I’d not heard of this author before. Also, not being much of a horror movie fan (I prefer books to movies), I haven’t seen any of the movies he apparently wrote.

I was pleasantly surprised, however, when I read the Foreword and Introductions of this book, and saw how well-known he is in the horror world.

And his writing impressed me. He has a bit of an unorthodox style... but I like it. Most horror these days focuses on good triumphing over evil. It’s a “regular Joe” being thrust into alien environments and situations and somehow prevailing against all odds.

Not so in Clive Barker’s stories. He explores the idea that not all stories have happy endings, and the sheer nihilism is refreshing!

Like most short story collections, not everything in this one will appeal. I liked most of them, but struggled to get into others, and still others were difficult to get into.

I wouldn’t call any of these stories “scary”. But they’re excellent stories and they make you think.

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