Evilbore Book Reader cigarillo Club: Have I Appeased You?

[The Fake Shemp]

I went to Barnes & Nobles today because my brother got me a $25 gift card and I had some time to spare.  I saw this floating around one of the recent literary discussion threads and thought it looked interesting, so I bought it:



I almost bought some Clive Barker too, but I figured I'd ought to ask Prole which one was better due to the high price tags on all three: Books of Blood Vol. 1, The Hellbound Heart or The Damnation Game?

[MrAngryFace]

You shoulda picked up:

"Introduction To:
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell"

[TVC15]

You would like Clive, Willco.  He's not too difficult to read. He uses like the gory version of flowery language.  Of the three you listed:

The Hellbound Heart:  Knowing Hellraiser, this might be the best and most interesting start for you.

Books of Blood 1:  Collection of short stories.  Also good stuff.  You get variety here.  Lots of nastiness!

The Damnation Game:  A novel.  I think this is probably the best of the three listed, but again, you know Hellraiser already, so you have interest there, and short stories are always easier to get into than novels.

So really, between those three, you can't do wrong.  You *can* do wrong elsewhere in the Clive library, though.  I think prole would be better on telling you about that.

[The Fake Shemp]

I've read some of Barker's stuff before, but none of those three.  I read some of the later Books of Blood short stories, The Great and Secret Show and Cabal.  I like me some Hellraiser, so I thought about giving The Hellbound Heart a shot, but it's kind of pricey for literally a toilet bowl reading.  And I have no recommendations on the other two.

[TVC15]

Well, it seems that most readers that are into the gorey horror stuff generally consider The Damnation Game to be his best (or at least their favorite) novel.  Being a novel, it's not as easy to get into as snappy short stories or the brisk and kinda familiar Hellbound Heart.  If you like what you have read so far, I have little doubt that you will enjoy The Damnation Game.  I was just hesitant to recommend it full on because I didn't know if you grokked his style.

[Eric P]

i would suggest books of blood.  i don't think that of the books you listed, he had really hit his long form stride and they feel like padded short stories