Clive Barker

A landmark collector's edition of short stories by an immensely popular horror writer brings back the terrifying tales with which he first gained acclaim. Reprint.

Volumes One to Three

Books of Blood

volumes one to three

Books of blood

Erica England 

Everybody is a book of blood; Wherever we're opened, we're red.

Six horror stories deal with a haunted theater, messages from the dead, a series of gruesome subway murders, demons, cannibalism, and a monstrous giant

Clive Barker's Books of Blood

Erik Wallace

A very unusual collection of short stories, certainly different than other books in the horror genre and more disturbing as well. Overall an enjoyable read.

Kristen Claiborn

Many, many years ago, I found a book at Goodwill on $.10 day. It was a well-loved paperback, just gray with a faceless head on the cover. The cover intrigued me, and I had heard the name Stephen King once or twice, so I added it to my pile of books (I could get nine books for a dollar on ten-cent day…I loved it). I was pretty young and had no business reading a Stephen King book, but my mom didn’t say no, so I dove right in (it also helped that my teacher at the time was genuinely concerned about the appropriateness of a book at my age, so of course I was even more determined to read it). So, at the tender age of 11, I polished off my first Stephen King (I had to use a dictionary many times), and since then I have been an avid reader, a lover of all things Stephen King, and a seeker of other, worthy horror writers. 
	They’re hard to find…the good ones. I enjoyed John Saul books, but that was about it. I’m not sure how I made it to my current age (which may or may not be in the mid-40s) without reading Clive Barker, but here we are. I decided to read this one after watching a hysterically-stereotypical 80s horror movie (I can’t even remember which one…Hellraiser?), and discovered that it was based on a Clive Barker book. Here we go then, I’m absolutely going to find that book and read it. I devoured it…and sincerely wished my library had the rest of them (did you know you can check out kindle books from your library???). 
	These stories are gory, disgusting, depraved, and absolutely the best horror I’ve read in a really long time. I realize it’s not new. If you’re looking for new, go check out Chuck Wendig’s The Book of Accidents. If you’re looking for classis horror by a master? Read this one. With the lights on, and make sure you’re not alone.

EVERYBODY IS A BOOK OF BLOOD; WHEREVER WE'RE OPENED, WE'RE RED. — Clive Barker Few authors can claim to have marked a genre so thoroughly and personally that their words have leaked into every aspect of modern pop culture. Clive Barker is such an author, and the Books of Blood marked his debut - his coming out to the world - in brilliant, unforgettable fashion. Crossroad Press is proud to present Clive Barker's "Books of Blood" in digital for the first time. The Books of Blood combine the ordinary with the extraordinary while radiating the eroticism that has become Barker's signature. Weaving tales of the everyday world transformed into an unrecognizable place, where reason no longer exists and logic ceases to explain the workings of the universe, Clive Barker provides the stuff of nightmares in packages too tantalizing to resist. Never one to shy away from the unimaginable or the unspeakable, Clive Barker breathes life into our deepest, darkest nightmares, creating visions that are at once terrifying, tender, and witty. The Books of Blood confirm what horror fans everywhere have known for a long time: We will be hearing from Clive Barker for many years to come. This first volume contains the short stories : "The Book of Blood," "The Midnight Meat Train," "The Yattering and Jack," "Sex, Death, and Starshine," and "In the Hills, the Cities," as well as the original introduction to volumes one, two, and three by Ramsey Campbell, and a new introduction by author David Niall Wilson.

Books of Blood, Vol. 1

Celeste Richardson

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This is one of the most unsettling, stomach-turning things I’ve ever read. The titular framework story, “The Midnight Meat Train,” and “In the Hills, the Cities” are all incredibly disturbing, and gross in various ways. I’m pretty sure “The Midnight Meat Train” is the first thing I’ve ever read that made me feel physically sick while reading it. I found “Sex, Death, and Sunshine” both overly sexual and bland. “The Yattering and Jack,” however, was a delight. That particular story reminded me of Zelanzy’s A Night in the Lonesome October in tone, and I thought it was intensely charming. It took me forever to read this, despite its brevity. While Barker is a great technical writer, the content was just too dark to be enjoyable. I don’t think I’ll be reading any further volumes in the series.

Lorenzo Caputo

Ethan Evans

Konrad Lischka

Ryan Mateyk

Brendan 

A. D. Knapp

The Books of Blood

Ulises123*

Daniela Castellano

Traci Wilbanks

jaymie b

Natalia Henriquez

Joshua Line

Rowan Myers

Based on The Last Illusion, a short story in Clive Barker's Books of Blood, Volume 6, this book is being released to tie in with the film starring Scott Bakula. Harry D'Amour, private investigator, thought he had seen the worst that flesh could suffer, but he hadn't.

Lord of Illusions

Volume 1 of the tale of horror and fantasy from the author who also writes, directs and produces for the screen.

Books of Blood Volumes One to Three

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