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Books of Blood #5
In the Flesh
Terrifying and forbidding, subversive and insightful, Clive Barker's groundbreaking stories revolutionized the worlds of horrific and fantastical fiction and established Barker's dominance over the otherworldly and the all-too-real. Here, as two businessmen encounter beautiful and seductive women and an earnest young woman researches a city slum, Barker maps the boundless vistas of the unfettered imagination -- only to uncover a profound sense of terror and overwhelming dread.
221 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1985
318 people are currently reading
5733 people want to read
About the author
Clive Barker
704 books15.1k followersClive Barker was born in Liverpool, England, the son of Joan Rubie (née Revill), a painter and school welfare officer, and Leonard Barker, a personnel director for an industrial relations firm. Educated at Dovedale Primary School and Quarry Bank High School, he studied English and Philosophy at Liverpool University and his picture now hangs in the entrance hallway to the Philosophy Department. It was in Liverpool in 1975 that he met his first partner, John Gregson, with whom he lived until 1986. Barker's second long-term relationship, with photographer David Armstrong, ended in 2009.
In 2003, Clive Barker received The Davidson/Valentini Award at the 15th GLAAD Media Awards. This award is presented "to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individual who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for any of those communities". While Barker is critical of organized religion, he has stated that he is a believer in both God and the afterlife, and that the Bible influences his work.
Fans have noticed of late that Barker's voice has become gravelly and coarse. He says in a December 2008 online interview that this is due to polyps in his throat which were so severe that a doctor told him he was taking in ten percent of the air he was supposed to have been getting. He has had two surgeries to remove them and believes his resultant voice is an improvement over how it was prior to the surgeries. He said he did not have cancer and has given up cigars. On August 27, 2010, Barker underwent surgery yet again to remove new polyp growths from his throat. In early February 2012 Barker fell into a coma after a dentist visit led to blood poisoning. Barker remained in a coma for eleven days but eventually came out of it. Fans were notified on his Twitter page about some of the experience and that Barker was recovering after the ordeal, but left with many strange visions.
Barker is one of the leading authors of contemporary horror/fantasy, writing in the horror genre early in his career, mostly in the form of short stories (collected in Books of Blood 1 – 6), and the Faustian novel The Damnation Game (1985). Later he moved towards modern-day fantasy and urban fantasy with horror elements in Weaveworld (1987), The Great and Secret Show (1989), the world-spanning Imajica (1991) and Sacrament (1996), bringing in the deeper, richer concepts of reality, the nature of the mind and dreams, and the power of words and memories.
Barker has a keen interest in movie production, although his films have received mixed receptions. He wrote the screenplays for Underworld (aka Transmutations – 1985) and Rawhead Rex (1986), both directed by George Pavlou. Displeased by how his material was handled, he moved to directing with Hellraiser (1987), based on his novella The Hellbound Heart. His early movies, the shorts The Forbidden and Salome, are experimental art movies with surrealist elements, which have been re-released together to moderate critical acclaim. After his film Nightbreed (Cabal), which was widely considered to be a flop, Barker returned to write and direct Lord of Illusions. Barker was an executive producer of the film Gods and Monsters, which received major critical acclaim.
Barker is a prolific visual artist working in a variety of media, often illustrating his own books. His paintings have been seen first on the covers of his official fan club magazine, Dread, published by Fantaco in the early Nineties, as well on the covers of the collections of his plays, Incarnations (1995) and Forms of Heaven (1996), as well as on the second printing of the original UK publications of his Books of Blood series.
A longtime comics fan, Barker achieved his dream of publishing his own superhero books when Marvel Comics launched the Razorline imprint in 1993. Based on detailed premises, titles and lead characters he created specifically for this, the four interrelated titles — set outside the Marvel universe — were Ectokid,
In 2003, Clive Barker received The Davidson/Valentini Award at the 15th GLAAD Media Awards. This award is presented "to an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individual who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights for any of those communities". While Barker is critical of organized religion, he has stated that he is a believer in both God and the afterlife, and that the Bible influences his work.
Fans have noticed of late that Barker's voice has become gravelly and coarse. He says in a December 2008 online interview that this is due to polyps in his throat which were so severe that a doctor told him he was taking in ten percent of the air he was supposed to have been getting. He has had two surgeries to remove them and believes his resultant voice is an improvement over how it was prior to the surgeries. He said he did not have cancer and has given up cigars. On August 27, 2010, Barker underwent surgery yet again to remove new polyp growths from his throat. In early February 2012 Barker fell into a coma after a dentist visit led to blood poisoning. Barker remained in a coma for eleven days but eventually came out of it. Fans were notified on his Twitter page about some of the experience and that Barker was recovering after the ordeal, but left with many strange visions.
Barker is one of the leading authors of contemporary horror/fantasy, writing in the horror genre early in his career, mostly in the form of short stories (collected in Books of Blood 1 – 6), and the Faustian novel The Damnation Game (1985). Later he moved towards modern-day fantasy and urban fantasy with horror elements in Weaveworld (1987), The Great and Secret Show (1989), the world-spanning Imajica (1991) and Sacrament (1996), bringing in the deeper, richer concepts of reality, the nature of the mind and dreams, and the power of words and memories.
Barker has a keen interest in movie production, although his films have received mixed receptions. He wrote the screenplays for Underworld (aka Transmutations – 1985) and Rawhead Rex (1986), both directed by George Pavlou. Displeased by how his material was handled, he moved to directing with Hellraiser (1987), based on his novella The Hellbound Heart. His early movies, the shorts The Forbidden and Salome, are experimental art movies with surrealist elements, which have been re-released together to moderate critical acclaim. After his film Nightbreed (Cabal), which was widely considered to be a flop, Barker returned to write and direct Lord of Illusions. Barker was an executive producer of the film Gods and Monsters, which received major critical acclaim.
Barker is a prolific visual artist working in a variety of media, often illustrating his own books. His paintings have been seen first on the covers of his official fan club magazine, Dread, published by Fantaco in the early Nineties, as well on the covers of the collections of his plays, Incarnations (1995) and Forms of Heaven (1996), as well as on the second printing of the original UK publications of his Books of Blood series.
A longtime comics fan, Barker achieved his dream of publishing his own superhero books when Marvel Comics launched the Razorline imprint in 1993. Based on detailed premises, titles and lead characters he created specifically for this, the four interrelated titles — set outside the Marvel universe — were Ectokid,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
March 1, 2019
The manifestation of evil, "in the flesh" is the theme which unites all four novellas in this early Barker work.
The highlight here is undoubtedly "THE FORBIDDEN". This is the basis for what is perhaps the MOST UNDERRATED HORROR FILM OF ALL TIME: Bernard Rose's "Candyman." The story itself, 60 pages that really do chill the blood, I've penciled in on a list of the best short stories ever. It is melancholia wrapped in detective Noir, supernatural urban legend; a human investment into something larger than the self. Helen, the doomed protagonist, looks for an interesting thesis in walls exploded with urban symbols: graffiti. The residents of a dilapidated city complex are all in on a secret conspiracy. The killer mesmerizes, comes from the realms of hell, literally. The personification is so complete in this study on urban decay. The myth baring a hook is more effective than Pinhead! The last paragraph plagues the reader with worry: it seems so possible that evil exists, is indeed a human disease made up of interior and exterior traumas. I almost cried for Helen.
