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A review by vrstal
Books of Blood: Volume One by Clive Barker
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.