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Clive Barker

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Books Of Blood Omnibus 1: Volumes 1-3 Kindle Edition

by Clive Barker (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.7 1,871 ratings

Book 1 of 2: Books Of Blood Omnibus

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Here are the stories written on the Book of Blood. They are a map of that dark highway that leads out of life towards unknown destinations. Few will have to take it. Most will go peacefully along lamplit streets, ushered out of living with prayers and caresses. But for a few, the horrors will come, skipping, to fetch them off to the highway of the damned ...

Gathered together for the first time in one volume, here are fifteen mind-shattering stories from the awesome imagination of World Fantasy Award winning author Clive Barker. They will take you to the brink - and beyond ...

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Everybody is a book of blood; wherever we're opened, we're red." For those who only know Clive Barker through his long multigenre novels, this one-volume edition of the Books of Blood is a welcome chance to acquire the 16 remarkable horror short stories with which he kicked off his career. For those who already know these tales, the poignant introduction is a window on the creator's mind. Reflecting back after 14 years, Barker writes:

I look at these pieces and I don't think the man who wrote them is alive in me anymore.... We are all our own graveyards I believe; we squat amongst the tombs of the people we were. If we're healthy, every day is a celebration, a Day of the Dead, in which we give thanks for the lives that we lived; and if we are neurotic we brood and mourn and wish that the past was still present.

Reading these stories over, I feel a little of both. Some of the simple energies that made these words flow through my pen--that made the phrases felicitous and the ideas sing--have gone. I lost their maker a long time ago.

These enthusiastic tales are not ashamed of visceral horror, of blood splashing freely across the page: "The Midnight Meat Train," a grisly subway tale that surprises you with one twist after another; "The Yattering and Jack," about a hilarious demon who possesses a Christmas turkey; "In the Hills, the Cities," an unusual example of an original horror premise; "Dread," a harrowing non-supernatural tale about being forced to realize your worst nightmare; "Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament," about a woman who kills men with her mind. Some of the tales are more successful than others, but all are distinguished by strikingly beautiful images of evil and destruction. No horror library is complete without them. --Fiona Webster

From Library Journal

Barker launched his best-selling career in 1984 with the Books of Blood trilogy, which are published together here as a single volume. In addition to the numerous short stories contained in the Books, this edition also sports a new introduction by the author. Bloody good fun.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004FN1QOM
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orbit; New e. edition (December 2, 2010)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 2, 2010
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1004 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 532 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #498,976 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #102 in Horror & Supernatural Literary Criticism (Books)
- #349 in British & Irish Horror
- #395 in Horror Fiction Classics

Customer Reviews:
4.7 1,871 ratings

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Clive Barker

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Clive Barker was born in Liverpool in 1952. His earlier books include The Books of Blood, Cabal, and The Hellbound Heart. In addition to his work as a novelist and playwright, he also illustrates, writes, directs and produces for stage and screen. His films include Hellraiser, Hellbound, Nightbreed and Candyman. Clive lives in Beverly Hills, California

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Dash Doer

The Standard Bearer

Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2012

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Some books are guideposts, planes upon which your (writing/reading) life refracts, shifts, changes course. Books that have done this for me, not only to my writing/reading life, but to my life: The Shining (King), a collection of poems (e.e. cummings), Generation X (Coupland), The Great Gatsby (FSF), The Hours (Cunningham), Ninety-Two in the Shade (McGuane), A Prayer for the Dying (O'Nan), Winter's Bone (Woodrell). Now: add to this list: Books of Blood, Vols. One to Three (Barker). What a revelation this book was for me. It came out in 1984. I love horror. I'm a Constant Reader of (mostly vintage) King. But I just finally got around to reading this. Wow and wow. Deeply affecting stories, superbly written. Not flawless, no. No such thing, and for risk-taking stories like these, there's no way one can limn to the standard of flawless. Barker is known for films to the general public. However, these stories got him started and they are brilliant. The writing is sublime. He has such a lovely touch, though maybe sometimes he could dial it back a bit, cut a bit more. But I'm not complaining. There are many point-of-view shifts mid-story, even mid-scene, but Barker's so talented, he doesn't jar you out of the story with it--you find yourself going with it and shaking your head in awe.

