Mister B. Gone

Quite clever. It starts out as a straight-forward adventure tale with his trademark mixture of gruesomeness and emotional detachment, but at a certain point the telling takes a sharp turn towards a philosophical discussion of freedom and consequences. This is as unexpected as it is effective, and Barker uses his chance to weave in some of his own biographical details.

The post-modern gimmick of the demon addressing the reader (sorry, but it's a very minor spoiler, as this is revealed from the beginning) equally becomes an integral part of the story. Only as the relationship between the narrator and the reader gets closer, the demon tells ever more intimate details. And only through this development, he can finally start thinking about his predicament, and ultimately about his very existence.

Burn this book, if you must, but definitely read it beforehand!

I didn't care enough to finish it.

Isn't quite among Barker's best, but is at turns chilling and engrossing, with Barker's characteristic imagination and a nifty premise. The nifty premise isn't revealed until the end, and that's tough to pull off, but Barker does. I can't in good conscience give it more than three stars, but it's short-ish and you reall ought to read it, if you like Barker's sort of thing.

This book is written in the first person, from the viewpoint of a minor demon. The demon gives an autobiography, lending his perspective on many things and important events. The book reminds me a bit of [b:The Screwtape Letters|11149|The Screwtape Letters (Paperback)|C.S. Lewis|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166457934s/11149.jpg|2920952], though it is not as profound.

I found myself very interested in the story relayed, especially told in the way it was.