I read "The Forbidden" and felt immediately that Horror is alive and well (true-this comes to us from the 80s... but one has the instinct to hope). Stephen King's constant praises for the British author are not without substantiation. Barker can write circles around King: he practices brevity, brings out strong sexual themes (which of course soon delve into absolute terror), has an outright, singular poetic penmanship. The other stories are pretty good, too. The story about the Candyman, a must read for all aspiring writers, was an A+. The rest involve a doorway to hell in a prison with no relatable characters (B), a sick gender-bending misadventure in a satanic spa (B-) & bizzarro geriatric oracles in Greece (C+).
The highlight here is undoubtedly "THE FORBIDDEN". This is the basis for what is perhaps the MOST UNDERRATED HORROR FILM OF ALL TIME: Bernard Rose's "Candyman." The story itself, 60 pages that really do chill the blood, I've penciled in on a list of the best short stories ever. It is melancholia wrapped in detective Noir, supernatural urban legend; a human investment into something larger than the self. Helen, the doomed protagonist, looks for an interesting thesis in walls exploded with urban symbols: graffiti. The residents of a dilapidated city complex are all in on a secret conspiracy. The killer mesmerizes, comes from the realms of hell, literally. The personification is so complete in this study on urban decay. The myth baring a hook is more effective than Pinhead! The last paragraph plagues the reader with worry: it seems so possible that evil exists, is indeed a human disease made up of interior and exterior traumas. I almost cried for Helen.
I read "The Forbidden" and felt immediately that Horror is alive and well (true-this comes to us from the 80s... but one has the instinct to hope). Stephen King's constant praises for the British author are not without substantiation. Barker can write circles around King: he practices brevity, brings out strong sexual themes (which of course soon delve into absolute terror), has an outright, singular poetic penmanship. The other stories are pretty good, too. The story about the Candyman, a must read for all aspiring writers, was an A+. The rest involve a doorway to hell in a prison with no relatable characters (B), a sick gender-bending misadventure in a satanic spa (B-) & bizzarro geriatric oracles in Greece (C+).
November 14, 2014
This has been my first Clive Barker read, and I was very pleasantly surprised by it.
From what I had heard of Barker before, I had assumed his work was in the gory blood porn genre. As such I was never very interested in trying out any of his work, since the more trashy kind of cheap thrills that Stephen King used to grind out in his earlier years, really never did sit well with me. Neither does the kind of horror that features sexy teenagers being systematically mangled by homicidal maniacs (usually with very long butcher's knives) .
On the contrary, the volume I’ve just finished is a small collection of short stories that is intelligent, imaginative and satirical dark fantasy, the likes of which you see in the work of authors like Ray Bradbury and Gene Wolfe, with just a touch of a Lovecraftian sense of the macabre and a dollop of Kafka’s sense of the absurd.
A trademark feature seems to be that the stories start off with a very commonplace scenario, where everything is sane and normal, and as commonplace as the routine you or I experience every day as we set off to work or school.
Gradually a sense of weirdness starts to encroach as the stories progresss;- in some cases it works well, though in The Forbidden it did not work for me at first. At first glance it seemed like a childish attempt at painting a horror figure, and I think this is a clue as to how the picture of Barker as a cheap thrill goremonger might have evolved.
However, after reading the rest of the stories, I realised that Barker’s works work on two levels. Despite throwing in a few bones for the cheap thrill junkies, (some of them being decidedly gore-less, nevertheless), there is a lot of social commentary and satire going on in the background.
I had a squiz at the plot of the movie “Candyman” which was based on The Forbidden, and there it was obvious to me that the hidden theme was distorted and ignored in the film – its maker opting to put it into the slasher genre. (I’ll bet they made more money that way).
The actual theme originally intended by Barker, (besides a bit of a poke at the snobbish one-upmanship always to be found in intellectual/academic circles) seemed pretty obviously to me, to be a working of the theme that there is nothing worse for the human psyche than to be ignored, impotent, ridiculed, and/or nondescript, since everybody needs their existence validated somehow. For some the issue is important enough as to even draw attention to themselves in negative ways, as long as it means they get attention, of whatever kind.
The Candyman is a symbol of the allure of fame or notoriety, and Helen withstands this allure for a while, though she succumbs at the very end. Earlier in the story, other characters also succumbed to the Candyman, by telling sensationalist lies and …*censored for spoilers*.
The story also offers an effortless juxtaposition of the contrasting worlds of people living on the edges of society, with that of snobbish university circles.
Barker delivers his double message cleverly enough camouflaged that sadly, a lot of people probably do dismiss works like The Forbidden as simply being of the horror “slasher” genre.
The Madonna is a wonderfully imaginative tale of ambiguity, which touches on relationship and gender issues, but overall delivers a delightful sense of the weird and macabre that only a Kafka or Lovecraft can match, yet delivered in pleasantly muted tones which makes it an enjoyable read.
Babel’s Children is a delightful little comic satire displaying Barker’s disdain for world politics.
In the Flesh was probably the story that touched me the most deeply and remained with me the longest, even managing to find it’s way into my dreams. I found myself identifying and empathizing with the characters in this one. Some of the story actually seems to have come from a dreamworld itself, and is guaranteed to please lovers of dark fantasy who enjoy exploring the landscapes of dream and psyche.
My interest has definitely been piqued, so I will be reading more Barker soon.
EDIT: (later) After reading some earlier Barker, I wasn't quite as impressed. It seems that his later, more mature works are definitely an improvement on his earlier fare.
From what I had heard of Barker before, I had assumed his work was in the gory blood porn genre. As such I was never very interested in trying out any of his work, since the more trashy kind of cheap thrills that Stephen King used to grind out in his earlier years, really never did sit well with me. Neither does the kind of horror that features sexy teenagers being systematically mangled by homicidal maniacs (usually with very long butcher's knives) .
On the contrary, the volume I’ve just finished is a small collection of short stories that is intelligent, imaginative and satirical dark fantasy, the likes of which you see in the work of authors like Ray Bradbury and Gene Wolfe, with just a touch of a Lovecraftian sense of the macabre and a dollop of Kafka’s sense of the absurd.
A trademark feature seems to be that the stories start off with a very commonplace scenario, where everything is sane and normal, and as commonplace as the routine you or I experience every day as we set off to work or school.
Gradually a sense of weirdness starts to encroach as the stories progresss;- in some cases it works well, though in The Forbidden it did not work for me at first. At first glance it seemed like a childish attempt at painting a horror figure, and I think this is a clue as to how the picture of Barker as a cheap thrill goremonger might have evolved.
However, after reading the rest of the stories, I realised that Barker’s works work on two levels. Despite throwing in a few bones for the cheap thrill junkies, (some of them being decidedly gore-less, nevertheless), there is a lot of social commentary and satire going on in the background.