All of these long-to-novella-length stories are quality. Of course, some work better than others. None are weak. The ones that really pierced deepest: "Pig Blood Blues" - my favorite; just scary and resonant and so well-written and executed. "In the Hills, the Cities" - this story, a not exactly subtle allegory about collectivism and The State, got to me in such a way that I had to put it down as I read into the night, needing the sober light of day to get me through. Truly creeped me out. This is the most lush and purple of all of these, but so gorgeously wrought, so eloquent, and so haunting. I can't stop thinking about the images and the way this story made me feel, makes me feel. "Sex, Death and Starshine" - just made me smile. Barker has a background in theater and this may be a paean to those times. "Rawhead Rex" - fantastic, ballsy yet straight-up gothic monster story. Set piece after enthralling set piece. A clinic of a story. "Dread" - for the ending...jeez. Scar-y. "Scape-goats" - this one is resonating with me, subtle and horrible and poetic and even elegiac. And I really like the ender "Human Remains" - more a violent mystery ending on a haunting, melancholy, heavy, existential note.

The aspect of Books of Blood that makes me gush? The writing. The eloquence. The verve. His rendering of sentences, the deft touch, the lyrical flourishes that somehow manage to remain self-possessed, his wink of insight, his understanding of the human condition. The humanness of these stories. You can tell: he had fun writing these.

Barker's face, with this book alone, belongs carved into the mountain with Poe, Lovecraft, King. It's that good, he's that good.

8 people found this helpful

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eduardo

My new favorite horror author

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2023

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I've just discovered Clive's writing and I'm hooked. I've read most of Stephen King's works but in contrast, Clive delivers a condensed and intense story telling style

2 people found this helpful

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Jnel

Great book

Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024

Awesome book

Book is in great condition

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2024

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I have many thanks for the quality of condition

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Stranger

Yarns told from a living (and screaming) manuscript...

Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2011

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In spite of having being revered and despised with equal intensity, there's no doubt that the "Books of Blood" by the irregular Clive Barker have become a key work within the bounds of contemporary horror fiction. First published in 1984, these violent and twisted tales, with certain reminisces of classic authors like Edgar Allan Poe and William Blake and their particular genre-breaking blend of supernatural horror, gore, humour, eroticism and dark fantasy have conspired to make of Barker one of the most solid and disturbing authors of the last decades.

In the "Books of Blood" Barker reveals an unusual skill both for the horror tale and the short story form, being able to display a freakish and unprejudiced vision of the genre that can only be called his own. The stories included here are tales told by the DEAD who, having come from beyond the grave, literally write their personal tragedies on the very skin of the unfortunate summoner who has dared to invoke them. This scarifying process is certainly bloody and a bit nasty, although it must be said in its defense that the gloomy guests responsible for it and their dismal chronicles would probably accomplish the task of keeping you from putting the book down. As the first page states: "Everybody is a book of blood, wherever we're opened we're red". I think that the metaphor is quite clear here so no further commentary is needed... This idea is an obvious blueprint of the late (and more famous) Barker's novella "The Hellbound Heart" (subsequently adapted for the big screen by his own author as "Hellraiser").

Of the six existing volumes, this particular edition reprints only the first ones (I-III). Among the stories here included I personally think that the following ones stand out:

"The Midnight Meat Train", an astonishing short story which progressively creates an unsettling atmosphere and a pervasive ill-omened feeling. The psycho killer featured here is strongly reminiscent of the one played by David Cronenberg (Decker) in a later cinematic venture by Barker ("Night Breed" -1990-).

"The Yattering and Jack", a tragicomic tale about some kind of devilish creature bent on tormenting and driving his human victims to despair. A fiend against whom disregard will be the only effective weapon able to counteract his diabolical capers.

Another good one is the over-the-top "In the Hills, the Cities" in which Barker recreates the ancient rivalry between two Balcanic communities by means of an indescribable bloody battle filled to the brim of disturbing imagery and where two heedless tourists will be caught unawares in a whirl of pure, unbridled horror.

"Hell's Event" is another grotesque story in which worldwide domination by hellish entities will be decided by the outcome of a long distance run. A tale where the human runners involved will progressively discover some unsettling truths about their fellow participants (demons love cheating, anyway). A really extravagant fiction that only someone like Barker could have pulled off successfully.

"Dread" is another remarkable and distressing tale which narrates the sadistic experiments that a college student carries out in order to bring to the fore the deepest fears of those around him. It's a story that really calls to mind those nineteenth century classic tales of deranged scientists who usually end up getting more than what they bargained for...

