Clive Barker, Cabal

Clive Barker, Cabal - Synopsis:

"Boone now knew for sure there was no place on this earth for him, no happiness here, not even with Lori. He would let Hell claim him, let Death take him there. But Death itself seemed to shrink from him. No wonder, if he had indeed been the monster who had shattered and violated and shredded so many others' lives. And Decker had shown him the proof - the hellish photographs where the victims were forever stilled, splayed in the last obscene moment of their torture. Boone's only refuge now was Midian - that awful, legendary place which gathered to itself in its monstrous embrace the half-dead, the Nightbreed".

First published back in 1988, 'Cabal' followed the release of the hugely popular novel 'Weaveworld'. The story turns all our ideas about horror fiction on its head, with Barker's classic tale of misguided humanity. The tale subtly tackles the conception, misguided judgment and ridicule of views on homosexual community, with the homosexuals represented as the Nightbreed. Hounded, hunted and attacked, merely due to their way of life, the novel takes you into a world of questions and suggested conclusions. The novel is extremely well-written, bringing together horror and fantasy in this dark tale of passion, love and persecution. Barker's limitless imagination has constructed a truly bizarre and involved tale, that captivates the reader early on, with the quiet whisperings of this forgotten world. This is a story that will immerse you in the horror and unbelievable, forging a novel that you will remember for a long time to come.

The story runs for 268 pages with some versions (the UK Fontana being one of them) including some pen and ink drawings by Barker himself illustrating the novel throughout. The story was later adapted in 1990 with Clive Barker acting as both the Director and the Screenwriter. The director David Cronenberg starred in the film as the deranged Dr. Philip Decker. The cult success (but alas not financial success) of the film, spawned a 'Making Of Nightbreed' book, 'The Nightbreed Chronicles' film companion book, a series of twenty-five comics (as well as a Genesis collection of four of the comics), a Nightbreed computer game released by Ocean, as well as various promotional items.

Cabal is a fabulous novel that should be read by anyone who is at all interested in Clive Barker's work. A true masterpiece of fantastic horror that will grip and excite you.