Clive Barker: Where to start?

[Shadowguard]

Which of his books are his best, which are his worst, and which do you reccomend be read first?

[suupaabaka]

I really enjoyed his Books of Blood, a collection of short stories. They're some of the best works of horror I've read, and a great foray into Barker's mind. There's a bit of homoeroticism in some of them, so be warned if you're averse to that sort of thing.

[FitzChivalry]

I really enjoyed Imajica, it's more fantasy than horror so it might be a good place for a fantasy reader to start with Barker, and it's an excellent read besides.

[Shayna]

This book has always run through my mind! Distinct in character and fabric..it does weave you into its world!!

The other set of books I will reccommend is "Imajica"!! Beautiful, rich, and in awe of his establishing Dominions of his kind.

I richly love all his books. He has an insight from his dreams which you can not thoroughly enjoy unless you give it a taste!! I have never encountered such books with such relish, vigor, anticipation to read what he evokes into his characters and worlds!!

I can not wait for the third book to his "Abarat" series!!

I will look forward to seeing what you have to say after reading his books!!

[Luke_B]

The Great and Secret Show his his best work. It's epic and grand, characterisation is excellent and the story moves at a nice pace (for a long book). Like Gaiman, Barker began his best work when he moved to the US.

[David Wilbanks]

The Books Of Blood

[Shadowguard]

I really enjoyed Imajica, it's more fantasy than horror so it might be a good place for a fantasy reader to start with Barker, and it's an excellent read besides.

I'm reading Imajica right now and admittedly finding it a little too blatantly sexist (against males) for my taste

[Zieborn]

This book has always run through my mind! Distinct in character and fabric..it does weave you into its world!!

Seconding Weaveworld. Also, oddly, I second the comment that the book always runs through your mind (if I understand that comment correctly). It's odd how often, after just one reading of it nine years ago, I end up thinking about stuff in that book. It really is an incredible read.

[Shadowguard]

I loved Abarat but Imajica is a book I keep picking up due to Barker's captivating writing style, reading in pieces, and putting back down due to irritation with the way Barker tries to present the story's message. I probably shouldn't ask, but do most of his books contain that kind of heavy-handed preaching? Can you recommend one that doesn't?

[Queequeg]

I"ll definitely second Books of Blood and add The Hellbound Heart, the novella that was the inspiration for Hellraiser. Not a big fan of his subsequent novels, but I'd by lying if I said I wasn't interested in his forthcoming Scarlet Gospels.

[Andols]

The Great and Secret Show his his best work. It's epic and grand, characterisation is excellent and the story moves at a nice pace (for a long book). Like Gaiman, Barker began his best work when he moved to the US.

I second this. secret show and it's sequel are a great place to start.

[pipchristopher]

There are two sides to Barker's work ,the gory and the fantastic.
If you want to delve into a fantay world then I would recommend Weaveworld
if you are after blood and gore with no hope of salvation then The Books Of Blood are a good starting point

[randar23rhenn]

I love Clive Barker, and he's tied as my second favorite author. The books I've read by him are Imajica, Weaveworld, The Great and Secret Show, Everville, Mister B. Gone, and Cabal. I'd highly recommend any of these as a starting place, except Mister B. Gone which I felt wasn't very good at all, or Everville, since it's the sequel to The Great and Secret Show.

Clive Barker is great.

[AndyLavigne]

Imajica is very good, it's what got me into Barker, and don't be put off by the outwardly feminist message. It's not a message in the sense that he wants the reader to learn from it, but for reasons I can't reveal due to massive spoilers it's very story-based; the actual heart of the book is a Christ metaphor, not women entitlement.

[Ariana]

I look forward also to "the Scarlet Gospels", but I still love the style of "Imajica" and all of it's complexity. I have to say my first thoughts are that the catholic church had a lot of influence on his style. And in strange and convoluted ways. As a person raised catholic myself, I see so many symbolic echoes in his work. Really makes you wonder...
Oh I am no longer a part of the catholic church. But you have to wonder what sort of mysteries it hides deep in the vaults of the vatican.... truly a frightening order. I wonder if the Cenobytes actually inhabit purgatory?

Hugs
Ariana