Other great stories are also "The Skins of the Fathers" and "Rawhead Rex" (two of my favourites).

In my opinion, "Books of Blood" is a worthy collection of horror tales deserving its status of modern classic, the publication of which supposedly caused a remarkable commotion in public and media alike. They have also been perhaps the last great ground-breaking collection of horror tales in the last decades, as Barker himself has never been able to recreate this same level of brilliance with later works (most of his novels truly suck), being perhaps his scarcely known play "The History of the Devil" the only work of fiction comparable to this masterful (and bloody) literary debut.

There's no doubt that Barker's dark imaginings will polarize the opinions of any reader confronting them. For bad or worse, he's not for everyone and his uncanny ability for immersive and genre-breaking fiction probably won't leave you cold or indifferent. "The Books of Blood" are, above all, Barker's main claim to fame as a master of contemporary materialistic horror. In my opinion, he is nothing short of interesting in case you are tired of reading classic horror.

Fascinating or ridiculous, you are the one to decide...

9 people found this helpful

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Belle Jenkins

Unique Stories

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2023

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I really liked the uniqueness & detail of the stories in this book. It was very gruesome, horrific & absolutely gross in some areas but I enjoyed it. Clive Barker is an amazing author & I cannot wait to read the other volumes. Definitely not for anyone looking for “happy” stories but if you like horror these are the stories for you!

One person found this helpful

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Santeria

Stunning and True to the Collections Name

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2018

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About the only thing I would change if I could is to get a hard back version of this collection. The paperback version I do have is great, and at just over 500 pages, a nice collection of short stories. To read the stories behind the films like Book Of Blood, and Midnight Meat train is both revealing and never disappointing. Its hard to convey what Barker does in written format, but distinctly individual is an understatement. To call his writing painting with words is not far of the mark, but it still does not convey the way he writes. In a way it is like a cross between MR James and HP Lovecraft; utterly unique is still only part of the way to convey his writing style. If you have seen Book of Blood and Midnight Meat train, then reading the short story behind it is so very rewarding. The word mythology does come closer to conveying what Barker does in Books of Blood volumes 1-3, but the best way to perceive it as painting with words. One thing is sure, if film makers use the stories here as jumping off points for more film projects, the films will be stunning and superb. If you like the clarity that Graham Masterton produces in novels, then you will love the work in Books of Blood, guaranteed to be a unique experience.

19 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Alex

Awesome

Reviewed in Mexico on August 12, 2021

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It's very good 🔥🔥🔥

Artico Roberto

Kindle version has a minor problem

Reviewed in Italy on March 13, 2023

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The book is considered finished by the end of the second collection according to the e-reader. This means you can’t see the reading time left in the chapters and the book as a whole for the third collection.

One person found this helpful

Kyle J. Durrant

Highlights the beauty inherent in the frightful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2021

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I absolutely tore through this omnibus. Each story (aside from the first, introductory story of Volume 1) is at least 30 pages long, probably pushing the boundaries of what is considered a short story, yet I devoured each one in a single sitting. On some days I was reading multiple stories because I was so invested in Barker's writing.

Aside from reading The Hellbound Heart recently, I haven't had much exposure to Barker's writing. I've heard good things, of course, but now I truly understand why he's so popular. These stories were incredible, with outstanding writing that painted vivid scenes. I don't think there was a single one that I didn't like.

Barker brings a blend of eroticism and horror to his writing. He doesn't shy away from darkness, yet also highlights the beauty inherent in the frightful.

My favourites from these first three volumes are:
The Midnight Meat Train
Sex, Death and Starshine
Dread
Hell's Event
The Skins of the Fathers
Rawhead Rex
Confession of a (P*rnographer's) Shroud
and
Human Remains

I'm jumping straight into the second omnibus, so you can probably expect a review for that very soon.

Seriously, though, if you haven't read Barker yet I really think you should. I'm ashamed that it took me so long to dive on in, and I can already feel how his work is going to become a major inspiration and influence for my future work.

I have to give this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. There were quite a few typos and grammatical errors that seemed to escape the editor's/s' notice, but they did not detract at all from my enjoyment.

4 people found this helpful

Hans

Great selection of horror stories

Reviewed in Germany on January 4, 2020

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Clive Barker is a great author, I love his stories.

2 people found this helpful

Chris J.

Classic Barker

Reviewed in Australia on May 26, 2020