Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #347052 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 896 pages

Customer Reviews

Expand your mind.......
I first read Clive Barker in 1994, starting with the novel 'The great and secret show'. That was extremely enjoyable and gave me a taste for what is certainly my most read, most enjoyed, and thought provoking book in my collection. Believe me when I say that you will never, ever read another book that comes close to this for portraying the myriad of human failures, triumphs and weaknesses.
Do yourself a favour and lose yourself in this book.......you will not be able to put it down.

The future is in correcting the past
Is this book a rewriting or a perversion of the Gospels and the Book of Revelation ? Both and neither. The story itself, the plot if you want, is beyond any telling, summarizing or even sketching. It is extremely complex and difficult - at times - to follow. Not too many notes like in Mozart, but too many characters. As a rewriting of the New Testament, a Reconciler (a Christ) has to reconcile and regenerate the five Dominions of the Universe, Imajica, creating love and prosperity. But the male God has to be destroyed - since he is an imposter - to enable the three female Goddesses he had crushed down to take over and give life a chance. He also has to be killed to open the final door for spirits situated in the first layer of this universe. The male God is a tyrant. It is his son that has to go through the process of getting him destroyed and regenerating the alpha to open the omega. This vision is entirely dominated by the female principle : three Goddesses take over ; the God's son's mother who was rapterously raped by this God is the tool used to destroy him ; this universe is composed of five dominions that are building a circle, with a sixth one for the dead that is inside this circle. This book is also a beautiful symphony of words, images, situations and symbols dedicated to love, particularly love between beings who are not supposed - by standard ethics - to love each other : homosexuals ; individuals from radically different species ; love for the destroyer and hate for the Saviour ; and yet love for the Saviour and hate for the destroyer. Love is hate and hate is love. This is achieved page after page. Any love is hate and any hate is love. Life is this constant contradiction and it is only spiritual forces inside and outside that can liberate alienated individuals and real human fate, destiny, providence and feelings. Some will say this vision of the universe is anti-christian or even anti-god. Yet this vision cannot stand and make sense if the concept of God, of a superior force, drive is not present from beginning to end in every event, development, being. This book is the most spiritual and religious book that can be found even if and even because it kills old conceptions of allmighty male gods. This book should be a must for want-to-be priests and preachers.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Breathtaking...
This is the most incredible, beautiful, horrific, sensual and fantastic book you'll ever read. Clive Barker is a sheer genius and this is his ultimate masterpiece. The story soars through moments of unimaginable slendour and dives deep into the completely horrific, taking in every emotion on the way. I have read it's 1100+ pages many times, and never cease to be breathtaken. Magnificent.