I had a squiz at the plot of the movie “Candyman” which was based on The Forbidden, and there it was obvious to me that the hidden theme was distorted and ignored in the film – its maker opting to put it into the slasher genre. (I’ll bet they made more money that way).
The actual theme originally intended by Barker, (besides a bit of a poke at the snobbish one-upmanship always to be found in intellectual/academic circles) seemed pretty obviously to me, to be a working of the theme that there is nothing worse for the human psyche than to be ignored, impotent, ridiculed, and/or nondescript, since everybody needs their existence validated somehow. For some the issue is important enough as to even draw attention to themselves in negative ways, as long as it means they get attention, of whatever kind.
The Candyman is a symbol of the allure of fame or notoriety, and Helen withstands this allure for a while, though she succumbs at the very end. Earlier in the story, other characters also succumbed to the Candyman, by telling sensationalist lies and …*censored for spoilers*.
The story also offers an effortless juxtaposition of the contrasting worlds of people living on the edges of society, with that of snobbish university circles.
Barker delivers his double message cleverly enough camouflaged that sadly, a lot of people probably do dismiss works like The Forbidden as simply being of the horror “slasher” genre.
The Madonna is a wonderfully imaginative tale of ambiguity, which touches on relationship and gender issues, but overall delivers a delightful sense of the weird and macabre that only a Kafka or Lovecraft can match, yet delivered in pleasantly muted tones which makes it an enjoyable read.
Babel’s Children is a delightful little comic satire displaying Barker’s disdain for world politics.
In the Flesh was probably the story that touched me the most deeply and remained with me the longest, even managing to find it’s way into my dreams. I found myself identifying and empathizing with the characters in this one. Some of the story actually seems to have come from a dreamworld itself, and is guaranteed to please lovers of dark fantasy who enjoy exploring the landscapes of dream and psyche.
My interest has definitely been piqued, so I will be reading more Barker soon.
EDIT: (later) After reading some earlier Barker, I wasn't quite as impressed. It seems that his later, more mature works are definitely an improvement on his earlier fare.
January 6, 2022
Now we are on installment five, and I feel like we are losing some of that flair that made these books stand out. I didn't get a lot of horror from these stories. They bordered more on sci-fi and the weird. I could go with it, but they need to be good. I found them mediocre. Please let the next one be better. Fingers crossed.
October 24, 2020
4.5*
In the Flesh (Relato):
"En ese momento se dio cuenta de que jamás había amado a nadie, hombre o mujer, lo suficiente como para ir tras ellos e internarse en la sombra de su sombra. Esta certeza le produjo una terrible sensación de soledad, porque en ese mismo instante supo que nadie, al verlo caminar hacia su castigo eterno, daría un solo paso para rescatarlo del abismo. Almas perdidas los dos: él y el muchacho...
La realidad, por sórdida que fuese, era preferible a aquella desolación"
"lo largo de aquel día, cuando las imágenes volvían con toda su frescura, se preguntó si estaría cuerdo. Pero la locura de un hombre podía ser la política de otro. Lo único de lo que estaba seguro era de que había presenciado la transformación de Billy Tait. Y se aferró a aquella certeza con una tenacidad nacida de la desesperación. Si dejaba de creer en lo que le mostraban sus propios ojos, ya no le quedarían defensas para mantener a raya la oscuridad"
En la prisión un recluso,Cleve recibe un nuevo compañero de celda, Billy. El nuevo Reo es el prototipo de una victima nata dentro de la prisión, y en un principio Cleve le dará su protección. Pronto se desvelara que Billy no es ningún cordero, que esta allí por voluntad propia, y su motivación guarda relación con un antepasado que murió en ese sitio.
Es una historia bastante peculiar , bastante orientada a la fantasía oscura. Que se debate entre lo terrenal, lo onírico y el estado de vigilia. Fluyendo por otras realidades, mundos, o "ciudades" como la denominan en la historia.
Este limbo, y estos pasajes abstractos resultan muy interesantes, mixturados con situaciones y seres sobrenaturales en este plano .
In the Flesh (Relato):
"En ese momento se dio cuenta de que jamás había amado a nadie, hombre o mujer, lo suficiente como para ir tras ellos e internarse en la sombra de su sombra. Esta certeza le produjo una terrible sensación de soledad, porque en ese mismo instante supo que nadie, al verlo caminar hacia su castigo eterno, daría un solo paso para rescatarlo del abismo. Almas perdidas los dos: él y el muchacho...
La realidad, por sórdida que fuese, era preferible a aquella desolación"
"lo largo de aquel día, cuando las imágenes volvían con toda su frescura, se preguntó si estaría cuerdo. Pero la locura de un hombre podía ser la política de otro. Lo único de lo que estaba seguro era de que había presenciado la transformación de Billy Tait. Y se aferró a aquella certeza con una tenacidad nacida de la desesperación. Si dejaba de creer en lo que le mostraban sus propios ojos, ya no le quedarían defensas para mantener a raya la oscuridad"
En la prisión un recluso,Cleve recibe un nuevo compañero de celda, Billy. El nuevo Reo es el prototipo de una victima nata dentro de la prisión, y en un principio Cleve le dará su protección. Pronto se desvelara que Billy no es ningún cordero, que esta allí por voluntad propia, y su motivación guarda relación con un antepasado que murió en ese sitio.
Es una historia bastante peculiar , bastante orientada a la fantasía oscura. Que se debate entre lo terrenal, lo onírico y el estado de vigilia. Fluyendo por otras realidades, mundos, o "ciudades" como la denominan en la historia.
Este limbo, y estos pasajes abstractos resultan muy interesantes, mixturados con situaciones y seres sobrenaturales en este plano .
October 30, 2017
Surprise surprise, another 5-star read from mr. Barker to me.
What was a surprise, though, was "The Madonna", the first story in the entirety of "Books of Blood" (that I've read so far; I still have volume 6 to read) that I found to be an anticlimax. The buildup was amazing, the elements were all there, but then it just... deflated when The Madonna herself made her appearance. (Also... Ugh) Hey, just one story out of the 25 in the five volumes is an amazing ratio. I'm cool with it.
So my least favourite was "The Madonna", and my most favourite would have to be "The Forbidden". It was SO GOOD.
What was a surprise, though, was "The Madonna", the first story in the entirety of "Books of Blood" (that I've read so far; I still have volume 6 to read) that I found to be an anticlimax. The buildup was amazing, the elements were all there, but then it just... deflated when The Madonna herself made her appearance. (Also... Ugh) Hey, just one story out of the 25 in the five volumes is an amazing ratio. I'm cool with it.
So my least favourite was "The Madonna", and my most favourite would have to be "The Forbidden". It was SO GOOD.
