recommend it above all the others.
linda_lgs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
longanlon's review against another edition
3.0
Наистина, Клайв Баркър залага на първичния ужас на одраните лица, пълзящите в труповете личнки и драскащото под леглото ти неизвестно, което ми идва доста освежаващо, но самите му разкази не са с особено смислен край, което пък ми идва доста дразнещо.
Иван Атанасов добре ги е превел, разбира се :) Как си Ванка :)
Иван Атанасов добре ги е превел, разбира се :) Как си Ванка :)
augustefrog's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5