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A review by timtellsstories
Books of Blood: Volumes One to Three by Clive Barker
5.0
Within its context, I think Clive Barker's Books of Blood is an essential read for horror fans. It's amazing this book (or books, if you consider the volumes separate and distinct) even exists at all, let alone that Barker got it published when he did. It had everything working against it (Collection of stories? Nobody wants to read those if they're not written by Stephen King. This is really serious horror that doesn't feature slashers or isn't written by Stephen King? Nobody wants that.). Yet, it got out there, and then Barker wrote The Hellbound Heart and did Hellraiser, and everyone promptly misunderstood everything Barker was about.
I'm not sure these stories give you a good idea what Barker's about. I think you'd probably want to turn to his later work for that. Still, within its context, we see a budding genius at work. His creativity is unrestrained, and it leads him to some very dark places.
Reading it today, it's a bit dated, and it's certainly not Barker's best writing, both of which he addresses in this book's introduction. But, I'm sort of in awe at the remarkable consistency of it all during a time of a writer's life when we all want to try new things. You can see Barker pushing into different places as he's searching for something, but the form, voice, etc. is all there.
If you've never read any Barker, I'm not sure this is the best place to start, but if you're working your way through historic horror staples like I am, I think this is a necessary stop. If you're curious about Barker, read some of his other books, too.
I'm not sure these stories give you a good idea what Barker's about. I think you'd probably want to turn to his later work for that. Still, within its context, we see a budding genius at work. His creativity is unrestrained, and it leads him to some very dark places.
Reading it today, it's a bit dated, and it's certainly not Barker's best writing, both of which he addresses in this book's introduction. But, I'm sort of in awe at the remarkable consistency of it all during a time of a writer's life when we all want to try new things. You can see Barker pushing into different places as he's searching for something, but the form, voice, etc. is all there.
If you've never read any Barker, I'm not sure this is the best place to start, but if you're working your way through historic horror staples like I am, I think this is a necessary stop. If you're curious about Barker, read some of his other books, too.