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The Essential Clive Barker: Selected Fiction
With a special introduction by Armistead Maupin, author of Tales of the City, this is a unique selection of the author’s best short stories and extracts from his novels, chosen by Clive and accompanied by a personal commentary which reveals the man behind the art.
Huge in scope, this unique collection examines the work of a man who has taken us further than any other writer of modern fiction: from the fantastic lands of The Fugue (Weaveworld) and the Dominions (Imajica) to the uncharted waters of the dream sea, Quiddity (The Great and Secret Show and Everville). His peerless imagination has only been matched by both his storytelling – from the groundbreaking series of short stories, the Books of Blood, which served as a wake-up call to a floundering horror industry, to the grand metaphysical vision of Galilee – and his ability to create memorable characters such as Will Rabjohns (Sacrament), Shadwell the salesman (Weaveworld) and Judith (Imajica).
A unique project by a unique author, The Essential Clive Barker will appeal both to long-time fans of his work, and anyone with an interest in great fiction.
Huge in scope, this unique collection examines the work of a man who has taken us further than any other writer of modern fiction: from the fantastic lands of The Fugue (Weaveworld) and the Dominions (Imajica) to the uncharted waters of the dream sea, Quiddity (The Great and Secret Show and Everville). His peerless imagination has only been matched by both his storytelling – from the groundbreaking series of short stories, the Books of Blood, which served as a wake-up call to a floundering horror industry, to the grand metaphysical vision of Galilee – and his ability to create memorable characters such as Will Rabjohns (Sacrament), Shadwell the salesman (Weaveworld) and Judith (Imajica).
A unique project by a unique author, The Essential Clive Barker will appeal both to long-time fans of his work, and anyone with an interest in great fiction.
642 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
53 people are currently reading
914 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 21, 2017
Uhg. I was so torn on this book...
I picked this up on sale because I'm a Clive Barker fan who hasn't really read enough of him in my life, in particular his novels (I'm all over his movies and Books Of Blood short stories though! And the Hellraiser comic book spin-offs I really dig too).
On the one hand, this is a great collection of Clive's various writings, giving you glimpses into a number of the fantastic worlds and characters he's created. Barker's a master of horror fiction and there's a lot in this volume to enjoy and absorb. Definitely tickles your fancy to check out his books in full. For that, I would give it 4-stars.
On the other hand... it's just glimpses you get. It's kind of like listening to a greatest hits album... but you only get to listen to 30-second clips. And to be honest, it also feels like a big rip-off, like this book was some little publicity stunt the publishers put out to try and make more money off the author during a dry spell or something. For that I would give it 2-stars.
So, on average, I'm giving this 3-stars. Great prose and wonderful segments to read, but the experience left me a little unfulfilled and feeling ever so slightly that I might just have been a more-than-willing sucker for buying it because it had the name 'Clive Barker' in big letters on the cover.
I picked this up on sale because I'm a Clive Barker fan who hasn't really read enough of him in my life, in particular his novels (I'm all over his movies and Books Of Blood short stories though! And the Hellraiser comic book spin-offs I really dig too).
On the one hand, this is a great collection of Clive's various writings, giving you glimpses into a number of the fantastic worlds and characters he's created. Barker's a master of horror fiction and there's a lot in this volume to enjoy and absorb. Definitely tickles your fancy to check out his books in full. For that, I would give it 4-stars.
On the other hand... it's just glimpses you get. It's kind of like listening to a greatest hits album... but you only get to listen to 30-second clips. And to be honest, it also feels like a big rip-off, like this book was some little publicity stunt the publishers put out to try and make more money off the author during a dry spell or something. For that I would give it 2-stars.
So, on average, I'm giving this 3-stars. Great prose and wonderful segments to read, but the experience left me a little unfulfilled and feeling ever so slightly that I might just have been a more-than-willing sucker for buying it because it had the name 'Clive Barker' in big letters on the cover.
