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A review by shauny_32
Books of Blood, Vol. 1 by Clive Barker
3.0
I really enjoyed Clive Barker’s novella, The Hellbound Heart, which was adapted into the film, Hellraiser, so I thought I’d check out his highly regarded anthology series, Books of Blood
The Book of Blood:
A great introduction to the stories that follow. It’s essentially a haunted house tale. Effectively creepy.
4/5
The Midnight Meat Train:
New York subway passengers are terrorised by a serial killer, who leaves his victims butchered in the literal sense. Vivid descriptions and a memorably nightmarish world.
3.5/5
The Yattering and Jack
Very entertaining and original. Like the previous stories, it’s well written. It’s also surprisingly funny. Compelling, with a great concept, it’s my favourite in this collection.
4/5
Pig Blood Blues:
In a young offender’s institute, aka a borstal, a beast from within. Great characters with some shocking moments. Think Lord of the Flies meets Scum.
3.5/5
Sex, Death, and Starshine
Easily the weakest of the collection, this story did very little for me. An interesting experiment with some icky necrophilia but ultimately, it fails to deliver.
1.5/5
In The Hills, The Cities
The final story is his most serious. It features an interesting monster. Symbolically strong. Good, but I think I prefer Barker when he’s less serious.
3/5
Conclusion:
Overall, a fine collection with a lot of great ideas. Some work, some don’t. It’s not as good as I hoped, but it’s still worth a read, and I’m looking forward to reading The Forbidden (Candyman), and Dread.
3.5/5
The Book of Blood:
A great introduction to the stories that follow. It’s essentially a haunted house tale. Effectively creepy.
4/5
The Midnight Meat Train:
New York subway passengers are terrorised by a serial killer, who leaves his victims butchered in the literal sense. Vivid descriptions and a memorably nightmarish world.
3.5/5
The Yattering and Jack
Very entertaining and original. Like the previous stories, it’s well written. It’s also surprisingly funny. Compelling, with a great concept, it’s my favourite in this collection.
4/5
Pig Blood Blues:
In a young offender’s institute, aka a borstal, a beast from within. Great characters with some shocking moments. Think Lord of the Flies meets Scum.
3.5/5
Sex, Death, and Starshine
Easily the weakest of the collection, this story did very little for me. An interesting experiment with some icky necrophilia but ultimately, it fails to deliver.
1.5/5
In The Hills, The Cities
The final story is his most serious. It features an interesting monster. Symbolically strong. Good, but I think I prefer Barker when he’s less serious.
3/5
Conclusion:
Overall, a fine collection with a lot of great ideas. Some work, some don’t. It’s not as good as I hoped, but it’s still worth a read, and I’m looking forward to reading The Forbidden (Candyman), and Dread.
3.5/5