September 29, 2016
مرة أخرى مع الشيف المتمكن كليف باركر وسَلَطة رعب تحتوي على جميع عناصر أدب الرعب الحقيقي، لا أعتقد أنها ستخيب ظنك.الغموض موجود، التشويق كذلك، شيء من الرمزية، رشّة أفكار مبتكرة وكل ذلك على طبق من الأجواء الكابوسية القاتمة. تحتوي المجموعة على أربع قصص مروعة:
المُحرّم: عن قاتل شبه بشري يفتك بالأطفال والكبار على حد سواء. يتجنب سكان الحي الحديث عنه ويخشونه كما يخشون الشيطان ذاته. أثرت فيّ أجواء الرواية التي تدور في حي رث، حيث الشُقق المهجورة والإشاعات المتوجسة وثمة كتابات على الحائط تلمح إلى شيء أقل من إدراكك وتحكي أكثر مما تود معرفته. سبق أن شاهدت فلم "Candyman" المبني على هذه القصة، وكاد أن يكون رائعا لولا أنني لم استسغ الممثل الذي أدى دور القاتل، لا من ناحية المظهر ولا من ناحية الأداء.
السيدة: يظن سمسار العقارات بأنه سيحقق صفقة العمر ببيعه مجمّع مسابح قديم لمستثمر سيء السمعة. يوشك الأثنان على الوصول لاتفاق مُربح لولا تلك الفتاة التي يلمحها المستثمر في ظلمة المبنى العتيق، فيقرر العودة لوحده كي يبحث عنها. تنهار بعد ذلك أحلام صديقنا السمسار فلا يسلم من غضب المستثمر ولا من لعنة المسبح. عشاق الرعب سيجد خيالهم المضطرب سلامه المنشود في الممرات الحلزونية المعتمة لمبنى المسبح، وسيتنصب شعرهم من الويل المتواري في المسبح الكبير.
أبناء بابل: تنويع على نظرية المؤامرة والتساؤل العبثي: من يحكم العالم ويصوغ كل هذه الصراعات العشوائية والتحالفات الكاذبة؟ تتوه السائحة في جزيرة جميلة فتجد نفسها في معتقل من نوع خاص، تحرسه راهبات لهن شوارب ولحى، ويقدمون فيه للنزيل بيتزا طازجة وعلى رأسه مدير ودود يقدم لضيوفه شوكلاتة سويسرية. المهم ألا تسول لك نفسك الهروب من ذلك السجن وإلا فلا تلومن إلا ذاتك.
الكيان: هذه المرة يحبسنا باركر بين أربعة جدران حيث يٌكلّف السجين المخضرم بحماية "العود الطري" الذي وفد حديثا، ستحترم السجين القديم وتتعاطف مع الآخر المستضعف حتى تكشف الأسرار المدفونة في مقبرة السجن، عندها ستتعاطف مع الأول ولن يكون شعورك محددا تجاه الثاني. تتضمن القصة فكرة النبؤات المفزعة عن طريق الأحلام، واستحضار الموتى البائدين طلبا لمعونتهم. قصة تجثم على النفوس، لأن المصائر الفظيعة فيها حتمية، وخيارات الشخصيات محدودة أو معدومة.
لقارئ الرعب الذي لم يقرأ شيئا لباركر حتى الآن: أنت تفوت على نفسك الكثير من الفزع!
المُحرّم: عن قاتل شبه بشري يفتك بالأطفال والكبار على حد سواء. يتجنب سكان الحي الحديث عنه ويخشونه كما يخشون الشيطان ذاته. أثرت فيّ أجواء الرواية التي تدور في حي رث، حيث الشُقق المهجورة والإشاعات المتوجسة وثمة كتابات على الحائط تلمح إلى شيء أقل من إدراكك وتحكي أكثر مما تود معرفته. سبق أن شاهدت فلم "Candyman" المبني على هذه القصة، وكاد أن يكون رائعا لولا أنني لم استسغ الممثل الذي أدى دور القاتل، لا من ناحية المظهر ولا من ناحية الأداء.
السيدة: يظن سمسار العقارات بأنه سيحقق صفقة العمر ببيعه مجمّع مسابح قديم لمستثمر سيء السمعة. يوشك الأثنان على الوصول لاتفاق مُربح لولا تلك الفتاة التي يلمحها المستثمر في ظلمة المبنى العتيق، فيقرر العودة لوحده كي يبحث عنها. تنهار بعد ذلك أحلام صديقنا السمسار فلا يسلم من غضب المستثمر ولا من لعنة المسبح. عشاق الرعب سيجد خيالهم المضطرب سلامه المنشود في الممرات الحلزونية المعتمة لمبنى المسبح، وسيتنصب شعرهم من الويل المتواري في المسبح الكبير.
أبناء بابل: تنويع على نظرية المؤامرة والتساؤل العبثي: من يحكم العالم ويصوغ كل هذه الصراعات العشوائية والتحالفات الكاذبة؟ تتوه السائحة في جزيرة جميلة فتجد نفسها في معتقل من نوع خاص، تحرسه راهبات لهن شوارب ولحى، ويقدمون فيه للنزيل بيتزا طازجة وعلى رأسه مدير ودود يقدم لضيوفه شوكلاتة سويسرية. المهم ألا تسول لك نفسك الهروب من ذلك السجن وإلا فلا تلومن إلا ذاتك.
الكيان: هذه المرة يحبسنا باركر بين أربعة جدران حيث يٌكلّف السجين المخضرم بحماية "العود الطري" الذي وفد حديثا، ستحترم السجين القديم وتتعاطف مع الآخر المستضعف حتى تكشف الأسرار المدفونة في مقبرة السجن، عندها ستتعاطف مع الأول ولن يكون شعورك محددا تجاه الثاني. تتضمن القصة فكرة النبؤات المفزعة عن طريق الأحلام، واستحضار الموتى البائدين طلبا لمعونتهم. قصة تجثم على النفوس، لأن المصائر الفظيعة فيها حتمية، وخيارات الشخصيات محدودة أو معدومة.
لقارئ الرعب الذي لم يقرأ شيئا لباركر حتى الآن: أنت تفوت على نفسك الكثير من الفزع!
April 1, 2016
This was the first Barker for me and, simply put, I liked it a lot. I always kind of thought that Barker was all about extreme gore which isn't quite what I ask of horror literature but since this book happened to come to my possession, I thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did because my initial impression couldn't be further from the truth.
This volume consists of four dark and atmospheric stories. Atmosphere is definitely a key word here. Barker takes his time building it before he takes the final blow rewarding the reader for the lack of purely scary stuff. I think that that's what makes a horror story good. It doesn't necessarily have to be scary in a raw way. As long as the plot develops in the right manner with respect to the reader, avoiding what I call convenient improbabilities, it's succesful as far as I'm concerned. Of course, I don't mean to say that these particular stories aren't creepy (they definitely are) or that they didn't send shivers down my spine (they did). What I mean is that, short as they may be, they certainly are complete. They're not meant to simply make you feel disgust or shocked, but they are rather character-driven.
Comparisons with Stephen King are inevitable and although there are some obvious similarities, Barker seems to have developed a unique style of his own, equally haunting and riveting. This is obvious in all four stories, all of which I almost equally liked. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd say In The Flesh which is one of the best horror stories I've ever read in general.
So, first contact with Barker was succesful and I'll most likely be coming back for more.