May 30, 2014
A complete rip-off
There are many things wrong with The Essential Clive Barker. For starters, the title is simply incorrect. This book does not give you an overview -or even a hint for that matter- of what Clive Barker is all about. At best it gives you a set of teasers that hopefully will entice you to read the full novels. But why not start by picking up a real novel and explore the craftsmanship of the author yourself. Indeed, a concise version of The Essential Clive Barker should read: close this book, go to the bookstore, buy Imajica and enjoy. If you have never read any of his books, this collection is only going to annoy you to death. Right at the moment you are really getting into the flow of a story, it breaks off and leaves you to crave for more.
So if beginners are not supposed to buy this book, should the avid Clive Barker fan invest some dough in it? Why should he? Any self-respecting fan will own all Clive's books anyway. Ah, but there's a catch, indeed. The Departed, a short story that previously only appeared in The New York Times, gets its book premiere in this tombstone of a collection. Sounds like a rip-off? Well, it definitely is. The only real extra's are Clive Barker's explanations for why he selected these particular stories, but these short interludes do not give you any better insights into the stories themselves. This book was clearly only published because the publishers needed some quick money. Just read the real stuff, you won't regret it.
There are many things wrong with The Essential Clive Barker. For starters, the title is simply incorrect. This book does not give you an overview -or even a hint for that matter- of what Clive Barker is all about. At best it gives you a set of teasers that hopefully will entice you to read the full novels. But why not start by picking up a real novel and explore the craftsmanship of the author yourself. Indeed, a concise version of The Essential Clive Barker should read: close this book, go to the bookstore, buy Imajica and enjoy. If you have never read any of his books, this collection is only going to annoy you to death. Right at the moment you are really getting into the flow of a story, it breaks off and leaves you to crave for more.
So if beginners are not supposed to buy this book, should the avid Clive Barker fan invest some dough in it? Why should he? Any self-respecting fan will own all Clive's books anyway. Ah, but there's a catch, indeed. The Departed, a short story that previously only appeared in The New York Times, gets its book premiere in this tombstone of a collection. Sounds like a rip-off? Well, it definitely is. The only real extra's are Clive Barker's explanations for why he selected these particular stories, but these short interludes do not give you any better insights into the stories themselves. This book was clearly only published because the publishers needed some quick money. Just read the real stuff, you won't regret it.
April 19, 2013
Clive Barker made a name for himself in the horror genre. But this book shows his strength in the fantastical: science fiction, fantasy, terror, mythological, even theater, and of course horror. The book is set up very creatively-- instead of arranging by date of publication, excerpts from his various works are arranged by theme: Memory, Body, Terror, Doorways, etc. Definitely makes me want to explore more of his works!
January 12, 2008
Good for the Barker enthusiast, great for examining common themes and tropes... not so great for actual read-throughs ;>
June 7, 2013
Nice overview of Barker's work but it is mostly excerpts from his books. Would rather read the complete works themselves. Only for the hardcore fan.
September 27, 2019
If you love Clive Barker, are familiar with his inventive stories, and would like to see how his words can be extrapolated to fit many important themes of life, I would highly recommend this book. If you have never read or heard of Clive Barker before, I would not start here.
I had never read or heard of Barker before, only vaguely familiar with works like HellRaiser and Candyman. To put it simply, his stories are incredible. The way he makes each world come alive is beautiful and visceral, raw and relatable. But that was the problem for me with this book. I would fall so hard into a story that I wanted it to keep going, to learn what would happen next to the protagonist and his or her narrative. By the time I had be transfixed by Barker's words, the story would end and another story covering the chosen theme would begin.
Other stories that were included were hard for me to get sucked into. When you begin a story like Imajica in the middle, it can be hard (at least for me) to get your bearings and understand everything that is going on, and the importance of its unfolding. Like I said, his stories are amazing, and I would like to read them all. Had I been familiar with his work beforehand, I think I would have like this book much more.
I had never read or heard of Barker before, only vaguely familiar with works like HellRaiser and Candyman. To put it simply, his stories are incredible. The way he makes each world come alive is beautiful and visceral, raw and relatable. But that was the problem for me with this book. I would fall so hard into a story that I wanted it to keep going, to learn what would happen next to the protagonist and his or her narrative. By the time I had be transfixed by Barker's words, the story would end and another story covering the chosen theme would begin.
