Books of Blood: Volume One
World Fantasy Award: Best Collection winner (1985).
Even horror has it's perfection.
To a butcher, the carving of flesh is an art. As an artist, he knows where to slice the muscle, how to sever the clinging sinew from the bone. He studies the carcass like a lover. He knows how to section the dripping meat, dissecting, cutting, tearing.
Clive Barker knows a few tricks, too.
He knows how to lance his readers with apprehension, to make their hears pound and their skin tingle with dread. He knows how to push his reader to the edge of their seats, to the shuttering edge of total horror.
And then Beyond...
Contents:
- Introduction by Ramsey Campbell
- The Book of Blood
- The Midnight Meat Train
- The Yattering and Jack
- Pig Blood Blues
- Sex, Death and Starshine
- In the Hills, the Cities
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.
Books of Blood
Books of Blood consists of six books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
Related series Books of Blood (omnibus editions)
Reviews and Comments
The amazing Books of Blood series is definitely one of the best horror and dark fantasy short story collections ever. I loved reading these books. The stories are dark, twisted and some of them are even funny. If you call yourself a horror and dark fantasy fan and haven't read this series, you should read it as soon as possible (and please, remember to read Volume 1 first).