This volume consists of four dark and atmospheric stories. Atmosphere is definitely a key word here. Barker takes his time building it before he takes the final blow rewarding the reader for the lack of purely scary stuff. I think that that's what makes a horror story good. It doesn't necessarily have to be scary in a raw way. As long as the plot develops in the right manner with respect to the reader, avoiding what I call convenient improbabilities, it's succesful as far as I'm concerned. Of course, I don't mean to say that these particular stories aren't creepy (they definitely are) or that they didn't send shivers down my spine (they did). What I mean is that, short as they may be, they certainly are complete. They're not meant to simply make you feel disgust or shocked, but they are rather character-driven.
Comparisons with Stephen King are inevitable and although there are some obvious similarities, Barker seems to have developed a unique style of his own, equally haunting and riveting. This is obvious in all four stories, all of which I almost equally liked. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd say In The Flesh which is one of the best horror stories I've ever read in general.
So, first contact with Barker was succesful and I'll most likely be coming back for more.
October 28, 2021
Quinto libro di raccolte di racconti di Barker sui libri di sangue: "Siamo tutti libri di sangue; in qualunque punto ci aprano, siamo rossi."
Frase cardine di queste raccolte, dove Barker racconta, a suo modo, gli orrori, gli incubi insiti nell'essere umano di fine secolo scorso.
Con una scrittura superba, l'autore delinea 4 racconti, dove fanno da sfondo il degrado, l'abbandono, la violenza e le ipocrisie umane. Un palazzo in sfacelo, un edificio abbandonato, in rovina, luoghi così tanto familiari nelle metropoli mondiali e così tanto inquietanti da inorridire a chiunque ci passi davanti, creano anche curiosità di vedere cosa si possa celare dietro tanto decadimento.
Imperdibile!
Il Proibito - *****
La Madonna - *****
I Figli di Babele - *****
Nella Carne - *****
Dal racconto Il proibito fu tratto il film di culto: Candyman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdPvn...
Frase cardine di queste raccolte, dove Barker racconta, a suo modo, gli orrori, gli incubi insiti nell'essere umano di fine secolo scorso.
Con una scrittura superba, l'autore delinea 4 racconti, dove fanno da sfondo il degrado, l'abbandono, la violenza e le ipocrisie umane. Un palazzo in sfacelo, un edificio abbandonato, in rovina, luoghi così tanto familiari nelle metropoli mondiali e così tanto inquietanti da inorridire a chiunque ci passi davanti, creano anche curiosità di vedere cosa si possa celare dietro tanto decadimento.
Imperdibile!
Il Proibito - *****
La Madonna - *****
I Figli di Babele - *****
Nella Carne - *****
Dal racconto Il proibito fu tratto il film di culto: Candyman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdPvn...
January 30, 2021
It seems the rumors are true, that the best of Clive Barker's horror stories are contained in the first three volumes of the Books of Blood series. But even in the fifth volume, Barker's ideas remain fresh and interesting, his topics vary wildly, and his writing has matured even more, making this volume still a good read even if it fails to live up to the lofty heights of its predecessors. The following stories are contained within, listed along with ratings for each and, as usual, song lyrics that may be thought-provoking or funny, or not:
The Forbidden - 4/5 - who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream...
The Madonna - 4/5 - didn't know how lost I was until I found you
Babel's Children - 3/5 - we've got the whole world in our hands
In the Flesh - 4/5 - tonight there's gonna be trouble
The Forbidden - 4/5 - who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream...
The Madonna - 4/5 - didn't know how lost I was until I found you
Babel's Children - 3/5 - we've got the whole world in our hands
In the Flesh - 4/5 - tonight there's gonna be trouble
January 10, 2018
Типично в негов стил Клайв Баркър успя за пореден път да ме изкефи, да ме шокира и отврати, че дори и да ме издразни. Личният ми фаворит от 4-те творби в томчето е именно откриващата - "Забраненият" - при Кендимен лабаво нема! "Мадоната" и "Децата на Вавилон" нещо не успяха да ме спечелят, а вторият по скромното ми мнение е доста средняшко изпълнение, без никаква вътрешна логика. "В плътта" оправи нещата достатъчно за сносна крайна оценка.
January 29, 2014
Probably my favourite part of all the books of blood, they seem to get better as they go on
January 25, 2018
За пети път Баркър ужасява: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/k...
В края на миналата година дойде регулярната доза хорър от Клайв Баркър – “Колибри” ни закачиха на кукичката още в началото и сега като наркомани си искаме още и още :) Петият том “Кървави книги” прочетох още преди месец, но имах нужда от някакво време, преди да седна да пиша за него. Седнах и си прегледах предишните, спомних си за “В хълмовете, градовете” от първия том, “Кожите на бащите” от втория, ”Негово Величество Роухед” от третия, “Откровения” от четвъртия – във всяка от книгите имаше по някоя история, от която ми настръхваха косите, макар че обаянието на първите два тома си остава недостижимо.
Colibri Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/k...
В края на миналата година дойде регулярната доза хорър от Клайв Баркър – “Колибри” ни закачиха на кукичката още в началото и сега като наркомани си искаме още и още :) Петият том “Кървави книги” прочетох още преди месец, но имах нужда от някакво време, преди да седна да пиша за него. Седнах и си прегледах предишните, спомних си за “В хълмовете, градовете” от първия том, “Кожите на бащите” от втория, ”Негово Величество Роухед” от третия, “Откровения” от четвъртия – във всяка от книгите имаше по някоя история, от която ми настръхваха косите, макар че обаянието на първите два тома си остава недостижимо.
Colibri Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/k...
February 26, 2009
In 1986, Clive Barker followed the enormous success of the first three volumes of The Books Of Blood, with a final three volumes to create the entire Books Of Blood series. His two omnibus's were later to be broken down, to be sold as individual books. Barker was invited to be able to illustrate these covers with his dark and twisted artwork.
This volume was also released in America under the name 'In The Flesh'. The six volumes were all released in their individual forms back in 1985, this fifth volume contains the following short stories:
The Forbidden - 37 pages
"There are some taboos too terrible to be broken. Some stories too terrible to be true. Until you begin to believe them". Here we have the original inspiration for the film Candyman, which was adapted from the short and further developed upon. The forbidden offers up an intense atmospheric story of tension and horror. The story is very well written, delivering a well crafted and haunting story.
The Madonna - 38 pages
"She was older than legend: the Unholy Mother whose beautiful children were most men's dream, and every man's nightmare". A nail-biting short packed with more bizarre and horrific images vividly crafted from the mind of Clive Barker. The storyline is gripping and dark, with an atmosphere so chilling, it will haunt you for ages afterwards. The story was later adapted in 1990 into the graphic novel 'Tapping The Vein - Book 4' where it was illustrated by Stan Woch, Mark Farmer and Fred Von Tobel.
Babel's Children - 27 pages
"A paradise island, lost in a sparkling sea, what better place to plot the end of the world?" A bit of a different short story here, compared with the rest of the shorts in the Books Of Blood. The plot is carefully unfolded, creating an air of mystery to the whole storyline, until the final conclusion hits you in the face. I wasn't that keen on this one, but it was certainly an interesting read.