Other stories that were included were hard for me to get sucked into. When you begin a story like Imajica in the middle, it can be hard (at least for me) to get your bearings and understand everything that is going on, and the importance of its unfolding. Like I said, his stories are amazing, and I would like to read them all. Had I been familiar with his work beforehand, I think I would have like this book much more.
April 22, 2020
Imagine, if you will, a greatest hits album. There’s always a slight cynical edge to this concept, as often fans will buy what they already own. However, especially back in the pre-digital days, it does allow for a nice overview the best songs of a band you like and maybe some extra features. This book is somewhat like a greatest hits album. Various snippets of Barker’s books are collected for the reader. They’re loosely themed and have an introduction by Barker. The first introductions were alright, but they got less and less elaborate as the book went on. So what so we have here? Random chapters with little context, of books most of which I read. Barker writes beautifully, and that is why I love his work, but at the end of the day all this ever does is wishing you’d just be reading the actual book, as opposed to a handful of pages. A song on its own works (save for, maybe, some high art concept albums), but the part of a book’s chapter... Not so much. Ultimately I think this is a cynical cash grab and waste of ink and paper.
April 24, 2025
What the bleedin' hell, Barker?
What kind of lame, half-mad bullshit are you trying to sneak over on us? When I buy a book that says "essential" on it, goddamnit, I want a fucking collection of essential stories… and don’t try to weasel out with any of your limey bullshit about “putting novel excerpts together to make connections apparent…”
Do you take me for a brainless lizard? Rich hoodlum? Dilettante thug who can piss away cash?
The time has come & gone when cheapjack scum like you can get away with the kind of scams you got rich from in the past.
Get your worthless ass out of Hawaii and back to the typewriter. Your type is a dime a dozen around here, Barker, and I’m fucked if I’m going to stand for it any longer.
(With deep respect to Hunter S. Thompson)
What kind of lame, half-mad bullshit are you trying to sneak over on us? When I buy a book that says "essential" on it, goddamnit, I want a fucking collection of essential stories… and don’t try to weasel out with any of your limey bullshit about “putting novel excerpts together to make connections apparent…”
Do you take me for a brainless lizard? Rich hoodlum? Dilettante thug who can piss away cash?
The time has come & gone when cheapjack scum like you can get away with the kind of scams you got rich from in the past.
Get your worthless ass out of Hawaii and back to the typewriter. Your type is a dime a dozen around here, Barker, and I’m fucked if I’m going to stand for it any longer.
(With deep respect to Hunter S. Thompson)
December 27, 2025
Ok, so maybe this is my fault but when an author who, as Wikipedia opens with, "came to prominence in the 1980s with a series of short stories" issues a book called The Essential Clive Barker, was it wrong to imagine this book would actually be some essential Clive Barker?
It is not a collection of short stories, it is a collection of passages from novels, meaningless out-of-context passages from other novels. Pointless.
It is not a collection of short stories, it is a collection of passages from novels, meaningless out-of-context passages from other novels. Pointless.
March 9, 2018
If you have never read anything by Clive Barker and you want to get a feel for his writing, this is an excellent book. However if you want to sink your teeth into a good book, I'd recommend buying one of his novels, or the Books of Blood.
June 11, 2021
Not really what I thought this book was going to be. Seems to be a collection of snippets out of his other books. This just didn't work for me.
April 6, 2022
Meh. It’s a digest. These are passages taken out of context from his other books. I’d rather read the actual books. Did not finish.
Read
October 10, 2025An interesting collection as a enticing starter set to reading Barker... I cant wait to read his books in their entirety after reading chapters from them...
April 16, 2008
It was a good book for reading passages from his many novels, but without having read all the novels I didn't really follow on some of the themes. I didn't dislike the book but you really have to like his work and read his books to follow along with the themes.
September 18, 2011
A book full of Clive Barker and more Clive Barker...can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon.
December 17, 2013
this was a good christmas gift , i still read it. it's so fun , even the pro pieces.
March 31, 2017
excerpts . .. I prefer a whole story...but it gave me just enough to want to read the full book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews