Clive Barker, Books Of Blood - Volume 6

Clive Barker, Books Of Blood - Volume 6 - In 1986, Clive Barker followed the enormous success of the first three volumes of The Books Of Blood with a final three volumes to create the entire Books Of Blood series. His two omnibus's were later to be broken down, to be sold as individual books. Barker was invited to be able to illustrate these covers with his dark and twisted artwork.

This volume was also released in the US under the title 'Cabal' by Poseiden Press, in which it included the extra tale 'Cabal' that was released as an independent story elsewhere in 1988. The six volumes were all released in their individual forms back in 1986, this sixth volume contains the following short stories:

The Life Of Death - 34 pages

"She nearly Died on the operating table. Masked men removed the cancers, and her womb. But Elaine Rider lived on, mourning. Until, after a midnight visit to the newly opened crypt of All Saints Church - A plague pit heaped with bodies, festering now they are exposed - she is suddenly a picture of health and vitality. Kavanagh's morbid preference was for the sad, fragile Elaine he met before. Before she had the power to kill with her touch. But who is Kavanagh? Elaine mistakes him for Death in disguise, her clean-boned guardian, her promised lover. He is something far worse, as she will learn". Barker carefully weaves this morbid and haunting tale, steadily building upon the tension, as you are taken to the grande finale with a nasty twist. I would say that this one is one of his best shorts from the Books Of Blood collection. The story was later adapted by Fred Burke in 1993 into the Eclipse Books graphic novel 'The Life Of Death' where it was illustrated by Stewart Stanyard.

How Spoilers Bleed - 31 pages

"They committed a crime no jury could convict them for. But there were other judges, other punishments". A gory and disturbing story that will anger and revolt you from the start. The plot slowly unfolds, bringing with it a tale of horrific revenge and cruelty. The story was later adapted in 1992 into the graphic novel 'Tapping The Vein - Book 5' where it was illustrated by Hector Gomez.

Twilight At The Towers - 31 pages

"Ballard was the perfect spy. A man with all the cunning of an animal. Or was it vice versa?" This story brings haunting glimpses of the novel to be later published in 1988 entitled 'Cabal'. This was surprising as the US edition of this volume of the Books Of Blood included the story of 'Cabal'. 'Twilight At The Towers' is a creepy and violent tale involving the manipulation of the flesh once again. A little slow-paced to start with, Barker soon gets you involved with the violent action and horror that follows. The story was later adapted by Steve Niles in 1993 into the Eclipse Books graphic novel 'Rawhead Rex' where it was illustrated by Hector Gomez.

The Last Illusion - 52 pages

(A Harry D'Amour Novella) "New York has shown Harry horrors enough for a dozen lifetimes. He thought he'd seen the worst that flesh could suffer. Then the beautiful widow walked into his life, with a husband who wouldn't lie down dead, and all Hell on her heels. And suddenly Harry was face to face with forces that could teach Manhattan a lesson in depravity". A bizarre and disturbing short story that pulls you into the unfolding dark and depraved madness from the very first page. The short spirals to a dramatic ending that could only come from the dark imagination of Clive Barker. This is one of the best short stories of the lot. The story was later adapted into the 1995 film 'Lord Of Illusions', which Clive Barker was the producer, director and screenwriter for. The short story differs from the film quite dramatically, with completely different storylines and endings.

The Book Of Blood (a postscript): On Jerusalem Street - 3 pages

"After the end, a new beginning: walking the highway of the dead". To conclude the whole Books Of Blood series, this postscript forms a perfect bookend together with the first short - The Book Of Blood (see Books Of Blood Volume One). A macabre little ending that ties the whole premise of the books together, leaving the collection feeling like a whole.

This final installment into the Books Of Blood series is a weird and haunting one. 'The Life Of Death' and 'The Last Illusion' are absolutely superb. You will be very happy to own the whole collection.