josephvanburen 's review for:

Books of Blood: Volumes One to Three by Clive Barker

5.0

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I first read most of these short stories as a teenager in the 90s, and Clive Barker has been my favorite fiction author ever since. Over two decades later, I enjoyed the Books of Blood threefold more than when I first read them. Simply put, Barker is more inspiring and imaginative in one line than most authors are in an entire book. As far as horror and dark literature goes, there is no equal. His combination of creepy suspense, existential doom, physical gore, and paradoxes of human emotion (often all in one story) is undeniably powerful. Add to that his boundless imagination and precise imagery, and you have tales that prompt fear and provoke thought in ways that are simultaneously entertaining and enlightening. Revisiting Books of Blood was both nostalgic and invigorating for me, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark fiction that goes way beyond the simple scares.