What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Unfortunately, I never finished the book (hence wanting to find it again), so details are sparse. It was classified as Adult, Horror (but could almost pass for Sci-Fi).
I have to say it was written in the late 90's.


The book begins with a post office worker who tends to the "dead letter" room (or something like that). Anyway, the job required him to read the enclosed letters. In reading, he learned of a power called "the craft" and by piecing it all together he obtained a type of "enlightenment" and became something of an entity. Meanwhile, a scientist (part of me says he was actually an assistant who kills his mentor, but not sure), working on some type of formula, accidentally receives the same type power, but opposite that of the postal worker. They immediately become intertwined in a battle "beyond space and time".
That's all I remember. I know that's flimsy but hopefully someone can help. If you can I'd be totally indebted - It's driving me crazy. :)

That's The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker. The blurb on the book page is really generic, but it has the dead letter office guy and the scientist who try to reach this dream sea that will make them powerful. The magic is called The Art.

It came out in 1990 and was planned as a trilogy, but only the first two books have been written. I read them a long time ago, but remember them being pretty twisted.

Yesss! Thank you for removing that splinter from my mind.
That is it!
LOL - I thought it was "The Craft".
I guess it's good Barker didn't go with "The Art & Craft"...
might not have had the same ominous feel.

Thank you Donna

So this is solved, right? If so, can post the book to the bookshelf and move this to solved. If you don't know how, lmk and I'll do it for you.

I believe this is correct.
If not, notify me and I'll make necessary changes.

Thank you, again!