In The Flesh - 46 pages
"Every night they locked the cell doors for twelve hours; locked the prisoners in with their regrets and their secret terrors, and something more. Something from the lunatic world of pure slaughter that waited just beyond the walls". One of the most loved and enjoyed of Barker's short stories is this dark and twisted tale that takes you on a trip through the weird and limitless imagination of Clive Barker. The storyline is extremely well-constructed, dragging you further and further into the story as it hurtles towards the horrific conclusion. This is a definite must read for all fans of Barker's work.
This volume as a whole offers up a perverse and imaginative world of horrific violence and disturbingly dark creatures. The stories are gripping and original, keeping you entertained and involved. Another superb addition to the Books Of Blood series.
This volume was also released in America under the name 'In The Flesh'. The six volumes were all released in their individual forms back in 1985, this fifth volume contains the following short stories:
The Forbidden - 37 pages
"There are some taboos too terrible to be broken. Some stories too terrible to be true. Until you begin to believe them". Here we have the original inspiration for the film Candyman, which was adapted from the short and further developed upon. The forbidden offers up an intense atmospheric story of tension and horror. The story is very well written, delivering a well crafted and haunting story.
The Madonna - 38 pages
"She was older than legend: the Unholy Mother whose beautiful children were most men's dream, and every man's nightmare". A nail-biting short packed with more bizarre and horrific images vividly crafted from the mind of Clive Barker. The storyline is gripping and dark, with an atmosphere so chilling, it will haunt you for ages afterwards. The story was later adapted in 1990 into the graphic novel 'Tapping The Vein - Book 4' where it was illustrated by Stan Woch, Mark Farmer and Fred Von Tobel.
Babel's Children - 27 pages
"A paradise island, lost in a sparkling sea, what better place to plot the end of the world?" A bit of a different short story here, compared with the rest of the shorts in the Books Of Blood. The plot is carefully unfolded, creating an air of mystery to the whole storyline, until the final conclusion hits you in the face. I wasn't that keen on this one, but it was certainly an interesting read.
In The Flesh - 46 pages
"Every night they locked the cell doors for twelve hours; locked the prisoners in with their regrets and their secret terrors, and something more. Something from the lunatic world of pure slaughter that waited just beyond the walls". One of the most loved and enjoyed of Barker's short stories is this dark and twisted tale that takes you on a trip through the weird and limitless imagination of Clive Barker. The storyline is extremely well-constructed, dragging you further and further into the story as it hurtles towards the horrific conclusion. This is a definite must read for all fans of Barker's work.
This volume as a whole offers up a perverse and imaginative world of horrific violence and disturbingly dark creatures. The stories are gripping and original, keeping you entertained and involved. Another superb addition to the Books Of Blood series.
July 1, 2016
Έχοντας διαβάσει μόνο το Hellraiser μέχρι στιγμής από τον Clive Barker, αποφάσισα να βρω κάποιο από Τα Βιβλία του Αίματος που ξέρω ότι θεωρούνται εξαιρετικά. Πράγματι η γραφή του Barker είναι πολύ καλή και καθηλώνει, γι' αυτό άλλωστε τελείωσα αυτό το βιβλίο σε μία μέρα. Οφείλω να πω επίσης πως όλοι οι χαρακτήρες που παρουσιάζονται είναι πολύ καλοδουλεμένοι και ας έχουν χώρο δράσης 50 σελίδες πάνω-κάτω στην κάθε ιστορία.
Αλλά! Υπάρχει ένα αλλά. Αν και διάβασα ευχάριστα τις ιστορίες οι 3 από τις 4 δε μου προσέφεραν κάτι. Ειδικά η 1η και η 3η. Η 2η είχε κάποιο ενδιαφέρον αλλά και πάλι μέχρι εκεί.
Και ξαφνικά σκάει η 4η ιστορία, η "Με Σάρκα και Οστά" και λέω εδώ είμαστε. Πραγματικά ήταν μια εξαιρετική ιστορία ανάμεσα στη ζωή και το θάνατο και στον ύπνο και τον ξύπνιο που σε αρπάζει και δε σε αφήνει. Αν ήταν μόνο αυτή η ιστορία θα έβαζα ένα ολοκάθαρο 5.
Αλλά! Υπάρχει ένα αλλά. Αν και διάβασα ευχάριστα τις ιστορίες οι 3 από τις 4 δε μου προσέφεραν κάτι. Ειδικά η 1η και η 3η. Η 2η είχε κάποιο ενδιαφέρον αλλά και πάλι μέχρι εκεί.
Και ξαφνικά σκάει η 4η ιστορία, η "Με Σάρκα και Οστά" και λέω εδώ είμαστε. Πραγματικά ήταν μια εξαιρετική ιστορία ανάμεσα στη ζωή και το θάνατο και στον ύπνο και τον ξύπνιο που σε αρπάζει και δε σε αφήνει. Αν ήταν μόνο αυτή η ιστορία θα έβαζα ένα ολοκάθαρο 5.
September 28, 2013
This book is a collection of 4 novelettes from "The New Master of Horror." (not so new anymore!)
The title piece, "In the Flesh" deals with a petty criminal trapped in a jail cell with a first-time offender who's messing with more than he bargained for in the spirit of his executed murderer grandfather....
"The Forbidden" is the story the movie Candyman was based on. I'm sure you've seen it. The story is shorter, snappier, and more powerful. (And set in England! Huh!)
"The Madonna" reminded me of a modern Lovecraft story.... a business deal with a mobster turns into something far more when chthonic horrors lurk in a closed public pool complex...
"Babel's Children" - not so much a horror story as a paranoid conspiracy theory. Who do you think is *really* controlling the world governments???
Good fun, all of them..
The title piece, "In the Flesh" deals with a petty criminal trapped in a jail cell with a first-time offender who's messing with more than he bargained for in the spirit of his executed murderer grandfather....
"The Forbidden" is the story the movie Candyman was based on. I'm sure you've seen it. The story is shorter, snappier, and more powerful. (And set in England! Huh!)
"The Madonna" reminded me of a modern Lovecraft story.... a business deal with a mobster turns into something far more when chthonic horrors lurk in a closed public pool complex...
"Babel's Children" - not so much a horror story as a paranoid conspiracy theory. Who do you think is *really* controlling the world governments???
Good fun, all of them..
December 22, 2017
Another great intallment in the books of blood by Clive Barker. 4 awesome stories from which the first " The Forbidden" is the basis for the Candyman movie:D
As always clive gives us much more than just the surface blood and gore. Its a twisted journey inside peoples psyche.
Two more books of blood to go:) 4 stars:)
As always clive gives us much more than just the surface blood and gore. Its a twisted journey inside peoples psyche.
Two more books of blood to go:) 4 stars:)
January 20, 2018
Най-слабият сборник от поредицата досега. Реално бих му дал една звезда по-малко, но в случая съм добър защото много харесвам автора, както и останалите му книги, които съм чел.
June 3, 2025
"The sweetness he offered was life without living: was to be dead, but remembered everywhere; immortal in gossip and graffiti."
The Forbidden, which is wonderful, lifts this collection up quite a bit as the other 3 stories range from being a tedious slog to being good but not great and the finale is a long road to get to a great punchline.
The Forbidden, which is wonderful, lifts this collection up quite a bit as the other 3 stories range from being a tedious slog to being good but not great and the finale is a long road to get to a great punchline.
