Kibi W. (Kibi) reviewed The Great and Secret Show (Book of The Art, Bk 1) on + 582 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
From Library Journal
Englishman Barker's latest novel, the first part of a trilogy, is an ambitious fantasy/horror fusion of dazzling scope which stands alone as a complete story. Nebraska postal clerk Randolph Jaffe works in the Dead Letter Room, opening and inspecting loads of undeliverable U.S. mail. Soon, through a series of cryptic dead letters, he taps into an ethereal network of mysterious revelations which provides access to enormous power channels. The customary battle of light forces versus dark forces commences, with greedy Jaffe heading the latter, and mad yet philanthropic scientist Richard Fletcher representing the former. Despite occasional and convenient lapses into nonsensical elements of fantasy which characterize too much of the genre, this original, intelligent treatment of a complex idea by the author of The Damnation Game ( LJ 5/15/87) and Weaveworld ( LJ 10/15/87) is amazingly believable and compulsively readable.
Englishman Barker's latest novel, the first part of a trilogy, is an ambitious fantasy/horror fusion of dazzling scope which stands alone as a complete story. Nebraska postal clerk Randolph Jaffe works in the Dead Letter Room, opening and inspecting loads of undeliverable U.S. mail. Soon, through a series of cryptic dead letters, he taps into an ethereal network of mysterious revelations which provides access to enormous power channels. The customary battle of light forces versus dark forces commences, with greedy Jaffe heading the latter, and mad yet philanthropic scientist Richard Fletcher representing the former. Despite occasional and convenient lapses into nonsensical elements of fantasy which characterize too much of the genre, this original, intelligent treatment of a complex idea by the author of The Damnation Game ( LJ 5/15/87) and Weaveworld ( LJ 10/15/87) is amazingly believable and compulsively readable.
Charlene B. (charlene) - , reviewed The Great and Secret Show (Book of The Art, Bk 1) on + 76 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I've always liked Clive Barker's work and this book lives up to my expections of his thought processes. This is a long one at almost 700 pages, but I found the storyline kept me reading.
Helpful Score: 2
Clive Barker-what more can I say. You must add this to your collection!
Helpful Score: 2
My wife likes this author, liked it.
P. R. (mamagoat) reviewed The Great and Secret Show (Book of The Art, Bk 1) on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Well, I think this is Clive Barker's best book. Although it has been out for a few years, Barker weaves terror,k horror, fantasy into an imaginative tale that will capture you! I love it
