I am not sure how I found my way to reading and "collecting" Clive Barker`s books, but I suppose my bookshelf bears testimony of a certain consistency in my shopping for books - either Gnostic and esoteric subjects (becoming more and more eclectic) or books by such authors as Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (the latter two having co-operated on a peculiar little thing called Good Omens, so I really should have two of it),
In fact, in terms of Barker and Pratchett who are quite odd combinations, I have almost the complete works.. except they are paperbacks, far from mint condition.. and read more times than I can actually account for.
I was planning to read a lot of serious things,but then I got distracted by the arrival of Clive Barker`s Coldheart Canyon in the shelves at some store I would never suspect of peddling such goods (and which I am sure wouldn`t peddle such goods, if they could read the book.. but thankfully, such people as exercise censorship here does not possess the linguistic skills of figuring out anything about the contents of foreign language paperbacks and kindred goods.. except if the covers somehow betray their content.. such as Jamie The Naked Cook or somesuch..).. I am far too distracted a fellow to write a review of the book, and I have only traversed 600 pages of it, so I couldnīt do it justice.
The storyline is far more Gothic than the preceeding books Sacrament and Galilee..Hollywood must be familiar to Barker since he has been at hand as director and creative advisor for many cinematic productions, some of which were produced out of the blueprint of some story or other made by him (if only Philip K. Dick could have had as good creative controll over his legacy..)..but Hollywood is only actually embodied by the unfortunates who trespass into the forbidden..the most central character being Todd Pickett, Hearthrob, who have been talked into plastic surgery that goes terrible wrong...
So goes the journey into the shelter of the wildernesses exterior and interior, in a hidden canyon, in a dream palace..to the discovery of a terrible legacy from the Golden Age of Cinema and beyond..
It is not the best Barker novel I have read, it is the most recent, and the fact that he is so productive is reassuring, since I find I come back to reading his books again and again..
Hi, terje!
I saw something about your Clive Barker entry during a web search, and mentioned it in my most recent visit blog entry. I also like Barker. Though I've only read Sacrament, I recently bought some of his earlier books.
Click here to visit my blog
http://www.duanesimolke.blogspot.com/
It mostly consists of book and movie reviews, as well as information about my writing. I also plan to write more about the writing process and other topics.
If youd be interested in a link trade, please click here
http://acorngathering.gq.nu/favorite_links.html
That page also includes information about The Acorn Gathering, a fiction collection that I edited and co-wrote, with all royalties going to cancer research.
Thanks for your time! I look forward to visiting your blog again.
Duane Simolke
Posted by: Duane Simolke on October 10, 2002 09:00 PM : #1770Thanks for the comment, Duane ....
Until recently I have been rereading Clive Barkerīs Imajica - a most enchanting piece, which I have experienced to be as mesmerizing as Tolkienīs Lord of the Rings (I am also aware that these two works are quite different and do not belong in the same "genre" - yet Tolkien and Barker shares some things; such as the ability of making convincing the reality and experience of "other realms" - and the complete independence from any preconceived and stereotypical "genre"; rather both Barker and Tolkien established new standards in their writing (this is evident especially in Barkerīs Sacrament and Galilee) - which others have followed suit. Presently I am reading Neil Gaimanīs most recent "adult" novel (I have not come as far as reading his Coraline and Barkerīs Abarat, which are both "childrens" stories (Barkerīs The Thief of Always is a brilliant proof of his ability to address across generations and "levels" of readership) American Gods...in many ways it reminds me of some of Barkerīs books - The Art series - Great and Secret Show and Everville especially: they touch upon many identical themes, and I feel especially attuned to the wisdom which I perceive these stories to communicate...
I used to write poetry and attempt some work with prose, but I havenīt had the time to become structured with either of it...When I am a reader, I feel freer with language, paradoxically, than I do when I try to put something down and seriously write..
I wish you good luck with the Anthology..