January 27, 2016
I've wanted to nab this baby forever, since watching the movie Candyman, adapted to the screen by Bernard Rose with Clive's backing. I have owned several of his books of blood anthologies for awhile, yet this one has remained an illusive completion of the cycle. Finally I now own all of them, and read this one within the week of receiving it.
The book, a brief 255 pages, envelops four short stories. The first, 'In The Flesh', is a strange tale following the mind of a convict, Cleve, who is forced by an overeager warden to be the caretaker of his new cellmate, Billy. Strange and reclusive, Billy isn't an easy man to keep safe from the other inmates, but it's even more tiresome trying to get his new companion to sit still on bizarre questions he's filled with. Soon Cleve is forced to witness some pretty strange stuff, and from there the story skyrockets. Baffling and strange, as Barker's works typically are, the short tale is blessed with bizarre imagery, unusual characters and an intriguing outcome. The endings a strange little thing, one I never saw coming, but a dark wrap-up that strangely fits.
Following the unsettling piece is the short story of the legendary Candyman, in written form titled The Forbidden. There are outstanding differences in the short version versus the celluloid portrayal; Helen herself is much different, although not in a bad way, and her goal is instead on the history of graffiti rather than urban legend and myth. Candyman is also quite different, although I noticed much of his dialogue was copied through to the film. That's the only similarity really. Bernadette, Helen's best pal in the film, is only a mere aquaintance shown once here. No one sits to tell the young woman about Candyman's dazzling past, but instead insist she's a naive child being lied to. The situation with Anne-Marie and her son differ so strongly it was hard to compare the story and movie at all. Standing by itself the short story is an intriguing one, even if I felt the ending fell a bit short.
It was hard for me not feel slightly cheated with The Madonna, as no character was likable, the ending seemed strangely depressing, and the story itself devoid of much enjoyment. The idea just seemed too silly and over-the-top, and no explanations for characters given (some of their actions just didn't make sense). It was a brief read, thankfully, but not something that kept my attention like the previous two.
Finally, the shortest story, Babel's Children, may indeed by the strangest. The idea is very outlandish and it's clear Barker's bizarre humor gets to play with this one. The protagonist was a fun woman to follow, her actions making sense, her personality strong and fiesty but using common sense as well. There was a lovely sense of confusion that followed me toward the end, where I then wasn't sure whether to be disgusted or amused. On one hand the story is so far-fetched and silly it's almost a turn-off and cheesy, but on the other hand it makes a morbid sense and purposely pokes fun at a failing system. While I can't make my mind up on which side of the fence to stand firmly on, I'm settling for using both reactions and rating this one an intriguing story with a daring, mediocre death.
If you happy to find this one, pick it up for sure. Short stories aren't my cup of tea, but Barker's writing style in his other Books of Blood anthologies and this one are sure to please. His writing style is intelligent, filled with an advanced, dry style that's poetically beautiful. Some of his phrasing is simply breathtaking, forcing me to repeat the sentences in my mind. All his stories are filled with inventive, unusual worlds not seen elsewhere. The level of horror in his tales is different as well, dark without even seeming to try, cleverly mixed with morbid fantasy. This is one book that thankfully lived up to my expectations in many ways, diving a bit short in others, but I've come to expect the latter fault in anthologies.
The book, a brief 255 pages, envelops four short stories. The first, 'In The Flesh', is a strange tale following the mind of a convict, Cleve, who is forced by an overeager warden to be the caretaker of his new cellmate, Billy. Strange and reclusive, Billy isn't an easy man to keep safe from the other inmates, but it's even more tiresome trying to get his new companion to sit still on bizarre questions he's filled with. Soon Cleve is forced to witness some pretty strange stuff, and from there the story skyrockets. Baffling and strange, as Barker's works typically are, the short tale is blessed with bizarre imagery, unusual characters and an intriguing outcome. The endings a strange little thing, one I never saw coming, but a dark wrap-up that strangely fits.
Following the unsettling piece is the short story of the legendary Candyman, in written form titled The Forbidden. There are outstanding differences in the short version versus the celluloid portrayal; Helen herself is much different, although not in a bad way, and her goal is instead on the history of graffiti rather than urban legend and myth. Candyman is also quite different, although I noticed much of his dialogue was copied through to the film. That's the only similarity really. Bernadette, Helen's best pal in the film, is only a mere aquaintance shown once here. No one sits to tell the young woman about Candyman's dazzling past, but instead insist she's a naive child being lied to. The situation with Anne-Marie and her son differ so strongly it was hard to compare the story and movie at all. Standing by itself the short story is an intriguing one, even if I felt the ending fell a bit short.
It was hard for me not feel slightly cheated with The Madonna, as no character was likable, the ending seemed strangely depressing, and the story itself devoid of much enjoyment. The idea just seemed too silly and over-the-top, and no explanations for characters given (some of their actions just didn't make sense). It was a brief read, thankfully, but not something that kept my attention like the previous two.
Finally, the shortest story, Babel's Children, may indeed by the strangest. The idea is very outlandish and it's clear Barker's bizarre humor gets to play with this one. The protagonist was a fun woman to follow, her actions making sense, her personality strong and fiesty but using common sense as well. There was a lovely sense of confusion that followed me toward the end, where I then wasn't sure whether to be disgusted or amused. On one hand the story is so far-fetched and silly it's almost a turn-off and cheesy, but on the other hand it makes a morbid sense and purposely pokes fun at a failing system. While I can't make my mind up on which side of the fence to stand firmly on, I'm settling for using both reactions and rating this one an intriguing story with a daring, mediocre death.
If you happy to find this one, pick it up for sure. Short stories aren't my cup of tea, but Barker's writing style in his other Books of Blood anthologies and this one are sure to please. His writing style is intelligent, filled with an advanced, dry style that's poetically beautiful. Some of his phrasing is simply breathtaking, forcing me to repeat the sentences in my mind. All his stories are filled with inventive, unusual worlds not seen elsewhere. The level of horror in his tales is different as well, dark without even seeming to try, cleverly mixed with morbid fantasy. This is one book that thankfully lived up to my expectations in many ways, diving a bit short in others, but I've come to expect the latter fault in anthologies.
December 20, 2019
Contentissima di aver rivoltato i recessi dell’internet trovando i Books of Blood che mi mancavano (4, 5 e 6), che in Italia non vengono più stampati da anni e anni. Complessivamente è una bella raccolta di solo 4 racconti, tutti di buon livello.
Quello che mi ha colpita di più è Nella carne, il più lungo, d’ispirazione lovecraftiana e in generale assimilabile al primo weird/horror, con la fantasmatica città che si palesa attraverso i sogni del protagonista; anche se aggiornato alla sensibilità di Clive Barker, è il suo racconto d’ispirazione più classica che abbia letto, un esperimento particolarmente ben riuscito.
Negli altri ho trovato invece più evidente la sua cifra urban fantasy oscura e orrida, tranne che nei Figli di Babele, più surrealista, grottesco e tutto sommato innocuo –può però risultare gradevole per l’estraniamento che genera nel non voler rivelare le sue premesse fin quasi alla fine.
