The Painter, the Creature, and the Father of Lies
A collection by Clive Barker. Edited by Phil and Sarah Stokes. Foreword by Clive Barker. Introduction by Phil and Sarah Stokes. Cover and interior art by Clive Barker.
From the man who has brought you twenty books of dark fiction and fantasy, unforgettable horror movies such HELLRAISER and CANDYMAN, and countless paintings and illustrations, this is the first-ever collection of Clive Barker's nonfiction. Representing more than 25 years of writing, THE PAINTER, THE CREATURE, AND THE FATHER OF LIES contains:
- All the introductions he's written for his own works (prefaces in fiction and non-fiction books, liner notes on CDs/laserdiscs/DVDs, introductions in graphic novel adaptations, text of theatre playbills, and more);
- All the forewords and afterwords he's written on other people's works (books, graphic novels, etc.); and
- Essays and articles written for magazines on the horror genre and other topics.These have never been collected together and many are nearly impossible to track down. Furthermore, from Barker's personal archives: a couple of unpublished pieces, including an unused self-penned introduction to Volume 1 of the BOOKS OF BLOOD from 1983 written from the point of view of a demon interviewing Clive Barker.
The editors, Phil and Sarah Stokes, who operate the official Clive Barker website at www.clivebarker.info, have spent the past several years compiling these 100 separate pieces to produce a truly definitive work. This collection features a new foreword by Barker, an introduction by the Stokes, and new illustrations by Barker. The numbered and lettered edition will contain bonus material: cover images for the majority of publications in which the nonfiction pieces were first published.
If you haven't read any of Barker's nonfiction, you'll find that it's just as compelling, enjoyable, and well-written as his fiction. These pieces cover the inspirations for his works, insights into the creative process, and musings on art and the horror genre. Not currently scheduled to be published anywhere else, don't miss this landmark collection from a modern master of horror and dark fantasy.
"An extremely interesting and valuable relic, a summation of Barker's career thus far, and of the state of the horror/dark fantasy genre over the past quarter-century. Barker's opinion is always informed, always entertaining. His intelligence and wit is evident in each piece, as is his hard-earned insight. By opening this tome, you're putting yourself in the hands of a gifted polymorph, unafraid to air his views and happy to teach. The Painter reminds you how consistently inventive and innovative Barker has been for over a quarter of a century." – Hank Wagner, Dead Reckonings
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Clive Barker
Clive Barker is a name synonymous with boundary-pushing imagination and a mastery of blending horror with the fantastical. From his early days as a writer and artist in England, Barker's creative journey has been one marked by daring narratives that explore the darkest corners of the human psyche while celebrating the beauty of invention. His work is not just about fear—it's about transformation, the collision of desire and dread, and the uncharted territories of the mind.
Born in Liverpool in 1952, Barker’s love for storytelling began at a young age, where he would often turn to the gothic, the grotesque, and the mythical to feed his imagination. His early exposure to both the arts and the horror genre shaped the unique voice that would later captivate audiences worldwide. Drawing inspiration from his own experiences and his deep love for the supernatural, his stories offer a rich tapestry of vivid imagery and intense emotion. His novels, short stories, and plays all reflect a mind that refuses to be limited by genre conventions, instead choosing to blend the horrific with the beautiful in ways few authors dare.
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