Books of Blood (Books of Blood - Clive Barker)

Member Name: B0nfire

Product:	Books of Blood - Clive Barker
Date:	01/07/00 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of stuff to keep you interested

Disadvantages: A bit too graphic to be scary

There are six volumes to the Books of Blood, although you can get them in two collection (1-3 and 4-6). Obviously with such a range of different bits and bobs on offer, not all of the stories are going to be any good, and it's definately the case here. However, there are a few gems amongst the masses that really stand out (there's one, whose name escapes me, where a guy is researching fear and unwittingly turns his subject into his own recurring nightmare), so you shouldn't give up if you don't like a couple. In addition, the story that inspires the CandyMan films is in the second collection - totally different to the film.
Barker's prose is usually very good, with a mix action and horror. But if I have one criticism it's that he's not all that scary. I think that the best way to deal with this genre is to keep it hidden and use the plot to give vague hints at the horror that's lurking just out-of-sight. Barker is normally very graphic with his nastiness, which removes a lot of the fear.
But apart from that, the Books of Blood are very enjoyable, so go out and pick them up!

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