Il proibito è il racconto che ha ispirato il film Candyman (segnalo che si sta parlando di un remake a opera di Jordan Peele in uscita nel 2020); diversissimo dall’adattamento in quasi tutto, ha anch’esso però una caratterizzazione fortemente urbana e decadente. Stesso discorso per La madonna, che contiene alcune parti disturbanti più per la descrizione di una mascolinità tossica che per gli elementi sovrannaturali e mostruosi, i quali assumono invece un valore positivo come nel film Cabal.
Quello che mi ha colpita di più è Nella carne, il più lungo, d’ispirazione lovecraftiana e in generale assimilabile al primo weird/horror, con la fantasmatica città che si palesa attraverso i sogni del protagonista; anche se aggiornato alla sensibilità di Clive Barker, è il suo racconto d’ispirazione più classica che abbia letto, un esperimento particolarmente ben riuscito.
Negli altri ho trovato invece più evidente la sua cifra urban fantasy oscura e orrida, tranne che nei Figli di Babele, più surrealista, grottesco e tutto sommato innocuo –può però risultare gradevole per l’estraniamento che genera nel non voler rivelare le sue premesse fin quasi alla fine.
Il proibito è il racconto che ha ispirato il film Candyman (segnalo che si sta parlando di un remake a opera di Jordan Peele in uscita nel 2020); diversissimo dall’adattamento in quasi tutto, ha anch’esso però una caratterizzazione fortemente urbana e decadente. Stesso discorso per La madonna, che contiene alcune parti disturbanti più per la descrizione di una mascolinità tossica che per gli elementi sovrannaturali e mostruosi, i quali assumono invece un valore positivo come nel film Cabal.
January 4, 2018
Много слабо.
С Баркър сме на приливи и отливи. Големи идеи и елементарен стил. А и големите идеи са концентрирани в любимата ми тема за Града, която той застъпва почти навсякъде, но размива с малоумни претупани финали и педерастки постановки.
Първият разказ за Сладура е най-добрият от книгата заради атмосферата и цялостното изграждане на образа на обречения, пропит с грехове Град, който отчаяно си плаче за Потоп, че ми се плачеше на финала, когато недоклатените щрихи се изсипаха като разпилени клечки за зъби.
Такъв потенциал има в "Мадоната" и "В плътта", че се вбесявам на клишираните и плоски изпълнения. Не се кефя, че Баркър разводнява сънища и внушения с ярки обяснения на сюжета, които превръщат разказите му в рандъм истории за еднократна консумация.
Да, Баркър е хорър, но булеварден. Проблясъците от време на време, не са ми достатъчни.
Определено слаба част от поредицата, която се чудя дали да не препрочета, колкото да смъкна оценката с много няколко звездици.
С Баркър сме на приливи и отливи. Големи идеи и елементарен стил. А и големите идеи са концентрирани в любимата ми тема за Града, която той застъпва почти навсякъде, но размива с малоумни претупани финали и педерастки постановки.
Първият разказ за Сладура е най-добрият от книгата заради атмосферата и цялостното изграждане на образа на обречения, пропит с грехове Град, който отчаяно си плаче за Потоп, че ми се плачеше на финала, когато недоклатените щрихи се изсипаха като разпилени клечки за зъби.
Такъв потенциал има в "Мадоната" и "В плътта", че се вбесявам на клишираните и плоски изпълнения. Не се кефя, че Баркър разводнява сънища и внушения с ярки обяснения на сюжета, които превръщат разказите му в рандъм истории за еднократна консумация.
Да, Баркър е хорър, но булеварден. Проблясъците от време на време, не са ми достатъчни.
Определено слаба част от поредицата, която се чудя дали да не препрочета, колкото да смъкна оценката с много няколко звездици.
February 5, 2018
Very intriguing collection of short stories. I started reading this because I'm a big Candyman fan, but the other stories in it really hooked me. Looking forward to going back and reading the first four Books of Blood.
December 30, 2021
Clive Barker has always been more miss than hit and this collection was no exception. However, When the story hit it's a classic and the same is also true here with The Forbidden being a true classic but the other stories were slightly dull and disappointing.
October 10, 2011
BiblioBabe Kat gave this a 9.5/10! Read her review here: http://www.bibliobabes.ca/2/post/2011...
April 4, 2017
The second story was the one i’d been waiting for–The Forbidden. Much of it was familiar to me, having seen the Candyman film enough times. The creepy vibe of the film, and the Candyman himself in particular, came through in satisfying ways. But the story created even more, i think, than the film. The eerie, isolated feeling of the housing estate and the peculiar social structure are such banal things, but increase the macabre feeling in the story intensely. It draws on similar themes to High Rise, but with more of a horror twist and i loved it.
With not one story i didn’t enjoy, compared to the 700+ novel that failed to engage me, it’s clear Barker is a far, far more accomplished short story teller. While i’m unlikely to pick up one of his novels, i won’t hesitate to jump into another of his short story collections.
A longer review can be read at my book blog: Marvel at Words.
With not one story i didn’t enjoy, compared to the 700+ novel that failed to engage me, it’s clear Barker is a far, far more accomplished short story teller. While i’m unlikely to pick up one of his novels, i won’t hesitate to jump into another of his short story collections.
A longer review can be read at my book blog: Marvel at Words.
March 31, 2011
This was the American edition of the last tales of the Book of Blood. Barker managed to keep the quality high right to the end. After this, he concentrated on novels until he gravitated from horror to fantasy. I prefer these early works to anything later. There is a deep dark and very visceral feel to these stories.
January 9, 2013
This is my favorite volume in the Books of Blood.
February 25, 2025
Qualcosa più di di 3 stelle, anche 3,5. Nel complesso non all'altezza, probabilmente, di altri volumi che lo hanno preceduto, ma merita di esser letto anche solo per il primo e l'ultimo racconto:
- "Il Proibito", racconto breve ma potentissimo, che combina mitologia urbana e horror viscerale con un sottofondo di critica sociale e che ha ispirato il film cult horror Candyman (1992);
- "Nella Carne", racconto che mescola horror psicologico, sovrannaturale e body horror, con un'ambientazione claustrofobica e carica di tensione.
Il Proibito 🌟🌟🌟🌟
La Madonna 🌟🌟🌟
I Figli di Babele 🌟🌟✨
Nella Carne 🌟🌟🌟✨
- "Il Proibito", racconto breve ma potentissimo, che combina mitologia urbana e horror viscerale con un sottofondo di critica sociale e che ha ispirato il film cult horror Candyman (1992);
- "Nella Carne", racconto che mescola horror psicologico, sovrannaturale e body horror, con un'ambientazione claustrofobica e carica di tensione.
Il Proibito 🌟🌟🌟🌟
La Madonna 🌟🌟🌟
I Figli di Babele 🌟🌟✨
Nella Carne 🌟🌟🌟✨
August 13, 2022
Stavolta il buon Clive si salva in corner con l'ultimo racconto che merita decisamente la lettura di tutto il libro.
December 19, 2024
understood the first two, did NOT get the second two 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
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